Zack Walker has joined the staff of a city newspaper and his feature on the life of a private detective has dragged him into the doings of a murderous gang of thieves. The car he bought at a police auction contains a secret that could get him killed. And it’s possible his daughter is being stalked by a dangerous would-be boyfriend.






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“Barclay successfully balances the comical and serious aspects of the story, keeping readers interested in both Walker’s investigation and his home life. Though written with a light touch, the novel is gripping when it counts, and includes a very nicely handled twist ending. All in all, Bad Guys makes for a good time. More Zack Walker would be welcomed.”
– The Strand Magazine


“Mr. Barclay, a columnist for the Toronto Star, is the master of what might be dubbed the Barclay Effect: that point in a column or novel when a reader, shanghaied by a well-planted gag, is forced to laugh out loud.”
– Tom Nolan
Wall Street Journal


“Barclay deftly combines mayhem with hilarity, creating a highly entertaining comic thriller with an exasperating hero and a desperate, really peculiar villain.”
– Lansing State Journal


“Humor, realistic characters, a jaunty first-person narrative make for an enjoyable read.”
– Booklist


“Barclay’s winning second comic caper … includes both long-term setups and well hidden surprises.”
– Publishers Weekly


“Barclay truly captures the tension between parents and their growing children and the love that lies there…There is comedy reminiscent of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels yet the characters have more depth. There is laughter and tears and even a few chills down the spine as one of the villains is revealed. So, bring back Zack!”
– Jane Davis
MysteryReader.com


“Barclay weaves the most ridiculous images and laugh-out loud humor straight into the warp and woof of this story in such a way that your expression while reading may turn from ultimate concern to snickering and back again…So if you would like a break from crime novels that take themselves too seriously, read Bad Guys…It’ll be the funniest and fastest smile of text you’ve read in a long time.”
– Steven B. Beach
Winston-Salem Journal


“With Bad Guys, Linwood Barclay proves that he wasn’t just a one-hit wonder who struck gold with a great idea and a funny situation. He’s a very funny – and insightful – writer with a huge potential for the long run.”
– David Forsmark
Flint Journal Review