I cannot imagine being a teacher in today's world and I commend all who are. This is an almost too-popular topic, but so important to have an awareness of. This protagonist, a high school English teacher (who I pictured as Bryan Cranston the whole time reading lol), hero at the onset, got blasted with tragic mishaps on repeat. Several characters to follow throughout the story, but in the end all tied up with a bow. Kinda guessed the ending early though...

When English teacher, Richard Boyle sees a former student, Mark LeDrew through his class window approaching the school strapped with explosives, he acts without thinking and runs to the school entrance and is able to stop Mark from entering the school. There he confronts Mark only to find out that this young man is determined to bring down the individuals in the school who ruined his life. Through quick thinking Mr. Boyle is able to talk Mark out of hurting anyone and convinces Mark to walk to the parking lot and wait while police and bomb squad come to save him but as Mark leaves, he trips and blows himself up. Mr. Boyle is hailed a hero on that evenings news cast. But not everyone thinks he's a hero, someone watching thinks he's easy cash when they decide to blackmail him. Boyle becomes entangled in more than he ever expected and finds out that sometimes you really never know the people in your life. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for allowing me to read this suspenseful book! This is an edge of your seat read and the ending will surprise you!

English teacher Richard Boyle will never forget the day he saw through his classroom window a former student outside the school building bundled up in sticks of dynamite and approaching the doors in I Will Ruin You, the latest thriller from author Linwood Barclay coming out May 7. While Boyle is able to secure his classroom and run to the doors to talk the man down from entering the building, Mark LeDrew trips over his shoestring as he is turning away to wait for the police to disarm him.

Before accidentally blowing himself up, Mark accuses three school employees of driving him to this point: a teacher, a school counselor, and “the lawnmower man.” In the aftermath of this tragedy, Mark’s parents are suing Boyle, claiming he is responsible for their son’s death.

Principal Trent Wakely had started carrying a gun to school a couple of years ago for just this kind of scenario. He was coming up behind Boyle, trying to set up a shot to protect the teacher and the school. Because of Boyle’s ability to connect with Mark and disarm him of his plan to blow up his enemies, Wakely is spared making that decision, which would probably have brought some backlash about having a gun inside the school.

Boyle’s brave action has put him in the news media spotlight, but unfortunately, he comes to the attention of an extortionist. A former student formulates a plan to squeeze $10,000 from the teacher, accusing Boyle of fondling him on a school bus on the way to a wrestling match some years ago.

Does Boyle need to secure a lawyer? How can he defend himself against a molestation charge? How can he raise enough funds to pay the blackmailer so he does not lose his teaching license? What resources can protect him and his family from financial ruin in a lawsuit? What will it take to keep someone from ruining him and his family?

Linwood Barclay is the bestselling author of 27 other novels. He adapted his novel Never Saw it Coming for the 2017 movie starring Eric Roberts. Born in the United States, his family moved to Canada when he was a toddler. Prior to writing books full-time, he was a newspaper journalist and columnist. He lives with his wife in Toronto.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting March 26, 2024.

I would like to thank William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

Awesome book! Pulled me in right from the first chapter. I thought I had everything figured out… who shot who and who took advantage of Mark but it took me all the way to the end of the book to get it all straight. Lots of interconnecting character plot lines and crazy coincidences that made the book even more juicy. Would absolutely recommend this as a must read.

When the book starts we meet Richard a teacher who sees a former student attempting to enter the school to blow up the place. As it turns out he has a hit list. Richard is able to keep the tragedy to a minimum but that’s just where the drama heats up in Richard’s life. We meet his wife Bonnie and sister in law Marta who is a cop. Richard is faced with extortion and threats by a former student Billy. We meet Billy and his life Lucy. Billy is involved in drug smuggling with some unsavory characters A and G I’ll call them. A and G are concerned about some skimming off the top of the merchandise. Billy along with Richard are in a pickle. And then there is the allegation that someone- Richard? was molesting young boys including Richard. I really enjoyed trying to figure out who was to blame and what their deal was. At one point I thought I had it figured out but there were two major surprises. Readers will enjoy the ride and the easy to follow story. I read this in two days just wanting to know the answers to all the juiciness!

𝐀 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧. 𝐀 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤, 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

I love this author and love any thrillers set in high schools or with teachers as main characters, so I was really disappointed that I just liked this one instead of loved it.

English teacher Richard Boyle is leading a discussion in class when he hears a commotion out in the hall. Giving his students instructions, he locks them in and goes out to investigate, never dreaming that he would be faced with confronting Mark LeDrew, a former student, who has a bomb strapped to his chest. Richard averts a major crisis and is hailed a hero, but when his identity is plastered in the media, the attention is not all favorable.

The second storyline is where the book fell apart for me. I hate miscommunication as a trope in thriller novels, and it seemed so disjointed and far removed from the original premise that I lost interest. If the book had maintained the original plot but had gone in a more focused direction, this easily would have been five stars.

Although this one missed the mark a bit, this author remains a favorite, and I'll continue to read his work. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for the early copy. This title will publish May 7, 2024.

I enjoyed this adrenalin filled thrill ride by Linwood Barclay. The author did a great job converging several storylines that all fall upon a high school teacher who tries to help his students. I’ll recommend this to customers looking for a great summer beach read!

Linwood Barclay is one of my go-to thriller authors, known for crafting heart-throbbing page-turners that leave you breathless and on the edge of your seat. His latest psychological thriller is no exception, showcasing his exemplary storytelling skills. The only things that held me back from giving it five stars were the predictable final twist and the whirlwind of incidents that touched on several trigger subjects, such as drug use, gun violence, dysfunctional family issues, and sexual harassment. It felt a bit overwhelming at times, with so much happening simultaneously, making it hard for me to fully grasp and absorb all the themes. However, Barclay's masterful execution ties up the storylines with satisfying explanations and a well-rounded ending. I was also impressed by the layered and realistic characterization.

The story follows English teacher Richard Boyle, who is hailed as a Good Samaritan—a dedicated teacher, husband, and caring individual. His life takes a drastic turn when his troubled former student, Mark, shows up at the school with dynamites strapped to his body, threatening to blow them up. Risking his life, Richard manages to negotiate with Mark and persuade him to move outside the school premises. Tragically, Mark trips and detonates the explosives outside, but Richard is hailed as a hero. However, his actions thrust him into a whirlwind of events, including lawsuits from Mark's parents, blackmail from another student, and scrutiny over his choice of reading materials for his students. As Richard delves deeper, he uncovers connections between Mark's attack and dangerous drug gangs threatening the town's peace. With his marriage faltering and trust in his friends wavering, Richard realizes that he may be the prime suspect in Mark's death and must race against time to clear his name and uncover the truth. Amidst suspicion and deceit, one wrong move could lead him down a path of no return.

Overall, this thriller is a mind-bending, twisty, adrenaline rush that deserves a spot on your reading list. I highly recommend it to fans of Barclay's work and eagerly anticipate his future releases.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with a digital review copy of this addictive page-turner in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. It started out strong for me but then a bunch of other stuff started happening and it just seemed unnecessary. I thought it was a lot of fluff and not enough suspense.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review.

Trigger warnings for school violence and drug abuse.

I've read a handful of books by Barclay (the best is Elevator Pitch). This latest title felt uneven to me. It started with a brutal act of school violence and then snowballed into many other stories. I found most of the characters grating; who wants to read about losers who are selling drugs and ignoring their wives? I will say the book picked up near the end and I flew through it. I had correctly predicted who the real abuser was. This could have used better editing for awkward sentences.

English teacher Richard Boyle becomes an instant hero when he talks a former student from blowing himself up inside the school. But as the student goes back outside he trips and blows himself up anyway. Soon Richard is no longer a hero, but instead the subject of a lawsuit from the parents and a secret extortion demand for alleged abuse from another former student and it’s hard to tell friends from foes.

English teacher Richard Boyle becomes an instant hero when he talks a former student from blowing himself up inside the school. But as the student goes back outside he trips and blows himself up anyway. Soon Richard is no longer a hero, but instead the subject of a lawsuit from the parents and a secret extortion demand for alleged abuse from another former student and it’s hard to tell friends from foes.

Barclay is one of my favorite authors! He plots so many twists and turns that make the book hard to put down. I did guess one of the bad guys, but he still had me going till the last page.

Also definitely appreciated his chapter on a teacher talking to parents about book banning 😊 that tied into the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This reviewer has been a fan of Linwood Barclay's books for many years and was pleased to receive an advance copy of I Will Ruin You for review. Like millions of other readers, I discovered Barclay's novels in 2007 with No Time For Goodbye, one of the best thrillers I've ever read (and have re-read at least three times). I've read several of his books since then and enjoyed them all. Barclay's novels are always compelling and entertaining, and his new release is no exception.

Richard Boyle, the protagonist of I Will Ruin You, is an everyman. He's a good husband, father, and high school teacher who becomes a hero after thwarting a killer at the school. And that's when his troubles begin. His hero status makes him the target of some very dangerous people. The subtext of Richard's story is clearly, "No good deed goes unpunished."

I found it refreshing to read a thriller about a good man who is likeable and relatable, and who always tries to do the right thing, even when his decisions seem questionable. But right or wrong, Richard's heart is always in the right place, and this reviewer enjoyed following his perilous journey to reclaim his everyday life. There are twists and turns, and few big surprises along the way, making this book an absorbing, enjoyable read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing an advance copy of this book to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

I Will Ruin You is another page turner from Linwood Barclay! I enjoyed this book and the twists and turns found within! It is an engrossing storyline which I finished in less than 24 hours and will keep the reader guessing until the very end! Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Publication Date: May 7, 2024

Thanks to Wm. Morrow & NetGalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Linwood Barclay is one of my faves and I recommend him all the time. This story strains the boundaries of credulity a little, but hey, these are escapist thrillers. I will forgive Linwood most anything as long as the story is good.

As usual, our hero is a middle aged regular guy: Richard, a high school teacher. His star turn as the guy who saves the day when a troubled former student tries to blow himself up at the school sets in motion a cascade of terrible events that endanger his life and the lives of his wife and daughter. This plot has all the things: drugs, sexual abuse, book banning, impostors, double-crossing - it's a cornucopia of crazy plot points.

Although I figured out the twist well before the end of the book, I can't be mad at Linwood; I think I've read enough of these that I know what to expect, but these are not really formulaic (I think I just got lucky). While my very favorite is the Promise Falls series, his standalones are always very entertaining.

4 very solid stars

Linwood Barclay sets the adrenaline level on high from page one and keeps ramping it up until the very end! There are a lot of characters and twists in turns in this book that will keep you turning the page faster than the plots unfold. GREAT psychological thriller with an end that will not disappoint. Thanks for the advance copy!

There is a lot going on in this novel about a high school teacher, his wife who is a principal at another school and her sister who is a police officer. The story has a fantastic beginning with a former student coming to the school with dynamite strapped to his body. There are too many sub plots which tend to detract from the basic story line - a lawsuit brought by parents, the teaching of inappropriate books for students, drug dealers and users, a murder of a student’s mother, a pervert at the school who preys on children, family tensions and dynamics, gun violence etc.
The book is interesting and Mr. Barclay certainly has a way with words that are unique and memorable - “…..they’ll stick your dick into a pencil sharpener.” I thank NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication.

Wow great read right from the start. I was totally enthralled up until the last page. It’s sad that there are so many school shootings, etc. If anyone is bothered by school violence they might want to skip
this one. Richard clearly was a hero in my mind. Once again Linwood kept me engaged 😊.

Note: grammatical errors chapter 3, 25, and 42.

I always enjoy Linwood Barclay’s books. They are reliably good and I count on spending time with each new one ASAP so I was happy to receive a copy of I Will Ruin You from Willia)m Morrow and NetGalley in exchange for this review.

The protagonist, Richard Boyle, is a high school English teacher. (Right away, being retired teachers, I knew my husband and I would both like this one!). One day, Richard is talking to his class about a Cormac McCarthey book (that is definitely not part of the approved curriculum) when he looks out the window and sees a former student coming toward the school with what looks like dynamite strapped to his chest. Well, it is a bomb, and Richard reacts instantly, becoming sort of a reluctant hero.

It’s not all great. Richard’s marriage is rocky, he has less than great relationships with some colleagues, and he is soon being blackmailed and threatened with…well, it’s complicated. Trust me. It’s a good plot, nice and twisty, and the characters are memorable.For example, a sort of lowlife loser named Billy is one of those guys who mostly spends time in his garage tinkering on a non-functioning muscle car: “A thousand years from now, after the polar ice caps had melted and much of the world was sitting underwater, that f%^&*ng car would still be up on blocks waiting to be fixed.” (Admit it, you know that guy!)

Once again, a reliably entertaining read from Barclay, who continues to be one of my favorite authors when I want to forget about the news for a day or two. Five stars.

Another fantastic book. It kept me on the edge of my seat. A true page turner! Five Stars! This should be everyone’s best book of the year!

One of my favorite authors, he is always an auto request. Richard is the star of the book! Every 2 to 3 chapters is his POV. Richard is a teacher, one of has past students shows up at his school with a bomb strapped to his chest. Richard is so quick on his feet and because of this, it does not turn into a major tragedy. The next thing that happens is another past student tries to blackmail him.

Is the student with the bomb and the blackmailer part of a gang?

Deadly Secrets, Dangerous Scenes, and Page Turning! 3.5 stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy! This book is set to release 5/7/24.