Whistle By Linwood Barclay Book Summary
Anyone who reads novels for pleasure will probably agree with this: sometimes you read a novel and it goes out of your mind as soon as you finish it. You move on to the next book without giving it much thought. But sometimes, you find a book that stays with you forever. Linwood Barclay’s new novel, Whistle, is one of those books. This is my spoiler-free quick review of that book.
I accidentally stumbled upon Linwood Barclay. I have a library app where I download a lot of audiobooks, and on long drives, I love to listen to stories. One day, I came across a book by an unfamiliar author, Linwood Barclay, and decided to give it a try. It was one of his Promise Falls books, and I loved it. After that, I listened to a few more books from the same series and also read a few of his standalone novels.
When I discovered that this author, who usually writes realistic crime and thriller fiction, was venturing into the world of supernatural thrillers and horror, like Stephen King, I was eager to read Whistle. The premise? Well, it centres around evil toy trains. I'm not sure if "haunted" is the right word, but these model trains are definitely possessed by some dark force.
I have a child who is about to go to first grade, and he loves trains. So maybe I shouldn't let him listen to the audiobook version of this book. Interestingly, in real life, Linwood Barclay is a model train enthusiast. He has a large train in his basement, and his love for trains comes through in this horror novel.
The story revolves around Anne Blunt, a children's book author who finds herself at the centre of a personal scandal. After some unexpected tragedies throw both her personal and professional lives into turmoil – most notably the death of her husband – Annie is put in an emotionally difficult position. Still, she is a likeable and engaging character to read about.
Looking for a fresh start, Annie takes her son Charlie and rents a cabin in the woods. What could go wrong, right? At this rental property, they find a locked shed. Of course, Charlie breaks into it, and inside they find a model train set. When he sets it up, strange things begin to happen.
I won’t go into too much detail about those strange things – you should read the book – but just know that it builds up slowly and steadily. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, action-packed thriller, this isn’t it. It’s a slow-burner, but completely engaging. Layer by layer, the tension builds, and you’ll find yourself desperate to find out what happens next. The suspense is real, and I loved that aspect.
While Anne Blunt's story takes place in the present day, another important part of the novel is set in 2001. It revolves around a town where a new train store mysteriously appears. Nobody can remember when it opened, but people started buying model trains from a strange man named Mr. Choo Choo. These two stories, though seemingly unrelated to one another, connect impressively at the end of the book.
There's tragedy, there's triumph, there's horror, and a constant sense of dread. Bad things happen to good people, just like in a Stephen King novel. Actually, the comparison to King is quite apt - except that Barclay's book has less obscenity and less graphic violence. If you're expecting something like Saw, this isn't it. The horror here is more psychological. It's rooted in fear and uneasiness, the kind that makes you turn the pages nervously.
But at its core, it's still a thriller. It has crime, murder, plot twists, and everything you would expect from a Linwood Barclay novel. If you are already a fan of his non-supernatural work, this is a logical next step. And it is a great step.
The climax of the book is satisfying. One thing about Barclay's style is that when the story is over, it's over. You won't find long epilogues or long conclusions. It's a little abrupt sometimes, but I appreciate that. I want a clear, clean ending rather than something that drags on with multiple sendoffs like the Return of the King movie.
What stood out the most, though, were the characters. They are well written and believable. As a writer, I love writing dialogue, especially. Linwood Barclay clearly does that too. He is a master at making his characters seem like real people. He doesn't make silly horror movie decisions, which is refreshing.
I won't give away too much about the plot, but this: I give Whistle one of my highest possible recommendations. I enjoyed it immensely, and I can't get it out of my mind. I really hope Linwood Barclay writes more books in the supernatural horror genre.
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