Whistle by Linwood Barclay

Title: Whistle

Series: n/a
Author: Linwood Barclay
Source/Format: NetGalley; eARC
More Details: Horror; Paranormal
Publisher/Publication Date: William Morrow; May 20, 2025

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

New York Times bestselling author Linwood Barclay enters new territory with a supernatural chiller in which a woman and her young son move to a small town looking for a fresh start, only to be haunted by disturbing events and strange visions when they find a mysterious train set in a storage shed.

Evil has a one track mind...

Annie Blunt has had an unimaginably terrible 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 lonely in their isolated 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 could swear she hears a train, but there isn’t an active track for miles—and bizarre things begin happening in the neighborhood. Worse, Annie can’t seem to stop drawing a disturbing new character that has no place in a children’s book. Grief can do strange things to the mind, but Annie is beginning to think she’s walked out of one nightmare straight into another, only this one is far more terrifying…

After reading King’s The Shining, I was in the mood for another horror novel. Luckily for me, I had Linwood Barclay’s May 2025 novel, Whistle, for review.

Where to even begin with this book?

To start, I liked this one as much as The Shining. But, also like that book, Whistle dealt with some heavy topics, and it was horror through-and-through, but with a twist involving toy trains (which I never thought could be so creepy, but hey, I was proved wrong).

The basics are: Annie Blunt was having a hard time and, in looking for a break, heads out of New York City for what should’ve been a relaxing time so maybe—just maybe—she could work on her next book. Like King’s novel, Barclay’s set up Whistle’s opening really well. It was detailed and engrossing, and it did a lot of heavy lifting when it came to developing Annie, Charlie, and even her late husband. It was easy to be sympathetic in the wake of her grief, and understanding toward her troubles and how she tried to cope as well as keep going because her son needed her. And Charlie’s chapters, though brief by comparison, offered an insight into his perspective. But, the work on the backstory didn’t over stay its welcome, and there were plenty of clues peppered throughout the early narrative which pointed toward what would ultimately be the uncanny and creepy nature of the core of the story.

One of the standouts was Barclay’s treatment of the toy trains. I went in with an open mind. And, as I mentioned above, they weren’t portrayed as a gimmick but instead had a presence in the story that cast a long shadow. They also presented quite a mystery.

Annie, however, wasn’t the only character stuck in that mess. There was the present storyline, which followed her and her son. But, part of the story took place in the past as well; those sections were real foreboding. At times, I knew more than the characters did, but it worked out, because part of what made the novel thrilling, eerie, and a page turner was waiting to see how the different ends of the story would intersect. It was great!

Whistle was exactly what I was hoping it would be. It wasn’t necessarily fast paced, but it was the kind of horror novel that slowly unfolds and was driven by its characters as much as it was by the supernatural aspects that fueled its more frightening moments.

 

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.

Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by the publisher (William Morrow) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you! 

Music Monday (316): Joya Mooi, Tetrarch

 Rules:

• Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 

Breana: Lately, I've been listening to the deluxe version of Joya Mooi's EP, Open Hearts. One of my favorite tracks is No Holding Back.

Adri: Tetrarch's new album, The Ugly Side of Me, came out on the 9th of May. Needless to say I'm enjoying the album. It was hard to chose one, so my picks today are Never Again (Parasite) and The Ugly Side of Me.

What are you listening to this week?

Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

I know I’ve been reading more horror and nonfiction lately (The Shining, Whistle, and Careless People), but I’ve also made time for more lighthearted media too. One of my favorite films I watched earlier this year—which immediately springs to mind whenever I consider reaching for something light and humorous—is Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.

The movie is a lot of fun, and the beginning was pretty silly but also kind of serious. Wallace’s latest invention was a robot named Norbot, which was meant to help with gardening. And, ultimately, there were hijinks and comedic mishaps (and one very annoyed Gromit). But, maybe because it was meant to make things so easy, Wallace couldn’t see the way the technology could be exploited, which left the door open for a thief with an axe to grind to exact his vengeance. It sounds pretty serious when I put it that way, but Vengeance Most Fowl is a comedy through and through with some spectacularly animated scenes (stop-motion is one of my favorite styles anyway) that were both humorous and dramatic in the best way. It also had a solid story with enough stakes to keep it interesting and a surprisingly touching resolution that makes the adventure worth watching.

So, if you’re looking for a movie that doesn’t have the highest stakes and could make you laugh, then I’d recommend checking out Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.

What I've Been Listening To (April)

Once again, I have listened to enough music—thanks Spotify—to justify another What I’ve Been Listening To. This time, I’m here to discuss some of the music that kept me entertained in April. And with that, welcome back to the music minded corner of Our Thoughts Precisely!

Somehow, last year, I missed Spiral Tape by Zowie Kengocha. But you know how the saying goes, better late than never, because I adored this album. Spiral Tape had impeccable vibes. It wasn’t the most upbeat of the music on my list today, but I appreciated how mellow it could be, while, if you take a look at the lyrics, you’ll see, like I did, how contemplative the album actually is. It was like a character study or a critical analysis, and it was mixed with themes of self-acceptance. And it was all wrapped up in a stylish package that left me wanting more.

One of the EPs I listened to last month was Club Shyroom 2 by Shygirl. This one had club friendly electropop music, but rather than a Brat approach, it had a grungier feel to it that was more in line with albums like FKA Twigs’ Eusexua with rap verses and an overall upbeat feel that I’ve encountered in Megan Thee Stallion’s recent releases.

Then I checked out A$h’s new album, Low Key. She’s a new-to-me artist, and I found her through (once again) a recommendation with the song I’m So Nice. And I liked the rest of Low Key just as much too. There was some really good music here, like the titular Low Key, I’m So Nice, and Leave Me Alone just to name a few.

Another one of the older EPs I liked was: Die 4 UR Love by Tei Shi. It had an almost retro and early 2000s pop vibe to it, which I enjoyed. Five songs was entirely too short, and I came away wishing there were more tracks on Die 4 UR Love.

Like so much of what I’ve been listening to lately, VOL.1 Learning in Public by DEVAURA, an EP, showed up on my radar thanks to a recommendation, and I’m so glad that it did. Learning in Public blended a number of genres together to get its sound—leading to an impression of experimentation—with everything from pop, R&B, electronic, and even a little amapiano mixed in (and to good effect). There were a couple of features too: Hylander (that tone switch at the end of Tundra was excellent), Law OS (Venice), and Blessed (Eden). Essentially, DEVAURA’s EP was the kind of music I find extremely fun to engage with.

Speaking of mellow music, I also listened to Jubilee by Japanese Breakfast. My co-blogger, Adri, knew about this band before I did, and when I mentioned their name in a conversation, she said I should give their music a try. And, I really enjoyed Jubilee. It kind of had that slow rock, indie singer songwriter vibe going on. Some of my favorite songs included: Paprika, Slide Tackle, and Tactics just to name a few. So, I’m looking forward to checking out their 2025 album.

Then, one of my most anticipated April albums released on the twenty-fifth: Face Down in the Garden by Tennis. I love-love-loved this album! The band delivered an enjoyable listening experience with a body of work that was in line with the hits offered by the singles (Weight of Desire, 12 Blown Tires, etc). It was indie pop with a mellow almost nostalgic and retro style of sound. And that’s why I was pretty sad when I saw the announcement of Tennis’ indefinite hiatus, but at least there was this last album, and it was a good note to go out on.

And then, last month I also checked out the Coachella livestream (April 11-13, and 18-20), and I saw some performances from a handful of new-to-me artist, which enjoyed. Those included Clario, The Marias, Keshi, Ginger Root, and Basement Jaxx.

And, finally, some of the singles that made it onto my playlist include: I Got It by Rinni, It’s Alright by Courtnie, Tell me I never knew that by Caroline and Caroline Polachek, Falling In Love by R.A.E., Negotiate by Kilo Kish featuring Miguel, West by BUKKY, New Girl by Jai’Len Josey, and N-QUIL by Jay Kent.

Music Monday (315): Abi Ocia, Afro Celt Sound System

Rules:

• Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 

Breana: Abi Ocia, one of my favorite artists, is back with a new song: Messed Up Ways. I really like this one (and I appreciated how it used the Jersey Beat).

 

Adri: I was making some more playlists and came across a new-to-me musical group. I liked their stuff, so my pick this week is Whirl-Y-Reel 1 and Whirl-Y-Reel 2 by Afro Celt Sound System.

What are you listening to this week?