| PRODUCT DETAILS | | Bad Guys |  | |
Bad Guys
“Fans of the crime caper will rejoice” that Linwood Barclay is back with the hilarious follow-up to his “riotously funny and irreverent” debut, in which paranoid pop Zack Walker plotted to transplant his city-savvy wife and two teenage kids to the tranquillity of the burbs–where planned communities prevail and fathers rest easy. Well, not quite…and now the Walkers have moved home only to find themselves living in the precarious crosshairs of urban sprawl once again, and Zack can’t help but be worried–really worried–that just around the corner lurks the presence of some really bad guys.
Zack is back, and much to his family’s relief, the work-at-home science-fiction writer has left the house to take a job as a features writer for the city paper. But now that Zack’s incessant plotting can no longer be hatched from the comforts of his own home, he must be ever more vigilant to outwit the evil at large, whether in the suburbs, the city, or his own imagination. Zack is ready…or so he thinks.
While researching his first feature article, Zack stumbles upon a real-life crime scene, but what seems like an ordinary hit-and-run may actually be a homicide linked to a gang that’s been burglarizing Crandall’s high-end shops. Suddenly Zack finds himself at the center of a violent crime wave and destined for a confrontation with Barbie Bullock, an unsettling figure infamous in the crime syndicate for his ruthless business tactics and peculiar proclivity for collecting dolls.
And all is not quiet on the home front either. Zack’s protective instincts launch into overdrive when he discovers that his daughter’s rejected suitor has been tracing her every step and may harbor a much more ominous motivation than winning a Saturday night date. Nor does his son’s strange behavior and recent friendship with a creepy computer recluse inspire joy in a father’s heart.
As worlds begin to collide and boundaries between family and foe blur, Zack goes on the attack, and heaven help the bad guys when this resourceful father comes to make good on a deal gone bad.
Manufacturer: Bantam
Price Range: $3.31 - $6.99
 Bad Guys
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| User Reviews |  | Bad Guys
rating: 5
Just found this author and very much enjoy his writing. The only thing I'm not fond of is the liberal use of profanity by the characters. The story line would be just as enjoyable if it wasn't used. The plots are well constructed and holds your interest right to the finish.
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A Perfect Blend of Humor and Drama
rating: 5
Zack Walker, features writer for the Metropolitan newspaper, has had some really busy nights lately. He's been assigned to write about the life of PI Lawrence Jones, who's been staking out high-end men's clothing stores targeted by crash-and-grab thieves. When Zack's off duty, he occasionally checks up on his eighteen-year-old daughter's whereabouts. Zack's perpetual worries about Angie's safety soar into overdrive when he learns she has a stalker. Angie doesn't take the stalker seriously, but when Zack and Lawrence catch him hiding behind Zack's garage, Lawrence volunteers to check the kid out. Before he can tell Zack what he's learned, Lawrence is stabbed. Meanwhile, for reasons Zack doesn't understand, the clothing thieves learn who Zack is and go after him.
Linwood Barclay's BAD GUYS is a perfect blend of humour and drama, twists and turns, that come together in a truly suspenseful ending. Zack's attempts to keep tabs on Angie have a way of backfiring, which creates some really funny moments. As a parent of teens, I related to his worries, frustrations, and growing helplessness as his daughter charges into the world--driver's license in hand--with the kind of confidence, optimism, and naivety only the young have. I liked many characters in this book, and kudos to Mr. Barclay for creating some of the strangest and most memorable bad guys I've read in a long time. If you're looking for pure entertainment and enjoyment, pick up BAD GUYS and get ready for one heck of a ride.
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Wacky Murder!
rating: 5
Zack Walker is a quirky, funny, paranoid dad who just can't seem to stop worrying. Bad Guys is packed with murder and crime loaded with laughs; it's a delightful maze of twists and turns and a cast of zany characters.
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Dynamite, Funny Story
rating: 5
This follow-up to Bad Move was a fun and funny story. The various family hiccups in central character Zach Walker's life are centered around his relationship with his daughter in this book, and as in Bad Move, the have a resonance with any father of a daughter. Barclay continues to take everyday occurrences that any one of us could find himself in and twist them into a farcical romp that will put you in stitches. If you love to laugh, you'll love Barclay's Bad Guys.
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Ho Hum
rating: 3
Run of the mill, you know how this will turn out. And not that funny
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Bad Guys
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