Narrated by Ruth Urquhart, Dark Whispers by Helen Harper, we are once again riding along with Detective Constable Emma Bellamy. It’s time for the Supernatural Summit at the DeVane Hotel in London. Will things go off without a hitch? Well, of course not, but Emma is on the job! Grab a Mocha latte and see why I am enjoying this urban fantasy series on audio.
by Helen Harper
Series: Firebrand #5
Narrator: Ruth Urquhart
Length: 7 hours and 22 minutes
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.3x
The Supernatural Summit is about to start at the DeVane Hotel in London. Vampires and werewolves, ghouls and gremlins, and pixies and druids have all come together to find better ways to get along with the human community and address the strict laws which govern their existence. It's a real opportunity to change the world for the better and I'm proud to be a part of it.
But there are protestors camped outside the hotel and dangerous rumours circling about one of the delegates. When a dead body is discovered, I know it's only a matter of time before all hell breaks loose.
I have to find the murderer. And I have to find them quickly.
It was good to be back in the world Harper has created and tagging along with Detective Constable Emma Bellamy, an officer with the Supernatural Squad. Emma has made great strides in getting the supernatural communities and even the humans to work together and she is excited about the Supernatural Summit. Everything needs to go perfectly, but of course there is trouble and it all starts with a human who thinks he is a vampire and ends with murder.
The tale that unfolded was well paced, with plenty of twists as Emma and her motley crew, including her vampire boyfriend, worked to solve this locked room murder mystery. All while trying to keep the summit running smoothly. Then there is the human press gathered outside to contend with. Harper weaved an exciting tale and, once again, I found myself completely swept up.
I really enjoy Emma, from her sarcasm to her ability to unite people. Emma has an unusual gift. Despite being a fairly new detective, she is tenacious and quite good at making connections. She will be tested in Dark Whispers, and so will her relationship with Lukas.
We really got an insider’s look at how the different supernatural communities interacted. Not only towards each other, but their views on the humans as well. Apparently, prejudices and superiority complexes exist everywhere. Harper’s world building is seamless, allowing for a well paced, engaging tale and each audiobook has proven to be stronger than its predecessor.
Ruth Urquhart continues her narration of the series and has become the voice of Emma. Her pacing, accents and tones make listening a delight.
Fans of urban fantasy, cozy mysteries and feisty characters will enjoy Firebrand series. While each audiobook contains one case, the overall story ARC, relationships and world building make this a series you should listen to in the order of their release.
*Available in Kindle Unlimited
Dark Whispers by Helen Harper delivered another suspenseful case in the Firebrand urban fantasy series. #audiobook #urbanfantasy #audiobookreview #RuthUrquhart Share on XAbout Helen Harper
After teaching English literature in the UK, Japan and Malaysia, Helen Harper left behind the world of education following the worldwide success of her Blood Destiny series of books. She is a professional member of the Alliance of Independent Authors and writes full time although she still fits in creative writing workshops with schools along with volunteering to teach reading to a group of young Myanmar refugees. That’s not to mention the procession of stray cats which seem to find their way to her door! Helen has always been a book lover, devouring science fiction and fantasy tales when she was a child growing up in Scotland.
About Ruth Urquhart
Ruth Urquhart trained at East 15 Acting School and has spent the last twenty years working as an actor in theater, film, TV, and education. She is an Audible Approved Producer and has narrated over 100 titles. Among many other things, she has toured internationally and appeared in an Irish sitcom Give My Head Peace and the feature film Puckoon. She runs her own theater company and is a published playwright (Tea with Mrs. Pankhurst). Her forte is character work, and she has an excellent ear for accents. A native Scot, she was raised in Scotland with English parents; she quickly became bilingual in English and Scottish accents, speaking in an English accent at home and a Scottish one at school. She loves narrating audiobooks and has recorded a wide variety of genres requiring all sorts of different characters and dialects. She lives in Yorkshire, England, with her partner, two children, and an array of animals.
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Debbie Haupt
Sounds like you found another world to love Kim. Thanks
Wendy
So glad you’re enjoying this series! I love that cover too.
Nadene
Sounds like a great series. I will have to check this one out.
Anne - Books of My Heart
I would likely enjoy this series. I have liked Ruth Urqhart’s narration before.
Livia
Oooh, it does sound good. I’ve never heard of this series before your review, so thanks for the recommendation. I’m adding it to my Bookbub Wish List now.
Melliane
I enjoyed some of her books but I haven’t tried this series