This latest book from Linwood Barclay doesn't disappoint. It was fast paced, full of twists and turns. It was compulsive reading and I think it's his best book yet! The book was well written, had a great plot and storyline. This book drew me from the very beginning, lots of books are slow to start but the pace with this one was fast from start to finish, I was on the edge of my seat for lots of it.
NetGalley kindly sent me a copy for an honest review, #TakeYourBreathAway #NetGalley.

Take Your Breath Away lives up to its name with a slick, sharp thriller that will leave you reeling.

Linwood Barclay proves why he is a force to be reckoned with in the genre. This is such a well-constructed and executed book that constantly keeps you on your toes. The mix of narrative perspectives and disruption of linear timelines means that there’s a lot of information to wade through at a time, but Barclay keeps it clear and digestible. Obviously, you have to work to uncover the truth before the characters, but this is a tricksy and highly entertaining puzzle to solve.

Every time you think you have it all pinned down, you really, really do not. There’s just twist after excellent twist that keeps you racing through the pages. I also really loved how much misdirection and smoke and mirrors Barclay employs, adding to that sense of confusion and paranoia. You are always second-guessing everything and everyone presented to you, even as you occupy their headspace. There’s so many intriguing secrets and lies to be unveiled.

Barclay keeps that tension razor-sharp and constantly raises the stakes. The book feels like lightning in a bottle, with that charged atmosphere and pacing that keeps you constantly engaged and intrigued. It is so tightly done and constantly fast paced. However, at the same time, Barclay makes sure he creates nuanced and three-dimensional characters with far more to them than may be obvious at first glance. This is a deeply intimate and fascinating story about the effect of the past on the present, that delights in the moral ambiguities of life. No one leaves this story unscathed and there are genuine consequences for most actions.

Take Your Breath Away is a break-neck read, constantly keeping you on your toes and utterly hooked on Barclay’s immaculately plotted story.

Whilst away on a fishing trip, Andrew's wife Brie vanishes without a trace. However, even with a tight alibi, the community suspect he is responsible for her murder, despite a body never being recovered. Six years later, Andrew has moved on... however, one day a mysterious woman appears at their old home demanding to know what has happened to it. Has Brie been alive all this time, and if so, where has she been?

This was the first book i'd read by Lindwood Barclay, and I was suitably impressed! Judging by the cover (!), I thought this read might be a bit tough-going, but actually it was very easy to get into and sustained my interest throughout.

Told from multiple perspectives with a number of subplots woven in, this is the kind of story that keeps you guessing all the way through... I went from suspecting Andrew in one chapter, to feeling sorry for him in the next.

There was a good variety of characters... just enough to keep you suspecting who had more to do with Brie's disappearance that they were letting on, and not so many that it became confusing and hard to follow.

The ending was surprising and definitely didn't conclude in the way I'd imagined. This was a great thriller, and I will definitely be picking up more from this author in the future!

A gripping read from a master storyteller. I loved everything about this book, it has everything you need in a good thriller book, tension, suspense, mystery and twists. A brilliant cast of characters who each have their own unique stories, completely unputdownable and I just had to know what was going to happen next. Linwood Barclay certainly knows how to keep his readers enthralled from the very first page, right until the unexpected shocking conclusion, which literally took my breath away, it's a very fitting title and I loved it. It really had me thinking about whether or not Brie, Andrew's ex wife was alive or dead and the mystery surrounding it was like looking through a chilly fog. A superb rollercoaster of a read and I will be recommending it to everyone I know. Thank You NetGally and HQ for the ARC, I really appreciate it.

The publisher’s blurb describes what the book is about perfectly, so I don’t need to add to that. As ever Linwood Barclay gives you a likeable protagonist; a man given to self-doubt, who has known and understood the pain of loss and who is now trying to rebuild his life by putting his past behind him.

That he has chosen to by not divulging any of his past to his new partner does not make him the world’s smartest guy, but you can at least understand why he chose that path. But bad decisions, as we know from our crime reading, always come back to haunt us, and so it is with Andrew Mason.

His sister in law always suspected him of the murder of her sister: the lead detective in the case, Detective Hardy, was like a dog with a bone and though she can’t prove it was Andy, she’s never given up hope of catching him for the crime.

So when a woman who looks very much like his ex-wife Brie turns up at their old house, Andrew is only one of the people who want to know who this woman is and what she wants from them.

And so begins a nicely layered and beautifully paced game of cat and mouse with lots of red herrings, a whole heap of misdirection, and a packed cast of family and friends who all have cause to make you suspicious. There’s some lovely wit laced through this book, too.

Barclay excels in that domestic territory of suburbia where dark doings take place under the veneer of middle class respectability. Even the vermin exterminator believes in humane disposal.

Verdict: Another thoroughly enjoyable read from the master of deception where the intrigue lies in guessing the guilty party and that is a large part of the fun.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

wow where to start with this book

andrew mason a man whose wife has disappeared, who is suspected of murdering his wife and disposing of her body

with her family always insisting that he had something to do with the disappearance of brie his wife, to try and get away from all that he is accused of he changes his name and moves out of the area

then one day

brie appears at their old house...screaming where is my house, where has it gone,


so is this brie and if so where has she been these past years

and as the police are circling andrew knows it wont be long before his favourite detective who hounded him will come calling

never saw that ending coming a brilliant twist

Linwood Barclay never disappoints and Take Your Breath Away is no exception.
Andrew Mason is having a guy's weekend away with his best friend and business partner Greg.
When returning home he finds that his wife Brie is missing and all eyes are on him.

The police and some family members believe that he has killed his wife but with no proof and everyone giving him the cold shoulder Andrew turns to one thing that never let's him down...alcohol.
After Greg finds him passed out Andrew decides to change his life around.

Moving from the home and changing his name helped and six years on he has found love again with Jayne but she knows nothing about his past until a sighting of Brie outside their old home.
Could she still be alive? And if so where has she been for the last six years?
There are so many plot twists in this book that you can never see what's coming next.

Brie Mason disappeared six years ago. Her husband has built a new life for himself, despite living under a cloud of suspicion about his involvement in Brie's disappearance. Suddenly it seems that Brie is back, spotted at the house they used to share. She is, however, remarkably elusive. Is it really her?

This is trademark Barclay. The plot is clever and compelling. There are plenty of strands and subplots. The characterisation is excellent and the pace of the action is perfect. It is always rewarding to read this author's work. The twists and turns are enjoyable and it's a delicious feeling to know that all the elements of the plot will be neatly tied together at the end. This is a must read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ Stories for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Linwood Barclay truly is the king of thrillers! Though the pace of this one felt slower than his other books, with this story I felt it really worked. I did have an inkling who the 'bad guys' were, but I still found myself constantly questioning whether I'd got it wrong as there were so many brilliant twists, turns and surprises. I seriously craved justice for Brie, and because of that, I was gripped throughout!

I will never stop recommending Linwood's books.

I will start by saying that I have never read Linwood Barclay before however after seeing him in an interview at the Bloody Scotland Crimefest, I was drawn to his latest novel and was certainly not disappointed. The story is based around the disappearance of Brie 6 years before and the subsequent harassment, by both her family and the police, of her husband Andrew whom they believe to have murdered her. Then she is sighted by various people, but is it really her after all this time?
The tale is cleverly crafted weaving the lives of all those involved with the possible reappearance of Brie and the impact that it might have on all of their lives. At one point I did guess who the antagonist was ,only to have my thought thwarted by several misdirections until the end!
Overall 4.5*
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

Having read many of Linwood Barclay's previous books and being a fan of his writing, I was very excited to read his new book. However, disappointingly for me, this novel lacked the creativity and surprising twists of his previous texts. We are initially introduced to Brie, in her kitchen with a pest control worker, Brie believing she has an infestation of mice. The pest-control guy suggests she leaves flour on her floor to see if she has mice prints the following morning. When Brie awakes the following morning, there are footprints but not from mice. This is then the main premise of the book, the mysterious disappearance of Brie on that Sunday morning, nobody knowing what happened or where she went. Her husband, Andrew, under suspicion for a great deal of time for his wife's disappearance is eventually forced to move out of the area and redefine himself under a new name. However, six years later unusual sightings of Brie are suspected and so a series of new events unfolds to finally discover what happened to Brie.
Whilst this book is very typical of Barclay, his usual style of writing with some of the stock underhand characters he often creates, you find yourself as a reader of trusting no-one. However, I did not feel that as the events were narrated and additional pieces of information revealed that I was as surprised or shocked as I could have been, with me already suspecting many things that did occur. The descriptions of places helped to create the various scenes where events took place, and dialogue was often realistic and pacey to keep the plot moving. However, there were some moments where I felt the writing did not fully reflect the actions of characters. When Andrew eventually finds out what happened o his wife, I would've expected him to show more upset, even if inwardly as a character. Instead, I found his reaction a little unrealistic. Without any spoilers, I also felt the ending let this book down. Having got to know the character of Andrew throughout the book, again his reaction to the final scene did not seem fitting with his personality and did not leave me feeling satisfied with the conclusion of the tale. Knowing how talented Barclay is with his writing and previous skilfully written plots, I would give this book 3.5, but sadly no more on this occasion. My thanks go out to netgalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this.

I first came across Linwood Barclay reading Elevator Pitch where theoretically all of New York is under threat at any one time. In Take Your Breath Away the setting is centred on the disappearance of Brie and the effects this has on those left behind some 6 years later, has she been in hiding or is something else going on?

Barclay skilfully adds layers to the simple premise and uncovers secrets, deceit pain and suffering. The husband Andrew was the prime suspect and as the story continues to unwind the past. It is expertly done and shines a light on a family ripped apart by the disappearance of Brie.

This was an excellent story with different view points that contribute to a very satisfying read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an impartial review.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel. Whist I have heard a great deal about Linwood Barclay, this is the first book of his I have read and it did not disappoint. The basic premise is that Brie disappears from her home and her husband Andrew is suspected of being complicit in this. Six years later she appears to turn up again at the site of her old home, thus sparking a chain of events which threaten Andrew's new relationship and, indeed, his life. Well written with many twists and turns this is recommended for fans of psychological thrillers.

I am a relatively newbie to this author having only just discovered him (I know) but I am trying to both play catch-up as well as pouncing on anything new he releases. There is something about his style of writing that really resonates with me as a reader.
So... we start in the past with the disappearance of a woman. Brie is home alone for the weekend with husband Andrew away fishing with his best friend Greg. The only visitor to the house was a man who came to look at her mouse problem. The police investigated but, no leads, no sightings, no trace. Fast forward a few years and Andrew has hit rock bottom and climbed up again. Sold the house and started again with a new partner. But the past is about to jump up and bite him in the proverbial as he gets a call from one of his old neighbours to say that a woman has just appeared at the place he used to live, screaming about where her house has gone... The house having been demolished and rebuilt. She disappears as soon as she had arrived but she did bear a strong resemblance to Brie... Could it be her, back from wherever she has been these past, what six, years? Where has she been and why the radio silence? And, more importantly for Andrew, will people now start to believe that if she's not dead and he can't be responsible for her murder...? Enter, or should I say re-enter Det Hardy to stir things up again.
Well.. this definitely hit the ground running, held my attention nicely throughout, delivered shock after shock along the way, and left me satisfied (and exhausted) at the end. The plotting was excellent and so very well executed. It definitely kept me on my toes throughout. Phew what a ride!
Characterisation was excellent too. Every character, main and extra, were just a well crafted and all did their jobs very well. And, with scant waffle and padding, the story got on with itself very well indeed.
All in all a cracking and thrilling read that I have no hesitation in recommending for fans of the genre. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I had forgotten what a master writer Linwood Barclay is, this was just a superb book from start to finish. Spoilers - yes he does give you the answer very soon into the book, but at the time you dont realise.

I just devoured this book in a few hours as I just wanted to experience the pleasure of his work, then it was over.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

Linwood Barclay novels are always a joy to read, as you know you are in the hands of a master story teller. There are always just enough clues to follow and secrets to uncover to keep this reader turning the pages!
thank you to netgalley and HQ for an advance copy if this book

Six years ago, Andrew Mason’s wife, Brie, disappeared. Detective Marissa Hardy still believes he killed her, but has never had any proof, plus his partner, Greg, provided an alibi as they were away on a fishing weekend at the time. Brie’s mother, sister and brother also think this and Isabel, the sister, has hounded both him and the police, to no avail. His contractor company had been having financial troubles prior to the disappearance and the subsequent additional stress led to the partnership collapsing. To avoid continuing harassment he has changed his surname to Carville and moved to a nearby township. Here he has established a one man company and is living more or less happily with his new love, Jayne, who is unaware of his previous name or history. That is until a woman who resembles Brie turns up and causes a scene at their old home, and is subsequently seen by other witnesses. Is she Brie returned from where? The dead? A long term amnesia? Why is she seen by people who would recognise her but in circumstances which prevent anyone getting a good enough view? Answering these questions leads all of the characters to confront their preconceived ideas and wonder about the stability of their relationships.
The plot is clever and provides a nice intellectual exercise within a well written story. It is told in a logical manner, and the reader is always on top of the detail; there is no attempt to artificially make it seem more complex. All of the characters are believable, and clues to the resolution of the main plot, and its subsidiary lines, are clearly presented; although it may take retrospect to realise this. This is a very enjoyable story from a very skilled writer.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of Linwood Barclays Take Your Breath Away
Linwood Barclay is one of my all time favourite authors so i couldn’t wait to get stuck into this book and stuck i did once i started i couldn’t put it down.

While Andrew Mason is on a fishing trip with his best friend Greg, his wife Brie goes missing. Six years later Andrew has started to put his life together with new partner Jayne, when a woman who bears a striking resemblance to Brie is spotted outside his old house….

If you have never read one of Linwood Barclays books this is a brilliant one to start with, it has believable characters and a well written storyline it will have you hooked from the start.

Thank you #NetGalley for my e-arc copy of #TakeYourBreathAway by #LinwoodBarclay in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first time reading a Linwood Barclay Thriller and I was not disappointed.

There were several plot lines going on throughout this novel which I found really did keep me on my toes trying to figure out the direction it was taking.

I feel that Take Your Breath Away would be well suited for anyone who loves to read amateur detective books.

I found this novel completely captivating and was hooked from start to finish so am easily awarding it four out of the five stars.

For those wanting to give this book a try it’s publish date will be the 3rd of February ‘22 and i would highly recommend it.

Brie Mason, home alone whilst her husband takes a trip, disappears from their home. Their marriage had its ups and downs so he becomes a suspect. Six years later and there is a sighting of her at the address of their last home. Where has she been for the past six years?

This is a really intriguing mystery thriller, one that kept me guessing until the end. At times I thought I knew what was happening and then another twist would turn up.