Shadows, Questions, Courage

Whispers at Painswick Court

Written by Julie Klassen

Narrated by Elizabeth Jasicki

Published by RBmedia  Recorded Books

Release Date: 12.02.25

Genre: Christian Historical Romance Fiction

4.5 Stars!

This story moves softly, almost carefully, as though it knows that some houses hold more than furniture and walls. Painswick Court holds memory, restraint, and unspoken history, and the novel allows those things to breathe instead of rushing past them. I found myself listening with a kind of attentiveness that felt fitting for a place like this.

Anne Loveday is a heroine shaped by usefulness, by watching closely, by learning through years of quiet service. Her medical knowledge is earned through patience and responsibility. I appreciated how her desire to live a meaningful, steady life is neither dismissed nor romanticized. There is a humility to her strength and purpose that felt true to the period and to the story being told.

The mystery unfolds through tension rather than spectacle. Unease settles in slowly. Questions linger. Trust becomes complicated. The fullness of the cast invited careful attention, and the pacing reflected the layered nature of the story. The atmosphere, the setting, the relationships, and the quiet undercurrent of threat held my attention with a steady pull.

As an audiobook, this experience was especially rich. Elizabeth Jasicki’s narration is excellent, engaging, and wonderfully expressive. Her voice work carries emotion with restraint, allowing moments of concern, reflection, and vulnerability to land naturally. She gave clarity to a layered cast and brought warmth to quieter scenes, making the listening experience feel immersive, emotional, and steady.

Faith is present in a gentle, fitting way through conscience, choice, and moral reflection rather than overt declaration. It feels appropriate to the Regency setting and to characters who are learning how to act rightly when clarity is hard to come by.

This was a thoughtful, atmospheric listen. It values patience, observation, and quiet courage, and is one I will continue to savor.

Readers drawn to reflective Regency stories, layered households, capable heroines shaped by service, slowly unfolding mysteries, and audiobooks where narration adds depth will find much to appreciate here. This is a wonderful story that favors mood and moral tension over fast-paced action.

I received a digital version of this book from RBmedia via NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing, narration, and story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.