A Noise Downstairs audiobook

4.5 STARSHere it is guys... drum roll please... I present your summer 2018 popcorn thriller-A Noise Downstairs! Seriously folks, this one is a must for your TBR if you are looking for a fast-paced story that is easily read in any setting and impossible to put down. I've been a fan of Linwood Barclay's writing for almost a decade now and find I have a Barclay shaped hole that only his books can fill each year. If you're new to his work, then know his writing style is very similar to Harlan Coben's, meaning there are usually many plot lines that start out removed from each other but are slowly brought together toward the end for the big reveal. This is a standalone, and is set away from the area most of his other books take place in, so it felt set apart in more ways than just not taking place in a series. I feel it was the perfect timing for the author to do so, as he's gone through a bit of a rebranding in the past year and clearly means to do so with a clean slate.While it was wholly compulsive and difficult to put down, A Noise Downstairs doesn't become an action driven plot for the first 30-40% of the novel; we take our time in a slow burning suspense while becoming acquainted with the characters, which is a style of writing I'm quite partial to. Ok, except for that first section, which perfectly hooked my attention. You get a lot of the set up from the synopsis, but initially we find our main narrator Paul caught in an unexpected exchange with co-worker Kenneth. Unfortunately, Paul has decided to follow Ken to inform him that he has a tail light out, things escalate, and Ken attempts to murder Paul. We are then thrust forward 8 months after the incident, where Ken is in prison, Paul is spending time recovering with the help of his therapist Anna and his second wife Charlotte, and things are tense. Paul thinks it will be cathartic to write about his experiences in hopes of working through his PTSD, so Charlotte surprises him with an old Underwood typewriter she found at a yard sale. The thing is, Paul starts hearing the typewriter in the middle of the night, and what unfolds is a tale of "Is he delusional or is someone out to get him?" in the most suspenseful format.Ok, about the story itself. The plot is told mostly through three points of view: Paul's, Anna's (the psychiatrist), and Charlotte's (Paul's current wife). Also sprinkled throughout the story we learn about Paul's ex-wife, her new husband, Paul's son, Anna's father, and Kenneth and his family. Everything pretty much branches off from these particular head points, and there are side plots galore. Maybe a few people will find it unnecessarily confusing, but I thought it was tastefully done and added to the intrigue. Which side plots would turn out to be connected to the main? Which were red herrings? Which were unrelated but still vital to the story's characterization? This was all present and kept me, a seasoned mystery fanatic, busy, preoccupied, and flustered in the best way possible.Here's what I loved most about this book- I thought I had it all figured out, and I was both right and wrong. I LOVE IT WHEN THIS HAPPENS! Let me explain (minus the spoilers). If you are an expert detective while reading novels of suspense, or if you've even simply read a few, you'll probably think you know where this is going. And you'd be right, EXCEPT... Here's the thing, I had the who, the why, and some of the how figured out. There are only so many options to what's going on with the dang typewriter, so naturally many readers will come to that conclusion on their own. What I loved was that the author gives us all this, and it's a red herring in and of itself.  I won't tell you exactly when this happens, because I don't want you to be expecting it, but it's not at the very end. And then come the waves of reveals my friends... WAVES! How exciting is it to keep receiving twists, both big and small, time after time until the last page is turned? The first twist that I hadn't personally figured out knocked me completely off balance when it happened. It's been awhile since I've read a book where the author chose to use this particular plot element and it was beautifully done. If you want to know more than that sloppy paragraph above, you'll just have to pick up the book for yourself.I hope I've done a halfway decent job of convincing you to pick up A Noise Downstairs this summer; most of you know it's rare for me to read/review a book so far ahead of publication date, but I did this on a whim and I'm so glad that I did. If you like to compile your seasonal TBRs ahead of time like I do, you'll certainly want to add this to your list. Also, it has a fancy new cover that is not featured in my Instagram photo, so there's that too. Highly recommended for a lightning fast read. I can't wait to hear everyone else's thoughts because I NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS BOOK Y'ALL!*Review copy furnished by the publisher.

3.5 stars“Jesus, Paul, it’s not the clown from It. It’s not going to break out and attack us.” This quote above is in reference to an old typewriter which the protagonist from A Noise Downstairs believes is possessed by the spirits of murder victims. It might sound a little crazy, but the premise makes for an entertaining psychological thriller with some surprising twists! Paul Davis was nearly murdered. While he has recovered physically, he is suffering from PTSD. He is in counseling and determines the best way to face his fears is to research Kenneth Hoffman, the man who tried to kill him. When his wife, Charlotte, gifts him with an old typewriter, Paul begins to hear tying in the middle of the night. He starts to wonder if he is going crazy. Then when typed messages begin to appear, Paul believes he is being contacted by Hoffman’s murder victims. Soon. Paul’s life begins to spin out of control, leading him into serious danger. A Noise Downstairs gets off to a slow start, but Paul’s story kept me interested. I also was intrigued by Gavin, a creepy patient of Paul’s therapist. The more and more I read, the more I got sucked into what was happening. Chapters are split between Paul and Anna (Paul's therapist). I liked Anna’s character, but I wasn’t really sure of her purpose until much later on in the book. This is supposed to be a creepy read, but I felt that it could have been creepier. I had a theory early on about what was happening, and I was right, which might have detracted from the creepiness. However, this is one of those cases where I thought that I was a smart reader and had everything figured out, but there were a couple of twists that I didn’t see coming. A Noise Downstairs is an easy, quick read. The chapters are short, the plot has some layers, and there’s some dark humor woven in, which makes for fun reading! Thank you to William Morrow publishers for sending me an ARC of this book!

A Noise Downstairs by Linwood Barclay is a 2018 William Morrow Publication. Paul Davis nearly loses his life when he inadvertently discovers a colleague looking for a place to dump the bodies of the two women he just murdered. Although Paul survived physically, mentally he is still struggling. He decides the best therapy might be to face his demons head on, and maybe even write a book about his ordeal. His therapist even gives him the green light to pursue this avenue. Desperately trying to focus, Paul is frustrated by his continual memory loss, something his wife, Charlotte, is very concerned about. In order to cheer him, Charlotte buys Paul an Underwood typewriter- the old fashioned kind- with ribbons and a carriage return. But, right away, the typewriter begins to disrupt Paul's life even further. He hears someone typing on it in the dead of night- although Charlotte hears nothing. As Paul becomes increasingly hysterical, convinced this typewriter is haunted in some way, his wife becomes more and more worried for his well-being. But, Paul is determined to investigate the murders, hoping to find answers that will help him find closure. However, Paul's digging around in the past, visiting with the victim's families, and coming face to face with the man who nearly killed him, might not be as healthy as Paul anticipated. I hate to make this confession- but, I have not read a novel by Linwood Barclay in ages. In fact, the last time I connected with this author was way back in that weird 'before Goodreads' limbo. I do recall that I enjoyed his novels, though, and have been meaning to touch base with him again for a long time. As it turns out, this most recent release turned out to be the perfect book in which to become reacquainted with LB. I loved this title, which sets the tone for the book by conjuring up that hair raising feeling you get when you think you hear a strange noise in your house in the middle of the night. Then Barclay builds on that uneasy mindset without preamble. This entire book is packed with eerie, spine tingling elements, with a feeling of continuous foreboding, on top of the sinister, creepy atmosphere. The suspects are many, as are the motives, and the only way to truly know if Paul is descending further into madness is to keep turning those pages, which I did at the speed of light and sound. Naturally, there was a point where I was just positive I had the puzzle solved, which was a huge let down. I was very disappointed- I mean really upset that yet another veteran author 'phoned in.' But, as it turns out, I wasn't nearly as smart as I thought I was. Maybe I was the one being lazy- Or the very least, guilty of not giving the author a little more credit than that. This is a fun psychological thriller, very entertaining, with perfectly timed twists, and expert pacing. There are some weak spots, a few highly implausible scenarios and dialogue, but for the most part this story is tightly woven, effective, and very suspenseful.Overall, this veteran author shows us how psychological thrillers should be done, showing up ninety percent of what passes for a premium PT.4 stars

One evening, John sees a work colleague driving erratically and follows him to see if he can help. Unfortunately, his colleague was trying to cover up a crime, and Paul becomes collateral damage. A year later, Paul is suffering from PTSD. His wife Charlotte brings home an old Underwood typewriter, encouraging him to write his story, as a way to heal. CHIT CHIT CHIT CHIT CHIT CHIT Paul hears the sounds of his typewriter downstairs. But, he and Charlotte are both upstairs, in bed, sleeping. When he investigates, he finds a note in the machine. His colleague’s victims had been forced to type out “apologies” before they were murdered...on a vintage Underwood typewriter.. The typewriter involved in the crime was never found. Could this possibly be the same machine? Are the victims typing messages to Paul? Or is Paul losing his mind? Perhaps, confronting the past is NOT such a wise idea...CHIT CHIT CHIT CHIT CHIT CHITI thought I was always a step ahead of the characters. I was wrong. SURPRISING. SUSPENSEFUL. SHOCKING . I was engaged from the first page to the last, and now that I have discovered this author, I am looking forward to catching up on some of his past work! 📚

Another Addictive Audio Listen My summer binge continues with my 4th from the author and it was another solid and enjoyable thriller!Creepy A$$, black, metal, antique Underwood typewriter is front and center in this thriller and I referred to it as "Cujo". No it didn't growl, but it did enter the Twilight Zone. I even scanned my surroundings making sure we didn't have any typewriters lying around the house. S-P-O-O-K-Y like it had eyes that could stare back. One of the characters even mentioned that it wasn't "the clown from IT", but I wasn't so sure!George Newbern is a fantastic narrator and made the story come to life. Loved the mixed humor and it isn't scary, just a hint of the feeling of some dark ominous clouds hanging around.Read it to see if you'll see the writing on the wall, or the messages on the typewriter! I was wrong!Late to the party as this came out in 2018.

3.5 starsCollege Professor Paul Davis is driving home one night when he observes a colleague driving strangely. He decides to follow, not quite sure if the man is drunk or looking for something. When his co-worker pulls over so does Paul and that is when Paul makes the shocking discovery that he has just walked into a a murderer disposing of two female bodies. Paul tries to intervene and is almost killed himself.After the incident, Paul has been having nightmares and experiencing PTSD. He begins to see Anna, a psychologist to work through his issues. His wife, Charlotte, also tries to help and buys him a vintage type writer so that he can write that novel he has always dreamed about. Paul is open to the idea, that is until he begins to hear noises in the night. Noises which sound as if the typewriter is being used. But everyone is asleep, who could possibly be typing on the typewriter? Why is Paul the only one who can hear the noise?As Paul continues to work on his issues in therapy, the reader is also introduced to his therapist, her father and one of her other clients - a young man who enjoys playing sick and vicious pranks on others. Could he be to blame? Is he even involved? If not him, then who? Is the type writer possessed? Is the type writer typing messages all by itself? Are the messages related to the deaths of the two women? Paul continues to be tormented and struggles with what is really happening and what he believes is happening. This book is told through Paul's, Charlotte's and Anna's points of view. This was interesting especially is the last twenty percent of the book. I will be honest, during the beginning of the book, I thought...oh geez, I normally like Linwood Barclay, but I am not sure about this book. All I can say is STICK WITH IT. I say this often in reviews, but it is true, I love when a book fools me. I love when I think I have it all figured out. I have my super sleuth hat on the entire way. I am quite sure I know how the book is going to end and then BOOM, Barclay spun some magic. I did have one theory and that proved to be correct, but I still didn't have the key bit of plot figured out. He pulled it off and beautifully.The title of the book makes it sound as if this book is going to be both creepy or scary. I didn't find it to be scary at all. A little creepy, perhaps. The one young man who played pranks was the creepiest part of the book for me. Yes, a typewriter that types of messages is creepy but for me only to a small degree. So, if you pick this up thinking it is going to be scary or on the horror spectrum, be warned, it's not. After a slow start that left me guessing as to whether I was going to enjoy the book, things really did pick up - about half way through for me. But once thing did pick up, the plot kicked into high gear. I found this book to be well-written with a great ending. I do wish it would have been a little faster going in the beginning, but I also know he needed to build his plot and introduce the reader to all the players.Thank you to William Morrow Publishers and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.Read my reviews at www.openboookpost.com

Quick Update: I especially want to thank Nicola....She introduced me to Linwood Barclay with her review in a way--where I said...."ok, I think I'll give this author a go". Glad I did! Thanks Nicola!!!!The ‘New Haven Star’ ran with a headline that said: “A Scandal in Academia: ‘Apology Killer’ gets life in double murder”.West Haven College professor Kenneth Hoffman, 53, (married to wife Gabriella, 49, father to Leonard, 21), was sentenced to life in prison for the murders of Jill Foster and Catherine Lamb, and attempted murder of a colleague and friend Paul Davis. Kenneth taught math and physics. The close-knit academia community suspected he was ‘playing around’. Gabriella was aware of some of her husband’s infidelity- but she never knew he was juggling both Jill and Catherine simultaneously. There was something freaky-creepy-and peculiar about the cold blooded murder of Jill and Catherine who were forced to write an apology letter before they were killed. I was totally sucked into this psychological thriller from the start. ( glad it ‘wasn’t’ graphic). I was also enjoying the University town setting. When asked, how he could have slit the throats of the two women, Hoffman shrugged and said,“Who knows why anyone does anything?” Such an odd- aloof- cuckoo-response, I thought! The scandal was ‘bizarre’...completely out of character in New England history. ... (intrigued me too)...Paul Davis was suffering with bouts of memory loss - headaches - and nightmares from almost getting killed (being in the wrong place at the wrong time....but a semi-hero for being in the right place at the right time - finding Kenneth with bloody hands - two dead women- and a shovel in his car....putting himself in dangers way ( getting knocked out with that shovel). The police drove up at ‘the right time’ to pick up the rest of the pieces. Paul was lucky he wasn’t a dead man buried with two other dead women. Eight months after his accident - after first being treated for the physical traumas - and head injury - Paul entered therapy with psychologist Anna White.Contending with PTSD, Paul was on edge- agitated constantly.He was obsessively plagued with anxiety, fear, nervousness, depression, and dread every moment of his life awake or asleep since that haunting night. A gift from his wife, Charlotte - a Underwood typewriter, only added to his problems. Either it was possessed, or Paul completely lost his mind, or ‘somebody’ wanted Paul to believe he was losing his mind. The typewriter part of the story felt like a puzzle solver for me. I thought I saw through the plot-device to the ending of the novel once that underwood typewriter was introduced... but I’m not here spilling-beans...just my thought process...We were given information about other clients Anna White was working with besides Paul Davis:..... A retired x-ray technician who was having a hard time getting over the death of her dog........and a client named Gavin Hitchens, court assigned, who looked like a possible psychopath. ( I figured he was the trickster character to try to throw us off the path from bigger fishies to fry) ... but - again - my lips are sealed! Every character mentioned was to ‘examine’... with a readers suspicious curiosity. There wasn’t particularly any redeeming qualities about any of the characters, other than Paul - (he was the most likable and we ‘felt’ for him. Everyone else wore a pocker-face. I’m guessing this was done on purpose - worked well I thought...( I still figured out ‘most’ of the ending) ... yet it didn’t take away from my enjoyment).I was in the mood for this type of book.This being my first Linwood Barclay novel, I’m left with a pretty decent taste in my mouth.

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 trying to dispose of a couple of bodies. That's when Paul's "normal" existence is turned upside down. After nearly loosing his own life in that encounter, he finds himself battling with PTSD, depression and severe problems at work.Wow. Where do I start? We learn all about the murderer, who he is and why Paul followed him that night at the beginning of this eerie, creepy book. How the event has left him traumatised, with issues and nightmares, and how he is seeing a therapist to help,him get through this tough time. Trying to cheer him up and help his with his recovery, his wife Charlotte buys him a vintage typewriter. But then Paul thinks he hears the typewriter typing messages by itself. This story is told through Paul, Charlotte and Anna's (his therapist) points of view. Don't think, like me, that you will know who the culprit is from early on as you will be wrong, so wrong. Another fantastic read from the also fantastic writer, Linwood Barclay.

Paul Davis happens upon a colleague on a deserted road, unwittingly catching him in the process of disposing of the bodies of two young women. He barely escapes with his life and nine months later, he’s still struggling with the after effects of the physical and emotional trauma. Paul’s memory lapses and fugues are unsettling him and he’s seeing a therapist. When his wife gifts him with a vintage Underwood typewriter, he’s pleased but soon begins hearing typing sounds in the middle of the night. In his mentally fragile state, Paul begins to wonder if the dead women are trying to send him a message from beyond through that typewriter!The action begins right away and I felt like I was experiencing Paul’s journey to the truth right alongside him. The typewriter messages may sound kooky but it all seemed plausible given the circumstances, which I’ll leave for you to discover. There are other characters and distractions that become quite meaningful, even creepily so, making this an intriguing story. I’m a fan of George Newbern and he delivered his usual fine performance, mastering each character and telling the story in a way that kept me engaged. It’s Paul’s point of view for most of the story and Newbern became him so easily, at least in my ear. I’m such a fan of this author, particularly how he takes ordinary people, puts them in trying situations and has them respond atypically. While I deduced what was going on pretty early, it still was a challenge finding clues to support my theories. And, I was treated to a few surprises in the end. I really enjoyed the story, particularly in the audio format as Newbern made this feel like a movie. (I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review)

A pretty solid 4 star mystery/thriller for me!I read this with one of my book clubs so there was a lot of introspection and opinion sharing along the way. I enjoy the additional thinking my book clubs make me do! And, honestly, the discussion makes this review feel more like a defense of my 4 star rating than just a straight up 4 star review.Through my discussions with my club and in looking at some other reviews, there is a pretty diverse opinion on the story, plot points, and the twists in this book. And, while I agree at times it can seem a bit cheesy, convenient, and predictable, I was fully entertained throughout and did not want to stop reading. When a book pulls me in that much, I can easily forgive some things that might bug me in other situations. With that being said, if you like twisty thrillers, I think this one is worth checking out. It will definitely keep you guessing . . . then make you think you have figured it out . . . and then it will throw you for another loop. And, while you might truly figure out the mystery on your own, the ride to find out that you were right is worth it!In conclusion, if you end up thinking it is too cheesy and predictable . . . you were warned! 😊 But, I hope for you, your experience is like mine and that doesn’t take away from your enjoyment of this twisty thriller.

Typewriter sounds are almost non-existent today, but they kept recurring in Paul’s home and seemed to be coming from the typewriter that his wife had bought him.

After Paul followed his friend because he was driving erratically, he found something horrific and unbelievable.

Paul saw dead bodies in his colleague’s trunk and when Kenneth struck him to silence him, he thought it was all over. Thankfully Paul didn’t die, and Kenneth was imprisoned. 

Another thing happened as Paul was following Kenneth. He saw Kenneth dispose of a typewriter in a dumpster. Could that be the same typewriter that Kenneth forced his victims to use to type an apology before he killed them and the typewriter that Paul's wife bought for him at a yard sale?When we do "meet" this, typewriter, bizarre things begin to happen.THE NOISE DOWNSTAIRS has us following Paul as he is recovering from his physical injury caused by the strike with the shovel as well as the emotional trauma.

Mr. Barclay keeps the tension high and the story line is intriguing. The ending twists were well hidden from the reader.

The introduction of the typewriter was very clever, and the typewriter seemed to be included as another character. 

This was my first book by Mr. Barclay, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

If you have enjoyed Mr. Barclay's books, you won't want to miss his newest. 5/5This book was given to me as ARC by the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Of course, I had plans and chores that needed doing, then again, I also had a few minutes, so I picked this up.Big Mistake. Sure, I took care of the basics, I mean a gal’s gotta eat and such, but……...Linwood Barclay, handily, stole the rest of my day.What if you heard a noise, clearly; from downstairs or elsewhere in your home, while your family slept?Gulp, gobble gobble, gone.Hmmmm.

Several months ago, Paul Davis was attacked by a killer with a shovel. Somehow he survived the massive head wound he received. The killer was a friend ... a colleague ... and it was just happenstance that he saw two women's bodies in his friend's trunk before they were hidden and buried.Now Paul suffers severe panic attacks, short term memory loss. But the most terrifying are the noises he hears that no one else does. Most recently, his wife bought him an old typewriter. At night, he swears he can hear it typing .. by itself. It is suggested that he insert a sheet of paper and see what happens. And what he finds sends him into a massive spin.The women that his friend killed were made to type out an apology to the killer. Those apologies are now being typed on his typewriter with no one around. Is this the actual typewriter that the killer owned? Are the messages from beyond the grave? Is Paul hallucinating? Is he paranoid? Either he's losing his mind - or someone wants him to think he is. His therapist is firm in her belief that he is not going crazy ... on the other hand, she doesn't believe that dead women are contacting him through type written messages. But who would want to torture this man .. and to what end?This one goes to the top of my favorite books this year! It's a well-written psychological thriller that is riveting in its edginess and features standout characters. Expect fast paced action with this one. The twist at the end is one that will knock you off your feet.Many thanks to the author / William Morrow Books / Edelweiss for the advanced digital copy of this psychological thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.