Publication Date May 20, 2025

What did I just read? Oh wait, I didn’t actually read it — it turned out to be something I have generally thought of as impossible: this one was a DNF. I have read and reviewed many Linwood Barclay books over the years, and he has consistently been on my “yes! A new book by < >!!” list. Possibly it is my own fault, I actually requested this one, without reading carefully enough what the book was about? The blurb for Whistle included mentions of grief, strange sounds in the night…should have tipped me off that this was likely to veer into the horror combined with supernatural — generally not my thing. Looking at the reviews, I am clearly in the minority on this, for which I am glad — Mr. Barclay has provided me with MANY hours of enjoyment, and apparently many of his fans thought this one was terrific. So with many thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley, I appreciate being given the opportunity, but as George Costanza would say, “It’s not you, it’s me!” One star.