A haunting thriller leaves you wondering about your neighbors! I loved this book. Maybe I am a closet Gladys Kravitz, but I am always wondering about the neighbors. Nobody in this story is as good as they seem in public. I hated having to put the book down as my mind kept wondering what was going on in the pages. lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end. I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

I loved loved loved this book!! The suspense was amazing and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough!! The ending took me completely by surprise!! I loved all the characters. I thought Lisa did an amazing job in keeping us readers turning pages!!

This was my first book by Lisa Jewell and I'm so excited she has quite a backlist to read because this was one of my favorite domestic thrillers. I found all of the characters to be interesting and hold their own story line really well. While there was a lot going on, it was just enough to keep you interested without being confusing or hard to follow. I also appreciated that the twists weren't so far-fetched that it took away from the overall suspense of the story. This was definitely a book I'll recommend!

When I read Then She Was Gone last year I knew that I had discovered an author that I wanted to read more from. Lisa Jewell's way of crafting intricate family dramas with suspense was a refreshing take on the thriller genre. I went on to read the Girls in the Garden, I Found You, and the Third Wife, all of which I loved. I recently received a copy of Jewell's latest book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. After setting this novel down, I can safely say that I will make it my goal this year to read all of her novels.

Watching You is Lisa Lewell's twisty novel of revenge and betrayal. It is published by Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. In it, we are introduced to Melville Heights, a beautiful housing community with homes owned by some of Bristol, England's more affluent residents. It is an area buzzing with drama, gossip and... murder.

After marrying her husband and moving in with her brother and his wife, Josephine Mullen seems to be in a great place. Husband Alfie is a decorator and she is on the fast track to getting a job at a nearby hotel. Brother Jack and his wife, Rebecca, are expecting their first child, which has Alfie thinking they should have one, as well. But Josephine has her mind on someone else, her dashing older neighbor, Tom Fitzwilliam. Day by day her obsession with Tom intensifies, and she seems powerless to stop it. All she knows is that she would rather be with Tom than her husband.

Tom's son Freddie knows everything that goes on in the neighborhood. He sits in his top-floor room and spies through binoculars and camera lenses. He keeps surveillance of the neighbors, storing away photos and videos on his computer in secret files. But he finds something disturbing; someone has accessed his files. He has no idea who and he needs to find out their identity. Down the road, teenager Jenna Tripp is dealing with her increasingly paranoid mother who believes that Tom Fitzwilliam is stalking her. If that is not enough, Jenna is also worried that her best friend Bess is falling too fast for Mr. Fitzwilliam. She sees them together talking and laughing. She also seems to notice something about Fitzwilliam that no one else does: that his interactions with teenage girls are a bit more affectionate than she feels is normal.

Then a murder rocks Melville Heights. A body is found on the floor of the victim's kitchen, stabbed to death. Josephine is brought in for questioning due to circumstantial evidence that was found near the body. She is terrified that someone has framed her for murder. But who would do this? Who hates Josephine enough to make sure she is convicted of a murder that she did not commit? And who hated the victim so much that they would stab to death someone that viciously? When you are being watched the truth is bound to come out. But are the residents of Melville Heights ready for the disturbing reality that has descended upon them?

Watching You was a page-turning novel that I gladly sacrificed sleep to continue. Lisa Jewell's amazing ability to weave a web of deception and family drama was en pointe in this latest novel. We discover a body at the beginning of the story, and for the remaining part of the book we are given clues as to who is lying murdered in their own home. The cast of characters were engrossing with expertly fleshed-out back stories that added more intrigue. As I read through the body of Watching You I was excited to figure out who had been murdered and who could possibly have motive. And Jewell did not disappoint when motive was being served. With a story spanning from 1996 to present day, we were given many nuggets of incentive for anyone of the cast to have committed the crime. The end result was a chilling reveal that left me stunned.

I read Watching You in part with the audio book narrated by actress, Gabrielle Glaister. I enjoyed her narration mainly due to the smooth and even way she read the narrative. She was easy to listen to, and added depth to Jewell's words.

Watching You was a four star read for me. I enjoyed the mystery of not only who the killer was, but who their victim was, as well. The story was paced very well, and I enjoyed the cast of characters so much I hated to close the book at the end. As I begin to acquire more Lisa Jewell novels and continue my discovery of her works, I encourage you all to to the same. Lisa Jewell is a writer that never disappoints, and she gives her readers one hundred percent. Gather up a copy of Watching you and cozy up for one hell of a ride. Sleep? Who needs that? Enjoy!

Have fun reading this week.

Because there is always time to read,

Xepherus Reads

http://xepherusreads.blogspot.com/2019/01/book-review-watching-you-by-lisa-jewell.html

I was told there would be a lot of characters to remember in this one but I was surprised I caught on pretty quick. There was a couple of storylines at the beginning that got me confused but after reading a bit more it all made sense.

With all these different characters, we were able to read their different POVs. Along with the different POVs, the story is told backward. You find out there is murder, then the story goes back to the days leading up to the murder. I found that quite creative, it really kept you interested and guessing. When reading these different POVs, I really loved that I could read all the different sides to this particular story, and really loved the different dynamics between all of the characters. There were multiple storylines to follow but again, I feel like that's what kept me interested. Additionally, I found that the story wasn't predictable, up to a certain point since I wasn't really surprised by the ending. However, given the circumstances of the story, it was a great ending.

The only negative point I have is that it was a slow-burning novel, there wasn't a lot of "action", but the story was very well written that I didn’t mind. Highly recommend

This is a layered thriller that I honestly felt like was about a 3/5 until I neared the end, when it took a sharp, smart turn, putting it firmly in the 4/5 camp. These characters are complex and a little slimy. They’re all watching each other and making up stories, yet further tangling their lives together as they do so. Once the story picks up (about 60% in) you’ll be rapt. And the twist and final page pretty much make the whole thing worth the read. I think the beginning didn’t have enough plot to push it along, and all of the conflict and mystery kicked into gear a little late. But again, once it did, it was addictive and so brilliant!

Watching You was a must read for me, as a fan of Lisa Jewell’s writing. This book follows several families in an upscale neighborhood in Bristol, England. Through the story and alternating POV, the characters’ secrets are revealed big by bit, culminating in a kitchen murder. But the twists do not end there. In the author’s true style, there are several diabolical surprises, quite literally through the last page! This was a speedy, twisty, compelling read for fans of psychological thrillers.

Whowee what a read! I honestly can’t get enough of Lisa Jewell books!! She sure knows how to write a suspenseful novel. I found Watching You to be quite a brain teasing psychological mystery. At the start of the story, we know someone has been murdered but we don’t know who or why? The plot takes us down a windy path with various scenarios as to what could be the plausible truth.

I was gripped from the first chapter and enjoyed puzzling my way along. This plot, however, was much different from her last book.Then She Was Gone. No tears or uncontrollable emotions in this one. It’s all about the suspense and mystery..

This is a quick and engaging read that folks, who like psychological thrillers, will most likely get swept up in.. I will definitely be reading more from this author!

Absolutely loved this book! So full of twists and turns and just kept me turning the page because I HAD to know what was happening and how it would end! I have Lisa Jewell's other book and I hear it's amazing too and I can't wait to read it now!

Lisa Jewell is one of my favorite when it comes to psychological thrillers and her 16th book definitely didn’t disappoint! Very twisty and when all the pieces eventually came together it made for a VERY good ending! 🙌🏻 I really enjoyed the difference in perspectives from each character!

Another great read from Lisa Jewell!!! A book with all the things we love in a good suspense ………… lies, deception, and secrets. Its' all there. There really isn't much to say without going into detail and possibly giving something away.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of Watching You in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is an intense read with many characters and the secrets they hold hidden inside a beautiful neighborhood with brightly colored homes. The title is perfect, everyone is watching everyone else!
I really enjoyed the wide range of characters and the way they are intertwined.

Thank you to net galley, the publisher,and Author for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Great read! A page turner that I found hard to put down. Totally engrossing. The twist near the end was really a shocker. Definitely recommended. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC of this book., Everyone is indeed being watched which keeps it pretty interesting even when it's hard to sort out the bad guys. Or are there bad guys? By 1/3 of the way through the book, I had a pretty good idea of who the murderer was but the reasons did not become apparent until the very end. Interesting plot that kept me reading with unexpected twists and turns.

Melville Heights is a good neighbourhood, populated by doctors, teachers and professionals. Or, at least it seems that way on the surface. But behind the polished veneer hides secrets and lies all of which culminate in a murder. But who is the victim and who is the murderer?

This is my first book by Lisa Jewell but the cover and the blurb hooked me into giving it a try. I am really glad I gave it a go, it had some great twists and turns that made it hard to put down. It was told from multiple characters perspective as they all observe what is happening on their street. Joey Mullin’s a young woman who has become obsessed with Tom Fitzwilliam an older married man on her street. Freddie Fitzwilliam, Tom’s son and a teenage voyeur who has dark suspicions about his father. Jenna Tripp, a teenage girl who attends the school for which Tom Fitzwilliam is the headmaster. Then it goes to transcripts of police interviews.

What I liked about this book was how the multiple perspectives all play on your assumptions. You start the book knowing someone has been murdered and then it goes back a few months and shows you the events that lead up to the murder. It’s up to the reader to come to their own conclusions. You think you know what is happening until Jewell starts hitting you with curve balls. It was masterfully done and really kept me glued to my kindle.

This isn’t a fast paced thriller, instead it slowly builds up a creepy and slightly paranoid atmosphere as your suspicions grow. I highly recommend for anyone looking for a good psychological mystery which keeps you guessing right until the very end.

After my absolute enjoyment of three other of Lisa Jewell’s novels, I’ve been looking forward to the release of her latest, Watching You; mysteries and thrillers usually make up a small portion of the total number of books I read each year, so I’m rather particular about the ones I choose; I never have doubts about Lisa’s work.

Since I definitely do not want to spoil anything, I thought I’d share some of the things that I really liked about Watching You.

All of the novels I’ve read by Lisa Jewell have fascinating and captivating settings; any description I could provide will not do them justice but, suffice it to say, Jewell is great at setting the scene and helping to create a warm, welcoming, friendly neighborhood vibe and then injecting just enough creepiness to keep readers guessing but not so much that we’re forced to put the book down when it gets dark outside. I love being outdoors, that should not come as a surprise to most of you, and there is usually an outdoor element to her stories; I always feel very connected to the settings of her stories.

In addition, Jewell injects just enough detail to keep those discerning (and fact-checking,) mystery lovers interested, but also provides enough distraction to prevent these same folks from predicting the way the entire plot will unfold after the first chapter. One of these distractions is the development of a relationship between two characters, previously unknown to one another, who both have Asperger’s syndrome; these two are an absolute delight and I’m always so thankful when authors include characters from whom I can learn more about an issue, health condition, etc. Diverse characters are something I always appreciate.

For those of you who are already familiar with, and fans of, Lisa Jewell’s work, I hope you’ll make sure to pick up a copy of Watching You; otherwise, take a chance on a new author, maybe even a new genre, because this is a highly entertaining winter read!

This story has SO many moving parts. It takes place in a neighborhood in Bristol, England. Joey is a twenty-something girl who lives with her new husband in the attic of her brother’s posh house. This row of houses has been part of Joey’s life since she was a child, she always dreamed of living in one of them. Now that she does, she is trying to get her life together.

Next door is Tom, the headmaster of a local school. He is well known and liked throughout the area as someone who “fixes” schools before moving on to the next project. Joey finds herself fascinated with him and develops a crush that may turn into something more.. Tom also has an incredibly talented prodigy of a son, Freddie, who goes to high school and wants to be a spy. He watches the neighborhood and documents the movements of it’s residents from his bedroom.

Further down the street, in the less posh neighborhood lives Jenna, a student at Tom’s school who is not convinced that Tom is as straight-laced as everyone else seems to think he is. She is also sure that her best friend is getting more than friendly with Tom. All while she is also tasked with caring for her mother whose mental health has been going down hill and is sure that Tom is stalking her as well.

As we follow all of these stories they become intertwined with each other as well as the past where we get a glimpse of diary entries from a girl who may be in love with her teacher.

The story is fantastic and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I just couldn’t put it down until I got all the answers! There were several times where I thought I had the plot figured out, only to be thrown off once again by Lisa Jewell’s fantastic twists. While I haven’t got to read any her previous work yet, Then She Was Gone is on my bookshelf and I’m dying to pick it up!

Huge thank you to the publisher for not only sending me an eARC to review, but also a finished copy!

For readers who love a good mystery, Watching You is a literary treat.. The immense cast of characters and twisty story line keep you guessing through to the end.

I truly appreciated that, through every narrative shift, my perspective on Tom changed. I made up my mind about him early on, which made this even more interesting to read once the truth was revealed. I did find the pacing a bit slow in the beginning and the narrative to be a bit disconnected, but everything came together eventually. I figured out one of the twists, but it didn’t detract from the story. Overall a very well done book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this title.

Atria Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Watching You. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

One of the most desirable neighborhoods in Bristol, England harbors many secrets, but when the unspeakable happens, will the truth set the inhabitants free?

The biggest issue that I had with Watching You was the spider web of side plots, all competing for the attention of the reader. The end result was a very slow start, with the author trying to convey all of the characters and their personal problems and foibles. I never quite got what made Tom Fitzwilliam so desirable to so many, nor did I really care. The characters were kept at an arm's length, as even the ones deserving the most sympathy were not very likable. Although the book did move along at a fast pace, there was just too much going on at the same time. For these reasons, I would be hesitant to recommend Watching You to other readers.

When I first picked this book, I thought it would be the age old story about a stalker and his or her prey. Based on how much I absolutely loved Lisa Jewell’s book “The She was Gone”, I knew I had to read it!
Well, she doesn’t disappoint! It seems that everyone “watches” everyone in this story! You’ll definitely be hanging on in suspense as you learn how the characters in this story are connected, their pasts come crashing together, and their futures are dependent upon the truth coming out!
The flashbacks to a girl writing in her journal was a perfect twist because you may think it’s a certain person who narrates this part, but you may also be surprised. Everyone seems guilty and innocent depending on the part of the story you read which adds to the suspense of the plot.
Lisa Jewell is a great storyteller and her books are fast and super suspenseful! If you loved”The. she was Gone”, you will most likely LOVE “Watching You”!