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
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.