Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

TJ Klune has been writing writing stories since he was eight years old, but he didn't get published until he was thirty, in 2012. Since then he has released more than thirty books, although Under the Whispering Door was the first one that I've read. It is a New York Times, USA Today, and Indie Bestseller, as well one of Buzzfeed's Best Books of 2022 and a top ten finalist for the Locus Award for Fantasy Novels. It deals with mentions of the death of a child and of several adults, panic attacks, suicide, grief, a car accident, and murder, but there is nothing graphic at all.

Wallace is a successful lawyer with his own practice that he started with three others right out of law school. He considers himself pragmatic and no-nonsense, and if that sometimes rubs people the wrong way, then so be it. But when he dies of a sudden heart attack, alone and in his office, wearing sweatpants and FLIP FLOPS of all things, Wallace is affronted to find that his funeral is only attended by five people, none of which seem to miss him. But then, one of the attendees looks at him. She can hear him, she can speak to him, she can touch him, and she assures him that he is most definitely dead. She is here to escort him to Charon's Crossing, and to Hugo, who will help him finish crossing to the other side once he's ready. He never thought that only in death would he find the place that he is really supposed to be.

Under the Whispering Door is an absolutely beautiful story of what happens to us when we die. It is full of amusing characters, all with very distinct personalities of their own, even the side characters charmed you and made you feel for them. It is a story of finding your purpose and realizing that maybe the life you're living is not the life you are meant to live. The writing was very well done, the story was unique and entertaining. It was not particularly quick paced but it never dragged. The main character has a complete character transformation that is very fast paced but does not seem rushed. It made me cry like three times, and not pretty crying with tears gently rolling down my cheeks, but the ugly, really touched your soul kind of weeping. I loved it and I can't wait to read his more recent novels, starting with The House in the Cerulean Sea, which I've heard is even better. Lovely story, wonderful characters, full of found family and found purpose, and an ending that I really did not expect to play out the way that it did.

I'm giving Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune 5 stars. I can't wait to read more from the author.

For more information about TJ Klune, check out his website at https://www.tjklunebooks.com/

Pairs well with homemade candy canes and finally getting that third cup of tea that makes you family.