A Noise Downstairs
A Novel
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4.1 • 202 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
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. . . .
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Ontario-based author Linwood Barclay is a master of suspense. A Noise Downstairs starts with a shivery premise: University professor Paul Davis suffers from PTSD after witnessing a murderer dumping his victims' bodies. After his wife, Charlotte, buys him a vintage typewriter to help process his feelings, Paul—and Paul alone—hears it clattering away at night. Mixing Stephen King–like psychological horror with a twisty mystery worthy of Gillian Flynn, Barclay weaves together disparate plotlines and sets up a startling climax. We wanted to re-read this surprising novel as soon as we put it down.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
College professor Paul Davis, the protagonist of this fast-paced psychological thriller from bestseller Barclay (Parting Shot), has suffered from PTSD since the night his respected colleague and mentor, Kenneth Hoffman, attacked him outside their small town of Milford, Conn. Kenneth, who confessed to the murders of the two women whose bodies were in his car at the time, is now in prison. In order to encourage Paul, whose short-term memory has been spotty since the incident, to start work on a novel he wants to write, his wife brings home an old typewriter. Soon Paul begins hearing noises in the night coming from the typewriter, which happens to be much like the one Kenneth made his victims write their final notes on. Paul's theory that the typewriter might be haunted has his wife and his therapist concerned that he might actually be losing his mind. But is there a more sinister answer? Barclay carefully conceals hidden motives and secret lives until the startling conclusion. Harlan Coben fans will find much to like. Five-city author tour.
Customer Reviews
Terrific!
This was a great book, told simply and straightforward. The author didn’t waste our time droning on about weather or landscape. The author told one story while making you believe you know the real story. And then comes the surprising twist! Will look into reading more from Barclays!
Outstanding
Not sure how I found this book but so glad I did. Twists and turns galore. Loved it. Just downloaded more of his books.
Not Barclays best work
A little slow to get through and lacked the big twist that his stories normally have