A Noise Downstairs - by Linwood Barclay (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

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. . . .

From the Back Cover

The New York Times bestselling author of No Time for Goodbye returns with a haunting psychological thriller in which a man is troubled by odd sounds for which there are no rational explanations

Be afraid . . .

College professor Paul Davis is a normal guy with a normal life. But that normal existence is turned upside down late one evening when he spots his colleague Kenneth driving in a suspicious manner along a deserted road. Curious and concerned, Paul follows Kenneth, and catches him in a horrifying act--trying to dispose of two dead bodies.

That was eight months ago.

After nearly losing his own life that night, Paul is battling PTSD, depression, and severe problems at work and home. To cheer him up, his worried wife, Charlotte, gives him a surprise present: a vintage typewriter--complete with ink ribbons and heavy round keys--because he's always wanted one. Paul feels inspired to write about the terrifying experience that damaged his life. "If I can look into the eyes of evil in the real world," Paul explains, "maybe I won't have to run from it in my sleep."

However, the typewriter soon becomes a source of anxiety itself. Paul swears he can hear the keys clacking in the early hours of the morning when everyone is in bed. Charlotte and his son deny playing with the old-fashioned machine or hearing any strange sounds. It is only Paul who can hear the noise he swears is coming from downstairs. Are Paul's claims real--or is he going off the rails as Charlotte fears?

Paul believes that the typewriter is connected to the dark events that night on the Post Road, as implausible as that seems. After all, Kenneth is in prison and he worked alone. So how could the typewriter have anything to do with the crime? Increasingly tormented yet determined to discover the truth, Paul begins reinvestigating the deaths himself.

But that may not be the best thing to do. Maybe Paul should just get rid of the typewriter. Maybe he should stop asking questions and simply walk away while he can. Because if he doesn't, his darkest nightmares just might come true.

Review Quotes

"Linwood Barclay's novels - as intelligent as Michael Connelly's, as compelling as Harlan Coben's - never fail to astonish. A Noise Downstairs, his best work yet, is a cobra of a story: smooth, slippery, unnerving . . . and likely to strike when you least expect it. I devoured this book." -- A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window

"Vintage Barclay - A Noise Downstairs is an utterly compelling read with a twist you won't see coming. I loved it!" -- Shari Lapena, New York Times bestselling author of A Stranger in the House and The Couple Next Door

"[Barclay] does a masterful job of layering on the mysteries until we're almost frantically turning the pages, impatient to find out what the hell is going on. A beautifully executed thriller." -- Booklist (starred review)

"Prepare to be blindsided by an ending you didn't see coming. Barclay's nerve-wracking tale will have readers scared to close their eyes at night." -- Library Journal

"A terrific edge-of-your-seat Hitchcockian psychological thriller that lives up to all the hype." -- New York Journal of Books

"Artfully crafted." -- New York Times Book Review

"Barclay is a master of manipulation. . . . Predictable becomes unpredictable in this compelling book that echoes the best of Harlan Coben." -- Associated Press

"[A] fast-paced psychological thriller . . . Barclay carefully conceals hidden motives and secret lives until the startling conclusion. Harlan Coben fans will find much to like." -- Publishers Weekly

"Creepy and compelling. . . . Barclay expertly weaves together the various plot strands to reach a wholly unexpected conclusion." -- The Guardian

"[A] twisty psychological tale . . . a satisfying and clever novel. The large cast and the story's many moving parts perfectly set the reader up for the final climactic twist." -- Mystery Scene

"Predictable becomes unpredictable in this compelling book that echoes the best of Harlan Coben." -- Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers

Praise for No Time for Goodbye:
"A deliciously smart thriller, full of surprises and perfect pacing. I'm jealous I didn't write it." -- Alafair Burke

"A high-speed emotional roller-coaster. The surprises will leave you breathless." -- Robert Crais

"No Time for Goodbye just flies off the page. It's a one-sit thriller. You sit down with this book and you won't get up until you've turned the last page." -- Michael Connelly

"One of the best thrillers of the year! Utterly riveting." -- Tess Gerritsen

"A terrific page-turner that keeps you in suspense until the very end. If you like Harlan Coben, you'll love Linwood Barclay." -- Peter Robinson

"Full of twists and turns." -- Parade, "Books We Love"