I Will Ruin You by Linwood Barclay

Today we have our review (non spoiler as always). Book blurb read out loud if you prefer than reading from the text. I also have captions as some folk struggle with my Scottish accent (I do slow it down and enunciate when reading the blurbs resulting in a poshy accent apparently lol shhh Laura). Click HERE for the book blurb to be read to ya.

Here is our non spoiler review, enjoy, perfect for reading anytime, we curled up with a blanket or duvet because it is freezing here.


I Will Ruin You by Linwood Barclay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1.5 days

Pages - 341

Publisher - HQ Stories

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

In the latest novel from New York Times bestselling author Linwood Barclay, a teacher’s act of heroism inadvertently makes him the target of a dangerous blackmailer who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

How would you react in a life-or-death situation?

It’s a question everyone asks themselves, but few have to face in real life. English teacher Richard Boyle certainly never thought he would find himself talking down a former student intent on harming others, but when Mark LeDrew shows up at Richard’s school with a bomb strapped to his chest, Richard immediately jumps into action. Thanks to some quick thinking, he averts a major tragedy and is hailed as a hero, but not all the attention focused on him is positive.

Richard’s brief moment in the spotlight puts him in the sights of a deranged blackmailer with a score to settle. The situation rapidly spirals out of control, drawing Richard into a fraught web of salacious accusations and deadly secrets. As he tries to uncover the truth he discovers that there’s something deeply wrong in the town—something that ties together Mark, the blackmailer, and a gang of ruthless drug dealers, and Richard has landed smack in the middle of it. He’s desperate to find a way out, but everyone in his life seems to be hiding something, and trusting the wrong person could cost him everything he loves.

What price will he pay for one good deed?


My Review

Ooft the opening chapter, an ex pupil comes to his old school with a bomb, teacher Richard Boyle goes directly to the threat and ends up making the news in their wee town. Despite Richard being the hero of the hour he soon finds himself in a situation of blackmail, something that could ruin not just his career, his life but everything he holds dear. Buckle in folks you are about to go on a wild ride!

The chapters are short (we LOVE that) and they switch between Richard and untitled but they basically focus on the other characters and back and forth. There is so much going on, Richards family life and responding to how he put himself in harms way and everything that follows. The people blackmailing Richard and their chaotic lives but also the people involved in their dodgy dealings. The other one being Marta, Richard's sister in law who is a cop and the interlinked between her investigation and things that bring crossover to her sister and Richard.

It is absolutely a thriller, page turner and does have some themes that folk may find triggering, drugs, sa mentioned, murder, violence, blackmail, relationship issues, investigation its a whole mixed bag. Despite going between characters it all flows well and has good pace, it has been a wee while since we read Barclay and we do have others on the tbrm. Perfect when you just want to escape reality and absorb into a whole world of choas, 4.5/5 for us. This is a standalone just make sure when you pick it up your day is clear because you are going to want to devour it!

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Broken Promise by Linwood Barclay

Broken Promise by Linwood Barclay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 4 days (on and off)

Publisher - NAL

Pages - 512

Blurb from Goodreads

From the New York Times bestselling author of No Safe House comes an explosive novel about the disturbing secrets of a quiet small town.…

After his wife’s death and the collapse of his newspaper, David Harwood has no choice but to uproot his nine-year-old son and move back into his childhood home in Promise Falls, New York. David believes his life is in free fall, and he can’t find a way to stop his descent.

Then he comes across a family secret of epic proportions. A year after a devastating miscarriage, David’s cousin Marla has continued to struggle. But when David’s mother asks him to check on her, he’s horrified to discover that she’s been secretly raising a child who is not her own—a baby she claims was a gift from an “angel” left on her porch.

When the baby’s real mother is found murdered, David can’t help wanting to piece together what happened—even if it means proving his own cousin’s guilt. But as he uncovers each piece of evidence, David realizes that Marla’s mysterious child is just the tip of the iceberg.

Other strange things are happening. Animals are found ritually slaughtered. An ominous abandoned Ferris wheel seems to stand as a warning that something dark has infected Promise Falls. And someone has decided that the entire town must pay for the sins of its past…in blood.


My Review

The first in a new series by Linwood Barclay, David Harwood is going through a tough time, he's lost his job, is living with his parents with his child. His cousin, Marla, has mental health issues and when David drops around he finds her with a baby. Marla has prior for trying to steal a baby so David is concerned. A little bit of digging finds the real mother, murdered and Marla is in a world of trouble. David does a bit of digging and soon discovers there is so much more to this and may have bitten off more than he can chew!

This was a great wee book, I could have read it in a day to be honest, sadly work didn't permit. Anyways, theres a bit of background to start with on the main character David and his family before the whole murder scene unfolds. There are some random happenings throughout as well, animal killings and weird staging of manikins that leads to further developments in the case.

There are lots of twists and turns, secrets, betrayals, violence and murder to name but a few of the things that went on in the tale. It is fast paced, intriguing and draws you right in so you want to know what happened, why, who and don't really want to put it down. There is quite a bit of hinting between the character discussions that they know what has happened however the reader is trying to link and guess at what has transpired.

A strong opening to a new series, I imagine there will be more, there are a few questions left unanswered and I believe this is setting up the next book or books. If I have read this author before it has been a long long time ago, I would certainly read him again and definitely the following in this series, 4/5 for me this time.

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