Elevator Pitch

By: Linwood Barclay

Narrated by: Johnathan McClain

Length: 12 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's Summary

The New York Times best-selling author of A Noise Downstairs and No Time for Goodbye returns with an edge-of-your-seat thriller that does for elevators what Psycho did for showers and Jaws did for the beach - a heart-pounding tale in which a series of disasters paralyzes New York City with fear.

It all begins on a Monday, when four people board an elevator in a Manhattan office tower. Each presses a button for their floor, but the elevator proceeds, non-stop, to the top. Once there, it stops for a few seconds, and then plummets.

Right to the bottom of the shaft.

It appears to be a horrific, random tragedy. But then, on Tuesday, it happens again, in a different Manhattan skyscraper. And when Wednesday brings yet another high-rise catastrophe, one of the most vertical cities in the world - and the nation’s capital of media, finance, and entertainment - is plunged into chaos.

Clearly, this is anything but random. This is a cold, calculated bid to terrorize the city. And it’s working. Fearing for their lives, thousands of men in women working in offices across the city refuse to leave their homes. Commerce has slowed to a trickle. Emergency calls to the top floors of apartment buildings go unanswered.

Who is behind this? Why are they doing it? What do these deadly acts of sabotage have to do with the fingerless body found on the High Line? Two seasoned New York detectives and a straight-shooting journalist must race against time to find the answers before the city’s newest, and tallest, residential tower has its Friday night ribbon-cutting.

With each diabolical twist, Linwood Barclay ratchets up the suspense, building to a shattering finale. Pulsating with tension, Elevator Pitch is a riveting tale of psychological suspense that is all too plausible...and will chill listeners to the bone.

Bonus: Stay tuned at the end to hear a crowdsourced interview with the author.

©2019 Linwood Barclay (P)2019 HarperAudio

Very good Who done it...

I’ve been a fan of Linwood Barclay for years. I like that his books deal with every day people. It’s nice for a change. No super heroes here, only regular people trying to survive. The publisher’s summary gives more than enough information so I won’t add to their description. I will say this book brings many issues and the lasting effects into play. The effects of teenage pregnancy and young fathers not accepting responsibility. Child abuse and neglect. Slumlords, greed and politics. And finally a brutal and devastating vengeance. Jonathan McClain does an excellent job narrating. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. If you found this review helpful please indicate so. Thank You.

DON'T BUY THIS BOOK UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE BORED

I've read several novels by Linwood Barclay and they have all been high quality, good plots, good characters and stories you want to finish. That's been my opinion unil ELEVATOR PITCH. The premise of the story was great but after listening to a couple of chapters I quit. All there was was boring dialog between some reporter and the Mayor of NYC. I read lots of books but when I begin one that's boring I quit and this is one of those.

Worth reading

“Elevator Pitch” is worth reading. It’s a fun, pulpy, quick read that requires one to suspend disbelief occasionally but has constant action and likable characters. The reader does a good job with three badass female characters and one cop with an anxiety problem. All four are competently aggressive at their jobs and good hearted. Interestingly, the author makes most characters slightly sexy without digressing into any physical descriptions. An enjoyable urban-crime caper.

Unusual Story

Author has a vivid imagination but all in all not too bad to read, really.

couldn't believe this is Linwood Barclay

Kept listening because I hoped it would get better! The story was so ridiculous and elementary. So disappointed...

I don’t know if the book is good.

I can’t listen to any more of it because the narrator’s nasal voice is making me crazy. I really like Barclay but if I read this one, it’ll have to be on my kindle. I suspect I won’t get it. It’s pretty draggy so far. But I’m giving this one back to Audible.

Good! Personal Phobia Disturbed!

This was a good story. I’ve had a lifelong fear of elevators which I was forced to address because I worked in high rises in downtown Houston and New Orleans. This book definitely stirred up my phobia. In some ways I wish I’d read this book because I was not in love with the narrator. Actually, I didn’t like him much at all. I found his voice grating, like gravel poured into my ear. Fortunately, the voice for the 12 year old boy was very brief because I found it completely unbelievable. If reading didn’t trigger a migraine, I would have returned this and read it. I’d be interested in trying more books by Linwood Barclay, but not with this narrator. At times, the suspense managed to override the narration.

Time Reader/Listener

This the first time I have read/listened to anything this author has written. I enjoyed all the twists and turns the story took and appreciated that the author didn't telegraph the results of those twists and turns and ruin the suspense! I will definitely read/listen to more books by Mr. Barclay. The narrator did a fine job, as well; easy listening.

Engaging and suspenseful. Great narrator.

Very engaging and suspenseful thriller with a strong variety of characters. The dialogue is so vibrant and feels authentic. Cool and unnerving concept for a thriller, too. Going to be picking up more of Barclay's work, for sure.

Not as good as most of his books

The story seemed to be a lot different than his other books and I did find it very interesting