50. Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay

Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay (Canada) - (US)


Pages: 415 pages
Ages: 18+
Finished: Mar. 18, 2010
First Published: Mar. 2, 2010
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Genre: thriller, mystery
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:

"I'm scared," Ethan said.

Acquired: Received a review copy from Random House Canada.

Reason for Reading: I always read Barclay's newest novels.

Summary: Jan and David Harwood are going to spend their day with 4-year old Ethan at the new Five Mountains theme park. After a few typical miss-starts when you plan anything involving the kids they finally all get inside and David gets in line to buy ice cream cones. As he heads back Jan is running toward him, Ethan is gone, the stroller is gone, she was just tying her shoelace and then it was gone. Panic set in. David sends Jan to the gates to watch everyone leaving while he takes off running down the path. With joyous relief he finds the stroller with little Ethan asleep, no worse for wear, but is that man running away from the stroller? Just happy to have Ethan back, they go to find Jan at the main gate but she's nowhere to be found. Hours go by until David realizes she is missing and the police are called in. How can Jan be missing? It's almost unbelievable until the police questioning starts to take a turn that makes David feel like he's being interrogated, then it all becomes too real.

Comments: Another great suspenseful thriller from Linwood Barclay! David is a very compelling protagonist and the reader becomes just as frustrated as he is when the police start focusing on him as their suspect. The book is full of reveals which tell us just a little bit more of what is going on until the ending where the last final secret puts everything into place. I have to admit I pretty much had this one all figured out very early on in the book but Barclay's such a great writer I stayed along for ride. Funny enough roller coasters are a bit of a recurring theme in the story and that is what you are certainly in for with all the various twists and turns in plot, a roller coaster of a read. Ultimately, not my favourite by Barclay but still a strong thriller and a fast-paced plot that makes for a fast-paced read. I had it read in two evenings but if you have the day off it would make a great book to devote to an all-day reading day! Barclay's books are all stand-alones so jump in with this one (or any other!) to get your feet wet and you'll end up loving reading Canada's best thriller author.