I was browsing “best of” book lists on Pinterest when I saw Linwood Barclay’s name for the first time. Trust Your Eyes was recommended as one of the “best thrillers that you can’t stop reading.” Trust Your Eyes wasn’t in stock at my local bookstore, but Fear the Worst was, so I started with this one.
In Fear the Worst, Tim Blake—an average Joe who sells cars at a Honda dealership—searches high and low for his teenage daughter Sydney after she disappears without a trace. He eats breakfast with Sydney one morning before work, and she never comes home after her shift at the motel. Not even Sydney’s closest friends know where she’s gone.
Tim tears apart his small Connecticut town searching for Sydney. Along the way, he realizes people have been lying to him about his daughter’s whereabouts this entire time. Now, it’s time for him to step outside of his comfort zone to find his daughter before it’s too late.
The Pinterest user who featured Linwood Barclay on their list of “best of” thrillers was definitely right on the money. Fear the Worst is fast-paced, and it’s also hilarious!
Tim is funny and sarcastic. He’s a normal, everyday guy who’s thrown into a maelstrom of violence and scary situations, and he reacts much the way you’d expect him to. He reminds me a little of Liam Neeson in Taken, but in a more low-key, suburban dad kind of way.
I also like how Fear the Worst is written from Tim’s point of view, which is highly entertaining. The story is completely unpredictable.
I’ve also read and reviewed several other books by Linwood Barclay, including:
What do you think about Linwood Barclay, do you like him, and what’s your favorite novel by him?
Last Updated on November 25, 2025 by Sarah Ann
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