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Clouded Vision (Novella)
In this original novella from the #1 internationally bestselling author of Never Look Away, sometimes the only thing you can’t see is the truth.
Keisha Ceylon, last seen in Linwood Barclay’s blockbuster thriller No Time for Goodbye, has perfected her routine. She knows how to pick up clues and lead a desperate person along, charging a cool thousand bucks for her “psychic” s...more
Keisha Ceylon, last seen in Linwood Barclay’s blockbuster thriller No Time for Goodbye, has perfected her routine. She knows how to pick up clues and lead a desperate person along, charging a cool thousand bucks for her “psychic” s...more
ebook, 56 pages
Published
June 13th 2011
by Bantam
(first published December 23rd 2010)
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Started this book this morning at Starbucks with a "grande bold". This is the first "Quick Read" that I have ever read. As I was taking my last sip of coffee I read the last page.I was thoroughly entertained by L.B.'s latest chilling suspense story. Could not put it down. Good surprise endings ( that's right, plural ). I won't make a habit of these "Quick Reads" but they're very good for once in a while. Linwood Barclay has successfully left behind his career as a writer for the Toronto Star new...more
Edgar Allan Poe invented the short story and Linwood Barclay carries on the tradition admirably with as good a tale as Poe himself might have created. Billed as a novella, it edges closer to the short story form, and, as such, was perfect.
The "trick" to creating a great suspense/mystery story is that the close reader is able to figure out the major turns just a sentence or two before the narrative delivers. This is one of the toughest things a writer can attempt to do. If the surprise is guessed...more
The "trick" to creating a great suspense/mystery story is that the close reader is able to figure out the major turns just a sentence or two before the narrative delivers. This is one of the toughest things a writer can attempt to do. If the surprise is guessed...more
Mar 24, 2011
Kerrie-ann
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
crime-murder-and-war,
books-read-in-2011
This is a quick read book with only 96 pages and 16 chapters. The text is quite big and as it is a short book you will be able to get through it quite quickly. The action starts in the opening chapter of this book where you find out what has happened before it gets into the rest of the story, kind of like a backstory to get you catched up before you continue reading. The main outline of the story is a woman called Ellie has been murdered and the basic plot of the story is finding out who killed...more
The strength of this story is not so much in the murder mystery, but in the intrusion of a fraudulent psychic who makes a living out of exploiting the vulnerable families of missing persons.
The prologue, entitled Setting the Scene: Ellie, describes the death and ingenious seclusion of the body from the victim's point of view. That builds the suspense on which the rest of the story is founded.
Each chapter describes the progress of the plot from the perspective of one of the characters, and the co...more
The prologue, entitled Setting the Scene: Ellie, describes the death and ingenious seclusion of the body from the victim's point of view. That builds the suspense on which the rest of the story is founded.
Each chapter describes the progress of the plot from the perspective of one of the characters, and the co...more
Synopsis/blurb.....
Keisha Ceylon is a psychic. At least, that's what she passes herself off as. The truth is, Keisha's real powers have more to do with separating troubled families from their money than actually seeing into the netherworld. Keisha watches the news for stories of missing family members. She gives it a few days, then moves in, tells these families she's had a vision, that she may have some clue to where these missing people are. And by the way, she charges for this service, and li...more
Keisha Ceylon is a psychic. At least, that's what she passes herself off as. The truth is, Keisha's real powers have more to do with separating troubled families from their money than actually seeing into the netherworld. Keisha watches the news for stories of missing family members. She gives it a few days, then moves in, tells these families she's had a vision, that she may have some clue to where these missing people are. And by the way, she charges for this service, and li...more
I knew this book was shorter than most books I've read, and I was expecting to be done with it by evening, at the latest. But I finished it just under 2 hours.
It was a very simple murder story, with the author not going into as much detail as other books I've read. The story unfolded very quickly, and ended as quickly.
The book ends in a cliffhanger that I would have liked to know more about. I know that the author's intention was to probably keep the reader at suspense, but that would have work...more
It was a very simple murder story, with the author not going into as much detail as other books I've read. The story unfolded very quickly, and ended as quickly.
The book ends in a cliffhanger that I would have liked to know more about. I know that the author's intention was to probably keep the reader at suspense, but that would have work...more
Picked this one up last night...it only took me an hour and I was finished!! Great quick read, only 96 pages!
Keisha claims to have visions of missing persons, picking grief stricken families to prey on. She gives them a small hint of what she has seen, generally picked up from newspaper/television reports, then won't tell them anymore until she receives the money she's after. Of course, the families are desperate for news, and generally pay her.
But this time, has she bitten off more than she can...more
Keisha claims to have visions of missing persons, picking grief stricken families to prey on. She gives them a small hint of what she has seen, generally picked up from newspaper/television reports, then won't tell them anymore until she receives the money she's after. Of course, the families are desperate for news, and generally pay her.
But this time, has she bitten off more than she can...more
This novella by Linwood Barclay was OK. The point of the mystery is only partly to do with whodunnit, which is a good thing as there are little clues all over the place from the get-go. No, the bigger point is what will be the outcome of the interaction between the characters. Unfortunately, I couldn't care less about any of them, and in a mystery like that, you need to care somewhat in order to enjoy the suspense and have it do for you what suspense is supposed to. It was like watching a swim m...more
3 STARS Ellie Garfield, wife and mother of a pregnant girl, has not returned home and her family is worried. Wendell and Melissa take to the air begging for their mother/wife's return. Enter Keisha Ceylon psychic or con artist tries to beat Winonna (another psychic) to the Garfield home to help locate Ellie. What Keisha, Wendell and Melissa don't know in this case might just hurt them!
A fun short story BUT I wanted more. A great story for those who like a good suspense/mystery. It actually remin...more
A fun short story BUT I wanted more. A great story for those who like a good suspense/mystery. It actually remin...more
Being written by one of my favorite authors, I thought I would enjoy this Clouded Vision, a Quick Read by Linwood Barclay. It started off promisingly enough but I soon found out the story didn’t have that unique captivating twist his other stories deliver. This being kind of a short story, I suppose it makes sense that the characters lacked depth too: I just kept wondering about the motivation of their actions, and hoped for an explanation.
The good thing about these Quick Reads is that you can c...more
The good thing about these Quick Reads is that you can c...more
Such a great (and short) novella, I hardly had time to read it before it was done. I have always liked Barclay (shout out to being CANADIAN!!) and this one did not disappoint. Barclay sets the scene quickly and then uses each chapter to focus in on the three main characters, offering narration in the third person from their point of view.
The story was good... the plot held my attention... I liked how he worked things into the story, both essential and window dressing. And, of course, the true Ba...more
The story was good... the plot held my attention... I liked how he worked things into the story, both essential and window dressing. And, of course, the true Ba...more
Clouded Vision is a quick read written by Linwood Barclay. Keisa is 'psychic.'At least she claims she is however she is more interested in taking money from troubled families. In this story one of Keisha's 'visions' comes too close to the truth of really happened which puts Keisha in danger.
However I got slightly confused on page 83 as I think there's a typo.
This is the first book I have ead by this author and will definately
be reading more. I would recommend this book to others.
However I got slightly confused on page 83 as I think there's a typo.
This is the first book I have ead by this author and will definately
be reading more. I would recommend this book to others.
I actually enjoyed this book. It was, as it says, a quick read, and a fulfilling one at that. Initially starts with a woman who comes to, and realises she is in her car on the ice, and the car is sinking. She then realises she has been stabbed. But who did it? That is the key question, and you have your suspicions, but then when you think you know who did it, it turns into a did they, didn't they? Like some other reviewers, I think it did end rather abruptly and a few more pages to the book woul...more
This is billed as a "novella", but doesn't even come close to that. It reads like it was either a plot outline for a future book that just didn't go anywhere, or perhaps a portion of a novel that ended up not fitting in, so was cut.
I'm glad I borrowed this from the library and didn't buy it, because I would be pretty upset! This is just an unfinished story of some sort, and certainly not up to Linwood Barclay's standards. Very disappointing.
I'm glad I borrowed this from the library and didn't buy it, because I would be pretty upset! This is just an unfinished story of some sort, and certainly not up to Linwood Barclay's standards. Very disappointing.
A quick read, I was hooked to Clouded Vision within the first couple of pages. The general gist of the story is a con artist poses as a psychic, and preys on vulnerable family members of missing people, charging them cash in exchange of her 'so called' visions. The story unfolds alternating between the perspectives of different characters, with a couple of nice twists to hold your interest. I am a huge fan of Linwood Barclay and
This quick read starts with what is probably one of the best chapters, and keeps the tension/suspense going throughout it's very short lifespan.
Problem is, it ends VERY abruptly, leaving a lot of unanswered questions. I know it's a quick read, but another 5 pages in a final chapter wouldn't have gone amiss. Hence 3 stars.
Still, for the price it's worth a read, especially if you enjoyed Barclay's debut, No Time For Goodbye....more
Problem is, it ends VERY abruptly, leaving a lot of unanswered questions. I know it's a quick read, but another 5 pages in a final chapter wouldn't have gone amiss. Hence 3 stars.
Still, for the price it's worth a read, especially if you enjoyed Barclay's debut, No Time For Goodbye....more
Sep 04, 2012
Hildy Peterson
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
worst-of-the-worst,
2012
Grade: F
This was billed as a novella, a mini story to whet your appetite for the author's full length novels. If this had been the first of Linwood Barclay's writing that I had ever read I would not have read another things of his-- EVER. It was dreadful, juvenile, boring, predictable and honestly, just plain silly. This only took 30 minutes to read but still, IT IS 30 MINUTES I WILL NEVER GET BACK.
This was billed as a novella, a mini story to whet your appetite for the author's full length novels. If this had been the first of Linwood Barclay's writing that I had ever read I would not have read another things of his-- EVER. It was dreadful, juvenile, boring, predictable and honestly, just plain silly. This only took 30 minutes to read but still, IT IS 30 MINUTES I WILL NEVER GET BACK.
This was the first book I read on my new Kindle (which I have fallen in love with!). My word, it is a quick read. I enjoyed it but it was too short to really get into or to develop the characters. I'm not usually keen on short stories, but love Linwood Barclay's books and did enjoy this. There were twists and turns but it was over too quickly for my liking. A good book to get someone into reading I suppose, which is what the quick reads seem to be for, so I guess it does the job.
The quick reads are gripping and ideal for anyone who enjoys to read but gets bored easily with a lengthy novel.
Another brilliant thriller from Linwood Barclay, I only wish it was longer!
This story starts with a cunning self styled clairvoyant who seeks to profit from the distress of vulnerable families, only this time she has to deal with something quite unexpected.
Another brilliant thriller from Linwood Barclay, I only wish it was longer!
This story starts with a cunning self styled clairvoyant who seeks to profit from the distress of vulnerable families, only this time she has to deal with something quite unexpected.
This is the 3rd book I read by Linwood Barclay. This is my favorite books so far. I thought this book was about a psychic & her visions which made me not sure if I wanted to read it. The only character I feel bad for in this story is Ellie all the rest of the characters got what they deserved. From the way this book ended I hope it has a second book.
I've never had a high opinion of quick read books, thinking them to be too lack lustre or a tease in what could be a really good extended novel. But this was was a very good read I though. Fast-paced and caused a few changes in thought as to who the killer was even though it was under a 100pages long. Linwood Barclay is definately an author suited to my taste of reading.
Entertaining short story. A few surprises, nothing too gory!! Nice to read when you don't want to read a full novel or to give you a break from a hefty book. Straight forward plot...I'd give the author's other books ago...I like his style.
Feb 10, 2013
Terrie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
10000-in-2013,
alphabet-challenge
This was the first book I'd read by Linwood Barclay and I really enjoyed it. It was a quick easy read with a few twists to the plot. I did think it was slightly predictable, but this was actually part of its charm.
This was a really simple, yet enjoyable read, which had me hooked right from the beginning. I think the only disappointment I could note is the ending- a better, more interesting final chapter could have been used...
A nice quick novella with a couple of nice twists. I love that some of my favorite authors are doing this to introduce new books to their fans. Although, this wasn't quite as twisted as his stand-alones, I did enjoy it.
A rather good quick read that actually has great potential to become a full length novel. Nice and succinct, but I just felt it was too short, even though that is the general idea!
it was easy to get into straight away. as it was only a quick read it got straight to the point. and the end had a twist which you would not expect the killer to be who it was.
Enjoyed this and up to the usual Linwood Barclay standard - just a pity it was a quick read as I would have liked to have read more about this story.
A bit too short and too pat for my taste, I know it's a novella but it'd have benefitted from about 10 more pages at the end.
Sep 20, 2012
Lbaker
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery-female,
canadian
A light book published to encourage people reading and literacy.
Liked the slant the author chose to take in his mystery.
Liked the slant the author chose to take in his mystery.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Les, you caught me! | 1 | 8 | Nov 16, 2012 08:59pm |
After spending his formative years helping run a cottage resort and trailer park after his father died when he was 16, Linwood Barclay got his first newspaper job at the Peterborough Examiner, a small Ontario daily. In 1981, he joined the Toronto Star, Canada’s largest circulation newspaper.
He held such positions as assistant city editor, chief copy editor, news editor, and Life section editor, be...more
More about Linwood Barclay...
He held such positions as assistant city editor, chief copy editor, news editor, and Life section editor, be...more
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