A review by ajnel
A Noise Downstairs by Linwood Barclay

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

"A Noise Downstairs", follows Paul Davis, a college professor whose world is turned upside down after witnessing a shocking crime committed by a colleague, which colleague also  voraciously struck him with a spade to the head. As he recovers from the trauma, strange occurrences plague him, including the unsettling sounds of a vintage typewriter typing on its own. With his sanity questioned and a mysterious connection to the typewriter emerging, Paul delves into a nightmarish investigation that blurs the lines between reality and paranoia. An excellent psychological thriller with a very well hidden whodunnit.  Barclay really knows how to mess with your mind.