by TJ Klune
Published 2021
Witty, haunting and kind, Under the Whispering Door is a gift for troubled times. TJ Klune brings us a warm hug of a story about a man who spent his life at the office – and his afterlife building a home. From the author of joyous New York Times bestseller The House in the Cerulean Sea. Welcome to Charon’s Crossing. The tea is hot, the scones are fresh and the dead are just passing through. When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own sparsely-attended funeral, Wallace is outraged. But he begins to suspect she’s right, and he is in fact dead. Then when Hugo, owner of a most peculiar tea shop, promises to help him cross over, Wallace reluctantly accepts the truth. Yet even in death, he refuses to abandon his life – even though Wallace spent all of it working, correcting colleagues and hectoring employees. He’d had no time for frivolities like fun and friends. But as Wallace drinks tea with Hugo and talks to his customers, he wonders if he was missing something. The feeling grows as he shares jokes with the resident ghost, manifests embarrassing footwear and notices the stars. So when he’s given one week to pass through the door to the other side, Wallace sets about living a lifetime in just seven days. Fans of A Man Called Ove and The Good Place will fall for this queer love story by TJ Klune. Praise for TJ Klune: 'I loved it. It is like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket. Simply perfect' – V. E. Schwab, author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue 'A modern fairy tale about learning your true nature and what you love and will protect. It's a beautiful book' – Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse series 'A whimsical, warm-hearted fantasy' – Guardian 'Fans of queer fantasy won't want to miss this' – Publishers Weekly
These are AI narrators you can listen to with your own EPUB on ElevenLabs or Fish Audio. How does it work?
Top voices for narrating this book
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“This voice's warm, velvety tone and naturally slow, measured pace perfectly capture the inviting and comforting essence required for a cozy fantasy narrator, creating an intimate listening experience.”
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Gentle
“Mina's gentle mid-range and steady presence, blending softness with clarity, would beautifully convey the narrator's pleasant and calm demeanor, ideal for balancing wit with heartfelt emotion.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Wise
“Angela offers a warm, friendly, and empathetic quality that is well-suited for a narrator who needs to be inviting and emotionally engaging, fitting the book's literary fiction aspect.”
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Pleasant
“The soothing yet spirited cadence of Kelly's voice provides a natural empathy and conversational flow, which would bring a pleasant and slightly whimsical energy to the narration.”
British · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Pleasant
“Elizabeth's kind, friendly, and clear British accent coupled with a warm tone makes her a pleasant and articulate choice for a narrator who needs to sound both welcoming and precise.”
For listeners: use the Best Narrator voice above in ElevenReader or Fish Audio. Character casting is for authors producing audiobooks with studio tools.
Initially a rigid, professional, and somewhat exasperated voice, gradually softening and becoming more curious and warm as he learns to embrace his afterlife.
Male · Middle-Aged · Educational · Narration · Deep · Serious · +3 more
“Alhaitham's deep, authoritative tone and measured pace perfectly embody Wallace's initial rigid and professional persona, offering a serious presence that can subtly soften over time.”
Also recommended for: Hugo
Male · Old · Narration · Documentary · Serious · Measured · +3 more
“This voice, with its serious and measured professional tone, aligns well with Wallace's early exasperated and calm traits, providing a grounded foundation for his character arc.”
Male · Middle-Aged · Narration · Educational · Calm · Professional · +3 more
“Elon's calm and professional delivery, featuring a serious tone and measured pace, would effectively portray Wallace's initial reserved nature before his emotional transformation.”
Also recommended for: Hugo
Male · Old · Educational · Narration · Calm · Serious · +3 more
“The authoritative yet calm tone of NEVILLE GODDARD, with its measured pace, is a strong match for Wallace's professional and serious initial demeanor, allowing for a gradual shift to warmth.”
Received Pronunciation · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Confident
“Keith Muoki's warm baritone and calm, grounded authority, combined with a measured, conversational pace, would suit Wallace's journey from rigid professionalism to a more empathetic state.”
A calm, gentle, and empathetic voice, with a quiet wisdom, befitting the owner of a tea shop for the recently deceased.
Male · Middle-Aged · Narration · Warm · Calm · Gentle · +3 more
“The gentle and soothing quality of History Voice, with its warm, calm, and measured tone, is an ideal fit for Hugo's empathetic and quiet wisdom, perfect for a tea shop owner for the deceased.”
Male · Old · Narration · Deep · Warm · Calm · +3 more
“David - British Storyteller's deep, warm, and calm voice, delivered with a measured and professional cadence, captures Hugo's gentle and wise nature beautifully.”
Male · Middle-Aged · Tiktok · Fnaf · Funny · Fivenightsatfreddy’S · +12 more
“Nightmare Freddy (Tiktok Version), despite the name, offers a warm, calm, and measured tone with a gentle quality that would surprisingly work for Hugo's kind and comforting presence.”
Male · Middle-Aged · Educational · Narration · Deep · Serious · +3 more
“Alhaitham's professional and calm delivery, characterized by a deep and measured tone, would suit Hugo's quiet wisdom and gentle demeanor, providing a steady presence.”
Also recommended for: Wallace
Male · Middle-Aged · Narration · Educational · Calm · Professional · +3 more
“Elon's calm and professional voice, with a measured delivery, aligns with Hugo's composed and gentle character, offering a reassuring and steady presence.”
Also recommended for: Wallace
A no-nonsense, efficient, but not unkind voice, with a hint of ancient authority and dry wit, performing a necessary duty.
Indian · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Confident
“Mona's deep, resonant, and commandingly calm voice, coupled with a sophisticated global neutral accent and measured pacing, perfectly embodies the Reaper's no-nonsense, efficient, and ancient authority.”
Female · Young · Narration · Low · Deep · Slow · +13 more
“This professional and mature female voice, speaking with a clear, measured, and neutral tone, conveys the serious and efficient nature of the Reaper, performing a necessary duty.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Serious
“Lauren's smooth, intense, and controlled tone, designed for drawing listeners into stories, could give the Reaper a compelling and slightly mysterious presence, fitting her necessary but not unkind role.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Confident
“Pam's calm and confident delivery, with a commanding presence, would suit the Reaper's efficient and grounded approach to her duties, implying ancient wisdom without being overtly dramatic.”
British · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Neutral
“The measured and distant quality of Global Artist, with a British Neutral/RP accent, could provide a crisp, slightly detached, yet professional tone for the Reaper's ancient and duty-bound character.”
A playful and friendly voice, full of character and a lighthearted approach to the afterlife, often sharing jokes.
Female · Middle-Aged · Character-Voice · Storytelling · Warm · Bright · +3 more
“Eternal Sugar Cookie's warm, bright, cheerful, and playful tone is an excellent match for the Resident Ghost's energetic and lighthearted approach to the afterlife, full of character and jokes.”
Female · Young · Character-Voice · Social-Media · Entertainment · Bright · +9 more
“Luna Snow's energetic and playful tone, bright and clear, perfectly captures the Resident Ghost's friendly and witty personality, ideal for sharing jokes.”
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Pleasant
“Allison's warm, confident, and natural conversational style would bring a friendly and engaging presence to the Resident Ghost, making his jokes land with genuine warmth.”
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Cute
“Liberty's expressive and engaging young female voice, with a charismatic reading style, could portray the Resident Ghost's playful and characterful nature, even if the voice is female for a male character, it fits the 'ghost' aspect of not being strictly bound by physical form.”
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“Jasmine's warm, kind, and conversational voice, with a natural storytelling quality, would allow the Resident Ghost to deliver his jokes and anecdotes with a friendly and inviting tone.”