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The Accident by Linwood Barclay
In this mesmerizing thriller by acclaimed author Linwood Barclay, a typical American community descends into darkness, as an ordinary man is swept into one of the most violent mysteries of modern life. It’s the new normal at the Garber household in Glen, a contractor, has seen his business shaken by the housing crisis, and now his wife, Sheila, is taking a business course at night to increase her chances of landing a good-paying job.But she should have been home by now.Waiting for Sheila’s return, with their eight-year-old daughter sleeping soundly, Glen soon finds his worst fears Sheila and two others have been killed in a car accident. Adding to the tragedy, the police claim Sheila was responsible.Glen knows it’s impossible; he knew his wife and she would never do such a thing. When he investigates, Glen begins to uncover layers of lawlessness beneath the placid surface of their suburb, secret after dangerous secret behind the closed doors.Propelled into a vortex of corruption and illegal activity, pursued by mysterious killers, and confronted by threats from neighbors he thought he knew, Glen must take his own desperate measures and go to terrifying new places in himself to avenge his wife and protect his child.Bold and timely, with the shocking twists and startling insights that have become trademarks of this new master of domestic suspense, The Accident is a riveting triumph, a book that moves at a breathless pace to a climax no one will see coming.
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First published August 9, 2011
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About the author
Linwood Barclay
83 books7,198 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 1,747 reviews
March 3, 2017
Glenn Garber is beside himself. His wife Sheila, mother of his eight year old daughter Kelly, is dead, the result of a horrific car accident. Worse still the officer at the scene believes that Sheila is responsible for the accident that claimed the lives of two others. He wants Glenn to accept that his wife was driving under the influence, with an overwhelming amount of vodka in her system. This simply makes no sense. Sheila would never do something that stupid! As the coroner's report confirms the officer's initial assessment of Sheila's condition Glenn's disbelief and grief morphs into rage and an all consuming anger aimed at his dead wife. How could she have done something that stupid, that thoughtless, that final? How can he possibly explain this to Kelly?
After the funeral, life resumes it's new, normal rhythms. His daughter Kelly is having trouble at school, being ostracized by her fellow students where one of the other victims of the accident was also a student. Fortunately she still has one loyal friend and Glenn has agreed to let her attend a sleepover there. His anger has subsided now and what remains is an unyielding reluctance to accept the apparent facts surrounding Sheila's death. But now Kelly is on the phone begging her father to come and get her immediately! What she tells him when he picks her up becomes the first link in a series of troubling events that propell Glenn forward into a vortex of seething corruption. Secret after dangerous secret emerges in his small, home town in Conneticut, complete with threats from neighbours and friends alike and now, well now he is being hunted by total strangers! As he digs deeper to understand and uncover the real truth Glenn must find a terrifying place within himself in order to protect his daughter and avenge his wife's death.
The Accident roars forward at a breathless, pulsating pace that brings this domestic thriller to a chilling climax you won't see coming!
After the funeral, life resumes it's new, normal rhythms. His daughter Kelly is having trouble at school, being ostracized by her fellow students where one of the other victims of the accident was also a student. Fortunately she still has one loyal friend and Glenn has agreed to let her attend a sleepover there. His anger has subsided now and what remains is an unyielding reluctance to accept the apparent facts surrounding Sheila's death. But now Kelly is on the phone begging her father to come and get her immediately! What she tells him when he picks her up becomes the first link in a series of troubling events that propell Glenn forward into a vortex of seething corruption. Secret after dangerous secret emerges in his small, home town in Conneticut, complete with threats from neighbours and friends alike and now, well now he is being hunted by total strangers! As he digs deeper to understand and uncover the real truth Glenn must find a terrifying place within himself in order to protect his daughter and avenge his wife's death.
The Accident roars forward at a breathless, pulsating pace that brings this domestic thriller to a chilling climax you won't see coming!
April 13, 2017
Great book! Just like a Harlan Coben novel... So glad I have several others of his to read. This book was full of twists and turns and ended up being completely surprising at the end. Highly recommend if you love a book that throws 180s at you! Can't wait to read his others!!!
April 3, 2018
My first by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it, although once or twice I did wonder how one poor person could possibly be acquainted with so many murderers.
Why worry though. No one ever said mysteries and thrillers had to be realistic, and this one worked really well on every level. It moved fast and had more twists and turns than you would believe! I really liked the main character, Glen and his very capable young daughter Kelly. They made a great team in trying to solve the mystery of Sheila's death.
Altogether a very intriguing and easy read. Definitely an author to follow up.
Why worry though. No one ever said mysteries and thrillers had to be realistic, and this one worked really well on every level. It moved fast and had more twists and turns than you would believe! I really liked the main character, Glen and his very capable young daughter Kelly. They made a great team in trying to solve the mystery of Sheila's death.
Altogether a very intriguing and easy read. Definitely an author to follow up.
May 28, 2018
Quick Summary
What starts out as a typical ordinary day for building contractor Glen Garber and his family ends very tragically. His wife, Sheila, is killed in a car accident under confusing circumstances. As he begins to investigate the circumstances on his own after the police close the case, Glen uncovers a morass of secrets and questionable activities involving people close or connected to him.
The bottom line
This was a page turner with so many twists, turns and discoveries in each chapter. In the background of the story is the fallout from the recession and how normally upstanding members of this working class neighborhood handled their individual situations. The writing is nimble and well constructed. With so many surprises throughout the book I was impressed that the climax could still squeeze out a few more. Barclay's style in some ways reminds me of Harlan Coben but still manages to maintain his own unique identity. I really liked this story and I've loaded up my reader with more of his titles.
What starts out as a typical ordinary day for building contractor Glen Garber and his family ends very tragically. His wife, Sheila, is killed in a car accident under confusing circumstances. As he begins to investigate the circumstances on his own after the police close the case, Glen uncovers a morass of secrets and questionable activities involving people close or connected to him.
The bottom line
This was a page turner with so many twists, turns and discoveries in each chapter. In the background of the story is the fallout from the recession and how normally upstanding members of this working class neighborhood handled their individual situations. The writing is nimble and well constructed. With so many surprises throughout the book I was impressed that the climax could still squeeze out a few more. Barclay's style in some ways reminds me of Harlan Coben but still manages to maintain his own unique identity. I really liked this story and I've loaded up my reader with more of his titles.
December 31, 2020
Not bad except characters never pop off the page. Worse case of this is our main lead Glen: he’s as bland and as thin as can be. And Kelly sounds nothing like any eight-year-olds I’ve ever met.
January 18, 2015
Lynwood Barclay takes the reader on a thrilling multi-layered mystery ride in The Accident that grabs you right from the prologue and doesn't stop.
When Glen's wife Sheila is more than an hour overdue from her night class and doesn't answer her phone, he packs up his young daughter Kelly and heads out to find her with devastating results. After Sheila's shocking and untimely death, (no spoiler here) Glen's life and struggling construction business continue to spiral downhill after his daughter plays an innocent game of hide and seek at a sleep-over and overhears a mysterious and threatening telephone conversation that leads to an unbelievable multitude of crimes and cover-ups.
Fast moving and entertaining with many surprising twists and turns!
December 11, 2019
I don't know what it is about Linwood Barclay's writing, but he can always write a really solid thriller that has me guessing all the way through.
The accident is no exception. I was gripped from start to finish and loved that the lead character is actually likeable for once 🙌🏻 you really do root for him and his family, especially with all the rubbish that comes their way.
If you haven't checked out Linwood Barclay yet, this is a great place to start. If you have, you won't be disappointed by this one.
The accident is no exception. I was gripped from start to finish and loved that the lead character is actually likeable for once 🙌🏻 you really do root for him and his family, especially with all the rubbish that comes their way.
If you haven't checked out Linwood Barclay yet, this is a great place to start. If you have, you won't be disappointed by this one.
November 24, 2022
Another twisty and fun read from Linwood Barclay. Happy to be getting to some of his backlist finally
January 6, 2013
I finished this book in about one and a half, two days. It was a page turner, not necessarily because it extremely swept me up and interested me but more because I just wanted to get it over with. It's very simply written, and that's probably because the author is the type to churn out these types of novels and he wants them to appeal to the masses.
I have a number of pet peeves about this book.
First, it switches between first and third person a lot (each chapter is a new character's thoughts or a description of what happens to them). The inconsistency isn't so much confusing as just a nuisance.
Second, it's annoying when the author will reveal a major plot twist in one chapter, then the next chapter is just the thoughts of another simple-minded character who has no idea about the plot twist and is just sitting in his basement trying to figure it out.
THIRD, AND THE MOST IRRITATING, is that the author fails to deeply describe any physical characteristics or traits about the characters except for the occasional "he was this tall" or "he was wiry" UNLESS he is letting us know that the main character he now interacting with a "black cop". This is the only mention of someone's physical description. So what, we were just supposed to assume that all other characters were white? Talk about white privilege. It really just left a bad taste in my mouth towards this book after I noticed the author doing that.
I have a number of pet peeves about this book.
First, it switches between first and third person a lot (each chapter is a new character's thoughts or a description of what happens to them). The inconsistency isn't so much confusing as just a nuisance.
Second, it's annoying when the author will reveal a major plot twist in one chapter, then the next chapter is just the thoughts of another simple-minded character who has no idea about the plot twist and is just sitting in his basement trying to figure it out.
THIRD, AND THE MOST IRRITATING, is that the author fails to deeply describe any physical characteristics or traits about the characters except for the occasional "he was this tall" or "he was wiry" UNLESS he is letting us know that the main character he now interacting with a "black cop". This is the only mention of someone's physical description. So what, we were just supposed to assume that all other characters were white? Talk about white privilege. It really just left a bad taste in my mouth towards this book after I noticed the author doing that.
January 2, 2016
3.5 stars
I liked this story. The characters were 3 dimensional, the plot was well developed. My only complaint was (for me) it started to really drag near the middle. Conversations were waaaaay to long, explanations about what and why certain things were illegal seemed to drone on forever. There was good information in all that, it just could have been a little more succinct. Kinda like this needed to be expanded 50 or more pages so there were a lot of words added. (High school essay tactic I remember well...)
The ending was worth hanging in there. Nice and surprisingly twisty. I hadn't guessed that one even closely.
I liked this story. The characters were 3 dimensional, the plot was well developed. My only complaint was (for me) it started to really drag near the middle. Conversations were waaaaay to long, explanations about what and why certain things were illegal seemed to drone on forever. There was good information in all that, it just could have been a little more succinct. Kinda like this needed to be expanded 50 or more pages so there were a lot of words added. (High school essay tactic I remember well...)
The ending was worth hanging in there. Nice and surprisingly twisty. I hadn't guessed that one even closely.
August 28, 2015
This book has not disappointed. I love Linwood Barclay's books and this is the best one I have read so far.
Definitely would recommend
Definitely would recommend
November 23, 2020
La razón del título se revela pronto: la esposa del protagonista muere en un accidente automovilístico causado por ella misma. Pronto sale a la luz que la desdichada mujer, a pesar de no ir en bici, menudo pedal llevaba. Y este descubrimiento sume al flamante viudo en un espiral de horror, ira y desconcierto ¿Cómo es posible que su (habitualmente) responsable esposa se hubiera puesto como una cuba e, incomprensiblemente, saliera a conducir? El pobre hombre no deja de torturarse con esta pregunta. A falta de respuesta, saldrá a buscarla él mismo...
Esta es la señal de salida para una novela sólida, dinámica y que obliga a cierta reflexión ¿Hasta dónde son capaces de llegar las buenas personas acuciadas por las deudas y los problemas económicos? ¿Por qué el mercado de "marcas" ilegales ("truchas" decimos en mi país) tiene tanto éxito? ¿Por qué las personas compran, a conciencia, algo que saben que es falso? ¿Quiénes son, en realidad, nuestros queribles (o no tan queribles) vecinos?
Barclay sale airoso en la construcción de una historia ingeniosa, cotidiana y con toques de humor. Luego, sin miramientos, desenfunda un final de esos que salen de debajo de las piedras y que son sorprendentes, sencillamente, porque son absoultamente imprevisibles con las cartas que se nos permite ver.
Aunque para mi gusto es ligeramente inferior, los que disfrutaron con la atrapante "Sin una palabra" no van a salir decepcionados.
Esta es la señal de salida para una novela sólida, dinámica y que obliga a cierta reflexión ¿Hasta dónde son capaces de llegar las buenas personas acuciadas por las deudas y los problemas económicos? ¿Por qué el mercado de "marcas" ilegales ("truchas" decimos en mi país) tiene tanto éxito? ¿Por qué las personas compran, a conciencia, algo que saben que es falso? ¿Quiénes son, en realidad, nuestros queribles (o no tan queribles) vecinos?
Barclay sale airoso en la construcción de una historia ingeniosa, cotidiana y con toques de humor. Luego, sin miramientos, desenfunda un final de esos que salen de debajo de las piedras y que son sorprendentes, sencillamente, porque son absoultamente imprevisibles con las cartas que se nos permite ver.
Aunque para mi gusto es ligeramente inferior, los que disfrutaron con la atrapante "Sin una palabra" no van a salir decepcionados.
August 9, 2011
Comfy chair? Drinks? Snacks? Good lighting? Excellent! 'Cause you're not going to be getting up or stopping once you dive into Linwood Barclay's latest release - The Accident.
The opening prologue - a violent crime with a distinctly different setting caught my interest. But the foreshadowing in the first paragraph in chapter one clinched it:
"If I'd known this was our last morning, I'd have rolled over in bed and held her. But of course, if it had been possible to know something like that - if I could have somehow seen into the future - I wouldn't have let go. And then things would have been different."
Glen Carver inherited his building business from his father. He's a straight shooter and does right by his customers, staff and his wife Sheila and eight year old daughter Kelly.
Times are tough all over - the economy still hasn't fully recovered - the Carvers have money troubles like everyone else. And then the unthinkable happens - Sheila is killed in an accident that also kills a father and son. The cops say Sheila was drunk and was at fault. But Glen knows that Sheila didn't drink to excess...or did she and he just never knew?
As Glen struggles to deal with his wife's death and looking after Kelly, more seeming unrelated incidents transpire. A web is being woven around Glen, but he can't see it. We can though. I just wanted to shout at Glen - NO! Look out! Ask them why....! When he finally twigs that there is something really wrong going on with his friends and family, it's almost too late...
Barclay's characters are almost anti-heroes; everyday men thrust into situations completely outside the scope of their everyday lives with the need to protect their families. It makes them all the more believable and likable. Adding more reality to the story is the economic thread of the story - foreclosures, lay-offs, downsizing and desperately trying to make ends meet.
Barclay has the suspense/thriller genre in a choke hold with no signs of letting go (thank goodness!)
Like Harlan Coben? You're going to love Linwood Barclay!
The opening prologue - a violent crime with a distinctly different setting caught my interest. But the foreshadowing in the first paragraph in chapter one clinched it:
"If I'd known this was our last morning, I'd have rolled over in bed and held her. But of course, if it had been possible to know something like that - if I could have somehow seen into the future - I wouldn't have let go. And then things would have been different."
Glen Carver inherited his building business from his father. He's a straight shooter and does right by his customers, staff and his wife Sheila and eight year old daughter Kelly.
Times are tough all over - the economy still hasn't fully recovered - the Carvers have money troubles like everyone else. And then the unthinkable happens - Sheila is killed in an accident that also kills a father and son. The cops say Sheila was drunk and was at fault. But Glen knows that Sheila didn't drink to excess...or did she and he just never knew?
As Glen struggles to deal with his wife's death and looking after Kelly, more seeming unrelated incidents transpire. A web is being woven around Glen, but he can't see it. We can though. I just wanted to shout at Glen - NO! Look out! Ask them why....! When he finally twigs that there is something really wrong going on with his friends and family, it's almost too late...
Barclay's characters are almost anti-heroes; everyday men thrust into situations completely outside the scope of their everyday lives with the need to protect their families. It makes them all the more believable and likable. Adding more reality to the story is the economic thread of the story - foreclosures, lay-offs, downsizing and desperately trying to make ends meet.
Barclay has the suspense/thriller genre in a choke hold with no signs of letting go (thank goodness!)
Like Harlan Coben? You're going to love Linwood Barclay!
August 21, 2011
Wow! A thriller that actually thrills. A quick roller coaster of a read. I found this tight, fast moving book almost impossible to put down. When I needed to do something such as eat or sleep I would open the book moments after closing it, and skip other activities; hasn't happened during a mystery for a long time.
Barclay's books belong in the same category as H. Cobin's:domestic mystery, where average people or families are caught up in mysterious and dangerous circumstances.I found the adults, reactions and dialogue true to life. The only flaw for me was the 8 year old daughter, who I felt acted and talked more like a young teenager.
I book is set in a Connecticut town The main character is a man named Glen, who lives with his wife Shelia and his 8 year old daughter Kelly. The economy is in a mess. Glen owns a construction company, and has lost
business, and some of his friends and workers are in debt and in danger of losing their homes. His wife has been going to business class at night in order to help in his company.
One night Sheila doesn't come home and Glen is informed that she was driving drunk and is dead along with a father and son in another car. Glen is full of grief but also anger. Sheila would take a social drink with her girlfriends, but always a taxi and he has never known to drive when drinking. Sheila's wealthy mother is angry at Glen for driving her to drink and not noticing any signs. His young daughter is being called Boozer at school and getting in fights. Her grandmother wants to take Kelly to live with her and her second husband and put her in an expensive boarding school. To make matters worse, Glen is being sued by widow of man killed in the accident for millions for allowing his drunken wife to drive resulting in death of husband and son. Didn't mention that a house his company was building recently burned down. Glen's life was saved by a worker/friend and insurance company is refusing to pay.
Recently Sheila hosted a party for friends and neighbour women. The party was conducted by her friend Ann who was selling counterfeit designer pursers made in China and sold out of NYC. Very few of the women realized this was illegal. A detective comes to the town employed by the actual purse designers to investigate the trade. Glen learns that these copycat purses are supplied by a very ruthless man in NYC, who will shoot anyone who might get in his way, and that he was also dealing with dangerous copycat prescription drugs and other things.
Shortly after Sheila's death, Kelly is asked to go to a sleepover at Ann's home. Ann has a daughter Kelly's age who is the only friend the girl has left after the death of her mother. The girls are playing hide and seek and Kelly hides in Ann's closet. Ann enters the bedroom and takes two phone calls which Kelly only partly hears and they make little sense. She manages to video record the scene on her cell phone which she had ready to record her friend if she found her, as part of the object of their hide and seek game. Shortly after she calls her father to come and get her. Turns out Ann was very angry at her.
Ann's husband is a policeman who soon tries to discover what Kelly overheard.
Next morning Ann has been found dead. It looks like another accident where she stopped on the wharf to change a flat tire and fell into the water, but local police find signs that it may have been murder. Why was she there and whom was she meeting? Two deaths in such a short time makes Glen think maybe Shelia was also murdered.
Soon he discovers that Sheila was to deliver a huge sum of money to the wife of a couple they knew on the night of " the accident" and never went to her business class. Sheila's purse was found in the car but not the money. The woman believes Glen has taken it. A very menacing stranger is also demanding the money and a shot has been fired through Kelly's bedroom window. Kelly goes to stay with the grandmother for safety sake. While Kelly was hiding in Ann's closet she accidentaly took an object home which may point to other secrets.
This is only the set up for this fast moving thriller. Much of the time I felt I was a step ahead of Glen in trying to discover what caused his wife's death or if it was truly an accident. However many more things happen and more town secrets are revealed. There were several twists near the end which completely shocked and dumbfounded me and don't know how anyone could have seen them coming. But nothing was too farfetched and was completely believable to me.
Barclay is a Canadian writer and would wish he would set a future novel somewhere in this country. Best mystery story I read in a recent memory.
Barclay's books belong in the same category as H. Cobin's:domestic mystery, where average people or families are caught up in mysterious and dangerous circumstances.I found the adults, reactions and dialogue true to life. The only flaw for me was the 8 year old daughter, who I felt acted and talked more like a young teenager.
I book is set in a Connecticut town The main character is a man named Glen, who lives with his wife Shelia and his 8 year old daughter Kelly. The economy is in a mess. Glen owns a construction company, and has lost
business, and some of his friends and workers are in debt and in danger of losing their homes. His wife has been going to business class at night in order to help in his company.
One night Sheila doesn't come home and Glen is informed that she was driving drunk and is dead along with a father and son in another car. Glen is full of grief but also anger. Sheila would take a social drink with her girlfriends, but always a taxi and he has never known to drive when drinking. Sheila's wealthy mother is angry at Glen for driving her to drink and not noticing any signs. His young daughter is being called Boozer at school and getting in fights. Her grandmother wants to take Kelly to live with her and her second husband and put her in an expensive boarding school. To make matters worse, Glen is being sued by widow of man killed in the accident for millions for allowing his drunken wife to drive resulting in death of husband and son. Didn't mention that a house his company was building recently burned down. Glen's life was saved by a worker/friend and insurance company is refusing to pay.
Recently Sheila hosted a party for friends and neighbour women. The party was conducted by her friend Ann who was selling counterfeit designer pursers made in China and sold out of NYC. Very few of the women realized this was illegal. A detective comes to the town employed by the actual purse designers to investigate the trade. Glen learns that these copycat purses are supplied by a very ruthless man in NYC, who will shoot anyone who might get in his way, and that he was also dealing with dangerous copycat prescription drugs and other things.
Shortly after Sheila's death, Kelly is asked to go to a sleepover at Ann's home. Ann has a daughter Kelly's age who is the only friend the girl has left after the death of her mother. The girls are playing hide and seek and Kelly hides in Ann's closet. Ann enters the bedroom and takes two phone calls which Kelly only partly hears and they make little sense. She manages to video record the scene on her cell phone which she had ready to record her friend if she found her, as part of the object of their hide and seek game. Shortly after she calls her father to come and get her. Turns out Ann was very angry at her.
Ann's husband is a policeman who soon tries to discover what Kelly overheard.
Next morning Ann has been found dead. It looks like another accident where she stopped on the wharf to change a flat tire and fell into the water, but local police find signs that it may have been murder. Why was she there and whom was she meeting? Two deaths in such a short time makes Glen think maybe Shelia was also murdered.
Soon he discovers that Sheila was to deliver a huge sum of money to the wife of a couple they knew on the night of " the accident" and never went to her business class. Sheila's purse was found in the car but not the money. The woman believes Glen has taken it. A very menacing stranger is also demanding the money and a shot has been fired through Kelly's bedroom window. Kelly goes to stay with the grandmother for safety sake. While Kelly was hiding in Ann's closet she accidentaly took an object home which may point to other secrets.
This is only the set up for this fast moving thriller. Much of the time I felt I was a step ahead of Glen in trying to discover what caused his wife's death or if it was truly an accident. However many more things happen and more town secrets are revealed. There were several twists near the end which completely shocked and dumbfounded me and don't know how anyone could have seen them coming. But nothing was too farfetched and was completely believable to me.
Barclay is a Canadian writer and would wish he would set a future novel somewhere in this country. Best mystery story I read in a recent memory.
April 30, 2018
The Accident is about a community who are affected by the recession created a plan to make more money. Glen Garber construction company was in financial difficulties after a mysterious fire destroyed one of his homes. Glen Garber wife Sheila thought she could help by joining a quick rich scheme set up by a group of women in the community. However, it did not work out the way Sheila wanted. Sheila was involved in an accident that killed a father and his son and gave Glen Garber more problems. The readers will follow the twist and turns in Glen Garbers investigation into the death of his wife, Sheila. Also, will see if Glen Garber construction company survived.
The Accident is the first book I have read of Linwood Barclay, and it was enjoyable to read. I will look into reading other books by Linwood Barclay. The Accident is well written and researched by Linwood Barclay. I loved Linwood Barclay portrayed his characters and intertwined them with each other. I like the way, Linwood Barclay describing his settings of The Accident. Linwood Barclay did an excellent job of engaging me with the twist and turns in his plot of The Accident.
The readers of The Accident will learn what happens to construction company when they do not use the right electrical equipment. Also, The Accident highlights that greed does not provide you happiness and wealth.
I recommend this book.
The Accident is the first book I have read of Linwood Barclay, and it was enjoyable to read. I will look into reading other books by Linwood Barclay. The Accident is well written and researched by Linwood Barclay. I loved Linwood Barclay portrayed his characters and intertwined them with each other. I like the way, Linwood Barclay describing his settings of The Accident. Linwood Barclay did an excellent job of engaging me with the twist and turns in his plot of The Accident.
The readers of The Accident will learn what happens to construction company when they do not use the right electrical equipment. Also, The Accident highlights that greed does not provide you happiness and wealth.
I recommend this book.
March 29, 2015
Thanks to my GR FRIENDS for the recommendations. This my first Linwood Barclay book,but certainly not my last! IMO started off a little,but soon became a wild roller coaster ride to the end.I am looking forward to my next adventure with Mr. Barclay!!
August 27, 2011
3 1/2 Was all set to give this book a four but the ending was a bit of an overkill for me. Up to that point I was loving the book, suspense was great, it was a cautionary tale about the buying and selling of ripoff purses and drugs, liked the character of father and daughter but just couldn't buy that ending.
October 12, 2011
If Mr. Barclay ever decides to go into script writing for a television soap opera, he’ll have good reference material with “The Accident.” This book is chock full of characters interconnecting, with secrets around every corner. With a mini cliffhanger at the end of nearly every chapter, this story unfolds the lives of desperate people trying to hold onto a little slice of life.
One night, Glen Garber, a contractor in a Connecticut community, drives upon the scene of an accident where his wife, Sheila and two other people have been killed. The police blame drunk driving on the part of Sheila. Garber, not believing his wife could do such a thing slowly starts digging into the case, especially after his daughter comes home with a video of mysterious phone calls made by her friend’s mother. With a co-worker asking for money, a former subcontractor suspected of destroying a house, a detective snooping around investigating a case of counterfeit merchandise, and a shady character hanging around, Garber finds trouble coming at him from all sides.
Barclay somehow keeps all the proverbial balls in the air in this complex, character saturated plot. Unlike many books with numerous characters, Barclay gives a touch of background for each one. From the detective’s husband who is affected by the Iraqi war to the neighbor’s loneliness, the reader gets to learn a little about each person, making for a better understanding of each character. Expect a bit of action, a smattering of suspense and a few surprises.
Reviewed by Stephen L. Brayton, author of “Beta” for Suspense Magazine
One night, Glen Garber, a contractor in a Connecticut community, drives upon the scene of an accident where his wife, Sheila and two other people have been killed. The police blame drunk driving on the part of Sheila. Garber, not believing his wife could do such a thing slowly starts digging into the case, especially after his daughter comes home with a video of mysterious phone calls made by her friend’s mother. With a co-worker asking for money, a former subcontractor suspected of destroying a house, a detective snooping around investigating a case of counterfeit merchandise, and a shady character hanging around, Garber finds trouble coming at him from all sides.
Barclay somehow keeps all the proverbial balls in the air in this complex, character saturated plot. Unlike many books with numerous characters, Barclay gives a touch of background for each one. From the detective’s husband who is affected by the Iraqi war to the neighbor’s loneliness, the reader gets to learn a little about each person, making for a better understanding of each character. Expect a bit of action, a smattering of suspense and a few surprises.
Reviewed by Stephen L. Brayton, author of “Beta” for Suspense Magazine
August 24, 2011
"The Accident" is a thought provoking story dealing with the sale of knock off items by unwary suburbanites attempting to add to their family's income. It also details the people behind this activity and reveals that many of these items were made by young children working in miserable concitions in third world countries.
The thrilling story tells of Glen Garber becoming worried when his wife, Sheila, fails to return home from night school. He attempts to follow her route and comes upon an accident. When he realizes that it is Sheila's car in the accident, he rushes to the vehicle but is stopped by police. They tell him that Sheila didn't survive the accident and was apparently drinking and passed out. The accident also resulted in the death's of two people in a second car.
One of Sheila's friends, Ann Slocum, is ordered to meet an unnamed man who tells her that he wants his money. We learn that Ann has been selling unregistered pharmaceutical products. Ann meets someone and in a dispute, she ends up dead.
Glen has lost so much. There has been a fire in a home that he was building and the accident report indicated that it was caused by shoddy equipment. With his business problems, Sheila's death and children at his daughter Kelly's school treating her curelly, Glen seems surrounded by people intent on harming him and Kelly. He is a sympathetic character who we come to admire because he doesn't ask for sympathy or give up after having his world crumble around him.
Barclay has written a riveting book about a man who demonstrates that one man, acting with conviction, can make a difference.
This was an easy read but the reader should cancel their appointments before starting the story because once they begin, they won't be able to stop reading.
The thrilling story tells of Glen Garber becoming worried when his wife, Sheila, fails to return home from night school. He attempts to follow her route and comes upon an accident. When he realizes that it is Sheila's car in the accident, he rushes to the vehicle but is stopped by police. They tell him that Sheila didn't survive the accident and was apparently drinking and passed out. The accident also resulted in the death's of two people in a second car.
One of Sheila's friends, Ann Slocum, is ordered to meet an unnamed man who tells her that he wants his money. We learn that Ann has been selling unregistered pharmaceutical products. Ann meets someone and in a dispute, she ends up dead.
Glen has lost so much. There has been a fire in a home that he was building and the accident report indicated that it was caused by shoddy equipment. With his business problems, Sheila's death and children at his daughter Kelly's school treating her curelly, Glen seems surrounded by people intent on harming him and Kelly. He is a sympathetic character who we come to admire because he doesn't ask for sympathy or give up after having his world crumble around him.
Barclay has written a riveting book about a man who demonstrates that one man, acting with conviction, can make a difference.
This was an easy read but the reader should cancel their appointments before starting the story because once they begin, they won't be able to stop reading.
December 30, 2017
My first Linwood Barclay read, A Tap on the Window, earned a solid five-star rating, and I was eager to pick up more of his work. I worked my way through a few of his books, all earning four-star ratings from me, before reaching a book that left me a bit tentative. Everyone knows that feeling of giving a beloved author a three-star rating, how it can leave you worried about what else they can offer. Due to this, I found myself avoiding the other Linwood Barclay books I own. In the end, though, I finally decided to overcome my fear and jumped into The Accident.
I’ll be honest, The Accident is not a full four-star rating. It is a very strong three-point-five-star read, possibly even more than that and leaning even closer to four-stars, hence why I decided to round my rating up. In truth, I feared I would not be doing such a thing at the start of the story, but it did win me over in the end.
Linwood Barclay writes thrillers that are quite a bit slower than many of the big-name thriller writers out there. What is lacking in speedy action scenes, however, is made up for in twists. Once the story gets going, many elements are introduced in this one. Each time you believe all the details have come to light, something more is added to leave you guessing the future details that will come to light. It’s certainly one of those books where you need to hold out, to work through may details, to really appreciate how everything comes together so well.
Whilst The Accident may not be my favourite Linwood Barclay book, it has certainly removed the tentatively that was left following my prior three-star rating.
I’ll be honest, The Accident is not a full four-star rating. It is a very strong three-point-five-star read, possibly even more than that and leaning even closer to four-stars, hence why I decided to round my rating up. In truth, I feared I would not be doing such a thing at the start of the story, but it did win me over in the end.
Linwood Barclay writes thrillers that are quite a bit slower than many of the big-name thriller writers out there. What is lacking in speedy action scenes, however, is made up for in twists. Once the story gets going, many elements are introduced in this one. Each time you believe all the details have come to light, something more is added to leave you guessing the future details that will come to light. It’s certainly one of those books where you need to hold out, to work through may details, to really appreciate how everything comes together so well.
Whilst The Accident may not be my favourite Linwood Barclay book, it has certainly removed the tentatively that was left following my prior three-star rating.
August 26, 2025
The voice and style of the writing was rather limp and I was already considering on giving up within the first three chapters.
I pushed myself forward despite having a massive gripe with the book. This is written in first person and third person which, quite frankly, I couldn't stand. I don't mind if there is a change in narrator or if the third person was a one off but constantly flicking between the two made it very hard for me to adjust.
I wasn't impressed with the characterisation, either. Glen and Kelly annoyed me to no end. Kelly didn't seem like an eight year old at all, more like a five year old.
Long story short, 240 pages in and it was trying my patience. I skipped to the last 40 pages and I'm so glad I did it. I never skip a book unless it's necessary but I'm so glad I cut through all the rubbish that was happening.
To sum it up, the actual idea of the plot was fantastic but the writing style and the way the story was delivered wasn't my cup of tea.
I pushed myself forward despite having a massive gripe with the book. This is written in first person and third person which, quite frankly, I couldn't stand. I don't mind if there is a change in narrator or if the third person was a one off but constantly flicking between the two made it very hard for me to adjust.
I wasn't impressed with the characterisation, either. Glen and Kelly annoyed me to no end. Kelly didn't seem like an eight year old at all, more like a five year old.
Long story short, 240 pages in and it was trying my patience. I skipped to the last 40 pages and I'm so glad I did it. I never skip a book unless it's necessary but I'm so glad I cut through all the rubbish that was happening.
To sum it up, the actual idea of the plot was fantastic but the writing style and the way the story was delivered wasn't my cup of tea.
August 18, 2024
4.5 Stars
Slowly getting through all of LBs books.
This was an action-packed suspense.
Gary had his own renovation business, which wasn't doing well.
His wife Sheila decides she's going some night glasses to help him out financially.
One night, she doesn't come home. She's been in an accident killing two people and herself.
Gary was devastated. It didn't make sense.
His wife was so cautious, and it made no sense she was intoxicated.
After the accident, strange things start happening to people he knows.
He has to figure out what before anyone else gets hurt.
It will make think twice about buying a knock-off purse.
I love how his stories are so different, and his writing is amazing.
It's definitely a page turner
Slowly getting through all of LBs books.
This was an action-packed suspense.
Gary had his own renovation business, which wasn't doing well.
His wife Sheila decides she's going some night glasses to help him out financially.
One night, she doesn't come home. She's been in an accident killing two people and herself.
Gary was devastated. It didn't make sense.
His wife was so cautious, and it made no sense she was intoxicated.
After the accident, strange things start happening to people he knows.
He has to figure out what before anyone else gets hurt.
It will make think twice about buying a knock-off purse.
I love how his stories are so different, and his writing is amazing.
It's definitely a page turner
August 9, 2015
THE ACCIDENT, another suspense thriller by Linwood Barclay, combined with my favorite male narrator, Peter Berkrot - What a combo! Would love for him to perform all Barclay's audiobooks.
After reading Broken Promise , (Top Books of 2015), Barclay has been added to my favorite author list, and immediately purchased all his backlist in audio format. I am slowly making my way through the list. This is one intense suspense thriller - glued to my iPod for hours!
Glen is a contractor and they barely are making ends meet, and his wife Shelia is attending night classes in order to help with the accounting needs of their small business. However, she does not return on time after her class, and Glen discovers she is dead. A car accident involving alcohol. His daughter Kelly is devastated, and kids at school begin making fun of her drunken mother. Glen cannot even imagine how this would have happened, as not like his wife.
When Kelly stays over at a friend’s home, the girls are playing hide and seek. Kelly happens to find herself hiding in the mother’s closet and overhears a disturbing phone conversation. Who was on the other end of the line?
She calls her dad to pick her up. Glen is now more concerned the more he digs into more accidents, and realizes his wife may have been innocent and caught up in the middle of illegal activities. As more suspicions surface, he now has to protect his daughter, not knowing who he can trust, while he attempts to avenge his wife’s reputation and protect his family.
From designer handbags, home parties, girls New York trip, to knock off Rolex watches, and illegal drugs—a string of conspiracy. A little scandalous Desperate Housewives' Wisteria Lane, suburbs, and hidden secrets. A fast- paced suspense crime mystery thriller fans will enjoy! Well-developed characters and non-stop twists and turns. Nicely done; look forward to more.
After reading Broken Promise , (Top Books of 2015), Barclay has been added to my favorite author list, and immediately purchased all his backlist in audio format. I am slowly making my way through the list. This is one intense suspense thriller - glued to my iPod for hours!
Glen is a contractor and they barely are making ends meet, and his wife Shelia is attending night classes in order to help with the accounting needs of their small business. However, she does not return on time after her class, and Glen discovers she is dead. A car accident involving alcohol. His daughter Kelly is devastated, and kids at school begin making fun of her drunken mother. Glen cannot even imagine how this would have happened, as not like his wife.
When Kelly stays over at a friend’s home, the girls are playing hide and seek. Kelly happens to find herself hiding in the mother’s closet and overhears a disturbing phone conversation. Who was on the other end of the line?
She calls her dad to pick her up. Glen is now more concerned the more he digs into more accidents, and realizes his wife may have been innocent and caught up in the middle of illegal activities. As more suspicions surface, he now has to protect his daughter, not knowing who he can trust, while he attempts to avenge his wife’s reputation and protect his family.
From designer handbags, home parties, girls New York trip, to knock off Rolex watches, and illegal drugs—a string of conspiracy. A little scandalous Desperate Housewives' Wisteria Lane, suburbs, and hidden secrets. A fast- paced suspense crime mystery thriller fans will enjoy! Well-developed characters and non-stop twists and turns. Nicely done; look forward to more.
March 26, 2016
3.5 stars - It was really good.
This was exactly what I needed after several tedious, slow and uninteresting reads - a fast and engaging plot with lots of twists. The ending was somewhat far fetched and convenient, but easily forgiven.
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Favorite Quote: Sherlock Holmes once told Doctor Watson, “How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?”
First Sentence: If I’d known this was our last morning, I’d have rolled over in bed and held her.
This was exactly what I needed after several tedious, slow and uninteresting reads - a fast and engaging plot with lots of twists. The ending was somewhat far fetched and convenient, but easily forgiven.
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Favorite Quote: Sherlock Holmes once told Doctor Watson, “How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?”
First Sentence: If I’d known this was our last morning, I’d have rolled over in bed and held her.
April 27, 2016
Wow. This was really,really good. This is the first book that I have read from Barclay, and I was very impressed. This is a thriller that grabs you right away and sprints to the end. The Accident is about a man in his 30's whose life is shattered when his wife dies in a DUI/car accident. The truth starts to unfold, what a great story.
July 6, 2022
This got so many great reviews that I feel like I must be missing something. But I’m 150 pages in and I just can’t possibly go on for 300 more pages.
The main character is a jackass, but all the other ones are horrible also. I could not care less what happens to any of them or what the heck it all has to do with designer purses.
The main character is a jackass, but all the other ones are horrible also. I could not care less what happens to any of them or what the heck it all has to do with designer purses.
July 30, 2015
Yet another outstanding book by Linwood Barclay.
Fast paced and grips you from the very start.
Fast paced and grips you from the very start.
April 19, 2018
Excellent!!!! Linwood Barclay can do no wrong in my eyes!
August 7, 2011
“The Accident” by Linwood Barclay, published by Bantam Books.
Category – Mystery/Thriller
Sherlock Holmes once told Doctor Watson, “How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?”
Linwood Barclay uses this to its maximum in his latest and best mystery/thriller, “The Accident”.
Two young ladies from Butler, Pennsylvania are celebrating a birthday by going shopping in New York. They heard of a place that sells “knockoff” purses and upon arriving at the location are immediately shot to death.
In the town of Milford, Connecticut Glen and Sheila Garber and their young daughter Kelly are about to undergo a complete change in their lives. Glen, who owns a construction company, has hit on hard times but Sheila thinks she has a way to earn some extra money. However, Sheila is in automobile “accident” which claims her life and two others. Although Sheila has never driven while intoxicated, the autopsy shows that she was legally drunk.
Their friends Ann and Darren Slocum and their daughter Emily have Kelly over for a sleepover and while Kelly is playing a game of hide and seek, she finds herself in Ann’s bedroom closet and takes a video of Ann handling two strange phone calls that figure prominently in the conclusion of the book.
That night Ann is found dead in a lake and the death is considered an “accident”.
Glen, not believing that either “accident” is nothing short of murder begins to investigate and is torn between loyalty to his wife and friends and the truth.
There are few really top notch mysteries where just about everyone in the novel is considered and very well could be part and partial to the crimes committed. “The Accident” will have you running around in circles trying to find the guilty party or parties. This will truly keep you turning the pages because the plot keeps getting deeper and deeper the more you read.
Category – Mystery/Thriller
Sherlock Holmes once told Doctor Watson, “How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?”
Linwood Barclay uses this to its maximum in his latest and best mystery/thriller, “The Accident”.
Two young ladies from Butler, Pennsylvania are celebrating a birthday by going shopping in New York. They heard of a place that sells “knockoff” purses and upon arriving at the location are immediately shot to death.
In the town of Milford, Connecticut Glen and Sheila Garber and their young daughter Kelly are about to undergo a complete change in their lives. Glen, who owns a construction company, has hit on hard times but Sheila thinks she has a way to earn some extra money. However, Sheila is in automobile “accident” which claims her life and two others. Although Sheila has never driven while intoxicated, the autopsy shows that she was legally drunk.
Their friends Ann and Darren Slocum and their daughter Emily have Kelly over for a sleepover and while Kelly is playing a game of hide and seek, she finds herself in Ann’s bedroom closet and takes a video of Ann handling two strange phone calls that figure prominently in the conclusion of the book.
That night Ann is found dead in a lake and the death is considered an “accident”.
Glen, not believing that either “accident” is nothing short of murder begins to investigate and is torn between loyalty to his wife and friends and the truth.
There are few really top notch mysteries where just about everyone in the novel is considered and very well could be part and partial to the crimes committed. “The Accident” will have you running around in circles trying to find the guilty party or parties. This will truly keep you turning the pages because the plot keeps getting deeper and deeper the more you read.
July 23, 2012
Fantastic read with fast paced plot. Canadian author, Barclay, has a way of bringing his vulnerable characters to the edge with fantastic cloak and dagger reveals. When Sheila Garber dies in an accident at the beginning of the book, her blood level alcohol is elevated, leaving husband, Glen, to wonder why she would have ever been driving after drinking that much. It was far from her typical behavior. Or So he thought. He had not known that his wife struggled with an alcohol addiction. Battling his anger and grief, Glen searches for answers, and tries to be both Mom and Dad to daughter, Kelly. Not long after, one of Sheila's friends, dies in yet another mysterious accident. Glen tries to keep his construction business afloat, while discovering that his wife's friends were involved in the nefarious business of selling knockoff name brand purses, and prescription pills without a prescription. Had his wife been involved in these unethical practices? How did she really die? Barclay illuminates the strange territory of life after a death in the family, especially an unexpected death that leaves unanswered questions. Glen's relationship with his daughter, Kelly, mother-in-law, Fiona, employees, and friends, are all explored, and each portrayal leaves the reader wondering, how does this tie in to Sheila'a death. Most of the characters have something to hide, some secret they'd rather keep hidden. Barclay brings everything together at the end in a satisfactory, if unexpected, conclusion. The reader will not be disappointed. A suspenseful thriller, and yet, also engaging in its exploration of family dynamics and friendships with deep, dark secrets.
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