What do you think?
Rate this book
A Tap On the Window
Since private investigator Cal Weaver’s teenage son died in a tragic accident, Cal and his wife have drifted apart. Cal is mired in a grief he can’t move past. And maybe his grief has clouded his judgment.
Driving home one night, a rain-drenched girl taps on his car window and asks for a ride. He knows a grown man picking up a teenage hitchhiker is foolish—but he lets her in. Cal soon senses that something’s not right with the girl or the situation. But it’s too late. He’s already involved.
Drawn into a nightmare of secrets, lies, and cover-ups in his small, upstate New York town, Cal knows that the only thing that can save him is the truth. And he’s about to expose the town’s secrets one by one—if he lives long enough.
Driving home one night, a rain-drenched girl taps on his car window and asks for a ride. He knows a grown man picking up a teenage hitchhiker is foolish—but he lets her in. Cal soon senses that something’s not right with the girl or the situation. But it’s too late. He’s already involved.
Drawn into a nightmare of secrets, lies, and cover-ups in his small, upstate New York town, Cal knows that the only thing that can save him is the truth. And he’s about to expose the town’s secrets one by one—if he lives long enough.
Audiobook
First published August 6, 2013
About the author
Linwood Barclay
88 books7,651 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,579 reviews
August 19, 2013
Woot!
Love so much Love is what I have for this writer. He’s a guilty little pleasure. I have been known to lick my lips, settle in my chair, feet up, chilled Chablis close at hand and over indulge. This one is so damn delicious.
If you know Barclay at all then you know he writes thrillers, of the domestic variety. The kind of thing that could happen to you or me does happen in them.
I cannot seem to get enough and this is my hands down favourite so far. I could not put it down!
I’m getting me another Linwood Barclay!
Glutton that I am.
Love so much Love is what I have for this writer. He’s a guilty little pleasure. I have been known to lick my lips, settle in my chair, feet up, chilled Chablis close at hand and over indulge. This one is so damn delicious.
If you know Barclay at all then you know he writes thrillers, of the domestic variety. The kind of thing that could happen to you or me does happen in them.
I cannot seem to get enough and this is my hands down favourite so far. I could not put it down!
I’m getting me another Linwood Barclay!
Glutton that I am.
May 12, 2020
4★
I enjoyed this - almost as much - as the first book I read by the author: Elevator Pitch. Almost. It's pretty evident this author is a damn good Scribe.
I finished this in the early hours of this morning, and I'm still trying to wrap-my-head around some of the reveals. Trying, anyway. Thought I had it sussed, about 60% into the story - but the author did a sleight-of-hand. Shouldn't have gone with - what I thought was more likely.
Cal Weaver, makes the mistake of giving a lift to a teenage girl, whilst stopped at traffic lights. At first, he ignores her - when she taps on the window of his car. When she taps it again, he unwinds the window, slightly, and she recognises him: She knows his late son, Scott. He sees this as an opportunity (Spanish Inquisition), to ask her if she knows anything about how his son died, and if she knows who sold him the ecstasy, which culminated in Scott believing he was Superman.
She's one step ahead of him (she knows he's been asking around), and tells him she doesn't know anything, so there's no point asking. She asks if he can stop at a restaurant, and goes into Iggy's,. When she goes in, and doesn't return, he goes looking for her. She doesn't appear to be in the restroom. Where is she? He leaves and notices her sitting in the passenger side of his Honda Accord, and from that moment -onwards - he starts tumbling, like Alice. It's like an episode from the Twilight Zone.
Being an ex-cop (he's very inquisitive) - which doesn't do him any favours; especially when his emotional-content takes hold.
The story is told via Weaver's perspective, with sporadic interludes, where it switches to a third-person narrative, which was intriguing.
In conclusion: I really enjoyed this one. Will have to check out the Promise Falls trilogy, sometime, as Cal Weaver is in Promise Falls Book 2 - as a P.I. - just like in this book. It'll be interesting to see how much he's evolved, since then.
I enjoyed this - almost as much - as the first book I read by the author: Elevator Pitch. Almost. It's pretty evident this author is a damn good Scribe.
I finished this in the early hours of this morning, and I'm still trying to wrap-my-head around some of the reveals. Trying, anyway. Thought I had it sussed, about 60% into the story - but the author did a sleight-of-hand. Shouldn't have gone with - what I thought was more likely.
Cal Weaver, makes the mistake of giving a lift to a teenage girl, whilst stopped at traffic lights. At first, he ignores her - when she taps on the window of his car. When she taps it again, he unwinds the window, slightly, and she recognises him: She knows his late son, Scott. He sees this as an opportunity (Spanish Inquisition), to ask her if she knows anything about how his son died, and if she knows who sold him the ecstasy, which culminated in Scott believing he was Superman.
She's one step ahead of him (she knows he's been asking around), and tells him she doesn't know anything, so there's no point asking. She asks if he can stop at a restaurant, and goes into Iggy's,. When she goes in, and doesn't return, he goes looking for her. She doesn't appear to be in the restroom. Where is she? He leaves and notices her sitting in the passenger side of his Honda Accord, and from that moment -onwards - he starts tumbling, like Alice. It's like an episode from the Twilight Zone.
Being an ex-cop (he's very inquisitive) - which doesn't do him any favours; especially when his emotional-content takes hold.
The story is told via Weaver's perspective, with sporadic interludes, where it switches to a third-person narrative, which was intriguing.
In conclusion: I really enjoyed this one. Will have to check out the Promise Falls trilogy, sometime, as Cal Weaver is in Promise Falls Book 2 - as a P.I. - just like in this book. It'll be interesting to see how much he's evolved, since then.
August 16, 2018
Not nearly as good as No Time for Goodbye, A Tap on the Window is a middling mystery with a tough acting and talking detective who just lost his only son to drugs and suicide. I never felt any real connection to the characters, and there are too many mysterious deaths and disappearances to keep track of. The police force is corrupt and violent, the teenagers are all drunk or drug abusers, and the town leaders over-sexed. It all leaves a bad taste in your mouth, like you just threw up a little, also the ending was particularly unsatisfying as Barclay goes for a twist that doesn't add up.
Read
August 29, 2017I can forgive a lot of things in a book it there's an engaging protagonist that I can sympathize with and relate to early on. Conversely, if the author has the protagonist do something egregiously stupid as a means of getting the plot rolling, it's almost guaranteed that the protagonist, the book, the author and I are in for a rocky relationship. Such is the case here.
The protagonist in this book is Cal Weaver, an ex-cop who is now a P.I. His life is in a shambles because his only child has recently died after getting involved in drugs. Naturally, his marriage is also on the rocks as a result. In and around his other cases, Cal is attempting to discover who gave or sold the drugs to his son, apparently so that Cal can meet out his own justice.
On a rainy night, he's stopped at an intersection outside a bar where underage kids often go to drink. A young girl is trying to hitch a ride. Weaver knows that he definitely should not pick her up for all kinds of reasons. But when the girl taps on his window, claiming to have known his son and begging for a ride, Weaver gives in and agrees. He's thinking that he can question her about his son's activities on the way to her home.
Anyone who has ever read a crime novel knows exactly what will happen next: Of course the girl will disappear under suspicious circumstances. Of course she will have been last seen getting into Weaver's car. Of course the cops will come knocking on his door, and of course he will have to discover what happened to the girl himself if he's going to get off the hook.
I tried to give the book a fair shot, but I just could not forgive Weaver's stupidity. Had he been trapped in this situation by forces beyond his control, that would be an entirely different matter. But obviously, he had other options: He could have rolled down the window and asked the girl if she was the last teenager on the planet who did not have a cell phone which she could use to call for a ride with a parent, a friend, or an Uber driver. In that unlikely event, he could have loaned her his phone so that she could make the call. If he really thought she was in some sort of danger, he could have called the cops and waited for them to come assist the kid. But no, he has to do the one thing that every sensible reader is screaming at him not to do.
And in the end, I couldn't get past that. I didn't care about Weaver or about his many problems. And I didn't care that his town had a brutal, corrupt police force along with many deep, dark secrets that Weaver apparently would have to expose. So I gave up on the book so that I could read something I would enjoy. Obviously, though, I am in the minority here. As reflected by the ratings it's gotten, a lot of readers have enjoyed this book, and so certainly no one should pass it by simply because of my concerns.
The protagonist in this book is Cal Weaver, an ex-cop who is now a P.I. His life is in a shambles because his only child has recently died after getting involved in drugs. Naturally, his marriage is also on the rocks as a result. In and around his other cases, Cal is attempting to discover who gave or sold the drugs to his son, apparently so that Cal can meet out his own justice.
On a rainy night, he's stopped at an intersection outside a bar where underage kids often go to drink. A young girl is trying to hitch a ride. Weaver knows that he definitely should not pick her up for all kinds of reasons. But when the girl taps on his window, claiming to have known his son and begging for a ride, Weaver gives in and agrees. He's thinking that he can question her about his son's activities on the way to her home.
Anyone who has ever read a crime novel knows exactly what will happen next: Of course the girl will disappear under suspicious circumstances. Of course she will have been last seen getting into Weaver's car. Of course the cops will come knocking on his door, and of course he will have to discover what happened to the girl himself if he's going to get off the hook.
I tried to give the book a fair shot, but I just could not forgive Weaver's stupidity. Had he been trapped in this situation by forces beyond his control, that would be an entirely different matter. But obviously, he had other options: He could have rolled down the window and asked the girl if she was the last teenager on the planet who did not have a cell phone which she could use to call for a ride with a parent, a friend, or an Uber driver. In that unlikely event, he could have loaned her his phone so that she could make the call. If he really thought she was in some sort of danger, he could have called the cops and waited for them to come assist the kid. But no, he has to do the one thing that every sensible reader is screaming at him not to do.
And in the end, I couldn't get past that. I didn't care about Weaver or about his many problems. And I didn't care that his town had a brutal, corrupt police force along with many deep, dark secrets that Weaver apparently would have to expose. So I gave up on the book so that I could read something I would enjoy. Obviously, though, I am in the minority here. As reflected by the ratings it's gotten, a lot of readers have enjoyed this book, and so certainly no one should pass it by simply because of my concerns.
October 16, 2022
Cal and Donna Weaver cope with their loss in separate ways shortly after their teenage son, Scott, is found dead from an apparent drug induced suicide. Neither Cal nor Donna has been able to bridge the gap that has opened up between them since Scott's untimely death. Each has found different mechanisms to cope with their unrelenting pain. Donna finds respite from her heartache by immersing in artwork and trying to create the perfect image of Scott. On the other hand, Cal uses his talents as a private investigator to hunt out those he believes are responsible - whether directly or indirectly - for his son's death. However, Cal's quest for justice is quickly derailed after acting as a good samaritan, and picking up a young hitchhiker named Claire while stopped at a traffic light one rain drenched evening. As a result of his selfless random act of kindness, Cal has just inadvertently become a party in her ruse. When Claire vanishes shortly after exiting his car, Cal feels responsible and his search for her takes him down some shocking rabbit holes full of mystery and danger. Yet, Cal does not let this deter from his singleminded determination to unveil secrets long-harbored and guarded by some of the community members of Griffon, his ostensibly idyllic hometown.
'A Tap on the Window' is yet another astonishingly riveting, head spinning and suspense filled thriller from the supremely masterful, Mr. Barclay.
Narrator Mark Zeisler does an epic job as the solo performer for this extremely fast paced, high intensity and character driven thriller. He had me white-knuckling it right up till the shocking and jaw-dropping conclusion. Bravo.
'A Tap on the Window' is yet another astonishingly riveting, head spinning and suspense filled thriller from the supremely masterful, Mr. Barclay.
Narrator Mark Zeisler does an epic job as the solo performer for this extremely fast paced, high intensity and character driven thriller. He had me white-knuckling it right up till the shocking and jaw-dropping conclusion. Bravo.
September 3, 2013
I purchased a copy of "A Tap On The Window" by Linwood Barclay, after I heard such great things about this novel. Linwood Barclay is a master at suspense/thriller novel. Just when I thought I had it figured out, there would be another twist, and this would change my whole thought process. This is a fast-paced novel that is difficult to put down.
Cal Weaver a middle-aged guy, an ex-cop, now a Private Investigator, was living a private hell since their beloved son Scott had died two months ago. As a teenager, someone had sold Scott drugs (ecstasy) and liquor. That person was responsible for his death, and Cal was going to track down this person.He and his wife Donna, who worked at Griffon Police Services in New York State, not as a cop but in payroll and administration, couldn't talk to each other because both blamed themselves for not getting involved in Scott's life earlier. Both were coping in different ways. Donna was sketching pictures of Scott day in, day out, never satisfied she had his exact likeness – Cal was angry, and kept interrogating everyone under twenty in the town, to see if anyone else knew something about his son's death. But the "Who" had never been the issue, the issue was "Why"?
So when Cal was driving home one night, rain hitting the windscreen of the car, and he saw a young teenager hitching a ride, he knew he couldn’t pick her up. What would it look like; he was forty-something, she was very young… But at the traffic lights where he was stopped, he heard a tap on the window. Turning his head as the passenger door opened, the girl said “Mr Weaver?” And so, in that moment, Cal’s life changed once again.
With Claire in his car, Cal began asking his questions about Scott; did she know anything about how he obtained the drugs which killed him? Claire went to school with Scott, but vowed she didn’t know the answers he needed. Suddenly Cal sensed something wasn’t quite right with the situation – things had changed after their brief stop at Iggy’s.
Then murder and chaos began to inhabit his life and the lives of those around him. The small town of Griffon seemed to have some deep, dark secrets and Cal was determined to expose them and discover the truth.
I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller. The characters were believable and moving. The pace was electric, the twists and turns gripping. I certainly didn’t expect the ending! Linwood Barclay is in a class of his own, with A Tap on the Window a definite winner. I plan to read other novels by this author.
Cal Weaver a middle-aged guy, an ex-cop, now a Private Investigator, was living a private hell since their beloved son Scott had died two months ago. As a teenager, someone had sold Scott drugs (ecstasy) and liquor. That person was responsible for his death, and Cal was going to track down this person.He and his wife Donna, who worked at Griffon Police Services in New York State, not as a cop but in payroll and administration, couldn't talk to each other because both blamed themselves for not getting involved in Scott's life earlier. Both were coping in different ways. Donna was sketching pictures of Scott day in, day out, never satisfied she had his exact likeness – Cal was angry, and kept interrogating everyone under twenty in the town, to see if anyone else knew something about his son's death. But the "Who" had never been the issue, the issue was "Why"?
So when Cal was driving home one night, rain hitting the windscreen of the car, and he saw a young teenager hitching a ride, he knew he couldn’t pick her up. What would it look like; he was forty-something, she was very young… But at the traffic lights where he was stopped, he heard a tap on the window. Turning his head as the passenger door opened, the girl said “Mr Weaver?” And so, in that moment, Cal’s life changed once again.
With Claire in his car, Cal began asking his questions about Scott; did she know anything about how he obtained the drugs which killed him? Claire went to school with Scott, but vowed she didn’t know the answers he needed. Suddenly Cal sensed something wasn’t quite right with the situation – things had changed after their brief stop at Iggy’s.
Then murder and chaos began to inhabit his life and the lives of those around him. The small town of Griffon seemed to have some deep, dark secrets and Cal was determined to expose them and discover the truth.
I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller. The characters were believable and moving. The pace was electric, the twists and turns gripping. I certainly didn’t expect the ending! Linwood Barclay is in a class of his own, with A Tap on the Window a definite winner. I plan to read other novels by this author.
August 26, 2013
In this book private detective Cal Weaver recently lost his son who jumped off a roof while on drugs.
Desperate to find out who gave his son the drugs Cal agrees to give a lift to a teenage girl who knew his son.
After some slippery behavior the girl disappears and Cal feels compelled to look into the case. Lots of twists and turns leading to a satisfactory conclusion.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
June 23, 2021
2 1/2 Stars Rounded up to 3 Stars
A Tap on the Window definitely caught my initial interest, but at 500 pages, was a bit of a slow burn, lengthy and drawn out.
Again, I seem to be mostly in the minority on this one. I usually enjoy Linwood Barclay’s writing and although this was OK, it just had an overabundance of truly bizarre characters and over the top plots running simultaneously within too many subplots.
Everyone, and I mean almost everyone, is so morally ambiguous, at best, it's hard to root for anyone. Despite this, to some degree, I did root for the protagonist, even with his flaws and really poor decisions, how could you not, considering the circumstances? But without these poor decisions, there truly wouldn't be a book.
Barclay definitely has the whole small town, middle class angst feelings captured. But with the body count growing throughout the book, it felt more sad and depressing, than the thrill ride I was hoping for. Despite the book being written 8 years ago, it's hard to believe the police brutality depicted to outsiders, and to teens (depicted as mostly high or drunk), in the community would be so acceptable, to so many of the people, even with a small town mentality. (No offense to the beautiful, more enlightened “small towns'' out there, than represented here.)
It's not like I don't know that dark themes of tragedy, angst, uncontrollable anger and loss permeate most of his books, but it became too much, especially the ending.
It had its moments and definitely painfully captured the devastating loss of a child and the effect on a family, on a community. But at the end, I felt like I went through a marathon. It was a good book, but for the most part, it was not an enjoyable read.
Of course, I will continue to seek out more current and future books, of Linwood Barclay. I know many of my Goodreads buddies really enjoyed this.
A Tap on the Window definitely caught my initial interest, but at 500 pages, was a bit of a slow burn, lengthy and drawn out.
Again, I seem to be mostly in the minority on this one. I usually enjoy Linwood Barclay’s writing and although this was OK, it just had an overabundance of truly bizarre characters and over the top plots running simultaneously within too many subplots.
Everyone, and I mean almost everyone, is so morally ambiguous, at best, it's hard to root for anyone. Despite this, to some degree, I did root for the protagonist, even with his flaws and really poor decisions, how could you not, considering the circumstances? But without these poor decisions, there truly wouldn't be a book.
Barclay definitely has the whole small town, middle class angst feelings captured. But with the body count growing throughout the book, it felt more sad and depressing, than the thrill ride I was hoping for. Despite the book being written 8 years ago, it's hard to believe the police brutality depicted to outsiders, and to teens (depicted as mostly high or drunk), in the community would be so acceptable, to so many of the people, even with a small town mentality. (No offense to the beautiful, more enlightened “small towns'' out there, than represented here.)
It's not like I don't know that dark themes of tragedy, angst, uncontrollable anger and loss permeate most of his books, but it became too much, especially the ending.
It had its moments and definitely painfully captured the devastating loss of a child and the effect on a family, on a community. But at the end, I felt like I went through a marathon. It was a good book, but for the most part, it was not an enjoyable read.
Of course, I will continue to seek out more current and future books, of Linwood Barclay. I know many of my Goodreads buddies really enjoyed this.
September 7, 2017
This book was great, good storyline-setting-characters- it had all of that. If you want a roller coaster story that twist and turns you and still gives you a hard jolt at the end- then read this. Holy cow- awesome book!
February 25, 2022
The Publisher Says: When Cal Weaver stops at a red light on a rainy night while driving home, he ignores the bedraggled-looking teenage girl trying to hitch a ride - even when she starts tapping on his window. But as soon as he realises she's one of his son's classmates, he knows he can't really leave her, alone, on the street.
But nothing prepares him for the consequences of trying to help her out. The next morning he's gone from Good Samaritan to Murder Suspect, and with one girl dead and another missing, he's suddenly at the centre of a deadly puzzle that reaches right to the heart of the town - from its bullying police force to its strangely furtive mayor - and finally to one family's shocking secret.
LIBRARY CHECK-OUT. USE THE LIBRARY, FOLKS! OUR PATRONAGE IS THEIR LIFE'S BLOOD.
My Review: Not a bad read, though there's a serious TSTL issue running through the whole read...from the get-go, the teen girl who's murdered has no cellphone in the Teens? the ex-cop falls for a clear bait-and-switch? there's no instant suspicion about this particular guy's probable targeting due to what's happened to him (loss of his son to drug addiction)? The issues will either slam the cover on your read before p25/5%, or you'll think "okay, we're getting into a deeper North-by-Northwestesque entrapment plot" and have you settling the read-medium into your lap and moving on.
I'm in Camp 2.
This is very interesting from the standpoint of a reader whose interests are in psychological undercurrents and deeper reasons for evidently complex relationship problems. A family that has addiction ripping at its vitals is under stress constantly...but also causes stress far outside its immediate circle. The metaphysical gravity that Love represents is merely a feather pointing at the dark matter made up of Anger. The source of Anger in a family is always basal...but its influence is invisibly, inexorably warping the movement of every single thing the family resides among.
There's never a good answer to the question "Why?" Please believe me, the way Author Barclay reveals (most of) the "Why" we'd be just as happy not knowing. Paradoxically, there's just enough that doesn't quite add up to leave you, the reader, thinking, "...but...wait...what about...ah, heck with it." This is not my preferred ending to a thriller. It's a genre where, no matter how morally grey the situation and resolution are, Justice needs to prevail even if the law gets or remains broken (often again). So, not quite the read I signed up to experience.
But nothing prepares him for the consequences of trying to help her out. The next morning he's gone from Good Samaritan to Murder Suspect, and with one girl dead and another missing, he's suddenly at the centre of a deadly puzzle that reaches right to the heart of the town - from its bullying police force to its strangely furtive mayor - and finally to one family's shocking secret.
LIBRARY CHECK-OUT. USE THE LIBRARY, FOLKS! OUR PATRONAGE IS THEIR LIFE'S BLOOD.
My Review: Not a bad read, though there's a serious TSTL issue running through the whole read...from the get-go, the teen girl who's murdered has no cellphone in the Teens? the ex-cop falls for a clear bait-and-switch? there's no instant suspicion about this particular guy's probable targeting due to what's happened to him (loss of his son to drug addiction)? The issues will either slam the cover on your read before p25/5%, or you'll think "okay, we're getting into a deeper North-by-Northwestesque entrapment plot" and have you settling the read-medium into your lap and moving on.
I'm in Camp 2.
This is very interesting from the standpoint of a reader whose interests are in psychological undercurrents and deeper reasons for evidently complex relationship problems. A family that has addiction ripping at its vitals is under stress constantly...but also causes stress far outside its immediate circle. The metaphysical gravity that Love represents is merely a feather pointing at the dark matter made up of Anger. The source of Anger in a family is always basal...but its influence is invisibly, inexorably warping the movement of every single thing the family resides among.
There's never a good answer to the question "Why?" Please believe me, the way Author Barclay reveals (most of) the "Why" we'd be just as happy not knowing. Paradoxically, there's just enough that doesn't quite add up to leave you, the reader, thinking, "...but...wait...what about...ah, heck with it." This is not my preferred ending to a thriller. It's a genre where, no matter how morally grey the situation and resolution are, Justice needs to prevail even if the law gets or remains broken (often again). So, not quite the read I signed up to experience.
September 13, 2014
A Tap On The Window by Linwood Barclay was a really fast paced thriller that i enjoyed over 500 pages & got through it in no time which is quick for me must have been GOOD!
Cal Weaver an ex cop turned private investigator picks up claire who is a friend of his son Scott who died of an ecstasy OD as its pouring rain she asks to get out at patchetts bar as she feels sick & has a cut on her hand she tells him she will be back in a bit, when she returns Cal notices something different about her but doesn't seemed concerned.
When he discovers a dead body he is interrogated by the local police that he had somehow had something to do with it he denies any wrong doing, meanwhile claire Sanders goes missing & she is the mayors daughter she is good friends with the dead girl Hanna Rodonski the police think they that Sean was somehow involved but as they delve deeper they are looking at Ricky Haines he denies having anything to do with it & says he is being set up but by who??
I found this novel by Lindwood to be a cracker of a read & i think i will have to go back & read Linwoods other book Don't Look away as i think i may of rated him less than he deserves .
I have 2 more books of his to read i liked this so much.
Cal Weaver an ex cop turned private investigator picks up claire who is a friend of his son Scott who died of an ecstasy OD as its pouring rain she asks to get out at patchetts bar as she feels sick & has a cut on her hand she tells him she will be back in a bit, when she returns Cal notices something different about her but doesn't seemed concerned.
When he discovers a dead body he is interrogated by the local police that he had somehow had something to do with it he denies any wrong doing, meanwhile claire Sanders goes missing & she is the mayors daughter she is good friends with the dead girl Hanna Rodonski the police think they that Sean was somehow involved but as they delve deeper they are looking at Ricky Haines he denies having anything to do with it & says he is being set up but by who??
I found this novel by Lindwood to be a cracker of a read & i think i will have to go back & read Linwoods other book Don't Look away as i think i may of rated him less than he deserves .
I have 2 more books of his to read i liked this so much.
August 17, 2013
Linwood Barclay is one of my favourite thrillers authors, this one as all his others keeps your attention like a rollercoaster with so many twists and turns.
A whole story starting with A Tap On The Window!
Fast paced, thrilling and gripping, as we follow the PI Cal Weaver around the state of New York, as tried to find what is going on.
The story travels as a fast pace, as so many characters are brought in and some many clever twists and turns are added to the story.
Enjoy
regards
Sean
"A Good Thriller"
I am also so pleased as he is doing a Q & A shortly for my group( 17th June)
A whole story starting with A Tap On The Window!
Fast paced, thrilling and gripping, as we follow the PI Cal Weaver around the state of New York, as tried to find what is going on.
The story travels as a fast pace, as so many characters are brought in and some many clever twists and turns are added to the story.
Enjoy
regards
Sean
"A Good Thriller"
I am also so pleased as he is doing a Q & A shortly for my group( 17th June)
July 16, 2013
Another very good Linwood Barclay novel. I am a big fan and find his books so easy to read. The characters are well developed and the plot well laid out and at all times the story keeps you on the edge of your set.
As per usual the story is fast paced and full of twists and turns and very difficult to put down.
As per usual the story is fast paced and full of twists and turns and very difficult to put down.
September 28, 2025
★★★
An average mystery for me. The book felt too long and the ending didn’t satisfy, which made the effort of sticking with it less rewarding. The pacing was often sluggish, a slow burn that drained tension instead of building it.
I should add that I read this during a busy spell when I didn’t have proper time to give it the focus I normally would. In that sense the short chapters were a real help, letting me dip in and out without losing track. The small-town setting was well drawn, full of characters with secrets and connections, and the story itself is dark and grim. I did like that Cal Weaver was driven by grief, which gave him more weight than the usual thriller lead.
This was my first Linwood Barclay and probably not the best choice to start with. I’ll try another of his books when I can give it proper attention.
An average mystery for me. The book felt too long and the ending didn’t satisfy, which made the effort of sticking with it less rewarding. The pacing was often sluggish, a slow burn that drained tension instead of building it.
I should add that I read this during a busy spell when I didn’t have proper time to give it the focus I normally would. In that sense the short chapters were a real help, letting me dip in and out without losing track. The small-town setting was well drawn, full of characters with secrets and connections, and the story itself is dark and grim. I did like that Cal Weaver was driven by grief, which gave him more weight than the usual thriller lead.
This was my first Linwood Barclay and probably not the best choice to start with. I’ll try another of his books when I can give it proper attention.
March 13, 2013
*Received through a Goodreads Giveaway*
I have finished A Tap On the Window by Linwood Barclay and I must say each book I read by him is better than the last. Barclay is definitely the go to when you're in need of fast paced suspense thriller that is full of twists, turns, and genuine "wtf" moments.
Cal Weaver is sitting in a parking lot trying to avoid the girl who's attempting to hitch a ride. He's successful in this attempt up until the point when she taps on the window of his car and mentions his recently deceased son Scott. Still leary of giving her a ride, he complies and that's when things get strange. After news surfaces that the teenaged girl he's given the ride to is now missing, Cal is on a mission to find her. Using his expertise as an ex-cop turned PI Cal closes in on the truth of what's really been going on in this small town.
I want to first acknowledge that I'm happy that Barclay used a man who has background in law enforcement to headline this novel. The throwing an "everyman" into situations where they are constantly at a disadvantage is tiring. Cal is no Rambo but he knows how to get the job done. His voice narrates most of the novel. Barclay does a great job at bringing him to life and making the reader really feel the pain he feels of having lost his only child.
A Tap On the Window seemingly goes in one direction then does a complete 180. It's easy to assume that maybe Cal is going to be accused of God knows what after giving the girl a ride but thankfully Barclay stayed away from that overdone story. One moment it seems that the rogue coppers are the cause of all the problems, the next it could be the old lady up the street. This novel is fun that way. I remained guessing until the end what could be next for our hero. FYI the end is something I never saw coming (heartbreaking).
In case it's not obvious I'm a fan of Linwood Barclay. I think his books get better and better. Barclay's writing will appeal to fans of Harlan Coben. A Tap On the Window is a thrilling suspense story that will keep readers invested until the end.
I have finished A Tap On the Window by Linwood Barclay and I must say each book I read by him is better than the last. Barclay is definitely the go to when you're in need of fast paced suspense thriller that is full of twists, turns, and genuine "wtf" moments.
Cal Weaver is sitting in a parking lot trying to avoid the girl who's attempting to hitch a ride. He's successful in this attempt up until the point when she taps on the window of his car and mentions his recently deceased son Scott. Still leary of giving her a ride, he complies and that's when things get strange. After news surfaces that the teenaged girl he's given the ride to is now missing, Cal is on a mission to find her. Using his expertise as an ex-cop turned PI Cal closes in on the truth of what's really been going on in this small town.
I want to first acknowledge that I'm happy that Barclay used a man who has background in law enforcement to headline this novel. The throwing an "everyman" into situations where they are constantly at a disadvantage is tiring. Cal is no Rambo but he knows how to get the job done. His voice narrates most of the novel. Barclay does a great job at bringing him to life and making the reader really feel the pain he feels of having lost his only child.
A Tap On the Window seemingly goes in one direction then does a complete 180. It's easy to assume that maybe Cal is going to be accused of God knows what after giving the girl a ride but thankfully Barclay stayed away from that overdone story. One moment it seems that the rogue coppers are the cause of all the problems, the next it could be the old lady up the street. This novel is fun that way. I remained guessing until the end what could be next for our hero. FYI the end is something I never saw coming (heartbreaking).
In case it's not obvious I'm a fan of Linwood Barclay. I think his books get better and better. Barclay's writing will appeal to fans of Harlan Coben. A Tap On the Window is a thrilling suspense story that will keep readers invested until the end.
August 6, 2013
I started to write a standard review of "A Tap on the Window", but it just didn't feel right. This isn't a normal book. Mr. Barclay has used some very dark colors to paint this picture of a small town an hour from the perceived crime capital of the region, Buffalo, New York. All of the townspeople are a bit off, no one is a real good guy. The cops take the outsiders to the edge of town, knock out a few teeth, and tell them to get out of town and don't come back. The cops will stop teenagers and harass them for no real reason.The mayor, Bert Sanders, has made bringing the cops in line his number one issue. The cops seem to watching his house.
Cal Weaver lets Claire, the mayor's daughter, into his car outside of Patchett's Bar, the local watering hole that has no problem letting underage kids in for a few drinks. She is the start of Cal's problem. She disappears, her girlfriend ends up dead, and the cops are looking at Cal.
Cal figures that he better find Claire if he wants to stay out of jail.
This is a dark, disturbing book. I liked it, but can't say that I enjoyed it. There is a lot of gray people in this book. No one is really a good guy. Everyone is warped in some way. Even the kids know that they have no chance, so they head to the dark side, they drink, do drugs, and mess up, because thats what is expected of them. When you finish this book, you feel beat up, like you've been though a war. It is definitely worth reading, just be prepared for a battle, and don't expect this to be Mayberry RFD.
I give this book 4 Stars out of 5, and a Thumbs Up. I would give it a higher score, but some of the story is a bit to far fetched. You think "That would have never happened". But here in Griffon, who knows, maybe it would. I recommend this book, just be aware of the darkness.
I received this Digital Review Copy for free from edelweiss.com.
Cal Weaver lets Claire, the mayor's daughter, into his car outside of Patchett's Bar, the local watering hole that has no problem letting underage kids in for a few drinks. She is the start of Cal's problem. She disappears, her girlfriend ends up dead, and the cops are looking at Cal.
Cal figures that he better find Claire if he wants to stay out of jail.
This is a dark, disturbing book. I liked it, but can't say that I enjoyed it. There is a lot of gray people in this book. No one is really a good guy. Everyone is warped in some way. Even the kids know that they have no chance, so they head to the dark side, they drink, do drugs, and mess up, because thats what is expected of them. When you finish this book, you feel beat up, like you've been though a war. It is definitely worth reading, just be prepared for a battle, and don't expect this to be Mayberry RFD.
I give this book 4 Stars out of 5, and a Thumbs Up. I would give it a higher score, but some of the story is a bit to far fetched. You think "That would have never happened". But here in Griffon, who knows, maybe it would. I recommend this book, just be aware of the darkness.
I received this Digital Review Copy for free from edelweiss.com.
March 14, 2023
SPOILERS AHEAD
A story where the protagonist Carl Weaver a PI whose son recently died after falling from a roof while high is a man with demons. One night he picks up a hitchhiker and of course she disappears. A lot of the story did not add up especially Harry locked in a basement after an accident. The reason not to call an ambulance to save Ricky’s career as a police officer doesn’t add up.
Of course the girl Cal picked up was the mayor’s daughter and the ending where Carl confronts Bert is verging on the ridiculous. Saying all that the setting near Niagara Falls, a corrupt police force and good writing makes it readable.
A story where the protagonist Carl Weaver a PI whose son recently died after falling from a roof while high is a man with demons. One night he picks up a hitchhiker and of course she disappears. A lot of the story did not add up especially Harry locked in a basement after an accident. The reason not to call an ambulance to save Ricky’s career as a police officer doesn’t add up.
Of course the girl Cal picked up was the mayor’s daughter and the ending where Carl confronts Bert is verging on the ridiculous. Saying all that the setting near Niagara Falls, a corrupt police force and good writing makes it readable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2023
Първа среща с частен деткетив Кал Уийвър. "Tap On The Window" е самостоятелен роман на Баркли, но Уийвър, доколкото разбирам от ревютата, влиза като основен персонаж в поредицата "Promise Falls", поне от втората част нататък. С други думи, тази книга е нещо като prequel за Кал Уийвър. Иначе Баркли отново не разочарова и предлага заплетена small-town мистерия с наистина неочакван край и много, ама много, обрати.
July 9, 2024
There isn’t much that I can say that I haven’t already said regarding Barclay’s books so I’ll keep this brief. I was addicted from the start and I enjoyed this twisty ride. I failed to put all of the pieces together, and I’m not mad about that.
May 15, 2015
Rating 4 stars
I really enjoyed reading this book. This was the first book I've read by Linwood Barclay but it certainly won't be my last. Putting the plot aside for a moment it is without question that Barclay is an extremely talented writer. This book was over 500 pages but before I knew it I was almost finished! The dialogue between the characters is some of the most realistic dialogue I have come across in some time. You know when you are reading a book, even a good one where the plot has sucked you in, but you say to yourself "People don't really talk like that"? You know, as you are reading the dialogue you have to stop and reread it for a second because it doesn't sound right or flow in your head? Well, it happens to me but not with this novel. I felt I could reach out and touch the characters they were so real to me, like people I know.
The Plot
Cal Weaver is going through a tough time. He and his wife recently lost their teenage son. A cop came to their door one night two months before an informed them that, while high on drugs, he fell or went flying off the roof of the furniture store where he worked. It's all Cal thinks about day in and day out even as he goes through the motions in his work as a private investigator. What he wants to know more than anything else is, who sold his son the drugs that led to his death? Driving home one night, Cal is at a stop sign in front of the neighborhood bar when he hears a tap on the window ( great title right?). It's a young teenage girl, drenched from the rain hoping to catch a ride home. Cal hesitates knowing how weird it would look for a man his age to be picking up a teenager but when she mentions that she know his son he decides he has to help her out. This is when Cal's world turns upside now. To say more would be to giveaway the plot and I don't want to ruin it for anybody. Suffice it to say that we have a mayor at war with a police chief; who feels this small town force oversteps the bounds of the constitution on a regular basis, and a slew of other small town inhabitants who it seems, all have something to hide.
The only reason I did not rate this 5 stars was because I felt a bit let down when the mystery was solved. In my opinion a good book stumps me, keeps me guessing about who dunnit, and I figured this one out pretty easily. Without saying to much, the "bad guy's" motivation was what disappointed me more than anything. I was expecting a secret worth killing for, and although I can see how this was something you obviously would want to hide, well, let's just say I was left waiting for something more. But. overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading more of Mr. Barclay's work. I highly recommend to any reader of suspense thrillers.
I really enjoyed reading this book. This was the first book I've read by Linwood Barclay but it certainly won't be my last. Putting the plot aside for a moment it is without question that Barclay is an extremely talented writer. This book was over 500 pages but before I knew it I was almost finished! The dialogue between the characters is some of the most realistic dialogue I have come across in some time. You know when you are reading a book, even a good one where the plot has sucked you in, but you say to yourself "People don't really talk like that"? You know, as you are reading the dialogue you have to stop and reread it for a second because it doesn't sound right or flow in your head? Well, it happens to me but not with this novel. I felt I could reach out and touch the characters they were so real to me, like people I know.
The Plot
Cal Weaver is going through a tough time. He and his wife recently lost their teenage son. A cop came to their door one night two months before an informed them that, while high on drugs, he fell or went flying off the roof of the furniture store where he worked. It's all Cal thinks about day in and day out even as he goes through the motions in his work as a private investigator. What he wants to know more than anything else is, who sold his son the drugs that led to his death? Driving home one night, Cal is at a stop sign in front of the neighborhood bar when he hears a tap on the window ( great title right?). It's a young teenage girl, drenched from the rain hoping to catch a ride home. Cal hesitates knowing how weird it would look for a man his age to be picking up a teenager but when she mentions that she know his son he decides he has to help her out. This is when Cal's world turns upside now. To say more would be to giveaway the plot and I don't want to ruin it for anybody. Suffice it to say that we have a mayor at war with a police chief; who feels this small town force oversteps the bounds of the constitution on a regular basis, and a slew of other small town inhabitants who it seems, all have something to hide.
The only reason I did not rate this 5 stars was because I felt a bit let down when the mystery was solved. In my opinion a good book stumps me, keeps me guessing about who dunnit, and I figured this one out pretty easily. Without saying to much, the "bad guy's" motivation was what disappointed me more than anything. I was expecting a secret worth killing for, and although I can see how this was something you obviously would want to hide, well, let's just say I was left waiting for something more. But. overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading more of Mr. Barclay's work. I highly recommend to any reader of suspense thrillers.
July 3, 2013
Ex-cop, now Private Investigator Cal Weaver felt his life was drifting; the past two months had been hell on earth since their beloved son Scott had died. He and his wife Donna found they had nothing to say to each other – both blamed themselves, both were coping in different ways. Donna was sketching pictures of Scott day in, day out, never satisfied she had his exact likeness – Cal was angry, so very angry; he was coping in ways that he wasn’t proud of, but it seemed he couldn’t do anything about it. Their grief was all consuming, their days foggy.
So when Cal was driving home one night, rain hitting the windscreen of the car, and he saw a young teenager hitching a ride, he knew he couldn’t pick her up. What would it look like; he was forty-something, she was very young… But at the traffic lights where he was stopped, he heard a tap on the window. Turning his head as the passenger door opened, the girl said “Mr Weaver?” And so, in that moment, Cal’s life changed once again.
With Claire in his car, Cal began asking his ongoing and continual questions about Scott; did she know anything about how he obtained the drugs which killed him? Claire went to school with Scott, but vowed she didn’t know the answers he so desperately sought. Suddenly Cal sensed something wasn’t quite right with the situation – things had changed after their brief stop at Iggy’s.
With nightmarish speed, murder and mayhem began to inhabit his life and the lives of those around him. The small town of Griffon seemed to have some deep, dark secrets – Cal was determined to expose every last one of them – but would it be the last thing he ever did?
I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller. The pace was electric, the twists and turns gripping. I certainly didn’t expect the final one! Linwood Barclay is in a class of his own, with A Tap on the Window a definite winner. Highly recommended.
So when Cal was driving home one night, rain hitting the windscreen of the car, and he saw a young teenager hitching a ride, he knew he couldn’t pick her up. What would it look like; he was forty-something, she was very young… But at the traffic lights where he was stopped, he heard a tap on the window. Turning his head as the passenger door opened, the girl said “Mr Weaver?” And so, in that moment, Cal’s life changed once again.
With Claire in his car, Cal began asking his ongoing and continual questions about Scott; did she know anything about how he obtained the drugs which killed him? Claire went to school with Scott, but vowed she didn’t know the answers he so desperately sought. Suddenly Cal sensed something wasn’t quite right with the situation – things had changed after their brief stop at Iggy’s.
With nightmarish speed, murder and mayhem began to inhabit his life and the lives of those around him. The small town of Griffon seemed to have some deep, dark secrets – Cal was determined to expose every last one of them – but would it be the last thing he ever did?
I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller. The pace was electric, the twists and turns gripping. I certainly didn’t expect the final one! Linwood Barclay is in a class of his own, with A Tap on the Window a definite winner. Highly recommended.
October 6, 2013
Surprise is one of the great pleasures of reading a good crime novel, so it's always a challenge to review one without spoiling the fun. It's particularly difficult to review "A Tap on the Window" by Linwood Barclay because the surprises start in the opening pages and don't let up until five hundred plus pages later when the novel ends.
Chapter one opens on a dismal, rainy night in front of a bar in a suburb of Buffalo: "A middle-aged guy would have to be a total fool to pick up a teenage girl standing outside a bar with her thumb sticking out."
Familiar territory, right? Creepy guy, desperate girl. Or maybe clueless guy, larcenous girl? Cal Weaver is determined not to pick this girl up when she taps on his car window and says just about the only thing that would get Cal, a former cop slash private detective, to give her a lift.
The plot twists as the story shifts and morphs and one bad decision leads to the next for a man whose life is already mired in a lifetime of bad decisions and the attendant guilt. Cal's son threw himself off a roof two months earlier and Cal and his wife Donna are like ghosts past each other in the same house. Cal is obsessed with finding out who sold his son the drugs that made him think he could fly, and Donna obsessively draws portraits of her dead son, never quite getting it right.
I'm a sucker for rich father/son stories, for family drama mixed with solid detective work, and this novel has it all. One caveat: Do not read the jacket copy before you start.
Chapter one opens on a dismal, rainy night in front of a bar in a suburb of Buffalo: "A middle-aged guy would have to be a total fool to pick up a teenage girl standing outside a bar with her thumb sticking out."
Familiar territory, right? Creepy guy, desperate girl. Or maybe clueless guy, larcenous girl? Cal Weaver is determined not to pick this girl up when she taps on his car window and says just about the only thing that would get Cal, a former cop slash private detective, to give her a lift.
The plot twists as the story shifts and morphs and one bad decision leads to the next for a man whose life is already mired in a lifetime of bad decisions and the attendant guilt. Cal's son threw himself off a roof two months earlier and Cal and his wife Donna are like ghosts past each other in the same house. Cal is obsessed with finding out who sold his son the drugs that made him think he could fly, and Donna obsessively draws portraits of her dead son, never quite getting it right.
I'm a sucker for rich father/son stories, for family drama mixed with solid detective work, and this novel has it all. One caveat: Do not read the jacket copy before you start.
October 16, 2016
Even though I am a fan of Linwood Barclay- this 500 page novel just didn't do it for me. I really wanted a 'WOW' at the end of this book- and it didn't even come close. A very disappointing book for me- but hey, there are lots of people who gave this 4 and even 5 stars- so I guess, it is now up to you if you decide to take the plunge and pick up this book.
February 8, 2019
Die Ideen, die Figuren und die überraschenden Wendungen sind eigentlich gut. Aber es ist einfach zu lang.
Die Geschichte ist komplex aufgebaut und entwickelt sich kompliziert verstrickt, der flüssige, bildliche Schreibstil lässt einen aber schnell durchfliegen. Der packende Start verliert sich aber, dann braucht man viel Geduld um durch die vielen kleinen Details, die Darstellungen und unnötigen Längen zu kommen.
Cal Weaver war Polizist, ist jetzt Privatdetektiv und hat seinen Sohn an Drogen und den Suizid verloren. Zufällig gerät er in diesen Fall, in dem zwei Mädchen verschwinden und eine tot aufgefunden wird. Und natürlich ermittelt er als Privatdetektiv auf eigene Faust.
Der Start ist klischeehaft aber fesselnd und atmosphärisch. Dann überschlägt sich alles mit unerwarteten Wendungen. Ich fand das dann auch irgendwie nur so halb schlüssig und hab die ganze Zeit gedacht "Und deshalb mussten die alle sterben?"
Und was ist das denn bitte für eine Stadt? Der Bürgermeister wird angezweifelt und bekriegt, die Polizei ist brutal und korrupt, alle Teenager dem Alkohol und den Drogen verfallen...
Das Finale hat doch nochmal Einiges raus gerissen. Überraschend gut.
Die Geschichte ist komplex aufgebaut und entwickelt sich kompliziert verstrickt, der flüssige, bildliche Schreibstil lässt einen aber schnell durchfliegen. Der packende Start verliert sich aber, dann braucht man viel Geduld um durch die vielen kleinen Details, die Darstellungen und unnötigen Längen zu kommen.
Cal Weaver war Polizist, ist jetzt Privatdetektiv und hat seinen Sohn an Drogen und den Suizid verloren. Zufällig gerät er in diesen Fall, in dem zwei Mädchen verschwinden und eine tot aufgefunden wird. Und natürlich ermittelt er als Privatdetektiv auf eigene Faust.
Der Start ist klischeehaft aber fesselnd und atmosphärisch. Dann überschlägt sich alles mit unerwarteten Wendungen. Ich fand das dann auch irgendwie nur so halb schlüssig und hab die ganze Zeit gedacht "Und deshalb mussten die alle sterben?"
Und was ist das denn bitte für eine Stadt? Der Bürgermeister wird angezweifelt und bekriegt, die Polizei ist brutal und korrupt, alle Teenager dem Alkohol und den Drogen verfallen...
Das Finale hat doch nochmal Einiges raus gerissen. Überraschend gut.
September 17, 2013
Exhilarating Thriller from the King of Thrillers
The worst thing about any Linwood Barclay book is that you eventually finish the book and have to wait for the next one to appear in a year’s time. The great thing about his books is that once you open the book you are hooked his thrillers are the opium of the 21st century. Barclay’s books really do live up to all the hype. The review copy I received refers to Barclay as the Modern Day Hitchcock and to be honest I cannot argue against that because if Hitchcock were around to day as a writer this is the book he would write.
Cal and Donna Weaver are existing in Griffin, New York State after the death of their teenage death of their son Scott who jumped off a roof under the influence of drugs. Cal is a private detective in Griffin and Donna works for her brother the Police Chief in the wages departments. The police are popular with the people of the town but not the youths as they are known to bend quite a few rules and the Mayor is on the case.
One night the Mayor’s daughter Claire taps on Cal’s car window on a wet night and asks for a lift home, and asks if he can call at a local diner which he does. Here the story takes a twist when a girl who is dressed like Claire even down to the hair hops in the car in her place. They argue and she jumps out of the car and runs off, Cal tries to catch her but doesn’t.
It is not until the following day he discovers that Claire and her friend Hanna are missing so he starts on his search for Claire. He asks her father who does not believe his daughter is missing until later in the book. He later discovers Hanna’s body under a bridge just outside of town. This is where he keeps having a run in with the local police and one in particular. This would lead him on a race against time to find Claire before the killer or killers find her and her boyfriend. While he is investigating the disappearance he discovers the dark underbelly of Griffin, a place where still waters really do run deep. He finds his car has had trackers fitted and so could place him and others in danger.
When he does find Claire he starts to get answers to a large number of the questions he has about this mystery and also the one surrounding his son Scott. He has to race to get back to his home town to search for the perpetrator or perpetrators look for someone who is being held against their will, as well as protect Claire. He is able to get Claire home and with his brother-in-law goes in search of the perp(s) to solve the crimes. The story ends with a wonderful twist where you see the perp(s) dealt with but the twist is one that you do not see coming and finally answers the questions that he has been posing throughout the book.
I really cannot recommend this book highly enough as this is another winner from Linwood Barclay. A Tap on the Window really does keep you hooked from the opening pages all the way through to the end. How he is able to keep two stories running at the same time that are able to merge without it being obvious is brilliant. Every book Barclay writes is better than the last one and this is no exception. A Tap on the Window is the best thriller novel of 2013 it will keep you engrossed from beginning to end.
The worst thing about any Linwood Barclay book is that you eventually finish the book and have to wait for the next one to appear in a year’s time. The great thing about his books is that once you open the book you are hooked his thrillers are the opium of the 21st century. Barclay’s books really do live up to all the hype. The review copy I received refers to Barclay as the Modern Day Hitchcock and to be honest I cannot argue against that because if Hitchcock were around to day as a writer this is the book he would write.
Cal and Donna Weaver are existing in Griffin, New York State after the death of their teenage death of their son Scott who jumped off a roof under the influence of drugs. Cal is a private detective in Griffin and Donna works for her brother the Police Chief in the wages departments. The police are popular with the people of the town but not the youths as they are known to bend quite a few rules and the Mayor is on the case.
One night the Mayor’s daughter Claire taps on Cal’s car window on a wet night and asks for a lift home, and asks if he can call at a local diner which he does. Here the story takes a twist when a girl who is dressed like Claire even down to the hair hops in the car in her place. They argue and she jumps out of the car and runs off, Cal tries to catch her but doesn’t.
It is not until the following day he discovers that Claire and her friend Hanna are missing so he starts on his search for Claire. He asks her father who does not believe his daughter is missing until later in the book. He later discovers Hanna’s body under a bridge just outside of town. This is where he keeps having a run in with the local police and one in particular. This would lead him on a race against time to find Claire before the killer or killers find her and her boyfriend. While he is investigating the disappearance he discovers the dark underbelly of Griffin, a place where still waters really do run deep. He finds his car has had trackers fitted and so could place him and others in danger.
When he does find Claire he starts to get answers to a large number of the questions he has about this mystery and also the one surrounding his son Scott. He has to race to get back to his home town to search for the perpetrator or perpetrators look for someone who is being held against their will, as well as protect Claire. He is able to get Claire home and with his brother-in-law goes in search of the perp(s) to solve the crimes. The story ends with a wonderful twist where you see the perp(s) dealt with but the twist is one that you do not see coming and finally answers the questions that he has been posing throughout the book.
I really cannot recommend this book highly enough as this is another winner from Linwood Barclay. A Tap on the Window really does keep you hooked from the opening pages all the way through to the end. How he is able to keep two stories running at the same time that are able to merge without it being obvious is brilliant. Every book Barclay writes is better than the last one and this is no exception. A Tap on the Window is the best thriller novel of 2013 it will keep you engrossed from beginning to end.
November 15, 2012
Barclay's unique style is reflected in his latest book, another thriller that hooks the reader and leaves clear doubt in all that is known. While investigating the tragic death of his son, Scott, a tap on his car window pulls Cal Weaver into a series of events that go from bad to worse. When a girl turns up murdered and another missing, Cal begins investigating the entire situation, wondering if there are ties to the tragic death of his son, who overdosed and tossed himself off a building. While piecing it all together, Cal comes face to face with numerous townsfolk, all of whom have their own part in the larger story, though they do not know it. Paralleling this thrill-based narrative, a seemingly detached storyline progresses, with an explosive connection to the main story, but in a way no one will expect. Complete with twists that are trademark Barclay, the reader is left grasping for something on which to hold in this turbulent tale.
Compared to Stephen King (including by the author himself), it is not hard to see how Linwood Barclay's work has received such praise, nor how the comparison is made. Both have mastered the art of layered story lines and complex character development, which serves to entertain the patient reader to no end, while teasing them with thrills and spills at every turn. Writing on many levels, which are slowly revealed as the story progresses, Barclay is able to construct a truly chilling story while keeping much of the plot realistic. With credible dialogue and realistic settings, any reader who enjoys a drawn out mystery will surely flock to this Barclay novel and not leave disappointed. That said, it is the nuances within the larger story that make for the greatest nuggets therein, something that not all readers can appreciate.
Kudos, Mr. Barclay for your entertaining style. A great Canadian author who carves his niche in the genre with ease.
Compared to Stephen King (including by the author himself), it is not hard to see how Linwood Barclay's work has received such praise, nor how the comparison is made. Both have mastered the art of layered story lines and complex character development, which serves to entertain the patient reader to no end, while teasing them with thrills and spills at every turn. Writing on many levels, which are slowly revealed as the story progresses, Barclay is able to construct a truly chilling story while keeping much of the plot realistic. With credible dialogue and realistic settings, any reader who enjoys a drawn out mystery will surely flock to this Barclay novel and not leave disappointed. That said, it is the nuances within the larger story that make for the greatest nuggets therein, something that not all readers can appreciate.
Kudos, Mr. Barclay for your entertaining style. A great Canadian author who carves his niche in the genre with ease.
May 16, 2014
I don't read a lot of mysteries. The ones I like are usually stand alones, sort of a regular person investigation (domestic thrillers if that's the term), nothing with superspies or stereotypical procedurals, something like Harlan Coben's books. But since Coben only put out one of those a year, I was hoping to find a suitable author, which is why I picked up this book. Ok, the description didn't quite fit the category, since the protagonist is a PI, but close enough. But alas Coben this wasn't. It was decent enough and it kept my interest for all of it's 500 pages, but I didn't really like any of the characters very much, I found the main killer too be too uninteresting (on which I can't really expound without giving plot away), but impulse control/ screwing up as a motivation for a book that long is pretty weak. Barclay set up a book with a major mislead, which throws a reader for a loop for the first 407 pages, but it sorta came across as a trick. Another twist at the very end worked somewhat better. It was a very tragic book all around, entirely too much death, not enough justice. Pretty depressing. The writing was solid, but never really impressive. That's the thing with this book, it wasn't really impressive. There was so much praise on the back cover, but actually not for this one, so maybe Barclay shouldn't be judged by this book. It isn't the sort that deters from reading further works by the author, but it doesn't particularly encourage it either. For a mystery thriller it was somewhat mysterious and not really thrilling. It was a fairly quick read for such a sizeable volume.
May 15, 2015
This is my first Barclay book, but it won't be my last…what a fantastic read! My favorite kind of thriller is one in which I'm so twisted and turned around, I can't figure out whodunnit before I get to the end of the book, and this one definitely hit the mark! I was so confused (in a good way), all my guesses were still wrong, right up till the last minute. And even then, there were still a few surprises.
The main character, Cal, an ex-cop-turned-private-investigator and his wife are still grieving the loss of their teenaged son, when one night, on his way home, he tries to avoid the eye of a girl standing in the rain, who is trying to hitch a ride. But then she taps on his window and indicates that she recognizes him as the father of her recently deceased classmate. How can he say no? Against his better judgment, he gives her a ride, and that's when things get crazy. The girl disappears, and Cal not only feels responsible for her, but since he may have been the last person to see her, finding her may be the only thing to keep him out of jail. You will not see the ending coming.
The main character, Cal, an ex-cop-turned-private-investigator and his wife are still grieving the loss of their teenaged son, when one night, on his way home, he tries to avoid the eye of a girl standing in the rain, who is trying to hitch a ride. But then she taps on his window and indicates that she recognizes him as the father of her recently deceased classmate. How can he say no? Against his better judgment, he gives her a ride, and that's when things get crazy. The girl disappears, and Cal not only feels responsible for her, but since he may have been the last person to see her, finding her may be the only thing to keep him out of jail. You will not see the ending coming.
February 18, 2020
Notes:
This is a prequel story for the Promise Falls series. It was a good intro for the character Cal Weaver. There was a distinct Twin Peaks vibe. Enjoyed the progress of the story until the climatic moment & there it lost me because it felt forced.
This is a prequel story for the Promise Falls series. It was a good intro for the character Cal Weaver. There was a distinct Twin Peaks vibe. Enjoyed the progress of the story until the climatic moment & there it lost me because it felt forced.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,579 reviews