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    Whispers in the Reading Room
    Whispers in the Reading Room
    Whispers in the Reading Room
    Audiobook9 hours

    Whispers in the Reading Room

    Written by Shelley Gray

    Narrated by Tavia Gilbert

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Lydia’s job at the library is her world—she never expected to be a suspect to a murder. And now she must rely on the one man she’s not sure she can trust.

    Just months after the closure of the Chicago World’s Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.

    Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.

    Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn’t merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.

    Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks—the man so many people fear—is actually everything her heart believes him to be. 

    “Shelley Gray writes a well-paced story full of historical detail that will invite you into the romance, the glamour . . . and the mystery surrounding the Chicago World’s Fair.” —Colleen Coble, USA Today bestselling author of Rosemary Cottage and the Hope Beach series 

    • The Chicago World Fair Mystery series
      • Book 1—Secrets of Sloane House
      • Book 2—Deception on Sable Hill
      • Book 3—Whispers in the Reading Room
    • Book length: 86,000 words
    • Includes discussion questions for book clubs
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherZondervan
    Release dateNov 17, 2020
    ISBN9780310365495
    Whispers in the Reading Room
    Author

    Shelley Gray

    Shelley Gray is the author of The Heart of a Hero series. Her Amish novel (written as Shelley Shepard Gray), The Protector, recently made the New York Times best seller list. A native of Texas, she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Colorado and taught school for ten years. She and her husband have two children and live in Southern Ohio. Visit her website at www.shelleyshepardgray.com Facebook: ShelleyShepardGray Twitter: @ShelleySGray

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    Reviews for Whispers in the Reading Room

    3.5/5

    38 ratings13 reviews

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    • 1/5
      Well, that was certainly a waste of time: I couldn't even tell it was a mystery, except some arsehole who happens to be the main character's abusive former fiancée gets himself murdered...The book doesn't focus on the murder nor the solving of it, it revolves the relationships of the four main characters, all whom have a love/hate relationship with each other and are arrogant, prideful, & stubborn flakes.I hated the characters, I found no redeeming qualities and I hated the writing.... Almost every-single chapter was nothing but: "I hate you", "I love you", "He hates me", "she hates me", "I never want to see you again", "I can't live without you", "Marry me", "I'm leaving you because I'm not good enough" Just incessant whining and individual pity parties. Better shelved in "Romance" not "Mystery"I have no idea who purchased this for the collection, but I know it wasn't me!
    • 5/5
      This book was absolutely amazing. The plot was quite unique when it comes to historical romance and the characters were very interesting and entertaining.
      I especially loved Lydia as she is quite similar to me and it made it very easy for me to empathise with her and really feel the things she is feeling.
      I also absolutely loved the ending and it made me very happy that all the main characters got to be happy in the end. All in all, this was truly a lovely book.

      * I received this title from NetGalley
    • 2/5
      A shy librarian falls for a notorious club owner in 1890's Chicago. When her ex-fiance is murdered outside his club, they become suspects.
    • 4/5
      So many disjointed things to say about this book. When I started reading this, it was so good, I didn't want to stop. At work yesterday I planned out my race home and worked the cooking and de-spidering of the front hall (don't ask) around getting as much of this book read as possible first. Then, I hit a wall of sorts. This is a Christian mystery. I don't like reading Christian anything. I am Christian, but my faith is a quiet, private thing I don't feel the need to work into every thought and conversation I have. The way I see it, my faith in God doesn't require a constant reminder. But don't let me get started; the point is, I don't want to read about characters gushing on about God and how he'll take care of everything, or put them on the right path, or whatever it is they think he'll do (two words: free will). On top of this, it isn't even a mystery; yes, there are dead bodies, and yes, they are suspected of the murder of one of them. But the four main characters never investigate anything; they're too busy courting each other and worrying about reputations and whether or not they're going to go to jail. This is a Christian romance wearing a murder mystery feather in its hatband. Having said all of that, the book was still very, very readable. The faith in God stuff was only really 4, maybe 5?, short paragraphs interspersed throughout the story, so it was never preachy. Much. Nobody was getting saved, anyway. I'd have been able to ignore it, but Sebastian and Lydia each had to mire me in their internal monologues of "I'm not worthy! I'm not good enough! I don't deserve good things" and in light of the whole Christian angle, the redemption theme became way too heavy-handed, as we went from honest introspection, to wallowing, to drowning in their shortcomings pretty quickly. These issues combined brought my rating down a star. The last half-star was knocked off for lack of any really compelling mystery. This is the third book of a 3 book series, but each features different characters that only make minor appearances in other books. I was easily able to read this one first and felt no need to play catch-up with previous events. I doubt I'll buy either of the other books new, but I'd be tempted if I came across them at used book prices. Christian fiction just isn't my thing, but if any of my BL friends enjoys the sub-genre, I can highly recommend this one. Gray is a good writer, and she sucked me right into her characters' lives.
    • 5/5
      The year is 1893, the Chicago’s World’s Fair has closed, and Lydia’s life centers around her job as a librarian and in pleasing her mother. Left in financial straits when her father died, Lydia must make a successful marriage if she is to restore the family to the lifestyle they had enjoyed before her father died. Though engaged to man from a wealthy family, Lydia can’t help but be intrigued by a mysterious and handsome stranger who frequents her library. When he saves her from an incident involving abuse by her fiancé, they become friends, somewhat. As Lydia learns more about this man of mystery, she is surprised to learn who he is and how he earns a living. This third novel in this series has little do with the actual fair, but is long on interesting characters, intriguing plot twists, and mystery. All in all, a very well done series.
    • 2/5
      This book held promise for me with the premise and how the characters started. However, that promise quickly turned into ashy disappointment as characters fell into two-dimensional stereotypes and the story/plot petered into a steady march into mediocrity and boredom. I initially really liked Sebastian and Lydia. I liked that Sebastian was a self-made man who pulled himself out of the slums to become a successful businessman, ala Mafia-style. His protective streak towards Lydia and his devotion to his staff was admirable, in the beginning.Lydia could have been me in a different life. Shy, awkward with strangers, book-lover working in a library (my dream job!!), and completely inept when it comes to relationships, she was channeling me, I swear. So of course, that made her immediately relatable to me.Yet, things went downhill real fast. Lydia lost any depth she had when she let her shy, retiring side keep control. She was a passive vessel for others to channel their emotions through and for the story to push around. And Sebastian’s protective side quickly became controlling, obsessive, and scary. I’d almost say “stalker” but not quite that far (no doorway lurking happened). It seemed like whenever Lydia was in the picture, the rest of the world was valued at nothing as the story got rolling, which is not healthy in any relationship.The secondary characters also suffered a bit here. Hunt was just as bad as Sebastian in the over-protective, controlling aspect. His insistence on focusing on Bridget to the exclusion of most everything else was scary, to say the least. He was a Sebastian junior. Bridget I actually liked. She was such a strong and practical character. She took life as it fell on her head and came up with concrete plans with which to meet those challenges.Unfortunately, the plot/story didn’t do much to save the book overall. It waited way too long before kicking in. It wasn’t until 51% through the story before the murder happened or anything for that matter, story-wise. Before that point, it was endless conversations, movement from place to place, or melodramatic confrontations (i.e. more conversations!!). An intriguing premise and initially good characters weren’t enough to save this puppy. Characterizations went sour (though Bridget rocked!!) and the actual plot waited too long before making an appearance. If I hadn’t been reading this book for NetGalley, would I have finished it? Meh… Who knows… Either way, I’d pass on this title.Note: Book received for free from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review (and boy was I honest!).
    • 5/5
      Lydia Bancroft loves her work at the library. She is surrounded by masterfully written books that are just waiting to be read. Her job is to work in the Reading Room where she helps patrons select books , issues library cards and sneaks in a bit of reading whenever possible She is also trying to care for a very demanding mother while trying to pay bills after the death of her father. She definitely has her hands full. Maybe she needs a little adventure in her life. A patron comes in one day to the library whose name is Sebastian Marks. Lydia notices him right away. What has caught her eye, I wonder? Is it his dashing good looks, his impeccable attire or maybe what books he has selected to read? Sebastian is not the typical upstanding gentleman Lydia thinks he is. He runs a place where drinking and gambling take place, much like would be called a saloon . He is quite wealthy and is determined to make his life better then when he was growing up.his past is not pretty and he wants to erase it and move forward. They say opposites attract and we are about to see what happens when these two people get together.When Lydia finds out about Sebastian's gambling club , she ignores the seeming overprotective friends and stubbornly chooses to be with him. He is mysterious and that intrigues her. She wants excitement in her life and she gets that and more. What happens one evening at the club will change Lydia forever. What did she witness? Is she responsible for a crime? The book is cleverly written with intrigue and a mystery that is sure to keep you glued to the pages. We get a glimpse of the seedy side of Chicago and it's dark and unsavory characters. The author describes this time period with superb accuracy and makes the city come to life. I loved the fact that Lydia was a librarian and I felt connected to her right away as I worked at a library for fifteen years. You meet all types of people that are intriguing and friendly. Lydia is written with a fierce strength and willingness to support her mom . She does have an issue with trusting people and Sebastian will have her questioning if she can trust him or not. Don't miss this engaging story set in Chicago right after the World's Fair during the late 1890s. The story is fascinating with characters that must rely on faith , friendship and prayer to overcome obstacles. At the end of the book, is several discussion questions that could be used in a book club or for personal use. They are thought provoking and helps you take a deeper look at the book and it's wonderful message of hope, love, faith and prayer. I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      History and mystery combine in author Shelley Grey’s latest novel, Whispers in The Reading Room. With engaging characters, interesting historical details and a unique love story, this one is sure to appeal to Grey’s long time fans as well as new readers. A recommended read!Lydia Bancroft loves nothing more than her position at the lending library. A mysterious patron piques her interest but she knows that family duty comes before her own dreams. Sebastian Marks has made his mark in Chicago. Power, wealth and intimidation have made him feared, if not respected, by the elite of the city. But the quiet librarian in charge of the reading room captures his imagination and his heart.Whispers in The Reading Room has great, if unconventional, characters. Sebastian is a man of contrasts. He has worked hard to disguise his roots and appear to be a gentleman. But his business ventures and tactics eliminate his entrance into genteel society. Lydia is part innocence and part steel. Quiet and obedient, she is also intelligent and determined. Secondary characters are almost as strong, and I enjoyed the scenes with Sebastian’s assistant, Vincent, and personal maid, Bridget. There are a few themes that bring depth to the novel. The untrustworthiness of appearances is a thread throughout. Wealth, family name and societal position do not make a gentleman, just as place of birth do not doom one to disrepute. Friendship is another theme. I liked that Sebastian and Lydia became friends first. And while the characters often felt alone, their true friends were there all the time. More of a book with an historical setting rather than a strict historical novel, Whispers in The Reading Room had all the flavor of Chicago in the late 1890s — progressive changes along with past problems and societal ills.A quick and entertaining read, I very much enjoyed Whispers in The Reading Room.Recommended.Audience: adults.(Thanks to Zondervan and LitFuse for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
    • 5/5
      Title: Whispers in the Reading Room (The Chicago World’s Fair Mystery #3)Author: Shelley GrayPages: 352Year: 2015Publisher: ZondervanMy rating is 5 stars.Whispers in the Reading Room is a wonderful tale about people coming to realize that they are needed, valued, loved and redeemable. The previous books in the series are most enjoyable so please don’t pass them up. First in the series is The Secrets of Sloane House followed by Deception on Sable Hill. Characters introduced to us in the first tale come back in the following books though not all of them.Author Shelley Gray has woven an excellent series set in Chicago with the adventure and action of the World’s Fair going on in the background. Readers will meet seedy characters and characters that show us courage, faith, love and hope. In Whispers in the Reading Room, we meet a librarian named Lydia who is never satisfied by reading one book so she constantly reads all types and genres. Lydia is living her life through the fictional characters she meets because her real life brings her reminders of never measuring up to the demands of the times or her mother.Sebastian’s past is one he left behind, reinventing himself in order to appear as a gentleman. While he wasn’t born into the upper class, he begins to visit the reading room to immerse himself in the various words of wisdom, knowledge and for the love of escaping his present dark reality. For a time he feels he can ignore reality and no longer have to guard his words, actions or appearance. Yet, both Lydia and Sebastian along with two helpful servants come to realize that they are better by being with the one they love than pushing them away. Above all one or two minor characters realize that looking for other people to fill a sacred place in our hearts can be filled only by God.I can relate to both Sebastian and Lydia’s love of reading for a variety of reasons, and I appreciate those who share their stories with us. When I come across a person who isn’t a reader by choice, it breaks my heart as there is so much to enjoy if one would but open a book. I hope you will enjoy the three books Shelley Gray has written and then consider sharing them with someone else. Have you heard the saying that “things learned are caught rather than taught”? It’s true because the love I have of reading was instilled in me as my mother had my siblings and I reading whether we were in school or not. During the summer we would go to our rooms to read instead of napping. Reading is an adventure just waiting for you to enjoy!Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
    • 3/5
      The cover of this book make it look more foreboding than it actually is. While there are a few murders and a killer on the loose, it's not a huge mystery that our female lead solves, it's just background to her deteriorating life. Lydia Bancroft is a proud librarian. Even though she and her mother have fallen on hard times, the money she gets at work and the price she gets for pawning off family heirlooms help keep her and her mother afloat and they can at least pretend they are still part of good society. Her fiance, is a wealthy man and her mother awaits the day they can be married and be restored to their former splendor. All that changes however when she is out to tea with her fiance and he assaults her in public. A dashing young man who frequents her reading room comes to the aid and escorts her home. All her hopes for a prosperous future are dashed now that her engagement is broken. Could her new friendship with this dashing young man lead to something more? Is he hiding anything? What more does she have to lose? For fans of historical and inspirational romance. While it's the third in the series, I had no problem reading it without having read the first two prior.I received this book for free from Litfuse Publicity in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.
    • 5/5
      Shelley Gray has gifted us with one more story with the backdrop of the Chicago World’s Fair. We meet some of the people from previous books, mainly our favorite policemen, who are vigilantly doing their duty.This books focuses on Lydia, a sweet, smart, young woman, whom her mother’s focus is to pull them out of the poverty after the death of her father left them in, with a good society marriage. I felt rather sorry for Lydia, she was put in an awkward position, but that is the root of this story.Now Sebastian Marks has pulled himself up from the boot straps to be rather well off, after growing up in the ghetto, and now owns a Gentlemen’s Club. Now what would these two ever have in common, besides the love of books?We do get to visit the fair grounds that are now pretty well closed up, especially after the fires, and most of the exhibits have packed up. We travel with Sebastian and Lydia and enjoy what is left of the buildings through the eyes of these two, and it made me wish I could have seen it in person.Come along for another great mystery on the streets of Chicago, and be ready for some fear for the safety of these people, and they may just be accused of murder. Wow!You will root for these two to have a relationship, and there is another couple we also want to unite, come and enjoy this read and get lost in their lives.I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Zondervan, and was not required to give a positive review.
    • 3/5
      Whispers in the Reading Room by Shelley Gray is the third book in The Chicago World's Fair Mystery series (though the fair is over in this book). I have read all the books in the series, and this one was my favorite (probably because I could relate to the main character). It is 1894 in Chicago and Lydia Bancroft is a librarian in a small lending library. Lydia loves books and enjoys her job. Sebastian Marks has been coming into the library for quite a while, but he never has checked out a book. He spends the afternoons reading in the reading room. Sebastian Marks runs the Silver Grotto in Camp Creek Alley section of Chicago (a bad section of town). Sebastian dresses like a gentleman (and acts like a gentleman), but he is not. He has educated himself through books. Sebastian does not feel that he is good enough for a lady like Lydia Bancroft (and Lydia, not knowing that he owns a club, believes she is not good enough for Sebastian). One day Sebastian runs into Lydia and her fiancé, Jason Avondale (a gentleman who is a real bottom feeder) at the hotel where he lives. They are having afternoon tea as their first outing as an engaged couple (and without a chaperone). Jason hurts Lydia (grabs her wrist and twists it) and Sebastian intervenes. It is the beginning of their friendship. Could it lead to more? One night Lydia insists on visiting the Silver Grotto (not a good idea). Jason Avondale is killed and left in front of the club. Lydia and Sebastian are suspects in the crime. Who really killed Jason?I found Whispers in the Reading Room to be more of a romance book than a mystery. The mystery was child’s play to solve (very, very easy which was so disappointing). We have the typical back and forth romance. I found the lesser characters to be more interesting. I liked Bridget O’Connell (Sebastian’s personal maid) and Vincent Hunt (manager of Silver Grotto and Sebastian’s personal assistant) to be very compelling characters. Whispers in the Reading Room is supposed to be a Christian book but you would not know it. There is only one very short discussion on religion in the whole book (and it is between Vincent and Bridget). I found Lydia to be a contradiction. In some ways she is a typical bookworm (loves to read, nose always in a book, and very little real life experience). But then Lydia wants to experience life (understandable). When she gets an opportunity, she promptly falls asleep with a book! That makes no sense (especially in a club). This novel felt like it was not edited (needed more work to polish it). I give Whispers in the Reading Room 3 out of 5 stars.I received a complimentary copy of Whispers in the Reading Room from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      Recently engaged, Lydia Bancroft's world is beginning to expand beyond the confines of her beloved library. Her handsome and wealthy fiance need not know her true financial circumstances or the secrets of her heart. As long as the engagement proceeds as planned, Lydia and her mother should be fine. However, attractive and enigmatic Sebastian Marks, a regular visitor to Lydia's reading room, interests her far more than he should. As situations and circumstances bring them into contact, Lydia and Sebastian form a unique friendship. Unexpectedly, they find themselves in the midst of a scandal and prime suspects in an unsolved murder. Though the future is uncertain, Lydia and Sebastian are drawn to each other. Read more in Whispers In the Reading Room by Shelley Gray.Whispers In the Reading Room by Shelley Gray is the third book in her Chicago World's Fair Mystery Series. It is the first book I've read by her and worked fine as a stand alone novel. A seamless writing style featuring well-developed characters and a bit of suspense made this novel a pleasure to read. The character of Sebastian Marks had an especially mysterious air in the beginning that really caught my attention and helped to generate my initial interest in the book. The plot was interesting and well-paced. I really have no complaints regarding this novel and will mostly likely read it again. I recommend Whispers In the Reading Room by Shelley Gray to fans of inspiration romances. While the religious element is not heavily integrated, there are religious references.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this ebook free through Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."