A Noise Downstairs

A Noise Downstairs

A Noise Downstairs
UK Edition
US Cover

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About the Book

An Indie Next Pick for August

A Barnes & Noble Best New Mysteries Selection 

One of Crime Reads Most Anticipated Summer Crime Reads and Thrillers

The New York Times bestselling author of No Time for Goodbye returns with a haunting psychological thriller that blends the twists and turns of Gillian Flynn with the driving suspense of Harlan Coben, in which a man is troubled by odd sounds for which there is no rational explanation.

College professor Paul Davis is a normal guy with a normal life. Until, driving along a deserted road late one night, he surprises a murderer disposing of a couple of bodies. That’s when Paul’s “normal” existence is turned upside down. After nearly losing his own life in that encounter, he finds himself battling PTSD, depression, and severe problems at work. His wife, Charlotte, desperate to cheer him up, brings home a vintage typewriter—complete with ink ribbons and heavy round keys—to encourage him to get started on that novel he’s always intended to write.

However, the typewriter itself is a problem. Paul swears it’s possessed and types by itself at night. But only Paul can hear the noise coming from downstairs; Charlotte doesn’t hear a thing. And she worries he’s going off the rails.

Paul believes the typewriter is somehow connected to the murderer he discovered nearly a year ago. The killer had made his victims type apologies to him before ending their lives. Has another sick twist of fate entwined his life with the killer—could this be the same machine? Increasingly tormented but determined to discover the truth and confront his nightmare, Paul begins investigating the deaths himself.

But that may not be the best thing to do. Maybe Paul should just take the typewriter back to where his wife found it. Maybe he should stop asking questions and simply walk away while he can….

Praise

“Linwood Barclay’s novels – as intelligent as Michael Connelly’s, as compelling as Harlan Coben’s – never fail to astonish. A Noise Downstairs, his best work yet, is a cobra of a story: smooth, slippery, unnerving … and likely to strike when you least expect it. I devoured this book.” –A.J. Finn, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Woman in the Window

“One of the world’s finest thriller writers on the top of his game, this novel is a blinder, his best yet.” –Peter James, author of the Roy Grace novels

“Vintage Barclay – an utterly compelling read with a twist you won’t see coming. I loved it!” Shari Lapena, author of The Couple Next Door

A Noise Downstairs will astound, confound and thrill you. You’ll need to read it with your wits about you and you’ll want to sleep with your eyes open afterwards. A masterful novel.” –Gilly Macmillan, author of What She Knew and The Perfect Girl

“[A]rtfully crafted . . . Don’t turn your back on any of these guys.” –New York Times Book Review

“[Barclay] does a masterful job of layering on the mysteries until we’re almost frantically turning the pages, impatient to find out what the hell is going on. A beautifully executed thriller.” –Booklist (starred review)

“[A] fast-paced psychological thriller . . . Barclay carefully conceals hidden motives and secret lives until the startling conclusion. Harlan Coben fans will find much to like.” Publishers Weekly

“Prepare to be blindsided by an ending you didn’t see coming. Barclay’s nerve-wracking tale will have readers scared to close their eyes at night.” Library Journal

“[A] twisty psychological tale . . . a satisfying and clever novel. The large cast and the story’s many moving parts perfectly set the reader up for the final climactic twist.”   —Mystery Scene

“Proving that Barclay is a master of manipulation, he pulls a genuinely unexpected twist that throws everything revealed up to that point entirely out the window. This thriller then kicks into high gear as it becomes a race for answers and justice. The author has cast this novel with a group of realistic characters that add to the festivities showcasing a grand design. Predictable becomes unpredictable in this compelling book that echoes the best of Harlan Coben.” – Associated Press

“A creepy and compelling standalone.. Barclay expertly weaves together the various plot strands to reach a wholly unexpected conclusion.” – The Guardian

“cunning.. twist-packed” – Sunday Times

“The king of the thriller returns with this spooky tale of a man recovering from serious trauma who starts to hear noises in the night.” – The Independent

“With a tight plot, delivered in short, punchy chapters, it’s hard to resist racing through – to the final twist.” – Sunday Mirror

“Barclay has written 18 novels, none as infernally creepy as his latest book.”  —Toronto Star

“Barclay cranks up the suspense, putting a tight cast of characters and promising plot twists into play.  — Canada.com

“Barclay’s latest thrillers mixes a whole bunch of red herrings and left-field twists into one satisfying summer read.” —Readers Digest

The Canuck master of suspense returns.” – Zoomer