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Zack Walker #2
Bad Guys
“Fans of the crime caper will rejoice” that Linwood Barclay is back with the hilarious follow-up to his “riotously funny and irreverent” debut, in which paranoid pop Zack Walker plotted to transplant his city-savvy wife and two teenage kids to the tranquillity of the burbs–where planned communities prevail and fathers rest easy. Well, not quite…and now the Walkers have moved home only to find themselves living in the precarious crosshairs of urban sprawl once again, and Zack can’t help but be worried–really worried–that just around the corner lurks the presence of some really bad guys.
Zack is back, and much to his family’s relief, the work-at-home science-fiction writer has left the house to take a job as a features writer for the city paper. But now that Zack’s incessant plotting can no longer be hatched from the comforts of his own home, he must be ever more vigilant to outwit the evil at large, whether in the suburbs, the city, or his own imagination. Zack is ready…or so he thinks.
While researching his first feature article, Zack stumbles upon a real-life crime scene, but what seems like an ordinary hit-and-run may actually be a homicide linked to a gang that’s been burglarizing Crandall’s high-end shops. Suddenly Zack finds himself at the center of a violent crime wave and destined for a confrontation with Barbie Bullock, an unsettling figure infamous in the crime syndicate for his ruthless business tactics and peculiar proclivity for collecting dolls.
And all is not quiet on the home front either. Zack’s protective instincts launch into overdrive when he discovers that his daughter’s rejected suitor has been tracing her every step and may harbor a much more ominous motivation than winning a Saturday night date. Nor does his son’s strange behavior and recent friendship with a creepy computer recluse inspire joy in a father’s heart.
As worlds begin to collide and boundaries between family and foe blur, Zack goes on the attack, and heaven help the bad guys when this resourceful father comes to make good on a deal gone bad.
Zack is back, and much to his family’s relief, the work-at-home science-fiction writer has left the house to take a job as a features writer for the city paper. But now that Zack’s incessant plotting can no longer be hatched from the comforts of his own home, he must be ever more vigilant to outwit the evil at large, whether in the suburbs, the city, or his own imagination. Zack is ready…or so he thinks.
While researching his first feature article, Zack stumbles upon a real-life crime scene, but what seems like an ordinary hit-and-run may actually be a homicide linked to a gang that’s been burglarizing Crandall’s high-end shops. Suddenly Zack finds himself at the center of a violent crime wave and destined for a confrontation with Barbie Bullock, an unsettling figure infamous in the crime syndicate for his ruthless business tactics and peculiar proclivity for collecting dolls.
And all is not quiet on the home front either. Zack’s protective instincts launch into overdrive when he discovers that his daughter’s rejected suitor has been tracing her every step and may harbor a much more ominous motivation than winning a Saturday night date. Nor does his son’s strange behavior and recent friendship with a creepy computer recluse inspire joy in a father’s heart.
As worlds begin to collide and boundaries between family and foe blur, Zack goes on the attack, and heaven help the bad guys when this resourceful father comes to make good on a deal gone bad.
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
265 people are currently reading
1808 people want to read
About the author
Linwood Barclay
83 books7,165 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 223 reviews
July 12, 2018
Bad Move, the first of the Zack Walker mysteries, left me super eager to dive into the second book. Upon finishing Bad Guys I have reached a solid conclusion – I am a wee bit obsessed with this series. It is so addictive, and I finished book two with the dire need to dive straight into book three. In fact, I think these may prove to be some of my favourite Linwood Barclay reads.
Much like the first book, Bad Guys grabbed my attention from the very start and pulled me in deep, refusing to let up until I had completed the story. We had more of the great characters, along with being introduced to new characters; we had a great storyline, with a steady build-up, multiple layers, and intertwined elements; we had more of the dark humour that makes these books that little bit more entertaining.
In fact, I enjoyed Bad Guys more than I enjoyed Bad Move. The first book was fun, sure, but this second book had more of a kick to it. There was more to enjoy with this one – more action, more mystery, and more drama. There were plenty of elements introduced throughout, ensuring I was desperate to see what came next. There were also things I cannot help but cross my fingers for more of in the future, things and characters I would like to see pop up in the next two books.
There is no doubt in my mind that the Zack Walker books will continue to occupy my attention until I have devoured them all.
Much like the first book, Bad Guys grabbed my attention from the very start and pulled me in deep, refusing to let up until I had completed the story. We had more of the great characters, along with being introduced to new characters; we had a great storyline, with a steady build-up, multiple layers, and intertwined elements; we had more of the dark humour that makes these books that little bit more entertaining.
In fact, I enjoyed Bad Guys more than I enjoyed Bad Move. The first book was fun, sure, but this second book had more of a kick to it. There was more to enjoy with this one – more action, more mystery, and more drama. There were plenty of elements introduced throughout, ensuring I was desperate to see what came next. There were also things I cannot help but cross my fingers for more of in the future, things and characters I would like to see pop up in the next two books.
There is no doubt in my mind that the Zack Walker books will continue to occupy my attention until I have devoured them all.
March 15, 2019
Bad Guys is the second book in Linwood Barclay's Zack Walker series. If you haven't read the first book, I would definitely recommend reading that one first... although you can still read this one even if you haven't read Bad Move (#1) yet.
Zack Walker always seems to find himself in a bit of trouble. He's just a normal guy with a wife and 2 kids, a home, and a job as a newspaper reporter. In an effort to write a story for the paper, Zack goes on a stake-out with a private investigator to catch the bad guys that are burglarizing high end men's fashion stores in the area. This book is non-stop action as Zack finds himself in more and more trouble, eventually with the bad guys encroaching on Zack's family, friends and coworkers.
I find these books fun to read - Linwood Barclay weaves humor into the action and plot twists that keep the pages turning!
Zack Walker always seems to find himself in a bit of trouble. He's just a normal guy with a wife and 2 kids, a home, and a job as a newspaper reporter. In an effort to write a story for the paper, Zack goes on a stake-out with a private investigator to catch the bad guys that are burglarizing high end men's fashion stores in the area. This book is non-stop action as Zack finds himself in more and more trouble, eventually with the bad guys encroaching on Zack's family, friends and coworkers.
I find these books fun to read - Linwood Barclay weaves humor into the action and plot twists that keep the pages turning!
January 28, 2014
Bad Guys, the second Zack Walker novel by Linwood Barclay, is a great and fun read. Although these are Barclay's first novels, I discovered them after I'd read most of his latest works. Bad Guys has less satire than Bad Move, although it has some laugh out loud moments, and the action is a little more 'believable', if that's the word I'm looking for. This time Zack Walker out on hold his sci-fi novel writing and works as a bit piece journalist for his wife's paper. He still gets into all sorts of trouble but is more sensible in his approach to the situations he finds himself in. The pace of the book and the twists are faster and sharper than Bad Move, and feel more like typical Barclay fare to me. I am a huge Linwood Barclay fan and enjoyed this story greatly. I could not put it down so I could get on to the next one, Lone Wolf, to see what Zack Walker gets up to and which of his family is put into mortal danger this time.
September 15, 2025
An anxious reporter finds himself in way over his head, when does a ridealong with a PI and finds himself in a car chase shootout. Plus his family is giving him problems.
I think his therapist was right in that he didn't drink enough.
I think his therapist was right in that he didn't drink enough.
May 13, 2020
I could not put this book down. Right from the beginning, it was one hilarious ride following Zack on his adventure. At first, nothing makes sense and you don't really know how it all fits together. Then, there's that epiphany at the end where it all comes together and makes sense. In addition, he is super paranoid, but once again he proves that he had ever right to be. Even though there are moments where Zack can be a little obnoxious, I can't help but find him lovable. Overall, this book was amazing, could not put it down and finished it in one day. Can't wait for the next one.
August 7, 2021
The 2nd book in the Zack Walker series by Linwood Barclay.
Another novel from the earlier and quite different style of books by Linwood Barclay.
An extra dose of humour in this books makes it an enjoyable easy read.
This is so different from the Linwood Barclay novels I have grown accustomed to.
Another novel from the earlier and quite different style of books by Linwood Barclay.
An extra dose of humour in this books makes it an enjoyable easy read.
This is so different from the Linwood Barclay novels I have grown accustomed to.
June 4, 2022
Zach is one of my favourite neurotic characters. He was especially off-kilter in book one, but this was an enjoyable read.
May 9, 2024
Zack Walker is a lackluster Science Fiction author who is working as a feature writer for a newspaper. His current assignment has him hanging out with a private detective trying to solve some smash and grab crooks.. His exhuastion from working the stake out is compounded by his college age daughter dealing with a weird stalker. He goes to a government auction where he purchases a hybrid vehicle, which has a strange starting problem. All of these things come together in a story that is both full of action and mystery as well as comedy.
This is the main problem with the book. The author doesn't know whether he is trying to write a suspensful action story or a comedy-- and while the humor is appreciated-- at times it just isn't blended together too wll.
The story is interesting enough and the action scenes feel realistic as well. The bad guys are both ominous and funny in an odd sort of way. The main bad guy is nicknamed "Barbie"-- a name he doesn't seem to mind, but his "fetish" is almost sad.
This is the main problem with the book. The author doesn't know whether he is trying to write a suspensful action story or a comedy-- and while the humor is appreciated-- at times it just isn't blended together too wll.
The story is interesting enough and the action scenes feel realistic as well. The bad guys are both ominous and funny in an odd sort of way. The main bad guy is nicknamed "Barbie"-- a name he doesn't seem to mind, but his "fetish" is almost sad.
April 20, 2017
This is Linwood Barclay's second book, and since I am a huge fan, I went back and found some of his early stuff. The first book, although not bad, not nearly as good as this one. Here, he hits his stride with plenty of action and suspense, and even some humor thrown in. I found it similar to some of Harlan Coban's Myron Bolitar humor. Glad I read this one!
July 21, 2020
titular sentence:
p62: He'd dealt with bad guys all over the world, in countries scarier than this one, and he wasn't about to surrender his film to some short asshole with a bad attitude in an ill-fitting suit.
?:
p24: "I just don't like the sounds of this guy."
spelling:
p117: "I need you to stay here," I sad.
If this is going to be a pattern the magic isn't going to last long.
p62: He'd dealt with bad guys all over the world, in countries scarier than this one, and he wasn't about to surrender his film to some short asshole with a bad attitude in an ill-fitting suit.
?:
p24: "I just don't like the sounds of this guy."
spelling:
p117: "I need you to stay here," I sad.
If this is going to be a pattern the magic isn't going to last long.
July 23, 2022
Bad Guys is #2 in the Zack Walker series. This book was much better than the first in the series, Bad Move. The recurring characters in in the series have grown and are more interesting. Zack is working for a newspaper now rather than being a SF novelist full time. He is involved in writing an article showing how private detectives solve cases. He gets way more than he bargains for and ends up butting heads with organized crime.
Very good. This is an early Barclay novel and definitely worth reading.
Very good. This is an early Barclay novel and definitely worth reading.
February 1, 2018
This is such a good series. I like the main characters more and more!
July 8, 2024
This was much better than the first Zack Walker book in my opinion. The pace was much faster and more gripping. A 3.5 star read for me I think.
January 12, 2020
Ok. I tried to read these in order but really they are so truely unbelievable and out there that I can't get past that. I mean it was a quick read, mostly because I skimmed over a lot of it, but I don't believe I will be finishing this series.
December 3, 2018
A great crime novel, often humorous and entertaining.
December 31, 2019
My Dad lent me this book saying it was hilarious and I’d love it. He knew I’d read other books by the same author and like him really enjoyed them. He had only recently found these and loved them.
This is the first of this series I’ve read and from what my father had told me and some of the reviews have suggested I may have been better starting with the first if the series.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes, it was easy reading and didn’t require too much effort on my part which is just what you want when you want to relax a bit. Unlike some reviewers I thought the story flowed well and I could see where it was heading, if not in every detail at least which direction. It didn’t have any huge twists, but it some ways that is what made the story fresher. So many books have a huge twist that you start expecting them in everything. So it’s a nice surprise to get a book that knows where it’s going and goes there.
Was it hilarious? No. There were a couple of laugh out loud moments but in the most part it was just good writing. I think maybe my dad found it funnier as he could see some of himself in the main character, but then maybe I’m reading more into that than he was.
Overall it was a good book and had my father not told me it was hilarious and I was going to love it I may have felt even better about it than I did.
This is the first of this series I’ve read and from what my father had told me and some of the reviews have suggested I may have been better starting with the first if the series.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes, it was easy reading and didn’t require too much effort on my part which is just what you want when you want to relax a bit. Unlike some reviewers I thought the story flowed well and I could see where it was heading, if not in every detail at least which direction. It didn’t have any huge twists, but it some ways that is what made the story fresher. So many books have a huge twist that you start expecting them in everything. So it’s a nice surprise to get a book that knows where it’s going and goes there.
Was it hilarious? No. There were a couple of laugh out loud moments but in the most part it was just good writing. I think maybe my dad found it funnier as he could see some of himself in the main character, but then maybe I’m reading more into that than he was.
Overall it was a good book and had my father not told me it was hilarious and I was going to love it I may have felt even better about it than I did.
April 14, 2020
Huge fan of Linwood Barclay .. just bearing the character of Zack Walker.
At times he appears so smart and at other times he appears to be not so smart.
I guess he has to though, we don't want him solving the mysteries too fast.
I enjoyed the plot of this one. I loved the character of Lawrence.
I do think sometimes there is too much dialogue of whatever is going on at home.
But ultimately these books are a great read!
At times he appears so smart and at other times he appears to be not so smart.
I guess he has to though, we don't want him solving the mysteries too fast.
I enjoyed the plot of this one. I loved the character of Lawrence.
I do think sometimes there is too much dialogue of whatever is going on at home.
But ultimately these books are a great read!
September 27, 2012
I read Linwood Barclay’s first novel, BAD MOVE, and I liked it. Though it started off slow, it was quite funny and well written.
Bad Guys maintained a steady jogger’s pace from the beginning, but I’d hardly call it a page turner, and it wasn’t that funny.
All in all, BAD GUYS was just barely good enough to get me to buy his next novel in the series, LONE WOLF.
Bad Guys maintained a steady jogger’s pace from the beginning, but I’d hardly call it a page turner, and it wasn’t that funny.
All in all, BAD GUYS was just barely good enough to get me to buy his next novel in the series, LONE WOLF.
December 9, 2012
Another zany read from Linwood Barclay. Before his thrillers caught on fire, he had this three book series starring the arsehole Zack. I still don't know how his wife and kids put up with him. But he's good for a ton of laughs and some interesting adventures.
May 12, 2021
I’ve just finished this book and honestly it was an adrenaline rush. I got this book because it was part of the Zack Walker series and I’d accidentally bought the third book on its own, so of course I felt the need to buy the whole series.
I enjoyed Bad Move because I’m a sucker for crime set in the suburbs, so I was exited to join Zack on his next adventure.
At first I wasn’t actually as into this book, it started with Zack on a police steak out, and that’s not normally the kind of thing I gravitate towards. During the beginning (page 50 and below) I even debated not finishing this book, the only interesting plot point at the time was his teenage daughter Angie’s stalker.
However I am so glad I persevered, this book was a lot smoother to follow with less red hearings. It was also a lot more interesting in terms of who the bad guy was. In book one the criminals were involved in crocked real estate, book two however was about thieves and drug dealers which was a lot more gritty. From page 150 or so, things started to pick up, and by the time (SPOILER) Angie was kidnapped I was hooked. The conclusion was good and it ended on a nice note.
I did definitely notice some parallels to the first book, during the main climax, Zack needs the help of someone bad/questionable, (Earl and Trevor) they host a party/get together to celebrate being alive, then and the party Zack realises the person that helped them, is actually bad too. Again this is Earl and Trevor.
I personally felt this twist was better in book two, as I kept struggling to make my mind up on Trevor, during the climax he really did seem nice, so I was actually surprised when he turned out to be bad.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, and I am unequivocally a fan of Linwood Barclay, and his literary counterpart- Zack Walker.
I enjoyed Bad Move because I’m a sucker for crime set in the suburbs, so I was exited to join Zack on his next adventure.
At first I wasn’t actually as into this book, it started with Zack on a police steak out, and that’s not normally the kind of thing I gravitate towards. During the beginning (page 50 and below) I even debated not finishing this book, the only interesting plot point at the time was his teenage daughter Angie’s stalker.
However I am so glad I persevered, this book was a lot smoother to follow with less red hearings. It was also a lot more interesting in terms of who the bad guy was. In book one the criminals were involved in crocked real estate, book two however was about thieves and drug dealers which was a lot more gritty. From page 150 or so, things started to pick up, and by the time (SPOILER) Angie was kidnapped I was hooked. The conclusion was good and it ended on a nice note.
I did definitely notice some parallels to the first book, during the main climax, Zack needs the help of someone bad/questionable, (Earl and Trevor) they host a party/get together to celebrate being alive, then and the party Zack realises the person that helped them, is actually bad too. Again this is Earl and Trevor.
I personally felt this twist was better in book two, as I kept struggling to make my mind up on Trevor, during the climax he really did seem nice, so I was actually surprised when he turned out to be bad.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, and I am unequivocally a fan of Linwood Barclay, and his literary counterpart- Zack Walker.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2020
Zack Walker and his family have moved back to the city after their disastrous stay (of about two years) in what turned out to be a non-tranquil suburb. Zack has gone to work at the Metropolitan, his wife's newspaper, as a feature writer. The most difficult part of that job is that his wife is his boss.
Zack is working on a feature focusing on a local private investigator. The PIs partner is killed in what may or may not be a hit and run. Was it an accident or was it done purposefully by a gang of high-end clothing store robbers.
Zack continues worrying about his family. Now he wonders does he have something real to worry about? His daughter is calling a former boyfriend a stalker. Is he a stalker or is this teenage hyperbole?
Despite his bumbling, Zack manages occasionally to be in the right place at the right time. The PI is stabbed, Zack finds him in time to save his life.
Zack has purchased a hybrid car at an auction and now things are going crazy. Someone tries to steal the car but it won't start so they kidnap his daughter instead and tell Zack unless he brings them the car, she will die.
Zack enlists the aid of a police detective only to learn he is on the payroll of the crook. By some miracle Zack is able to effect the rescue of his daughter - and the death of the crooks.
Just when Zack thinks things can go back to normal, his fears ratchet up once again. He has learned that the ex-boyfriend has a history of violence and he has just left with Zack's daughter!
He and his son race after the couple and find them in the nick of time. There is a lot of just in the nick of time activity in this series. It is done very well so that the story is entertaining and not tripe.
Zack is working on a feature focusing on a local private investigator. The PIs partner is killed in what may or may not be a hit and run. Was it an accident or was it done purposefully by a gang of high-end clothing store robbers.
Zack continues worrying about his family. Now he wonders does he have something real to worry about? His daughter is calling a former boyfriend a stalker. Is he a stalker or is this teenage hyperbole?
Despite his bumbling, Zack manages occasionally to be in the right place at the right time. The PI is stabbed, Zack finds him in time to save his life.
Zack has purchased a hybrid car at an auction and now things are going crazy. Someone tries to steal the car but it won't start so they kidnap his daughter instead and tell Zack unless he brings them the car, she will die.
Zack enlists the aid of a police detective only to learn he is on the payroll of the crook. By some miracle Zack is able to effect the rescue of his daughter - and the death of the crooks.
Just when Zack thinks things can go back to normal, his fears ratchet up once again. He has learned that the ex-boyfriend has a history of violence and he has just left with Zack's daughter!
He and his son race after the couple and find them in the nick of time. There is a lot of just in the nick of time activity in this series. It is done very well so that the story is entertaining and not tripe.
August 24, 2024
This was a fun read. Zack Walker is a writer, who has recently changed from writing sci-fi books at home to a job at the Metropolitan newspaper, where his wife, Sarah, is his supervisor. Zack and Sarah have two children, Angie, just starting college, and Paul, in high school. Zack is an inveterate worrier, who sometimes drives his family crazy. His daughter, Angie, has mentioned that there is a strange guy (Trevor) who seems to be stalking her. Zack wants to protect her, but she thinks Trevor might just be a nuisance and not dangerous. Zack is doing an investigative piece on a former cop, turned private detective, and spends several evenings on a stake-out with Lawrence, where "bad guys" have been breaking into fine clothing stores and stealing the merchandise. Zack's family needs a second car, and Lawrence tells him that he might be able to get a nice car at a government auction in the area. Zack does buy a small car, and the trouble really begins, as local drug dealers think there are drugs in the car and aim to get them back. Meantime, there are complications for the characters, and Zack is also in trouble with his daughter for following her. The situations are scary, but Zack makes such strange decisions that things are often very funny.
September 1, 2017
Zack Walker is definitely the most neurotic worry-wart of the murder mystery genre. You gotta love this guy! He worries so much about everything, but mostly his family, his reporter wife and his two teenage children, that he just get into trouble by worrying about getting into trouble. This time he's working on a piece for his wife's newspaper, who he writes for when he's not writing mildly mediocre science fiction novels, when he gets involved with a private eye working a case about stolen high end mens' wear. The private eye takes him to a auto auction full of cars and other vehicles taken in drug raids by the cops. He ends up buying a hybrid car that great on gas mileage but otherwise full f trouble, the kind of trouble that Zack always seems to get into. Meanwhile his college age daughter is being stalked by a weird computer geek that thinks he's Neo from the Matrix movies. Zack's usual neurotic anxiety is jacked up all the way and it just might be the one thing that helps him survive drug dealers, dirty cops and weird hybrid car trouble. Definitely worth reading.
February 10, 2023
What will I do now? I’m going to miss Zack Walker, his exasperated family and the trouble he keeps getting into! I read this 4 part set totally out of order, starting with book 3. Having enjoyed it so much, I bought and read book 4, to see what happened to Zack next. That was even more enjoyable, so I just had to get books 1 & 2, to see how he got to where he was in book 3. Still with me??!! Zack Walker is an obsessive character, but I loved him for it, as I loved his poor family, who had to put up with his crazy safety issues. Although these books are serious, nail biting thrillers, there is a lot of humour too, which I loved. These books can stand alone, but if they’re read in order, they do link up and there are occasional references to Zack’s past exploits. I do hope this has got you interested in Linwood Barclay’s Zack Walker books. You won’t be disappointed. I’m now going to read more of his books. Quite how I’ve managed to get to old age, not having read any of Linwood Barclay’s books until now, is a complete mystery!
February 4, 2021
I really enjoyed this book, and I seemed to race through it.
Zack is still quite cringe-inducing, following his daughter to see whether her stalker was following her, but he means well and seems to be a little less anal about his family's security compared to Bad Move.
Spending time with a private detective to research a story for the paper that he works for, he finds himself on the radar of the Bad Guys. As people around him turn up dead, or on the brink, will he be able to keep himself and his family alive?
I'm looking forward to reading the next two books in this series.
Zack is still quite cringe-inducing, following his daughter to see whether her stalker was following her, but he means well and seems to be a little less anal about his family's security compared to Bad Move.
Spending time with a private detective to research a story for the paper that he works for, he finds himself on the radar of the Bad Guys. As people around him turn up dead, or on the brink, will he be able to keep himself and his family alive?
I'm looking forward to reading the next two books in this series.
December 10, 2017
Zach Walker is a newspaperman who is accompanying a private detective as he investigates some luxury clothing store thefts – attempting to protect one in particular whose owner has hired him for these purposes. Unfortunately, they fail to protect the store and instead end up in the middle of some gang drama. With people showing up dead or missing and a few other odd circumstances happening, there seems to be more than just stealing luxury suits going on in town. Will Zach be able to stay out of trouble and yet protect his daughter while staying safe himself?
Zach is a bit of a paranoid character but his motivations are relatable. He has been thrown into extraordinary circumstances and now must either figure out how to survive or give in to those in control. Overall this is an enjoyable thriller, but it is a bit choppier a read than other novels by Linwood Barclay.
Zach is a bit of a paranoid character but his motivations are relatable. He has been thrown into extraordinary circumstances and now must either figure out how to survive or give in to those in control. Overall this is an enjoyable thriller, but it is a bit choppier a read than other novels by Linwood Barclay.
May 24, 2019
Zack Walker is at it again! This time our paranoid protagonist has returned to the world of journalism. His task is simple: he's working on a story with a former cop turned PI investigating a series of burglaries involving high-end men's clothing stores. Simple task, but nothing is ever simple with Zack. One, his wife is his immediate superior at the paper. Two, his eldest, Angie, a first-year college student, seems to have attracted the attention of a stalker. Three, Zack himself has a run-in with a Barbie doll collecting mobster named Barbie Bullock over his recent purchase of an environmentally friendly hybrid car at a police auction. It all leads to hilarious disasters of the kind only Zack can find himself embroiled in.
Quick read, funny, with a MC both frustrating and well-intentioned. I recommend the series.
Quick read, funny, with a MC both frustrating and well-intentioned. I recommend the series.
August 30, 2023
Wow, I'm so glad I found this short series of Mr. Barclay's early books. I love the Zack Walker series. Zack is a very relatable character. In this book he has a job as a feature writer for the major newspaper in his town. Sarah, his wife, is also his boss. Oddly enough, that is not the source of trouble or tension in the story. Zack goes about doing his job, but trouble and danger seem to find him at every step of the way.
I love the relationship between Zack and Sarah, his wife. Their interactions seem real and believable, even though Zack's dangerous actions and circumstances manage to engulf his family.
This book is non stop action, especially the last 100 pages. So, settle into a cozy chair with a beverage, let the laundry pile up, put the pizza man on speed dial and buckle up for a great ride.
I love the relationship between Zack and Sarah, his wife. Their interactions seem real and believable, even though Zack's dangerous actions and circumstances manage to engulf his family.
This book is non stop action, especially the last 100 pages. So, settle into a cozy chair with a beverage, let the laundry pile up, put the pizza man on speed dial and buckle up for a great ride.
March 31, 2025
4 stars. This is book 2 in Barclay's Zack Walker series and I'm really enjoying the books. Zack and his family have moved back to the big city after their adventures in suburbia and life is looking good. His daughter Angie is going to college and Zack is back working at a newspaper, his wife Sarah being his boss. They have the usual problems, not enough money, and only one car. Zack is doing a story with a former detective and the guy suggests that Zack go to the police auctions and he can pick up a new car for a good price. So Zack does just that and that's just the beginning of the adventures ahead. Barclay writes a tight little thriller with a lot of humour and some very interesting characters and situations. Very enjoyable read and I look forward to reading the last two books in this series.
April 10, 2025
Zack Walker is a paranoid father, always jumping to the most catastrophic conclusion as he tries to shepherd his family safely through life.
He has left his science fiction writing behind and taken a safe, routine job as a newspaper feature writer. What could possibly go wrong?
But his feature on a local detective ends with a burglary and a dead detective. And when he writes about a car auction, his photographer has a pushing match with a mobster. And when Zack buys a car, it turns out other people are also interested -- and not because it's an energy efficient hybrid.
To top it off, someone is following his daughter. He knows because he's following her, too.
Maybe Zack has good reason for worrying so much. And maybe we have good reason to want to read more of this exciting series.
He has left his science fiction writing behind and taken a safe, routine job as a newspaper feature writer. What could possibly go wrong?
But his feature on a local detective ends with a burglary and a dead detective. And when he writes about a car auction, his photographer has a pushing match with a mobster. And when Zack buys a car, it turns out other people are also interested -- and not because it's an energy efficient hybrid.
To top it off, someone is following his daughter. He knows because he's following her, too.
Maybe Zack has good reason for worrying so much. And maybe we have good reason to want to read more of this exciting series.
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