This book is such a mash up of characters that you root for an excellent setting of gentrification in Brooklyn and thriller/ paranoia horror that you just have to be patient and see where the story goes. The pacing is all over the place. Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the review copy.

This is a thriller about gentrification of a predominantly Black neighborhood in Brooklyn told from two perspectives: : Theo, the boyfriend and co-owner of one of the brownstones (he’s one of the newcomers) and Sydney Green who has lived there with her mother who has recently passed away., While I appreciate what the author is trying to do here, however, it was way over the top and unbelievable.

I listened to the audio of this book, and overall I enjoyed it. Gritty and graphic, so just be forewarned there. A thriller based in a Brooklyn neighborhood, where the older established black owners are being pushed out by newly rich young whites. At its core, this is a story of gentrification at its worst. When Sydney Green fears the worst is happening in her neighborhood, she pairs up with the unlikely ally of Theo - a young white man who has moved in with his rich girlfriend but who quickly kicks him out - to figure out what is really happening to their neighbors and their neighborhood. I would give this a 3.5, but rounding up to 4..

This was a tough one to rate. I really enjoyed the plot; I just don't feel like it was executed the best. The first maybe half of the novel was slow moving. And then the whole thrill of it felt very rushed. Others have mentioned the love aspect wasn't necessary, and I agree. I don't need a romance aspect in a thriller/suspense novel.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an unbiased review.

I love a lot of Alyssa Cole's writing, though I'm more of a fan of her romances. This one fell a little flat for me.

As someone who doesn't really read a lot of thrillers, this one hooked me and I sped through it. I loved the focus on race and gentrification, and found the pacing to be really great. The uncanniness was communicated really well, and the truth/twist was well worth it. Creepy and great.

I went into this book without knowing much about it and I am glad I did. It was quite the ride as the story is told in Sydney and Theo's point of views. What is happening to their neighborhood and why are neighbors disappearing? I found this thriller to be unique and one I couldn't put down. It had me guessing to figure out what was going on, all the way to the end. Thank you to NetGalley for a copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Backlist Book Review! I recently read When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole for the library book club I lead. This book is a sinister, slow build with plenty to talk about. Our group had some really valuable conversations about race, gentrification, and current issues. It was interesting to see Alyssa Cole write in a different genre than romance and this book kept me guessing from beginning to end. I recommend this book for any group looking for an engaging read that delves into deeper issues perfect for discussion.

Rear Window meets Get Out in this gripping thriller from a critically acclaimed and New York Times Notable author, in which the gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood takes on a sinister new meaning…

Sydney Green is Brooklyn born and raised, but her beloved neighborhood seems to change every time she blinks. Condos are sprouting like weeds, FOR SALE signs are popping up overnight, and the neighbors she’s known all her life are disappearing. To hold onto her community’s past and present, Sydney channels her frustration into a walking tour and finds an unlikely and unwanted assistant in one of the new arrivals to the block—her neighbor Theo.

But Sydney and Theo’s deep dive into history quickly becomes a dizzying descent into paranoia and fear. Their neighbors may not have moved to the suburbs after all, and the push to revitalize the community may be more deadly than advertised.

This book is TERRIFYING. I'd love to think this is one hundred perfect fiction, but I know it's based in fact. Everyone should read it.

When No One is Watching really caught me by surprise. Gentrification is dismantling Brooklyn neighborhood by neighborhood, but there's something even more sinister going on beneath it. Main character Sydney returns to her childhood home following her divorce and her mother's illness. She's clearly hiding something, but the reader doesn't know what it is until more than halfway through the book. Tension builds slowly, but consistently.

Sydney feels like the neighborhood is slipping through her fingers; when she goes on a walking tour, the guide only mentions white history instead of the very relevant black history that made the neighborhood what it is. She finds herself on a mission to come up with an alternative walking tour. She'll examine the rich and complex history that formed Brooklyn. She finds herself saddled with Theo, her white neighbor who's out of work and would like to help with her research. He seems like he might be a good guy, but he fails again and again-they even come up with a code phrase Sydney can use when Theo's white feelings get out of hand. This novel is a bit of a slow burn; tension builds throughout, but when it really hits its stride, it's an intense thriller. I loved this book.

I was a little surprised by this book. I was expecting an intense thriller, but instead got a slower, more culture-packed story. I really enjoyed those aspects of the story, as it addresses racism very eloquently. It just wasn't quite what I was expecting going in, since this had been categorized as a thriller. Overall, a very solid read though.

(Grumble. Grumble.) I received an ARC of this, started it, got bored early on, and bailed. In trying to clear out my NetGalley backlog, I found the audiobook on Hoopla. At 50%, I was still bored and wanted it to be over. At 65%, I wasn’t emotionally invested but was starting to be curious about what was coming and how things would end, and I wanted answers. At 80%, I was completely sucked in, horrified by the turn of events, and invested. On the surface, this is about the gentrification of a predominantly Black neighborhood in Brooklyn, but the full truth is so much darker. A begrudging 4 stars for a clever, if very slow burn thriller.

I really thought this was going to be a 5⭐️ book for me while reading the first 2/3 of it. The premise is so interesting and the author does a great job of making the reader care about all the characters. I felt outraged on behalf of Sydney and her neighbors. I didn't mind that the "thriller" part of the book took a while to show up. The last 3rd of the book just didn't really work for me. I have some questions about the ending. I could have done without the body part descriptions in the sex scene. 🙈 I guess some people are into that level of detail.

Suspenseful novel where readers will keep guessing the motives of characters and what is really happening. Theo and Sydney seem like opposites and both have secrets. Sydney’s trauma makes her sympathetic while also causing a reader to wonder what is reality or fiction in her mind and community. Although it is a social horror, there is an amorous scene in a strangers to friendly neighbors to lovers subplot. A fast-paced, creepy page-turner.

3.5 rounded up to 4.0


Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the e-galley. I listened to the audiobook for this review. My reviews and ratings are my own.

Spoiler Alert:

CW:
gentrification; unlawful police activity; gaslighting; gun (on page); racial slurs; illness; grief; emotional abuse; sexual harassment (mentioned); death of a parent; alcohol use; unlawful and nonconsensual experimentation

I'm a fan of Alyssa Cole's romances so I knew I had to read this one! This was an engaging, fast-paced thriller and a super quick read. I'm impressed!

Gentrification in a Brooklyn Neighborhood as a setting for mystery. While the premise was interesting, the execution did not work for me. I liked the pacing and the characters but the ending felt rushed and out of place.

I was expecting a very different read from the description of this. I would not call it a thriller but it does have you questioning what is real and what was not. I enjoyed the storyline spotlighting racial tensions over home/land ownership and corporate manipulation to rid certain types of people calling it gentrification. It was heartbreaking and sadly, realistic. The gentrification and revitalization is just a pretty word for screwing over the poor and minorities. This is a book that forces you to look at what Black people and native people have endured for centuries, and is a real eye opener. Only, negative was the rushed unrealistic action packed ending. Overall, I still really enjoyed Alyssa Cole's unique story with the great historical details.

I enjoyed this book in the beginning but then it went off the rails. I appreciate the premise and message but didn't love how it ended.
It was worth a read, though.

I am not typically a fan of thrillers so I had interest in reading this as a horror. This explains my confusion and annoyance when the book read much more as a thriller than a horror and is the primary reason why I did not care much for the story. The tone of examining gentrification in this way also did not feel impactful, though I realize I may not be the primary audience for this book.

Alyssa Cole! Romance queen and now thriller star. It takes such skill to master multiple genres, and Cole does.