Elevator Pitch

By Linwood Barclay

**INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER**

The #1 bestselling Linwood Barclay 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 of terror and menace that will make you think twice the next time you hit Up.

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, nonstop, to the top. Once there it pauses for a few seconds, but the doors don't open. Instead, the elevator begins to descend floor-by-floor. Then it plummets.

Right to the bottom of the shaft.

It appears to be a random accident. . . . But on Tuesday, it happens again, in a different Manhattan skyscraper. And then Wednesday brings yet another tragic high-rise catastrophe. In only three days, 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 succeeding. Fearing for their lives, thousands of men and 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 towers go unanswered.

Who is behind this? Why are they doing it? Are these deadly acts of sabotage somehow connected to a fingerless body found on the High Line? Two seasoned New York detectives and a straight-shooting journalist race against time to uncover the truth before the city's newest, and tallest, residential tower has its ribbon-cutting on Friday night.

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

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Sep 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9780385687218

Linwood Barclay

Linwood Barclay is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous previous novels and two thrillers for children. His books have been translated into more than two dozen languages. He wrote the screenplay adaptation for his novel Never Saw it Coming and his book The Accident has been made into a TV series in France. His novel No Time for Goodbye was a global bestseller. A native of Connecticut, he now lives in Toronto with his wife, Neetha.

Reviews for Elevator Pitch

[edwardsgt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A very different plot, someone is sabotaging elevators in New York skyscrapers and the Mayor is feeling the pressure. Barbara, a journalist is campaigning against the mayor, but has secret personal issues partly driving it. The police are investigating the murder of an elevator technician who could be linked, as well as a right-wing domestic terrorist group's bombing campaign. All these elements are cleverly brought together with a cast of believable characters and a few red herrings.

[johnfishlock · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not bad. The book to me had a lack of soul for some reason. Almost like a record by a band where the music has been overproduced.

[bettytaylor56 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed Barclay’s last book A NOISE DOWNSTAIRS and he did not disappoint with his newest one ELEVATOR PITCH. You may never look at elevators the same way again. New York City, a truly “vertical city”, is paralyzed when random elevators inexplicably plummet to the ground. But are they truly random? And are these elevator “mishaps” connected to the recent bombings in public places?I was kept guessing as to who was behind these plots to terrorize the city. The story revolves around a mayor seeking reelection, two New York City detectives, and a journalist who pulls no punches. This book was definitely hard to put down. With many chapters ending with cliff hangers I had to read just one more chapter…just one more…just one more. Suspenseful. Tense. Fast paced. Excellently written.Thank you to William Morrow Books for an advance e-copy. Opinions are my own.

[carol420 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It’s an exciting novel that will make you think twice the next time you step into an elevator…but just keep telling yourself “it’s only fiction. It’s just a story.” and maybe you will begin to believe it. I really liked the two main protagonists… particularly the journalist Barbara and the Detective Jerry Bourque. The Mayor… Richard Headley… was a politician that you could hate with a clear conscience. The only thing that was a little hard, until you get used to it, is that the scenes change quiet rapidly. Also there was a great deal of side story that seemed unnecessary but all tied together at the end. Overall…I have never been disappointed with this author’s books so…another excellent read by Mr. Barclay.

[susandennis-139327 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This probably did not deserve five stars but it did keep my interest to the very last word. The author made several decisions halfway into the book that will really kind of cheap and pissed me off but other than that I enjoyed reading it and I'll read more of his stuff also the narrator was excellent.

[ewhatley_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first NYC elevator tragedy is seen as a horrible accident. But the questions begin after the second elevator incident. For fans of thrillers/suspense, Barclay once again delivers. Excellent character development and twisty plot changes. There are subtle hints as to the ending, but you may not see if coming. Thoroughly enjoyable.