Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Review: A Noise Downstairs by Linwood Barclay


New York Times Bestselling author Linwood Barclay has a new novel on bookshelves and Kerry Hammond wants to tell us about it.

A Noise Downstairs by Linwood Barclay was released in Hardcover on July 24, by William Morrow. Barclay is the author of nearly twenty novels, both standalones and series installments. I’ve read quite a few of his creations and I always enjoy the interesting plots that he cooks up. When I found out that A Noise Downstairs contained a possibly sinister vintage typewriter I was immediately hooked.

In A Noise Downstairs, Paul Davis is a college professor in Connecticut. His world is turned upside down when an encounter with a colleague turns into a nightmare. Davis catches another professor, Kenneth Hoffman, in the process of disposing of the bodies of two women he’s murdered. When Kenneth perceives Paul as a threat, he attempts to make him his third victim. Paul survives the encounter, but does not come out unscathed. He suffers from memory loss and a form of PTSD, which requires him to seek the help of a therapist.

Paul’s wife brings home a vintage typewriter to inspire his writing, and to cheer him up. He couldn’t be happier to receive such a gift, but the typewriter’s novelty soon wears off when Paul wakes in the night to hear it typing. All by itself. With no one in the house. As if it were possessed. What follows is Paul’s possible descent into madness and his struggle to deal with what happened with Kenneth Hoffman.

This book had a very unique premise and I love that. I couldn’t decide if the story was going to stay within the realm of reality or trail off into science fiction, but I was along for the ride and ready for whichever way it might take me. I think Barclay is a true storyteller and I enjoyed the ride, including the shout out to the vintage typewriter! There were more than a few twists and turns and I didn’t guess half of them. If you’re looking to be entertained by an interesting story, you’re in for a treat.


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