A Noise Downstairs by Linwood Barclay

The New York Times bestselling author of No Time for Goodbye returns with a haunting psychological thriller that blends the twists and turns of Gillian Flynn with the driving suspense of Harlan Coben, in which a man is troubled by odd sounds for which there is no rational explanation.

College professor Paul Davis is a normal guy with a normal life. Until, driving along a deserted road late one night, he surprises a murderer disposing of a couple of bodies. That’s when Paul’s "normal" existence is turned upside down. After nearly losing his own life in that encounter, he finds himself battling PTSD, depression, and severe problems at work. His wife, Charlotte, desperate to cheer him up, brings home a vintage typewriter—complete with ink ribbons and heavy round keys—to encourage him to get started on that novel he’s always intended to write.

However, the typewriter itself is a problem. Paul swears it’s possessed and types by itself at night. But only Paul can hear the noise coming from downstairs; Charlotte doesn’t hear a thing. And she worries he’s going off the rails.

Paul believes the typewriter is somehow connected to the murderer he discovered nearly a year ago. The killer had made his victims type apologies to him before ending their lives. Has another sick twist of fate entwined his life with the killer—could this be the same machine? Increasingly tormented but determined to discover the truth and confront his nightmare, Paul begins investigating the deaths himself.

But that may not be the best thing to do. Maybe Paul should just take the typewriter back to where his wife found it. Maybe he should stop asking questions and simply walk away while he can. . .

Audiobook, Duration: 9 hours, 9 minutes

Published July 24, 2018

 by HarperAudio

4/5 stars

A Noise Downstairs is my next stop as I go through Linwood Barclay's backlist. This was mostly an audio read with George Newburn and Jared Zeus doing a great job.

Life changes for college professor Paul Davis, one dark night when he stumbles across someone disposing of a couple bodies. His life is threatened and as he battles PTSD and other issues he slowly begins to think he’s losing his mind. Things take a drastic turn after his wife surprises him with a vintage typewriter.

A Noise Downstairs is a story of paranoia, trust and the battle within yourself. As with other Barclay stories there were many twists and turns along the road as Paul struggles. Whether it be trust of his friends, his wife and even his therapist. There is mystery as to what is going on with the typewriter as it seemingly comes to life in the middle of the night. All reaching a conclusion that took me by surprise on one hand and not on the other.

An enjoyable read with a unique premise and flawed cast of characters.

I obtained the audiobook through  CloudLibrary.