Stone Rain (Zack Walker Book 4)

In Linwood Barclay's fourth novel featuring trepid newspaper writer Zack Walker, Zack falls into two dangerous situations. His friend Trixie Snelling, accountant turned dominatrix, calls asking for help with a reporter who's been buzzing around her for a story. For reasons that later become clear, she's terrified of having her picture printed in the paper. And Zack's son Paul takes a job as a fry cook, only to discover that the trio of muscular Slavic women running the burger joint are serving up E. coli with their fries. The two threads of the story eventually combine, with both sets of bad guys intent on killing or maiming Zack, albeit with very different weapons. As usual, Zack's tendency to fall into trouble and not come clean about it soon enough also gets him in hot water at home. But what's unusual about this book is that the main story is punctuated by chapters detailing Trixie's colorful back story. This is necessary for our understanding, but for me these were the low points of the book. Frankly, I don't find Trixie a very interesting or sympathetic character. She's made a number of mistakes in her life that have put her friends and family in danger. And while one can try to exonerate her by saying that she was forced into them by her situation, well, she really wasn't. Given at various times in life a choice of two directions to take, she has invariably made the worse choice. So, I don't really care what happens to her. Barclay, however, tells a great story, and he ties up the various strands of the plot very neatly at the end. Still, if there's to be another Zack Walker novel, I'd prefer that the troubles Zack faces be closer to home. And, generally speaking, the more we see of Zack's friend, the enigmatic private eye Lawrence Jones, the better (provided that he, unlike Trixie in this outing, remains enigmatic).-- Debra Hamel

I am an unabashed fan of Linwood Barclay's books. His character development is first rate, his plots are right in line with what really happens in life stretched out just a tad and he is hysterically funny. His hero, Zack, (if one can call an obsessive-compulsive worrier who lucks out when confronted with danger a hero) mirrors the way our society is trying to protect everyone to the point that we take all the fun out of life. I find myself laughing out loud at the twists and turns, Zack's interior monologues and ludicrous - yet somehow logical- solutions to the problems he encounters. That's a rarity for me, because most authors seem to try too hard for my taste. I wish someone would pick up these characters and make a series or movie (as long as they do it well and are faithful to his voice), so more people would read Barclay's books. If you like mysteries, love a laugh and want a fun read that you can't put down, give Barclay a try. Start at the beginning with his first book, though, because while they stand alone, there's more impact if you follow Zack from his very first encounter with criminal behavior. Stone Rain is the fourth, and I have to wait months for the next in the series.Oh no, now I'M worried other readers won't get Barclay's sense of irony. I guess Zack is a little contagious!

Crazy wild ride! Mr Barclay really knows how to get readers involved in the Walker's world. Sadly, there are only 4 books in this series! Wish we could get into many more adventures with Zack! Many thanks to this awesome author!!

I have read, and enjoyed many of Barclay's books, and this is the second Zack Walker book. As usual, lots of witty observations about the newspaper industry, as well the ups and downs of Zack's family life.However, this books has a bit of a darker element than some of his other books. I don't want to alarm fans of the Zack Walker books too much, his wife and children come out fine, but a couple of likable characters don't fare as well.

Linwood Barclay is often described as a "Canadian Dave Barry". He probably hates this, but it is/was apt in his first few books, which I loved.Barclay has created a lovable, delightful character in Zack Walker, a rather obsessive, anxious unsuccessful SF author (you gotta love a guy who writes a book about a time traveler who goes back to the past to kill the guy who invented the hot-air restroom hand dryer!) working on a large metropolitan daily newspaper. His family are wonderful foils, and there are some other good series characters, such as a gay black ex-cop PI to keep the interest up.Brclay is a master of quotable lines, the kind I have to read out loud to my long-suffering husband.As one professional review said, however, the books are getting "incrementally darker". Barclay's books all have "earthy" humor, and there has to be some bad stuff going on if you are going to have a mystery/thriler, but to me he crossed the line in his latest book. There is too much unpleasantness, including child sexual abuse, for me to find "pleasure" in a book like this. I can't laugh in the midst of the nastiness.Read Bad Move and Bad Guys, and enjoy. Lone Wolf begins to get rather dark, and if you find it a bit unpleasant, do avoid Stone Rain. From the excerpt provided in Stone Rain, it looks like the next Barclay may coninue the unfortunate trend. I hope Barclay will return to his forte of humor-laced mystery soon.

I've just finished this fourth installment of Zach's experiences in becoming hopelessly entangled in misadventure. Barcaly's novels (I've now read them all, boo hoo) are fast moving, entertaining, clever and fun! I enjoy the humor, the storyline and the characters. Very entertaining! I just read all but one of the Zach series in a row. It was a great feast but now, it's over, until Barclay's next book. I recommend them all. I also recommend that the Zach series be read in order. I hope Barclay continues the series while writing his independent books as well. More, more, more, please.

Another excellent book by LinwoodBarkley. I would highly recommend it to everyone to read it was just beyond excellent!

Linwood Barclay is always a good read, nothing heavy but good light entertainment perfect for the beach or distraction on a flight.

Linwood Barclay is a real discovery as an author and this is one of a series that will not let you down.

As usual, this is a really good book with good story line and very in parts. I can't get enough of Linwood Barclay

I love Linwood Barclay the way he writes and this book was very good for his earlier writing keep it up Linwood

Good Book have read all four now in the series and they got better with subsequent books.