Helpful Score: 4
A real page turner! Definitely one of Barclay's best-and that is saying alot. I could not put this one down! With all the twists, it kept me guessing to the end! Well done!
Helpful Score: 1
Fast paced exciting thriller! Keeps you turning pages as fast as you can to see what happens next!
Helpful Score: 1
Stephen King listed this book as one of his "must-reads" for the summer, so naturally I had to read it. This book defies description, really. It is a thriller that will keep you awake at night and turning the pages, unable to put it down. I've never read one of Mr. Barclay's books before, but this will not be the last I read. It starts when Sheila, the wife of a building contractor is killed in a car accident deemed to be her fault for DUI which also kills two other people. Her husband doesn't believe that she could have done this and sets out to find out what really happened to her. Along the way, he encounters corrupt police, counterfeiting rings, prostitution, and murder. Just read this book. Trust me on this.
Helpful Score: 1
What a winner! I enjoyed this book from first page to last. I've enjoyed all of Barclay's novels but think this one is hands down the best. Highly recommended.
Helpful Score: 1
Stephen King listed this book as one of his "must-reads" for the summer, so naturally I had to read it. This book defies description, really. It is a thriller that will keep you awake at night and turning the pages, unable to put it down. I've never read one of Mr. Barclay's books before, but this will not be the last I read. It starts when Sheila, the wife of a building contractor is killed in a car accident deemed to be her fault for DUI which also kills two other people. Her husband doesn't believe that she could have done this and sets out to find out what really happened to her. Along the way, he encounters corrupt police, counterfeiting rings, prostitution, and murder. Just read this book. Trust me on this.
Helpful Score: 1
Barclay is right up there with Patterson! If you read one good book this year---make it this one!
From page 1 to the very last page will keep you turning the pages as the story unfolds and the twists and turns start, by the last few pages another turn will hit you that you're not expecting.
From page 1 to the very last page will keep you turning the pages as the story unfolds and the twists and turns start, by the last few pages another turn will hit you that you're not expecting.
Helpful Score: 1
I read this book for this month's "Thriller" theme in my online book club, The Reading Cove. It had me at hello - the prologue was crisp, engaging and witty.
I enjoyed the alternating points-of-view, mainly first person through Glen's experience, but we also got third person with some of the other characters, which gave the story a nice balance.
Set in bad economic times with themes of middle class people turning to selling knock off purses, prescription drugs, etc. to make ends meet, I was guessing right up until the end, but the story did feel like it went on a little bit longer than necessary. But all in all, THE ACCIDENT was a very intelligent, well put together page-turner! B+
I enjoyed the alternating points-of-view, mainly first person through Glen's experience, but we also got third person with some of the other characters, which gave the story a nice balance.
Set in bad economic times with themes of middle class people turning to selling knock off purses, prescription drugs, etc. to make ends meet, I was guessing right up until the end, but the story did feel like it went on a little bit longer than necessary. But all in all, THE ACCIDENT was a very intelligent, well put together page-turner! B+
4.0 out of 5 stars How well do you really know those people in your circle of family and friends?
I have read all of Barclay's previous books so was looking forward to the latest one! This suspense novel had a fast pace with an interesting subject presented immediately in the prologue - the illegal sales of counterfeit merchandise and the seedy, dangerous underground -- and it kept me turning the pages well past bedtime.
A quiet suburban neighborhood is rocked first by the car accident death of a housewife and mother, Sheila Garber, whose inexplicable car crash while driving drunk results in the unraveling of the lives of several interconnected families. As her husband, Glen, and daughter, Kelly, try to come to terms with this tragedy, discoveries are made that make Glen wonder if indeed "the accident" was what it seemed. As the narrative goes on, suspense mounts as first one character and then another comes to light as involved in a ring of sorts that centers around the sale of various items and a stereotypical villain who wants "the money." The novel has several plot twists but a savvy reader will not be too surprised as events unfold and the climax is reached.
My main complaints, and the reasons I don't give this novel 5 stars: I felt that the death toll was unnecessary -- it didn't advance the plot, and it seemed overmuch. In addition, I've come to notice that the protagonist, in this book he's named Glen Garber, is one that Barclay duplicates in every single book -- a decent ordinary man, husband, father driven to extremes by events he didn't anticipate and now must avenge. This man is always a bit naive and ignorant about things going on under his own roof until the moment when he's spurred into action and then pretty much has to take matters into his own hands and figure out the truth even though he's facing some pretty unrealistic scenarios that cause the reader to suspend some disbelief.
Despite feeling sometimes that I keep reading the same Barclay novel over and over, I would recommend this for any of his fans and others who enjoy a suspense mystery with lots of layers and a well-constructed (though not completely unpredicted) conclusion.
I have read all of Barclay's previous books so was looking forward to the latest one! This suspense novel had a fast pace with an interesting subject presented immediately in the prologue - the illegal sales of counterfeit merchandise and the seedy, dangerous underground -- and it kept me turning the pages well past bedtime.
A quiet suburban neighborhood is rocked first by the car accident death of a housewife and mother, Sheila Garber, whose inexplicable car crash while driving drunk results in the unraveling of the lives of several interconnected families. As her husband, Glen, and daughter, Kelly, try to come to terms with this tragedy, discoveries are made that make Glen wonder if indeed "the accident" was what it seemed. As the narrative goes on, suspense mounts as first one character and then another comes to light as involved in a ring of sorts that centers around the sale of various items and a stereotypical villain who wants "the money." The novel has several plot twists but a savvy reader will not be too surprised as events unfold and the climax is reached.
My main complaints, and the reasons I don't give this novel 5 stars: I felt that the death toll was unnecessary -- it didn't advance the plot, and it seemed overmuch. In addition, I've come to notice that the protagonist, in this book he's named Glen Garber, is one that Barclay duplicates in every single book -- a decent ordinary man, husband, father driven to extremes by events he didn't anticipate and now must avenge. This man is always a bit naive and ignorant about things going on under his own roof until the moment when he's spurred into action and then pretty much has to take matters into his own hands and figure out the truth even though he's facing some pretty unrealistic scenarios that cause the reader to suspend some disbelief.
Despite feeling sometimes that I keep reading the same Barclay novel over and over, I would recommend this for any of his fans and others who enjoy a suspense mystery with lots of layers and a well-constructed (though not completely unpredicted) conclusion.
Enjoyed reading The Accident as well as all Linwood Barclay's books.
Barclay is one of the best suspense and thriller writers today. That said, while most thrillers require a certain suspension of disbelief, I found "The Accident" to be a little too implausible. It's really hard to be specific without revealing spoilers so I'll just say the novel was a bit too busy, too many characters involved in too many things and though the plot twists were surprising they also too suspect, no pun intended. An okay novel, not Barclay's best.
I enjoyed the twists and turns of this book immensely. It was a good story and written quite well. There were a few times when things were repeated a bit but not enough to stop me from reading. I have to share a quote from a reader on Goodreads with whom I totally agree.
Usually for me, suspense/thriller books are like eating M&Ms...they're good, but I don't expect to get much (literary) nutritional value out of them. This was a surprising exception however, probably because of the twists and reveals.
If you like mysteries/thrillers this book is for you!
Usually for me, suspense/thriller books are like eating M&Ms...they're good, but I don't expect to get much (literary) nutritional value out of them. This was a surprising exception however, probably because of the twists and reveals.
If you like mysteries/thrillers this book is for you!
1st book by this author that I have read and I must say it was a real good read. Good plot, interesting charters, kept the pager turning, surprise ending. Am looking forward to reading more of his work.
This is an excellent mystery suspense thriller with twists and turns throughout!
This is one of the few thrillers I've read where most of the characters could be people I know - or who live around me and I don't know. Very chilling, absorbing and mostly believable.
I have read all of Linwood Barclay's books so far. This one is a disappointment. It really drags in places and usually his books I can't put down. Not so with this one. It is wordy in places and is not as good as his previous novels. There a lot of twists and turns towards the end of the book, which helps somewhat. This novel is just not one of his best.
