Whistle is a fascinating read that is set in dual timelines. One follows Annie, a newly widowed children's author who finds herself involved in a scandal involving one of her books. Annie and her young son go to a small town for a break and strange things start happening when they find a train set in a storage shed. The other timeline is set in a small town where a new toy train shop appears one day. Strange things start happening and the police are trying to solve the mystery before something even more tragic happens.

I've read a fair few Linwood Barclay books and this one totally took me by surprise. I wasn't expecting a supernatural storyline, and I may not have chosen this book had I known that's what it was, but I'm glad I did. This book is super creepy, right from the start and it had me on edge throughout.

I loved the dual timelines and trying to work out how the stories and characters overlapped before it all came together in a dramatic conclusion.

The characters are excellently written and I can see this story being compared to Stephen King books. I'd love to see a film version and think it would translate really well.

My thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.

Whistle by Linwood Barclay is a chilling supernatural tale that consumed me from the start.
This is a departure from Linwood Barclay’s usual style of crime novels but he has created a marvellous and well thought out plotline, showing that he is the master of the very chilling genre.
This is not a book for the faint hearted. It is far better to read it on a bright summer’s day than a cold, dark winter evening.
The action is split into various points of view, over different time periods. It keeps the reader in a state of heightened tension – we think we know what is coming even though the characters are clueless to the power that they have unwittingly unleashed.
Whistle is a tale of evil walking amongst the innocent. Very few realise what is going on until it is far too late.
All the characters were well drawn. There was definitely an air of menace attached to the villain. He was guilty of hubris too, believing he could never be beaten.
We see the bond between a mother and her son. They support each other as they attempt to heal from the loss of a husband and father.
Whistle was extremely well written and well thought out. It was a dark tale with more than a little dose of menace. Very chilling indeed.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

An eery tale with a satisfying ending. I never thought it was possible to be afraid of trains. One to read with the lights on

4.5/5

After two tragedies occurring in Annie‘s life within a short space of time, Annie decides to take her and her son, Charlie out of the city for a few months. When arriving at the new house they’ll be staying in Charlie finds a box with a toy train. After setting up the toy train, strange things start to happen.

Linwood Barclay is one of my favourite authors but I was a little skeptical when I heard his new book was a horror book! It’s not something he has done before and I personally find horror very hit and miss.

I had nothing to worry about, who’d have thought a book about haunted toy trains would be so fantastic! Even though this is a horror book, it has real thriller elements to it. It felt more like a supernatural thriller.

I have enjoyed his recent books but nothing he has blown me away in quite a while until this book! When I saw him at a book signing at Linghams the other day, he said that he had more fun writing this book than he has in the last 10 years and you can really tell!

I read this on my kindle before falling asleep at night. I do not recommend this as the story is creepy and I was ending up with some wild dreams!

I love Linwood Barclay and have been reading his books for over fifteen years. When I saw he had a new book out I was excited to get stuck in, so much so I didn’t even read the blurb and went in blind.

The book is unsettling from the start and a lot of the mysterious and often deadly goings on centre around train sets.

Annie and her young son Charlie are looking to have a break from New York after the death of Annie’s husband in a hit and run. Annie is a successful children’s author but one of her young readers tragically died trying to fly like the character in her book and Annie blames herself. Hoping for peace in the countryside everything changes when Charlie takes an old train set out of the shed.

Back in the early 2000s, Harry, a police officer in Lucknow is investigating the mysterious disappearances and deaths of various residents and animals. He’s suspicious of ‘Mr Choo’ the seemingly benign owner of a model train shop, but who will believe his outlandish theory.

The dual timeline works quite well, but I felt that I forgot about Annie and Charlie for a large chunk of the book while the story focused on Lucknow.

The characters are pretty good and the story did hold my interest. I particularly liked Harry. I found Mr Choo or Edwin Nabler, pretty creepy, especially when the true extent of his hobby is revealed. I wasn’t sure if E Nabler was meant to be significant?

You do need to suspend your disbelief for this book as it has a strong supernatural element. It reminded me a lot of a Stephen King story and is a definite departure from Linwood Barclay’s usual work. Despite this, I didn’t dislike the story and found parts of it quite sinister. I don’t think I’ll look at a train set the same way again!

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

An entertaining easy read. Despite being a horror story with numerous deaths it wasn't scary. Jumping between time periods lost some of the tension. I liked Chief Cook and towards the ending he was the only character I wanted to solve the mystery. No spoilers here.
I would like to rate 3.5 stars, but because I have enjoyed previous book, I'll round it up to 4.

Following the death of her husband in a hit and run accident, Annie Blunt, who is a renowned children's author and illustrator, decides to move from New York with her young son Charlie. They rent a house in the country and Charlie discovers an old train set in a shed in the garden. Although Charlie is delighted with the train set it unsettles Annie who keeps waking in the night to the sound of a train whistle. However there are no active train lines in the area. She also finds herself constantly drawing a weird character which would be out of place in a children's book.
Some 23 years previously, a shop selling train sets seems to have opened almost overnight in the town of Lucknow. It proves very popular but it soon becomes apparent that the purchasers of the train sets all seem. to suffer nasty accidents. There are also reports of people and pets going missing..
This book is very different from the author's previous books and though I'm not usually a fan of the supernatural genre, I have to say I enjoyed it immensely and look forward to the next one.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Whistle by Linwood Barclay in return for my honest review.
I’m a big fan of Linwood Barclay and have read all his books and loved them, Whistle is a different genre than his other books horror/supernatural and I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised although a little creeped out certainly won’t be buying any train sets. If you’re looking for something a little different and creepy then this is it.

This is that rare thing among Linwood Barclay's prodigious output, a disappointing novel. I have long been a fan and have thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns of his excellent thrillers but in Whistle I found the supernatural and unexplained elements too much to swallow. It is perhaps significant that the endorsement comes from Stephen King!

I love Linwood Barclay’s books so I was delighted to get my hands on a copy of his new supernatural thriller.

Annie rents a house for the summer, away from the busy NYC life she is used to, to give herself time to come to terms with some awful events that have happened to her over the past year. She is hoping to spend some quality time with her young son, Charlie and maybe find motivation to write again.

In a past timeline, Edwin has set up a shop selling train sets and the community of Lucknow is entranced by them. They are certainly taking the focus off the missing people…

I really wanted to love this; I love LB’s books, I love thrillers and I love the supernatural, but this sadly didn’t work for me. The character development was good, although Edwin was just meh, but the plot just felt clunky and forced. I hope others will love it though.

2⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Linwood Barclay and HQ for an ARC of this book.

I am a big fan of Linwood Barclay and I have read all his books so I was very happy to be given the chance to review his latest book ahead of release. 

Annie Blunt a children's author and illustrator needs a fresh start for her and her son Charlie.

Following the death of her husband in a hit-and-run accident and a further tragedy when an event in one of her books plays out in scandalous reality she moves with her son to a small town in upstate New York. 

Charlie discovers a toy train set in the shed and plays with it. However, stranger things start happening immediately with train noises and other supernatural phenomenon adding to her uneasiness. 

In addition Annie begins to draw new disturbing characters for a new book and does not seem to be able to stop and then things go wild. 

It is difficult to review this book without spoilers. 

This is a million miles away from all his other books being supernatural but I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns which could make a person dizzy. 

I highly recommend this book and all his other books. 

Thanks to Netgalley UK and the publishers for the opportunity to read this in exchange for a fair and unbiased review?

Annie and her son move to a small town for a fresh start after several traumatic incidents. Her son Charlie finds a train set in the shed and becomes obsessed with either playing with that or riding his bike round and round the house. Something is not quite right with the train set or is Annie losing her mind.
I had a great time reading this. Definitely some creepy Stephen King vibes. This book had me on the edge of my seat throughout. This was a little slow to start but once it got going it was one shock after another would definitely recommend picking this up !
Also has a pretty good audiobook too 😃
Thank you to Netgalley, HQ and Linwood Barclay for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In Whistle, Linwood Barclay delivers a chilling and atmospheric thriller that expertly blends psychological tension with supernatural horror. Known for his deft plotting and knack for everyday fears turned sinister, Barclay here takes a bold step into darker, more surreal territory—while still grounding the narrative in the emotional realism of grief, isolation, and maternal instinct.

The story follows Annie Blunt, a beloved children’s author and illustrator, who’s reeling from a year of loss and public scrutiny. Her husband’s sudden death and a scandal surrounding one of her books have driven her to seek refuge in a sleepy upstate New York town with her young son, Charlie. But peace proves elusive. When Charlie discovers a dusty old train set in a locked shed on their new property, what starts as innocent playtime slowly evolves into something far more sinister.

Barclay builds tension masterfully, using eerie details—a train whistle heard in the middle of the night, miles from any tracks; a strange new character Annie can’t stop sketching, though it doesn’t belong in any of her stories; sudden neighborhood disturbances—to blur the line between psychological breakdown and supernatural invasion. He plays with the classic haunted house setup but twists it with originality, weaving in the fragile bond between a grieving mother and her son as both shield and vulnerability.

What makes Whistle especially effective is its emotional undercurrent. Annie is not just another thriller protagonist stumbling into danger—she’s a woman unraveled by trauma, trying to anchor her son’s reality while doubting her own. Her struggle makes the horror elements land with greater weight, as we question whether what’s happening is truly paranormal or a manifestation of trauma and guilt.

The book also reflects on creativity itself—the act of storytelling, especially for children, as both sanctuary and potential source of darkness. When Annie’s illustrations begin to shift toward the macabre, it’s not only frightening but also a meditation on how grief and fear can distort the familiar.

Fans of The Haunting of Hill House, Coraline, or Stephen King’s Bag of Bones will find Whistle a gripping read—creepy without being gratuitous, and emotionally resonant without sacrificing pace.

This is an unexpected treat, a super spooky horror story from an author I didn’t associate with this style. An author escaping New York for a few months in an attempt to escape personal tragedy moves to a property found by her agent. A series of weird events follow but in a separate storyline set several years earlier a small town sheriff is grappling with the mystery of two missing men when a body is discovered but missing its bone structure things really start to build with a series of accidental (?) deaths. Each episode is linked by the acquisition of a model train set and the link with the author’s holiday house is an old train set discovered by her son in a locked shed. It all builds to a disaster filled climax which cleverly links the two strands together. The fact that Stephen King has read and recommended this speaks for itself. Excellent!

I enjoy supernatural thrillers, and this one has a horror twist. Linwood Barclay’s Whistle is terrifying, creepy, and slithers its way under your skin. Departing from his usual psychological thrillers, Barclay ventures into the eerie and unsettling, crafting a story that’s both chilling and emotionally resonant. As a Linwood Barclay fan, I’m well aware of his fascination with model trains – he has a fabulous track layout in his home – and so this is a perfect subject for his writing.

The story centres on Annie Blunt, a widowed children’s author and illustrator who, after the worst year of her life, takes a break and moves, for a temporary break, to a quaint New England town with her son, Charlie. Annie tries to start over, but her life takes a sinister turn after Charlie finds an old train set in a storage shed. The innocent toy train play develops into a sequence of disturbing occurrences, including night-time phantom train sounds, disturbing visions, and Annie’s sketching obsession with a mysterious, grotesque figure.

The story features dual timelines, which Barclay skilfully weaves together between present-day Annie and Charlie, and Chief of Police Harry’s 2001 investigation into unexplained deaths in the neighbouring town of Lucknow. The story’s dual timelines create suspenseful depth that kept me engaged until the mystery was resolved.

Barclay presents supernatural elements with skilful execution, creating fear without resorting to familiar clichés. The toy train set becomes a tool for evil forces while maintaining its appearance as an ordinary toy, echoing traditional horror themes. The mysterious nature of the Choo Choo trains store owner, Edwin Nabler, is reminiscent of the store owner in Stephen King’s Needful Things.

Barclay maintains a consistent pace throughout the book, as each chapter concludes with a hook that encourages you to continue to the next. The story progressively builds tension until it reaches its surprising conclusion. Through his novel, Barclay explores fundamental fears, including loss of control, while the familiar world becomes invaded by the uncanny. Is it scary? Absolutely. Barclay taps into primal fears—events spiralling out of control; the invasion of the familiar by the uncanny. Why do people keep hearing the whistle of a train on a railway line that has lain unused for decades? Can Charlie ever break free of the spell the train set seems to have over him? The horror quickly creeps under your skin, leaving a lasting impression. It’s a sinister and terrifying tale, made more so by the gruesome nature of the bodies the Chief of Police discovers.

The characters, as ever in Barclay’s writing, are empathetic, authentic, and fully rounded. I truly feared for Annie and Charlie, while poor Chief of Police Harry is way out of his depth in this truly suspenseful story.

Verdict: Whistle is a compelling blend of thriller and horror, reminiscent of Stephen King. It’s a haunting, chilling tale that explores grief, guilt, and the supernatural, unsettling yet brilliantly, creepily satisfying in a shivery way. This story neatly blurs the lines between reality and the supernatural, and it is a must-read for me!

This book was not what I was expecting. Although I have not read a book from this author before, I considered them to be a writer of crime and thriller. Instead, this book is more of a horror-thriller and it screamed Stephen King. I heavily reminded me of Needful Things – a book I read donkeys ago – and the reference to this book in the story was not surprising. Nor was the author’s acknowledgements at the end to the prolific horror writer himself. Therefore, if you love King’s writing, I am sure this will please.

This is a book of nightmares where an innocent toy train set becomes far more sinister. I loved how the plot unfolds in two different time scales because we learn about the origins of the murderous toy trains, to present day, where they still seem to be making their presence known. However, Barclay does not alternate chapters but sections, meaning readers can get heavily invested in that timeline before changing. This definitely added to the intensity of the story.

Even though this was not what I was anticipating, I found that I could not put the book down. It was such a sinister story that I was desperate to see how the trains would stop wreaking havoc. No one seems safe from the influence of the train seller, Nabler, and I couldn’t foresee the revelations that came later in the book. There’s a darkness that haunts the pages and this is reflected in the characters: either they have significantly suffered, (like the protagonist, Annie), or are at the mercy of suffering that comes from evil influences. It really made for a chilling read.

There’s some pretty toe-curling scenes in this book that roots it firmly in the horror and macabre. At times I was gasping in disbelief and this just added to the tension of the book. I grew to really like Harry’s character and was so keen to see him unravel this bizarre mystery that is haunting his town. When the story reached its climax, it was definitely not a disappointment and I enjoyed the thrilling conclusion.

A fantastic read and one that had me on the edge of my seat. Who knew how dangerous a train set could really be?!

With thanks to HQ and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this book by Linwood Barclay but it wasn’t at all what I was expecting. It was set in two different time lines the older one set around Chief Harry Cook and the more modern one around author Annie Blunt. Usually when books are in separate parts I enjoy one more than the other but found both sides of this book equally as entertaining.

It is quite spooky and makes you a bit anxious in places and overall a great read, I would definitely recommend if you are into a spooky book with a little bit of make believe thrown in.

A couple of little things stopped me giving it a 5 so rounded slightly down to 4.5. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for my advance reading copy.

Annie Blunt and her son Charlie move upstate New York for a quieter life. Charlie finds an old train set and things go strange from there. Creepy horror novel with good characters, well plotted, I couldn't put it down. One of my favorite authors writing in my favourite genres. Thanks to HQ and Netgalley for this review ARC.

Such an amazing book, suspenseful, creepy and horror. The writing is gripping and leaving you wanting more. Linwood Barclay is so talented, the characters and story plot where strong and everything I could want in a book

Thank you to HQ, the author and NetGalley for a digital ARC in return for an honest review.

Oh. My. God. One of my favourite authors, has diversified into supernatural horror and I'm still pinching myself that I managed to
get my hands on an advance copy! I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into this book...

Bestselling author Linwood Barclay is back, but if you thought you knew what you were getting with his latest release, prepare to be surprised...in a good way. Once again Barclay presents a story set in a seemingly peaceful neighborhood which then explores the dark undercurrents hidden beneath the surface of suburban life. The idea that danger could be next door (or even in your own home) is a recurring motif.

Known for powerful psychological thrillers Barclay has now dipped his toe into supernatural horror - and he does not disappoint! His first foray into this new genre has been hailed as 'terrific' by the master of Horror himself, Stephen King.

Whilst there have been cases of established bestselling authors (Patricia Cornwell/Stephenie Meyer/John Grisham) taking the commercially risky step of switching genres but not retaining their following, I don't for one minute think this will happen to Linwood Barclay. I for one definitely don't mind if he decides not to stay in his lane because it looks like he's going to give Stephen King a run for his money!

The Financial Times said that Barclay has moved into "the eerie eldritch territory" much used by Stephen King. The kind of horror fiction that features strange and often supernatural elements.

Climb aboard the Linwood Barclay train this is going to be a spectacular ride! Choo-Choo-Choo!

*****
Note to the Publisher:
The cover art showing the train coming out of the cardboard box with the tag line 'Some toys should be left alone' is preferable to the one currently showing on Goodreads.

#Whistle #NetGalley