Book Review: I Will Ruin You by Linwood Barclay

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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? ~~~~ I can't even begin to explain this story without telling the whole thing, which other reviewers have done. It starts with a former student arriving at his old high school to confront those who did him wrong. He has dynamite strapped to him. Teacher Richard talks him off a ledge, with fatal consequences. It all spirals out of control from there. False accusations aplenty. Drug dealers, families, teachers, students, student SA, police (one being the sister of Richard's wife Bonnie), and lots of different guns too. And the mysterious "lawnmower man". This mystery/thriller is written in short chapters alternating from first person POV, Richard, and third person POV for all other character storylines. There was a lot happening in this story. I usually have trouble following stories with lots of characters but this was well written out, easy to follow, but a complicated story nonetheless. So many victims, so many suspects with motive, so many twists and questions that left the reader wanting more. You just can't stop turning the pages. Linwood Barclay has been a longtime favourite of mine, since his days of writing for the Toronto Star. When he retired to write novels I immediately picked up his first one. I have read several others and still have more on my shelf. This is one Canadian thriller writer that CANNOT be missed. You won't be disappointed.