Actually, 3.5 stars

“Whistle” delivers a suspenseful, character-driven ride with a supernatural twist that lingers long after the final page. The story begins in the shadow of grief, slowly unraveling a strange and eerie mystery centered around a possessed train set—a chilling and original element that adds a haunting layer to the plot.

Told through multiple points of view, the novel offers a rich tapestry of perspectives that deepen the emotional weight and drive the suspense. While this approach adds complexity and depth, it can occasionally become a bit convoluted if you're not paying close attention—especially as the supernatural elements start bleeding into the more grounded moments.

Barclay’s characters are well-drawn and believable, each one carrying their own burdens and secrets. The emotional stakes are high, and the tension builds steadily, with moments of quiet dread punctuated by bursts of real terror.

Blending grief, mystery, and the uncanny with Barclay’s signature pacing, Whistle is both a ghost story and a psychological thriller. Fans of layered suspense with a supernatural edge will find a lot to love—just be sure to keep your
eye on the tracks.

Thank You NetGalley and the Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

*Whistle* by Linwood Barclay is a chilling psychological thriller that combines emotional depth with a creeping sense of dread. The story follows Annie Blunt, a woman who is trying to rebuild her life after a series of devastating events. When she and her son, Charlie, move to a small town in upstate New York, they hope for a fresh start. However, their new home harbors dark secrets that begin to surface when Charlie discovers a forgotten train set in a locked shed.

Barclay masterfully builds tension as Annie's perception of reality starts to unravel. Strange noises, an eerie train that seems to haunt her nights, and the unsettling appearance of a mysterious new character in Annie’s drawings all point to something sinister lurking beneath the surface of the seemingly idyllic town. The psychological twists are engaging, keeping readers guessing whether Annie's fears are the result of grief-induced paranoia or if something truly horrific is at play. The novel expertly explores themes of trauma, isolation, and the haunting effects of grief. Barclay’s writing is atmospheric, with vivid descriptions that immerse the reader in the growing sense of dread surrounding Annie’s world. The suspense escalates gradually, drawing readers deeper into the mystery until the shocking revelations in the final chapters.

*Whistle* is a tense, atmospheric thriller that will captivate fans of psychological suspense. With its haunting premise and well-drawn characters, it’s a gripping tale that keeps readers on edge until the last page.

Chuffchuffchuffchuff this train set is evil!!!

Meet Mr Choo and his special train sets who find their way to homes around the area where-ever he set up shop. Choo-Choo's Trains arrives in the town of Lucknow, which will never be the same ever again!
Annie Blunt, whose a successful author/illustrator of children's books decides that her and her son Charlie desperately need a break after the death of her husband. So with the help of her publicist they move Upstate for the summer. Her plan for them is to relax away from the city, but after Charlie finds a forgotten train set in the shed a number of strange, creepy things occur that make no sense , but it’s enough to freak her out when bizarre, disturbing things start happening that make no sense but it’s enough to freak her out Annie begins to questions both her sanity and her choices. This was a very chilling and creepy and very much Stephen King-esque that has a strong, dark supernatural elements that made my mind work overtime! I loved it!

Whistle

Since when were toy trains SCARY?! Now. Now they are freaking horrifying.

The trains that come from Mr Choo's train emporium are anything from basic. Obviously he's got your cute little houses, your trains with unique boxcars - but his collection is so much more than that.

Pros:
-Made me want to go play with a train set! But also...made me SIDE EYE every train set
-Characters feel real and fleshed out

Cons:
-Multiple POVs with two timelines did take a bit of concentration. I wasn't totally lost, but did make me take this down a notch in my review.

Strongggggg Stephen King vibes on this one. (Like, I wouldn't have been surprised if Linwood Barclay was Stephen King in disguise). It's a fun one! Give it a go, especially if you are into supernatural thrillers/horror.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All views expressed are my own.

Barclay takes a turn into the horror genre and it's a big success. His normal multiple arc threading works well in a genre that has some out of this world elements.

Whistle by Linwood Barclay

Annie and her young son, Charlie move to a small town looking for a fresh start, only to be haunted by disturbing events and strange visions when they find a mysterious train set in a storage shed.

This book is exceptionally written, and keeps the reader coming back, looking to find out what happens next. The story weaves different people's perspectives into an ever growing bizarre story. Annie, a best selling author of children books, who experiences tragedy when one of her young readers jumps to his death imitating the character in Annie's book. Police Chief Harry who watches over the small town of Lucknow and seems to be the only one noticing the strange incidents, along with random, peculiar, deaths and disappearances. Mr. Choo, who owns the local toy train store. Is he the nice, helpful store owner or the provoker of events going on.

This is a supernatural horror novel. Like Stephen King-like supernatural horror novel. I wasn't expecting that so it was a tad jarring, but a still enjoyable thriller novel.

In this atmospheric and deeply unsettling tale, Whistle] tells the story of Annie Blunt, a woman reeling from an unthinkable year of loss, scandal, and emotional devastation. The novel masterfully blends psychological suspense with supernatural horror, offering a haunting exploration of grief, isolation, and the eerie thinness of the veil between reality and nightmare.

After losing her husband in a hit-and-run and watching her once-thriving career crumble under controversy, Annie retreats to a quiet town in upstate New York with her young son, Charlie. But peace remains elusive. When Charlie discovers an old train set locked away in a shed on their new property, what initially seems like a welcome distraction quickly turns sinister. Mysterious noises in the night, inexplicable events in the neighborhood, and the obsessive creation of a dark new character in Annie’s sketches all point toward a malevolent force at play.

The novel excels in its slow-burn tension, immersing readers in Annie’s unraveling mental state. Is it trauma, guilt, or something far more otherworldly? The ambiguity is part of the thrill. The writing is richly descriptive, drawing readers into a world where shadows move on their own and the past refuses to stay buried. The eerie charm of the small-town setting adds to the creeping dread that builds with each chapter.

What makes Whistle particularly effective is its emotional core—Annie’s fierce love for her son, her yearning for redemption, and the raw vulnerability of a woman pushed to the edge. As the boundaries between reality and delusion blur, readers are kept guessing until the chilling, unforgettable climax.

A compelling mix of gothic horror and emotional depth, [Insert Title] is perfect for fans of Jennifer McMahon, Paul Tremblay, or Shirley Jackson. It’s a beautifully written, spine-tingling read that lingers long after the final page.

Rating: 4.5/5

I’ve read many of Linwood Barclay’s thrillers and always enjoyed them. This was a little bit different because it added some horror into it. It was told from two points of view, one from the 90’s with the sheriff telling the story and one from current times with Annie telling the story. I liked the main characters because they were both good people trying to do the right thing. I also liked that Annie didn’t make stupid decisions. Her main job was to protect her son Charlie. It also had a chillingly effective evil character.
The book went at a good pace. I never found it boring. I would recommend this books to others who enjoy horror thrillers.
Thank you to @williammorrow and @netgalley for giving me this early copy of the book.

Pitch: evil trains? This goes against everyone online suddenly loving trains, but… This book goes between two narratives, a mother named Annie who has just faced two brutal deaths that make her want to take a break from her normal life in the big city, and a small-town cop named Harry who begins seeing a pattern in his town’s strange fatalities.

I’m a complete scaredy-cat, so this took me a little extra long to finish. Long story short: I read ebooks at night in bed by myself. And possibly there’s a scene where the protagonist is laying in bed and feels the bed shift like someone (a GHOST!!) is sitting there next to her. AH!

This book is so incredibly creative. I can tell why Stephen King liked it, and it did remind me of him a little (positive). It has such a unique antagonist that I ended up vibing with but also not really (he’s evil or whatever. Should I monologue about the greater good here?). The writing was also very good, so while it took me a little to get into because of The Fear, I immediately recognized that this would be a good book and pushed through. Overall, I sincerely enjoyed myself.

Barclay goes even darker than usual, delving into the supernatural in a story very reminiscent of Stephen King (who loved the book). This novel is truly twisted, unpredictable and suspenseful. I liked it better than any King I’ve read. Creative art as a curse, innocuous toys becoming evil and a child with creepy habits are tropes of the genre, but Barclay gives them life. I liked Annie a lot. She’s having a hard year but she’s still trying to give her son Charlie a better life. I’m not a fan of children in fiction, and Charlie kept making the worst decisions every possible moment, but I was still rooting for him. The other important character is the Chief of Police of the town of Lucknow, where we know something horrible happened. It is not immediately obvious how both stories intertwine, but I was equally invested in both parts. The tension only increases as the chapters fly by, and I thought the ending was amazing. The whole book was excellent. Five toots for this.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/William Morrow.

3.5 stars

Whew this was a creepy and very chilling read. I enjoyed the dual points of view and the Stephen King-type horror writing. It’s a very clever story, and I quite enjoyed it.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Over the years I have read several Linwood Barclay books, and have enjoyed them quite a bit. Whistle though was a little harder for me to get into and enjoy. It was also the first time I picked up a Barclay book and started reading what I would consider more horror than thriller/mystery. In the end, I did like the book, but it took maybe close to 3/4 of the book for me to actually look forward to figuring out what was going on in the story. Overall, for me this was an enjoyable slow burn horror story. Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for a digital arc of this title.

As a long-time fan of Linwood Barclay’s thrillers, I have always looked forward to his new releases. However, Whistle was a big disappointment for me, as it veered into territory I wasn’t expecting—horror. I’ve enjoyed every one of his books in the past.The plot centers around a mysterious event, and while Barclay certainly knows how to build tension, the supernatural elements felt like a significant departure from the kind of grounded, edge-of-your-seat thrillers I’ve come to expect from him. In the end, Whistle wasn’t my cup of tea, but it’s still a well-crafted book for those who enjoy supernatural suspense.
I'm hoping Lincoln Barclay returns to his more traditional books that he writes.
Thanks NetGally for advance copy.

This is my first foray into the author's work and I'd like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the reading opportunity. I'm a huge fan of horror so I was looking forward to reading Whistle.
The book begins with the character Annie and her family tragedy that prompts her leaving NYC for rural New York. The story then abruptly shifts to a small town in Vermont, with all new characters,and suspicious deaths. At first it's not clear how the two stories connect and if they are even happening concurrently. If you trust the author, you'll find that eventually the stories intertwine and everything is revealed. The ending felt a bit rushed but the stories wrapped up to a cohesive ending.

wow thank you so so much for this arc. this was my 2nd book by this author and i really enjoyed it. this was a creepy supernatural story about a possessed train and it's creator Mr. choo.i really hope we get more from linwood barclay in the horror genre.

Upon discovering a forgotten train set in a locked shed on their new property, Charlie's excitement turns into a catalyst for chilling events. Annie’s initial delight in seeing her son happy quickly gives way to unease as strange occurrences haunt their household. The atmosphere becomes increasingly tense, enhanced by eerie sounds and anomalies that disrupt their attempts to heal. The author skillfully builds suspense, creating a palpable sense of dread that implies something sinister lurks beneath the surface.

Annie's artistic journey is particularly striking, as her sketches begin to reveal a dark character that has no place in the children's stories she once cherished. This transformation serves as a metaphor for her grief and the way it distorts her reality. A compelling quote from the book encapsulates this theme: “Grief can warp the mind in ways it never should, pulling us into our darkest nightmares.” This line poignantly reflects Annie's struggles as she grapples with the fragility of her mental state while trying to protect Charlie from the darkness creeping into their lives.

*Whistle* is a gripping blend of psychological tension and supernatural elements, keeping readers engaged and on edge throughout. The character development is strong, particularly Annie's evolution from a grieving widow to a woman on the brink of unraveling. The small-town setting, combined with the eerie undertones of the narrative, enhances the story's chilling ambiance and makes for a thoroughly immersive reading experience.

With its intriguing plot and exploration of grief's haunting aftermath, *Whistle* is a captivating read that will resonate with fans of psychological thrillers and supernatural fiction alike. This novel not only entertains but also delves into the complexities of how loss can manifest in unexpected and terrifying ways, leaving readers reflecting on the fine line between reality and nightmare long after the last page is turned.

Linwood Barclay is a must read anytime and everytime! Except this time he has added a supernatural element and I am sold!! Unputdownable I tell you! His books are a fantastic ride that keep me on the edge of my seat every time!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this Advance Copy!

Whistle by Linwood Barclay scared the absolute hell out of me. I’m talking check-the-dark-corners-of-my-room level fear. It’s got that perfect small-town horror vibe—where something as innocent as a toy train turns into nope, absolutely not. The pacing is tight, the tension is relentless, and by the end, I was questioning every weird noise in my house. If you like Stephen King-style nightmares with a side of “why did I read this before bed?”—this one’s a must. Easy 5/5.

This was my time reading this author and his first time writing Supernatural Fiction 😊

Annie and her son move to a small town to escape the life they have in New York- two back to back events factor their move. But when they arrive to the small town, it gets much worse. Charlie, Annie's son, finds a train set in a shed behind their rental home. He sleep walks in the middle of the night, walking miles away. The sound of a train comes out of nowhere even when there aren't any trains that run through the small town. That's all I'm going to say without giving too much away!

There was a Bentley Little feel to this read. Surreal, creepy, off putting.

Thank you to @netgalley for sending me a free ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. I thought it was very eerie, atmospheric, and creepy. I've never read anything like this before, it was certainly different.

This follows Charlie and his mom Annie in the present, along with the town they are staying in where people are mysteriously coming up missing. There are some past pov's as well. The pacing was pretty good, there were a few times I felt the book was a bit slow but overall it was good.