I was in two minds whether to read this book. I am not a fan of anything supernatural, preferring something more realistic. However, I am a big fan of Linwood Barclay and having read some of the early reviews on NetGalley that stated it was a ‘must read’, I relented. I am so glad I did. Whistle was an absolute page turner and delivered a thrilling, fearful ride on every page. Yes, there were bizarre happenings but the book was absolutely brilliant and I raced through it in a day. In this story, Annie is a writer of children’s books but when not one but two tragedies affect her life, she stops writing and devotes her time to her grieving son. A chance to get away seems a good idea at the time. In another part of the story based in 2002, the town of Lucknow welcomes a new shop owner. Mr Choo, a slightly eccentric looking man who sells toy trains. A seemingly decent man who is passionate about his business and friendly towards the locals, especially those who purchase one of his special train sets. However, when strange things begin to happen and people start hearing a train whistle where there is no train and increasingly odd and tragic events occur the chief of police has no answers and is completely out of his depth. Just what is happening in the quiet town of Lucknow? Events escalate to an unbelievably horrific level and the repercussions reach far and wide. What a dark, creepy and twisted thriller this was, full of atmospheric suspense and to echo other reviewers, it is an absolute ‘must read’. An absolute triumph from Linwood Barclay and it was definitely a risk worth taking for him to take his thriller writing to a whole new level.

This book is going places. What a read, I loved it and j wasn’t sure if it was thriller horror mystery crime! R everything packed into one! I bet this wins prizes!

In Whistle, Linwood Barclay crafts a chilling tale of grief, mystery and creeping dread. Annie Blunt, a celebrated children’s author and illustrator, moves with her young son Charlie to a quiet town in upstate New York, hoping to escape the shadows cast by her husband’s tragic death and a scandal surrounding her latest book.

But peace is elusive. Charlie’s discovery of an old train set in their new home brings more than joy. Strange noises haunt the nights and eerie events begin to ripple through the neighbourhood. Meanwhile, Annie finds herself obsessively drawing a sinister character that seems entirely out of place in her usual children’s stories.

Barclay skilfully blends psychological suspense with supernatural hints, keeping readers on edge as Annie confronts the possibility that her fresh start may be a descent into something far darker.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

A very different read from this author,,I thought much darker than previous read,but of course as it is this author it was more than readable with good characters,however you may view trains very differently after reading this,I definitely will
Interesting diversion from the norm and wonder what his next book will be like now we have had this change.

This was an eerie and suspenseful read with phantom train sounds, unsettling visions, and a creeping mystery that pulls Annie deeper into something she may never escape.

I love LInwood Barclay's book but I am not a huge fan of horror so wasn't sure if I would like this one as much. Thankfully I did, it was brilliant! I know the author has a huge train track/village set up in his basement so I wasn't surprised he used toy trains as a conduit for the horror and I'm sure this must have been a real labour of love to write.
The book doesn't take itself too seriously and wow it was pretty gristly at times but for some reason because I am familiar with the author it really worked. I love the way the characters are set up, it was a joy to read.

Annie Blunt has had an unimaginably year. First, her husband was killed in a tragic hit-and-run accident, then one of the children's books she's built her writing and illustrating career on ignited a major scandal. Desperate for a fresh start, she moves with her son Charlie to a charming small town in upstate New York where they can begin to heal. But Annie's year is about to get worse. Bored and isolated in their new surroundings, Charlie is thrilled when he finds a forgotten train set in a locked shed on their property. Annie is glad to see Charlie happy, but there's something unsettling about his new toy. Strange sounds wake Annie in the night - she swears she could hear a train, but there isn't an active track for miles - and bizarre things begin happening in her neighbourhood.

This is a cleverly crafted, eerie and creepy read. I was quickly pulled into this book, and I could not put it down. The story has a dual timeline that's told in the past from Harry's perspective, and from Annie's perspective in the present day. I instantly disliked Mr Choo and his creepy train shop. I don't think i'll be able to sit in a room that has a train set in it ever again,

Published 5th June 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQStories and the author #LinwoodBarclay for my ARC of #Whistle in exchange for an honest review.

I’d like to thank HQ and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Whistle’ written by Linwood Barclay in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Children’s author and illustrator Annie Blunt has had a bad year with a child falling to his death from a balcony after literally believing he can fly just like Annie’s character Pierce the Penguin and then her husband John dies after being hit by a van. It’s decided that Annie and her young son Charlie will move out of Manhattan to a house in the country where she can get away from her memories and start writing again, and all goes well until Charlie finds a train set in a locked shed that he puts together indoors.

‘Whistle’ is the seventh book I’ve read by Linwood Barclay and the first one to scare the daylights out of me. It’s a wonderfully crafted supernatural thriller bordering on fantasy fiction and the tension is palpable as the characters come into contact with Edwin Nabler aka Mr Choo and the lifelike train sets he’s infused with evil. As bizarre events start to occur the tension is palpable and I had to read faster and faster into the night so I didn’t have to wait until the next day to learn of the outcome of Annie and the other wonderful characters. This is one of the best thrillers I’ve read this year and I have no hesitation in giving it a huge five stars and recommending it to readers who want to read something out of the ordinary. Believe me, you won’t be disappointed!

I didn’t know beforehand that Barclay was taking a left turn with this book and it’s hard not to be disappointed when you’re expecting another thriller in his signature style. Expectations aside, this is a weirdly dystopian and disturbingly dark story that stretches the realms of reality into a new fantasy fiction direction. Not for me, but well-plotted and certainly an interesting step for him.

Wow! Be prepared for a weird, scary journey into toy trains and their seeming ability to cause destruction.

This reminded me of a Stephen King novel…. and part of the reason I was so delighted to be able to preview it, was the “Terrific “ Stephen King review.

A recently widowed woman and her young son move to a small town in the hope of a fresh start. However, soon they are plagued by strange visions, sounds and weird things start to happen in this small town, all appearing to be connected to toy train sets.

This is a very strange read and some of the paragraphs were extremely unsettling and not for the squeamish. But it’s a very different, refreshing, horror of a tale and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley and HQ publishers for the opportunity to preview and congratulations to the author.

I certainly won’t be playing with any train sets anytime soon!

I’ve been a long time fan of Linwood’s writing but wow….this book is on another level. The number of times I gasped out loud whilst reading….

Annie, writer and illustrator of children’s books, has had the worst year of her life. Desperate to leave tragedy behind her and get out of NYC, she takes a summer house on the recommendation of her editor. Now Annie finds herself with her young son Charlie, in the middle of a different nightmare.

This book is cleverly written in two time periods, with toy trains linking the two. It reminded me more than once of a Stephen King style of writing, which I mean as a compliment.

Stay away from toy trains this summer everyone….

Whistle is a creepy, fast paced mix of horror and thriller. What if toy trains were deadly?
After moving to a quiet town to escape her past, Annie and her son Charlie discover an old train set with a dark secret. Strange accidents follow, and the mystery deepens as the town’s sheriff investigates. I really enjoyed how the story blended eerie supernatural elements with Barclay’s usual thriller style. The characters were likable, especially Annie and Harry, and the pacing kept me hooked. Some parts were a bit over the top, but it was fun and entertaining throughout. It reminded me of Stephen King, with creepy vibes and clever twists. A little more backstory on the villain, Mr. Choo would have been nicer but I think that also gave way to make your own version of its background.
This was a thrilling ride and a great read for fans of horror with a touch of humor.
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

It's maybe a bit of a generational thing, but, growing up, I have (semi) fond memories of the vast collection of Hornby trains that my Dad had amassed and that we regularly used to lay out and set running. It wasn't a permanent fixture or anything, but one of those rare occasions where we could spend a bit of time in harmony just enjoying the simplicity of the complicated track set up and accompanying engines and sidings etc. Then Thomas The Tank Engine gave trains a bit of a renaissance moment, making them a firm part of my Nephew's childhood too. Mostly in a good way, although I always thought the Fat Controller was a bit suss ... He has nothing on Nabler, aka 'Mr. Choo' mind, the strange proprietor of Choo-Choo's Trains in Linwood Barclay's brand new horror thriller, Whistle. He takes suss to a whole new level.

I have to admit, I really enjoyed this book. It's not one that perhaps takes itself too seriously, and I can only assume that the author may have had a love hate relationship with toy trains when he was a child, maybe even now, but it is one that taps into the best kind of situational horror, and that plays upon the everyday in the execution of the grotesque happenings that threaten the small town of Lucknow. It has a kind of Stephen King styling, drawing upon elements of 'Christine' (cleverly not-quite-name checked), and 'Maximum Overdrive' but with it's own unique twist, and from the very opening chapter I knew it was going to be a book that made me smile. A lot. Mr Choo especially. He never quite hides what he is, and his own personal collection, aside from his precious trains, really is quite something. A hard one to forget.

There are two threads to this book. The one centres around the town of Lucknow and its Chief of Police, Harry Cook, who is investigating a series of bizarre and deadly accidents that has claimed the lives of a few too many of the residents. There is only one constant between any of the deaths, but one that is almost too strange to really contemplate. I liked Cook. Liked his resilience, his acceptance that what he was thinking was very strange, but also that it never put him off. He is the perfect small town Chief, finding the connections and following them, no matter what path (or track) they might lead him down.

The second thread focuses on children's author, Annie, an her son Charlie. Annie is in somewhat of a writing slump following a bereavement and a tragedy that played all too close to one of the novels she had penned. Retreating to a place up-state in the hope that it will trigger something in her, she finds herself caught up in even more tragedy, with surprising, although not for readers, links to the other half of the book. Annie was an interesting character to get to know. Someone who feels really deeply, heavily affected by what has happened in the past, perhaps understandably so. But she too is resilient, even if she doesn't understand quite how much. Between her and Cook, the author has created two characters I really grew to like quickly, and who I rooted for, making some of what happens all the more shocking in it's execution.

There is a kind of spectral creepiness to this book. It's not pitch black horror, although there are moments what will make you go eww, likely followed by a very swift tee-hee. The way in which Linwood Barclay has played it was, for me, pitch perfect in combining the spine tingling and chilling elements of the book with a kind of dark humour that I love. I could easily see this translating to the screen, either for a slightly younger audience, or really amped up for those of us of less tender years. Either way, reading this has made me think twice about my Dad's Hornby collection. I mean, as children we often imagine a whole different world for our toys - that is the beauty of an active imagination. But Whistle? Well, it takes that imagination and projects it on a whole new level.

Twisted, laced with dark humour and some grimly executed, although not gratuitously written, death scenes, and playing the balance between light and shadows perfectly, it was just a lot of fun and definitely recommended for people who like their horror a tad more tongue in cheek. Toy Story this is not and it's all the better for it. Probably not a great marketing campaign tool for model train enthusiasts mind. Then again ...

oh Linwood Barclay where have you taken your books to now!? where have you taken us readers to? this book felt slightly different to Linwood's others of which ive read them all. but boy does it show he is the master of his craft. for this was once again a brilliant book. it ffelt alot scarier. a lot more eerie creepy vibes. not horror as in the blood and gore sense. but horror as in look under the bed because there is a train under there after this book sense. but whats so bad about a train? haha. read on folk ch ch ch choooooo chooooooo...

as usual the cast of characters and plot hit every note. and did do effortlessly. the tension is built it a pace that almost too much because you just need to know whats going on, where this is going, what is going to happen,
i swear i heard whistles after this book. just saying.
the book brings us first to Annie. she is having the worse time at home. and at work, she is a children's books and something terrible happened linked to a character she has created. ouch. something needs to give and its Anne is she doesnt take a break. so that is what she does and goes and stays in a small upstate town with her son.
on moving in her young son finds a train set. and this begins the noises. the noises Anne hears of trains. but there is no trains within miles.
we are also bought Harry the chief officer of the town. hes been investigating strange things in the town not least some missing persons cases. and the findings arent pretty. in fact they are rather gross.
there is also this link that there is between the opening of a store in town. a store called choo choo trains.and there is just something about the owner...(you see can you feel it building)
so as you can see Linwood could never really make me second guess him. going into this book though i was wary. this felt different than his other thrillers. but i really shouldnt presume i know more than such a skilled author,should i? because once again we have a top tier book. and im soooo grateful that i got to peak at it first.

I really enjoy Linwood Barclay's books, but, had I realised he'd stepped out of his usual genre and written a supernatural thriller I probably wouldn't have read it However,. that would have been a mistake. as this was an extremely enjoyable read. with all the page turning aspects of his other books very much in evidence. The easy flowing dialogue, delivered by the believable characters made for a riveting read. hopefully there will be more!
Thank you to netgalley and HQ for an advance copy of this book.

This book was so chuffing good definitely gave me Stephen King vibes reminded me a bit of Needful things one of my favourite books ever I really couldn't get through it quick enough I would definitely recommend this one easy 5 stars

3.75/5

This book was a bit of doorstopper, but was packed with plenty of fun and unnatural creepy weirdness. Imagine something that channels old-school Stephen King but spits out a story set now…that’s what we get here.

It’s difficult to avoid the King comparisons actually…the Maine man himself read the first draft of Whistle, he’s quoted on the cover and has long been a social media buddy of Linwood Barclay. But the story itself feels so indebted to King - Constant Readers will almost certainly enjoy themselves.

I’ll admit, I only put in for a review copy of this because I know King had bigged it up and was pals with the author. I wasn’t expecting much - was fearing a bad boomer attempt at horror - but was pleasantly surprised. While it didn’t feel wholly original, its familiarity drew me in and got me settled quickly, and I enjoyed pretty much the whole thing.

The premise is definitely something you could have imagined from 80s King; slightly odd shopkeepers sells toy trains that seem to be linked to a bunch of tragic accidents around town, a town where folk are also going missing. I was resisting the urge to mention the massive Needful Things vibes the book gives, but then we discover our main character is reading that very same novel so I don’t need to worry. Friends, if you like Needful Things and all of King’s 70s and 80s slightly campy, pulpy stuff then Whistle will really toot your horn.

Even the characters are ones King would be pleased with; well-drawn, complex, driven by trauma. Our main character writes and illustrates children’s books but is plagued by losing her husband in a hit and run and by a young child dying after trying to emulate one of her books. Her son is a classic King-esque 12-year-old - resourceful, sharp and drawn in by the villain. Then we also get the wise but creepy old guy across the street, the likeable police chief and, of course, the bad guy - a chap full of weird charm, a tendency to talk a bit too much, and a bunch of horrific hobbies that he indulges in.

I enjoyed the multiple timelines here, as well as how it all came together. There were a couple of good chilling scenes, and the first third or so was especially compelling. The ending felt a little rushed, a little keen to be done, but overall a pretty solid and enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the review copy.

This is a new genre for Linwood Barclay, I’ve read his other books and always enjoyed them. This was more horror / supernatural/ sci fi I guess, so unusual for him but I enjoyed it.

It kept me full of suspense and I’d say give it a try!

I will never look at model train sets the same again. Mr Choo will be forever be in the back of my mind when I see them!

A frankly bonkers (in a good way) supernatural story about one of creepiest protagonists I’ve read in a long time Edwin Nabler also known as Mr Choo who sells model train sets. Not any normal train sets though as these unleash a special kind of hell upon the owners.

Dripping in early Stephen King vibes with touches of the bizarreness of Clive Barker, Whistle is a small town story where really creepy things happen since the new toy train shop opened. Beautifully realised and told with some hugely inventive and effective themes, this one is like a boiling kettle (oh whistle haha), heating up and heating up until it boils over completely at the end.

Vivid characters, multiple stories and timelines, all held together by the incredibly creepy Edwin.

I went into this kinda blind. Yeah I knew it would be about some weird supernatural train sets but I wasn’t prepared for the brilliance and indeed nostalgic feeling I got from this(being a long time Kimg fan). The King references by the way are meant absolutely as compliments. This has its own jam but it’s hard not to think that it’s heavily influenced by SK.

I had a blast reading this. Original, engaging, unsettling and grim, it’s one of my favourite reads of the year.


Thanks to HQ and the author for the ARC through Netgalley.

Well.... wasn't this something a little different from one of my favourite authors... and I blooming loved it! It really took me back to of some of the old school horror that I read in the 80s.
Anyway... we start with Annie who has really not had a great time of late. She is a children's author, creator of the wonderful Pierce the Penguin. But tragedy strikes when a young child takes something she wrote too literally and falls to his death. She is still reeling from that when her husband dies in a hit-and-run. She's really had enough... so much so that she is well overdue submitting her next book that she hasn't even started yet. Her agent and friend, Finn, decides that she could do with a break so he rents her a huge Victorian house in a quiet upstate New York town where, hopefully she can rest, recuperate and spend some quality time with her young son Charlie.
Meanwhile, in another timeline, we follow the shenanigans in Lucknow where Police Chief Harry is investigating the disappearance of two men, which gets so much weirder when the body of one is found. Soon after there's a spate of accidents and incidents and more weird deaths. Harry notices that they have all occurred since a new shop opened in town...
Oh My Days was this all things chilling and horrific. There are some crazy shenanigans to be found, along with some rather gruesome deaths and, well, this guy pulls no punches with the whole horror theme! Quite how the two timelines connect I will leave you to discover for yourself, suffice to say when I got there and the whole truth was laid bare, I did have to sit back and applaud the author for a job well done.
Characterisation is, as always for this author, brilliant. Spoilers prevent me from going much further with this, but I can say that I absolutely loved Annie and Charlie. I also felt so much for Harry and what he went through.
And the main story - like I said - impressed the heck out of me. I am a big fan of this genre, especially when executed as well as here. Gratuitous violence with a story line and a point. Basically old school SK at his best.
All in all a cracking book which I thoroughly recommend to both fans of the author and the genre. I do hope he writes more in the genre going forward... Choo-freaking-choo...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.