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Not a Word
A man’s world is upended after he finds his father and a woman who isn’t his mother dead in the family home—and his mother goes missing.
Every family has secrets, but when Reece visits his parents’ home he’s shocked to find his father and a woman he assumes is his mother in bed. Dead. At first glance it looks like a murder-suicide perpetrated by his father, but on closer inspection there’s clearly more to the story. For starters, inconsistencies in the crime scene suggest his dad may not have shot himself.
As Reece, shaken by his horrifying discovery, awaits questioning from the police, his phone lights up. It’s a call from his mom—his real mom. The dead woman in that bed is clearly not the person Reece believed her to be.
His mom is at a lunch date with friends, she says, and can’t raise her husband on the phone. Could Reece drop by and see if everything’s okay? At a loss for how to tell his mother her husband is dead in bed with another woman, Reece simply tells “Come home now.”
But instead of rushing home, she disappears. Could she have been involved? Was she seeking revenge on her husband and a mistress? Or, just as frightening, did someone kill Reece’s father and that woman, thinking wrongly that Reece’s mother had been dispatched?
And what might this grisly scene have to do with the unscrupulous pharma company Reece’s father worked for years ago?
Soon Reece finds himself questioning how well he really knew his parents—who they were, what they did, and who they hurt. Most importantly, he needs to figure out who might want to hurt him and his own family now.
Every family has secrets, but when Reece visits his parents’ home he’s shocked to find his father and a woman he assumes is his mother in bed. Dead. At first glance it looks like a murder-suicide perpetrated by his father, but on closer inspection there’s clearly more to the story. For starters, inconsistencies in the crime scene suggest his dad may not have shot himself.
As Reece, shaken by his horrifying discovery, awaits questioning from the police, his phone lights up. It’s a call from his mom—his real mom. The dead woman in that bed is clearly not the person Reece believed her to be.
His mom is at a lunch date with friends, she says, and can’t raise her husband on the phone. Could Reece drop by and see if everything’s okay? At a loss for how to tell his mother her husband is dead in bed with another woman, Reece simply tells “Come home now.”
But instead of rushing home, she disappears. Could she have been involved? Was she seeking revenge on her husband and a mistress? Or, just as frightening, did someone kill Reece’s father and that woman, thinking wrongly that Reece’s mother had been dispatched?
And what might this grisly scene have to do with the unscrupulous pharma company Reece’s father worked for years ago?
Soon Reece finds himself questioning how well he really knew his parents—who they were, what they did, and who they hurt. Most importantly, he needs to figure out who might want to hurt him and his own family now.
314 pages, Hardcover
First published August 25, 2026
About the author
Linwood Barclay
86 books7,560 followersLinwood Barclay is the #1 internationally bestselling author of seventeen novels for adults, including No Time for Goodbye, Trust Your Eyes and, most recently, A Noise Downstairs. He has also written two novels for children and screenplays.
Three of those seventeen novels comprise the epic Promise Falls trilogy: Broken Promise, Far From True, and The Twenty-Three. His two novels for children – Chase and Escape – star a computer-enhanced dog named Chipper who’s on the run from the evil organization that turned him into a super-pup.
Barclay’s 2011 thriller, The Accident, has been turned into the six-part television series L’Accident in France, and he adapted his novel Never Saw it Coming for the movie, directed by Gail Harvey and starring Eric Roberts and Emily Hampshire. Several of his other books either have been, or still are, in development for TV and film.
After spending his formative years helping run a cottage resort and trailer park after his father died when he was 16, Barclay got his first newspaper job at the Peterborough Examiner, a small Ontario daily. In 1981, he joined the Toronto Star, Canada’s largest circulation newspaper.
He held such positions as assistant city editor, chief copy editor, news editor, and Life section editor, before becoming the paper’s humour columnist in 1993. He was one of the paper’s most popular columnists before retiring from the position in 2008 to work exclusively on books.
In 2004, he launched his mystery series about an anxiety-ridden, know-it-all, pain-in-the-butt father by the name of Zack Walker. Bad Move, the first book, was followed by three more Zack Walker thrillers: Bad Guys, Lone Wolf, and Stone Rain. (The last two were published in the UK under the titles Bad Luck and Bad News.)
His first standalone thriller, No Time for Goodbye, was published in 2007 to critical acclaim and great international success. The following year, it was a Richard and Judy Summer Read selection in the UK, and did seven straight weeks at #1 on the UK bestseller list, and finished 2008 as the top selling novel of the year there. The book has since been sold around the world and been translated into nearly thirty languages.
Barclay was born in the United States but moved to Canada just before turning four years old when his father, a commercial artist whose illustrations of cars appeared in Life, Look and Saturday Evening Post (before photography took over), accepted a position with an advertising agency north of the border. Barclay, who graduated with an English literature degree from Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, was fortunate to have some very fine mentors; in particular, the celebrated Canadian author Margaret Laurence, whom Linwood first met when she served as writer-in-residence at Trent, and Kenneth Millar, who, under the name Ross Macdonald, wrote the acclaimed series of mystery novels featuring detective Lew Archer. It was at Trent that he met Neetha, the woman who would become his wife. They have two grown children, Spencer and Paige.
Three of those seventeen novels comprise the epic Promise Falls trilogy: Broken Promise, Far From True, and The Twenty-Three. His two novels for children – Chase and Escape – star a computer-enhanced dog named Chipper who’s on the run from the evil organization that turned him into a super-pup.
Barclay’s 2011 thriller, The Accident, has been turned into the six-part television series L’Accident in France, and he adapted his novel Never Saw it Coming for the movie, directed by Gail Harvey and starring Eric Roberts and Emily Hampshire. Several of his other books either have been, or still are, in development for TV and film.
After spending his formative years helping run a cottage resort and trailer park after his father died when he was 16, Barclay got his first newspaper job at the Peterborough Examiner, a small Ontario daily. In 1981, he joined the Toronto Star, Canada’s largest circulation newspaper.
He held such positions as assistant city editor, chief copy editor, news editor, and Life section editor, before becoming the paper’s humour columnist in 1993. He was one of the paper’s most popular columnists before retiring from the position in 2008 to work exclusively on books.
In 2004, he launched his mystery series about an anxiety-ridden, know-it-all, pain-in-the-butt father by the name of Zack Walker. Bad Move, the first book, was followed by three more Zack Walker thrillers: Bad Guys, Lone Wolf, and Stone Rain. (The last two were published in the UK under the titles Bad Luck and Bad News.)
His first standalone thriller, No Time for Goodbye, was published in 2007 to critical acclaim and great international success. The following year, it was a Richard and Judy Summer Read selection in the UK, and did seven straight weeks at #1 on the UK bestseller list, and finished 2008 as the top selling novel of the year there. The book has since been sold around the world and been translated into nearly thirty languages.
Barclay was born in the United States but moved to Canada just before turning four years old when his father, a commercial artist whose illustrations of cars appeared in Life, Look and Saturday Evening Post (before photography took over), accepted a position with an advertising agency north of the border. Barclay, who graduated with an English literature degree from Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, was fortunate to have some very fine mentors; in particular, the celebrated Canadian author Margaret Laurence, whom Linwood first met when she served as writer-in-residence at Trent, and Kenneth Millar, who, under the name Ross Macdonald, wrote the acclaimed series of mystery novels featuring detective Lew Archer. It was at Trent that he met Neetha, the woman who would become his wife. They have two grown children, Spencer and Paige.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 345 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 STARS
Love this author, and this one did not disappoint!
This family has more secrets than your favorite haunted house. There is a crime scene and things are not adding up.
AND... the plot thickens. 😲
"Someone knows." Has someone figured it out? Boy, the unexpected turn of events had me and Detective Janice McCabe questioning everything. A manipulative person who may regret their actions. Is it time to call "the fixer"?
The twists and turns really kept the pages moving.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my ARC! OUT on Aug 25, 2026
Love this author, and this one did not disappoint!
This family has more secrets than your favorite haunted house. There is a crime scene and things are not adding up.
AND... the plot thickens. 😲
"Someone knows." Has someone figured it out? Boy, the unexpected turn of events had me and Detective Janice McCabe questioning everything. A manipulative person who may regret their actions. Is it time to call "the fixer"?
The twists and turns really kept the pages moving.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my ARC! OUT on Aug 25, 2026
August 25, 2026
Reece stumbles upon a crime at his parents’ house, which turns into a rabbit hole of secrets and betrayals. Like a ton! This family certainly doesn’t hold back.
This didn’t have the same feel of other Barclay novels I have read. The characters themselves all seemed super one dimensional and some of their conversations seemed unnatural…one example would be the phone call regarding a handbag (no spoilers). It just didn’t seem realistic to me. Another issue I had was with the investigator. Everyone kept hanging up on her or not following her orders. One thing that I personally need in a novel is a realistic investigation. Everyone involved just seemed to be making unintelligent choices, not bad ones just not smart ones. Long story short, I just had a real hard time connecting with the characters and actions.
As for the positives…this definitely was a page turner and I wanted to know how this whole thing would turn out. Finally, at the end, we do get some emotional depth from a few characters. Everything was answered and ended satisfactorily.
This wasn’t my favorite by this author, but others certainly have enjoyed this more than me, so please check out their fabulous reviews.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This didn’t have the same feel of other Barclay novels I have read. The characters themselves all seemed super one dimensional and some of their conversations seemed unnatural…one example would be the phone call regarding a handbag (no spoilers). It just didn’t seem realistic to me. Another issue I had was with the investigator. Everyone kept hanging up on her or not following her orders. One thing that I personally need in a novel is a realistic investigation. Everyone involved just seemed to be making unintelligent choices, not bad ones just not smart ones. Long story short, I just had a real hard time connecting with the characters and actions.
As for the positives…this definitely was a page turner and I wanted to know how this whole thing would turn out. Finally, at the end, we do get some emotional depth from a few characters. Everything was answered and ended satisfactorily.
This wasn’t my favorite by this author, but others certainly have enjoyed this more than me, so please check out their fabulous reviews.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2026
Wow…this book drew me in, right from the beginning!
I read 70% of it in one sitting, because once I started I couldn’t put it down.
I probably could have read all of it in one sitting, but it was getting really late and my eyes were dry from staring at my Kindle for so long.
Suffice to say, this book is fast-paced and once you start reading it, it’s hard to take a break!
This is my first time reading Linwood Barclay, although people have been recommending his books to me for a few years and now I see why.
I will definitely be reading more of his books!
Reece stops by his parent’s house only to discover them both dead in their bed, and it appears to be a murder-suicide.
But shortly after that, he receives a phone call from his mom.
She’s clearly alive..so who was the woman in bed with his dad?
There were a lot of characters in this book, but for some reason I didn’t find it difficult to keep up with all of them like I occasionally do in some books.
It seems like most of the books that I read take place in the US or the UK, so a Canadian setting was a nice change.
This book really reminded me of the adage “we’re only as sick as our secrets”.
Like my friend Jayme mentioned in her review, I also got teary-eyed at the end, and I was not expecting that to happen.
Many thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC to review.
I read 70% of it in one sitting, because once I started I couldn’t put it down.
I probably could have read all of it in one sitting, but it was getting really late and my eyes were dry from staring at my Kindle for so long.
Suffice to say, this book is fast-paced and once you start reading it, it’s hard to take a break!
This is my first time reading Linwood Barclay, although people have been recommending his books to me for a few years and now I see why.
I will definitely be reading more of his books!
Reece stops by his parent’s house only to discover them both dead in their bed, and it appears to be a murder-suicide.
But shortly after that, he receives a phone call from his mom.
She’s clearly alive..so who was the woman in bed with his dad?
There were a lot of characters in this book, but for some reason I didn’t find it difficult to keep up with all of them like I occasionally do in some books.
It seems like most of the books that I read take place in the US or the UK, so a Canadian setting was a nice change.
This book really reminded me of the adage “we’re only as sick as our secrets”.
Like my friend Jayme mentioned in her review, I also got teary-eyed at the end, and I was not expecting that to happen.
Many thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC to review.
September 8, 2026
The premise?! So good. The first half?! Amazing. But the second half ruined it all for me.
Reece returns home and finds his parents shot dead in bed, with his father still holding the gun. The police decide to rule it a murder-suicide until Reece's mom calls him and asks about his dad. If his mom is alive, then who's the woman lying beside his father? Why did he shoot her and then himself? Or did someone else kill them both and arrange the crime scene to make it look that way? Reece and the police detective set out to find the truth and, in the process, unearth even more secrets that the family has been hiding.
This started out great but kind of lost me after the halfway point. The author's writing is just as wonderful in this one as it was in the first book I read from him. He pulls you in immediately and keeps you glued to the pages by giving you the right information at exactly the right time. He leads you toward the clues and reveals them in the upcoming pages, and I really liked this style cuz it keeps you intrigued about what other secrets could possibly be hiding if all the information is being revealed as and when you figure things out.
This kept me hooked until the halfway point, but then the dual timelines merged and we had a particular character, Crane, from the past come back into the scene and that's where I lost interest in the story. I didn't really understand his motivations or his actions. There was a valid reason for what he did in the past, but now?! Nothing.
So when this book turned into a cat-and-mouse chase with Crane at the center of it all, I knew it was going to end without much satisfaction, and I was right. The final reveal leading up to it didn't have much of an effect on me, and even though it pains me to say this, I have to admit that this book isn't much of a mystery thriller but more of a messy family drama. And I probably would've enjoyed it more if I'd gone in with the right expectations.
Overall, if you want complicated family dynamics with a bit of mystery and flawed characters, you might want to give this a try. But don't go in looking for a satisfying and fulfilling mystery thriller.
✨Pre-read:
I read another book by this author last year (Whistle), and it totally exceeded my expectations (such an underrated book too, so do check that out if you haven't already). So I'm curious whether he's gonna be a one-hit wonder or a potential new fav author.
Reece returns home and finds his parents shot dead in bed, with his father still holding the gun. The police decide to rule it a murder-suicide until Reece's mom calls him and asks about his dad. If his mom is alive, then who's the woman lying beside his father? Why did he shoot her and then himself? Or did someone else kill them both and arrange the crime scene to make it look that way? Reece and the police detective set out to find the truth and, in the process, unearth even more secrets that the family has been hiding.
This started out great but kind of lost me after the halfway point. The author's writing is just as wonderful in this one as it was in the first book I read from him. He pulls you in immediately and keeps you glued to the pages by giving you the right information at exactly the right time. He leads you toward the clues and reveals them in the upcoming pages, and I really liked this style cuz it keeps you intrigued about what other secrets could possibly be hiding if all the information is being revealed as and when you figure things out.
This kept me hooked until the halfway point, but then the dual timelines merged and we had a particular character, Crane, from the past come back into the scene and that's where I lost interest in the story. I didn't really understand his motivations or his actions. There was a valid reason for what he did in the past, but now?! Nothing.
So when this book turned into a cat-and-mouse chase with Crane at the center of it all, I knew it was going to end without much satisfaction, and I was right. The final reveal leading up to it didn't have much of an effect on me, and even though it pains me to say this, I have to admit that this book isn't much of a mystery thriller but more of a messy family drama. And I probably would've enjoyed it more if I'd gone in with the right expectations.
Overall, if you want complicated family dynamics with a bit of mystery and flawed characters, you might want to give this a try. But don't go in looking for a satisfying and fulfilling mystery thriller.
✨Pre-read:
I read another book by this author last year (Whistle), and it totally exceeded my expectations (such an underrated book too, so do check that out if you haven't already). So I'm curious whether he's gonna be a one-hit wonder or a potential new fav author.
September 14, 2026
A white-knuckle ride of dark family secrets and well-timed plot reversals, Not a Word had me hooked from the very moment I finished the first jaw-dropping chapter. Starting off with a bang that drew me in deep, I inhaled 90% of this knockout in one single sitting. With well-hidden motives, oodles of suspects, and a whiplash-inducing plot full of clever twists and turns, Barclay stunned me yet again with a murder mystery that had a intoxicating family drama at its core. Deeply dysfunctional and hiding a handful of life-altering secrets, betrayals, and lies, the tension was palpable in this onion-like plot. You see, everyone had at least a few morally gray bones in their body—even if their actions were often for the very best reason. Exploring loyalty, greed, and ethical ambiguity, this book wasn’t just a fast-paced whodunnit—it also hit hard with heartfelt emotion.
So what else can I say about this dark, twisty rollercoaster ride of murder, intrigue, and corruption? Well, at the center of it all was a scheme that had a very Harlan Coben-meets-Charlie Donlea feel with a touch of Shari Lapena’s riveting domestic thrills. Combining a complicated mystery balancing misdirection and deceit with emotional insight and deeply human characters, it was the full package of poignancy and suspense for this diehard Barclay fan. Paired with the short, cliffhanger chapters, multiple POVs, and converging past-and-present timelines, and it was no surprise at all that I was hooked from beginning to end of this shockingly emotional tale. After all, the ending caught me off guard when the fallout hit this messy family hard. So as long as you don’t mind suspending your disbelief, you’re in for quite the binge-worthy treat. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Short chapters
- Dysfunctional families
- Multiple POVs
- Past/present timelines
- Fast pacing
- Complex storylines
- Family drama
- Murder mysteries
- Twisty plotting
- Morally gray characters
- Emotional depth
- Dark family secrets
SYNOPSIS:
Every family has secrets, but when Reece visits his parents’ house, he’s shocked to find them in bed, dead. At first glance it looks like a murder-suicide perpetrated by his father, but on closer inspection there’s clearly more to the story. For starters, inconsistencies in the crime scene suggest his dad may not have shot himself.
As Reece, shaken by his horrifying discovery, awaits questioning from the police, his phone lights up with a call. It’s the last person he ever would have expected to hear from.
Reeling from the day’s events, Reece finds himself questioning everything he thought he knew about his parents—and whether he and his own family are in danger now. While the authorities work to untangle the baffling crime scene, Reece is pulled into a web of secrets linked to the unscrupulous pharma company his father worked for years ago.
In order to protect the people he loves most, he’ll have to dig deep into his own past to understand who his parents were, what they did, and who they hurt—before he ends up paying for their sins.
Thank you Linwood Barclay and William Morrow Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 25, 2026
Content warning: gun violence, death of a parent, murder, suicide, blood, vomit, emotional abuse, addiction, drug abuse/use, infidelity, blackmail, violence
So what else can I say about this dark, twisty rollercoaster ride of murder, intrigue, and corruption? Well, at the center of it all was a scheme that had a very Harlan Coben-meets-Charlie Donlea feel with a touch of Shari Lapena’s riveting domestic thrills. Combining a complicated mystery balancing misdirection and deceit with emotional insight and deeply human characters, it was the full package of poignancy and suspense for this diehard Barclay fan. Paired with the short, cliffhanger chapters, multiple POVs, and converging past-and-present timelines, and it was no surprise at all that I was hooked from beginning to end of this shockingly emotional tale. After all, the ending caught me off guard when the fallout hit this messy family hard. So as long as you don’t mind suspending your disbelief, you’re in for quite the binge-worthy treat. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Short chapters
- Dysfunctional families
- Multiple POVs
- Past/present timelines
- Fast pacing
- Complex storylines
- Family drama
- Murder mysteries
- Twisty plotting
- Morally gray characters
- Emotional depth
- Dark family secrets
SYNOPSIS:
Every family has secrets, but when Reece visits his parents’ house, he’s shocked to find them in bed, dead. At first glance it looks like a murder-suicide perpetrated by his father, but on closer inspection there’s clearly more to the story. For starters, inconsistencies in the crime scene suggest his dad may not have shot himself.
As Reece, shaken by his horrifying discovery, awaits questioning from the police, his phone lights up with a call. It’s the last person he ever would have expected to hear from.
Reeling from the day’s events, Reece finds himself questioning everything he thought he knew about his parents—and whether he and his own family are in danger now. While the authorities work to untangle the baffling crime scene, Reece is pulled into a web of secrets linked to the unscrupulous pharma company his father worked for years ago.
In order to protect the people he loves most, he’ll have to dig deep into his own past to understand who his parents were, what they did, and who they hurt—before he ends up paying for their sins.
Thank you Linwood Barclay and William Morrow Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 25, 2026
Content warning: gun violence, death of a parent, murder, suicide, blood, vomit, emotional abuse, addiction, drug abuse/use, infidelity, blackmail, violence
August 9, 2026
Linwood Barclay is a genius! I have loved every book that I have read by this author and his new one Not A Word is just brilliant.
The Chartwell Family appears to be a normal, happy family from the outside. We soon discover that there are a multitude of secrets and lies in this family that lead to a horrific tragedy. Reece is just popping in to check on his folks, say hi, have a coffee, you know as you do. The last thing he expects to find them in bed with blood everywhere and a gun by his father’s hand. The police arrive and then he receives a phone call that turns everything on its head.
This book is pretty impossible to put down. I was hooked from the very beginning and got so invested in this story that I just had to know. The ending… wow! 😮 it is suspenseful and dark and twisty, everything that you want from a great thriller.
The characters are all so well written. They are realistic, flawed and very believable. None of them are perfect, and I think that makes a huge difference in a story. It is very much a family drama, a family that find themselves in an impossible situation.
I will read anything that Linwood Barclay writes. I loved his foray into horror with Whistle, but his thrillers are so addictive.
Thank you so much to William Morrow for my early copy on NetGalley to read. Out on August 25th. A. Just read.
The Chartwell Family appears to be a normal, happy family from the outside. We soon discover that there are a multitude of secrets and lies in this family that lead to a horrific tragedy. Reece is just popping in to check on his folks, say hi, have a coffee, you know as you do. The last thing he expects to find them in bed with blood everywhere and a gun by his father’s hand. The police arrive and then he receives a phone call that turns everything on its head.
This book is pretty impossible to put down. I was hooked from the very beginning and got so invested in this story that I just had to know. The ending… wow! 😮 it is suspenseful and dark and twisty, everything that you want from a great thriller.
The characters are all so well written. They are realistic, flawed and very believable. None of them are perfect, and I think that makes a huge difference in a story. It is very much a family drama, a family that find themselves in an impossible situation.
I will read anything that Linwood Barclay writes. I loved his foray into horror with Whistle, but his thrillers are so addictive.
Thank you so much to William Morrow for my early copy on NetGalley to read. Out on August 25th. A. Just read.
September 14, 2026
A twisted blend of domestic thriller and police procedural, my first book by
Linwood Barclay
was the perfect dark mix! Reece finds his parents at home in bed in what looks to be a murder-suicide. Yet before he is even able to leave the crime scene, his phone rings—it's his mom. So who is in the bed with his dad, and is it really what it looks like?
Reece has a family of his own—a wife and son—and a brother who is an addict, all of whom are affected by the deaths in unique ways. The interpersonal relationships are messy and believable—to a point—while through past and present timelines readers get to learn the background on Reece's parents and what may have led to the present situation. There are tightly woven layers, an insidious conspiracy, and hidden agendas, along with a need to suspend disbelief regarding what initially started everything and some character decisions. The short punchy chapters that end on cliffhangers make this a gripping, fast-paced read that I binged quickly!
The dual narration of Nan McNamara and Johnathan McClain for the audiobook made for a captivating experience and only added to the "just one more chapter" intensity.
Armchair detectives who enjoy toxic family dynamics, dark themes (and even darker secrets), and twisted behaviors will enjoy putting their thinking caps on for NOT A WORD!
____
Thank you to William Morow Books and Harper Audio for my free copies. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.
Reece has a family of his own—a wife and son—and a brother who is an addict, all of whom are affected by the deaths in unique ways. The interpersonal relationships are messy and believable—to a point—while through past and present timelines readers get to learn the background on Reece's parents and what may have led to the present situation. There are tightly woven layers, an insidious conspiracy, and hidden agendas, along with a need to suspend disbelief regarding what initially started everything and some character decisions. The short punchy chapters that end on cliffhangers make this a gripping, fast-paced read that I binged quickly!
The dual narration of Nan McNamara and Johnathan McClain for the audiobook made for a captivating experience and only added to the "just one more chapter" intensity.
Armchair detectives who enjoy toxic family dynamics, dark themes (and even darker secrets), and twisted behaviors will enjoy putting their thinking caps on for NOT A WORD!
____
Thank you to William Morow Books and Harper Audio for my free copies. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.
September 3, 2026
4⭐️ This thriller started off with a bang right from the start and was a real page turner for me!
Reece is dropping off books to his Dad but finds his parents shot dead in their bed. At first glance it looks like a murder/suicide. But things quickly turn much more nefarious and it’s not at all as it appears.
Reece’s Dad and Mom harbored a few secrets for many years and it’s all about to come out. Reeces addict brother and even his 14 year old son Gage are complicit.
Fast paced and twisty I was surprised at all the turns the story took! Great ending too!
Thanks to William Morrow Publishers and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Reece is dropping off books to his Dad but finds his parents shot dead in their bed. At first glance it looks like a murder/suicide. But things quickly turn much more nefarious and it’s not at all as it appears.
Reece’s Dad and Mom harbored a few secrets for many years and it’s all about to come out. Reeces addict brother and even his 14 year old son Gage are complicit.
Fast paced and twisty I was surprised at all the turns the story took! Great ending too!
Thanks to William Morrow Publishers and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 26, 2026
Just got this yesterday on audible and I devoured it.
Linwood Barclay can't write a bad book.
This story centers on a family named the Chartwells and the pharmaceutical industry.
Brent Chartwell is found in bed with a woman by his son Reece. Both Brent and his mistress were presumed to have been murdered.
The story then goes to the past when Brent first started working for big pharma. He thought him and his wife Katherine had it made until he witnessed the dark side and what money does to people.
Detective McCabe is also on the case in the present. What looks like a murder- suicide might not be.
Lots of twists in this book. A definite page turner.
Linwood Barclay can't write a bad book.
This story centers on a family named the Chartwells and the pharmaceutical industry.
Brent Chartwell is found in bed with a woman by his son Reece. Both Brent and his mistress were presumed to have been murdered.
The story then goes to the past when Brent first started working for big pharma. He thought him and his wife Katherine had it made until he witnessed the dark side and what money does to people.
Detective McCabe is also on the case in the present. What looks like a murder- suicide might not be.
Lots of twists in this book. A definite page turner.
September 10, 2026
➡️ Not too many words of praise for this "Not A Word" book.
Except that it was not my favorite Linwood Barkley thriller.
➡️ A son discovers his dead father in bed with another dead woman.
Who is the dead woman, and why were his father and this mystery woman murdered?
➡️ Lacked the sizzle and intrigue expected from this author.
The twists were underwhelming and, at times, the narrative veered off course.
The ending was far-fetched and eye-rolling.
➡️ I listened to the 10-hour audiobook expertly narrated by Nan McNamara and Johnathan McClain.
Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more had it been a 7-hour book with a more grounded ending?
March 7, 2026
Received an Arc from NetGalley.
This was my first time reading a book by Linwood Barclay, and now I definitely want to read more! The story drew me in from page one, and kept me intrigued the whole time. I liked how the story got told from each character’s perspective, and we also got to flash back to 1999 to get more back story. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a dark thriller full of family secrets!
This was my first time reading a book by Linwood Barclay, and now I definitely want to read more! The story drew me in from page one, and kept me intrigued the whole time. I liked how the story got told from each character’s perspective, and we also got to flash back to 1999 to get more back story. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a dark thriller full of family secrets!
September 14, 2026
RATING: 3.5 ⭐ rounded up
GENRE: Psychological Thriller
When Reece visits his parent's home to return some books, he is horrified to find them dead from an apparent murder-suicide. As the police converge on the scene, a shaken Reece gets in incoming call on his cell from his mother Catherine. But if Catherine is alive and well and on the other end of the line, who is the dead woman in his father's bed? What starts as a seemingly tragic domestic, quickly unravels into a chaotic web of secrets and lies that goes back decades and Reece is thrust into a nightmare he's not sure how he can wake from.
🥳 What I loved
Premise: That initial hook grabbed me by the throat and set the pace for this very quick read. What could be more intriguing than an opening chapter where in incoming call is coming from a dead woman's cell phone?
Format: I loved the dual timeline and short, multi-POV chapters and the mini-reveals that came along with them. I'm not often a fan of too many POV but it worked for me here.
Characters: Honestly, I didn't love all the characters, but I think that was the point. Barclay's wit and talent for bringing his characters to life is one of the reasons I keep coming back to his books. I have to say that I had a soft spot for Holden!
Ending: 😭😭😭
🤔 Things that held me back
Pacing: I did find the momentum hit a bit of a snag in the middle, but the beginning and last 30% really made up for it.
Suspension of disbelief: Ok, so no surprises here, cause this is a trademark of Barclay's novels (at least in my experience!). There are many leaps of logic, coincidences and questionable character decisions here, so these need to be taken at face value 😅
Final Verdict
A fun, solid thriller that had me tearful at the end, I would recommend it for fans of the author.
GENRE: Psychological Thriller
When Reece visits his parent's home to return some books, he is horrified to find them dead from an apparent murder-suicide. As the police converge on the scene, a shaken Reece gets in incoming call on his cell from his mother Catherine. But if Catherine is alive and well and on the other end of the line, who is the dead woman in his father's bed? What starts as a seemingly tragic domestic, quickly unravels into a chaotic web of secrets and lies that goes back decades and Reece is thrust into a nightmare he's not sure how he can wake from.
🥳 What I loved
Premise: That initial hook grabbed me by the throat and set the pace for this very quick read. What could be more intriguing than an opening chapter where in incoming call is coming from a dead woman's cell phone?
Format: I loved the dual timeline and short, multi-POV chapters and the mini-reveals that came along with them. I'm not often a fan of too many POV but it worked for me here.
Characters: Honestly, I didn't love all the characters, but I think that was the point. Barclay's wit and talent for bringing his characters to life is one of the reasons I keep coming back to his books. I have to say that I had a soft spot for Holden!
Ending: 😭😭😭
🤔 Things that held me back
Pacing: I did find the momentum hit a bit of a snag in the middle, but the beginning and last 30% really made up for it.
Suspension of disbelief: Ok, so no surprises here, cause this is a trademark of Barclay's novels (at least in my experience!). There are many leaps of logic, coincidences and questionable character decisions here, so these need to be taken at face value 😅
Final Verdict
A fun, solid thriller that had me tearful at the end, I would recommend it for fans of the author.
August 27, 2026
I have never been so buzzing to be approved for a book on NetGalley. Linwood Barclay is my favourite author OF ALL TIME. I hate to say this but this was my least favourite of his books. (Haven’t read Whistle yet)
It was a good story and I read it in 2 days. But it wasn’t what I would call gripping, it dragged over the period of just a day or two. If you didn’t tell me who had written this I would have never have guessed Linwood Barclay. So different to his normal style.
There was a good mystery here and you are trying to investigate the clues along with the detective and the family involved. A good solid domestic thriller.
But… if you have never read a LB book before, I beg you, please to pick up No Time For Goodbye, The Promise Falls Trilogy, Never Look Away, The Noise Downstairs etc… absolutely excellent detective/crime/mystery thriller books.
This one is fine for a quick read as a palette cleanser between heavier more bulked out books with more depth.
Thank you @netgalley for my digital copy of this book to read and review.
It was a good story and I read it in 2 days. But it wasn’t what I would call gripping, it dragged over the period of just a day or two. If you didn’t tell me who had written this I would have never have guessed Linwood Barclay. So different to his normal style.
There was a good mystery here and you are trying to investigate the clues along with the detective and the family involved. A good solid domestic thriller.
But… if you have never read a LB book before, I beg you, please to pick up No Time For Goodbye, The Promise Falls Trilogy, Never Look Away, The Noise Downstairs etc… absolutely excellent detective/crime/mystery thriller books.
This one is fine for a quick read as a palette cleanser between heavier more bulked out books with more depth.
Thank you @netgalley for my digital copy of this book to read and review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Last year, I read a horror novel by this author, so I had to dive into this thriller, as mystery really is my thing!
Reece's life shatters when he discovers his father dead alongside a woman in their home, with his mother missing. Initially suspected as a murder-suicide, Reece learns the dead woman is not his mother when she calls him from a lunch date. As he grapples with the shocking revelations, including the possible connections to a corrupt pharmaceutical company, Reece must uncover the truth about his family's secrets and the potential threats they now face.
The story unfolds through several perspectives, including Reece, Detective McCabe, Alicia, Crane, and Gage. The timeline shifts around a bit, giving us insight into what triggered Holden's troubling behavior that led him down the path of addiction. His childhood trauma has resurfaced, and letting go of the past proves to be a real struggle, as it heavily influences his poor choices in the future. This novel is a complex tale of a dysfunctional family, leaving you on an emotional rollercoaster! Tensions run high, and the stakes keep escalating as each character fights to protect their family and the secrets intertwined with it. Honestly, my head is still spinning!
I loved how everything came together; the coincidences are neatly explained, which ensures you won't be left with a million unanswered questions. Instead, you get a satisfying conclusion. I appreciated the sharp detective work from Reece, who starts noticing inconsistencies at the crime scene, leading him to suspect that he might be dealing with a murder. And then, when the mother goes missing, you definitely start to smell a rat! There will be moments when you're full of questions, but keep reading because everything eventually clicks into place, with twists and turns popping up along the way.
This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys stories about large families and the dark secrets they keep. If you like playing detective and piecing together clues, or if you're seeking a complex family drama with a mystery at its core, this one’s for you. It's clever and suspenseful, ensuring you'll want to keep reading, even if the pace varies a bit. With a full cast of characters, it’s easy to keep track of who’s who and who did what. Still, the main question lingers until the very end: who committed the crime, and what happened that night that altered the family's dynamics forever? Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to check my birth certificate to be sure! Ha!
Thank you, William Morrow and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Reece's life shatters when he discovers his father dead alongside a woman in their home, with his mother missing. Initially suspected as a murder-suicide, Reece learns the dead woman is not his mother when she calls him from a lunch date. As he grapples with the shocking revelations, including the possible connections to a corrupt pharmaceutical company, Reece must uncover the truth about his family's secrets and the potential threats they now face.
The story unfolds through several perspectives, including Reece, Detective McCabe, Alicia, Crane, and Gage. The timeline shifts around a bit, giving us insight into what triggered Holden's troubling behavior that led him down the path of addiction. His childhood trauma has resurfaced, and letting go of the past proves to be a real struggle, as it heavily influences his poor choices in the future. This novel is a complex tale of a dysfunctional family, leaving you on an emotional rollercoaster! Tensions run high, and the stakes keep escalating as each character fights to protect their family and the secrets intertwined with it. Honestly, my head is still spinning!
I loved how everything came together; the coincidences are neatly explained, which ensures you won't be left with a million unanswered questions. Instead, you get a satisfying conclusion. I appreciated the sharp detective work from Reece, who starts noticing inconsistencies at the crime scene, leading him to suspect that he might be dealing with a murder. And then, when the mother goes missing, you definitely start to smell a rat! There will be moments when you're full of questions, but keep reading because everything eventually clicks into place, with twists and turns popping up along the way.
This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys stories about large families and the dark secrets they keep. If you like playing detective and piecing together clues, or if you're seeking a complex family drama with a mystery at its core, this one’s for you. It's clever and suspenseful, ensuring you'll want to keep reading, even if the pace varies a bit. With a full cast of characters, it’s easy to keep track of who’s who and who did what. Still, the main question lingers until the very end: who committed the crime, and what happened that night that altered the family's dynamics forever? Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to check my birth certificate to be sure! Ha!
Thank you, William Morrow and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 24, 2026
Wow, the banger of a first chapter this book has! 👏🏻 I was immediately invested in the story. I had never read a Linwood Barclay book before, but after hearing such incredible reviews of his book Whistle (on my tbr), I was excited to read this one and it did not disappoint.
There are several perspectives telling the story, and a dual timeline. In some ways, I fully anticipated the direction the book would go, and in other ways I fully did NOT. The first chapter was crazy, and the ending actually (surprisingly) had me a little emotional, but I will say that the middle dragged a little for me and became a bit repetitive. There was also one character in here that I could not stand start to finish, but they did add good conflict so 🤷🏻♀️
The ending was a great twist for me! If I had put in a lot of thought, I *might* have been able to figure it out, but it really took me by surprise and gave me a lot of feels. I love when that happens in a thriller of all genres!
I really enjoyed this one! I loved the focus on the familial relationships and it was easy enough to follow. I had a fun time with it.
🎧The audio was a good choice for this book! I personally just wasn’t a huge fan of the male narrator’s voice BUT he fit the MMC very well, so I was okay with it. I thought it was an interesting choice to have the female narrator voice the teenage boy, but it ended up not being a big deal. I’d still recommend the audio!
There are several perspectives telling the story, and a dual timeline. In some ways, I fully anticipated the direction the book would go, and in other ways I fully did NOT. The first chapter was crazy, and the ending actually (surprisingly) had me a little emotional, but I will say that the middle dragged a little for me and became a bit repetitive. There was also one character in here that I could not stand start to finish, but they did add good conflict so 🤷🏻♀️
The ending was a great twist for me! If I had put in a lot of thought, I *might* have been able to figure it out, but it really took me by surprise and gave me a lot of feels. I love when that happens in a thriller of all genres!
I really enjoyed this one! I loved the focus on the familial relationships and it was easy enough to follow. I had a fun time with it.
🎧The audio was a good choice for this book! I personally just wasn’t a huge fan of the male narrator’s voice BUT he fit the MMC very well, so I was okay with it. I thought it was an interesting choice to have the female narrator voice the teenage boy, but it ended up not being a big deal. I’d still recommend the audio!
August 2, 2026
Thank you so much to Netgalley for giving me this free advance copy, and I’m writing this review honestly and without bias.
Linwood Barclay is an author that never fails to deliver and has come up trumps again with Not A Word. It's well written with a solid plot with sharp to the point chapters. The pace is fast and turns up a few notches in the latter chapters. The characters are well portrayed and the twists keep coming and an absolute blinder with the final twist. You never know what plot you will get with this author but you do know you will be in for a great read. Enjoyed this one a lot
September 2, 2026
Reece, an unemployed journalist, visits his parents home and finds his father, Brent, shot dead in bed along with a woman Reece assumes is his mother but it turns out his mother is fine - the woman shot with Brent is a mystery. Detective Janice is puzzled by the lack of motive for this alleged murder/suicide shooting especially since the woman with Brent wasn't his wife, Catherine. Horrifying family secrets are revealed and tied to a job Brent took decades ago with a pharmaceutical company that produced a highly addictive opioid that caused the deaths of hundreds of people. This is a beautifully constructed puzzle resulting in another outstanding suspense thriller from Linwood Barclay. 4.5 stars.
September 8, 2026
4.5 stars
First Barclay and won’t by my last.
This was a hella interconnected multi character story about murder, secrets and betrayal. I liked it.
First Barclay and won’t by my last.
This was a hella interconnected multi character story about murder, secrets and betrayal. I liked it.
August 20, 2026
not a word | linwood barclay
📖/🎧 book/audiobook review
pub date 08.25.26
narrated by: nan mcnamara + johnathon mcclain
length: 9h 27 min / 320 pages
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
thank you @williammorrowbooks + harper audio for my gifted ARC/ALC
this was my first book by this author & I was pleasantly surprised! a solid thriller that keeps you invested throughout.
reece is shaken up because he’s just discovered his parents dead in their bedroom, an apparent m*rder s*icide. but he’s even more shaken when he looks down at his ringing phone… and his mother is on the other line.
definitely pick this one up!! there are several layers to the story and it all comes together seamlessly in the end. there’s family drama/secrets/murders.. all the things 👌🏻 I really enjoyed it!
📖/🎧 book/audiobook review
pub date 08.25.26
narrated by: nan mcnamara + johnathon mcclain
length: 9h 27 min / 320 pages
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
thank you @williammorrowbooks + harper audio for my gifted ARC/ALC
this was my first book by this author & I was pleasantly surprised! a solid thriller that keeps you invested throughout.
reece is shaken up because he’s just discovered his parents dead in their bedroom, an apparent m*rder s*icide. but he’s even more shaken when he looks down at his ringing phone… and his mother is on the other line.
definitely pick this one up!! there are several layers to the story and it all comes together seamlessly in the end. there’s family drama/secrets/murders.. all the things 👌🏻 I really enjoyed it!
August 14, 2026
Not a Word
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Linwood Barclay
I received this ALC on NetGalley from the publisher and am giving my review.
I was excited to listen to this book as I recently read Whistle which I thoroughly enjoyed and this book did not disappoint.
I’m not even certain where to begin with this book but there was more twists and turns that I swore I have whiplash.
Without giving much away the story revolves around a husband who had worked for a big pharma giant and had been a top salesman selling a drug for pain that ended up killing many patients and they also found the company was corrupt and the company eventually went under.
The husband quit before that happened but not before all kinds of things started coming out. I cannot in good conscience tell any more but I went through so many people thinking about who was to blame but in the end I really hadn’t guessed who actually had committed the crimes.
If you want a fast paced thriller that will not only keep you guessing but have your head on a swivel then this is the book for you!
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Linwood Barclay
I received this ALC on NetGalley from the publisher and am giving my review.
I was excited to listen to this book as I recently read Whistle which I thoroughly enjoyed and this book did not disappoint.
I’m not even certain where to begin with this book but there was more twists and turns that I swore I have whiplash.
Without giving much away the story revolves around a husband who had worked for a big pharma giant and had been a top salesman selling a drug for pain that ended up killing many patients and they also found the company was corrupt and the company eventually went under.
The husband quit before that happened but not before all kinds of things started coming out. I cannot in good conscience tell any more but I went through so many people thinking about who was to blame but in the end I really hadn’t guessed who actually had committed the crimes.
If you want a fast paced thriller that will not only keep you guessing but have your head on a swivel then this is the book for you!
August 13, 2026
I was looking for 1. A thriller, and 2. Something that was close to Charlie Donlea’s writing. My friend said hwy show me what arcs you have and bam! She said NOT A WORD fit the bill and she was 100% right. It checked every box and more.
Reece and Holden are the sons of Brent and Catherine Chartwell and what looks like a wholesome family is anything but. This family is weighed down by secrets and betrayals out the wazoo!
I loved unraveling every secret and not knowing who was the culprit until the end. This was a very twisty, layered story that was easy to follow and fulfilled all my thriller loving desires! It addressed the weight of secrets, the consequences, and how it affects those who carry them.
Reece and Holden are the sons of Brent and Catherine Chartwell and what looks like a wholesome family is anything but. This family is weighed down by secrets and betrayals out the wazoo!
I loved unraveling every secret and not knowing who was the culprit until the end. This was a very twisty, layered story that was easy to follow and fulfilled all my thriller loving desires! It addressed the weight of secrets, the consequences, and how it affects those who carry them.
August 15, 2026
Super solid messy family drama god they’re all awful and stupid who gave them a gun
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A big thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this twisty psychological thriller.
All the Linwood Barclays books I have read so far have been so very different from thrillers to chilling horror books and all very exciting and also very different style books, but all brilliant.
Not a word is a real fast paced page turner and a pleasure to read.
Cant wait for more by this author.
4.5 stars
All the Linwood Barclays books I have read so far have been so very different from thrillers to chilling horror books and all very exciting and also very different style books, but all brilliant.
Not a word is a real fast paced page turner and a pleasure to read.
Cant wait for more by this author.
4.5 stars
May 17, 2026
Linwood Barclay always writes great thrillers! He does it again with this book. So many twists that I didn’t see coming. I definitely didn’t figure out the ending. Throughout the book I was suspicious of everybody! (Except the person who actually was guilty!) Great ARC that I received from NetGalley. The book will come out in August.
September 3, 2026
Unputdownable Escape Reading!
Not a Word is exactly the kind of thriller I want when I’m looking for an entertaining escape. It grabs your attention from the first page and holds it all the way to the last.
Barclay does an excellent job building suspense and keeping the story moving. Just when you think you understand what’s happening, another twist or revelation changes the picture. The characters, relationships and steadily mounting tension make it very easy to keep fingers turning the pages to find out what happens next.
Yes, the story requires some suspension of disbelief. There are a few instances where circumstances seem a little too convenient or characters make decisions that may have you raising an eyebrow. But none of that detracted from my interest in the story. I was having too much fun turning the pages to worry about picking apart some plot details.
And that’s really the bottom line: Not a Word delivers what a good thriller should. It’s suspenseful, unpredictable, fast-moving and, most importantly, unputdownable. I wanted to keep reading to see how everything would ultimately come together.
4½–5 stars. A thoroughly entertaining, twisty thriller and an excellent choice when you’re looking for an absorbing escape read.
Not a Word is exactly the kind of thriller I want when I’m looking for an entertaining escape. It grabs your attention from the first page and holds it all the way to the last.
Barclay does an excellent job building suspense and keeping the story moving. Just when you think you understand what’s happening, another twist or revelation changes the picture. The characters, relationships and steadily mounting tension make it very easy to keep fingers turning the pages to find out what happens next.
Yes, the story requires some suspension of disbelief. There are a few instances where circumstances seem a little too convenient or characters make decisions that may have you raising an eyebrow. But none of that detracted from my interest in the story. I was having too much fun turning the pages to worry about picking apart some plot details.
And that’s really the bottom line: Not a Word delivers what a good thriller should. It’s suspenseful, unpredictable, fast-moving and, most importantly, unputdownable. I wanted to keep reading to see how everything would ultimately come together.
4½–5 stars. A thoroughly entertaining, twisty thriller and an excellent choice when you’re looking for an absorbing escape read.
September 10, 2026
Reece goes over to his parents’ house to talk to his dad about something he’s struggling with in life, only to find his father shot dead in his bed, along with his mother. Except…it turns out it’s not his mother. From there, the book unravels the who, why, and how behind the murders.
This was a solid three-star thriller and a perfect palate cleanser for me. Although there’s never a shocking revelation, the kind that makes you yell “holy shit!” out loud, it’s a page-turner and the kind of book you just want to keep reading. Nothing groundbreaking, but an entertaining, easy read that kept me hooked.
This was a solid three-star thriller and a perfect palate cleanser for me. Although there’s never a shocking revelation, the kind that makes you yell “holy shit!” out loud, it’s a page-turner and the kind of book you just want to keep reading. Nothing groundbreaking, but an entertaining, easy read that kept me hooked.
September 7, 2026
When Reece stops by his parent’s home for a visit, he finds his parents dead from an apparent murder-suicide. As the police begin their investigation, he gets a call from his mother. So who’s the dead woman with his father. Over the next couple of days, he frantically searched for the truth, learning that his parents were not the people he thought they were.
With all the twists and turns that you expect from this master of the thriller genre, you won’t be disappointed.
With all the twists and turns that you expect from this master of the thriller genre, you won’t be disappointed.
May 4, 2026
Thank you to Net Galley and William Morrow for the ARC. #NotaWord
Linwood Barclay's novels are always interesting and Not a Word is no exception.
Life is just not going Reece's way lately. And it does not get any better when he drops by his parent's home unexpectedly to drop something off. When no one answers his greeting he makes a gruesome discovery in their bedroom. The police believe his father killed his mother and then himself. As Reece is taking a break from talking to the police, he gets a surprise call from his mother. Turns out it wasn't his mother in the bedroom after all. The ensuing investigation opens up long held family secrets and sets into motion events that can't be taken back.
This one was quite a ride. Every chapter or so it seemed there was a twist or turn in the story. I really enjoyed this book. The family was so full of drama. They really make you feel better about your own family! LOL! The pace was very good. I was interested in the story the whole way through. Also, something that Linwood is always good at is you think you may know who the killer is, but in his books you just can't be sure until the absolute very end. Overall, a great book!
Linwood Barclay's novels are always interesting and Not a Word is no exception.
Life is just not going Reece's way lately. And it does not get any better when he drops by his parent's home unexpectedly to drop something off. When no one answers his greeting he makes a gruesome discovery in their bedroom. The police believe his father killed his mother and then himself. As Reece is taking a break from talking to the police, he gets a surprise call from his mother. Turns out it wasn't his mother in the bedroom after all. The ensuing investigation opens up long held family secrets and sets into motion events that can't be taken back.
This one was quite a ride. Every chapter or so it seemed there was a twist or turn in the story. I really enjoyed this book. The family was so full of drama. They really make you feel better about your own family! LOL! The pace was very good. I was interested in the story the whole way through. Also, something that Linwood is always good at is you think you may know who the killer is, but in his books you just can't be sure until the absolute very end. Overall, a great book!
May 12, 2026
Thank you William Morrow Books for the advanced reader copy of Not A Word by Linwood Barclay.
Not A Word is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller that takes a seemingly straightforward tragedy and turns it into something far more complicated. Told through multiple POVs and flashbacks, the story slowly uncovers buried secrets, messy mistakes, and family tensions that run deep.
This book starts with a bang and hooked me immediately. As more pieces of the puzzle came together, the story stayed entertaining and suspenseful, even if most of the twists weren’t particularly shocking. I found myself predicting several reveals before they happened, so I never quite got that jaw-dropping moment I was hoping for. I also felt like the climax wrapped up a little too quickly after all the buildup.
Overall, though, this was a solid mystery thriller that kept me invested and eager to see how everything would unfold.
Not A Word is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller that takes a seemingly straightforward tragedy and turns it into something far more complicated. Told through multiple POVs and flashbacks, the story slowly uncovers buried secrets, messy mistakes, and family tensions that run deep.
This book starts with a bang and hooked me immediately. As more pieces of the puzzle came together, the story stayed entertaining and suspenseful, even if most of the twists weren’t particularly shocking. I found myself predicting several reveals before they happened, so I never quite got that jaw-dropping moment I was hoping for. I also felt like the climax wrapped up a little too quickly after all the buildup.
Overall, though, this was a solid mystery thriller that kept me invested and eager to see how everything would unfold.
September 9, 2026
2⭐️
I normally really like Linwood Barclay’s books but this one was a miss for me.
The characters were all consistently so behind on the investigation. It was really frustrating for me to read a section and make connections, only for several pages to go by waiting for the other characters to catch up and react to it. This happened several times and it felt really repetitive and caused the plot to drag hard.
The women in this really sucked. This book overall kind of came off as a bit of a bro-y thriller. All the female characters in this were very negatively depicted and/or victims in the situation.
I couldn’t stand any of the characters. Gage came off as a really bratty teenager and I cringed every time he was mentioned. Holden was a whiny pain in the ass. Reece was always three steps behind. Brent was put on a pedestal by everyone despite being a philandering asshole. Catherine was selfish, cold, and horrible to everyone. Alicia was a manipulative monster of a human. Diana deferred to her husband for everything and had no personality. The investigator McCabe was almost a good character but she seemed really weak at controlling the investigation and did not really command authority well enough to be the strong badass detective she should have been. Actually I can’t think of a single character I liked in this. Surely they weren’t ALL supposed to be unlikeable?
Then fast forward to the ending… implausible and annoying and anti-woman. Not elaborating more, as I want this to stay a spoiler-free review.
After reading several of Barclay’s books and enjoying nearly all of them, and deciding to preorder this one (I was so excited!)…I’m very disappointed. This is my least favourite I’ve read of his books and it is even making me question if I can continue to read an author who writes women so poorly. Do better, Barclay!
I normally really like Linwood Barclay’s books but this one was a miss for me.
The characters were all consistently so behind on the investigation. It was really frustrating for me to read a section and make connections, only for several pages to go by waiting for the other characters to catch up and react to it. This happened several times and it felt really repetitive and caused the plot to drag hard.
The women in this really sucked. This book overall kind of came off as a bit of a bro-y thriller. All the female characters in this were very negatively depicted and/or victims in the situation.
I couldn’t stand any of the characters. Gage came off as a really bratty teenager and I cringed every time he was mentioned. Holden was a whiny pain in the ass. Reece was always three steps behind. Brent was put on a pedestal by everyone despite being a philandering asshole. Catherine was selfish, cold, and horrible to everyone. Alicia was a manipulative monster of a human. Diana deferred to her husband for everything and had no personality. The investigator McCabe was almost a good character but she seemed really weak at controlling the investigation and did not really command authority well enough to be the strong badass detective she should have been. Actually I can’t think of a single character I liked in this. Surely they weren’t ALL supposed to be unlikeable?
Then fast forward to the ending… implausible and annoying and anti-woman. Not elaborating more, as I want this to stay a spoiler-free review.
After reading several of Barclay’s books and enjoying nearly all of them, and deciding to preorder this one (I was so excited!)…I’m very disappointed. This is my least favourite I’ve read of his books and it is even making me question if I can continue to read an author who writes women so poorly. Do better, Barclay!
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