Linwood Barclay

Linwood Barclay

Linwood Barclay, a New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels, has captivated readers worldwide with his suspenseful thrillers. Born in the United States, Barclay moved to Canada at the age of four, where his passion for writing began early. By Grade Three, he was already crafting stories, inspired by his favourite television shows. Throughout his teens, he wanted to be a TV scriptwriter, and by twenty-two, he had written four novels—though, as he humorously admits, “Thankfully they were never published…they were pretty terrible.”

Linwood pursued an English literature degree at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, before embarking on a career in journalism. He spent several years as a reporter and, in 1993, began writing a popular humour column for the Toronto Star, where he worked for twelve years. After three decades in newspapers, Linwood decided to return to his first love—writing novels. He retired from journalism to focus on crime fiction, debuting his first mystery series in 2004 with Bad Move. Three years later, his first standalone thriller, No Time for Goodbye, was published and became a massive international success.

Since then, Linwood’s books have sold millions of copies and been translated into more than 24 languages. Many of his works have been optioned for film and television. Barclay currently lives near Toronto with his wife, Neetha. They have two grown children.

Recommendations For Linwood Barclay

Recommended by Josie Diaz

I discovered Canadian author Linwood Barclay thanks to Stephen King, who really likes his writing. Barclay is

Recommended by Josephine Richards

I love Linwood Barclay’s books. They always have interesting stories, and lots of twists and turns

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Linwood Barclay is a suspense thriller writer who counts Stephen King among his many fans. He has also had several celebrated mentors like Canadian author Margaret Laurence and Kenneth Millar, who wrote the acclaimed Lew Archer mystery series under the pen name Ross Macdonald.

Linwood’s first foray into mystery novels was his comedic Zack Walker series, featuring a slightly paranoid, know-it-all dad. Since then, he has shifted to darker thrillers known for their hair-raising suspense, action, and clever plot twists. His characters are relatable and complex, making them easy to connect with. His ability to tap into everyday fears and anxieties in unique and intriguing ways has made him a favourite among fans of crime fiction.

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