Yet another brilliant book I’ve read by Linwood Barclay that kept up its intensity while maintaining a digestible pace.
First and foremost, the entire concept of an untrustworthy, schizophrenic, agoraphobe witnessing a murder on a street-view map is so intriguing. It creates the space for many possibilities, one Barclay expertly filled. I enjoyed the switching of POVs and flashbacks, rarely creating confusion due to clear indicators of the time having gone backwards. The language was also clear and kept very simple all the while carrying a lot of descriptive weight. It didn’t ever become muddy and unrealistic nor did it sound as though Barclay was trying too hard to sound intelligent. The writing was just beautifully subtle.
Tension was built really well but teetered towards the longer side with the constant changing of POVs. However, I do not think that this is as bad as others have made out. Yes, it did make the tension more drawn out (risking the book becoming tedious) but it also highlighted the drawing together of the characters. It built up the anticipation for all of them to be aware of the other’s presence and to finally hit the climax where they’re all in the same room. As a result, the final conflict was incredibly satisfying and very hard to stop reading.
Another magnificent element of the book was how well the characters are written. Each had their own distinctive personalities which were slowly added to as the book progressed. Barclay does something I thoroughly enjoy in books, limiting character descriptions and instead focusing on their quirks, creating a more well rounded character. Their personalities are the most important thing and readers can get a sense of what they look like through them. For example, the assassin in the book is an ex-Olympic gymnast so you can assume that she is strong but lean. You can also gather that she is disciplined and perhaps even obsessive when it comes to her passions due to the rigorous trainings Olympians have to endure. Through this technique you focus on the important parts of the characters instead of simple hair and eye colour. Another brilliant example of this is Thomas and his maps. Thomas, the main character and the witness to the murder, is by far the best written character. Barclay captures that uncertainty Ray, his brother, feels when talking to Thomas excellently. You can feel Ray’s apprehension to trust his brother because you can see how unwell he is. Thomas speaks plainly to a point where, at times, it is humorous. His difference from the other characters is noticeable but also very subtle in a way where you almost start to believe that Thomas really is talking to Bill Clinton over the phone. That being said, I must admit that I did get confused between characters at some point. These were the characters who were in relation to Howard. I felt as though the more minor characters in that plot were introduced in a hurried way and not really developed. I’m aware that they are minor characters so they don’t need full personalities, but I felt that they weren’t written as clear as they could have been, leading to some confusion. However, saying this, it is important to note that I took large gaps in reading this book (not because of its quality but because life got in the way) so that was bound to have an impact on my overall comprehension.
As for the plot twist at the end, all I can say is wow, wow, wow. It truly emphasises how you never really know where the book is going. You can get some ideas and start to build up your own theories, but nothing is ever explicitly revealed or poorly hinted at, keeping your interest and wonder alive right until the last line. Its abrupt ending had a great impact and leaves you thinking about it for days afterwards. It truly encapsulates Barclay’s genius.
Overall, it’s safe to say that ‘Trust Your Eyes’ is an excellent and inviting book that throughly entertains you until the end. If the plot wasn’t enough to entice you, rest assured that the writing style and character development will carry you through. If you are a fan of thrillers and mystery, give this one a read.