A Whisper of Death

Raven and Wren, Book 1

By: Darcy Burke

Narrated by: Tamsin Kennard, Raphael Corkhill

After being viciously stabbed and left for dead, Hadrian Becket, Earl of Ravenhurst, struggles back to health only to discover he is cursed with a vexing ability to see visions he can't explain.

Terrified he may be going mad, he must keep the disturbing skill secret. But when it proves helpful in tracking his would-be killer, he has no choice but to embrace the newfound power. The retrocognition leads him to the house of a man recently deceased, where he encounters the clever and intriguing Miss Matilda Wren—who may be able to help him solve the many questions raised by the attack.

The death of Tilda's cousin has left her and her beloved grandmother in a precarious financial position when she discovers their investments have gone missing. Between the lost money and the mysterious Lord Ravenhurst's incessant queries, Tilda begins to wonder if her cousin may have been murdered. Desperate to determine what happened, she'll exhaust every possible line of inquiry to stave off destitution. For a price, Tilda agrees to work with the earl to uncover the truth, though she suspects he's hiding a dark secret.

As their investigation grows, so does the body count. Can they trust each other enough to expose the puppet master pulling the strings? Or will the villain's malevolent machinations end with more than a whisper of death?

©2025 Darcy Burke (P)2025 Podium Audio

Critic reviews

"Briskly paced and sharply plotted with smart, compelling characters and an intriguing psychic twist, A Whisper of Death is the launch book for what promises to be a terrific historical mystery series. I loved it!"

(New York Times bestselling author Amanda Quick)

Great heroine, good plot though repetitive at times

Many lovely characters. The heroine, Matilda Wren, was especially likeable, independent and clever, but not pushy.
The plot was good, and kept my attention. However, I find there were many times when things were repeated again and again, eg the asylum part, the curse, the touching. There was also this anticipation of a great show down between the heroine and villain, but it kind of fizzled off and was quite a let down.
Narrators were very good, though I did not like the female portrayal of male voices much.

I Need More!

As an avid historical mystery reader, I am always looking for great new series in the genre, and this book not only checks all the boxes for me but promises much more to come. The characters are well developed, and the mystery engaging. Ravenhurst's "gift" or "curse" adds an interesting twist without dominating the investigation or the story. I cannot wait to spend more time with Raven, Wren, and their households.

I am always leary of multi-povs in the story. Add in two narrators, and I am doubly so, but the narration is perfection and brings these characters to life.

Great job to all involved.

From the author to both of the narrators I loved it all! I am on to the next one.

Just Right!

Great plot with just a hint of perhaps a future romance. Can't wait to start the next book in the series!

Well developed characters and plot.

Good mystery. Excellent narration. The story plot was complex but easy to follow. I look forward to the next one.