Whistle

Whistle is wonderfully written, well thought out, creepy, dark, chilling, gripping and dripping with dread! Just how I like them! Who knew a toy train set could be so unsettling and completely frightening? Not me! But in Linwood Barclay’s hands, this toy for both young and old alike, becomes a toy that chug chug chugs on a trail of terror!

In the present
Annie is looking for a fresh start after a year full of heartbreak, loss, trauma, and scandal. Her husband died in a horrible accident and her beloved children’s book became the cause of a scandal. She just wanted a new quiet place in which to raise her son, Charlie. Little does she know things are about to get worse. When Charlie finds an old train set in a locked shed on their new property, he’s happy. But Annie begins hearing weird things at night. I wanted to say “ummm, Annie. stop and think about why it was locked in the shed!” Maybe I have seen too many horror films, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that nothing good can come from this. But I digress….

In the past
Chief Cook has one heck of a case on his hands. Animals have gone missing, and the body of a man has been found and well, it’s bad to say the least. His body is only the first of many that Chief Cook will investigate. The chief can’t help but notice that there is a train store in town that just seemed to appear and is owned by Mr. Choo Choo. His trains are unique and well, thing begin to happen when they find an owner….

This book was CREEPY and DARK. Linwood Barclay proved that he could give Stephen King a run for his money with Whistle. Barclay captured the small-town feel, the nostalgic vibe of having a train set, the eeriness of hearing strange noises, and the creepiness of having neighbors who seem to know more about your home than you do.

I loved the tension, the supernatural element, and the unsettling vibe in this book. I also loved the creepy and diabolical Mr. Choo Choo. I mean come on, from that name alone, you know you are dealing with a ‘unique’ individual. This book is told in two timelines and in two different places, yet they mingle beautifully at the end of the book. Speaking of the end of the book, hats off to Linwood Barclay for pulling off a brilliant ending.

Creepy, wonderfully written, well thought out, unique, and hard to put down!

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.