This is a well written, tense, page turner about a teacher who saves the day at his school, only to end up in a blackmail situation.

There are various unsavoury characters and the storyline involves abuse, murder and drugs, it’s fast paced and I pretty much read it in one sitting. It’s got humour as well as pathos and a twist that, although I saw it coming, was still a neat conclusion.

It’s obvious from the way it’s written that the author has a high regard for the teaching profession and it highlights well the risks they take in addition to the hugely important role they play in the lives of students, positively or otherwise.

Overall I found it an immensely enjoyable read and I’m grateful to NetGalley and HQ publishing for the opportunity to preview.

As a former teacher, the premise of this book definitely sent shivers down my spine. A vulnerable ex-student makes the decision to blow up his old school to get rid of his bad past experiences. It is a scenario I have thought about, several times, but the positive is that there have been practically none in England. In the United States, where this story is set, there is a practised protocol for such events. Scary stuff.

The book opens well. An English teacher is in full flow with his lesson (studying The Road by Cormac McCarthy) with one eye on the strange young man passing through the school grounds. When he realises what is happening, the practice is turned into protective action. This is interesting to see how things are done in the USA. The teacher stops the attacker from killing many people and is deemed a hero.

However, the consequences are far reaching and the event triggers a host of other incidents. Everything happens quickly but doesn't appear rushed at all. The chapters are short and tense and really have that 'thriller' aspect running through them. With all of these complex layers of plot it may be easy to let a little fact escape - but I assure you it will be relevant.

The characters are realistic and respond in a way that is relatable. Hard decisions are made without the familiar overzealous attitudes often seen in thrillers such as this. There is panic and wobbly moments. The only parts I am not keen on are car chase and gun scenes, but I have to remind myself that this is set in America and things are a little different, like when someone takes a 'couple of shots' he means he is taking photographs.

A clever, taut and well constructed story as well as being a very human one. Recommended.

Richard Boyle is teaching his English class when he sees an ex student approaching the school with what appears to be an explosive device strapped to him. Richard immediately goes to confront the man instructing his class to lock the door and phone 911. After persuading the would be suicide bomber to go back outside Richard is pleased to have averted disaster but unfortunately this heroic act sets up a chain of events which will impact his life and also those of his wife and daughter. As with all Linwood Barclay's books, this is a fast paced book with many twists and turns and an ending I wasn't expecting. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity of reading this book.

Yet another Linwood Barclay that had me hooked and completely delighted from the start. His original plots with the unexpected twists and turns make for a thouroughly good read.

Another brilliant story by Linwood Barclay. This is a dark premise for a story, a high school shooter, but it is an amazing, complex and complicated story of revenge. Highly recommended xx

I Will Ruin You by Linwood Barclay is a thrilling contemporary suspense that I read in just two sittings, pausing only to sleep!
The past has a way of catching up with us. Hidden secrets sooner or later rise to the surface. Consequences need to be faced.
Within the book there are heroes and villains. They look alike on the surface but underneath they are very different.
Greed and lust for money always corrupts. We witness the fallout when the local drug lords are crossed.
A dark secret must be protected at all costs. Whatever it takes, the truth must stay buried.
We see a kind hearted, brave character whose actions, through no fault of his own, mean his life is heading for a fall. The actions should have been applauded, and not hounded.
Family first. In order to protect a loved one, a copper’s hat is removed, and then later replaced.
All the characters were well drawn and believable. The lead character elicited sympathy from me. The villains were menacing and to be feared.
Linwood Barclay has planned and well executed a gripping plotline. I clung on for dear life as I followed the action.
The jaw-dropping finale was superb.
I will Ruin You is a very fine suspense novel indeed.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

What a brilliant book keeps you reading all the way through a real thriller. I certainly wouldn’t like to be in Richard’s shoes after a pupil comes into his school with a bomb attached to him aiming to blow up the school , or should I say certain teachers who he didn’t like, Richard’s life turns upside down with so many things happening to him there are so many red herrings it makes you dizzy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of such a brilliant book

Linwood Barclay is one of my go to authors if I am in a reading slump and need a book I know I will not be be able to put down. I Will Ruin You fits the bill and did not disappoint. It is a fast-paced page turner with a lot going on and some great characters.
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This is the absolute definition of a page turner, very quick pace to the story which involves in no particular order, a bomber, blackmail plot, drug smugglers and dealers, historic child abuse and murder (several of them). That the author managed to cram so much into one story without it being overcooked is testament to his literary skill.

You will not be wanting to put this book down until you have finished it.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my review copy.

I love a good Linwood Barclay book and this one didn’t disappoint.
Richard is a school teacher and saves the school and pupils from a former student wanting revenge by blowing up certain people in the school.
The problems for Richard and his family start here and continue to snowball throughout the story. You could argue some of them are Richard’s own doing thanks to trying to make them go away instead of dealing with them in the correct manner. As a result the problems just grow and grow.
This was another page turner from one of my favourite authors which unfortunately means the end comes too soon. Clever twist I didn’t see coming at the end.

Gripped from.the start of this novel by Linwood. Richard is a high school teacher who becomes a hero after rushing to prevent an ex pupil blowing up the school because of something that happened to him whilst he was at the school. As Richards face appears on the news he soon becomes a target for a blackmailer. The problem is he doesn't know how to handle it and the situation soon escalates. Never thought there'd be a n end to the things which kept cropping up, so many twists and turns.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for inviting me read this new novel by Linwood as I've read his books before and this does certainly not disappoint! Highly recommend. Would love to see this adapted for tv/ film.

Oh wow! Linwood Barclay does not disappoint!! Another story that had me on the edge of my seat, reading through the night to find out how this story would end!
The story has several strands which interlink as they develop. The key protagonist is Richard, a local teacher, who always puts himself out to inspire and help his pupils. He is suddenly drawn into a terrifying incident at his school which puts him slap into the eyes of the media, and it is the fallout from this event that sends him into a whole new and terrifying territory. Great storyline, great characters.........I could not see how this story was going to conclude! Fab read!

As a big Linwood Barclay fan I was really looking forward to this. No time for Goodbye was the start of my thriller journey with Barclay.

I will ruin you was another strong novel by Barclay. Pacey start to the novel was got me right into the story. Hen English teacher Richard Boyle steps in to rescue a former pupil his life is turned upside down.

It was so well written. Lots of twists to the point I doubt we’d find a resolution.

Looking forward to working my way through some more Barclay novels

A schoolteacher hero one minute then a blackmail victim the next.gets this excellent twisting tale off to a flier. Full of potential suspects into the murderer of the teacher’s apparent blackmailer including his wife, best friend and a pair of drug dealers. The action never lets up as the bodies increase in a frenetic finale with as happens in only the best yarns the truth revealed at the very end. Great fun.

This is everything you would hope for from a Linwood Barclay novel; the plot is gripping from the start, the characters are fascinating, the writing is fast-paced and the twists are great! Brilliant!

When English teacher Richard Boyle is confronted with an ex-student turning up at school with dynamite strapped to his body, he thinks on his feet and manages to avert a catastrophe. Richard is a hero for about five minutes, and then things start to unravel in many complex directions. Someone has spotted him on TV during a news report of the incident, and his life is destined never to be the same again.
The opening chapter, with the foiled attempt at blowing up the school, is so high-octane that I initially had worries about how the rest of I Will Ruin You would live up to it, but I needn't have worried. This is an expertly-plotted story with different perils coming for Richard; in the hands of a less accomplished writer I might have found myself working hard to keep hold of all the different strands, but the writing was so polished that I just enjoyed the story and trusted it all to unfold. The surprises and reveals kept coming until the end.

Richard Boyle is an English Teacher and a hero having prevented a suicide bomber blowing up the school. He is also at the start of a nightmare that could ultimately cost him his marriage, daughter and indeed his life. Written from multiple POV’s and with a number of different threads this could have become complicated but this author makes it look so easy- when I’m sure it’s not.

Briefly, the events that took place on this day result in Richard’s life being turned upside down. Sucked into a mire of drug dealing, blackmail and mistaken identity this is an explosive thriller. How complicated can it get? Very when it involves both Richard and his wife Bonnie but when the bodies start piling up can they work together?

There are so many secrets and lies it’s hard to know who to trust. The author has also included a thread around the controversy surrounding book banning currently going on in parts of the USA which I thought was very interesting. Some great twists and turns and a wonderful lead character made for a compelling read. Fast paced and full of suspense this was a very entertaining book.

Every time I finish a Linwood Barclay novel I think “now that was the best one” and each and every time it is true, they just get better and better. This one centres around a school teacher and an attempted explosive attack. I absolutely love his writing, the cleverly crafted characters and twisty storylines. When the final piece of this exquisite puzzle dropped into place I was FLOORED and I was glad I waited no longer than 24hours after receiving the ARC copy before DEVOURING it. Will be talking about this to anyone who will listen, HIGHLY recommend!

I have two thoughts when I see Linwood has a new book. The first is "oh goody!" The second is "oh no, will he be able to do it again, wow me again."& They say never meet your heroes. Well with books it's how to keep reading their books without the fear one will fall short. I'm very happy to report that( I clearly need to start having more faith in my favourite authors) that he's done it again. Completely new yet equally as suspenseful as his others.
This time with a normal guy going about his every day life as a teacher until the unthinkable occurs. And it doesn't stop there with the twists that come this poor man's way. And of course Linwood keeps bringing the twists. But they are always worthy of their place and never feel just for the sake of it. And he had me question the good and bad guys once again.
Now I can relax and wait for his next one 😌

This is a great read.
An English teacher finds himself trying to talk down a former student who turns up at school with a bomb strapped to his chest. He manages to talk him down, but it is the start of a rollercoaster for the teacher and not in a good way.
I won't spoil what happens as there's lots going on in this book, but it's a fast paced thriller with lots of twists and turns.
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.