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Pour arrondir ses fins de mois, Keisha Ceylon a eu LA bonne idee: troquer ses balais de femme de menage contre une boule de cristal. Entre theme astral et marc de cafe, elle s'est fait une specialite: faits divers et disparitions. Cinq mille dollars contre l'espoir de retrouver un etre cher: certaines familles sont pretes a tout. Et justement, Wendell Garfield est sans nouvelles de sa femme Ellie, volatilisee a la sortie du supermarche une semaine plus tot. Aucun indice, la police pietine. La presse est en emoi. Wendell et sa fille sont affoles: l'heure est ideale pour l'arnaqueuse qui se prepare a livrer sa plus belle, sa plus troublante, sa plus dangereuse vision... Car, sans le savoir, la fausse voyante vient de froler de tres pres une verite meurtriere. Et de reveiller les instincts d'un tueur en liberte... Quand l'humour se mele a l'angoisse: le nouveau coup d'effroi du createur de frissons."
303 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2010
436 people are currently reading
3051 people want to read
About the author
Linwood Barclay
82 books7,156 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 661 reviews
May 8, 2016
Ok first the title says it all. Half the shit that went down in this book I didn't see coming. Some of it hit me like ten tons of bricks. Barclay's writing is so similar to Harlan Coben's it's scary. This book was a page turner. From the beginning I wanted to know what Keisha was going to pull and man oh man did she pull a good one. Would definitely recommend!!!!!
May 2, 2015
Actually 2.5
In my house a Linwood Barclay novel never graces a book shelf until it has been read. They are my liquid gold these days and this was no exception, the minute I saw it was the same minute, it superseded everything else on my to read shelf. It’s an affair we have been having, one that started three books ago; this marks the fourth, one of those sinful delights.
I love getting into his stories involving ordinary people, or so it would seem, living their ordinary lives; until….drum roll please…. and a domestic thrill ride ensues.
This one started out that way and I was in, still there were some parts where I felt an involuntary eye roll coming on. It was like I was trapped in a hyphen, you know the type I have that connects Arah and Lynda only this one seemed to connect books, at least one of which I have not read.
I was not looking for a hyphen, it was a thrill ride, I lusted after. Still I gave myself over to Barclay’s magic pen, but this pen of which I speak, left me on a bridge with no exit sign in sight and quite low on gas.
I feel duped.
Perhaps my rating is too harsh; Mr. Barclay is a fine writer. In fact, I am sure it is; but hey when I fly high, I crash hard.
In my house a Linwood Barclay novel never graces a book shelf until it has been read. They are my liquid gold these days and this was no exception, the minute I saw it was the same minute, it superseded everything else on my to read shelf. It’s an affair we have been having, one that started three books ago; this marks the fourth, one of those sinful delights.
I love getting into his stories involving ordinary people, or so it would seem, living their ordinary lives; until….drum roll please…. and a domestic thrill ride ensues.
This one started out that way and I was in, still there were some parts where I felt an involuntary eye roll coming on. It was like I was trapped in a hyphen, you know the type I have that connects Arah and Lynda only this one seemed to connect books, at least one of which I have not read.
I was not looking for a hyphen, it was a thrill ride, I lusted after. Still I gave myself over to Barclay’s magic pen, but this pen of which I speak, left me on a bridge with no exit sign in sight and quite low on gas.
I feel duped.
Perhaps my rating is too harsh; Mr. Barclay is a fine writer. In fact, I am sure it is; but hey when I fly high, I crash hard.
May 10, 2024
3.5 stars
short review for busy readers: the perfect novel for an airplane/train trip! Gripping, twisty, very fast paced, full of stupid crime and not-so-stupid con artists. Some blood. Super fast read. Will keep your attention fully locked in for about 2-4 hours.
in detail:
We've all seen it: a weepy family holding a TV press conference begging for a missing relative to come home. For most, it's a tearjerker, but for Keisha, it's an opportunity to make some fast money.
You see, Keisha is a fake medium, a con artist claiming she can get psychic info on the missing person...for a thousand bucks, payable up front. When she tries her shtick on Wendell Gardner, she gets far more than she bargained for -- because despite what he said on TV, old Wendell knows exactly where his "missing" wife is. And he doesn't want her found!
The novel takes us - at breakneck speed- through what all happens on the day Keisha visits Gardner. And it's A LOT. A lot of stupidity. A lot of conning. A lot of lying. And a lot for the police to investigate. Many of the characters you just want to slap, but they behave in very realistic, in-character ways and it's almost a pleasure to see what all befalls them.
The writing is straightforward, fluid and of a decent quality for thriller fodder. There is virtually no time spent on backstory. Everything is honed in on the immediate action which propels the plot forward.
Since I'm in the "spiritual community" myself and do channeling, I was initially put off by a story about a fake, simply because so many people think those who claim to have psychic talent are at best totally delusional and at worst a scamming criminal like Keisha.
But when exactly those prejudices are addressed repeatedly and I saw how differently Keisha behaves to real psychics & mediums, that's when became a thoroughly enjoyable read and not in the least insulting. (By real psychics, I mean those who are not deliberately trying to scam people, no matter what people might think of the validity of their abilities).
A bit of forewarning, several murders happen -- most very creatively dramatic .
If you can handle that, I full recommend this novel for your next longer trip. It'll keep you totally hooked and yet you won't mind abandoning it for someone else to enjoy once you reach your destination.
short review for busy readers: the perfect novel for an airplane/train trip! Gripping, twisty, very fast paced, full of stupid crime and not-so-stupid con artists. Some blood. Super fast read. Will keep your attention fully locked in for about 2-4 hours.
in detail:
We've all seen it: a weepy family holding a TV press conference begging for a missing relative to come home. For most, it's a tearjerker, but for Keisha, it's an opportunity to make some fast money.
You see, Keisha is a fake medium, a con artist claiming she can get psychic info on the missing person...for a thousand bucks, payable up front. When she tries her shtick on Wendell Gardner, she gets far more than she bargained for -- because despite what he said on TV, old Wendell knows exactly where his "missing" wife is. And he doesn't want her found!
The novel takes us - at breakneck speed- through what all happens on the day Keisha visits Gardner. And it's A LOT. A lot of stupidity. A lot of conning. A lot of lying. And a lot for the police to investigate. Many of the characters you just want to slap, but they behave in very realistic, in-character ways and it's almost a pleasure to see what all befalls them.
The writing is straightforward, fluid and of a decent quality for thriller fodder. There is virtually no time spent on backstory. Everything is honed in on the immediate action which propels the plot forward.
Since I'm in the "spiritual community" myself and do channeling, I was initially put off by a story about a fake, simply because so many people think those who claim to have psychic talent are at best totally delusional and at worst a scamming criminal like Keisha.
But when exactly those prejudices are addressed repeatedly and I saw how differently Keisha behaves to real psychics & mediums, that's when became a thoroughly enjoyable read and not in the least insulting. (By real psychics, I mean those who are not deliberately trying to scam people, no matter what people might think of the validity of their abilities).
A bit of forewarning, several murders happen -- most very creatively dramatic .
If you can handle that, I full recommend this novel for your next longer trip. It'll keep you totally hooked and yet you won't mind abandoning it for someone else to enjoy once you reach your destination.
December 27, 2013
3.5
NEVER SAW IT COMING is the third Linwood Barclay novel I have read, and I count myself lucky that "No time for Goodbye" was one of those three. Even though it isn't mentioned in any of the blurbs and descriptions, the main character in NEVER SAW IT COMING -Keisha- is introduced in "No Time for Goodbye"...and the main characters from "No Time for Goodbye"- Cynthia and Terry Archer- are mentioned quite a bit in NEVER SAW IT COMING.
Confused? Well then read "No Time for Goodbye" first and you won't be.
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Keisha Ceylon is a psychic...at least that's what is says on her business card. In reality, Keisha is a scam artist who watches the news for stories of missing people, and then pounces when their family members are most vulnerable.
Keisha's latest patsy is a man whose wife recently went missing. When she pays him a visit and spews her usual bologna- she accidentally comes a little too close to the truth, and gets more then she bargained for.
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On the surface Keisha is not easy to like, but as the story unfolds she becomes much more sympathetic. I have a feeling we haven't heard the last of this character. Maybe she will turn up in another of Barclay's books making some other family miserable. I hope so...this novel ended a little abruptly, and I would love to re-visit her in the future- just to see what she is up to.
*expanded version of the short story "Clouded Vision".
NEVER SAW IT COMING is the third Linwood Barclay novel I have read, and I count myself lucky that "No time for Goodbye" was one of those three. Even though it isn't mentioned in any of the blurbs and descriptions, the main character in NEVER SAW IT COMING -Keisha- is introduced in "No Time for Goodbye"...and the main characters from "No Time for Goodbye"- Cynthia and Terry Archer- are mentioned quite a bit in NEVER SAW IT COMING.
Confused? Well then read "No Time for Goodbye" first and you won't be.
Keisha Ceylon is a psychic...at least that's what is says on her business card. In reality, Keisha is a scam artist who watches the news for stories of missing people, and then pounces when their family members are most vulnerable.
Keisha's latest patsy is a man whose wife recently went missing. When she pays him a visit and spews her usual bologna- she accidentally comes a little too close to the truth, and gets more then she bargained for.
On the surface Keisha is not easy to like, but as the story unfolds she becomes much more sympathetic. I have a feeling we haven't heard the last of this character. Maybe she will turn up in another of Barclay's books making some other family miserable. I hope so...this novel ended a little abruptly, and I would love to re-visit her in the future- just to see what she is up to.
*expanded version of the short story "Clouded Vision".
May 23, 2022
The book centers around con artist ‘psychic’ Keisha Ceylon. She lives with her dead-beat boyfriend Kirk, who I hated, and her young son Matthew. I thought it was quite clear from the start that Keisha is motivated by financial means to "trick" the bereaved into hearing what they want to hear. My first thought was "How does this woman sleep at night?". Then it became evident her tricks were soon to be catching up with her. The question then becomes what happens when the scammer is scammed? Overall this is an intense psychological thriller, slightly different than Barclay's usual fare, but filled with shady characters. It's a cleverly done story and a very satisfying read.
March 14, 2016
Well, I never saw this coming at all. I've read several of this author's books and loved every single one of them. This eSpecial book was a departure from his normally dark, gritty stories.
Keisha Ceylon makes her living pretending to be a psychic. She watches the news for reports of missing people. After a few days of research, she approaches the family and offers to help ... at a price.
Keisha's latest research is Wendell Garfield. His wife has been missing for a week and Keisha saw him pleading for her return on TV. She does what she normally does ..presents herself to Mr. Garfield.
Unfortunately, the 'vision' she presents to him may be closer to the truth than she thinks...and it may cost her her life.
The only nice person in this mess is her 10-year-old son. And he's being threatened by Keisha's live-in boyfriend, Kirk. Kirk is the boyfriend from hell... he doesn't work, he calls her son terrible names, has threatened with sending him to boarding school and then threatening him again not to tell his mother.
I really wanted to like Keisha .. but she preys on humans at the times they are most vulnerable. Kirk knows what she does but doesn't care ... as long as she gets paid and he can live off her.
It was an okay read ... not terribly suspenseful. I will still read Barclay's books, but no more of his 'specials'. 3.5 Stars
Keisha Ceylon makes her living pretending to be a psychic. She watches the news for reports of missing people. After a few days of research, she approaches the family and offers to help ... at a price.
Keisha's latest research is Wendell Garfield. His wife has been missing for a week and Keisha saw him pleading for her return on TV. She does what she normally does ..presents herself to Mr. Garfield.
Unfortunately, the 'vision' she presents to him may be closer to the truth than she thinks...and it may cost her her life.
The only nice person in this mess is her 10-year-old son. And he's being threatened by Keisha's live-in boyfriend, Kirk. Kirk is the boyfriend from hell... he doesn't work, he calls her son terrible names, has threatened with sending him to boarding school and then threatening him again not to tell his mother.
I really wanted to like Keisha .. but she preys on humans at the times they are most vulnerable. Kirk knows what she does but doesn't care ... as long as she gets paid and he can live off her.
It was an okay read ... not terribly suspenseful. I will still read Barclay's books, but no more of his 'specials'. 3.5 Stars
May 24, 2016
This took me a little longer than i would have liked to finish this short novel due to stuff happening but i did enjoy it was a bit weird dysfunctional what do you get when you put a so called psychic, a drug addict together what you get is a twisted tale that blows your mind Linwood please don't ever change your on a winner & a master of this genre
April 20, 2017
Although Never Saw It Coming garnered a so-so reaction when it first appeared as an ebook novella entitled Clouded Vision, I enjoyed it immensely. Do beware, however, that it is an atypical example of Linwood Barclay's back catalogue. In comparison to his edge of the seat out and out thrillers, Never Saw It Coming is something of a black comedy and is a blast of a read, with tongue in cheek humour and lighter tone than the usual Barclay fare. Linwood Barclay, in common with Harlan Coben, is an excellent author at taking run of the mill folk, putting them in awkward positions and letting a barrage of twists and turns do the rest of the work and Never Saw It Coming is another excellent example of this.
In this novella of sub three-hundred pages, Barclay introduces 'psychic finder of lost soul' Ms Keisha Ceylon. Unemployed and with a ten-year-old son, Matthew, reliant upon her, Keisha could look for a regular job, but instead opts for making a fast buck as a psychic with extremely limited foresight! Brought up by her single mother and dragged across the country pulling scams Majorie knew a good con when saw one, and her daughter has clearly learned a few tricks. Keisha does not sense things or have paranormal visions, but merely keeps her eyes and ears open, plants ideas and sows seeds. As Milford's psychic consultant(!) par excellence, she offers her services and charges for the privilege to read palms and find missing persons. When the novel opens Barclay shows Keisha with the aid of sidekick, Justin Wilcox, pulling a fast one on his own mother and step-father. With a waster of a boyfriend in lazy Kirk she has to keep the bucks coming in and a television appeal from stricken husband, Wendell Garfield and his nineteen-year-old daughter, Melissa, presents her with her next mark. Missing wife and mother, Ellie Garfield, has been gone for three days already after going grocery shopping only to never arrive at the store. As Keisha presents herself as an 'instrument' in determining what has happened to his wife, Wendell nearly jumps out of his skin. Skirting around the cold weather and the dangers of driving on icy roads, Keisha puts the fear of god into Wendell because he is not quite as innocent and unknowing as he looks. A comedy of errors swiftly unravels with a small cast at cross purposes and reading the worst into every situation..
As the whole shebang backfires on Keisha learns that taking advantage and preying on people's fears in not for the faint-hearted she finds herself between a rock and a hard place when she strays too close to the actual reality of Ellie's disappearance. Forced to rely on dim Kirk as she seeks to extricate herself from the escalating mess, she comes to wonder if she will ever get the chance to repair her mistakes and make an honest life with her son. However, up against the shrewd and compassionate Detective Roma Wedmore, has Keisha bitten off more than she can chew? Some excellent characterisation and highly plausible complications compound the scenario and add humour. Despite her unscrupulous scams it is hard not to feel some warmth towards Keisha, who really just wants to be a good mother and do the best for her son, and with Kirk and the other good-for-nothings who she has encountered along the way (Justin) she hasn't been the luckiest girl in the world! I particularly liked how Barclay gave cameo roles to two of his characters from the brilliant No Time for Goodbye (Terry Archer and Detective Rona Wedmore), and weaved Keisha's story into the novel that made his name. Never Saw It Coming is wryly amusing but may disappoint some Barclay fans expecting a nail-biter, however it is a deceptively clever little story and a satisfying read.
June 28, 2015
Linwood Barclay is one of my favourite authors. Ever since my daughter introduced me to his novel, No Time For Goodbye, while we were on holiday in Majorca, Spain, some years ago, I have read his books with excitement. Indeed, 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. He is a fine story teller.
Barclay was born in the United States but moved to Canada just before turning four years old when his father, accepted a position with an advertising agency north of the border. Barclay spent his early life helping to run a cottage resort and trailer park after his father died when he was 16. 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 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 children, Spencer and Paige.
Barclay got his first newspaper job at the Peterborough Examiner, a small Ontario daily and 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.
Never Saw It Coming was his fifth stand alone novel, originally published as a novella titled Clouded Vision published in December 2010. The novel, Never saw It Coming was published in 2011. Some of the characters from No Time For Goodbye appear in this book, but the story does not revolve around them. It does not matter whether the reader catches the references or not. However, I found it fun that I did!
The story revolves around Keisha Ceylon passes herself off as a psychic. Her real powers have more to do with separating people from their money than seeing into the future. Keisha watches the news for stories of missing family members. After waiting a few days, she moves in and tells these families she has had a vision. The vision means that she may have some clue to where their missing relatives are. Of course, she charges for this service and likes to get her money up front.
Keisha's latest mark is a man whose wife disappeared a week ago. She saw him on TV, pleading for his wife to come home, or, if she's been abducted, pleading with whoever took her to let her go. So, Keisha pays a visit to the troubled husband and tells him her vision. The trouble is, her vision just happens to be close enough to the truth that it leaves this man rattled. That may very well leave Keisha dead. Like in a demolition derby, the characters in Never Saw It Coming kept bumping into each other and I just had to know who was going to get out of this mess and how. This is not a long novel, but it is a clever one and like all Linwood Barclay's books, a joy to read. I highly recommend it.
Barclay was born in the United States but moved to Canada just before turning four years old when his father, accepted a position with an advertising agency north of the border. Barclay spent his early life helping to run a cottage resort and trailer park after his father died when he was 16. 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 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 children, Spencer and Paige.
Barclay got his first newspaper job at the Peterborough Examiner, a small Ontario daily and 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.
Never Saw It Coming was his fifth stand alone novel, originally published as a novella titled Clouded Vision published in December 2010. The novel, Never saw It Coming was published in 2011. Some of the characters from No Time For Goodbye appear in this book, but the story does not revolve around them. It does not matter whether the reader catches the references or not. However, I found it fun that I did!
The story revolves around Keisha Ceylon passes herself off as a psychic. Her real powers have more to do with separating people from their money than seeing into the future. Keisha watches the news for stories of missing family members. After waiting a few days, she moves in and tells these families she has had a vision. The vision means that she may have some clue to where their missing relatives are. Of course, she charges for this service and likes to get her money up front.
Keisha's latest mark is a man whose wife disappeared a week ago. She saw him on TV, pleading for his wife to come home, or, if she's been abducted, pleading with whoever took her to let her go. So, Keisha pays a visit to the troubled husband and tells him her vision. The trouble is, her vision just happens to be close enough to the truth that it leaves this man rattled. That may very well leave Keisha dead. Like in a demolition derby, the characters in Never Saw It Coming kept bumping into each other and I just had to know who was going to get out of this mess and how. This is not a long novel, but it is a clever one and like all Linwood Barclay's books, a joy to read. I highly recommend it.
April 11, 2013
The title says it all. Barclay returns to expand on his popular novella and puts forth a great story with even greater intrigue than the previous shorter story. The characters come to life and the plot is much deeper. While the novella captured a three narrator story, the full book leaves this angle, but does delve into the personal lives of a few of the main characters, painting them all as guilty of some aspect of the larger crime. That said, just when the reader things will tie off in a certain way, Barclay inserts a twist (as he is so prone to do) and derails the story and moves it into another direction. Barclay is a master storyteller and his revisit of this story serves not only to lengthen it and make it better, but also leaves the reader wondering how things really do tie off, at the end.
Having read the novella in August 2011, I remembered some aspects of the book as I read. While I have read many books since first visiting the story, there are key aspects that floated back to me, and others, obviously new, the help flesh out the story. I admit, I do not remember the key cliff hanger that Barclay presented in the novella, but this book is full of great twists and turns, leaving the reader to wonder what might be waiting in the next chapter. If only other great authors who have penned books for e-Book direct release would return to expand on their work, we’d have richer authors and more great work through which to wade.
Kudos Mr. Barclay for this wonderful book that kept me interested from page one onwards. I cannot wait to see what else you have to offer, and what twists you will insert for my reading pleasure.
Having read the novella in August 2011, I remembered some aspects of the book as I read. While I have read many books since first visiting the story, there are key aspects that floated back to me, and others, obviously new, the help flesh out the story. I admit, I do not remember the key cliff hanger that Barclay presented in the novella, but this book is full of great twists and turns, leaving the reader to wonder what might be waiting in the next chapter. If only other great authors who have penned books for e-Book direct release would return to expand on their work, we’d have richer authors and more great work through which to wade.
Kudos Mr. Barclay for this wonderful book that kept me interested from page one onwards. I cannot wait to see what else you have to offer, and what twists you will insert for my reading pleasure.
June 1, 2013
I was rather disappointed with this, especially after the success of No Time For Goodbye. I thought No Time For Goodbye was absolutely brilliant and gripping; I was hooked. There is no doubt that Linwood Barclay is a great writer, I really like his style, but this book was just a bit disappointed and it gave too much away too soon, making the second half of the novel really boring. The story wasn't really that gripping and was a bit tedious and all over the place. There was nothing left to look forward to as like I said it gave it all away at the beginning. The ending was equally disappointing. The characters were interesting, but its kind of like Barclay gave up on them. Barclay is an excellent writer and even this is well written, but the story was weak and boring at times. I'm currently reading Fear the Worst, so I hope that will be better. I hope this is the first and last of Barclay's flops because he has great potential and I hope he writes another thriller as big a hit as No Time For Goodbye.
Grade: D
Grade: D
June 17, 2015
This short novella was just as twisted as Linwood Barclay's novels! Like in a demolition derby, these characters kept bumping into each other and I just had to know who was going to get out of this mess and how.
December 8, 2022
hated every character
June 12, 2016
The character of Keisha Ceylon intrigued me when she appeared in Linwood Barclay’s other stories. It goes without saying that, in the end, I would have picked this one up. Fortunately for me, I managed to find it going cheap. Cheap books are, without a doubt, my best friend. Especially when said cheap book are written by my favourite authors. Not that you care about such a thing, what you care about is a real review.
I’ll start by saying this one isn’t a mystery in the way that Linwood Barclay’s books usually are. In his stories, you’re usually battling through intrigue to work out who has done what and why. With this one, know from almost the get-go. This story is more of a development of Keisha as a character, helping you to understand her. It is an explanation of what she does, showing what happens when things go wrong.
Those who haven’t come across Keisha Ceylon before will quickly find out she’s a bit of a con artists. She uses fake psychic powers to convince victims of crimes to hand over money in the hope that she will help them get the answers they need to whatever mist is surrounding the circumstances. Missing people are obviously her favourite, whereby she can convince people that she knows where the missing are. Of course, not everyone is going to buy her words. Nevertheless, the female is more than willing to try.
What Never Saw It Coming tells, is the story of when it all goes wrong. It tells the story of what happens when Keisha finds herself in somewhat of a sticky situation. The details are given quite early on in the story, yet I do not wish to give them here as it would spoil things for you. Just know that you don’t need to spend your time working out who did what. All you need to do is watch the events unfold, as you sit with your fingers crossed whilst events play out. As I said, it’s not Barclay’s usual, but it is a good read.
Short and sweet, you can finish this in no time at all. It’s certainly worth reading if you’re a fan of the man’s work.
I’ll start by saying this one isn’t a mystery in the way that Linwood Barclay’s books usually are. In his stories, you’re usually battling through intrigue to work out who has done what and why. With this one, know from almost the get-go. This story is more of a development of Keisha as a character, helping you to understand her. It is an explanation of what she does, showing what happens when things go wrong.
Those who haven’t come across Keisha Ceylon before will quickly find out she’s a bit of a con artists. She uses fake psychic powers to convince victims of crimes to hand over money in the hope that she will help them get the answers they need to whatever mist is surrounding the circumstances. Missing people are obviously her favourite, whereby she can convince people that she knows where the missing are. Of course, not everyone is going to buy her words. Nevertheless, the female is more than willing to try.
What Never Saw It Coming tells, is the story of when it all goes wrong. It tells the story of what happens when Keisha finds herself in somewhat of a sticky situation. The details are given quite early on in the story, yet I do not wish to give them here as it would spoil things for you. Just know that you don’t need to spend your time working out who did what. All you need to do is watch the events unfold, as you sit with your fingers crossed whilst events play out. As I said, it’s not Barclay’s usual, but it is a good read.
Short and sweet, you can finish this in no time at all. It’s certainly worth reading if you’re a fan of the man’s work.
June 11, 2013
I'll read anything with Linwood Barclay's name on it - he is one of my favourite suspense authors.
I loved his latest novel, Trust Your Eyes and can't wait for August's release of Tap on the Window.
But in the meantime, pick up Never Saw it Coming, to tide you over. Never Saw it Coming is a fleshed out version of a novella originally published in the UK in 2011 as Clouded Vision.
Keisha Ceylon is a psychic. Or so she says. What she really does is comb the news for missing persons reports. And then she helpfully offers her psychic services to the distraught families....for a fee of course.
Hot on the heels of a successful scam, she hears about Ellie Garfield's disappearance. Perfect. But perhaps her predictions are a little too close to the truth this time. Ellie's husband thinks so. And he doesn't like loose ends.
Never Saw it Coming does read like a short story with lots of rapid twists and turns. Barclay is a master manipulator and takes the narrative in oft changing directions. And finishes up with an ending I didn't predict. Those looking for great character development and intricate plotting won't find it with this offering. But if you're looking for a fast paced read to keep you turning pages for an evening, this is definitely for you. Currently #2 on the Globe's Canadian Fiction Bestseller list
If you haven't, by any wild chance, read Linwood Barclay yet, this is a great introduction to his style of writing. This fan is now anxiously waiting for August.....
I loved his latest novel, Trust Your Eyes and can't wait for August's release of Tap on the Window.
But in the meantime, pick up Never Saw it Coming, to tide you over. Never Saw it Coming is a fleshed out version of a novella originally published in the UK in 2011 as Clouded Vision.
Keisha Ceylon is a psychic. Or so she says. What she really does is comb the news for missing persons reports. And then she helpfully offers her psychic services to the distraught families....for a fee of course.
Hot on the heels of a successful scam, she hears about Ellie Garfield's disappearance. Perfect. But perhaps her predictions are a little too close to the truth this time. Ellie's husband thinks so. And he doesn't like loose ends.
Never Saw it Coming does read like a short story with lots of rapid twists and turns. Barclay is a master manipulator and takes the narrative in oft changing directions. And finishes up with an ending I didn't predict. Those looking for great character development and intricate plotting won't find it with this offering. But if you're looking for a fast paced read to keep you turning pages for an evening, this is definitely for you. Currently #2 on the Globe's Canadian Fiction Bestseller list
If you haven't, by any wild chance, read Linwood Barclay yet, this is a great introduction to his style of writing. This fan is now anxiously waiting for August.....
April 5, 2013
I love Linwood Barclay books but was a bit disappointed in this one. It didn't have quite the same atmosphere as the others and I didn't relate to the characters in this one quite as much. Having said that I finished it and would still buy his next novel
November 13, 2017
I tried. I just completely lost interest.
February 2, 2018
I cringed, laughed, wondered and awed. Never Saw It Coming kept me hooked from Chapter One to Chapter Thirty-Four. Keisha Ceylon, a sham psychic, sells hope to people swept up in tragic circumstances. She gets involved in the case of a missing woman and almost becomes a victim herself. I've heard others refer to this book as a "black comedy" and methinks, that might be right! There are twists and turns page after page and though the coincidences are a bit much, it's an inventive and intriguing plot. Chapter Two is particularly poignant as it describes Ellie Garfield, stabbed and trapped in a car slowly sinking through the cracked ice. The writing is superb and description chilling. Chapter Four whereby Keisha reveals her how-to techniques is quite the reveal. She says (and I paraphrase), the key was to listen and have them provide the clues. Give them something to latch onto. On the downside, I found the story too quick and the concluding chapters rushed. Character development was minimal but Keisha's devotion to her young son, was clearly conveyed. Most of the characters were scoundrels (a pregnant daughter who stabs her mother!) and there is a darkness at the core of the story; nevertheless, Linwood Barclay has penned a clever and worthwhile read.
January 16, 2020
Really really good!
April 11, 2025
A chilling and fast paced thriller with lots of surprising twists! An enjoyable read!
December 18, 2022
Not the best book by Linwood Barclay.
September 18, 2016
Creado originalmente como un relato corto, lo mejor que se puede decir de esta novela es que hace honor a su título. Es decir, no ves venir por dónde va a desenlazar la trama, ya que tiene bastantes giros inesperados. Pero dista mucho de ser uno de los mejores relatos de este escritor. Se lee casi de un tirón, tiene capítulos muy cortos, y en general es bastante interesante. Sin embargo, eché de menos el sentido del humor con el que Barclay suele impregnar casi todas sus novelas. Digamos que sirve para pasar un buen rato de entretenimiento, y que no decae el interés por su lectura. Dicho esto, recomiendo otros títulos de este escritor muy por encima del presente, sobretodo “Trust your eyes” y “The accident”.
July 24, 2016
Never Saw It Coming is actually a story based on Linwood Barclay’s short novella “Clouded Vision” and as soon as I started reading it I had a sense of “déjà-vu” but persevered on nonetheless. I don’t know why I bothered. The novella wasn’t good and received low marks from me. Well this longer version was, in my opinion, even worse. I couldn’t enjoy it but read it through till the end anyway, and stayed unsatisfied. This story wasn’t up to Linwood Barclays’ usual higher standard. Poor plot and shallow characterization.
January 2, 2016
3 stars
Not really sure about this book, it's the first Linwood Barclay novel I've read and I don't think it was the best one to start with.
I may write a better review at a later date but I may also not get back to this at all.
Not really sure about this book, it's the first Linwood Barclay novel I've read and I don't think it was the best one to start with.
I may write a better review at a later date but I may also not get back to this at all.
October 13, 2020
Unlikely but entertaining thriller. I'll probably read more by this author.
April 16, 2021
My first Linwood Barclay book. An enjoyable quick read with twisty turns in almost every chapter. Filled with characters that you have to shake your head at. 3.5 stars.
May 7, 2024
I'm usually a huge fan och Barclay's books, and I haven't come across one that I've disliked, but this onne didn't really engage me like normal. Yes, this was intended as a short story, but as always with short stories, I'm left unfulfilled.
I thought Keisha made some odd choices, and while I understand that people don't react rationally in situations like the one she finds herself in, I can't help but feel like I can't relate to her at all and there were few momens -if any at all- when I was rooting for her.
I thought Keisha made some odd choices, and while I understand that people don't react rationally in situations like the one she finds herself in, I can't help but feel like I can't relate to her at all and there were few momens -if any at all- when I was rooting for her.
April 7, 2024
This was average! An easy read but nothing special!
May 6, 2017
Linwood Barclay takes us on a roller coaster ride into a dark tunnel of greed and deception. While reading this novel, I couldn't shake, at times, the feeling of despair that had overtaken me. The author sent a message to his readers; we come into this world with a clean slate. How we are raised determines everything.
Keisha Ceylon peddled her trade as a psychic. Actually, she was a dyed-in-the-wool con artist; one of society's leeches. A fraud. She learned her unscrupulous trade early in life, handed down, from her dear sweet mother. This apple had not fallen far from the tree, like mother-like daughter.
When Keisha was just a girl, her mother had been hired to look after some elderly people suffering from serious illnesses. Predictably, as they passed away one by one, being the saint that she was, she hid their bodies and stole their Social Security checks that continued to march in every month. She was a real saint. Business was good. People couldn't die fast enough as far as she was concerned. Eventually, all that came to an end. It was time to pack up, get out of town and find new ways to fleece the public.
Now as an adult, Keisha had always known that she had no special talent as a psychic, other than offering false hope, that is, if you'd call that a talent. Her entire life had been a scam. Hustling people at the worst times of their lives was the only thing that she knew how to do. Actually, wanted to do. She had tried house cleaning for a brief period of time. That was too much like work. Not her style. And her ten-year-old son, Matthew, and her had gotten into the habit of eating. And it never mattered where the money came from. The term 'blood money' was non existent in her vocabulary.
One of her favorite cons had been preying on people who were desperately, clinging to hope with the chance of finding a missing loved one. These unfortunate souls were at their most vulnerable time in their lives. Timing was essential. Strike while the iron's hot. That was her main shtick.
She regularly scanned new stories and watched news reports in search of her next 'mark'. Generally, those in grief were the easiest to feed upon. She figured that if people were stupid enough to buy into the crap she was selling, then they deserved what they got. She was all heart.
One fateful day, her life had taken a nosedive. What hopefully began as her usual con had taken a turn for the worse. Now it was her turn to become the victim of her own craft. Payback! Her criminal world had gone topsy-turvy. The threat of going to jail and losing her son had become an ever increasing possibility. There had to be a way out.
The right amount of characters in the storyline made for a well balanced, interesting read. Too many leaves the reader with a shallow understanding of the players involved. Enough time was devoted to each scene so the reader could benefit from just the right amount of impact. No additional fluff was thrown in merely to occupy empty space. The storyline advanced through each chapter, maintaining the readers' attention.
Keisha Ceylon peddled her trade as a psychic. Actually, she was a dyed-in-the-wool con artist; one of society's leeches. A fraud. She learned her unscrupulous trade early in life, handed down, from her dear sweet mother. This apple had not fallen far from the tree, like mother-like daughter.
When Keisha was just a girl, her mother had been hired to look after some elderly people suffering from serious illnesses. Predictably, as they passed away one by one, being the saint that she was, she hid their bodies and stole their Social Security checks that continued to march in every month. She was a real saint. Business was good. People couldn't die fast enough as far as she was concerned. Eventually, all that came to an end. It was time to pack up, get out of town and find new ways to fleece the public.
Now as an adult, Keisha had always known that she had no special talent as a psychic, other than offering false hope, that is, if you'd call that a talent. Her entire life had been a scam. Hustling people at the worst times of their lives was the only thing that she knew how to do. Actually, wanted to do. She had tried house cleaning for a brief period of time. That was too much like work. Not her style. And her ten-year-old son, Matthew, and her had gotten into the habit of eating. And it never mattered where the money came from. The term 'blood money' was non existent in her vocabulary.
One of her favorite cons had been preying on people who were desperately, clinging to hope with the chance of finding a missing loved one. These unfortunate souls were at their most vulnerable time in their lives. Timing was essential. Strike while the iron's hot. That was her main shtick.
She regularly scanned new stories and watched news reports in search of her next 'mark'. Generally, those in grief were the easiest to feed upon. She figured that if people were stupid enough to buy into the crap she was selling, then they deserved what they got. She was all heart.
One fateful day, her life had taken a nosedive. What hopefully began as her usual con had taken a turn for the worse. Now it was her turn to become the victim of her own craft. Payback! Her criminal world had gone topsy-turvy. The threat of going to jail and losing her son had become an ever increasing possibility. There had to be a way out.
The right amount of characters in the storyline made for a well balanced, interesting read. Too many leaves the reader with a shallow understanding of the players involved. Enough time was devoted to each scene so the reader could benefit from just the right amount of impact. No additional fluff was thrown in merely to occupy empty space. The storyline advanced through each chapter, maintaining the readers' attention.
May 4, 2013
I must admit I didn't enjoy this as much as previous Linwood Barclay books I have read, for one it was a lot shorter and had none of the mystery and suspense of his other novels. Also I found the fact you knew the whole story from the off made it not as good.
Keisha is a physic or so she says, she checks the news daily for her next 'customers' people who are missing someone then she scams them out of one thousand dollars in payment for her 'visions' but Keisha is a liar and a trickster she doesn't really have visions at all. The story is introduced to us when Keisha goes into partnership with a young kid named Justin together they trick his parents into enlisting Keisha's help when he goes 'missing' in exchange for £5,000 which they split between them. The next day Keisha goes to see a man whose wife is missing unfortunately after getting the thousand pounds from him Keisha's visions stumble on a line of truth and things get out of hand and how will Justin tie into this as well...?
Keisha is a physic or so she says, she checks the news daily for her next 'customers' people who are missing someone then she scams them out of one thousand dollars in payment for her 'visions' but Keisha is a liar and a trickster she doesn't really have visions at all. The story is introduced to us when Keisha goes into partnership with a young kid named Justin together they trick his parents into enlisting Keisha's help when he goes 'missing' in exchange for £5,000 which they split between them. The next day Keisha goes to see a man whose wife is missing unfortunately after getting the thousand pounds from him Keisha's visions stumble on a line of truth and things get out of hand and how will Justin tie into this as well...?
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