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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was, for me, a case of mismatched expectations and a premise that never quite stuck the landing. Knowing Barclay primarily for his taut thrillers, I went in assuming this would be another tightly wound suspense story—possibly even one set on a literal train, which would’ve had its own appeal. What I found instead was a supernatural tale involving a haunted (or perhaps possessed?) toy train and a malevolent toy maker straight out of a holiday fever dream.
To be fair, Barclay’s knack for pacing and tension is still present—when the story moves, it really moves. But I just couldn’t connect with the central conceit. Much like with NOS4A2, the premise leaned too hard into the fantastical for my taste, blunting any sense of real fear or dread. There’s a fine line between imaginative and implausible, and this one tipped into the latter.
I gave it a try, but ultimately, the evil-Santa/toy maker angle just doesn’t land for me. Not necessarily a bad book, just not the book I expected—or wanted—from Barclay.
To be fair, Barclay’s knack for pacing and tension is still present—when the story moves, it really moves. But I just couldn’t connect with the central conceit. Much like with NOS4A2, the premise leaned too hard into the fantastical for my taste, blunting any sense of real fear or dread. There’s a fine line between imaginative and implausible, and this one tipped into the latter.
I gave it a try, but ultimately, the evil-Santa/toy maker angle just doesn’t land for me. Not necessarily a bad book, just not the book I expected—or wanted—from Barclay.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Fun, fast paced thriller. On the nose with the King references and ode to Needful Things.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Incredible narration
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Ah, the old “I’ll just take my son and move out of the city for a bit now that my husband has died” gambit. Does that work for anyone in any book ever?
Annie and Charlie take a break, renting a house in upstate New York. Now add in toy train sets that act as supernatural little chaos agents and kill people.
It’s a good, popcorn-horror book. Very reminiscent of Stephen King, decent villain, quick read - by which I mean, it’s written at a 4th-grade level. And that’s fine. It’s a good supernatural beach read.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This one was so different then others I’ve read by Barclay! Really good and loved reading such a different style but with the classic Barclay aspects we love.
I would say this feels like a Riley Sager with a nod to Stephen King.
I would say this feels like a Riley Sager with a nod to Stephen King.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes