She Treads Softly: Not a Word

Thursday, July 23, 2026

Not a Word

Not a Word by Linwood Barclay
8/25/26; 368 pages
William Morrow

Not a Word by Linwood Barclay is a highly recommended mystery/domestic thriller following a tragic crime scene in the family home which leads to a shocking conclusion.

Reece Chartwell stops by his parent's home outside of Toronto to return two books to his father, Brent, when he discovers his parents in bed, dead. It appears to be a murder-suicide and he immediately calls the police. Detective Janice McCabe questions Reece and as he waits for her to return after viewing the crime scene he receives a phone call... from his mother, Catherine. She was apparently at some luncheon. Reece immediately leaves to pick her up, and carefully break the bad news, but she is not waiting for him. It appears that the woman with his father was Leah Kennard, however, inconsistencies in the crime scene and lack of motive suggest his dad may not have shot himself.

The investigation uncovers a myriad of secrets starting with the crime scene. The secrets may also going way-back in family history, perhaps even to his father's very successful job in pharmaceutical sales of the highly addictive pain reliever, Oxy-Mirac, for Wiffel-Smith before he retired. Reece’s mother, Catherine, also seems to have more than her share of long-held secrets and dubious connections. Also involved in the events and investigation are Reece's wife Diana, son Gage (14), and brother Holden, a recovering addict. These people put the "dys" in dysfunctional family, especially Catherine.

This features a well-written, intricate, intelligent, fast-paced plot. The narrative has chapters jumping back in time to 1999 and the chapters are narrated by several different characters, including Reece, Gage, McCabe, Catherine, and a couple others (no spoilers here). The characters are developed as individuals with strengths and weaknesses along the way. As the secrets are exposed, the tension increases along side new clues which are logically followed up on in the plot. There are plenty of twists and surprises along the way. Everything works together to a satisfying conclusion. The final denouement is shocking and heartbreaking.

Not a Word is a great choice for everyone who enjoys domestic thrillers. Thanks to William Morrow for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

No comments:

Post a Comment

John Updike's six rules for reviewing:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation--at least one extended passage--of the book's prose so the review's reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy precis.

4. Go easy on plot summary, and do not give away the ending.

5. If the book is judged deficient, cite a successful example along the same lines, from the author's oeuvre or elsewhere. Try to understand the failure. Sure it's his and not yours?

To these concrete five might be added a vaguer sixth, having to do with maintaining a chemical purity in the reaction between product and appraiser.....Review the book, not the reputation.... Better to praise and share than blame and ban. The communion between reviewer and his public is based upon the presumption of certain possible joys in reading, and all our discriminations should curve toward that end.