REVIEW: A Noise Downstairs by Linwood Barclay

Genre: Thriller, Suspense, Mystery

Publisher: DoubleDay Canada

ISBN: 0385687184

Format: Hardback, Paperback, E-Book,
Audio-Book

Release Date: 24th July 2018


Links: Goodreads, Amazon.com, Indigo,
B&N, Book Depository

Website, Twitter


Rating: 8/10


Synopsis:

Paul Davis is hearing some very strange noises in the night. He hears the clickety-click of a manual typewriter--as if someone is vigorously tapping the keys. The eerie sounds began soon after his wife, Charlotte, bought him a classic antique Underwood. But only Paul can hear the noise coming from downstairs; Charlotte doesn't hear anything unusual.


Is Paul losing his mind? Maybe. Or is something really there? Eight months ago, he stumbled upon Connecticut's infamous "Apology Killer"--a psychopath who forced his victims to typewrite personal apologies to him before he cut their throats--disposing of two mutilated bodies on Milford's Post Road. Most shocking of all, the killer was his colleague, someone he thought he knew. Paul's been seeing a therapist for months to recover from the nearly fatal encounter, but his nerves and short-term memory have suffered since the traumatic event.

There's only one way to learn if the noises are real or a figment of his hyper-imagination. One night, Paul rolls a sheet of paper into the machine. The next morning, when he checks the page, there is a chilling message:

"We typed our apologies like he asked but he killed us anyway."


As he desperately searches to find a rational explanation for the note and the noises, Paul slowly begins to consider the unthinkable: The message is authentic, and the women butchered by his colleague are reaching out to him from beyond the grave.

Review:

**Thank you to PenguinRandom House Canada for sending me a copy in return for my honest review**

This book is a must read thriller for the summer!

Paul's drive home starts off normal, until he sees his co-worker, Kevin driving somewhere. His curiosity leads him into a dangerous situation and his actions end up affecting his entire future.

The story mainly focused on three characters, Paul, Anna (Paul's psychiatrist) and Charlotte (Paul's wife). The story flips between each of their points of views as we learn about all the characters and their backstories. 

I would love to see a spinoff novel of one of Anna's other patients, Gavin. He was an especially dark and twisted character that was an excellent addition to the novel. At times I was more creeped out at him than other events happening to the main character.

The entire plot had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I found myself wary of every character wondering if they had some sort of ulterior motive. Just when I thought I had it solved Linwood Barclay would throw something else into the mix, throwing my suspicions astray. The suspense and tension never let up.

The ending took me completely by surprise. I never expected the story to end the way it did and I loved that! I loved being taken by surprise and all my suspicions being proved wrong. Linwood Barclay is a truly  fantastic writer.

A Noise Downstairs was everything I wanted from a thriller. It's a wonderfully written and immersive thriller that I couldn't put down. A fast-paced novel with brilliantly developed characters and a shocking plot point was exactly what I was looking for. I highly recommend checking it out.