THE VOICE
by F. R. Tallis
Published on 8th May 2014 on paperback on eBook
Set in 1975, composer Christopher Norton and his pregnant wife Laura are overjoyed about moving into a run-down yet grand Victorian property in London. After the birth of their daughter Faye, home life at the new property seems to be good, even if Christopher and Laura’s relationship isn’t as strong as it was in the early days.
Whilst working on a piece of music for a new Sci-Fi movie, Android Insurrection, Christopher comes across some voices on his supposedly blank tapes. Convinced by fellow sound engineer that they are the voices of those who’ve died, Christopher finds the inspiration to connect with them and use their communications in a new piece of music – a revolutionary sound that would no doubt put Christopher back onto the top of the most sought after composer list. But the voices may not be as innocent as they first seem…
THE VOICES by author Frank Tallis, or F. R. Tallis as he is referred to in this novel, is a spooky supernatural chiller. Tallis uses his background in clinical psychology to really flesh out the characters in this 374 page story. The bulk of the actual novel revolves around Christopher, Laura and their daughter Faye, their relationship from past and present, and their life in their new gothic home. Every inch of their lives is described in an engaging way that the reader ends up knowing these people as if they actually lived with them.
The story of THE VOICES is quite slow moving, building unease steadily, though Christopher’s dabbling with the supernatural sometimes seems to take a backseat to what is going on in his life – mainly sexual frustration with his wife and the yearning to be recognised as a great composer again, like his friend Simon Ogilvy.
Whilst the ending delivers in impressive chilling style, certain questions and ideas which were raised throughout the book are never answered. I’m all for the reader using their imagination, but there were a few points within the book that suggested other things were going on that were never explained at the finale. Despite the quality ending, it left an unsatisfied taste in my mouth as I expected more answers and depth on the more intriguing plot points, rather than extended use of fleshing out the characters.
Thinking about the novel, it won’t deliver the scares quite as obvious as you’d imagine. In fact, that supernatural side of the story is rather subtle and plays in the background whilst the characters and their lives are at the forefront. Fortunately, the characters are rather interesting individuals and Tallis ensures to go into great depth about their lives and occupations, particularly with the character of Christopher. I even found myself annoyed with the character a few times as he seems so ignorant and damning of his wife, yet he is the one with the issues rather than her.
Due to the structure and content of the novel, THE VOICES is a great choice for those who enjoy reading straight dramatic novels but are looking for a sinister edge. This isn’t your typical in-your-face horror and because of that, it can be enjoyed by a wider audience.
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