Whispering Corridors

A Ghost Story

By: Ambrose Ibsen

Narrated by: Joe Hempel

Length: 5 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

There's something in the house on Kenwood Drive, and it only comes out at night...

College students Eric and Lydia are looking for a novel way to spend Halloween. They decide to put together a documentary about the supernatural and take a camcorder into the long-abandoned house on Kenwood Drive. It's said that a vengeful spirit lives there, and Lydia thinks it the perfect location.

Eric, though, has his reservations. Having grown up in the area, he's familiar with the stories of the spirit they call the "Upside-Down Man", and as their trip to the house draws near, his fear begins to mount. According to the rumors, once you go into the house, you bring the Upside-Down Man out with you. And in three days' time, you disappear.

When the two of them begin to see and experience strange things, they launch into a frenzied search for truth, attempting to separate the myth of Kenwood House from the reality. But it turns out that untangling the threads of local legend is more difficult than it appears.

Especially when you've only got three days.

©2016 Ambrose Ibsen (P)2017 Ambrose Ibsen

a high dose of psychological tension

It's Halloween time, and college student Lydia wants to make a documentary about an old deserted house (think Blair Witch Project) and persuades her best friend Eric to come along. Eric is hesitant because he has heard the rumors about the house in Kenwood Drive. A local legend speaks of "The Upside-Down Man" who haunts the place. Anybody entering the house disappears three days later never to be seen again.

I have listened to several stories by Ambrose Ibsen now (his Ulrich files are great) and he is consistently brilliant at creating a fitting atmosphere and letting the tension build up gradually. This isn't the kind of horror story that's full of blood and gore. Instead, you get a high dose of psychological tension, the sense of the clock ticking, and a constant menace in the background. Scary stuff. Because of the "silly college kids enter haunted house"-topic I was expecting this to be fairly predictable, but it actually wasn't.

Eric, the male protagonist, is likable, but I couldn't understand why he was friends with Lydia. She just came across as selfish and unkind. I would have preferred a bit more back-story to their friendship. Theirs wasn't a romantic relationship - unless I totally missed something - but their seemingly close friendship was never really explained. But as this was quite a short story and the main focus is obviously on the haunted house scenario, this is really a minor niggle.

The end seems to split readers/listeners into two camps. You'll either think it's crafty or you'll feel dissatisfied. I don't necessarily need everything wrapped up perfectly, but this was so abrupt, I actually had to check whether there was something wrong with the audio and I was missing a bit. However, I then went back to the first chapter and after listening to it again, I felt happier with the ending. There was one scenario towards the end that didn't make sense to me. It relates to the idea of 'upside down'. Can't really explain this fully without giving the plot away.

Joe Hempel was an excellent choice as narrator for this story because his normal tone of voice matched the description of Eric, the young college student, in whose first-person perspective the story is told, perfectly. His delivery is clear and he adds the right amount of emotions and eeriness to his delivery where appropriate. The smooth, first-class performance combined with the gripping plot held my attention throughout.

Overall, Whispering Corridors was a spooky, fun story, which, at just over 5 hours, I easily devoured in a day. Highly recommended if you're looking for a good haunted house / urban legend story. This should also appeal to fans of paranormal thrillers.

Audiobook was provided for review by the narrator.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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A better boogie man

I really loved the story! So much so that I listened to it all in one sitting. The reason I gave a 4 instead of a 5 is that I didn't feel it wrapped up the ending as well as it could've. I have a love/hate relationship with cliff hangers. But I really hope there will be a second book. I loved that the name given to the mysterious entity in the book, "Upside Down Man". I loved how the author took the idea of "what if an urban legend turned out to be completely real". A very freighting thought. I'm glad that the author created its own character with its own mythos. Kept it fresh and new. What a fun spooky adventure that was!

Loved It!!!! Hooked from beginning to end!!!

Any additional comments?

From the very first chapter I was hooked! Very scary stuff. I actually had a very bad toothache the couple days I was listening to the book. But not once during the book did I think of it or anything else except the story. It held my complete attention the whole time. If you like haunted house stories this is for you. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick scare. I was given this book by the author for an honest review in return.

Entertaining story for fans of paranormal fiction

This was an entertaining ghost story. The plot seemed very familiar and a bit predictable (kids go into haunted house against all warnings to make a documentary.....), but I enjoy ghost stories and stories of haunted places, so I was able to look past that and just enjoy the ride. I listened to the Audible audio version of this book narrated by Joe Hempel, and he did a good job giving everyone a unique and consistent voice. Overall, an entertaining story for fans of the paranormal.

Good, spooky story

Any additional comments?

This was a good story that gave me what I expected - young adults behaving the way they do in horror movies, mysterious deaths, scary tension, a sense that the clock is ticking. Some readers were dissatisfied by the ending, but the only qualm I had about the ending was 'why not upside down'? (anything more about that question here would be a spoiler). I could easily see this play out in a movie, which was what I was looking for when I started listening to the book.

I've listened to Joe Hempel narrations before and I think he does best when the hero character matches his voice and tone; here, it did. I could easily picture our hero the way the author described and consistently with the narrator's tone of voice.

I wouldn't want the story to last any longer than it did; it was a good horror fix and I was interested to see how it would end...

I provided this review in exchange for a complimentary copy of the audiobook from the author, narrator, or publisher.

Whispering Corridors

If you could sum up Whispering Corridors in three words, what would they be?

Just like all scary movies, he goes in....and now they must pay the price. This is a very scary audiobook. Look forward to the next.

The Ring light

The story wasn't bad but it felt familiar and cliche. I liked the idea of the upside down man but he really was really just a different urban legend monster in the same setting as all the others.

Joe Hempel did a great job narrating and definitely added to the story.


This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Boom.

Ghosts, Goths and Good Fun!

Any additional comments?

Ambrose Ibsen and Joe Hempel are two of my very favorites and they definitely don't disappoint with Whispering Corridors! This book is a classic ghost tale about some well meaning college kids who make poor choices and get hooked up with a demonic spirit. Ibsen always does a fantastic job of spinning a unique and spooky story and the 'Upside-Down Man' ranks up there with the best of the creeps. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fun ghost story! 10/10

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Creepy Ghost Story

I love anything with creepy/ghost stories and this is no exception. I have read his entire thriller/ horror stories also recommend the Ulrich Files. The title is a little deceiving, it is about Eric and Lydia’s encounter with a shadow called the upside down man and everything happens to them, it was creepy! I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher. THANK YOU!

Whispering Corridors

This is a very unique ,scary ,haunted house story.I loved it!Joe Hempel is the perfect narrator.Eric and Lydia are told not to go in, but they do.I was provided this book free by the narrator, author or publisher.

Good listen

Not my favorite of this Author's but a good listen..... currently listening to all his books, love this narrator too. would recommend.....

Good Story

Book is Narrated well. Good Ghost story, really sucks you in. Ambrose does not disappoint.

SORRY, NOT FOR ME

I really do apologise to the Author, as I do not believe we, the unpublished have a right to just slag you off. I have listened / read most of your books, and sadly, in this case, I was simply misled by other reviewers.

This story for me, just didn't cut the mustard. It really wasn't scary at all. I get the whole 'Boogyman' Mythology and love the idea behind it. I guess being a short story, and it is short, it just didn't spook me enough.

We've all read / listened to stuff in this Genre and as I said the pairing of Ibsen and Hempel is a WINNER, in general. I found The House of Long Shadows more chilling, and entertaining as a whole.... especially the very strange ending !!!

I am British, and I guess the whole setting wasn't anything I could relate to. Sorry.

I will continue to listen / read anything published. This is just my personal opinion.

☺

This is my first audio book by Ambrose lbsen 5 out of 5 and first by narrated by Joe hempel 5 out of 5 100% will look for more of there work