Customer Reviews

Whispers from the Grave

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Award-winning historical fiction author Kim Murphy presents Whispers from the Grave, a novel set on the modern-day Virginia plantation of Poplar Ridge. Intrigued by the plantation's history, Chris Olson becomes mesmerized by dreams of a Confederate soldier who oddly resembles Geoff Cameron, the brother of her best friend. As she becomes more deeply drawn into the mystery of the past, as seen through the eyes of the long-dead Margaret, she must reconcile her growing passion for Geoff with his connection to the tragedy and dark hidden secrets of the past. An emotionally moving historical drama, steeped in lore and vivid impressions from America's war-torn era.

When Chris Olsen visits her old friend's Virginia plantation, Poplar Ridge, she has no idea she'll end up in the middle of a ghost story. Soon after her arrival, however, she experiences the world of a long-dead woman through dreams and visions--and becomes the catalyst for uncovering Poplar Ridge's dark secrets that span back to the Civil War.

Murphy's novel is a fascinating historical tale wrapped inside a contemporary story of ghosts, love, heartbreak, and perseverance. She skillfully links the past and the present, and her portrait of Virginia will have you longing to visit her vibrant settings. Murphy has a knack for uncovering aspects of history that other authors tend to ignore, namely the stories of civilians coping with their war-torn world. Her ability to show that war trauma isn't only an affliction of men on battlefields elevates her fiction above other novels involving wartime love stories. A must read.

Very enjoyable reading. I found Whispers From the Grave to be a captivating novel. The dynamics of the characters living in essentially two time periods kept me excited to get to the next page. I've not a read a book recently with a supernatural theme, that held my interest quite so well.
The scenery was beautifully painted in words. I felt like I had been there myself.
I think Kim Murphy's knowledge of the geography and history of Virginia are obvious in her descriptions of the locations.
I found it fascinating how the characters were linked by both the 19th and the 21st centuries.
I think that anyone that enjoys a bit of history and the paranormal will enjoy this novel.

This story wraps the present and past together with engrossing detail. I was impressed. Give it a try for an entertaining weekend read.

I don't usually like romance books but picked this one up anyway. It is so much more than "just" a romance novel! The history and culture of the area and eras are well-researched and presented in a way that draws one in to the atmosphere of this novel. I won't spoil anything by saying more, but this is a good curl-up-by-the-fire read. Try it.

After reading the accolades from some readers, I was really looking forward to reading this novel. I'm afraid, however, that I agree with I.M. Combe after reading it. I found the writing disjointed, grammatically flawed, and too predictable, a waste of time. The female lawyer's actions were unbelievable, and she behaved like a nitwit.I am disappointed.

After reading a selection of fantastic reviews and seeing this book recommended on a 'must read' list on Amazon, I spent over $20 on it, including shipping to the UK.

What a waste of money and what a disappointment! I couldn't get past the terrible grammar and sentence construction. The story didn't flow, I wasn't engaged by the characters and I finally gave up in disgust.

It is reviewed as a 'page turner' and I certainly was turning those pages - desperately looking for something better than the short, choppy sentences and unconvincing dialogue which plagues this novel.

If you want to read a great book about the American Civil War, this isn't it!