Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay

Published by

Sarah Ann

on

April 14, 2014

Linwood Barclay writes amazing thrillers, they’re so fun.

Never Look Away opens with newspaper reporter David Harwood visiting a local amusement park with his wife Jan and their 4-year-old son Ethan. Shortly after arriving at the park, Jan goes missing and David immediately calls the local police to report her disappearance. David soon learns there is no record of Jan entering the park, and that Jan is not his wife’s real name.

Next, David becomes the number one suspect in his wife’s disappearance, which the townies are now starting to regard as a murder. David embarks on a crazy, wild goose chase to learn more about his wife’s background and about why he’s being set up.

Just like with all books by Linwood Barclay, there are no dull moments in Never Look Away. It’s my least favorite Barclay novel to date, but still a good one.

First, it isn’t written entirely in first person from David’s point of view. The story is also told in 3rd person from the fat sheriff Dumbleduck (or whatever his name is) and other various characters, which ruined it for me a little.

Second, I felt that Barclay revealed the mystery behind Jan’s disappearance way too early. I didn’t feel like there was anything left to solve in the latter half of the book.

The heroes in Linwood Barclay’s books are all men with a sarcastic sense of humor. I always develop crushes on them while reading. I like a part near the beginning where David complains to a coworker about the terrible translations of news stories being provided by outsourced writers in India. Also, this book takes place in Promise Falls, which was the same setting in Too Close to Home.

Overall, this book was okay. The ending was cheesy, but overall, a good read.

Other books by Linwood Barclay include:

The Lie Maker (2023)
I Will Ruin You (2024)
Whistle (2025)

Last Updated on November 24, 2025 by Sarah Ann

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