The Dead Whisper on

TL Hines has done a great job with this novel. I really enjoyed his first book, Waking Lazarus, and while this one isn't as good as his first, it's definitely worth the time. Canada MacHugh isn't your typical hero (she's an overweight red-headed garbage collector...that's what I call original!), but she has her good points when the time comes. The premise is awesome. When the book started out, I didn't think Hines would be able to pull this off, but he brings all the pieces together. He even manages to give "the Shadows" a reasonable explanation. I love the way he included real sites from Butte (look up the Berkeley Pit on the internet) to give it an authentic feel. Hines is able to bring together some genuinely creepy moments (shadow spiders crawling all over someone), great characters (a golem named Keros), and a plausible explanation for it all. All in all, this is a fabulous thriller sure to please readers of Dean Koontz or Stephen King.

The Dead Whisper On is completely different than Waking Lazarus. Which goes to show readers that T.L. Hines is versatile in his story telling skills? Two secular books I've just finished are far more "spiritual" in nature than The Dead Whisper On which goes to show how the face of Christian Fiction is changing. The spiritual elements in "Dead" are heavy and at the same time light, the gospel isn't shared, but the underlying truth of dark versus light is handled in a fascinating manner. Hines sets his story in Montana and in the hands of miners. Spiritual forces manipulate and stir the setting making for a unique tale that feels like a blend of Cramer's Bad Ground, Peretti's Monster, and a handful of non-gory horror stories. With the addition of humorous banter, a hint of romance, and a snappy character coming-to-grips, there's quite a feast. Hines has created a character -- flawed and honest -- who only wants to change one thing in her life and ends up changing the world. The Dead Whisper On cuts across genres. Who can I recommend it to? Those who like a well-written tale of good vs. evil. Those who like a touch of mystery or horror or fantasy mixed with well-written story.

This book is an equal to Waking Lazarus which was a "can't put down" book. I can't wait for the next T. L. Hines book.

Candace "Canada Mac" MacHugh is a miner turned garbage collector that can't get rid of the pile of trash in her own trailer. Like her late father, she worked the mines around Butte, Montana, setting dynamite charges and tempting death in the process. But her life has no meaning since Bud's death eleven years earlier. As she empties yet another can into the garbage truck, she longs to hear his voice once more. As she sets the can back on the curb, a whisper tickles her ear with a command to be at the The Mint, a local bar, at 7pm. Canada is sure she's succumbing to heat exhaustion, until she sees a shadow separate itself from the can's shadow and flow to the truck's shadow, where it disappears. Candace's wish has been granted. Her father is back from the dead. She shows up at The Mint, and waits for over an hour. It isn't until she leaves that she hears the voice again, one shadow in a cloud of many. Her father's voice makes her an offer she can't refuse, to do good in the world side by side with her dad. But Bud isn't the only one interested in Canada. Deep within a Chilean copper mine, an ancient being awakens and listens to the whispers within the shafts. In due time he will force the whisperers to tell him about this woman and where she is. He can't allow her to go free. For Canada, the line between friend and foe blurs. She is forced to confront the one being that, if not stopped, will destroy everything and everyone important to her. T.L. Hines does a fantastic job immersing the reader into Butte and the mining culture. He intertwines a dying mining town, Hebrew mythology, supernatural beings, and spontaneous combustion into a story that grips you from the first pages, making the novel impossible to put down.

Canada MacHugh's life is about to change in ways she never imagined. As far as Canada is concerned though, a change would be nice. She has lived her whole life in the mining community of Butte, Montana, and once upon a time she even worked as a miner. These days she is biding her time as a garbage collector, all the while wondering if life has more in store for her. One day on the job she begins hearing the voice of her father, who has happened to be dead for several years. As she continues to hear his voice she finally convinces herself she isn't crazy and somehow she is communicating with the dead. Her father introduces her to a secret world she never knew existed, a covert network of shadows and operatives who work together to save the world from impending disasters. Canada soon learns that her help is needed and she now has the chance to find the purpose she has long been searching for. As she begins her new life, she soon discovers that things aren't always what they seem. Canada must now find a way to battle the great darkness that threatens her life and the town she loves. T.L. Hines stormed onto the scene last year with his highly acclaimed debut novel, Waking Lazarus. In this latest thriller he is continuing to establish himself as one of this market's greatest talents. The Dead Whisper On is a strange and delightful supernatural tale that twists and turns its way to an unexpected and satisfying conclusion. At no time does Hines hint at where the story is going, and it makes the ride that much more enjoyable. Canada MacHugh is a delightful character and her journey inspires us all to fight the darkness that threatens to destroy us all. This is fresh and unique storytelling that fans of supernatural thrillers will love. (From Christian Review of Books)