No Time for Goodbye
by Linwood Barclay
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Book Reviews of No Time for Goodbye
Book Review: You can't go home again
Summary: 4 Stars
This story told from the husband's point of view works very well. Only the first few pages take place in 1983 when Cynthia's family disappears so we get the bare bones of the history of the family dynamic.
Cut to 25 years later. This is where all of the action takes place. The suspense is high as well as a sense of " what is going on and is it going to let us know all the answers"? Yes and yes, but not until the author deems is appropriate. Everything unfolds at just the right pace with enough to keep you satisfied and on the edge of your seat.
The characters are well drawn, so much so, they seem like real people that you could actually know. The eight year old child is a bit precocious but cute. The love for his family by our hero is very realistic and you care for them.
Twists and surprises happen occasionally until the end with the pages turning so fast you almost get whiplash because your trip is almost over and you know all the answers -- the shock and heartbreak of it all.
4 stars and not 5 for this gem of a mystery? Oh yes. TOO MANY F WORDS. Even the most benign characters use this word repeatedly. To much, too much, too much -- It looses it's emphasis and shock value when uttered constantly and only irritates rather than titillates.
Book Review: Slow Start but Nice Read Overall
Summary: 3 Stars
"No Time For Goodbye" is an engaging read for the most part, although it does take some time to truly get going. Linwood Barclay does a great job of developing the characters and making the reader actually care about them, something that should not be taken for granted as so many authors seem to fail in this regard. The multi-level plotline is terrific right up to the very end.
The major downfall of this book is the fact that it does drag quite a bit in its first half, as Barclay attempts to set his stage. Some of this setup falls into the empty filler category. A good chunk of the first half could be eliminated without taking too much away from the final product. Also, the writing itself, including the dialog between the characters, is somewhat banal. This simplistic style tends to make the book drag at times, leaving the reader wondering where it is headed.
The flaws are not enough to completely take away from the overall quality of the book; it is a compelling read and worth the time if you are patient with it from the start.
Book Review: Wanted to make it 3 1/2 stars
Summary: 3 Stars
I was drawn to this book by the blurb on the back because the plot looked interesting and unique - and it was. For the most part, this was a good book and I enjoyed reading it. I would give it a firm 3 1/2 stars in an Amazon review for that alone. I just had a couple of problems that kept me from giving it 4 or higher. First, as someone said already, the plot is telegraphed clearly in the first 25 pages. I caught it and had everything figured out before I was halfway through the book. It was also easy to forsee the convenient twist at the end so there were no surprises there. It's just not a tight enough plot and for that reason, I couldn't give it high marks. I also need to tell anyone who is sensitive in this area, the profanity is excessive from the first page to the last. I can take a reasonable amount of it but in this book, it was just over-the-top for me, so be warned if that's a problem for you. Frankly, I don't quite understand why a talented author feels he or she has to drench a book in that unless it's character-appropriate.Book Review: Three and a Half Stars
Summary: 3 Stars
This was the first book I'd ever read by Linwood Barclay, and I would definitely read him again. The narrative reminded me in tone to the Kinsey Milhone novels by Sue Grafton with a steady mixture of humor injected into the suspense. Twenty five years ago Cynthia Bigge passes out drunk in her bed after an altercation with her father when he catches her drunk with her boyfriend. The following morning she wakes up to find her Mother, Father and Brother gone. No note, and she never hears from them again. Feeling like she never received closure she goes on a missing persons television show in the hopes of finding what happened to her family. It's then that things begin to happen to lead her to believe her family is still alive. Or is she just losing her mind? I found myself interested in finding out what happened, and what the real story was, but didn't necessarily feel this was a typical page turning thriller. I'd categorize it more of a mystery, until the final thirty pages or so when it all begins to unravel.Book Review: Now one of my favorite authors!
Summary: 5 Stars
I read ALOT and I am always looking for new great authors and books that will keep me interested. I tend to get bored very easily and the way a book is written along with the plot evolution are very important to me. I can normally tell a few chapters in if the book will hold my interest long enough to continue. I like simple writing styles and authors who are especially good at creating suspense and keeping me reading. I came across author Linwood Barclay when searching for more authors like Brian Freeman (another of my favorites). I am so happy Linwood Barclay's name came up. I started with his first suspense thriller "No Time For Goodbye" and literally read it in two days because I could not stop. I just HAD to find out what happened. It is hard to find books this good and after I finished it, I promptly went on Amazon and purchased all of this authors other thrillers. None of his books have disappointed me. In fact, I am only saddened by the fact that there are not more of them!