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Whistle
New York Times bestselling author Linwood Barclay enters new territory with a supernatural chiller in which a woman and her young son move to a small town looking for a fresh start, only to be haunted by disturbing events and strange visions when they find a mysterious train set in a storage shed.
Evil has a one track mind...
Annie Blunt has had an unimaginably terrible year. First, her husband was killed in a tragic hit-and-run accident, then one of the children’s books she’s built her writing and illustrating career on ignited a major scandal. Desperate for a fresh start, she moves with her son Charlie to a charming small town in upstate New York where they can begin to heal.
But Annie’s year is about to get worse.
Bored and lonely in their isolated new surroundings, Charlie is thrilled when he finds a forgotten train set in a locked shed on their property. Annie is glad to see Charlie happy, but there’s something unsettling about his new toy. Strange sounds wake Annie in the night—she could swear she hears a train, but there isn’t an active track for miles—and bizarre things begin happening in the neighborhood. Worse, Annie can’t seem to stop drawing a disturbing new character that has no place in a children’s book.
Grief can do strange things to the mind, but Annie is beginning to think she’s walked out of one nightmare straight into another, only this one is far more terrifying…
Evil has a one track mind...
Annie Blunt has had an unimaginably terrible year. First, her husband was killed in a tragic hit-and-run accident, then one of the children’s books she’s built her writing and illustrating career on ignited a major scandal. Desperate for a fresh start, she moves with her son Charlie to a charming small town in upstate New York where they can begin to heal.
But Annie’s year is about to get worse.
Bored and lonely in their isolated new surroundings, Charlie is thrilled when he finds a forgotten train set in a locked shed on their property. Annie is glad to see Charlie happy, but there’s something unsettling about his new toy. Strange sounds wake Annie in the night—she could swear she hears a train, but there isn’t an active track for miles—and bizarre things begin happening in the neighborhood. Worse, Annie can’t seem to stop drawing a disturbing new character that has no place in a children’s book.
Grief can do strange things to the mind, but Annie is beginning to think she’s walked out of one nightmare straight into another, only this one is far more terrifying…
464 pages, Paperback
First published May 20, 2025
675 people are currently reading
27216 people want to read
About the author
Linwood Barclay
83 books7,187 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 1,410 reviews
October 30, 2025
Choo choo! Bet you won't be thinking about toy trains the same way after reading this.
When it comes to thrillers, I'm always on the lookout for a few things—a premise with a good hook, execution that really brings the story to life, characters with tons of depth, and the sort of immersiveness that'll turn hundreds of pages into a one-sit read. And this book had it all, my friends.
Annie has been through a tough year. Between losing her husband to a car accident and suffering a career tragedy, she could really use a change of pace. So when the opportunity comes up to move to a small town outside the city for the summer with her son Charlie, she jumps at it. Charlie soon finds a train set in the locked shed out back, and lo and behold, odd things start happening.
First of all, I have to mention how comforting and nostalgic the vibes in here were. The story takes place in the early 2000s, before smart phones and screens were ubiquitous, so kids and adults hung out with each other and played with their physical toys (imagine that). You add in the bikes and jigsaw puzzles and of course the eponymous train sets, and surely every reader would be transported to that time.
From the very first moment I opened this book, I was immediately and decidedly sucked into the tale. Some books, it feels like you have to work so hard for a long time just to get to the point where you can feel like you're into it, but no such hard work needed here. I slipped seamlessly into this world and was thoroughly riveted.
When you compare the style of this book to a lot of modern thrillers, the two honestly feel so different, they might as well be completely separate genres. Modern thrillers tend to favor short chapters, with characters acting as crazy as possible, and an endless parade of outlandish twists and turns, all in the hopes of bamboozling you into a dopamine daze so you won't notice the lack of good writing and a good story. Thankfully, we don't have any of that here.
The attention to character development and longer chapters means I have time to really sink my teeth into this dark and entertaining story. This is a dual point of view and timeline, but it doesn't feel we're being yanked back and forth because each portion has many pages and chapters to breathe and develop before we have to switch our focus to another.
On the whole, I'm not a huge horror reader, but when I want horror, this is exactly the type I enjoy. It's dark, but not so scary that it will keep me up at night peering into every shadow and corner. The darkness merely adds to the entertainment of the whole thing, making it feel even more delightful and unputdownable.
I totally recommend this if you're in the mood for some (dare I say) cozy and old school horror/thriller, kind of in the vibe of Stephen King from back in the day. And bonus points if you're craving some early 2000s nostalgia and you're reading this during the spooky season.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
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When it comes to thrillers, I'm always on the lookout for a few things—a premise with a good hook, execution that really brings the story to life, characters with tons of depth, and the sort of immersiveness that'll turn hundreds of pages into a one-sit read. And this book had it all, my friends.
Annie has been through a tough year. Between losing her husband to a car accident and suffering a career tragedy, she could really use a change of pace. So when the opportunity comes up to move to a small town outside the city for the summer with her son Charlie, she jumps at it. Charlie soon finds a train set in the locked shed out back, and lo and behold, odd things start happening.
First of all, I have to mention how comforting and nostalgic the vibes in here were. The story takes place in the early 2000s, before smart phones and screens were ubiquitous, so kids and adults hung out with each other and played with their physical toys (imagine that). You add in the bikes and jigsaw puzzles and of course the eponymous train sets, and surely every reader would be transported to that time.
From the very first moment I opened this book, I was immediately and decidedly sucked into the tale. Some books, it feels like you have to work so hard for a long time just to get to the point where you can feel like you're into it, but no such hard work needed here. I slipped seamlessly into this world and was thoroughly riveted.
When you compare the style of this book to a lot of modern thrillers, the two honestly feel so different, they might as well be completely separate genres. Modern thrillers tend to favor short chapters, with characters acting as crazy as possible, and an endless parade of outlandish twists and turns, all in the hopes of bamboozling you into a dopamine daze so you won't notice the lack of good writing and a good story. Thankfully, we don't have any of that here.
The attention to character development and longer chapters means I have time to really sink my teeth into this dark and entertaining story. This is a dual point of view and timeline, but it doesn't feel we're being yanked back and forth because each portion has many pages and chapters to breathe and develop before we have to switch our focus to another.
On the whole, I'm not a huge horror reader, but when I want horror, this is exactly the type I enjoy. It's dark, but not so scary that it will keep me up at night peering into every shadow and corner. The darkness merely adds to the entertainment of the whole thing, making it feel even more delightful and unputdownable.
I totally recommend this if you're in the mood for some (dare I say) cozy and old school horror/thriller, kind of in the vibe of Stephen King from back in the day. And bonus points if you're craving some early 2000s nostalgia and you're reading this during the spooky season.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
November 18, 2025
Oh my god! This book perfectly brought back the old-school Stephen King vibes. It took me on a quick trip back to my teenage years, when I would lock myself in my bedroom, disconnect from the world, and devour the latest King supernatural horror all night—reading until the next school day. This book gave me that same sensation I’ve missed so much.
It’s scary. Sinister. Unpredictable. It paints a vivid portrait of a small town and a rich cast of characters. Everything moves at a slow burn, the tension gradually building. You can almost hear the choo-choo of a train approaching—closer, louder, more urgent—until you're hiding under a blanket or behind the couch, wherever feels safest. And yet, even when you're scared out of your mind, you cannot put this book down.
Anything can happen. Don’t get attached to any of the characters—one might suddenly die, and next thing you know, you’re screaming at the pages like a lunatic. It gave me chills. It ran my blood cold. It’s the best kind of old-school horror: the kind that gets under your skin. Even though it's dark, the villain is dangerously unsettling, and some scenes are truly gory, that's exactly what makes it so perfect.
The story is told through two timelines, following two different people who are seemingly unconnected—except for the unexplainable things happening around them and the constant, eerie sound of whistling trains.
Annie Blunt is having the worst year of her life. A famous children’s book author and illustrator, she's devastated when a young boy—who idolized her flying penguin character, Pierce—jumps off a roof with wings he made at home, believing he could fly. While Annie is drowning in guilt, her loving husband becomes the victim of a hit-and-run. Her agent and close friend, Finn, intervenes and rents a Victorian house in a quiet upstate New York town, hoping it’ll be a peaceful break from the chaos—and good for Annie’s grieving young son, Charlie.
Once they move into the house, they meet their neighbors, including Dolores, a woman suffering from amnesia, traumatized after working at the very same house during a previous rental. Charlie discovers a locked shed with a mysterious train toy set inside. From then on, Annie starts hearing ghostly train whistles—even though there are no running trains nearby, and the town’s station has been shut for years.
We also meet Harry, the chief officer of the Lucknow Police Department. He’s married to Janice and father to young Dylan. Harry is investigating several bizarre missing persons cases: two men and a goat vanish. One of the men is later found in a horrifying state—left in the middle of the road, his body completely stripped of hair and bones. The goat is discovered in the same grotesque condition. Soon after, the town is plagued by abrupt suicides, aggressive dogs, and eerie disturbances. All the chaos seems to have started when a strange new shop opened: Choo Choo’s Trains, run by the enigmatic Edwin Nabler.
Who is this man with odd motives? Could he be a psychopath hiding behind an innocent facade?
How do these two timelines connect?
Can Harry save his town from spiraling into darkness?
Did Annie unknowingly place her family in danger by moving to this seemingly quiet town?
As the whistling grows louder, one thing becomes clear: something terrifying is coming—and it’s speeding up.
Overall: This book was an absolute delight. I enjoyed every second of it and proudly give it five blazing choo choo stars!
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing this fantastic horror thriller with me in exchange for my honest thoughts—I truly appreciate it!
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It’s scary. Sinister. Unpredictable. It paints a vivid portrait of a small town and a rich cast of characters. Everything moves at a slow burn, the tension gradually building. You can almost hear the choo-choo of a train approaching—closer, louder, more urgent—until you're hiding under a blanket or behind the couch, wherever feels safest. And yet, even when you're scared out of your mind, you cannot put this book down.
Anything can happen. Don’t get attached to any of the characters—one might suddenly die, and next thing you know, you’re screaming at the pages like a lunatic. It gave me chills. It ran my blood cold. It’s the best kind of old-school horror: the kind that gets under your skin. Even though it's dark, the villain is dangerously unsettling, and some scenes are truly gory, that's exactly what makes it so perfect.
The story is told through two timelines, following two different people who are seemingly unconnected—except for the unexplainable things happening around them and the constant, eerie sound of whistling trains.
Annie Blunt is having the worst year of her life. A famous children’s book author and illustrator, she's devastated when a young boy—who idolized her flying penguin character, Pierce—jumps off a roof with wings he made at home, believing he could fly. While Annie is drowning in guilt, her loving husband becomes the victim of a hit-and-run. Her agent and close friend, Finn, intervenes and rents a Victorian house in a quiet upstate New York town, hoping it’ll be a peaceful break from the chaos—and good for Annie’s grieving young son, Charlie.
Once they move into the house, they meet their neighbors, including Dolores, a woman suffering from amnesia, traumatized after working at the very same house during a previous rental. Charlie discovers a locked shed with a mysterious train toy set inside. From then on, Annie starts hearing ghostly train whistles—even though there are no running trains nearby, and the town’s station has been shut for years.
We also meet Harry, the chief officer of the Lucknow Police Department. He’s married to Janice and father to young Dylan. Harry is investigating several bizarre missing persons cases: two men and a goat vanish. One of the men is later found in a horrifying state—left in the middle of the road, his body completely stripped of hair and bones. The goat is discovered in the same grotesque condition. Soon after, the town is plagued by abrupt suicides, aggressive dogs, and eerie disturbances. All the chaos seems to have started when a strange new shop opened: Choo Choo’s Trains, run by the enigmatic Edwin Nabler.
Who is this man with odd motives? Could he be a psychopath hiding behind an innocent facade?
How do these two timelines connect?
Can Harry save his town from spiraling into darkness?
Did Annie unknowingly place her family in danger by moving to this seemingly quiet town?
As the whistling grows louder, one thing becomes clear: something terrifying is coming—and it’s speeding up.
Overall: This book was an absolute delight. I enjoyed every second of it and proudly give it five blazing choo choo stars!
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing this fantastic horror thriller with me in exchange for my honest thoughts—I truly appreciate it!
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium.com
June 7, 2025
Warning ⚠️ You may want to think twice before setting up that toy train set that usually circles your Christmas tree…🎄🚂
Whistle by Linwood Barclay
Narrated by the FABULOUS Eva Kaminsky
12 hours 53 minutes at 1x speed
8 hours 3 minute at 1.6x
Annie Blount is a Children’s book author and illustrator known for her Pierce the Penguin 🐧 series. But, tragically this year, she has taken hits both professionally, and personally. Her editor suggests that a Summer in a small town upstate, might be healing for both her, and her young son, Charlie.
But, unfortunately the updated Victorian they lease comes with some BAD Karma that seems to be released when Charlie finds a boxed up toy train set that had been safely locked away in the back shed UNTIL NOW.
Harry Cook is the Chief of Police in the sleepy town of Lucknow-where nothing much happens-in a good way-until recently. He’s pondering the disappearance of two local men, while sipping coffee in the Lucknow Diner, when he notices a new shop has opened-Choo-Choo’s Trains. He wonders when it opened but nobody seems to remember…
Part One unfolds from Annie’s POV, and Part Two from Harry’s with their perspectives alternating over FIVE parts, each filled with bizarre happenings, rising body counts and an escalating sense of foreboding and dread.
This is a new, even darker direction for New York Times bestselling author Linwood Barclay, which I place firmly in the HORROR genre. In my twenties, I devoured books by Stephen King and Dean Koontz and this compares favorably to those written by both authors, and I rate within genre. Although, I have moved away from the genre since, it was fun to revisit the kind of book read by my younger self.
The words that came to mind as I listened to this unputdownable UNIQUE story were DARK, MACABRE, CHILLING, CREEPY and SURPRISING!!
🚂 ChuffchuffClicketetyClackClicketetyClackWooWoo!!
This is my sixth book by the author and it ranks up there with my favorite “A Noise Downstairs”.
A buddy read with MaryBeth. Be sure to watch for her terrific review for additional insight!
TW: Death of a pet dog, and a pet goat-not vividly described-grisly human deaths-after all- it is HORROR!
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of both the written and Audiobook copies.
Whistle by Linwood Barclay
Narrated by the FABULOUS Eva Kaminsky
12 hours 53 minutes at 1x speed
8 hours 3 minute at 1.6x
Annie Blount is a Children’s book author and illustrator known for her Pierce the Penguin 🐧 series. But, tragically this year, she has taken hits both professionally, and personally. Her editor suggests that a Summer in a small town upstate, might be healing for both her, and her young son, Charlie.
But, unfortunately the updated Victorian they lease comes with some BAD Karma that seems to be released when Charlie finds a boxed up toy train set that had been safely locked away in the back shed UNTIL NOW.
Harry Cook is the Chief of Police in the sleepy town of Lucknow-where nothing much happens-in a good way-until recently. He’s pondering the disappearance of two local men, while sipping coffee in the Lucknow Diner, when he notices a new shop has opened-Choo-Choo’s Trains. He wonders when it opened but nobody seems to remember…
Part One unfolds from Annie’s POV, and Part Two from Harry’s with their perspectives alternating over FIVE parts, each filled with bizarre happenings, rising body counts and an escalating sense of foreboding and dread.
This is a new, even darker direction for New York Times bestselling author Linwood Barclay, which I place firmly in the HORROR genre. In my twenties, I devoured books by Stephen King and Dean Koontz and this compares favorably to those written by both authors, and I rate within genre. Although, I have moved away from the genre since, it was fun to revisit the kind of book read by my younger self.
The words that came to mind as I listened to this unputdownable UNIQUE story were DARK, MACABRE, CHILLING, CREEPY and SURPRISING!!
🚂 ChuffchuffClicketetyClackClicketetyClackWooWoo!!
This is my sixth book by the author and it ranks up there with my favorite “A Noise Downstairs”.
A buddy read with MaryBeth. Be sure to watch for her terrific review for additional insight!
TW: Death of a pet dog, and a pet goat-not vividly described-grisly human deaths-after all- it is HORROR!
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of both the written and Audiobook copies.
July 6, 2025
Creepy, eerie, and filled with a twisted kind of unending dread, Whistle was everything I could want in a classic-style horror novel. From the supernatural plot to the early aughts feel, Barclay suffused this tale with the type of thrills and chills that make you question reality despite knowing it’s a fictional tale. The first horror-esque novel that I’ve ever read, I was pleasantly surprised by how he managed to slowly drop me into the hair-raising storyline without putting me off. You see, with every additional page, this twisty plot became more and more unhinged. Bringing to life your very worst nightmares, the storyline gave me a very Stephen King-like vibe as I became fully invested in each of the characters—even the bad ones.
Speaking of those characters, they were beyond well-crafted in my eyes. Pairing a villain who will make your blood run cold with two protagonists who you’ll cheer on as you watch the monster creep closer, it was the quintessential face-off that will have you flying through the pages at speed. Just be sure not to get too attached to any of the characters. You see, more than once I was shocked down to my bones when someone dropped dead. Don’t get me wrong, it added an element of unpredictability that kept me on the edge of my seat. Tense, clever, and taunting, I had goosebumps from the fear as the spine-tingling foreboding ensured that my sleep would be disturbed long after I was done.
All said and done, I’ve now come to realize that I’m a fan of old-school horror in all of its glory. With a sinister tone and twists that were unguessable in the extreme, I was well beyond my armchair sleuthing abilities. You see, thanks to dual timelines and multiple POVs, there was no seeing around the well-plotted blind turns. Just be aware that it was indeed more horror than thriller and had some truly grisly scenes. Nevertheless, the gradually building tension in this slow burn was almost perfect. Could it have been edited just a bit? Well, maybe. After all, it did drag here and there. Despite this, however, I was won over hook, line, and sinker and now can’t wait to explore more horror novels in the future. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Annie Blunt has had an unimaginably terrible year. First, her husband was killed in a tragic hit-and-run accident, then one of the children’s books she’s built her writing and illustrating career on ignited a major scandal. Desperate for a fresh start, she moves with her son Charlie to a charming small town in upstate New York where they can begin to heal.
But Annie’s year is about to get worse.
Bored and lonely in their isolated new surroundings, Charlie is thrilled when he finds a forgotten train set in a locked shed on their property. Annie is glad to see Charlie happy, but there’s something unsettling about his new toy. Strange sounds wake Annie in the night—she could swear she hears a train, but there isn’t an active track for miles—and bizarre things begin happening in the neighborhood. Worse, Annie can’t seem to stop drawing a disturbing new character that has no place in a children’s book.
Grief can do strange things to the mind, but Annie is beginning to think she’s walked out of one nightmare straight into another, only this one is far more terrifying…
Thank you to Linwood Barclay and William Morrow Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 20, 2025
Content warning: cursing, death of a husband, suicide, animal death, knife violence, mention of: fatal hit-and-run accident
Speaking of those characters, they were beyond well-crafted in my eyes. Pairing a villain who will make your blood run cold with two protagonists who you’ll cheer on as you watch the monster creep closer, it was the quintessential face-off that will have you flying through the pages at speed. Just be sure not to get too attached to any of the characters. You see, more than once I was shocked down to my bones when someone dropped dead. Don’t get me wrong, it added an element of unpredictability that kept me on the edge of my seat. Tense, clever, and taunting, I had goosebumps from the fear as the spine-tingling foreboding ensured that my sleep would be disturbed long after I was done.
All said and done, I’ve now come to realize that I’m a fan of old-school horror in all of its glory. With a sinister tone and twists that were unguessable in the extreme, I was well beyond my armchair sleuthing abilities. You see, thanks to dual timelines and multiple POVs, there was no seeing around the well-plotted blind turns. Just be aware that it was indeed more horror than thriller and had some truly grisly scenes. Nevertheless, the gradually building tension in this slow burn was almost perfect. Could it have been edited just a bit? Well, maybe. After all, it did drag here and there. Despite this, however, I was won over hook, line, and sinker and now can’t wait to explore more horror novels in the future. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Annie Blunt has had an unimaginably terrible year. First, her husband was killed in a tragic hit-and-run accident, then one of the children’s books she’s built her writing and illustrating career on ignited a major scandal. Desperate for a fresh start, she moves with her son Charlie to a charming small town in upstate New York where they can begin to heal.
But Annie’s year is about to get worse.
Bored and lonely in their isolated new surroundings, Charlie is thrilled when he finds a forgotten train set in a locked shed on their property. Annie is glad to see Charlie happy, but there’s something unsettling about his new toy. Strange sounds wake Annie in the night—she could swear she hears a train, but there isn’t an active track for miles—and bizarre things begin happening in the neighborhood. Worse, Annie can’t seem to stop drawing a disturbing new character that has no place in a children’s book.
Grief can do strange things to the mind, but Annie is beginning to think she’s walked out of one nightmare straight into another, only this one is far more terrifying…
Thank you to Linwood Barclay and William Morrow Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 20, 2025
Content warning: cursing, death of a husband, suicide, animal death, knife violence, mention of: fatal hit-and-run accident
February 10, 2025
This train is different, special.....
Chuffchuffchuffchuff
Stranger than strange things begin to happen when Mr Choo and his special train sets find their way to homes around the area where he set up shop. Choo-Choo's Trains arrives in the town of Lucknow, which will never be quite the same!
Annie Blunt, a successful author/illustrator of children's books decides her and her son, Charlie need a break and move Upstate for the summer. Her plan is for rest and relaxation from the city, but when bizarre, disturbing things start happening, Annie questions both her sanity and her choices.
Several times I gasp out loud, "Oh, nooooo"...... What the hec is happening???
I really liked Chief Cook. He was desperately trying to figure out the whistles in the night, the creepy crawlies, the missing people. But will he be able too??? I couldn't put this down until the end.
This one def gave me a Stephen King/ Creepy Supernatural movie vibe. The author goes down a horror-ish road that gets pretty dark at times. I'm not a huge horror reader, but I was on the edge of the cliff throughout the entire novel and flew through it!
Thanks to NG for my Arc. OUT on May 20, 2025
Chuffchuffchuffchuff
Stranger than strange things begin to happen when Mr Choo and his special train sets find their way to homes around the area where he set up shop. Choo-Choo's Trains arrives in the town of Lucknow, which will never be quite the same!
Annie Blunt, a successful author/illustrator of children's books decides her and her son, Charlie need a break and move Upstate for the summer. Her plan is for rest and relaxation from the city, but when bizarre, disturbing things start happening, Annie questions both her sanity and her choices.
Several times I gasp out loud, "Oh, nooooo"...... What the hec is happening???
I really liked Chief Cook. He was desperately trying to figure out the whistles in the night, the creepy crawlies, the missing people. But will he be able too??? I couldn't put this down until the end.
This one def gave me a Stephen King/ Creepy Supernatural movie vibe. The author goes down a horror-ish road that gets pretty dark at times. I'm not a huge horror reader, but I was on the edge of the cliff throughout the entire novel and flew through it!
Thanks to NG for my Arc. OUT on May 20, 2025
April 8, 2025
"I'm going off the rails on a crazy train" - Ozzy Osbourne
Whistle is wonderfully written, well thought out, creepy, dark, chilling, gripping and dripping with dread! Just how I like them! Who knew a toy train set could be so unsettling and completely frightening? Not me! But in Linwood Barclay's hands, this toy for both young and old alike, becomes a toy that chug chug chugs on a trail of terror!
In the present
Annie is looking for a fresh start after a year full of heartbreak, loss, trauma, and scandal. Her husband died in a horrible accident and her beloved children's book became the cause of a scandal. She just wanted a new quiet place in which to raise her son, Charlie. Little does she know things are about to get worse. When Charlie finds an old train set in a locked shed on their new property, he's happy. But Annie begins hearing weird things at night. I wanted to say "ummm, Annie. stop and think about why it was locked in the shed!" Maybe I have seen too many horror films, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that nothing good can come from this. But I digress....
In the past
Chief Cook has one heck of a case on his hands. Animals have gone missing, and the body of a man has been found and well, it's bad to say the least. His body is only the first of many that Chief Cook will investigate. The chief can't help but notice that there is a train store in town that just seemed to appear and is owned by Mr. Choo Choo. His trains are unique and well, thing begin to happen when they find an owner....
This book was CREEPY and DARK. Linwood Barclay proved that he could give Stephen King a run for his money with Whistle. Barclay captured the small-town feel, the nostalgic vibe of having a train set, the eeriness of hearing strange noises, and the creepiness of having neighbors who seem to know more about your home than you do.
I loved the tension, the supernatural element, and the unsettling vibe in this book. I also loved the creepy and diabolical Mr. Choo Choo. I mean come on, from that name alone, you know you are dealing with a 'unique' individual. This book is told in two timelines and in two different places, yet they mingle beautifully at the end of the book. Speaking of the end of the book, hats off to Linwood Barclay for pulling off a brilliant ending.
Creepy, wonderfully written, well thought out, unique, and hard to put down!
*A wonderful Witches Words buddy read with Brenda and Norma.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Whistle is wonderfully written, well thought out, creepy, dark, chilling, gripping and dripping with dread! Just how I like them! Who knew a toy train set could be so unsettling and completely frightening? Not me! But in Linwood Barclay's hands, this toy for both young and old alike, becomes a toy that chug chug chugs on a trail of terror!
In the present
Annie is looking for a fresh start after a year full of heartbreak, loss, trauma, and scandal. Her husband died in a horrible accident and her beloved children's book became the cause of a scandal. She just wanted a new quiet place in which to raise her son, Charlie. Little does she know things are about to get worse. When Charlie finds an old train set in a locked shed on their new property, he's happy. But Annie begins hearing weird things at night. I wanted to say "ummm, Annie. stop and think about why it was locked in the shed!" Maybe I have seen too many horror films, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that nothing good can come from this. But I digress....
In the past
Chief Cook has one heck of a case on his hands. Animals have gone missing, and the body of a man has been found and well, it's bad to say the least. His body is only the first of many that Chief Cook will investigate. The chief can't help but notice that there is a train store in town that just seemed to appear and is owned by Mr. Choo Choo. His trains are unique and well, thing begin to happen when they find an owner....
This book was CREEPY and DARK. Linwood Barclay proved that he could give Stephen King a run for his money with Whistle. Barclay captured the small-town feel, the nostalgic vibe of having a train set, the eeriness of hearing strange noises, and the creepiness of having neighbors who seem to know more about your home than you do.
I loved the tension, the supernatural element, and the unsettling vibe in this book. I also loved the creepy and diabolical Mr. Choo Choo. I mean come on, from that name alone, you know you are dealing with a 'unique' individual. This book is told in two timelines and in two different places, yet they mingle beautifully at the end of the book. Speaking of the end of the book, hats off to Linwood Barclay for pulling off a brilliant ending.
Creepy, wonderfully written, well thought out, unique, and hard to put down!
*A wonderful Witches Words buddy read with Brenda and Norma.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
August 6, 2025
Freaking awesome 🤩 Linwood Barclay has stepped into the paranormal horror genre Stephen King would be proud.
I listened to the audio version narration by Eva Kininsky she brought this chilling story to life, you could feel the creepiness & horror aspect all the way through.
Annie Blunt a popular children’s author has had a terrible year first her husband died in a horrible accident then one of her children’s books caused a scandal, so she decides to move with her son to a small town in Vermont to start over, they rent a house in the exclusive suburb of New York for some rest & relaxation.
Her son does some exploring outside in the shed he finds a small train 🚂 set but it has an every feel about it sinister like strange things begin to happen & Annie’s life turns upside down.
Warning ⚠️ I WILL NEVER LOOK AT ANOTHER TRAIN SET IN THE SAME WAY AGAIN!!!!!!🧟♂️
This was a brilliant creepy spooky 👻 book that I loved the writing was top notch& the ending OMG! All the spooky 👻 🌟
I listened to the audio version narration by Eva Kininsky she brought this chilling story to life, you could feel the creepiness & horror aspect all the way through.
Annie Blunt a popular children’s author has had a terrible year first her husband died in a horrible accident then one of her children’s books caused a scandal, so she decides to move with her son to a small town in Vermont to start over, they rent a house in the exclusive suburb of New York for some rest & relaxation.
Her son does some exploring outside in the shed he finds a small train 🚂 set but it has an every feel about it sinister like strange things begin to happen & Annie’s life turns upside down.
Warning ⚠️ I WILL NEVER LOOK AT ANOTHER TRAIN SET IN THE SAME WAY AGAIN!!!!!!🧟♂️
This was a brilliant creepy spooky 👻 book that I loved the writing was top notch& the ending OMG! All the spooky 👻 🌟
May 28, 2025
Creepy, chilling, and unstoppable!
Whistle pulled me in fast and kept its grip until the very last page. Linwood Barclay doesn’t waste time turning a fresh start into a full-on nightmare, and once the story picks up speed, there is no getting off the ride.
Annie Blunt moves to a small town with her son after the worst year of her life. They are supposed to be healing, but instead, Charlie finds an old toy train hidden in a shed and everything goes off the rails. This is slow-burn horror done right. The tension creeps in quietly, building scene after scene until you realize you are completely hooked and seriously unsettled.
I read Whistle over a few days and was totally pulled into the story. Some chapters made me stop just to take a breath and remind myself it was only a book. Barclay plays with fear and grief so well that you start questioning what is real right along with Annie. No cheap scares, no nonsense, just pure, creeping dread.
This story was exactly what my nightmares are made of. I have always had a fascination with trains, and Whistle played perfectly into both my wonderment and fear of them. Barclay took something familiar and turned it into something deeply haunting.
🇨🇦 Canadian Author ** Whistle is scheduled for publication on May 20, 2025.
I highly recommend it to anyone who loves being completely absorbed in a story that blurs the line between fear, grief, and reality. This is the kind of book that lingers with you long after you turn the last page, and I know it will stay with me for a long time to come.
A wonderful Witches Words read that I had the pleasure of buddy reading with Brenda and Debra. Be sure to check out their reviews!
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss+ for providing me with a review copy.
Just be warned: once you hear the whistle, it’s already too late.
Whistle pulled me in fast and kept its grip until the very last page. Linwood Barclay doesn’t waste time turning a fresh start into a full-on nightmare, and once the story picks up speed, there is no getting off the ride.
Annie Blunt moves to a small town with her son after the worst year of her life. They are supposed to be healing, but instead, Charlie finds an old toy train hidden in a shed and everything goes off the rails. This is slow-burn horror done right. The tension creeps in quietly, building scene after scene until you realize you are completely hooked and seriously unsettled.
I read Whistle over a few days and was totally pulled into the story. Some chapters made me stop just to take a breath and remind myself it was only a book. Barclay plays with fear and grief so well that you start questioning what is real right along with Annie. No cheap scares, no nonsense, just pure, creeping dread.
This story was exactly what my nightmares are made of. I have always had a fascination with trains, and Whistle played perfectly into both my wonderment and fear of them. Barclay took something familiar and turned it into something deeply haunting.
🇨🇦 Canadian Author ** Whistle is scheduled for publication on May 20, 2025.
I highly recommend it to anyone who loves being completely absorbed in a story that blurs the line between fear, grief, and reality. This is the kind of book that lingers with you long after you turn the last page, and I know it will stay with me for a long time to come.
A wonderful Witches Words read that I had the pleasure of buddy reading with Brenda and Debra. Be sure to check out their reviews!
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss+ for providing me with a review copy.
Just be warned: once you hear the whistle, it’s already too late.
June 5, 2025
I don’t even know where to start with this book. I am shooketh.
This book was like if Stephen King, Thomas the Tank Engine, and Final Destination had a feral cursed baby. Every chapter there was some kind of freak accident. It was deliciously traumatic.
Charlie and his mom Annie move to a new house in a creepy little town called Lucknow (yeah. Lucknow. Ironic af).
It’s a fresh start. Annie is trying to rebuild their lives after Charlie’s dad died in a freaky white van hit-and-run. Classic trauma setup.
They find a box of old toy trains in the shed and everyone’s like “omg cute trains.”
No. Absolutely not. Do not touch those creepy trains. They are cursed. Cursed™ with a capital C.
From there we got:
- Freak accidents that seem random… until they’re not
- A creepy cheerful train salesman named Mr. Choo (I kid you not) who has a weird fascination with hair
- A rat/wolf demon thing
- People just casually getting yeeted down stairs or snapped in half because THE TRAINS DECIDED IT
- Trauma. Lots of it. Generational, situational, spiritual. Take your pick.
Pros ✨✨✨
It was unhinged and never boring. I could not look away.
The writing was clean. Sharp. Unsettling in a “oh no what now” kind of way.
I love books where people die in weird, horrible ways. Idc.
Solid character development, which is hard when everyone keeps dying.
The small-town, everyone’s sus vibe? Perfection.
Ghost trains will now live rent free in my nightmares forever.
Cons ❌❌❌
The ending derailed (pun absolutely intended) in a way that felt… extra. Not in a fun way. Just… too much.
The demon rat wolf thing? Questionable. Felt like it wandered in from another book.
Some loose ends felt like they were tied with duct tape and a prayer. Not my fave.
Final thoughts ❤️❤️❤️
4 stars. Absolutely memorable for me. A little off the rails.
But honestly? I wouldn’t change the ride. 🚂💀
Pre read
Well is STEPHEN KING says it's good then it must be good right??
This book was like if Stephen King, Thomas the Tank Engine, and Final Destination had a feral cursed baby. Every chapter there was some kind of freak accident. It was deliciously traumatic.
Charlie and his mom Annie move to a new house in a creepy little town called Lucknow (yeah. Lucknow. Ironic af).
It’s a fresh start. Annie is trying to rebuild their lives after Charlie’s dad died in a freaky white van hit-and-run. Classic trauma setup.
They find a box of old toy trains in the shed and everyone’s like “omg cute trains.”
No. Absolutely not. Do not touch those creepy trains. They are cursed. Cursed™ with a capital C.
From there we got:
- Freak accidents that seem random… until they’re not
- A creepy cheerful train salesman named Mr. Choo (I kid you not) who has a weird fascination with hair
- A rat/wolf demon thing
- People just casually getting yeeted down stairs or snapped in half because THE TRAINS DECIDED IT
- Trauma. Lots of it. Generational, situational, spiritual. Take your pick.
Pros ✨✨✨
It was unhinged and never boring. I could not look away.
The writing was clean. Sharp. Unsettling in a “oh no what now” kind of way.
I love books where people die in weird, horrible ways. Idc.
Solid character development, which is hard when everyone keeps dying.
The small-town, everyone’s sus vibe? Perfection.
Ghost trains will now live rent free in my nightmares forever.
Cons ❌❌❌
The ending derailed (pun absolutely intended) in a way that felt… extra. Not in a fun way. Just… too much.
The demon rat wolf thing? Questionable. Felt like it wandered in from another book.
Some loose ends felt like they were tied with duct tape and a prayer. Not my fave.
Final thoughts ❤️❤️❤️
4 stars. Absolutely memorable for me. A little off the rails.
But honestly? I wouldn’t change the ride. 🚂💀
Pre read
Well is STEPHEN KING says it's good then it must be good right??
November 27, 2025
After tragically losing her husband in a hit-and-run accident, Annie Blunt, a popular Children's author, is looking to escape from NYC in order to get a fresh start for herself and her young son, Charlie.
Through her editor, she's able to secure a lovely rental house in a small town in upstate New York, close to the Vermont border, or as Charlie calls it, 'in the country'. It will definitely be a big change of pace for them.
Looking for things to do at their new place, Charlie ends up discovering an old train set locked in a storage shed in the yard. Annie helps him bring it in the house and set it up, but there's something nagging her about it; an unsettling feeling she cannot explain.
Strange noises, strange occurrences throughout the neighborhood, and a strange feeling haunting Annie's every moment. She's determined to get to the bottom of what is happening in their new place.
Is it her? Is the stress finally taking over, or is there something more sinister at play?
Interspersed throughout Annie's story, we also get a past perspective that may provide the answers to what is happening to her and Charlie. It might not be a train journey, but this novel is certainly a journey. Wow!
Whistle was a very fun read. While it won't go down in history as the most memorable Horror novel I've ever read, I appreciate the classic feel of the storytelling. Barclay definitely succeeded in captivating my attention.
It actually heavily reminded me of a less diabolical version of Needful Things. There were a lot of aspects of this story that reminded me of that one, and I wasn't mad about it.
I appreciated that Barclay didn't try to throw in a bunch of narrative tricks, or gimmicks. It's just a straight-forward story that manages to be creepy as heck.
Also, I found the characters compelling enough to care for their outcome, which is always a plus. Additionally, I'll never look at a toy train set in the same way again...
Overall, I was really impressed with this. I would definitely recommend it to any Horror Reader, or even people who maybe don't read Horror as much, but want to dip their toe into an unsettling Supernatural Thriller once Spooky season comes along.
Thank you to the publisher, William Morrow, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I had never read from this author before, but I'm excited to look into his backlist!
Through her editor, she's able to secure a lovely rental house in a small town in upstate New York, close to the Vermont border, or as Charlie calls it, 'in the country'. It will definitely be a big change of pace for them.
Looking for things to do at their new place, Charlie ends up discovering an old train set locked in a storage shed in the yard. Annie helps him bring it in the house and set it up, but there's something nagging her about it; an unsettling feeling she cannot explain.
Strange noises, strange occurrences throughout the neighborhood, and a strange feeling haunting Annie's every moment. She's determined to get to the bottom of what is happening in their new place.
Is it her? Is the stress finally taking over, or is there something more sinister at play?
Interspersed throughout Annie's story, we also get a past perspective that may provide the answers to what is happening to her and Charlie. It might not be a train journey, but this novel is certainly a journey. Wow!
Whistle was a very fun read. While it won't go down in history as the most memorable Horror novel I've ever read, I appreciate the classic feel of the storytelling. Barclay definitely succeeded in captivating my attention.
It actually heavily reminded me of a less diabolical version of Needful Things. There were a lot of aspects of this story that reminded me of that one, and I wasn't mad about it.
I appreciated that Barclay didn't try to throw in a bunch of narrative tricks, or gimmicks. It's just a straight-forward story that manages to be creepy as heck.
Also, I found the characters compelling enough to care for their outcome, which is always a plus. Additionally, I'll never look at a toy train set in the same way again...
Overall, I was really impressed with this. I would definitely recommend it to any Horror Reader, or even people who maybe don't read Horror as much, but want to dip their toe into an unsettling Supernatural Thriller once Spooky season comes along.
Thank you to the publisher, William Morrow, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I had never read from this author before, but I'm excited to look into his backlist!
February 25, 2025
4+
‘The train goes running along the line
Jicketty-can, Jicketty -can….’ and a dingdingding, woo-woo and maybe even a chuff-chuff.
In Lucknow, NY, Edwin Nabler, aka Mr Choo, is settling into his new shop selling toy trains, his business seems to be doing more than okay. However, strange if not macabre things are happening in Lucknow which is perplexing to say the least for police Chief Harry Cook. Apart from any other incidents, people keep hearing a train whistle which is distinctly odd as no trains run anywhere near Lucknow. Something is off, very off, is it dumb luck or something way more sinister?
Meanwhile, author Annie Blunt has had one heck of an awful year and needs to get out of New York City and go where no one knows her or her son Charlie. Her editor Finnegan finds her somewhere three hours away in upstate New York and on their arrival the house seems perfect and they start to settle in. After Charlie finds a forgotten train set in the shed a number of strange, creepy things occur that make no sense but it’s enough to freak her out and Annie is a very rational woman.
Clever, very clever. Chilling and creepy as and very Stephen King-esque with strong, dark supernatural elements that make my mind work overtime and my jaw drop in shock on more than one occasion. It’s not over the top gory but clearly there’s horror. I like the changing points of view from Annie to Chief Cook and so on which does give some breathing space and both these are likeable characters whereas let’s settle for Mr. Choo being somewhat of an enigma.
The novel hooks me in from the get go and there’s lots to puzzle over and keep you interested and entertained throughout. It’s written in the authors trademark straightforward style with no messing about, just telling the tale at a brisk chugger-chugger pace. It’s full of tension, it builds dramatically and how. I like how the storytelling goes full circle and links together in an excellent and very satisfying finale.
So, jump aboard the train but buckle up as you’re in for a very twisty ride and remember [time and] Tide wait for no man.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated EPUB in return for an honest review.
‘The train goes running along the line
Jicketty-can, Jicketty -can….’ and a dingdingding, woo-woo and maybe even a chuff-chuff.
In Lucknow, NY, Edwin Nabler, aka Mr Choo, is settling into his new shop selling toy trains, his business seems to be doing more than okay. However, strange if not macabre things are happening in Lucknow which is perplexing to say the least for police Chief Harry Cook. Apart from any other incidents, people keep hearing a train whistle which is distinctly odd as no trains run anywhere near Lucknow. Something is off, very off, is it dumb luck or something way more sinister?
Meanwhile, author Annie Blunt has had one heck of an awful year and needs to get out of New York City and go where no one knows her or her son Charlie. Her editor Finnegan finds her somewhere three hours away in upstate New York and on their arrival the house seems perfect and they start to settle in. After Charlie finds a forgotten train set in the shed a number of strange, creepy things occur that make no sense but it’s enough to freak her out and Annie is a very rational woman.
Clever, very clever. Chilling and creepy as and very Stephen King-esque with strong, dark supernatural elements that make my mind work overtime and my jaw drop in shock on more than one occasion. It’s not over the top gory but clearly there’s horror. I like the changing points of view from Annie to Chief Cook and so on which does give some breathing space and both these are likeable characters whereas let’s settle for Mr. Choo being somewhat of an enigma.
The novel hooks me in from the get go and there’s lots to puzzle over and keep you interested and entertained throughout. It’s written in the authors trademark straightforward style with no messing about, just telling the tale at a brisk chugger-chugger pace. It’s full of tension, it builds dramatically and how. I like how the storytelling goes full circle and links together in an excellent and very satisfying finale.
So, jump aboard the train but buckle up as you’re in for a very twisty ride and remember [time and] Tide wait for no man.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated EPUB in return for an honest review.
April 14, 2025
All Aboard the Barclay Express: New Town, Haunted Trains, and Unsettling Nightmares
Okay, everyone’s heard of Canadian thriller master Linwood Barclay, right? And if you haven’t picked up one of his books — ever or even just lately — then my friends, it’s time to hop on the Barclay Express, because that whistle is blaring and this train does not slow down.
From Hobby to Horror: The whistle wasn't just a sound — it's a warning.
It’s like Barclay decided to take something people find fascinating — a little eccentric or nostalgic, a toy or hobby — then crank up the tension, throw in a heavy dose of dread, and mix in the fragile human psyche to create one wild ride. And just to really mess with them and us… he whistles in their ears to watch them unravel.
That whistle it's a dark force, a looming threat that once heard, cannot be escaped.
A Nightmare in Motion
Barclay doesn’t just write thrillers — he engineers them or just builds suspense — he weaponizes it. The pacing is like a high-speed train barreling toward a cliff — no brakes, just twist after twist with the characters hanging on for dear life as their reality unravels.
And just when you want to catch your breath Barclay launches straight into a dangerous, twisted climax, with a chilling explosive finale that hits you like a runaway train.
A Little Off the Rails?
Yeah. And that’s exactly where Barclay wants you!!
A witches Words buddy read with Norma and Debra
I received a copy from the publisher through Edelweiss
Okay, everyone’s heard of Canadian thriller master Linwood Barclay, right? And if you haven’t picked up one of his books — ever or even just lately — then my friends, it’s time to hop on the Barclay Express, because that whistle is blaring and this train does not slow down.
From Hobby to Horror: The whistle wasn't just a sound — it's a warning.
It’s like Barclay decided to take something people find fascinating — a little eccentric or nostalgic, a toy or hobby — then crank up the tension, throw in a heavy dose of dread, and mix in the fragile human psyche to create one wild ride. And just to really mess with them and us… he whistles in their ears to watch them unravel.
That whistle it's a dark force, a looming threat that once heard, cannot be escaped.
A Nightmare in Motion
Barclay doesn’t just write thrillers — he engineers them or just builds suspense — he weaponizes it. The pacing is like a high-speed train barreling toward a cliff — no brakes, just twist after twist with the characters hanging on for dear life as their reality unravels.
And just when you want to catch your breath Barclay launches straight into a dangerous, twisted climax, with a chilling explosive finale that hits you like a runaway train.
A Little Off the Rails?
Yeah. And that’s exactly where Barclay wants you!!
A witches Words buddy read with Norma and Debra
I received a copy from the publisher through Edelweiss
February 14, 2025
What a creepy and addictive book! Who knew toy train sets could be so creepy.
Our first stop is a small town in New York where Annie and her son Charlie have decided to spend a few months away from the city due to an unexpected tragedy. While exploring the old house, Charlie has found an old model train set in the shed and becomes enamored with it. Our second stop is another small town this time in Vermont. Harry is the chief of police investigating several strange murders. Also in that same small town, a new shop has opened selling model toy trains. The proprietor is an eccentric man who goes by the name Mr. Choo Choo and his toy trains sure are special and very unique. Harry begins to question whether the strange murders and the arrival of Mr. Choo Choo are connected.
I really liked where the story went and thought, both perspectives between Annie and Harry were equally entertaining. They easily could have been their own storyline, but how they tied together I thought was expertly done and made the ending quite satisfying. The only issue, if I can even call it that, would be that the book could’ve been longer. I would’ve loved to hear more of Mr. Choo Choo’s backstory. I think it would be cool to hear all of the different places he had been. I also had a hard time keeping track of everyone who purchased a train, to also have more time developed to them I would have liked as well. What I’m trying to say is this was done really well and I really enjoyed it that I actually wanted more. I think the horror elements were done very well and not super gory. If you’re on the fence about reading a horror novel, I think this is a good one to start with. Would highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Our first stop is a small town in New York where Annie and her son Charlie have decided to spend a few months away from the city due to an unexpected tragedy. While exploring the old house, Charlie has found an old model train set in the shed and becomes enamored with it. Our second stop is another small town this time in Vermont. Harry is the chief of police investigating several strange murders. Also in that same small town, a new shop has opened selling model toy trains. The proprietor is an eccentric man who goes by the name Mr. Choo Choo and his toy trains sure are special and very unique. Harry begins to question whether the strange murders and the arrival of Mr. Choo Choo are connected.
I really liked where the story went and thought, both perspectives between Annie and Harry were equally entertaining. They easily could have been their own storyline, but how they tied together I thought was expertly done and made the ending quite satisfying. The only issue, if I can even call it that, would be that the book could’ve been longer. I would’ve loved to hear more of Mr. Choo Choo’s backstory. I think it would be cool to hear all of the different places he had been. I also had a hard time keeping track of everyone who purchased a train, to also have more time developed to them I would have liked as well. What I’m trying to say is this was done really well and I really enjoyed it that I actually wanted more. I think the horror elements were done very well and not super gory. If you’re on the fence about reading a horror novel, I think this is a good one to start with. Would highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2025
Wow!!! I'm never going anywhere near toy trains again, and now I might even be scared of trains?!!😭
What to expect -
🚂Small town, creepy vibes
🚂Possessed/cursed toy trains
🚂Countless deaths & accidents
🚂Paranormal/supernatural elements at work
🚂Dual povs & dual timelines
🚂Grief & loss
Annie's a children's fiction writer, and having recently lost her husband and being caught in a scandal, she decides to move from New York to the countryside to get some peaceful time with her son. But things start to take a sinister turn when her son finds a toy train set in the shed outside the house.
We follow two povs - Annie & Harry, and both of them were equally unsettling!!! As soon as Annie's son, Charlie, finds the train set, he becomes obsessed with it, always occupied rather than playing outside or even missing his father. Annie finds this strange but brushes it away, thinking he's finally having fun. But she can't ignore the unease for long, as she keeps noticing strange things happening around the house ever since the train arrived. She sees things that aren't there, hears whistles in the night, and feels this constant, creeping dread that something terrible has happened in this house.
The other pov is Harry, a police officer investigating a string of missing persons cases and there is no lead to any of them except the same whistle sounds that people nearby seem to have heard. I really liked his pov as I'm a sucker for police procedurals in mystery thrillers, and watching him retrace steps and uncover chilling clues was so satisfying.
I gotta hand it to the author for giving me chills in every chapter!!! The events that happen in the town, are so dark and gory, that they'll give you nightmares for days. And it only gets creepier as the story progresses, which I found both enjoyable (don't judge me, but I love classic horror movies & this gave me the same feeling) and downright scary.
I also think the ending was clever and perfect for this book, even though you need to suspend your disbelief a bit. But seriously, that's part of the horror genre charm & honestly, it does make sense once you think about it.
Overall, this was the perfect read to start my spooky season with, and I'd highly recommend it if you're looking for something supernatural, creepy, and haunted to curl up with this fall.
✨Pre-read -
Cursed toy train?! intrigued 🚂🥶✨
What to expect -
🚂Small town, creepy vibes
🚂Possessed/cursed toy trains
🚂Countless deaths & accidents
🚂Paranormal/supernatural elements at work
🚂Dual povs & dual timelines
🚂Grief & loss
Annie's a children's fiction writer, and having recently lost her husband and being caught in a scandal, she decides to move from New York to the countryside to get some peaceful time with her son. But things start to take a sinister turn when her son finds a toy train set in the shed outside the house.
We follow two povs - Annie & Harry, and both of them were equally unsettling!!! As soon as Annie's son, Charlie, finds the train set, he becomes obsessed with it, always occupied rather than playing outside or even missing his father. Annie finds this strange but brushes it away, thinking he's finally having fun. But she can't ignore the unease for long, as she keeps noticing strange things happening around the house ever since the train arrived. She sees things that aren't there, hears whistles in the night, and feels this constant, creeping dread that something terrible has happened in this house.
The other pov is Harry, a police officer investigating a string of missing persons cases and there is no lead to any of them except the same whistle sounds that people nearby seem to have heard. I really liked his pov as I'm a sucker for police procedurals in mystery thrillers, and watching him retrace steps and uncover chilling clues was so satisfying.
I gotta hand it to the author for giving me chills in every chapter!!! The events that happen in the town, are so dark and gory, that they'll give you nightmares for days. And it only gets creepier as the story progresses, which I found both enjoyable (don't judge me, but I love classic horror movies & this gave me the same feeling) and downright scary.
I also think the ending was clever and perfect for this book, even though you need to suspend your disbelief a bit. But seriously, that's part of the horror genre charm & honestly, it does make sense once you think about it.
Overall, this was the perfect read to start my spooky season with, and I'd highly recommend it if you're looking for something supernatural, creepy, and haunted to curl up with this fall.
✨Pre-read -
Cursed toy train?! intrigued 🚂🥶✨
October 18, 2025
EXCERPT: He lay down on his side, ear to the floor, the train's vibrations reverberating through the tracks and into the hardwood, buzzing their way into his skull. Every few seconds the train raced past, the engine chuffing furiously, the various cars in tow, the red caboose trailing, the glorious chorus of metal spinning on metal, the smell of ozone in the air.
Jeremy was mesmerized. He could lie there like this for hours, imagining himself in the cab of that locomotive, shoveling coal from the tender into the firebox, elbow on the window ledge, head poked out to view the track ahead, a red kerchief tied around his neck blowing in the wind, the world flying past.
It felt . . . magical. As though he and the engine had somehow become one and the same, fused together. He remembered that book his mother read to him when he was two or three, about that little engine that could. Jeremy was that engine now, and he could do anything.
'Have fun,' his father said, and went to the kitchen with Jeremy's mom.
Jeremy tentatively touched his finger to the track, pulling it away a millisecond before the train swept past on its latest loop. He felt a small charge, that tingle again. He knew that wasn't supposed to happen, but he definitely felt something. Maybe this train was different, special, even -
'Oops,' said Glynis, kicking over the red boxcar and sending the entire train off the tracks.
Jeremy was so transfixed that the derailment hit him as though he'd been awakened from a dream. He looked first at the fallen train, then slowly turned his head to look up at his sister.
She said, 'You got a USED secondhand gift. Somebody's old junk. My Bratz doll is NEW. I'm gonna eat your Cinnabon.' She set her doll o the living room couch and disappeared into the kitchen.
Jeremy pondered his sister's history of villainy as he looked at the devastation she had wrought, this scale train wreck. Telling him the truth about Santa and the Easter Bunny. The time she put rabbit turds in his ice cream. Stuffed a dead toad into the toe of his runners. Told everyone at school he'd wet the bed. That time she stole three dollars from his mother's purse and, when it looked as though she might be found out, slipped the bills under Jeremy's pillow. Their mother found them when she was changing the sheets. Jeremy's protestations of innocence were to no avail.
Glynis was a very, very bad sister.
ABOUT 'WHISTLE': A supernatural chiller in which a woman and her young son move to a small town looking for a fresh start, only to be haunted by disturbing events and strange visions when they find a mysterious train set in a storage shed.
Evil has a one track mind...
Annie Blunt has had an unimaginably terrible year. First, her husband was killed in a tragic hit-and-run accident, then one of the children’s books she’s built her writing and illustrating career on ignited a major scandal. Desperate for a fresh start, she moves with her son Charlie to a charming small town in upstate New York where they can begin to heal.
But Annie’s year is about to get worse.
Bored and lonely in their isolated new surroundings, Charlie is thrilled when he finds a forgotten train set in a locked shed on their property. Annie is glad to see Charlie happy, but there’s something unsettling about his new toy. Strange sounds wake Annie in the night—she could swear she hears a train, but there isn’t an active track for miles—and bizarre things begin happening in the neighborhood. Worse, Annie can’t seem to stop drawing a disturbing new character that has no place in a children’s book.
Grief can do strange things to the mind, but Annie is beginning to think she’s walked out of one nightmare straight into another, only this one is far more terrifying…
MY THOUGHTS: A great October read!
Other than the Prologue, Whistle is told from alternating POVs - Annie's and Harry's; the common factor being one Edwin Nable, who also puts his point of view across occasionally, purveyor of toy trains with a difference.
Whistle is chillingly bizarre, somewhat reminiscent of Stephen King's Needful Things and quite unlike anything else I have read by Linwood Barclay. The sense of anticipation, of dread, builds up slowly throughout the book, fueled by disappearances and strange deaths. The final chapters I read over breakfast this morning, my tea and toast remaining untouched and stone cold by the time I finished. I read with a mounting fascination and horror. Never could I have anticipated the outcome.
Well done Mr Barclay. Your foray into a new genre has been most successful. Please write on . . .
⭐⭐⭐⭐.4
#Whistle @WaitomoDistrictLibrary
MEET THE AUTHOR: LINWOOD BARCLAY Born in the US, his parents moved to Canada just as he was turning four, and he’s lived there ever since. He lives near Toronto with his wife, Neetha. They have two grown children, Spencer and Paige. (Source: linwoodbarclay .com)
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Jeremy was mesmerized. He could lie there like this for hours, imagining himself in the cab of that locomotive, shoveling coal from the tender into the firebox, elbow on the window ledge, head poked out to view the track ahead, a red kerchief tied around his neck blowing in the wind, the world flying past.
It felt . . . magical. As though he and the engine had somehow become one and the same, fused together. He remembered that book his mother read to him when he was two or three, about that little engine that could. Jeremy was that engine now, and he could do anything.
'Have fun,' his father said, and went to the kitchen with Jeremy's mom.
Jeremy tentatively touched his finger to the track, pulling it away a millisecond before the train swept past on its latest loop. He felt a small charge, that tingle again. He knew that wasn't supposed to happen, but he definitely felt something. Maybe this train was different, special, even -
'Oops,' said Glynis, kicking over the red boxcar and sending the entire train off the tracks.
Jeremy was so transfixed that the derailment hit him as though he'd been awakened from a dream. He looked first at the fallen train, then slowly turned his head to look up at his sister.
She said, 'You got a USED secondhand gift. Somebody's old junk. My Bratz doll is NEW. I'm gonna eat your Cinnabon.' She set her doll o the living room couch and disappeared into the kitchen.
Jeremy pondered his sister's history of villainy as he looked at the devastation she had wrought, this scale train wreck. Telling him the truth about Santa and the Easter Bunny. The time she put rabbit turds in his ice cream. Stuffed a dead toad into the toe of his runners. Told everyone at school he'd wet the bed. That time she stole three dollars from his mother's purse and, when it looked as though she might be found out, slipped the bills under Jeremy's pillow. Their mother found them when she was changing the sheets. Jeremy's protestations of innocence were to no avail.
Glynis was a very, very bad sister.
ABOUT 'WHISTLE': A supernatural chiller in which a woman and her young son move to a small town looking for a fresh start, only to be haunted by disturbing events and strange visions when they find a mysterious train set in a storage shed.
Evil has a one track mind...
Annie Blunt has had an unimaginably terrible year. First, her husband was killed in a tragic hit-and-run accident, then one of the children’s books she’s built her writing and illustrating career on ignited a major scandal. Desperate for a fresh start, she moves with her son Charlie to a charming small town in upstate New York where they can begin to heal.
But Annie’s year is about to get worse.
Bored and lonely in their isolated new surroundings, Charlie is thrilled when he finds a forgotten train set in a locked shed on their property. Annie is glad to see Charlie happy, but there’s something unsettling about his new toy. Strange sounds wake Annie in the night—she could swear she hears a train, but there isn’t an active track for miles—and bizarre things begin happening in the neighborhood. Worse, Annie can’t seem to stop drawing a disturbing new character that has no place in a children’s book.
Grief can do strange things to the mind, but Annie is beginning to think she’s walked out of one nightmare straight into another, only this one is far more terrifying…
MY THOUGHTS: A great October read!
Other than the Prologue, Whistle is told from alternating POVs - Annie's and Harry's; the common factor being one Edwin Nable, who also puts his point of view across occasionally, purveyor of toy trains with a difference.
Whistle is chillingly bizarre, somewhat reminiscent of Stephen King's Needful Things and quite unlike anything else I have read by Linwood Barclay. The sense of anticipation, of dread, builds up slowly throughout the book, fueled by disappearances and strange deaths. The final chapters I read over breakfast this morning, my tea and toast remaining untouched and stone cold by the time I finished. I read with a mounting fascination and horror. Never could I have anticipated the outcome.
Well done Mr Barclay. Your foray into a new genre has been most successful. Please write on . . .
⭐⭐⭐⭐.4
#Whistle @WaitomoDistrictLibrary
MEET THE AUTHOR: LINWOOD BARCLAY Born in the US, his parents moved to Canada just as he was turning four, and he’s lived there ever since. He lives near Toronto with his wife, Neetha. They have two grown children, Spencer and Paige. (Source: linwoodbarclay .com)
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
July 3, 2025
Ever since I was a kid the whistle of a train has always elicited excitement, nostalgia, and comfort within me – until now!
When I read the synopsis for Whistle late last year my anticipation could not have been higher. I have been a fan of Linwood Barclay’s action-packed, psychological mystery thrillers for years but a straight up horror novel featuring supernatural elements is a new direction for him. I was certain he could pull it off though, as not only is he a talented, versatile writer, several of his novel’s – Elevator Pitch, A Noise Downstairs, Look Both Ways – have included and implemented horror elements flawlessly. Toy trains have always fascinated and mesmerised me, they contain a hypnotic quality, and I freely admit that I may have watched one for several minutes in a store last December circling a Christmas tree, and was tempted to buy it, but resisted. So, when I read what this book was about, the idea of a possessed toy – beloved by both children and adults – was both a terrifying and genius idea for a horror novel.
We open with a chilling prologue taking place in 2002 where we are given a tantalising and horrifying glimpse into just what a haunted toy train is capable of. Next, we are transported to New York City in the present day to where children’s picture book author/illustrator, Annie Blunt’s world has been upended by two recent separate tragedies. Needing a break from everything, Annie decides to rent a house in the country for the summer for her and her seven-year-old son Charlie to relax and recuperate. Of course, things couldn’t go more wrong when Charlie finds the key to the padlocked shed on the property, where amongst the lawn mower and wheelbarrow is a box containing toy trains. There’s also another timeline, but I’ll keep that one under wraps.
Whistle was everything I could have wished for in a supernatural horror novel. It was haunting, monstrous, emotional, and high stakes and contained little gore. There was a classic 1980s feel to it but the plot was more intricate and interwoven as we have come to expect in 2025. The last few chapters of Part 4, and all of Part 5 had me on the edge of my seat – all the little ways the story overlapped and came together was amazing. I was very invested in these characters from the get-go, and I read 432 pages over a day. Whistle brought to mind several Stephen King novels, and Linwood Barclay did mention in his Afterword that King did indeed read (and loved) an early draft, and NOS4A2 by Joe Hill, who just happens to be King’s son.
My only tiny gripe was that I did find the character of Charlie a little inconsistent, at times he came across as younger than seven, and then the next minute he was wise beyond his years. Although to be fair, I know few kids his age currently.
The edition I read (released 5th June by HQ) doesn’t seem to be listed here. The creepy, enticing blurb on the cover reads “Some toys should be left alone…” which aptly captures the essence of Whistle.
When I read the synopsis for Whistle late last year my anticipation could not have been higher. I have been a fan of Linwood Barclay’s action-packed, psychological mystery thrillers for years but a straight up horror novel featuring supernatural elements is a new direction for him. I was certain he could pull it off though, as not only is he a talented, versatile writer, several of his novel’s – Elevator Pitch, A Noise Downstairs, Look Both Ways – have included and implemented horror elements flawlessly. Toy trains have always fascinated and mesmerised me, they contain a hypnotic quality, and I freely admit that I may have watched one for several minutes in a store last December circling a Christmas tree, and was tempted to buy it, but resisted. So, when I read what this book was about, the idea of a possessed toy – beloved by both children and adults – was both a terrifying and genius idea for a horror novel.
We open with a chilling prologue taking place in 2002 where we are given a tantalising and horrifying glimpse into just what a haunted toy train is capable of. Next, we are transported to New York City in the present day to where children’s picture book author/illustrator, Annie Blunt’s world has been upended by two recent separate tragedies. Needing a break from everything, Annie decides to rent a house in the country for the summer for her and her seven-year-old son Charlie to relax and recuperate. Of course, things couldn’t go more wrong when Charlie finds the key to the padlocked shed on the property, where amongst the lawn mower and wheelbarrow is a box containing toy trains. There’s also another timeline, but I’ll keep that one under wraps.
Whistle was everything I could have wished for in a supernatural horror novel. It was haunting, monstrous, emotional, and high stakes and contained little gore. There was a classic 1980s feel to it but the plot was more intricate and interwoven as we have come to expect in 2025. The last few chapters of Part 4, and all of Part 5 had me on the edge of my seat – all the little ways the story overlapped and came together was amazing. I was very invested in these characters from the get-go, and I read 432 pages over a day. Whistle brought to mind several Stephen King novels, and Linwood Barclay did mention in his Afterword that King did indeed read (and loved) an early draft, and NOS4A2 by Joe Hill, who just happens to be King’s son.
My only tiny gripe was that I did find the character of Charlie a little inconsistent, at times he came across as younger than seven, and then the next minute he was wise beyond his years. Although to be fair, I know few kids his age currently.
The edition I read (released 5th June by HQ) doesn’t seem to be listed here. The creepy, enticing blurb on the cover reads “Some toys should be left alone…” which aptly captures the essence of Whistle.
May 15, 2025
Huge thanks to @williammorrowbooks #partner for the gifted copy!!!
HOLY HELL talk about a blockbuster ending 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 . Damn, that was some finish!!!! Horror lovers, if this isn’t on your radar…. It should be now!!
This is not a normal Linwood Barclay story. Oh no, this sucker is a straight up creepy ol’ time. Terribly frightening ☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️
There is a creepy old man who runs a toy shop. Not any old shop, one that has special powers. Trains you never ever want to play with.
I honestly think that’s all you need to know. Think Needful Things by King. This is true old school horror. The kind I grew up on. My favorite kind! My only quibble is that it has a slow start. It started as a slow burn, but once I got to 100 pages, it took off!! I absolutely loved it! Pre-order your copy today! Don’t miss out!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trigger Warnings- Child death, suicide
May 5, 2025
What on earth did I just read! This is such a different book for Linwood Barclay. It was like reading an old-school Stephen King novel. It was creepy, eerie, dark, and messy. I don’t read much horror these days, but this was so entertaining. I love it when a book makes you feel so uncomfortable, but it is impossible to stop reading.
I think you just need to go into this book fairly blind. I don’t really even know how to describe it. What you get is a small town with people dying, creepy trains, and an even creepier train maker. It certainly is supernatural, filled with grief and sadness. There is evilness in the world and so much of it in this town.
I love this authors thrillers,and I loved this change in direction. It will make you look twice at model trains, though!!!
Thanks so much to William Morrow on NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book. It will be once that will stay in my mind forever. Publishes on May 20th.
I think you just need to go into this book fairly blind. I don’t really even know how to describe it. What you get is a small town with people dying, creepy trains, and an even creepier train maker. It certainly is supernatural, filled with grief and sadness. There is evilness in the world and so much of it in this town.
I love this authors thrillers,and I loved this change in direction. It will make you look twice at model trains, though!!!
Thanks so much to William Morrow on NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book. It will be once that will stay in my mind forever. Publishes on May 20th.
July 20, 2025
4.5 Damn this was good!! This felt 90% thriller and 10% horror so thriller girlies this is one for you in spooky season. The concept sounds out of left field but the author really pulls it together nicely. Characters were very well fleshed out - only rating down as it was too long imo therefore dragged in the middle a bit x
May 28, 2025
“Clickety clack, woo woo, chuff chuff, woo woo, clickety clack…”
When Annie Blunt’s husband is killed in a hit and run accident, she and her son Charlie rent a house in a small town in upstate New York to get a fresh start. Annie is also plagued by the guilt of the death of a young boy who attempted to fly after reading her children’s book and struggles to write.
When Charlie finds a toy train set in the shed, strange things begin to happen. She is awakened by a whistle in the night, even though there are no trains in the area, and draws a disturbing rat like character for her next book.
Told in the present and past timelines, the reader learns more about the history of the toy train set and where it came from. What is the secret behind the spooky train set? Barclay’s supernatural horror novel explores the train’s origin story.
Once again, I find myself on outlier island!
I have read one other Linwood Barclay novel, A Noise Downstairs, and enjoyed it (despite the slow pace). This author seems to write very slow burn suspense novels…not thrillers, so keep that in mind. In the case of Whistle, the suspense builds into a whole lot of “I saw everything coming a mile away.” If you are interested in a highly narrative, character driven plot that brings absolutely nothing new to the genre, this book might work for you. I had very high hopes for this book after seeing the glowing reviews, but I just didn’t find the plot unique or compelling.
I listened to the audiobook which is read by Eva Kaminsky. She does a fantastic job, and I highly recommend this format.
2.5/5 stars rounded up for the excellent narration
When Annie Blunt’s husband is killed in a hit and run accident, she and her son Charlie rent a house in a small town in upstate New York to get a fresh start. Annie is also plagued by the guilt of the death of a young boy who attempted to fly after reading her children’s book and struggles to write.
When Charlie finds a toy train set in the shed, strange things begin to happen. She is awakened by a whistle in the night, even though there are no trains in the area, and draws a disturbing rat like character for her next book.
Told in the present and past timelines, the reader learns more about the history of the toy train set and where it came from. What is the secret behind the spooky train set? Barclay’s supernatural horror novel explores the train’s origin story.
Once again, I find myself on outlier island!
I have read one other Linwood Barclay novel, A Noise Downstairs, and enjoyed it (despite the slow pace). This author seems to write very slow burn suspense novels…not thrillers, so keep that in mind. In the case of Whistle, the suspense builds into a whole lot of “I saw everything coming a mile away.” If you are interested in a highly narrative, character driven plot that brings absolutely nothing new to the genre, this book might work for you. I had very high hopes for this book after seeing the glowing reviews, but I just didn’t find the plot unique or compelling.
I listened to the audiobook which is read by Eva Kaminsky. She does a fantastic job, and I highly recommend this format.
2.5/5 stars rounded up for the excellent narration
June 19, 2025
This book was an absolute devilish delight, horror at its best. I put it up there with Bentley Little, and that's high praise indeed as he's my favourite author. Let's hope Linwood Barclay writes some more books in the horror genre. I'm certainly excited to read them. I can understand why Stephen King describes it as Terrific, because it certainly is. I loved the carnage that ensued whenever a train set found a home. Mr Choo was a strange yet powerful villain. This book exceeded my expectations and I highly recommend it for all horror fans. Loved the ending too. A well deserved 5 stars! Please write more.....
May 20, 2025
OMGGG!! This book is absolutely fantastic!!! One of the best books I have read this year!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥Thank you @williammorrowbooks #partner for my gorgeous gifted copy!! HOW is this my first @linwoodbarclay book??!! Me running 🏃 to add his backlist!!
Pub date is tomorrow!! 5/20! 🥳🥳🥳
I am speechless… I know!! That never happens.😂🤷♀️ I can’t do this creeptastic book justice with a review!!
I seriously got FOMO after seeing @nikkileethrillseeker loved it… so I jumped at the chance when @williammorrowbooks offered a copy!! 🥰🥰
Lucknow, Vermont.. seems to have alot of… hmm 🤔.. unfortunate incidents. 😬😳 Yet it’s a wonderful quaint little town…. Run like hell if you ever come across it. 😉 Okay what did I love??? EVERYTHING!! Seriously I devoured this book!! It checked all the boxes..📦 See below ⬇️
✅ This book is creepy AF! Lock 🔒 the doors and check them twice! You are going to feel uneasy… this entire ride. 🚂 I can guarantee it. 😉
✅ The characters were SO well developed!! I loved their dark, disturbing stories.
✅ Evil, wild, crazy, Murder 😳😍 It has it all
✅Mind blowing 🤯ending!!
I can’t recommend this enough!! It’s perfect for thriller lovers and horror lovers alike!! CHOO CHOO!!! Jump on this train 🚂… I swear this is SO brilliant how @linwoodbarclay tied this all together for the absolute perfect and terrifying story. Even if you are NOT a horror fan.. I think you will LOVE it!! 😍
Pub date is tomorrow!! 5/20! 🥳🥳🥳
I am speechless… I know!! That never happens.😂🤷♀️ I can’t do this creeptastic book justice with a review!!
I seriously got FOMO after seeing @nikkileethrillseeker loved it… so I jumped at the chance when @williammorrowbooks offered a copy!! 🥰🥰
Lucknow, Vermont.. seems to have alot of… hmm 🤔.. unfortunate incidents. 😬😳 Yet it’s a wonderful quaint little town…. Run like hell if you ever come across it. 😉 Okay what did I love??? EVERYTHING!! Seriously I devoured this book!! It checked all the boxes..📦 See below ⬇️
✅ This book is creepy AF! Lock 🔒 the doors and check them twice! You are going to feel uneasy… this entire ride. 🚂 I can guarantee it. 😉
✅ The characters were SO well developed!! I loved their dark, disturbing stories.
✅ Evil, wild, crazy, Murder 😳😍 It has it all
✅Mind blowing 🤯ending!!
I can’t recommend this enough!! It’s perfect for thriller lovers and horror lovers alike!! CHOO CHOO!!! Jump on this train 🚂… I swear this is SO brilliant how @linwoodbarclay tied this all together for the absolute perfect and terrifying story. Even if you are NOT a horror fan.. I think you will LOVE it!! 😍
January 18, 2025
4⭐️s
I remember getting a wooden Brio train set for Christmas when I was probably four or five year old. I loved that train. It didn’t do murderous things, so that’s good.
You know what else is good? This book.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC, and the opportunity to provide an honest review.
This book hums along with a steady, determined combination of eeriness and ebullience, and while it clearly pays tribute to books like Needful Things, it never crosses that line into emulation.
The good…
Barclay can write. He doesn’t have beautiful prose or dazzle with linguistic sorcery, but his straightforward, accessible style is perfect for telling this story; and this story is worth being told. I loved everything about it, from the dual timeline traversal, to the imparting of metaphysical evil into a benign entity, to the unforeseen event that punctuates the nature of villainy.
The less good…
I don’t have much to say here. I probably could have done without maybe 50 pages, but none of those felt belabored or uninteresting. They just might be unnecessary, and this book’s length could serve as a barrier to mass accessibility.
To read, or not to read…
Absolutely go read it. It’s a great time
I remember getting a wooden Brio train set for Christmas when I was probably four or five year old. I loved that train. It didn’t do murderous things, so that’s good.
You know what else is good? This book.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC, and the opportunity to provide an honest review.
This book hums along with a steady, determined combination of eeriness and ebullience, and while it clearly pays tribute to books like Needful Things, it never crosses that line into emulation.
The good…
Barclay can write. He doesn’t have beautiful prose or dazzle with linguistic sorcery, but his straightforward, accessible style is perfect for telling this story; and this story is worth being told. I loved everything about it, from the dual timeline traversal, to the imparting of metaphysical evil into a benign entity, to the unforeseen event that punctuates the nature of villainy.
The less good…
I don’t have much to say here. I probably could have done without maybe 50 pages, but none of those felt belabored or uninteresting. They just might be unnecessary, and this book’s length could serve as a barrier to mass accessibility.
To read, or not to read…
Absolutely go read it. It’s a great time
July 21, 2025
I am in vacation mode.🏖️😎
I posted a quick review and will update it with a more in-depth review later.
Whistle marked my inaugural experience with Canadian author Linwood Barclay and he did not disappoint. The story unfolded as a gripping, chilling story that had my heart racing with every page. The unsettling atmosphere permeated the narrative, drawing me in completely and keeping me on the edge of my seat. Each twist and turn was meticulously crafted, making it impossible to put the book down as I eagerly anticipated what would happen next. I'm excited to go through his backlist and add some of his titles to my list. I highly recommend you grab a copy.
I posted a quick review and will update it with a more in-depth review later.
Whistle marked my inaugural experience with Canadian author Linwood Barclay and he did not disappoint. The story unfolded as a gripping, chilling story that had my heart racing with every page. The unsettling atmosphere permeated the narrative, drawing me in completely and keeping me on the edge of my seat. Each twist and turn was meticulously crafted, making it impossible to put the book down as I eagerly anticipated what would happen next. I'm excited to go through his backlist and add some of his titles to my list. I highly recommend you grab a copy.
July 8, 2025
the setup…
Annie Blunt is a children’s book author, famous for her Pierce the Penguin series. She’s had an awful year beginning with the death of her husband John from a hit and run accident on the streets of New York City. Then came a heartbreaking tragedy tied back to her book series. Her agent and friend suggested a change of venue for the summer might be the balm needed for her to recover emotionally and professionally. She packs up her son Charlie and they move into a home in a small upstate New York town. When Charlie finds an old train set in the backyard shed, their lives are forever changed.
the heart of the story…
Charlie setting up that train set is a game changer. He’s mesmerized by it and strange things begin to occur. Annie hears a train whistle in the middle of the night, even though there isn’t a rail system nearby. Meanwhile, we also get the point of view of Lucknow Police Chief Harry Cook in Vermont who is investigating some weird disappearances in his small town. They seem to be tied to a new shop called Choo Choo’s Trains and its odd proprietor. Every family with one of those train sets gets their own little surprise.
the narration…
Eva Kaminsky is a favorite for good reasons and she delivers a most chilling performance here! Her “chuff, chuff, chuff” will repeat in my head for a long time!
the bottom line…
Barclay is an auto read for me so I went into this blind, not knowing this was a departure from his normal genre. It took me awhile to figure that out and I gotta say his new venture was horror perfection. I’ll never, ever look at a train the same way again or hear the sounds without thinking of this story. I was on the edge of my seat until the last page. 4.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
Annie Blunt is a children’s book author, famous for her Pierce the Penguin series. She’s had an awful year beginning with the death of her husband John from a hit and run accident on the streets of New York City. Then came a heartbreaking tragedy tied back to her book series. Her agent and friend suggested a change of venue for the summer might be the balm needed for her to recover emotionally and professionally. She packs up her son Charlie and they move into a home in a small upstate New York town. When Charlie finds an old train set in the backyard shed, their lives are forever changed.
the heart of the story…
Charlie setting up that train set is a game changer. He’s mesmerized by it and strange things begin to occur. Annie hears a train whistle in the middle of the night, even though there isn’t a rail system nearby. Meanwhile, we also get the point of view of Lucknow Police Chief Harry Cook in Vermont who is investigating some weird disappearances in his small town. They seem to be tied to a new shop called Choo Choo’s Trains and its odd proprietor. Every family with one of those train sets gets their own little surprise.
the narration…
Eva Kaminsky is a favorite for good reasons and she delivers a most chilling performance here! Her “chuff, chuff, chuff” will repeat in my head for a long time!
the bottom line…
Barclay is an auto read for me so I went into this blind, not knowing this was a departure from his normal genre. It took me awhile to figure that out and I gotta say his new venture was horror perfection. I’ll never, ever look at a train the same way again or hear the sounds without thinking of this story. I was on the edge of my seat until the last page. 4.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
May 17, 2025
I think it's time for Linwood and I to start seeing other people.
May 30, 2025
I always enjoy seeing what Linwood Barclay has going on, as his books are both strong thrillers and keep me curious until the final page. This was no exception, as Barclay presents a supernatural piece that pushes past the thriller station and well onto the track of a quasi-horror. A model train set might appear innocent enough, especially when handed over to young boys to spark their interest. However, what seems to be a hobby in the making soon turns fatal for a small community, as the sound of an ominous whistle late into the night harbours horrible happenings that will leave chilling outcomes in its wake. Linwood Barclay delivers a gripping story that makes me glad to have taken the time to read his latest novel.
Just when Annie Blunt found her niche, horrible things began happening. Her husband is killed in a freak traffic accident one day in New York City, followed soon thereafter by news that a young reader died when he tried to leap off his balcony, mirroring the main character in Annie's latest children's book. Seeking solace from all her grief, Annie packs up her life and young son, Charlie. They seek refuge in a small, New England community to heal and reset, which appears to be going well.
While the new town is quiet, it is perhaps too much so for Charlie, who admits to being highly bored. He scrounges around the property and finds an old model train set in the shed. While it is obviously used, the train sparks a new excitement and interest for Charlie, who spends hours setting it up and creating a world to explore, mostly on the rails. It is at this time that Annie finds herself waking up in the middle of the night to the sound of a train whistle, though there is no track for miles from the rented home. Still, Annie is sure of what she heard and begins trying to make sense of it all.
Annie also learns that odd deaths are being reported around town, each on a night the ominous whistle was heard. Bodies are found mangled and bloodied, stumping the police. With no answers and additional goings-on in Annie's life, she is sure that it has something to do with the train set with which Charlie is increasingly obsessed. Grief comes in many forms, but Annie cannot shake that something or someone is trying to send her a horrible message and the whistle in the night is that harbinger of chaos. Linwood Barclay delivers a sensational story that builds on something so simple to become a horror-packed story.
There is something about Linwood Barclay's writing that always has me so excited to reach for his books. They usually stir up such emotions and keep me wondering what's to come or how it will all work. The narrative begins slowly, but soon gains momentum, like a massive locomotive on the tracks. The story finds its flow and is soon clipping along in ways the reader could not predict. Characters are both relatable and somewhat ominous, serving as conduits for the various parts of the story that need added impact. Plot points prove well-developed and pursue great angles well worth the reader's time. While Barclay is usually on track to deliver a strong thriller, this piece inches into the supernatural and uses a seemingly innocent item to serve as the emblem of all that is evil in the world. I cannot wait to see what Linwood Barclay has in store for fans next.
Kudos, Mr. Barclay, for a great read that helps push you to the top of the genre!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Just when Annie Blunt found her niche, horrible things began happening. Her husband is killed in a freak traffic accident one day in New York City, followed soon thereafter by news that a young reader died when he tried to leap off his balcony, mirroring the main character in Annie's latest children's book. Seeking solace from all her grief, Annie packs up her life and young son, Charlie. They seek refuge in a small, New England community to heal and reset, which appears to be going well.
While the new town is quiet, it is perhaps too much so for Charlie, who admits to being highly bored. He scrounges around the property and finds an old model train set in the shed. While it is obviously used, the train sparks a new excitement and interest for Charlie, who spends hours setting it up and creating a world to explore, mostly on the rails. It is at this time that Annie finds herself waking up in the middle of the night to the sound of a train whistle, though there is no track for miles from the rented home. Still, Annie is sure of what she heard and begins trying to make sense of it all.
Annie also learns that odd deaths are being reported around town, each on a night the ominous whistle was heard. Bodies are found mangled and bloodied, stumping the police. With no answers and additional goings-on in Annie's life, she is sure that it has something to do with the train set with which Charlie is increasingly obsessed. Grief comes in many forms, but Annie cannot shake that something or someone is trying to send her a horrible message and the whistle in the night is that harbinger of chaos. Linwood Barclay delivers a sensational story that builds on something so simple to become a horror-packed story.
There is something about Linwood Barclay's writing that always has me so excited to reach for his books. They usually stir up such emotions and keep me wondering what's to come or how it will all work. The narrative begins slowly, but soon gains momentum, like a massive locomotive on the tracks. The story finds its flow and is soon clipping along in ways the reader could not predict. Characters are both relatable and somewhat ominous, serving as conduits for the various parts of the story that need added impact. Plot points prove well-developed and pursue great angles well worth the reader's time. While Barclay is usually on track to deliver a strong thriller, this piece inches into the supernatural and uses a seemingly innocent item to serve as the emblem of all that is evil in the world. I cannot wait to see what Linwood Barclay has in store for fans next.
Kudos, Mr. Barclay, for a great read that helps push you to the top of the genre!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
July 27, 2025
Well crafted interesting characters? Creepy as hell sinister villain? Gripping plot? Old school Stephen King vibes? Yes please!
I've read a few of Linwood Barclay's thrillers and enjoyed them, but if horror is his new direction then bring it on, I'm all in. For me an absolute page turner, I loved it and couldn't put it down, 5 shiny stars.
I've read a few of Linwood Barclay's thrillers and enjoyed them, but if horror is his new direction then bring it on, I'm all in. For me an absolute page turner, I loved it and couldn't put it down, 5 shiny stars.
January 24, 2025
This creepy novel is a cross between a possession story (sort of) and Needful Things with a bit of cosmic horror thrown in.
It takes place in a small Vermont town between two different timelines, one in 2001 and the other current day. Believe it or not, toy train sets are used as the catalyst for the horrors which take place.
Back in 2001, a mysterious toy train shop opens seemingly overnight. But whoever purchases a set from the creepy owner soon begins to experience terrifying atrocities. A BBQ blows a father to pieces, a woman kills herself by electrocution, a sweet family pet tries to kill it's owner, and more.
The "man" running the store is something evil and you'll read about him throughout. But the chief of police starts putting things together and that's going to lead to an unimaginable catastrophic event.
In the present day, a successful children's book author is living for the summer in another small town to get her and her son away from NYC for a break. They've had a very traumatic year and need the escape. But when her son finds a box full of a toy train set, it's going to lead to terrors beyond their imagination.
These two perspectives are going to come together and provide an ending which is full of fear and tension. I loved how the author switched timelines in between sections. The back and forth slowly unlocked a picture of this man and his purpose and it's certainly frightening.
I highly recommend this novel. I received an ARC through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
It takes place in a small Vermont town between two different timelines, one in 2001 and the other current day. Believe it or not, toy train sets are used as the catalyst for the horrors which take place.
Back in 2001, a mysterious toy train shop opens seemingly overnight. But whoever purchases a set from the creepy owner soon begins to experience terrifying atrocities. A BBQ blows a father to pieces, a woman kills herself by electrocution, a sweet family pet tries to kill it's owner, and more.
The "man" running the store is something evil and you'll read about him throughout. But the chief of police starts putting things together and that's going to lead to an unimaginable catastrophic event.
In the present day, a successful children's book author is living for the summer in another small town to get her and her son away from NYC for a break. They've had a very traumatic year and need the escape. But when her son finds a box full of a toy train set, it's going to lead to terrors beyond their imagination.
These two perspectives are going to come together and provide an ending which is full of fear and tension. I loved how the author switched timelines in between sections. The back and forth slowly unlocked a picture of this man and his purpose and it's certainly frightening.
I highly recommend this novel. I received an ARC through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
April 16, 2025
4.5 stars - thank you William Morrow for an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback
Publishes May 20th and is a psychological supernatural horror books following 2 sets of characters as they experience strange occurrences surrounding toy train sets.
I’m being vague on purpose because I think going into this blind is the move.
This book grabbed my attention immediately. It’s dark and disturbing, weird and utterly gripping.
The characters have such intriguing depth and rich backstory. Set in small communities where everyone knows everyone and no one is safe.
This is one of the most unique horror books or maybe just books in general that I’ve read. It was just so phenomenal, bizarre, and I loved it.
I will say I found the ending a bit abrupt which I didn’t love.
Video review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTjNeT6bC/
Publishes May 20th and is a psychological supernatural horror books following 2 sets of characters as they experience strange occurrences surrounding toy train sets.
I’m being vague on purpose because I think going into this blind is the move.
This book grabbed my attention immediately. It’s dark and disturbing, weird and utterly gripping.
The characters have such intriguing depth and rich backstory. Set in small communities where everyone knows everyone and no one is safe.
This is one of the most unique horror books or maybe just books in general that I’ve read. It was just so phenomenal, bizarre, and I loved it.
I will say I found the ending a bit abrupt which I didn’t love.
Video review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTjNeT6bC/
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