Once a proud Butte, Montana, miner who daily risked her life setting explosives, she's now a garbage collector in her dying hometown. Her beloved father is dead and she does not speak with her mom. Canada Mac is alone. Longing for the past. Dreaming of making a difference...Until one night when her fathers voice speaks to her from the shadows. The dead, it seems, have messages they hunger to share with the world---warnings of impending disasters and grave danger...Of cities doomed to burn. But they need Canada's help.
A miner-turned-garbage collector is the refreshingly different protagonist of this sophomore horror outing by Hines (Waking Lazarus). Chubby redhead Candace "Canada Mac" MacHugh drives a '72 Dodge Charger, lives in a hand-me-down trailer full of junk in Butte, Montana, and hears the voice of her father who died 11 years ago. It turns out her dad wants her to join him and some mysterious shadows of the presumed dead in what seem to be do-good missions. As Canada begins her first mission working with the shadows, Hines uses multiple points of view to show a town where people are spontaneously combusting and discerning good from evil is surprisingly difficult. Hines writes with wry humor and imagination, although the plot elements don't always transition smoothly. Some of the scenes are creative and metaphorical (a dream about Old Faithful); others are less successful, as when Canada reunites a little girl with her father in the aftermath of a tornado. The spiritual themes are more of the "good vs. evil" variety than overtly Christian. As the story ends, the symbolic nature of the malady striking the inhabitants of Butte might have been more powerful if not so clearly explained. Although the novel frays a bit at the edges, in his best moments, Hines brings to mind W. G. Griffiths (Driven). Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
Average Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars(2.5 out of 5 stars)
6 of 6 Reviews Showing:
2 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Carol (Fayetteville, TN), January 16, 2009
The Dead Whisper On was a disappointment. I could not see the Christian element at all. It was good versus evil, but God nor Jesus was mentioned that I could find. The word "prayer" was mentioned, but not to whom the prayer was addressed. The plot was okay, but I mainly finished the book just to see if I could find a hint of something Christian. If you're looking for a Christian book, I wouldn't recommend this. If you're looking for a "clean" secular book, this will be okay.
1.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Marni Tovia (Seattle, WA), September 30, 2008
I was really disappointed. I love good vs. evil Christian mystery-thrillers but this book lacked the spark of God - the good. It seemed permeated with sick and evil, which made it hard to root for the main characters, like a reader wants to in a good story. I gave it 1.5 stars because I finished it but was sorry I bothered.
0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Rodena Church (Bath, MI), August 03, 2008
*I couldn't put this book down. It kept my interest all the way thur. I want to read more of his books.*****
2 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Joycr (Lillington, NC), July 29, 2008
Was disappointed - expected the conclusion to focus more on spiritual awakening/healing. Could have been a good story. Left out most important part when quoting verse from Psalm 23 "...for GOD is with me.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Cheri (Clay), December 07, 2007
The author T.L. Hines will leave you spellbound in this awesome page turner that will have you on the edge of your seat. A must read for anyone who likes suspense for this one will leave you guessing as to what will happen next. And the author admits that Butte is his favorite city in Montana, and it shows as Hines goes into great detail describing the town. It really makes you feel you are there as you go to the Columbia Gardens; see the Our Lady of the Rockies and to the Berkley Pit. And go on the run with Canada first trying to get away from Keros and later the operatives for you will feel you are there. As a Christian suspense it may leave some questioning about someone speaking to the dead but trust this reviewer there is a bigger story here. “The Dead Whisper On” is T.L. Hines second book the first being “Waking Lazarus” and on the surface both seem to be about the dead but as the author states “They’re about living, and specifically living the life God has called you to”. So whether you are a Christian or not this is a must read for all suspense lovers.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner (Morrow, Ga), May 17, 2007
Butte Montana garbage collector Candace “Canada” MacHugh hears a voice telling her to meet her at the Mint at 7:00 p.m. It is the voice of her father who has been dead for over a decade and like Houdini he told her if there was a way to contact her after death he would. After eleven years she almost gave up hope but even though she see him as a sort of vague shadow she recognizes his voice substantiated by his telling her something only they would know.
He recruits her for Network of the Shadows whose agents save lives and warn people when danger is about to strike. She agrees to do this but her agreement wakes up the golem Keros who has to stop her. She goes to various locations around the country bringing attention to serial killers, a mall that is about to be blown up and finding a child during a tornado. However when Keros comes in contact with her he tells her something that destroys her world and sends her back to Butte where she fights the evil that has lived in the mine for a long time; though she might be killed she is trying to save her town.
Not everything is the way it seems in THE DEAD WHISPER ON. Readers will find immense pleasure in reading this book because the surprises come right after another; thus there is no chance that boredom will set in. The protagonist is a brave and gutsy woman who is a natural leader which the inhabitants of her town need if they are to be saved. Her ability to accept the unexplainable and plan from there makes her someone to admire and leave readers rooting for her as she tries to throw out the garbage harming people.
Harriet Klausner
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