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sheramelton's review against another edition
5.0
*Reread: I could not stop thinking about this book all year long after I finished it. I read it again and it was just as funny, scary, and entertaining as the first time. Read it!
This was a book I picked up at a thrift store years and years ago. It just sat on my shelf unread, because I didn't expect much out of it and other books took precedence. Now that I have read it, I wish I would have read it sooner! This book was HILARIOUS, yet scary. This poor man kept trying so hard to keep his family safe and keep bad things from happening, and the more he tried the deeper he got himself into trouble. And ironically, the thing that saved him and his family was his son being irresponsible and creating a dangerous situation. Then, when the main point of the plot finally resolved and we were wrapping up, we get a whole different twist that personally I never saw coming at all. I cannot wait to continue in this series, because I had a genuinely good time with this book.
This was a book I picked up at a thrift store years and years ago. It just sat on my shelf unread, because I didn't expect much out of it and other books took precedence. Now that I have read it, I wish I would have read it sooner! This book was HILARIOUS, yet scary. This poor man kept trying so hard to keep his family safe and keep bad things from happening, and the more he tried the deeper he got himself into trouble. And ironically, the thing that saved him and his family was his son being irresponsible and creating a dangerous situation. Then, when the main point of the plot finally resolved and we were wrapping up, we get a whole different twist that personally I never saw coming at all. I cannot wait to continue in this series, because I had a genuinely good time with this book.
skateanddonate's review against another edition
DNF After reading the fantastic Too Close To Home I just couldn't get into this book by Barclay. The writing quality just wasn't what I'm use to after reading his latest books. On page 59 and the murder still hasn't happened yet.
vix's review against another edition
3.0
Although I found the main character to be annoying the book is well enough written to be a decent story. Very slow to start and some of the mid sections were slow. But a nice finish.
canadianbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
Having read Barclay's latest, I wanted to read one of his earlier, more humorous mystery books to get a feel for it. I am glad to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Zack Walker is a science fiction writer that used to write for newspapers and whose wife, Sarah, still does. Having seen crime rise in their downtown city neighbourhood and concerned for their teen children, Paul and Angie, the family has recently moved to the suburbs. Zack is still a bit hung up on safety issues, creating scenarios to drive home the safety messages he is trying send the rest of the family. This creates definite discord in the family and when he can't resist trying to teach his wife a lesson during a shopping trip, he becomes embroiled in a situation more dangerous than anything he could have imagined. Running from murderous men, and trying to stay alive and keep his family safe, Zack calls on neighbours who have interesting secrets as well.
This book is funny and the action keeps things moving. Zack and Sarah are well drawn characters who engage you.
Zack Walker is a science fiction writer that used to write for newspapers and whose wife, Sarah, still does. Having seen crime rise in their downtown city neighbourhood and concerned for their teen children, Paul and Angie, the family has recently moved to the suburbs. Zack is still a bit hung up on safety issues, creating scenarios to drive home the safety messages he is trying send the rest of the family. This creates definite discord in the family and when he can't resist trying to teach his wife a lesson during a shopping trip, he becomes embroiled in a situation more dangerous than anything he could have imagined. Running from murderous men, and trying to stay alive and keep his family safe, Zack calls on neighbours who have interesting secrets as well.
This book is funny and the action keeps things moving. Zack and Sarah are well drawn characters who engage you.
hazelbright's review against another edition
4.0
You cannot beat Linwood Barclay for great self-deprecating humor when he's on. And in this book, he's on. He's also a master of creating puzzles that keep you guessing. Really fun read.
ibeforem's review against another edition
2.0
I had a really hard time with this one. Basically, Zack Walker is a jerk. He's one of those guys who doesn't know when to stop, and his favorite thing to do is to try to teach his family a "lesson" when they are doing something he doesn't approve of (like leaving their backpack on the stairs, or their keys in the door). And when the constant lecturing falls on deaf ears, he sets up elaborate worst-case scenarios in order to bring them over to his side. Basically, this guy is my worst nightmare, and if he were my husband, he wouldn't be my husband for long.
So, I spent a good part of this book thinking "Do I really want to keep going with this?" There was a real snowball effect of bad decisions on Zack's part, which is also a thing that makes me feel uncomfortable. I was on the verge of giving it up when I went and read some reviews to see if it was worth continuing. What I found were a number of readers who also hated Zack, but said that the story pays off in the end. So I kept going.
EVENTUALLY, the story becomes less about Zack trying to teach everyone a lesson and more of a fun-ish caper as one lesson that he tries to teach his wife goes terribly wrong. The second half of the book was much better than the first, but I'm definitely on the fence about whether or not I'll continue with the series. Honestly, I'm thankful I've read other Linwood Barclay books, because if this had been my first, it would have also been my last.
So, I spent a good part of this book thinking "Do I really want to keep going with this?" There was a real snowball effect of bad decisions on Zack's part, which is also a thing that makes me feel uncomfortable. I was on the verge of giving it up when I went and read some reviews to see if it was worth continuing. What I found were a number of readers who also hated Zack, but said that the story pays off in the end. So I kept going.
EVENTUALLY, the story becomes less about Zack trying to teach everyone a lesson and more of a fun-ish caper as one lesson that he tries to teach his wife goes terribly wrong. The second half of the book was much better than the first, but I'm definitely on the fence about whether or not I'll continue with the series. Honestly, I'm thankful I've read other Linwood Barclay books, because if this had been my first, it would have also been my last.
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