A Noise Downstairs

April 30, 2018
College professor Paul Davis, the protagonist of this fast-paced psychological thriller from bestseller Barclay (Parting Shot), has suffered from PTSD since the night his respected colleague and mentor, Kenneth Hoffman, attacked him outside their small town of Milford, Conn. Kenneth, who confessed to the murders of the two women whose bodies were in his car at the time, is now in prison. In order to encourage Paul, whose short-term memory has been spotty since the incident, to start work on a novel he wants to write, his wife brings home an old typewriter. Soon Paul begins hearing noises in the night coming from the typewriter, which happens to be much like the one Kenneth made his victims write their final notes on. Paul’s theory that the typewriter might be haunted has his wife and his therapist concerned that he might actually be losing his mind. But is there a more sinister answer? Barclay carefully conceals hidden motives and secret lives until the startling conclusion. Harlan Coben fans will find much to like. Five-city author tour. Agent: Helen Heller, Helen Heller Agency (Canada).

Linwood Barclay's spine-tingling thriller is masterfully narrated by George Newbern. Paul Davis is driving on a remote road when he stumbles upon a killer disposing of two bodies. Paul is brutally attacked but survives, and the killer is arrested. Months later, Paul, still in recovery, is taunted by increasingly bizarre sounds and messages in his house, which are connected to his attack and seem to be coming from a recently acquired antique typewriter. Newbern portrays an array of characters with impressive range. In particular, his affable style is perfect for Paul, the decent guy at the story's core. It also lulls the listener into a false sense of security, making it all the more jarring when Newbern delivers taught suspense, depraved motivations, and gobsmacking twists. A.T.N. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

February 15, 2018

Deeply disturbed after he surprises a murderer dumping bodies on a lonely, moon-scoured road, college professor Paul Davis is gifted with an old-fashioned typewriter by his worried wife. Great for writing that new novel--except Paul insists that the typewriter is doing its own typing at night, somehow in league with the murderer. With a 100,000-copy first printing.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2018

Two murders, one witness, a brutal assault, and a possessed vintage typewriter. Barclay (No Time for Goodbye) expertly weaves these details into a tantalizing psychological thriller. College professor Paul Davis is trying to help a friend when he stumbles onto the scene of a double murder. Eight months later, still recovering from the injuries inflicted on that fearful night, he wonders if he's gone insane. After all, he doesn't even remember conversations with his wife, Charlotte, who's been much more loving since the accident. When Paul decides to confront his fears by researching the man who brutally attacked him, Charlotte buys him a vintage typewriter to write about his feelings. His therapist Anna White isn't sure Paul's plan is a good idea but supports him anyway. As days pass, Paul's anxiety goes into overdrive. He now hears noises in the night and is convinced the murdered women are trying to contact him. Charlotte is as certain that he's either delusional or blacking out, while Anna doesn't know what to believe. At what point does a person know for sure they've lost their mind? VERDICT Prepared to be blindsided by an ending you didn't see coming. Barclay's nerve-wracking tale will have readers scared to close their eyes at night. [See Prepub Alert, 1/22/18.]--K.L. Romo, Duncanville, TX

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.