Promotional Information

The acclaimed Zack Walker mystery series delivers thrills and laughs in a winning combination that will appeal to fans of his mainstream standalone thrillers. 'Riotously funny and irreverent... While Zack is an amazingly flawed hero, he's a breath of fresh air with no illusions about his odd compulsions and his limited abilities. His often exasperated wife Sarah makes the perfect comic foil. Fans of lighter crime capers will rejoice.' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 'Fast pacing, well-drawn characters, and a look at the life of a science-fiction writer add to the pleasure of this humorous first-person account in which the suburbs turn out to be no guarantee of personal safety.' BOOKLIST

About the Author

Linwood Barclay is married with two children and lives in Toronto. He is the author of No Time for Goodbye, as well as four acclaimed Zack Walker mysteries and has written a popular column for the Toronto Star since 1993.

Reviews

Reporter Zack Walker, worrier, bungler and reluctant hero, has moved from the suburbs back to the city (unnamed, but the generic metropolitan background suffices) with his wife, Sarah, son Paul and daughter Angie, in Canadian author Barclay's winning second comic caper (after 2004's Bad Move). The Walkers aren't really dysfunctional, but they're close enough to the edge as they cope with various pressures: 16-year-old Paul's flirtation with drinking; college freshman Angie's admirer, who may be a dangerous stalker; and the transportation convolutions necessary in a one-car, two-school, two-job family. Zack tries to solve this last problem while also working on a feature story that has him accompanying a PI on a stakeout for a smash-and-grab gang. He avoids hassling with a car dealer by going to a police auction, but the car he gets is no bargain. When his PI friend is attacked, Zack races to the rescue. And when some nasty folks target his family, Zack pulls out all the stops to try to remove the threat. This cleverly executed mystery includes both long-term setups and well hidden surprises. Agent, Helen Heller. (May 31) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Barclay successfully balances the comical and serious aspects of the story, keeping readers interested in both Walker's investigation and his home life. Though written with a light touch, the novel is gripping when it counts, and includes a very nicely handled twist ending . . . Bad Guys makes for a good time. More Zack Walker would be welcomed - The Strand MagazineThe master of what might be dubbed the Barclay Effect: when a reader, shanghaied by a well-planted gag, is forced to laugh out loud - Wall Street JournalBarclay deftly combines mayhem with hilarity, creating a highly entertaining comic thriller - Lansing State JournalBarclay's winning second comic caper . . . includes both long-term setups and well hidden surprises - Publishers Weekly