Book Review | The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell

At the Mercury Theatre in London’s West End, there are rumours of a curse. People say the actress Lilith has made a pact with Melpomene, the tragic muse of Greek mythology, in exchange for success on the stage. Suspicious of Lilith, the jealous wife of the theatre owner sends dresser Jenny to spy on her.

What Jenny finds is a woman of contradiction. On stage, Lilith seems larger than life but off stage, she seems as tragic as her muse. But when strange events begin happening around the theatre, Jenny fears that when the muse comes calling, she will have to pay the price.

“Why, it is a famous legend! Faust. The foolish man who made a deal with the Devil.”

The Whispering Muse is a gothic historical horror set in a West End theatre. The off-stage drama is just as juicy as the on-stage plays! Jenny is heartbroken after her brother’s betrayal left her and her younger siblings destitute. Desperate, she asks for a job at the same theatre he used to work in. To her surprise, she is taken in by the theatre owner’s wife, Mrs Dyer. She is tasked to be the dresser for the lead actress, Lilith. But in exchange for the opportunity, she has to pry into Lilith’s life and report back to Mrs Dyer.

The book is claustrophobic and fills me with dread. Most of the action takes place in the dressing rooms and backstage, where sharp words are whispered and deals are made. There is a rumour of a watch with Melpomene’s face that brings success to whoever has it, at a great cost. Shocking deaths occur, secrets are shattered and characters reveal who they really are.  Mentions of Sirens and Faust hint that perhaps it is not the muse who is behind all the horror, but something more sinister.

Jenny is struggling to care for her little siblings after her brother’s betrayal. Her love for her siblings shines through even as her brother’s hurtful actions continue to trouble her. She feels torn between doing what she is paid to do and what is right. I thought Jenny is a compelling protagonist, though there were times when her behaviour toward Lilith seemed unbecoming of someone in her class at that time. Yet their unexpected friendship is the book’s biggest strength, providing a much-needed emotional connection. But the story wraps abruptly, ending just when everything culminates with a bang. I wish there’s more!

The Whispering Muse is a tragic tale of duty, desperation and greed that warns you to be careful what you wish for.

About the author: Laura Purcell

Photo by