Not A Word
- Judith D Collins
- Jul 15
- 2 min read
By: Linwood Barclay
Narrators: Nan McNamara, Johnathan McClain
ISBN: 9780063276383
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: 08/25/2026
Format: Hardcover
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
In the latest chilling thriller from New York Times bestselling author Linwood Barclay, a man’s world is upended after he stumbles upon a grisly crime scene in the family home.
Every family has secrets, but when Reece visits his parents’ house, he’s shocked to find them in bed, dead. At first glance it looks like a murder-suicide perpetrated by his father, but on closer inspection there’s clearly more to the story. For starters, inconsistencies in the crime scene suggest his dad may not have shot himself.
As Reece, shaken by his horrifying discovery, awaits questioning from the police, his phone lights up with a call. It’s the last person he ever would have expected to hear from.
Reeling from the day’s events, Reece finds himself questioning everything he thought he knew about his parents—and whether he and his own family are in danger now. While the authorities work to untangle the baffling crime scene, Reece is pulled into a web of secrets linked to the unscrupulous pharma company his father worked for years ago.
In order to protect the people he loves most, he’ll have to dig deep into his own past to understand who his parents were, what they did, and who they hurt—before he ends up paying for their sins.
Praise
"This book is in the can't-put-it-down category. You're gonna love it." -
Stephen King on Not a Word
“Barclay is a terrific plotter, but his most prominent gift is his ability to anchor his stories with characters who feel like everyday, ordinary people…There are multiple plot twists, but they feel entirely organic, like naturally occurring twists and turns—like real life being its unpredictable self. First-class storytelling from a first-rate novelist.”
- Booklist on Not a Word
"Effectively told using several points of view and flashbacks, this fast-paced page-turner will keep readers guessing until the end."
- Library Journal on Not a Word
“The plot twists come fast and furious as past and present collide, but never at the expense of readers’ emotional investment—following Reece as he grapples with his family’s undoing is genuinely heartbreaking. It’s a winner.”
- Publishers Weekly on Not a Word
About the Author
Linwood Barclay, a New York Times bestselling author with twenty novels to his credit, spent three decades in newspapers before turning full time to writing thrillers. His books have been translated into more than two dozen languages, sold millions of copies, and he counts Stephen King among his fans. Many of his books have been optioned for film and TV, a series has been made in France, and he wrote the screenplay for the film based on his novel Never Saw it Coming. Born in the US, his parents moved to Canada just as he was turning four, and he’s lived there ever since. He lives near Toronto with his wife, Neetha. They have two grown children.
