Chilling

Whistle by Linwood Barclay is a chilling supernatural tale that consumed me from the start.

This is a departure from Linwood Barclay’s usual style of crime novels but he has created a marvellous and well thought out plotline, showing that he is the master of the very chilling genre.

This is not a book for the faint hearted. It is far better to read it on a bright summer’s day than a cold, dark winter evening.

The action is split into various points of view, over different time periods. It keeps the reader in a state of heightened tension – we think we know what is coming even though the characters are clueless to the power that they have unwittingly unleashed.

Whistle is a tale of evil walking amongst the innocent. Very few realise what is going on until it is far too late.

All the characters were well drawn. There was definitely an air of menace attached to the villain. He was guilty of hubris too, believing he could never be beaten.

We see the bond between a mother and her son. They support each other as they attempt to heal from the loss of a husband and father.

Whistle was extremely well written and well thought out. It was a dark tale with more than a little dose of menace. Very chilling indeed.

I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

JULIA WILSON