With Not a Word, Linwood Barclay proves that a clever and well-timed twist in the early pages of a book can hook the reader and keep them glued to the pages right through to the end (and beyond). Like Harlan Coben, Linwood Barclay has built a career on writing thrillers that place everyday characters (often men) into extraordinary situations which strain their resources and ultimately require them to discover new, untapped facets of themselves. While that is true of Not a Word as well, this new offering spotlights the psychological changes that are spurred by outside stimuli throughout one’s lifetime.
When Reece Chartwell stops by to check on his parents, he hardly expects to find a crime scene in their bedroom. It appears that his father has committed a murder/suicide and this unexpected tragedy is about to rock the Cartwell family to its core. Detective Janice McCabe is assigned to the case, and she quickly figures out that what seems like a cut and dried case may be far more complicated than anyone could imagine.
Typical of Linwood Barclay’s style, investigative avenues lead to shocking developments for both the characters and the reader. Not a Word has more than it’s share of twists, but each of them is earned via a complex backstory for the Chartwell clan—all tied to their previous involvement with an unscrupulous pharmaceutical empire.
The ultimatum tied to the silence—that is, the “not a word” of the title—is presented in a brief snippet before the novel begins, but its inevitable impact is carried through the entire novel as readers make new discoveries along the way. What begins with the reader’s gasp at the start culminates in a surprisingly emotional finale. It is a cliché to say something is unforgettable, but in the case of Not a Word, the inciting incident truly will linger with readers long after many of the other details of this book are forgotten.
Each of the members of the Chartwell family will burrow their way into readers’ minds. These are average citizens placed under extreme stresses–and the resulting actions vary from horrific to honorable, from spontaneous to calculated, and from forgivable to…well, not exactly forgivable, though maybe understandable.
The pacing of Not a Word is unique in the thriller genre. After the few initial surprises, the first half of the novel is dominated by a deeper dive into the lives of this family, unspooling in a leisurely way that is just shy of slow. But once a turning point hits at almost the exact middle of the book, the train is off and running, with every new development accelerating the plot to breakneck speed. The second half of this novel almost demands to be read in one sitting, so readers should be prepared.
In a sea of thrillers that present outlandishly complicated plots, Linwood Barclay’s Not a Word stands out by being entirely plausible without sacrificing the shock value for the reader.
Buy Links: Not a Word by Linwood Barclay
Disclaimer: An e-galley copy of this title were provided to BOLO Books by the publisher. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.
