Fear the Worst
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Fear the Worst
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Narrated by:
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Buck Schirner
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Written by:
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Linwood Barclay
About this listen
“An uncomfortably plausible tale . . . Barclay's pacing is impeccable. . . . A page-turner that keeps the reader guessing until the end.” --Denver Post
Tim Blake is an average guy. He sells cars. He has an ex-wife who’s moved in with another man. It’s not a life without hassles, but nothing will prepare him for when his daughter, Sydney, vanishes into thin air.
At the hotel where she supposedly worked, no one has ever heard of her. Even her closest friends seem to be at a loss. As he retraces Sydney’s steps, Tim discovers that the suburban Connecticut town he always thought of as idyllic is anything but. What he doesn’t know is that his every move is being watched. There are others who want to find Sydney as much as Tim does. And the closer Tim comes to the truth, the closer he comes to every parent’s worst nightmare - and the kind of evil only a parent’s love has a chance in hell of stopping.
©2009 Linwood Barclay (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, Inc.You may also enjoy...
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Your dad’s not a good person. Your dad killed people, son. These are some of the last words Jack Givins’ father spoke to him before he was whisked away by witness protection, leaving Jack and his mother to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives as best they could. Years later, Jack is a grown man with problems of his own. He’s a talented but struggling author, barely scraping by on the royalties from his moderately successful first book. So when the U.S. Marshals approach him with a lucrative opportunity, he’s in no position to turn them down.
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Rookie Det. Kenda investigates a 1975 case that begins with the murder of a beloved Colorado philanthropist and society figure whose husband, a gambler and womanizer, appears to have an air-tight alibi. Mentored by his veteran partner Det. Lee Wilson, a former Nashville singer turned skilled investigator, Kenda’s case quickly attracts attention from the FBI, CIA, and Interpol, for its similarity to a string of killings involving wealthy married women. All the murders appear to have been committed by a hired professional.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Interesting story, great narration
- By Terri bower on 2024-01-02
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Her Second Death
- A Short Story (Bree Taggert)
- Written by: Melinda Leigh
- Narrated by: Christina Traister
- Length: 1 hr and 12 mins
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 28
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 25
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Story4 out of 5 stars 25
When a man is shot in the head, Bree Taggert and her new partner, veteran detective Dana Romano, respond to the call. They break the news to the victim’s ex-wife and learn the estranged couple’s five-year-old daughter was supposed to have been with him. What starts as a murder investigation quickly morphs into a desperate search for a missing child. The case stirs memories of Bree’s own traumatizing childhood. To find the little girl, Bree will have to relive her own terrifying past.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Waste of time and even the tiny bit of money
- By Susan Bernier on 2025-05-03
Written by: Melinda Leigh
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Say You're Sorry
- Morgan Dane, Book 1
- Written by: Melinda Leigh
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- Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 47
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 43
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 42
After the devastating loss of her husband in Iraq, Morgan Dane returns to Scarlet Falls, seeking the comfort of her hometown. Now, surrounded by family, she’s finally found peace and a promising career opportunity - until her babysitter is killed and her neighbor asks her to defend his son, Nick, who stands accused of the murder.
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5 out of 5 stars
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The delivery. The narrator was awesome with tone and cadence to draw you in and engage you in the story
- By danoshm on 2024-02-12
Written by: Melinda Leigh
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The Bitter Past
- Sheriff Porter Beck, Book 1
- Written by: Bruce Borgos
- Narrated by: James Babson
- Length: 10 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 16
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 14
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 14
Porter Beck is the sheriff in the high desert of Nevada, north of Las Vegas. Born and raised there, he left to join the Army, where he worked in Intelligence, deep in the shadows in far off places. Now he's back home, doing the same lawman's job his father once did, before his father started to develop dementia. All is relatively quiet in this corner of the world, until on old, retired FBI agent is found killed. He was brutally tortured before he was killed and clues at the scene point to a mystery dating back to the early days of the nuclear age.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A Great Discovery
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No Time for Goodbye
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- Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 487
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 444
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 445
The house was deathly quiet. That was the first sign that something was terribly wrong. Fourteen-year-old Cynthia Bigge woke that morning to find herself alone. Her family - mother, father, and brother - had vanished without a word, without a note, without a trace. Twenty-five years later, Cynthia is still looking for answers. Now she is about to learn the devastating truth.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
wonderful book - kept me intrigued all the way thr
- By Linda L. on 2018-05-04
Written by: Linwood Barclay
-
The Lie Maker
- A Novel
- Written by: Linwood Barclay
- Narrated by: Johnathan McClain, Graham Halstead
- Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 29
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 26
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 26
Your dad’s not a good person. Your dad killed people, son. These are some of the last words Jack Givins’ father spoke to him before he was whisked away by witness protection, leaving Jack and his mother to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives as best they could. Years later, Jack is a grown man with problems of his own. He’s a talented but struggling author, barely scraping by on the royalties from his moderately successful first book. So when the U.S. Marshals approach him with a lucrative opportunity, he’s in no position to turn them down.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Another great from Barclay
- By DEBRA on 2023-09-18
Written by: Linwood Barclay
-
All Is Not Forgiven
- Written by: Joe Kenda
- Narrated by: Tim Campbell, Bradford Hastings
- Length: 6 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 17
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 10
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 10
Rookie Det. Kenda investigates a 1975 case that begins with the murder of a beloved Colorado philanthropist and society figure whose husband, a gambler and womanizer, appears to have an air-tight alibi. Mentored by his veteran partner Det. Lee Wilson, a former Nashville singer turned skilled investigator, Kenda’s case quickly attracts attention from the FBI, CIA, and Interpol, for its similarity to a string of killings involving wealthy married women. All the murders appear to have been committed by a hired professional.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Interesting story, great narration
- By Terri bower on 2024-01-02
Written by: Joe Kenda
-
Her Second Death
- A Short Story (Bree Taggert)
- Written by: Melinda Leigh
- Narrated by: Christina Traister
- Length: 1 hr and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 28
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 25
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 25
When a man is shot in the head, Bree Taggert and her new partner, veteran detective Dana Romano, respond to the call. They break the news to the victim’s ex-wife and learn the estranged couple’s five-year-old daughter was supposed to have been with him. What starts as a murder investigation quickly morphs into a desperate search for a missing child. The case stirs memories of Bree’s own traumatizing childhood. To find the little girl, Bree will have to relive her own terrifying past.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Waste of time and even the tiny bit of money
- By Susan Bernier on 2025-05-03
Written by: Melinda Leigh
-
Say You're Sorry
- Morgan Dane, Book 1
- Written by: Melinda Leigh
- Narrated by: Cris Dukehart
- Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 47
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 43
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 42
After the devastating loss of her husband in Iraq, Morgan Dane returns to Scarlet Falls, seeking the comfort of her hometown. Now, surrounded by family, she’s finally found peace and a promising career opportunity - until her babysitter is killed and her neighbor asks her to defend his son, Nick, who stands accused of the murder.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
The delivery. The narrator was awesome with tone and cadence to draw you in and engage you in the story
- By danoshm on 2024-02-12
Written by: Melinda Leigh
-
The Bitter Past
- Sheriff Porter Beck, Book 1
- Written by: Bruce Borgos
- Narrated by: James Babson
- Length: 10 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 16
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 14
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 14
Porter Beck is the sheriff in the high desert of Nevada, north of Las Vegas. Born and raised there, he left to join the Army, where he worked in Intelligence, deep in the shadows in far off places. Now he's back home, doing the same lawman's job his father once did, before his father started to develop dementia. All is relatively quiet in this corner of the world, until on old, retired FBI agent is found killed. He was brutally tortured before he was killed and clues at the scene point to a mystery dating back to the early days of the nuclear age.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Great Discovery
- By snowpatch100 on 2023-12-28
Written by: Bruce Borgos
-
No Time for Goodbye
- Written by: Linwood Barclay
- Narrated by: Christopher Lane
- Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 487
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 444
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 445
The house was deathly quiet. That was the first sign that something was terribly wrong. Fourteen-year-old Cynthia Bigge woke that morning to find herself alone. Her family - mother, father, and brother - had vanished without a word, without a note, without a trace. Twenty-five years later, Cynthia is still looking for answers. Now she is about to learn the devastating truth.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
wonderful book - kept me intrigued all the way thr
- By Linda L. on 2018-05-04
Written by: Linwood Barclay
What the critics say
“Readers will find themselves desperate to finish just one more page before putting the book down . . . a page-turning thriller that’s intense, compelling, and for the most part, expertly paced.” --Kirkus
“Barclay earns a solid A for his page-turning plot.“ --Publishers Weekly
“Gripping…Unfold[s] with mounting tension and suspense…believable and scary for being rooted in human-sized characters and laced with saving humor.”
--Wall Street Journal
What listeners say about Fear the Worst
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Valerie Husky
- 2023-05-22
Realistic slow paced character spiral
It was good, but very slow paced, the ending was abrupt and would benefit from an epilogue.
Many of the characters actions didn’t make sense, and some characters were introduced for no reason.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Langer MD
- 2025-05-11
Fun Thriller. Remarkably Self-Limited
Linwood Barclay fills this story with so many pop-culture references that this book will be unreadable in about 10 years (no-one is going to have a clue who Cindy Crawford is in 2035, for example). The story - involving the disappearance of a 17-year-old "Free Spirit" of a daughter entangled in some sketchy stuff - is cleverly plotted and populated with quirky & likable (if often a little dumb) characters. Fans of Mr. Barclay will enjoy this example of an "Early 2000s Thriller".
As to presentation: Brilliance Audio Inc. did well to cast Buck Schirner to narrate the tale. The reader's diction, timbre, cadence, and pacing are unimpeachable and - although guilty of overacting at times - Schirner actually sings some dialogue: demonstrating impressive dedication to the project.
In toto, 'Fear The Worst' is one of the weaker entries in the Barclay catalog. The time-limited book merits 6/10 stars. You're not crazy to spend a Credit on this recording (especially if you're a GenXer).. but keep browsing - there are better options available on the Audible platform.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- DEBRA
- 2023-09-19
Interesting Book !
Although this book was interesting with the usual Barclay twists, I felt the ending lacked more detail. It was abrupt and I was waiting for the prolog with a bit of closure for some characters. This is strictly my own opinion. I am sure many will enjoy the Book !
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Olivia
- 2021-10-21
My first Linwood Barkley, but not my last
A slow start but it kept me curious and coming back. the story quickened and intensified as it went and and overall it was a fun listen.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2021-02-04
I was expecting more
It was very long and drawn out. Took a while to get into it and then towards the end it got better but definitely not the suspense I was hoping for.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Sam Doucette
- 2020-10-21
Don't fear the worst, it's pretty good
This was my first time trying Linwood Barclay. I was not disappointed but also not extremely impressed. At times I thought it was a bit long, but in the end, it's a good suspense and thriller that managed to get me hooked. I'm intrigued to see how this novel stacks against other works by the author, I will definitely read more in the future.
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Lesli
- 2021-02-25
overall B+
I enjoyed the story but found some of the plot line & character decisions too much of a stretch. the narrator was great as the main character but some of his other voices missed the mark. I DID find I was eager to listen and find out what would happen next
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paul Belaskie
- 2021-02-06
waiting a long time for a book like this
wish there was just a bit more in the ending, what happened to everyone. other than that great read/listen
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- TA
- 2024-01-07
3 hour story dragged out to 13 hrs
Mediocre at best. Told in an amateurish way, deviod of emotional expressions befitting the scenrios
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