Great book, kept me guessing right up until the end. Lost a star because I was mildly disappointed at the whodunnit answer. ( )

Another entertaining read from Mr Barclay who never fails to impress. ( )

Started to read this book a while ago, something else caught my attention, and suddenly the book is forgotten. But then one day I decided to continue and man, I just couldn’t put the damn book down. I was torture to do other stuff; I needed to know what happened, just one more chapter, one more…

Unfortunately, the ending wasn’t that surprising, partly surprising, yes, but not a fantastic surprising ending. But the book was still really, really good. So if you like a book with twist and turns then this is a book for you!
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Well, that was a page-turner.
It's a great example of "telling instead of showing" and also you hate everyone in the book (except maybe Derek), but definitely a page-turner.

It's kinda amazing how the author managed to make the main character - Jim - so irritating that by the end of the book I was siding with Randy The-King-Of-All-Assholes Finley.
Maybe Jim also needs a good punch in the face so that he gets off his high horse at least once a day. ( )

Linwood Barclay knows how to tell a story and he does a masterful job of this one. He had me from the first word to the last. Note to self: find more Linwood Barclays. ( )

A solid book by Barclay, again set in Promise Falls. I like the way his stories take ordinary people who get caught up in extraordinary circumstances and try to find a way out. This story continues with some familiar characters, the sleazy mayor, the town cop, and the poor guy that keeps getting caught up in every weird happening in town. :)

A quick mystery, not TOO hard to figure out the culprit, but still with a twist or two in the story. ( )

Lindwood Barclay is great a the twist, though this one was a bit easier to figure out that some of the others. It was good, but not one of my favorite Barclay novels so far. ( )

Enjoyed this book. It has what I like in a murder mystery. This murder is clear and starts the book. We don't have to wonder who was murdered. We know.

We begin to see the view of this event through the eyes of a neighbor. Secrets pop up along the way, we get to know the characters, sometimes more than we want to, and then we go for a ride.

We speculate along the way, we make our friends, decide who we don't like, figure out who did it several times over, and that's what makes it a good read.

My copy was supplies by NetGalley.com and the publisher, for which I thank them. ( )

4.25 stars

17-year old Derek decides that his friend/neighbour's (Adam's) house would be a good place to use to make out with his girlfriend while Adam and his family are away. Derek is hiding in their basement after they leave, but they unexpectedly return, only to be shot and killed, while Derek is still hiding.

After the first chapter, the book is actually told from Derek's father's (Jim's) point of view. I really liked this one, but for some reason, for me, it seemed to “slow” a little bit as the book went on. I don't know why that is. It didn't get slow in comparison to a lot of books, just in comparison to how it started for me. It was still really good, overall, and because I liked it so much at the start, it is still getting a high rating from me. I did manage to figure a couple of things out (well, I guessed), though. It was very fast to read. ( )

Quit at page 43

A great murder mystery! I thought I figured it out at least 10 times! A great page turner!! ( )

I’m a big fan of Barclay’s novels and Too Close to Home doesn’t disappoint. This is classic Barclay with a few different story-lines weaving around the one mystery (in this case; who killed the Langleys and why?) with surprising revelations and jaw dropping twists. In this story Barclay highlights human weaknesses of infidelity, lying and long held secrets.

Once you have read one of Barclay’s novels you will be eager for more! ( )

Excellent! Could not set it down. Great characters some you like, some you dislike. Plotting and clues kept me following and trying to guess the ending, yet with the many twists and turns of the story still surprised me. Some red herrings so watch out! ( )

From Amazon:

In a quiet neighborhood, in the house next door, a family is brutally murdered for no apparent reason. You can’t help thinking, It could have been us. And you start to wonder: What if we’re next? Promise Falls isn’t the kind of community where families are shot to death in their own homes. But how well did Jim and Ellen Cutter really know their neighbors—or the darker secrets of their small town? They don’t have to look further than their own marriage to know that things aren’t always what they seem. Now the Cutters and their son, Derek, must face the unthinkable: that a murderer isn’t just stalking too close to home…but is inside it already.

My Thoughts:

This can easily be called "a can't put down" thriller with a mystery angle as we ponder... until the very final page.... why were the Langley's murdered? Jim Cutter is an extremely likable character as well and the book has its fair share of unlikable characters which makes it that much more enjoyable. I really loved this book for its complex plot, and its tense conclusion. If you like Harlan Coben you will diffidently want to read Linwood Barclay.

( )

From Amazon:

In a quiet neighborhood, in the house next door, a family is brutally murdered for no apparent reason. You can’t help thinking, It could have been us. And you start to wonder: What if we’re next? Promise Falls isn't the kind of community where families are shot to death in their own homes. But how well did Jim and Ellen Cutter really know their neighbors—or the darker secrets of their small town? They don’t have to look further than their own marriage to know that things aren't always what they seem. Now the Cutters and their son, Derek, must face the unthinkable: that a murderer isn't just stalking too close to home…but is inside it already.

My Thoughts:

The thing I love about Linwood Barclay's characters is how real they all are. They get themselves into tight situations and in the process of trying to resolve them they just dig themselves deeper. You find yourself thinking,"This is exactly what would happen if this was me." The novel has enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing until the end. Sometimes I'm not sure where things are going to go, and this book was no exception. Definitely held my attention from the first page to the last. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because again the ending seemed a bit rushed. None the less, certainly worth while reading. ( )

I wish I could give this a three plus--I kept switching back and forth between 3 stars and 4 stars. This was an interesting story, about a father trying to prove that his son did not commit murder. I enjoyed it, it was well written. I just didn't find that it was surprising or unusual enough to merit a higher rating than this. ( )

Quick suspensful read. You think you have it figured out but you are taken by surprise. ( )

Quick suspensful read. You think you have it figured out but you are taken by surprise. ( )

This story focuses on the Cutter family, and in particular the father Jim. Jim is a disillusioned artist, lacking in confidence and is not convinced his work is any good. As a result he had taken a number of jobs that make him unhappy. One of these was working for the local Mayor, a man Jim is disgusted with and who regularly offends Jim’s principles. Jim's wife Ellen works for the college president and famous author, Conrad Chase. Their teenage son, Derek, likes to tinker with old computers. Their lives are torn apart when their next door neighbors, including Derek's best friend, Adam, are brutally murdered.

Every relationship in this mystery is vital to solving it in the end. Jim’s relationship with the Mayor, his wife’s relationship to her boss, and Derek’s hobby of fixing old computers. The nice thing about the plot is that nothing feels forced or contrived in any way. The author manages to reveal all the plot elements so they unravel naturally and logically. The story is extremely gripping and the reason for the secrets are wrapped up nicely in the end.

If you like crime novels with good characters, a great plot, lots of exciting, edge-of-the-seat action and some quieter thought-provoking moments too, then absolutely don’t miss this.
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I seldom give a 5 star rating to a mystery book, however this story was compelling from start to finish. Fast paced, action packed, well written mystery. I will definitely look into more by Linwood Barclay ( )

As a latecomer to discover Linwood Barclay’s novels, my first read in 2013 was "No Time for Goodbye". WoW! I couldn't imagine anything another novel more riveting or powerful at the time. However, I started reading “Too Close to Home” and read it in two (2) days. I couldn't put it down! Thank goodness I opened the book on a weekend! WoW! In a quiet neighborhood, on an ordinary night, murder and mayhem intrude and family secrets and community secrets begin to unravel. It’s an absolutely incredible speed boat ride of suspense and chilling excitement from cover-to-cover and yet I wanted to read the novel as though on a sailboat on the calmest of waters to catch every detail of the experience so I didn’t miss a clue in the descriptions or dialogue, and to understand every nuance in each characterization. It was intense, intricate, and presented at a pace that was fast and furious and yet didn’t skip a beat. There are only three words to share, “Don’t miss it!”

After adding a comment to the author’s Facebook page about the incredible whirlwind I felt reading “Too Close to Home”, I learned that many of the characters will return in this year’s release of the title, “Broken Promise”. I can’t wait! ( )

What a great book!
The Langleys are going on vacation for a week so their neighbor Derek Cutter, who is their son`s Adam best friend decides to hide in the house so he can have a 'Love nest' with his girlfriend. Unfortunately, Mrs. Langley is not feeling well and they come back a few hours later. Derek, afraid to be founf out, decides to hide until the coast is clear. Too bad for him, someone knoks on the door and kills the Langleys. Who wants them dead and why are the Cutters involved in this?

The suspense was right on. The story was moving at the right pace. A page turner! ( )

Knew the answer before halfway through the book. Hate that. ( )

Another interesting thriller from Linwood Barclay. This time there are so many murders, I wondered which ones I should focus on. Barclay does a great job of managing the information critical to the reader, and gives us good depth of character for the principal players.

I'm always awaiting another Linwood Barclay novel. ( )

Another interesting thriller from Linwood Barclay. This time there are so many murders, I wondered which ones I should focus on. Barclay does a great job of managing the information critical to the reader, and gives us good depth of character for the principal players.

I'm always awaiting another Linwood Barclay novel. ( )