Another unique and inventive novel from a true literary master. Whistle is a thrilling adventure that is unputdownable and will haunt your thoughts long after the last page is read.

I enjoyed this but not as much as I thought I would, the plot was great but the pacing felt a little off in some parts, it was diffucult to keep track of what was happening, very creepy however!

Unfortunately, I couldn't finish the book. I started getting confused with with the transitions between the chapters

Linwood Barclay’s Whistle is a masterfully written horror novel that took me by surprise in the best way possible. Though I had never read anything by Barclay before—and, after browsing his other titles, wasn’t sure his usual thriller style would be my thing—his foray into horror is nothing short of a home run.

From the very first page, Barclay’s writing pulls you in with a gripping narrative and a seamless blend of eerie atmosphere, tension, and character depth. The novel unfolds across two timelines, and both are executed with remarkable precision. At no point did the back-and-forth feel jarring; instead, every piece of the story clicked neatly into place, keeping me engaged and eager to see how everything would come together.

In fact, if I didn’t know better, I’d suspect “Linwood Barclay” was another Richard Bachman pseudonym of Stephen King. That’s how well-crafted Whistle is—it has that same sense of dread, pacing, and attention to character that makes for an unforgettable horror experience.

I could go on, but I’ll simply end by saying this: Whistle is fantastic. A must-read for horror fans, and an absolute standout from a writer who, in my opinion, just proved he can master more than one genre.

Rating: 5/5 stars.

I want to thank NetGalley and William Morrow Books for sending me a free advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Linwood Barclay’s Whistle is another masterclass in tension and suspense, delivering a gripping thriller packed with twists, small-town secrets, and pulse-pounding moments that refuse to let up. From the very start, Barclay sets an ominous tone, pulling readers into a web of mystery where nothing—and no one—is quite as they seem.

The novel thrives on its expertly crafted pacing. Barclay knows exactly when to slow things down for character development and when to hit the gas, making Whistle nearly impossible to put down. The characters, as always in his work, feel real and flawed, their personal struggles adding depth to the overarching mystery. Even the seemingly ordinary moments carry a sense of unease, making every chapter hum with tension.

At the heart of Whistle is a high-stakes premise that unfolds in unexpected ways, keeping readers on their toes. Barclay is a master of misdirection, and just when you think you have everything figured out, he pulls the rug out from under you. The final act is especially satisfying, delivering a conclusion that is both shocking and well-earned.

If there’s any drawback, it’s that some of the subplots—while engaging—occasionally pull focus from the central mystery. However, Barclay’s skillful storytelling ensures that everything eventually ties together in a way that feels natural and rewarding.

Overall, Whistle is a fast-paced, exhilarating thriller that proves once again why Linwood Barclay is one of the best in the genre. Fans of his work—and of tightly wound suspense in general—will find plenty to love here.

An eerie and suspenseful book - I really enjoyed! I felt it was a bit slow in some places, but overall was hooked. Loved the writing and the twists as well!

This book was SO creepy. My future children will never have a toy train set 😂 The bit of paranormal blends with reality so well it has you questioning so much. Only gave 4 stars because the first 20% or so was a bit hard to follow. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing for letting me read this ARC!

A toy train has a mind of its own. A mother and son just want a fresh new start but this supernatural find sends things off the rails.

This was so freaking good. Mysterious, thrilling, and a bit dark. I wasn't hooked right away, but it didn't take long for this story to dig its claws in. I would have liked a quicker pace with more suspense, but that's my only complaint here.

This wasnt the typical Linwood Barclay book but i loved it. I was hooked from the beginning and the story was excellent.

I've read many of this author's books and have always been a fan. He's switched gears here from mystery/thriller to a supernatural/horror genre. Did I like it? Not so much. I was about ready to give up about half-way through, but decided to plow on by switching to my speed reading mode. I must admit it got a bit better and the ending was fun. However, I can't really recommend spending your hard earned coins on this one.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this offering.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

First, I would like to thank William Morrow and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC.

Linwood Barclay finally taking on the supernatural? Sign me up!

I have always been a fan of Barclay. And in the past, he’s written books which seem like they should have had a supernatural twist, but were rooted in reality (I’m looking at you, “A Noise Downstairs!”) But now, he’s taken the dive into Stephen King territory and has written a lovely horror novel about a mysterious toy train that seems to have a mind of its own.

The issue, I feel, is that it’s a little too much like Stephen King. Parts of this book feels like an extension of Needful Things, while other parts feel like an amalgamation of every other Stephen King book put together. I mean, there’s even a reference to “SSDD” (Only true King fans will understand that reference)

Before this review goes off the rails (Ha!), I just want to say that I genuinely enjoyed this book. I know Mr. Barclay is a big model train enthusiast, and it’s clear how much thought he put into this.

I, for one, am excited to see where Barclay goes from here. I hope he continues to explore horror, as well as put out some of the best, twisty, high-octane thrillers on the market!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an advanced copy to honestly review.

Linwood Barclay delivers yet another spine-chilling thriller with Whistle, a novel that masterfully blends psychological suspense with eerie supernatural elements. From the very first page, Barclay draws readers into Annie Blunt’s unsettling world—a place where grief, trauma, and inexplicable horrors collide in a way that feels both deeply personal and profoundly terrifying.

After a tragic year, Annie and her son Charlie seek solace in a quiet town, hoping to rebuild their lives. But when Charlie stumbles upon an old train set in a locked shed, their fresh start takes a sinister turn. The creeping tension builds with every page—mysterious sounds in the night, unsettling drawings Annie can’t stop creating, and the growing sense that something dark is lurking just beyond reach. Barclay is a master of pacing, expertly weaving together psychological unease and supernatural dread, keeping readers hooked until the final, jaw-dropping revelation.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its richly drawn characters. Annie’s raw, emotional depth makes her an incredibly compelling protagonist, while Charlie’s innocence adds an extra layer of vulnerability that heightens the suspense. The town itself feels like a character—quaint and welcoming on the surface, but hiding a history that refuses to stay buried.

Fans of thrillers with a supernatural twist will devour Whistle. It’s a gripping, atmospheric read that keeps you second-guessing reality, questioning the line between grief-induced paranoia and true horror. Barclay delivers an electrifying, edge-of-your-seat experience that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC copy via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. WOW! As you can see from the other reviews, this book is really good. Barclay stepped away from his usual thrillers and tapped into the dark side of the supernatural. For him to be so good in both genres, he must simply be oozing talent from every pore.
This story has two timelines. Chief Harry in 2001 and Annie and her son in the present. What they all have in common is model trains with a "special ingredient." Some have more of the "ingredient" some have less. The story and timelines all come together perfectly and smoothly. I found myself really caring for these characters and just couldn't stop reading until I found out what the purpose of these atrocities was. I look forward to continued works of the supernatural and horror from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of “Whistle” in exchange for an honest review. Linwood Barclay, typically known for his excellent domestic thrillers, takes quite a turn here into supernatural horror territory with a Stephen King-like tale about a grieving woman and her son, who encounter an evil that threatens to bring more tragedy to their lives.

“Whistle” bounces between two storylines, the first being that of successful writer and artist, Annie, and her young son traveling to upstate NY to escape the pain of the death of Annie’s husband, as well as the tragedy of a young child dying after being influenced by one of her books. Upon arriving at the house where they will be spending the summer, Annie’s son finds a train set in the shed which seems to somehow trigger significant.danger for them and those around them.

The second storyline provides the origin story for the seemingly haunted train set, taking us a to small town where a new train shop has opened up and quickly sells unique train sets to many of the local residents. Before long, bad things are happening to the unlucky recipients of these trains, while the local sheriff desperately tries to figure out what is going on in his town and how the strange owner of the train shop might be involved.

Barclay notes in the Acknowledgements that Stephen King actually read an early version of this book to provide feedback, which is fitting since there are definitely hints of several King works here including “Needful Things” and “Storm of the Century”. Overall, this is a well-written, entertaining, and successful foray into to darker material for Barclay. Definitely recommended…..4.5 stars (rounded to 5).

Linwood Barclay flexes his excellent story telling skills into the supernatural/thriller genre. Barclay's mysteries and thrillers have always been a favorite-auto read for me so I didn't bother to read the book synopsis before diving into what is definitely a thriller of a different kind. From the first page to the awesome ending, Barclay weaves an atmospheric tale of what happens when the balance of good and evil leans heavily to good. The appearance of chaos crept into this small town in upstate New York with no fanfare and started disrupting everything good.
The beginning of the story brings an author of children's books to a breaking point when events keep happening in her orderly life. She will take her young son and escape....maybe....to the same small town where chaos has taken up residence. As the eerie events keep pulling her into the center of the unexplanible, she will fight for her son's safety.
The book definitely gives off some Stephen King vibes, but it's definitely Barclay's skilled writing that kept me reading long after everyone had turned off the lights and given up on me. The author's notes do tell that King reviewed the story and gave it his approval so if the master of the genre says it's ok to go....who am I to argue. Easily 5 stars and will we see Annie again?

A train set scary?? I would have never imagined it possible. But... I was mistaken.

Written/Told in dual timelines this storyline is fast paced and absolutely back of my neck, hair raising! Edwin of Choo Choo’s Trains sets up shop in a small town in VT selling train sets to the locals. Odd happenings and strange disappearances begin to happen. The local Police Chief Harry starts to figure things out.

In another timeline, Annie and her son Charlie rent a house after the death of her husband. Charlie finds an old train set in the shed behind the house. Odd things begin to happen and it seems that the train is not just a toy train. You won't be able to put this book down. As frightening and scary as it is, it draws you in.

Wow!
My brain is all over the place with this one. It was so good!
Twist, paranormal, death, the body count ( omg the body count 🤯) hidden messages, and all the emotions. This book literally has it all.
There were so many twist so many. The only way to describe the twist is like jump scares. They came out of the blue and you didn’t even get a hint of what was about to happen. Even though there were so many twist they all came together brilliantly. Taking such a simple object ( kids toy) and making it in to horror was amazing.
Five stars right off the track ( bad pun) just for the names Linwood Barclay used. Edwin Nabler name play from the word enabler was a brilliant move. It describe this character so well. Also my favorite name John Garfield hands down hilarious.

It’s been awhile since I read a Barclay book and I can’t remember why. Regardless, I saw this title on NetGalley and decided to request it and I think it’s fantastic! The pages flew by. Highly recommended.

What a creepy and addictive book! Who knew toy train sets could be so creepy.

Our first stop is a small town in New York where Annie and her son Charlie have decided to spend a few months away from the city due to an unexpected tragedy. While exploring the old house, Charlie has found an old model train set in the shed and becomes enamored with it. Our second stop is another small town this time in Vermont. Harry is the chief of police investigating several strange murders. Also in that same small town, a new shop has opened selling model toy trains. The proprietor is an eccentric man who goes by the name Mr. Choo Choo and his toy trains sure are special and very unique. Harry begins to question whether the strange murders and the arrival of Mr. Choo Choo are connected.

I really liked where the story went and thought, both perspectives between Annie and Harry were equally entertaining. They easily could have been their own storyline, but how they tied together I thought was expertly done and made the ending quite satisfying. The only issue, if I can even call it that, would be that the book could’ve been longer. I would’ve loved to hear more of Mr. Choo Choo’s backstory. I think it would be cool to hear all of the different places he had been. I also had a hard time keeping track of everyone who purchased a train, to also have more time developed to them I would have liked as well. What I’m trying to say is this was done really well and I really enjoyed it that I actually wanted more. I think the horror elements were done very well and not super gory. If you’re on the fence about reading a horror novel, I think this is a good one to start with. Would highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

so good and lots of secrets to uncover. i love trains and what role they play in story. the cover is nice and dark