I Will Ruin You

Linwood Barclay is one of my go-to authors for a suspenseful read. I have now read nine of his books and his latest has an intriguing premise that catapults readers into a fast-paced story of lies, omissions and deadly secrets with short chapters that will keep readers glued to the pages.

Hold onto your cozy reading seats because it's going to be a bumpy ride! Barclay hits the ground running with an intense scene that jumpstarts this story where a good deed goes punished, putting a Good Samaritan in the crosshairs of a person out for revenge. 

Told with multiple perspectives, the story also boasts a large cast of characters (who were easy to keep track of) with high school teacher Richard at the heart of everything. He's a good guy who makes stupid decisions which help to propel the story forward at a quick pace, but at times the book has an overwhelming feel as one after another issue hits the pages. There are a couple of potential culprits to keep readers guessing (I guessed correctly), but the use of miscommunication felt a bit weak to me. 

This suspenseful read will require readers to suspend disbelief at times, but it is a whirlwind of a read that's twisty and compulsive and touches on a few social issues in passing - book banning, school violence, gun violence. 

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Author: Linwood Barclay

Genre: Suspense, Canadian

Type and Source: Trade Paperback, personal copy

Publisher: William Morrow Books

First Published: May 7, 2024

Book Description from GoodReads: In the latest novel from New York Times bestselling author Linwood Barclay, a teacher’s act of heroism inadvertently makes him the target of a dangerous blackmailer who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

How would you react in a life-or-death situation?

It’s a question everyone asks themselves, but few have to face in real life. English teacher Richard Boyle certainly never thought he would find himself talking down a former student intent on harming others, but when Mark LeDrew shows up at Richard’s school with a bomb strapped to his chest, Richard immediately jumps into action. Thanks to some quick thinking, he averts a major tragedy and is hailed as a hero, but not all the attention focused on him is positive.

Richard’s brief moment in the spotlight puts him in the sights of a deranged blackmailer with a score to settle. The situation rapidly spirals out of control, drawing Richard into a fraught web of salacious accusations and deadly secrets. As he tries to uncover the truth he discovers that there’s something deeply wrong in the town—something that ties together Mark, the blackmailer, and a gang of ruthless drug dealers, and Richard has landed smack in the middle of it. He’s desperate to find a way out, but everyone in his life seems to be hiding something, and trusting the wrong person could cost him everything he loves.

What price will he pay for one good deed?