Zack Walker has what many people might call bad luck. A science fiction writer whose second book has been less than well-received, Zack has found an alternate source of income as a journalist. The only problem is that he may not keep it very long. His job is a minor issue next to his wife possibly leaving him, and then there's the small problem that he might be killed, so not having a job doesn't matter much.

Zack gets a call from a previous neighbor, Trixie, who has a problem with another journalist who wants to write about her home-based business as a dominatrix. For reasons Trixie refuses to share, she can't have her picture in the paper. She expects Zack to get the other journalist off her back. Reluctantly, Zack meets the man and things go down hill from the get-go. Zack is suspended, the journalist is found dead in Trixie's basement, and Trixie takes off in Zack's car. Zack has promised his wife he'd stay out of trouble, so this just might be the last straw for her.

Zack tracks down Trixie to convince her to turn herself in to the authorities, but he unwittingly leads the cops to her anyway. And it's not over for Zack, yet, as Trixie's past confronts Zack to exact his revenge and collect what Trixie stole from him years ago. Did I say Zack has promised his wife he'd stay out of this mess?

Linwood Barclay has a talent for writing stories about this ordinary man who could be any woman's husband. Zack Walker can be annoying, definitely is a worrier and just can't say no to anyone. He's the hero of the story and what's so wonderful about this character is that he's just the guy down the street, the most unlikely guy a person would ever expect to have happen all the things that happen to him. He's hilariously funny, caring and darn lucky. Zack was probably voted the most boring person in high school. He's a riot.

STONE RAIN is the fourth novel in a humorous mystery series. It's a light, fast-paced, enjoyable story that can be a refreshing change for mystery lovers, as well as those who like to read humor. Want to read a funny whodunit? Reach for one of Linwood Barclay's stories.

Book Summary

Metropolitan newspaper writer Zack Walker has a knack for stumbling onto deadly stories. But it’s one that his good friend Trixie Snelling doesn’t want told that’s about to unleash a storm of trouble. As a professional dominatrix in the suburbs, Trixie has her share of secrets, but Zack has no idea what she’s really hiding when a local newspaperman threatens to do an exposé on her…not until Zack finds a dead body strapped to the bondage cross in her basement dungeon.

Now Zack is implicated in a murder, Trixie is missing, and everything he thought he knew about his friend, his town, even his own marriage, reveals a darker side. Zack’s twisted trail to the truth will lead to a long-unsolved triple homicide, bikers, drug wars, and a stone-cold killer hell-bent on revenge. It’s a story that’s already cost him his job and possibly his wife, and, if Zack’s not very lucky, it will cost him his life.