A NOISE DOWNSTAIRS

Linwood Barclay's spine-tingling thriller is masterfully narrated by George Newbern. Paul Davis is driving on a remote road when he stumbles upon a killer disposing of two bodies. Paul is brutally attacked but survives, and the killer is arrested. Months later, Paul, still in recovery, is taunted by increasingly bizarre sounds and messages in his house, which are connected to his attack and seem to be coming from a recently acquired antique typewriter. Newbern portrays an array of characters with impressive range. In particular, his affable style is perfect for Paul, the decent guy at the story's core. It also lulls the listener into a false sense of security, making it all the more jarring when Newbern delivers taut suspense, depraved motivations, and gobsmacking twists. A.T.N. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2018]