I found this book dragged for the first 60%, although I enjoyed the last 40% where everything came together. The problem was, I didn’t care about what happened about any of the characters, neither what they had done in the past nor what they might do in the future and I didn’t care whether Brie was alive or dead. I have enjoyed some of Mr Barclay’s books previously and really wanted to enjoy this one, but sadly I couldn’t.

Yet another brilliant book from Linwood Barclay. With an incredible imagination that produces a well woven story that induces fear, tension and many a twist. Told mainly from the perspective of Andrew whose wife disappeared without trace six years previously and follows his quest for answers and a bid to clear his name. Many think he is responsible for Brie’s murder including the police and her sister. Neighbours and strangers point and whisper. His life is in limbo and although he has a new girlfriend, he finds it difficult to move on without knowing what happened. Gripping and fast paced this excellent book delivers on all levels with a complex storyline and great characters that have the reader second guessing throughout. I have never read a sub standard book by this very talented author and can’t wait for his next one.

Truly an atmospheric and explosive plot! Absolutely love this author's novels. Take your breath away will have you gripped from the very first chapter.

I’m new to Linwood Barclay’s books but I shall definitely be back for more! Take Your Breath Away is a superbly crafted thriller with an engaging premise and full of twists and turns. Absolutely gripping and I thoroughly recommend it.

4.5 stars rounded up. Linwood Barclay is one of my favourite authors and his books never disappoint. This was very easy to read and the story flowed well with a few red herrings in the mix. . It kept me entertained and engaged throughout .

Andy and Brie are very happily married to each other. When Andy goes away for a weekend with his best friend, Brie disappears without a trace.
Roll forward six years, Brie has never been found and Andy is now living with another woman, Jayne, who he met in the last couple of years. When a woman who looks remarkably like Brie turns up at his old house and the leaves very quickly, it sets in motion a string of events.
Brie's Sister Isabel and Detective Hardy have always been convinced that Andy murdered Brie. This sighting, which is the first of several, puts doubts into their minds.
I love Linwood Barclay's books, they always have a good twist and this isn't any different. A great story!

It's always the husband, isn't it?

One weekend, while Andrew Mason was on a fishing trip, his wife, Brie, vanished without a trace. Most people assumed Andy had got away with murder, but the police couldn't build a strong case against him. For a while, Andy hit rock bottom he drank too much, was abandoned by his friends, nearly lost his business and became a pariah in the place he had once called home.

Now, six years later, Andy has put his life back together. He's sold the house he shared with Brie and moved away for a fresh start. When he hears his old house has been bulldozed and a new house built in its place, he's not bothered. He's settled with a new partner, Jayne, and life is good.

But Andy's peaceful world is about to shatter. One day, a woman shows up at his old address, screaming, 'Where's my house? What's happened to my house?' And then, just as suddenly as she appeared, the woman - who bears a striking resemblance to Brie - is gone. The police are notified and old questions - and dark suspicions - resurface.

Could Brie really be alive after all these years? If so, where has she been? It soon becomes clear that Andy's future, and the lives of those closest to him, depends on discovering what the hell is going on. The trick will be whether he can stay alive long enough to unearth the answers..


I really enjoyed the way the chapters flowed and revert back to the police investigation to tell the story of what had happened six years ago, combined with the present day and even Covid has a mention in 2022.

It kept me guessing right up to the end, full of twists and turns, fast paced you want to read on to the next chapter to get back to what’s happening to the character.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this, I absolutely loved it. A well deserved 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for an advance copy in return for a fair and honest review

A real page turner which is what you expect from a book crafted by Linwood Barclay. Always a bit different from the average. An enjoyable read.

Nothing As It Seems…
A furiously paced suspense where nothing is quite as it seems. A well drawn and credible cast provide firm grounding for a gripping storyline which keeps within the bounds of being realistic. With twists and turns along the way, and an undertone of menace, the reader is kept in a state of both suspense and second guessing throughout..

Take Your Breath Away is another fast paced rollercoaster of a story by Linwood Barclay. It had plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing and keep me turning the pages well past bedtime. I could not fault it.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for my ARC.

Excellent, Full of suspense and kept me captivated throughout. This novel was very dramatic with so many unexpected twists and turns.
I absolutely sprinted through this novel and loved it.
Highly recommend.

Linwood Barclay writes a good, well-paced thriller and this is no exception. Brie Mason goes missing, and for six years a cloud of suspicion hangs over her husband……he is beginning to finally move on, make a new life for himself….until she is apparently spotted, and the police are once more showing interest in him. But not just the police…
A clever plot; didn’t quite keep me guessing to the end but nearly, with lots of twists and possible outcomes.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in return for a review.

Take Your Breath Away by Linwood Barclay is a phenomenal thriller packed with cliffhangers and twists.

When Andrew Mason heads to his cabin for a weekend of fishing with his best buddy Greg, his wife Brie disappears from the home they recently purchased. Andrew quickly becomes the prime suspect but the cops cannot find any evidence to prosecute. Five years later, Andrew has tried to put the sorry matter behind him and is getting on with his life with a new partner when something completely unexpected happens to bring it all back again.

Barclay's writing is a joy to read; every chapter ends with a wow moment! This is a great read if you enjoy a twisty thriller.

Another absolute corker, a Linwood Barclay masterclass in suspense.

I absolutely raced through this novel and loved that it had a feel of the author's earlier work.

Difficult to review without spoilers but save as to say it's a fabulous story.

Highly recommend.

I have been a long time fan of Linwood Barclay so was really eager to read his latest book and it certainly didn't disappoint.

This book felt a bit more like some of his earlier works like No Time For Goodbye or Too Close To Home which was amazing as I feel like he has diverted from that writing style recently.
I though the mystery was suitable and every storyline was dramatic and chaotic but so believable. There were a good few twists and turns too which I always love in these thrillers. A great book.

Take Your Breath Away is exactly what I anticipated from Linwood Barclay. He writes first rate thrillers that don’t let up from start to finish and they’re original. This offering kept me guessing….why did Brie disappear, did her husband commit the perfect murder and who comes back disturbed because ‘their’ house has been demolished?

I really enjoy thrillers that create a scenario that’s plausible and have characters that are believable. This ticks all the boxes. I was immersed in the story throughout and the pacing is perfect. Carefully constructed plot and I didn’t see the twists coming. Ideal escapist fiction.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

I’d like to thank HQ and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Take Your Breath Away’ written by Linwood Barclay in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

While Andrew Mason and his best friend Greg are away at their cabins fishing, Andrew’s wife Brie disappears. Although her body has never been found, for six years Detective Marissa Hardy has believed him to be guilty of her murder but when a woman is seen in the town with a startling resemblance to Brie the detectives are back on the case. Andrew has made a fresh start with a new name and is now with his partner Jayne, but he needs to know if it really is Brie who’s reappeared after all this time.

‘Take Your Breath Away’ is a fantastic thriller that’s had me gripped from the start. From page one the tension starts to build until I’m unable to stop reading as I need to know what’s going to happen next. The plot’s well-written and intricately woven, the characters believable, it’s action-packed with drama, suspense and twists and turns especially towards the end when just as I thought I’d got it worked out I’m completely wrong. Yet again Linwood Barclay has written a superb thriller that’s had me enthralled throughout and I can recommend it to anyone who enjoys an action-packed and compelling thriller.

A Linwood Barclay book is always something special, original, fast paced, and a guaranteed great read; and something to look forward to. opening. This one has so many red herrings and twisted characters its hard to catch your breath.
Accused of the murder of his wife Brie, 6 years ago Andrew has never been able to prove his innocence; Detective Hardy has never been able to prove his guilt.. When sightings of 'Brie' occur, the stage is set for another murder.
Very clever construction and carefully crafted characters make this a compelling read.

This is first book I've read by this author and I was quite entertained by it. I sort of guessed who the culprit was early on but there is always that element of doubt. Missing persons like Brie are always intriguing and in many cases you don't find out what has happened to them, which must be terrible for their family.
The storyline kept me gripped and I wanted to find what happened.

Another great book from Netgally thank you. Andrew and Brie a married happy couple until the worst thing happens. Brie is home on her own as Andrew is away at his cabin for the weekend fishing. He has his own cabin and his friend Greg also has a cabin and they meet up just to get away from work. They have been friends for years and enjoy each other’s company. While Andrew is away Brie goes missing. He had spoken to her on the Saturday evening and does not realise until he gets home Sunday afternoon. The police have Andrew as the prime suspect and he feels that they do not do their job properly as it is easy to pin the crime on him. He becomes a mess, drinking too much and losing work. He sells his home with a view to try and start again and his friend, Greg, supports him throughout as Brie’s family are very anti him especially Isabel, Brie’s sister, who is convinced he has murdered her and hassles the police all the time for him to be arrested for her disappearance. Eventually he makes a life for himself with another lady, Jayne, and starts to become happy again even though he has no idea what happened to Brie. Then a bomb drops. Brie is seen in several places and then the police are on his case again. He had not told Jayne but the police certainly told her the story which causes her to feel anxious – what happens if Brie comes back into Andrew’s life. The story picks up pace and throws you into all sorts of directions. Is she alive or not. Up until towards the end of the book I could not be sure who the culprit was and did not see the result coming. A great book and full of interesting intrigue