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calypsoscreams's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Hilarious. It is entertaining. A bit different from the books I usually read, since this is more comedic.
I spotted some typographical error, but certainly a book worth the time.
I laughed the most when the 'man' fell off the stairs. HAHAHAHHAAHHA!
Good thing I have the rest of the books. Thanks!
I spotted some typographical error, but certainly a book worth the time.
I laughed the most when the 'man' fell off the stairs. HAHAHAHHAAHHA!
Good thing I have the rest of the books. Thanks!
lmt01's review against another edition
4.0
Barclay's first book foreshadows the talented writer than he has become.
Some time ago, I read the Promise Falls Trilogy by Canadian crime writer Linwood Barclay, whose works (well, technically work) I had enjoyed previously. However, I ran into a problem: a character named David Harwood. Now, David wasn't too annoying a character - but he had appeared in a book released before the Trilogy, which I didn't realise until it spoiled pretty much everything that had occurred in said book. Needless to say, I wasn't too impressed. From that moment on (very dramatic, I know), I vowed to read Barclay's books in chronological order. My public library has most of his books, which made things a lot easier. And here we are: the beginning of my quest, the 2004 comedy/thriller BAD MOVE.
Barclay's debut follows paranoid father Zack Walker, who moves his family from the city and into the suburbs after a five-year-old is found murdered nearby. At first, everything goes well (apart from his daughter's disgust and his tendency to give his family "lessons" that they most certainly do not want). However, everything changes when he discovers two things: one, that the guy across the road may or may not be growing a certain plant in his basement; two, a dead body. Then Zack finds that his paranoia is not only necessary, but may have moved him and his loved ones to an even more dangerous territory.
The biggest thing I noticed about BAD MOVE was that it was infused with the comedy genre; sure, it was a mystery/thriller, but in the same way that Monk is. This didn't surprise me since I'd read reviews of the book beforehand, but it was still quite unnerving since Barclay has written some of the darkest and most daring crime books I have read that were published in the 21st Century. The humour wasn't unwelcome, of course - and Barclay is actually a pretty funny guy when he wants to be - but I just thought I'd put in my review that young-Barclay was a lot more laid-back than the person who writes now.
Another thing that makes BAD MOVE different to Barclay's later books is the character development. It's here, don't worry - but it doesn't feel like what you'd expect from a Barclay novel. Of course, this is meant to be a comedy book, so the characters have over-the-top faults instead of normal human ones, but - once again - it was strange to read this book and accept the fact that it had LINWOOD BARCLAY written on the cover.
As for the crime aspect of the book: although it takes a while to get moving, Barclay's first novel still has the talent that would reappear later in his career in a stronger form. In fact, I think that the pacing is the only thing that Barclay would develop over time (apart from what I mentioned above), because pretty much everything else is here: unpredictability, characters you can care about (even if they are over the top), and a plot gripping enough to pull you along.
Barclay's first contribution to the crime genre - and to bookstores - was an entertaining and unpredictable story, and I look forward to reading the next book in the Zack Walker series.
Some time ago, I read the Promise Falls Trilogy by Canadian crime writer Linwood Barclay, whose works (well, technically work) I had enjoyed previously. However, I ran into a problem: a character named David Harwood. Now, David wasn't too annoying a character - but he had appeared in a book released before the Trilogy, which I didn't realise until it spoiled pretty much everything that had occurred in said book. Needless to say, I wasn't too impressed. From that moment on (very dramatic, I know), I vowed to read Barclay's books in chronological order. My public library has most of his books, which made things a lot easier. And here we are: the beginning of my quest, the 2004 comedy/thriller BAD MOVE.
Barclay's debut follows paranoid father Zack Walker, who moves his family from the city and into the suburbs after a five-year-old is found murdered nearby. At first, everything goes well (apart from his daughter's disgust and his tendency to give his family "lessons" that they most certainly do not want). However, everything changes when he discovers two things: one, that the guy across the road may or may not be growing a certain plant in his basement; two, a dead body. Then Zack finds that his paranoia is not only necessary, but may have moved him and his loved ones to an even more dangerous territory.
The biggest thing I noticed about BAD MOVE was that it was infused with the comedy genre; sure, it was a mystery/thriller, but in the same way that Monk is. This didn't surprise me since I'd read reviews of the book beforehand, but it was still quite unnerving since Barclay has written some of the darkest and most daring crime books I have read that were published in the 21st Century. The humour wasn't unwelcome, of course - and Barclay is actually a pretty funny guy when he wants to be - but I just thought I'd put in my review that young-Barclay was a lot more laid-back than the person who writes now.
Another thing that makes BAD MOVE different to Barclay's later books is the character development. It's here, don't worry - but it doesn't feel like what you'd expect from a Barclay novel. Of course, this is meant to be a comedy book, so the characters have over-the-top faults instead of normal human ones, but - once again - it was strange to read this book and accept the fact that it had LINWOOD BARCLAY written on the cover.
As for the crime aspect of the book: although it takes a while to get moving, Barclay's first novel still has the talent that would reappear later in his career in a stronger form. In fact, I think that the pacing is the only thing that Barclay would develop over time (apart from what I mentioned above), because pretty much everything else is here: unpredictability, characters you can care about (even if they are over the top), and a plot gripping enough to pull you along.
Barclay's first contribution to the crime genre - and to bookstores - was an entertaining and unpredictable story, and I look forward to reading the next book in the Zack Walker series.
amishi's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I loved the book. It is a thriller but written with tongue in cheek humour. The comedy of errors the protagonist encounters had me chuckling all through the book. I found out after reading it that this was the first book by the author. I’ve read a couple of his other later works, stand alone thrillers, and they were good too. I’ve fallen for this series and am now going to binge read them.
dom1976's review against another edition
4.0
This one is a whole different feel than his other works. It was a fun light myster/humourous novel.
Zack Walker is control, paranoid freak and wanting to teach his wife a lesson in not leaving her purse wide open at the grocery store where someone can take it, decides to take it and hide the purse. he made the mistake of taking another woman`s purse and gets him in trouble, more than he could imagined.
Great novel, had fun reading this one and since it`s a series will read and see what else can happen to Zack Walker.
Zack Walker is control, paranoid freak and wanting to teach his wife a lesson in not leaving her purse wide open at the grocery store where someone can take it, decides to take it and hide the purse. he made the mistake of taking another woman`s purse and gets him in trouble, more than he could imagined.
Great novel, had fun reading this one and since it`s a series will read and see what else can happen to Zack Walker.
lorihenrich2021's review against another edition
3.0
Zach is a writer of science fiction. His family lives in the suburbs, where nothing much is supposed to happen. Zach is obsessed with safety and has tried using lessons to teach his family lessons. While trying to teach his wife about leaving her purse unattended at the grocery store, he discovers he has taken the wrong purse and has started a chain of events that will take it toll before all is said and done.
I think this was the first novel by Linwood Barclay, at least I thought I read that somewhere. If so I am glad I had read another novel first before I read this one. I am not saying it wasn't good, it just moved kind of slow for me.
I think this was the first novel by Linwood Barclay, at least I thought I read that somewhere. If so I am glad I had read another novel first before I read this one. I am not saying it wasn't good, it just moved kind of slow for me.
sweetsanchia's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
belcherbird's review against another edition
This was ok. No where near as good as the other Linwood Barclays I’ve read. Easy read and amusing in places. I found myself wanting to shout at the pages how could one guy be so stupid!! I get that is was for the story but seriously, no one has the complete inability to make the wrong decision every time! Making it a bit more believable would have been better.
bookaddicted's review against another edition
4.0
This was my first experience with Linwood Barclay but certainly not my last! I love books that can make me laugh, cry and sit on the edge of my seat. This book definitely did that and I can't wait to read more of Barclay!
si0bhan's review against another edition
4.0
Linwood Barclay is an author I regularly come back to, aware I will find a gripping book. Most of his books are solid four-star ratings, but I have had a single five-star rating (A Tap on the Window) and a three-star rating (Broken Promise), hence why I always return for more. Despite the numerous Linwood Barclay books I have read, due to the delay in printing them in the UK, I never got the chance to read his original series. Fortunately, the Zack Walker mysteries have been made available in the UK and I’m now able to dive in.
Bad Move was a great debut novel, and it would have certainly left me picking up more Linwood Barclay were I not already a fan. I really did have so much fun with the story and the characters, resulting in my willingness to dive straight into book two. It was filled with all I have come to enjoy about Linwood Barclay mysteries – the gripping storyline, the steady build-up, and the intertwined storylines. In addition to the usual Linwood Barclay goodness, this one also contains some humour.
I’m talking dark humour here. Not to the level of Stuart MacBride – I do not know of any other crime authors who go to the length of MacBride to have readers in pain from laughing – but it was certainly enough to have me chuckling throughout. It was a subtle dark humour, and whenever it hit the laugher would bubble free before I could do anything to stop it.
Honestly, I had so much fun with Zack Walker. I was sucked in deep, finding the book extremely hard to put down. I was turning page after page, finding myself desperate to see how everything came together. There were a few obvious elements, but these added to the humour of the story, and plenty of twists, which left you more than happy with how every tied together.
Without a doubt, I’m glad the Zack Walker books have finally been published in the UK so I can enjoy them.
Bad Move was a great debut novel, and it would have certainly left me picking up more Linwood Barclay were I not already a fan. I really did have so much fun with the story and the characters, resulting in my willingness to dive straight into book two. It was filled with all I have come to enjoy about Linwood Barclay mysteries – the gripping storyline, the steady build-up, and the intertwined storylines. In addition to the usual Linwood Barclay goodness, this one also contains some humour.
I’m talking dark humour here. Not to the level of Stuart MacBride – I do not know of any other crime authors who go to the length of MacBride to have readers in pain from laughing – but it was certainly enough to have me chuckling throughout. It was a subtle dark humour, and whenever it hit the laugher would bubble free before I could do anything to stop it.
Honestly, I had so much fun with Zack Walker. I was sucked in deep, finding the book extremely hard to put down. I was turning page after page, finding myself desperate to see how everything came together. There were a few obvious elements, but these added to the humour of the story, and plenty of twists, which left you more than happy with how every tied together.
Without a doubt, I’m glad the Zack Walker books have finally been published in the UK so I can enjoy them.