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Fear The Worst
Seventeen-year-old Sydney Blake’s summer is shaping up to be typical for a teenager: she’s spending it with her father, and she has landed a part-time job at a local hotel. One night, Syd fails to come home from her shift, and her father Tim is a bit alarmed. However, that alarm turns to full-on panic after he visits the Just Inn Time hotel and the manager claims that Syd has never worked there. Grilling his daughter’s friends for clues leads Tim nowhere — except to threats against his life — and as he frantically chases every lead, he can’t help but wonder if Syd is even still alive. Despite a growing list of unanswered questions, all Tim knows for certain is that he must continue searching for his daughter — no matter how high the stakes become.
From the Hardcover edition.
From the Hardcover edition.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 11, 2009
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About the author
Linwood Barclay
80 books7,130 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 1,364 reviews
October 1, 2023
3.5 stars
Tim Blake, a divorced car salesman in Milford, Connecticut, has his 17-year-old daughter Sydney living with him for the summer. Sydney has a summer job at a cheap local motel called 'Just Inn Time.'
One morning Sydney goes off to work and doesn't come home. When Tim goes to 'Just Inn Time' looking for his daughter he's told Sydney never worked there and no one there has ever seen her. Confused and worried Tim reports his daughter missing and begins an obsessive search for her.
When she's not living with her dad Sydney lives nearby with her mother Susanne. Susanne has recently moved them both in with her boyfriend Bob, the owner of a car dealership.
When Tim learns that Bob's 19-year-old son Evan recently came to live with them Tim becomes infuriated, convinced this is a recipe for trouble. Evan claims to know nothing about Sydney's disappearance but Tim doesn't believe him.
Meanwhile, Sydney's friends offer their assistance. Her ex-boyfriend Jeff Bluestein sets up a website to help search for Sydney and her girlfriend Patty Swain offers moral support and fast food while Tim continues his search.
It soon becomes clear that Sydney was involved in something that put her on the radar of some bad guys, and Tim runs into trouble everywhere he turns. To add to Tim's problems the police aren't very helpful. They seem to look at Tim as a suspect in both Sydney's disappearance as well as other crimes that are happening in Milford. Tim's recently dumped girlfriend doesn't help, being angry and neurotic and willing to throw Tim under the bus when she's questioned by the police.
The story is suspenseful from beginning to end and I sympathized with Tim's fear and anguish. He's clearly a nice guy in over his head. The other characters add interest to the story, which moves fast to a dramatic climax.
I enjoyed the book and recommend it to fans of mystery thrillers.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
March 16, 2024
This was recommended to me by my Goodreads friend, Corey. His review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
At first, I wasn’t sure I wanted to read this book. It seemed like my worst nightmare. A father looking in on his daughter at her job and finds out she doesn’t work there. What? Who is she? What does he not know about his own daughter?
I love that my adult sons call me all the time and tell me what is going on with them, and ask me advice about their jobs and life in general. I can’t ever imagine being faced with this kind of dilemma. But then again, I am not in this mystery.
So here we are readers.
Which makes this the perfect title of a book. Fear the worst? Oh yes. I know I would, too. And this certainly makes for a perfect beleaguered protagonist. And putting the reader through the emotional wringer. Thank you, Corey! 🥹
Instead of waking to an ordinary day, Tim Blake wakes to a nightmare. His teenage daughter who is supposedly holding down a summer job, while visiting him for this particular summer, isn’t really where she is supposed to be. And as I said earlier, they didn’t even know her. So where has she been this whole time?
And now, Barclay is going to engage readers with some very sinister people. Not good. This will be a journey for Blake, and us readers. And his daughter. Who needed sleep anyway?
This is a slow-burn. Readers may become inpatient. But if you are willing to wait for it, the author will build the levels of apprehension and take us to the dramatic conclusion.
At first, I wasn’t sure I wanted to read this book. It seemed like my worst nightmare. A father looking in on his daughter at her job and finds out she doesn’t work there. What? Who is she? What does he not know about his own daughter?
I love that my adult sons call me all the time and tell me what is going on with them, and ask me advice about their jobs and life in general. I can’t ever imagine being faced with this kind of dilemma. But then again, I am not in this mystery.
So here we are readers.
Which makes this the perfect title of a book. Fear the worst? Oh yes. I know I would, too. And this certainly makes for a perfect beleaguered protagonist. And putting the reader through the emotional wringer. Thank you, Corey! 🥹
Instead of waking to an ordinary day, Tim Blake wakes to a nightmare. His teenage daughter who is supposedly holding down a summer job, while visiting him for this particular summer, isn’t really where she is supposed to be. And as I said earlier, they didn’t even know her. So where has she been this whole time?
And now, Barclay is going to engage readers with some very sinister people. Not good. This will be a journey for Blake, and us readers. And his daughter. Who needed sleep anyway?
This is a slow-burn. Readers may become inpatient. But if you are willing to wait for it, the author will build the levels of apprehension and take us to the dramatic conclusion.
September 20, 2016
Timothy Blake got up that morning and in due course proceeded to make scrambled eggs for his seventeen year old daughter Sydney, who was spending the summer with him. Sydney was growing up fast and pushing hard for her independance. Last year she was content with the part time job Tim had secured for her at his car dealership but this year she had secured her own employment at a local Inn. Tim wanted to support his daughter and her struggle to make her own way but could not help but be concerned when he overheard a phone conversation with her friend Patty that suggested that she was being paid under the table at the Just Inn Time. And now here she was at the breakfast table sporting what looked like brand new Versace sunglasses on her head. Of course Tim could not leave it alone.
Still it was not like Syd to be late getting home from work without calling to say she would be. The longer Tim waited the more anxious he became until now standing at the reception desk of the Just Inn Time he can scarce believe his ears when the manager repeats that she not only does not know a Sydney Blake but that she certainly never employed her.
Sydney does not return home that night. Or on the day after that or the following one either.
Suppose something like that happened in your family.
Welcome to the world of Linwood Barclay where extraordinary things happen to ordinary people. This is one of Barclay’s earlier books and rumour has it that it is still one of his favourites.
Feet up? Comfy? Alright.
All together now:
I want a new drug, one that does what it should
One that won’t make me feel too bad
One that won’t make me feel to good
I want a new drug, one with no doubt
One that won’t make me talk too much
Or make my face break out
Yup, I’m getting me another Linwood Barclay!
Still it was not like Syd to be late getting home from work without calling to say she would be. The longer Tim waited the more anxious he became until now standing at the reception desk of the Just Inn Time he can scarce believe his ears when the manager repeats that she not only does not know a Sydney Blake but that she certainly never employed her.
Sydney does not return home that night. Or on the day after that or the following one either.
Suppose something like that happened in your family.
Welcome to the world of Linwood Barclay where extraordinary things happen to ordinary people. This is one of Barclay’s earlier books and rumour has it that it is still one of his favourites.
Feet up? Comfy? Alright.
All together now:
I want a new drug, one that does what it should
One that won’t make me feel too bad
One that won’t make me feel to good
I want a new drug, one with no doubt
One that won’t make me talk too much
Or make my face break out
Yup, I’m getting me another Linwood Barclay!
September 6, 2018
Spending time with his seventeen year old daughter, Sydney over Summer was something Tim Blake always looked forward to. Sydney usually worked with Tim at the car dealership, but this Summer she got a job at the Just In Time Hotel.
On the night Sydney disappears without a trace, Tim immediately heads over her place of work as this should've been the last place someone should've seen her. But Tim is confused when he's told no one by that name works there. How could that be possible? Tim is convinced there must be an explanation and this is merely a mix up, but there is no record of his daughter ever having worked there and it seems none of the staff have heard of her.
Frantically Tim tries to work out what's going on, but he doesn't know where to begin. He contacts her friends and they admit that Sydney had been acting odd lately, only they didn't know why and they didn't know where she was or where she might be. With very little to go on, Tim must try and find his daughter, but he soon learns he doesn't know, Sydney as well as he might've thought. As Tim searches for his daughter, he is left with more questions than answers.
Fear The Worst was a very entertaining read with twists and turns that will keep you guessing. Recommended to anyone who enjoys reading thriller novels.
On the night Sydney disappears without a trace, Tim immediately heads over her place of work as this should've been the last place someone should've seen her. But Tim is confused when he's told no one by that name works there. How could that be possible? Tim is convinced there must be an explanation and this is merely a mix up, but there is no record of his daughter ever having worked there and it seems none of the staff have heard of her.
Frantically Tim tries to work out what's going on, but he doesn't know where to begin. He contacts her friends and they admit that Sydney had been acting odd lately, only they didn't know why and they didn't know where she was or where she might be. With very little to go on, Tim must try and find his daughter, but he soon learns he doesn't know, Sydney as well as he might've thought. As Tim searches for his daughter, he is left with more questions than answers.
Fear The Worst was a very entertaining read with twists and turns that will keep you guessing. Recommended to anyone who enjoys reading thriller novels.
May 1, 2023
An enjoyable thriller based on human-trafficking!
Someday a brilliant author will find a way to make civilian Joe Average’s ability to out-sleuth the professional sleuths, to out-investigate the police force, to evade the predations of armed and deadly criminals, to rescue a victim in the face of overwhelming odds and to build all of that into a brilliant, smooth plot-line without resorting to coincidences that stretch credibility beyond any reasonable breaking point. When that happens, the author will win a Pulitzer Prize for suspense thrillers that will be created for the sole purpose of honoring that achievement. The day on which Linwood Barclay’s FEAR THE WORST appeared in bookstores was not that day.
Tim Blake is the quintessential ordinary guy selling cars, grappling with the problems of being a single father to an angsty, moody teenage daughter, struggling to deal with an ex-wife shacked up with the owner of a competing car dealership and realizing that the woman he’s bedding is an oversexed drama queen who thinks the world is out to get her. And despite the credibility issues that prevent FEAR THE WORST from achieving the lofty heights of a five-star barn burner, Blake’s efforts to rescue his daughter from the grips of a human trafficking ring make for compelling reading. This is especially true with illegal immigration being newspaper headline fodder on virtually a daily basis.
Credibility issues aside, FEAR THE WORST is eminently enjoyable and has much to be recommended. Barclay’s side-bar discussion of parental responsibility considered from multiple perspectives provides interesting food for thought as well – something that is often completely absent in many thrillers.
Recommended.
Paul Weiss
Someday a brilliant author will find a way to make civilian Joe Average’s ability to out-sleuth the professional sleuths, to out-investigate the police force, to evade the predations of armed and deadly criminals, to rescue a victim in the face of overwhelming odds and to build all of that into a brilliant, smooth plot-line without resorting to coincidences that stretch credibility beyond any reasonable breaking point. When that happens, the author will win a Pulitzer Prize for suspense thrillers that will be created for the sole purpose of honoring that achievement. The day on which Linwood Barclay’s FEAR THE WORST appeared in bookstores was not that day.
Tim Blake is the quintessential ordinary guy selling cars, grappling with the problems of being a single father to an angsty, moody teenage daughter, struggling to deal with an ex-wife shacked up with the owner of a competing car dealership and realizing that the woman he’s bedding is an oversexed drama queen who thinks the world is out to get her. And despite the credibility issues that prevent FEAR THE WORST from achieving the lofty heights of a five-star barn burner, Blake’s efforts to rescue his daughter from the grips of a human trafficking ring make for compelling reading. This is especially true with illegal immigration being newspaper headline fodder on virtually a daily basis.
Credibility issues aside, FEAR THE WORST is eminently enjoyable and has much to be recommended. Barclay’s side-bar discussion of parental responsibility considered from multiple perspectives provides interesting food for thought as well – something that is often completely absent in many thrillers.
Recommended.
Paul Weiss
February 25, 2020
The morning Tim Blake made breakfast for his seventeen-year-old daughter Sydney before she went to work, was the day his life changed in a frightening way. Syd didn’t return home that day – or the next... Tim contacted his ex-wife, the police and anyone else he could think of, but the place she said she’d worked had never heard of her, no one knew where she was. It seemed Sydney had vanished into thin air…
Would Tim find his daughter alive? Would he ever see her again? There would be much happening before he would go close to those answers, among them, people trying to kill him. What had Sydney mixed herself up in? Or was it just coincidence?
Fear the Worst is a great thriller by Linwood Barclay; only the third he’d written, though he has many more written now. I’ve had this book languishing on my shelves for almost 5 years and am so glad I’ve finally read it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it makes me realise I need to read more by this author. Recommended.
Would Tim find his daughter alive? Would he ever see her again? There would be much happening before he would go close to those answers, among them, people trying to kill him. What had Sydney mixed herself up in? Or was it just coincidence?
Fear the Worst is a great thriller by Linwood Barclay; only the third he’d written, though he has many more written now. I’ve had this book languishing on my shelves for almost 5 years and am so glad I’ve finally read it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it makes me realise I need to read more by this author. Recommended.
November 9, 2023
Linwood Barclay never fails.
Excellent book.
Lots going on to keep you gripped. Thought Patty was an excellent character!
Five stars.
Excellent book.
Lots going on to keep you gripped. Thought Patty was an excellent character!
Five stars.
February 5, 2015
I had a great time reading this fast-paced thriller (set at a car dealership!) with my two fabulous book buddies Betsy and Sheila. This is a really fun choice for a buddy read, especially if you break it up the way Betsy did and end on a cliffhanger every time, lol! I liked this one even more that my last Barclay (The Accident), and I think now it's safe to say that I'm a full-fledged LB groupie! I liked the way this story is told with one point of view (Tim's) and is completely linear. It really made me feel like I was along for the ride, especially since the whole darn thing takes place 20 minutes away from my house! LB even mentioned my little hometown! What a thrill! :D
September 30, 2023
3⭐
Un thriller de la factoría Barclay al más puro estilo Harlan Coben.
Entretenido, ritmo muy vivo y de fácil enganche. Comienza fuerte y genera intriga. La trama, que se complica a medida que avanzamos, no está mal llevada, aunque se le va la mano en los giros.
Los personajes correctos sin profundizar en ninguno como es propio de un thriller de estas características. A los protagonistas los dibuja en tonos de gris.
La ambientación en un pueblo del norte del estado de Nueva York es correcta.
El final cierra la trama, pero lo hace de un modo abrupto, como cortado a cuchillo. No es que deje flecos sueltos, pero un capítulo más no habría sobrado.
En conclusión un thriller de manual que engancha y entretiene, pero al que se le han ido de las manos los giros y con un final demasiado abrupto.
Un thriller de la factoría Barclay al más puro estilo Harlan Coben.
Entretenido, ritmo muy vivo y de fácil enganche. Comienza fuerte y genera intriga. La trama, que se complica a medida que avanzamos, no está mal llevada, aunque se le va la mano en los giros.
Los personajes correctos sin profundizar en ninguno como es propio de un thriller de estas características. A los protagonistas los dibuja en tonos de gris.
La ambientación en un pueblo del norte del estado de Nueva York es correcta.
El final cierra la trama, pero lo hace de un modo abrupto, como cortado a cuchillo. No es que deje flecos sueltos, pero un capítulo más no habría sobrado.
En conclusión un thriller de manual que engancha y entretiene, pero al que se le han ido de las manos los giros y con un final demasiado abrupto.
August 1, 2009
I won a copy of this book from good reads giveaways. This was the first book I'd read by Linwood Barclay, and I enjoyed the story. Great summer reading.
Tim Blake is a divorced Connecticut car salesman. His teenage daughter Sydney is staying with him for the summer. One night she doesn't come home from work. Tim goes looking for her at the inn where she's been working, and is told she never worked there. He tries to go on with his normal life while looking for Sydney, and eventually devotes all of his time to the search. In his desperation he gets sucked into some cons and false leads, and finds himself tangled up with some bad actors. He is introduced to another world he knew nothing about, involving an underground economy.
The book is a thriller, but one of the best things about it is the humor! There were some things that made me laugh so hard I had to put the book down. The thing with Juanita and the flower shop guy is hilarious! Barclay has a fine ear for average everyday dialogue which left me laughing in appreciation. You'll recognize yourself or people you've known.
The only real weakness in the book is at the end. Barclay doesn't leave you hanging, so that's good. But the story needs an epilogue or short final chapter telling how everyone fared when the drama had passed. Tim Blake leaves a lot of trouble and destruction in his wake as he goes after Sydney, and we need to know about the aftermath.
Tim Blake is a divorced Connecticut car salesman. His teenage daughter Sydney is staying with him for the summer. One night she doesn't come home from work. Tim goes looking for her at the inn where she's been working, and is told she never worked there. He tries to go on with his normal life while looking for Sydney, and eventually devotes all of his time to the search. In his desperation he gets sucked into some cons and false leads, and finds himself tangled up with some bad actors. He is introduced to another world he knew nothing about, involving an underground economy.
The book is a thriller, but one of the best things about it is the humor! There were some things that made me laugh so hard I had to put the book down. The thing with Juanita and the flower shop guy is hilarious! Barclay has a fine ear for average everyday dialogue which left me laughing in appreciation. You'll recognize yourself or people you've known.
The only real weakness in the book is at the end. Barclay doesn't leave you hanging, so that's good. But the story needs an epilogue or short final chapter telling how everyone fared when the drama had passed. Tim Blake leaves a lot of trouble and destruction in his wake as he goes after Sydney, and we need to know about the aftermath.
October 13, 2009
The premise of this book is an interesting one: what would you do if, as a loving parent, your teenage daughter disappeared one day? And, added to that, what if you went to her workplace and they told you she'd never worked there, and they had no idea who she was?
The beginning of the novel, when a father is in just this situation, is really quite good. Unfortunately, it quickly becomes overburdened with a growing cast of characters and dozens of convoluted occurences, and the end result was a thriller with which I just could not get engaged. I actually found myself caring more about the intricacies of selling cars (the father is a car salesman) that I was about the ultimate fate of the characters.
Even if the reader makes it through this novel and enjoys it most of the way, I doubt many will be particularly satisifed with the ending, which is very abrupt and leaves most aspects of the characters' fates completely up in the air. It's barely the false closure that an action movie like "Die Hard" gives us -- it's more like the author just couldn't face the idea of trying to things up in a realistic but satisfying way, choosing instead to just stop writing and give up.
The beginning of the novel, when a father is in just this situation, is really quite good. Unfortunately, it quickly becomes overburdened with a growing cast of characters and dozens of convoluted occurences, and the end result was a thriller with which I just could not get engaged. I actually found myself caring more about the intricacies of selling cars (the father is a car salesman) that I was about the ultimate fate of the characters.
Even if the reader makes it through this novel and enjoys it most of the way, I doubt many will be particularly satisifed with the ending, which is very abrupt and leaves most aspects of the characters' fates completely up in the air. It's barely the false closure that an action movie like "Die Hard" gives us -- it's more like the author just couldn't face the idea of trying to things up in a realistic but satisfying way, choosing instead to just stop writing and give up.
November 28, 2020
A galloping read for a Psychological thriller. Well crafted with plausible characters. In addition, the story is based around facts that we know exist i.e forced labour. And the difficulty of everyday people realizing this is happening on their turf.
Unputdownable
Unputdownable
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2019
Lots of twists--daughter is missing, but no one seems to know who she is. Barclay is making a name for himself with twisty thrillers.
March 14, 2013
Fear the Worst was a decent read for the first 2/3 of the book, not spectacular, just decent. Decent ended for me at the end of chapter 35, page 309 of the hardcover edition I was reading. I can't elaborate for fear of giving a significant spoiler. My suspension of disbelief was all used up at that point. This particular "coincidence" was over the top and absolutely unbelievable. After page 309, the whole story became ridiculous, predictable, and less than mediocre.
Fear the Worst was a disappointment. What could have been a nail-biter became a comedy. It felt as though Mr. Barclay's heart wasn't in it. Maybe he was trying to meet a quota, late for an appointment, something like that. The coincidences and predictability in the last 1/3 of this novel are things I would associate with laziness. Perhaps a bit of writer's block?..
This was my first Linwood Barclay read. I'll read another. Maybe this was an anomaly.
My usual advisory - This work included coarse language, violence, sexual violence, and a small bit of sexual innuendo. If you are offended by any of these, this is not the book for you.
I borrowed this book from The Wichita Public Library.
Fear the Worst was a disappointment. What could have been a nail-biter became a comedy. It felt as though Mr. Barclay's heart wasn't in it. Maybe he was trying to meet a quota, late for an appointment, something like that. The coincidences and predictability in the last 1/3 of this novel are things I would associate with laziness. Perhaps a bit of writer's block?..
This was my first Linwood Barclay read. I'll read another. Maybe this was an anomaly.
My usual advisory - This work included coarse language, violence, sexual violence, and a small bit of sexual innuendo. If you are offended by any of these, this is not the book for you.
I borrowed this book from The Wichita Public Library.
April 29, 2021
The latest in the OMG! SHE'S GONE genre. Not as compelling as Harlan Coben's "Tell No One," not as heartbreaking as Stewart O'Nan's "Songs for the Missing," and not as fascinating as the true life reappearances of girls resurfacing after abduction, this holds interet by being of the moment, using the tools and headlines and technologies of the present day. It would have been more involving if there had not been so much repetition and the writing had been tighter.
June 24, 2022
Un arranque que engancha, una continuación que no para de sobrecargarse con personajes y giros cada vez menos creíbles y un mal y abrupto final.
January 6, 2013
A decent thriller based on an aging theme
Quite a few mystery thrillers have been written based on the disappearance of a person, seemingly without trace, only to have those amongst whom they were thought to live and work deny their very existence. The first of these, to my knowledge, was So Long at the Fair by Anthony Thorne, first published in 1947. That one was about a man who disappeared in Paris just before the Paris Exhibition in 1879. Her sister tries to track him down. It later became a film (1950), which starred Jean Simmons and Dirk Borgarde.
Fear the Worst is about a girl called Sydney who disappears from her work-place, a local motel. Her father, Tim, tries to find her, but is hampered by police who believe that he has either abducted or killed her, and by some very violent people.
It is fast-paced and action-packed from beginning to end. As such, it is a good read. However, I was frustrated by Tim’s stupidity and naivety. Without those qualities, the story would have fizzled out early on, so I am sure that this was a deliberate ploy by the author. Nobody, outside a work of fiction could be such an idiot.
A couple of characters got killed, when I would have preferred them to have survived, and the ending was a little disappointing.
On the whole, this book was worth reading, and I would recommend it to my friends as one of those to pick up when you don’t have something that is burning a hole in your to-read shelf.
Quite a few mystery thrillers have been written based on the disappearance of a person, seemingly without trace, only to have those amongst whom they were thought to live and work deny their very existence. The first of these, to my knowledge, was So Long at the Fair by Anthony Thorne, first published in 1947. That one was about a man who disappeared in Paris just before the Paris Exhibition in 1879. Her sister tries to track him down. It later became a film (1950), which starred Jean Simmons and Dirk Borgarde.
Fear the Worst is about a girl called Sydney who disappears from her work-place, a local motel. Her father, Tim, tries to find her, but is hampered by police who believe that he has either abducted or killed her, and by some very violent people.
It is fast-paced and action-packed from beginning to end. As such, it is a good read. However, I was frustrated by Tim’s stupidity and naivety. Without those qualities, the story would have fizzled out early on, so I am sure that this was a deliberate ploy by the author. Nobody, outside a work of fiction could be such an idiot.
A couple of characters got killed, when I would have preferred them to have survived, and the ending was a little disappointing.
On the whole, this book was worth reading, and I would recommend it to my friends as one of those to pick up when you don’t have something that is burning a hole in your to-read shelf.
August 19, 2021
What a fantastic book that l couldn't put it down , very fast Loved it very much especially the main character in the book
, Linwood barclay can't wait to read the other books of this wonderful author
, Linwood barclay can't wait to read the other books of this wonderful author
December 1, 2012
A very good novel by Linwood Barclay, fast paced page turner with lots of twists and turns.
March 11, 2015
When Tim Blake’s daughter Sydney goes missing he soon discovers that maybe he didn’t know her as well as he thought. Why would she disappear without a trace and why does nobody at the hotel she works at know anything about her? Pretty soon it becomes apparent that he is not the only one trying to find Sydney – but who are these people who it seems are prepared to stop at nothing to find her?
There is a lot of action packed into this book and it did sometimes feel as if there was “too much” of it, just one dangerous situation for Tim after another. Having said that it was a really good, enjoyable read that I didn’t want to put down and one that kept me guessing until the end.
There is a lot of action packed into this book and it did sometimes feel as if there was “too much” of it, just one dangerous situation for Tim after another. Having said that it was a really good, enjoyable read that I didn’t want to put down and one that kept me guessing until the end.
May 20, 2023
Me parece una estupenda novela de intriga, me enganchó desde el principio y me tuvo continuamente con ganas de saber más.
Fácil de leer, una trama que avanza sin cesar y llena de sorpresas, imposible aburrirse.
No se puede adivinar el final y éste está lleno de acción de la que pone de los nervios.
Lectura recomendable de un buen autor.
Fácil de leer, una trama que avanza sin cesar y llena de sorpresas, imposible aburrirse.
No se puede adivinar el final y éste está lleno de acción de la que pone de los nervios.
Lectura recomendable de un buen autor.
May 2, 2025
This was a ton of fun. Kind of formulaic and full of melodrama? Sure, but that's Linwood Barclay for you. Bob was the shadow MVP of this story. He really grew on me. The worst part was how 2009 managed to sound like the Stone Age, technology-wise. It hurt my feelings, tbh.
August 29, 2024
The case of the missing daughter.
Ray Blakes teenage daughter Syd doesn't come home one night.
He waits to call the police but decides to take matters into his own hands.
He finds out she's nowhere in the small town where they live.
When the circumstances start getting worse for Ray, he starts to become a suspect.
The police aren't aren't believing anything he says and aren't helping him look for his daughter, which frustrates him.
Slow at the beginning, but turns out to be a good story.
Linwood Barclays characters are well developed and original.
Ray Blakes teenage daughter Syd doesn't come home one night.
He waits to call the police but decides to take matters into his own hands.
He finds out she's nowhere in the small town where they live.
When the circumstances start getting worse for Ray, he starts to become a suspect.
The police aren't aren't believing anything he says and aren't helping him look for his daughter, which frustrates him.
Slow at the beginning, but turns out to be a good story.
Linwood Barclays characters are well developed and original.
December 17, 2024
Another quick paced book
July 4, 2019
4 Stars. Not as good as "Trust Your Eyes' where the problem starts slowly and builds. In "Fear the Worst," Barclay's thriller gets off to the races very quickly. Tim Blake is having his usual problems; they seem to follow him around. He's a car salesman who's just barely making it, yet he has one redeeming characteristic, his love for his 17 year-old daughter Sydney. Separated, Tim has custody of her for the summer. She disappears one day - she doesn't come home from her receptionist job at a second-rate hotel in town. Tim worries that a tiff at breakfast over something he asked about has made her run off. He soon starts searching and finds that her job may be fictitious, that his former wife's new relationship may be part of the problem, and that he can't get any help from the police. Indeed he quickly climbs to suspect #1. Both Tim and the reader become more and more anxious. Throw in his neurotic girl-friend, enough bodies to require a very large hearse, hints of the mob, and a few real surprises, and I had an enjoyable read. (March 2018)
September 16, 2024
Un híbrido de las pelis "Taken" y "Fast and Furios." Carrera contrarreloj con mucha acción, un plot twist que no ves venir y personajes que evolucionan. El final me pareció apresurado.
TRAMA
La hija adolescente de Tim desaparece y en su supuesto trabajo de verano le dicen que ella nunca estuvo allí. ¿Dónde está su hija y por qué mintió?
LO MEJOR:
-Trama de acción visual como una peli.
-Subtramas que se complementan sagazmente.
-Protagonista que evoluciona con sus propios recursos.
-Narración adictiva que va al grano.
LO PEOR:
-Final demasiado abrupto.
TRAMA
La hija adolescente de Tim desaparece y en su supuesto trabajo de verano le dicen que ella nunca estuvo allí. ¿Dónde está su hija y por qué mintió?
LO MEJOR:
-Trama de acción visual como una peli.
-Subtramas que se complementan sagazmente.
-Protagonista que evoluciona con sus propios recursos.
-Narración adictiva que va al grano.
LO PEOR:
-Final demasiado abrupto.
January 29, 2011
I'd just finished another of this author's books and was looking for something light and easy. This is hardly a 'thriller' as his other book is, but it's still a pageturner. My only problem is that the author doesn't follow Chekov's rule about the gun in the first act going off in the third act. (Spoiler below)
Why was the main character's house searched? What were the bad guys looking for? I thought FOR SURE that when the father had taken the stuffed animal on his road trip, his daughter had hidden something inside the moose, and the ransackers never found what they were after because the moose was in Seattle with her dad. The entire book I wanted for there to be a payoff, because the author purposely mentioned Milt the stuffed moose sitting on his bed, and later he was lost but he recovered Milt at the hotel. Ultimately there was no point to it, which was a let-down. I'd still read another when I need non-challenging entertainment. Guess I shouldn't look so far into things next time.
Why was the main character's house searched? What were the bad guys looking for? I thought FOR SURE that when the father had taken the stuffed animal on his road trip, his daughter had hidden something inside the moose, and the ransackers never found what they were after because the moose was in Seattle with her dad. The entire book I wanted for there to be a payoff, because the author purposely mentioned Milt the stuffed moose sitting on his bed, and later he was lost but he recovered Milt at the hotel. Ultimately there was no point to it, which was a let-down. I'd still read another when I need non-challenging entertainment. Guess I shouldn't look so far into things next time.
February 4, 2013
Hi
Highly recommended.
I seem to be always impressed with this author with every book I read, always plenty of twists, action, fast paced and a page turner.
My third book by Linwood Barclay.
Gripping, tense plots.
regards
Sean
Highly recommended.
I seem to be always impressed with this author with every book I read, always plenty of twists, action, fast paced and a page turner.
My third book by Linwood Barclay.
Gripping, tense plots.
regards
Sean
April 17, 2013
I loved this book, this is the 2nd book by Linwood Barclay that I have read and he has not let me down yet. This book went in directions that I did not expect! Well done Mr Barclay!!
February 2, 2015
Fear the Worst is another wonderful read from Linwood Barclay. He is a master at writing interesting plots with entertaining characters. 4 stars
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