I love an excellent locked room psychology thriller. Every One Is Watching by Heather Gudenkauf is fantastic. This propulsive, edge-of-your-seat, highly addictive book grabbed my attention from the beginning and did not let me go until the very end. A huge thank you to the author, Park Row Books and NetGalley for the advanced electronic copy of the book.

Five contestants, one reality game show and only one person can walk away with the ten million dollars. Each contestant selected and named specifically for the show. However, this reality show has a few stipulations to the game. The five contestants cannot leave the isolated location, and there is absolutely no contacting anyone on the outside. They have to complete the strenuous physical challenges, complex puzzles and deal with the emotional pressure if they want to win. And of course this is all taking place while millions of people watch them participate via livestream. But each of these contestants harbor a dark secret. As the competition grows more fierce they become more competitive, and start to turn against one another. Will anyone walk away with that ten million dollars, or is there something more nefarious to this competition than they actually realize?

A well plotted, compelling, fast-paced storyline told from multiple perspectives of the characters with so many unexpected twist and turns it left me wondering what I had gotten myself into as I kept turning pages late into the night. Every One Is Watching is a riveting, suspenseful thriller that is not to be missed out on.

Mystery/Thriller

Reality television is a killer!
The author combines many of the crazy stunts and events from today's reality shows to create One Lucky Winner - five contestants vie for a grand prize of $10 million. These five contestants must compete in both games of chance, skill, athletic ability and critical thinking, while overcoming obstacles called Game Changers. These ploys definitely manipulate the outcome of the contests, and could be deadly but is that all a coincidence?

The five main characters - The Senator-Phil, The Confidante-Camille, The Best Friend-Maire, The Executive-Ned and The Boyfriend-Samuel all have long buried secrets, and they all want the money. Will they do anything to get it? The Assistant-Fern of the show also plays a large role. One of the contestants is responsible for the worst experience of her life. She wants nothing more than to see him leave, but this is her chance to host the show and get out from under the thumb of her boss Cat. Cat is the producer of the show and owns the property where One Lucky Winner is being filmed.

The story slashes at the public's need for sensational television. What is the cost? How far is too far? While still trying to remain true to the author's previous "whodunnit" type novels. This story and format is a departure for Gudenkauf and is largely successful. I found the story to be engaging and compulsively readable. Where it fell short for me was in the character development. The five main characters, the assistant and Cat had so much potential for juiciness and just felt a bit flat.

I love this author and will continue to read whatever she writes. Kudos to her for trying something new.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this novel.

The way I was HOOKED on the very first page!

This book was amazing! Frankly, the premise definitely intrigued me right away, I thought the idea was really original with a live-streaming game show and five competitors ready to do anything in order to win 10 million dollars.

And it did NOT disappoint!

There are secrets, lies, shocking twists, and very very high stakes! There were multiple POVs and flashbacks, and I thought the pacing was perfect!

I don't want to spoil anything, so instead I'll just tell you to read this book! I don't think you'll be disappointed!

This was such a fun, twisty locked room thriller accurately dubbed by the publisher as a cross between Big Brother and Clue!! Full of dark secrets, a group of seeming strangers are selected to compete on a reality tv show for a chance to win $1 million dollars. Told in flashbacks we slowly get to know each contestant's secrets and how they are connected both to each other and the mysterious show runner, Cat. Dark, fast paced and with a killer ending, this was great on audio narrated by my fav, Brittany Pressley and a quick, entertaining listen perfect for reality tv shows. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Enjoyable mystery/thriller. It won't change the world (some stock characters and situations, misdirection, and you have to suspend that disbelief), but it will entertain you.

Although New York Times and USA Today bestselling, and Edgar-nominated author Heather Gudenkauf was born in Wagner, South Dakota, her family moved to Iowa when she was just three years old. She grew up there, considers Iowa her home state, and it usually serves as the setting for her books. In that respect, Everyone Is Watching, set on Bella Luce, a sprawling, isolated estate in California’s beautiful Napa Valley, is a bit of a departure, but Gudenkauf did not abandon Iowa entirely. One of the main characters hails from Calico, Iowa.

Gudenkauf aptly describes Everyone Is Watching as “fast-paced, diabolical, twisty.” Gudenkauf says the story was inspired by her desire to explore reality television. She thought it would be fun to consider “what would happen if the show was actually trying to kill you? Who’s behind it and why? And how long will the contestants hold on because of how desperate they are for the money?” At the center of the action is Catalina “Cat” James, the owner of the estate. She is a wealthy influencer who broadcasts live makeup tutorials two nights per week on Instagram while opining about and reporting on various aspects of pop culture and lifestyle. Her image is, of course, carefully curated and she is concealing her status as the creator and driving force behind a new reality competition program, One Lucky Winner, until the finale. The fourteen-day contest will feature unspecified but “over-the-top” challenges that will test the participants “physically, mentally, and emotionally.” Not only will the prize be the staggering sum of ten million dollars, but the show will also be livestreamed at a variety of times, with viewers receiving notifications to tune in. There will be only five contestants, each of whom signed both a nondisclosure agreement and broad liability waiver, and be eliminated from the contest on the basis of audience votes.

Cat is aided by her steadfast assistant, Fern – The Assistant. They met ten years ago when they worked together and were both fired because Cat stood up for Fern when the owner of the company abused her. Now it is Cat who abuses her – verbally and sometimes even physically. Cat is not just exacting and perfectionistic. She is demanding, demeaning, has unrealistic expectations, and insists that Fern work long hours for little pay. Fern remains in her employ because she is grateful to Cat for coming to her rescue years ago and has yet to find the strength to assert herself when Cat bullies her. Is that about to change? “Lately, Fern had been rethinking things.”

Each of the contestants received an email informing them they had been nominated to compete. Those who accepted the invitation are Iowan Maire Hennessy – The Best Friend — a forty-year-old divorced artist and mother to two young daughters, one of whom requires significant medical care. After Maire’s husband lost his job at the grain elevator and ran off with a nineteen-year-old waitress, Maire has received no financial assistance from him, and his health insurance was canceled. Maire is burdened by bills she cannot possibly pay and the knowledge that she is most likely going to lose their family home to foreclosure. She desperately needs the prize money in order to care for her children.

Samuel Rafferty – The Boyfriend — is a handsome, forty-two-year-old district attorney from Atlanta, Georgia. He’s single and recently gained fame when he successfully prosecuted a high-profile case. He and Maire have a connection that they believe no one knows about, and have not seen each other since a fateful night twenty years ago that irrevocably changed both of them. Richard Crowley – The Senator — is a former U.S. senator from Texas with a possible run for the White House in his future. The long-married father of four grown children is sixty-eight years old but in good shape and his political stances are definitely divisive. There are aspects of Crowley’s private life that, if revealed, would permanently derail his political aspirations and rip his family apart.

Camille Tamerlane – The Confidante – is “San Francisco’s premier psychiatrist” and hosts a popular podcast. She has a Victorian home in the coveted, historic Marina District and an office with a view of the Bay, and is in high demand as a caregiver. She is also heavily in debt. Her credit cards are maxed out and she is treating patients “off the books” for cash rather than billing their insurance carriers and keeping mandated records. Only those patients and her trusted receptionist, Geraldine, are aware of her shoddy clinical standards. She is sure that no one really knows what happened to the podcast listener who became obsessed with and stalked her.

The arrival of the last participant shocks Fern. She was responsible for issuing the final email to the contestants, and she did not invite The Executive — Ned Bennett, a well-known creator and producer of a true crime television series, and the employer who subjected her to workplace harassment. Cat denies contacting him, as well, so how he ended up at Bella Luce, ready to compete is a mystery to Fern. But Cat decrees that he will be staying and, so far, Fern has no indication that he recognizes her.

With everyone assembled (and Maire and Samuel shocked to encounter each other), cameras installed throughout the estate, the camera crew in place, and Cat ensconced in her private office where she can watch the drama unfold on multiple monitors, the games begin. At the last minute, Fern steps in as the program’s host – an opportunity too good for her to pass up. With Cat lambasting her through an earpiece, the competitors meet and learn that not only have they surrendered their cell phones but they will all be sleeping in the same room. In each challenge, they will vie to collect a Super Clue, “a tidbit of information that once put together with all the other Super Clues, will help you solve the overreaching mystery of Bella Luce.” They should also be on the lookout for Game Changers “in many forms.” They may be “tools” and the participants must decide whether to use them to possibly “steer the game in your favor.”

The chapters of Gudenkauf’s narrative focus on the individual characters, relating their experience from their perspective. She also takes readers back in time, incrementally revealing the parts of their pasts that the players have kept hidden until now. Exposure would spell personal and professional disaster for each of them. Gudenkauf cleverly includes commentary from the show’s online audience members, some of whom recognize the competitors. Some scenes reveal the reactions of loved ones as they watch the livestream. Some of the people who matter most to the contestants inadvertently learn of their participation by watching the livestream or from the media, and a couple of those revelatory scenes are nothing short of heartbreaking.

As the game proceeds, Fern and the players are tested – physically, emotionally, morally, and ethically? Why are they so determined to remain in the competition? Essentially, “anything goes.” There are few rules, the physical challenges are both strenuous and dangerous, and the types of Game Changers provided heighten the risks. It quickly becomes apparent that the Super Clues are pieces of a puzzle detailing aspects of the participants’ secrets and, thus, cause for alarm as they ponder who knows about events in their past. They soon realize that the invitation they received was ruthlessly issued by someone intent on exposing parts of their life they have actively concealed for years. How far will they go to outlast the other competitors in order to claim the ten million dollars and keep their secrets? Will they cheat? Will they commit a criminal act? Are they willing to harm someone else? Or even kill? Each player must assess how far is too far, what boundaries they will not breach. Which is what, of course, causes the show’s audience to keep growing, the ratings climbing higher and higher.

As the contestants’ angst grows, Gudenkauf skillfully accelerates the story’s pace and unveils salient facts that keep readers guessing about Cat’s motivations. Is she seeking revenge? If so, aside from Ned (The Executive), how is she connected to the other contestants? She, like each of Gudenkauf’s other lead characters, is severely flawed and, in many ways, insufferable. They have all made mistakes in their lives, to varying degrees and for an assortment of reasons. In each instance, they had a chance at a particular juncture to choose right or wrong . . . and they succumbed to fear and temptation, opting to do the wrong thing. Now, they have spent years masquerading as upstanding people, afraid of being discovered to be the frauds they know they are. Gudenkauf deftly illustrates their panicked reactions to the threat of exposure. Most of them are highly motivated by the prize money, particularly Maire, who is easily the most sympathetic character. And the event that took place twenty years ago is the most morally ambiguous of the characters’ past wrongs, but her love for and devotion to her daughters, especially the one who desperately needs ongoing medical attention, is never in question. Some of the other characters are unabashedly narcissistic, some perceive themselves as victims, and some have simply behaved despicably in the past. Gudenkauf challenges readers to consider whether people can truly become enlightened and alter their behavior accordingly, as well as whether forgiveness and redemption are tenable. In Fern’s case, can she harness her own power and use it to live a productive, fearless life?

Everyone Is Watching is binge-worthy entertainment and an inventive consideration of the inherent dangers of reality television through which Gudenkauf slyly examines the power and influence of greed, fear, power and a debilitating perception of powerlessness on people have placed themselves in desperate situations.

If you read the first chapter of this, you'll be taking it home with you! This reads like a Lucy Foley, Lisa Unger, Sarah Pekkanen/Greer Hendricks sort of locked thriller, trust no one sort of book. Wow!

What’s the buzz? Five contestants compete in a high-stakes reality gameshow and only one lucky winner comes home to the tune of 10 million dollars. The catch? They are not allowed to leave the property and will have zero contact with the outside world. While millions of viewers are streaming in live, the latest trending reality show is more than a competition of wits and physical endurance, it’s a vicious game that plays with people’s lives and no one seems to know why and who is behind it all.

Revenge by reality show? Yes please! This one was an easy and binge-able thriller highly reminiscent of Squid Games crossed with reality TV drama. Five players are selected and named accordingly: The Best Friend. The Confidant. The Senator. The Boyfriend. The Executive. The setting takes place in a luxurious Italian-inspired villa with Romanesque architecture and decor depicting muses and goddesses. The wine flows freely here and with that comes much vengeance and blood. Someone is obsessed with retribution and how the course of these games play out is quite the scandal. The ending wraps up with a nice clean touch and if any of these vibes appeal to you, I would highly recommend and say: Let the games begin!

Thank you NetGalley, HTP, and Park Row for my e-ARC and the author for a thrilling read.

What a ride this was!!! Absolutely binged this in one day and it's been a long time since I've done that!

I have read a few of Gudenkauf's books over the years (My favorite is Weight of Silence!!!) and was excited to receive this ARC. To be totally honest, I didn't even read the premise, just requested it since I am a fan of the author's work!

With that being said, I went into this one totally blind and I feel like that's the way to go so I will leave off a big synopsis here but will leave you with- reality show, 5 contestants, 10 million dollars on the line....how far would you go?

The characters were kind of unlikeable but yet so well developed, the pacing was fast and suspenseful, you got the POV from multiple different characters and at no time was it confusing at all, and the action did.not.stop! This thriller was incredibly unique and like nothing I have read before. I am not a huge fan of typical reality TV shows but I found myself not wanting to put this one down at all!

Huge thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read and review this one!

Out today! 3/26!

This author knows how to write an exciting story and she does exactly that in her newest novel. Everyone is Watching has a good premise, characters and storyline. The pages really turn. Reading this novel may be enough to make folks reconsider all those reality shows despite the prizes.

Wow! This book captured my attention right away with the premise of a prize of ten million dollars for winning a reality show called “One Lucky Winner.” The show is live-streamed constantly, so everyone really could be watching the five lucky contestants. Setting up the scene for the competition introduced the characters and immediately had me cheering for my favorite, an underdog competitor to be sure. The hostess of the show, Fern, is manipulative and secretive in letting the contestants know how to score points and end up winning. None of the characters was particularly likable, except my favorite, of course, as all were portrayed as somewhat greedy. Plus every contestant had hidden secrets that are slowly revealed to the public and influence how well they do in the game. I really enjoyed how there were so many surprises throughout the book, both in the game and in the backstories of the characters. With a fast pace and a lot of action, this is a psych thriller that locks you in and won’t let go until the satisfying and brilliantly written conclusion, which was also head-spinning, by the way. I was not expecting so many surprises and each time a new one came up, I was left gasping and saying to myself, “No way!” This is a page turner that had me intrigued as well as enchanted by the way the guests on the show were outmaneuvering each other and how Fern was trying to fool everyone. What an amazing thrill ride!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Everyone Is Watching is a masterclass in excitement, thrill and psychological drama. The story has so many moving parts and is quite compelling. It will keep you on your toes and also keep you shocked and surprised.

What would you do for ten million dollars?

This is the premise of the plot. A reality show, One Lucky Winner is offering one of five contestants ten million dollars if they can complete the arduous, physical challenges as well as the puzzles and emotional stress in order to win. The catch…they were offered the spots on the show. They will be broadcast live so the fans will be able to see the good, the bad and the horror.

The creator of the show Cat and her assistant Fern have worked tirelessly to put this show together. Set in a castle, (Cat’s ex-husband’s), as they await the arrival of the participants, there is already trouble in paradise! Something truly unexpected occurs.

The guests begin to arrive and rather than using their names they use pseudonyms which is how the audience will view them. They are:

The Best Friend, The Confidant, The Senator, The Boyfriend and The Executive

Their phones are taken away and they are told they are not allowed to leave the premises, or they forfeit their chances of winning. They must also sign a waiver that the show is not responsible if they are hurt or die. DIE?

Thus begins the excruciating challenges. Some of the participants will try to not rock the boat, others will do everything in their power to torture the others. Suddenly the contestants begin to discover that perhaps their being chosen was not just random. They seem to have something in common. But what? How are they all connected?

As they begin to play the game and find clues, they start to realize their deepest, darkest secrets are about to be exposed. That my friends is what the game is all about! What is happening? Their mistakes are being exposed one clue at a time with millions watching them! They will be ruined.

As the game continues, the contestants begin to turn on each other. Panic sets in. The challenges, dangerous. Is this really worth the money? Who has it out for them?

Everyone Is Watching is scandalous, yet deviously enjoyable. The reader can’t get enough of the twists and unexpected turns with an awe dropping ending to what seems is a game filled with lies and past secrets which come back to haunt and perhaps destroy those who decided to play the game.

Thank you #NetGalley #ParkRow #HeatherGudenkauf #EveryoneIsWatching for the advanced copy.

EVERYONE IS WATCHING
Heather Gudenkauf

Heather Gudenkauf is back- this time with a thrilling standalone that will meet every reader's mark.

Five contestants are stranded somewhere off the beaten path in Northern California. They’re competing in a worldwide televised reality show. There are 10 million dollars up for grabs, no one knows the truth, and EVERYONE IS WATCHING…

What would you do for 10 million dollars?


I enjoyed EVERYONE IS WATCHING and compared to similar titles with similar themes this one added a fun and engaging element. A high stakes game turning predators into prey and turning secrets into valuable assets.

I loved how each character blooms into a more concentrated version of who they were as the competition progresses. Cattiness and competitiveness aside, these people were allowing their true colors to show.

Gudenkauf does a great job here with pacing and plot. I enjoyed this one and I expect you will too.

EVERYONE IS WATCHING is due to be published on March 26th, 2024. Make sure to grab a copy or add it to your library queue.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for the advanced copy. It was my pleasure to provide feedback!

EVERYONE IS WATCHING…⭐⭐⭐⭐

4.5/5 ⭐

Five people show up to a remote Californian villa to compete in a new game show that promises a prize of $10 million. However, once the game starts, things become more intense than expected. Also, some of the things mentioned seem to hit home, close to the contestants' secrets.

Overall, I enjoyed this one! I was really drawn in and thought it was quick-paced and very suspenseful. While I did think perhaps the big reveal was a little obvious, I enjoyed the ride. The ending felt abrupt to me though and there was a bit deus ex machina with the ultimate reasoning of why now, which is why I took off half a star. Despite that though, a really good thriller!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I recently read Everyone is Watching by Heather Gudenkauf as an ARC and it was absolutely thrilling and amazing! I loved the idea behind this book and it definitely didn’t disappoint! Thank you for the opportunity to read this book and you won’t regret giving this one a try!

Thank you to @htp_hive, @htpbooks, Netgalley and Heather Gudenkauf for an ARC!

Would you go on a game show for a $10 million? Five "lucky" people are hand picked to go on a LIVE game show to compete for the ultimate prize and become "One Lucky Winner".

First off, I'm so down for a competition plot. This book reminded me of Survivor set in a mansion and boy, was it a wild ride! I was instantly hooked! There were multiple POVs, dual timelines and the suspense during the competition was intense. The writing was so smooth, with little clues here and there but I definitely didn't figure out all of the twists!

Perfect if you love:
• Locked door thriller
• Competition
• Morally grey characters
• Multiple POVs

This book comes out TODAY and I highly recommend you go pick it up! Don't sleep oj this one!

I am a reality tv loving girl. I admit it with no shame. So, this sounded like such a promising premise and it just.... ugh.

We are following a handful of characters as they arrive at this secluded estate to compete for a chance to win 10 million dollars. I was most excited for the reality tv/game element of the story and I was so bored by that. It was both overly complex but also completely rushed through somehow and I found myself not really caring who won and who didn't. I could see the big reveals coming so early on, which doesn't always bother me, but with this game element and all the supposed big secrets, I would have liked to have felt more of a puzzle to be solved.

I also hated the ending. The majority of my reading experience with this was just lukewarm, nothing to write home about but nothing awful, but that ending just pissed me off. I cannot even express how frustrating and annoying I find that particular trope/plot device when they are used like this in a thriller. I can't say much about it as it would be a pretty big spoiler but it immediately brought this book down for me.

This was such an ingenious idea for a storyline! This was a quick straight to the point thriller. A reality game show that is a "what the heck is going?!?" on type of show. Most of the characters were likable. However there is always one that you wanna use a taser on.
I was on the edge of my seat towards the end. It was as if was watching the reality show myself and was going to submit a vote. Is it weird to say this was a fun book?

A suspenseful book you are going to love unraveling!! If you read The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf and loved it, this will be a continuity of incredible writing to you!! The stakes are high in this reality show One Lucky Winner will win $10 Million Dollars! With 5 contestants from different walks of life: Best friend, The confidant, The survivor, The boyfriend, The executive.... With it live-streamed and secluded in an estate in CA, mirroring Big Brother with zero contact to the outside world. The difference... each one holds a secret that can be deployed against them if they can endure.

This was absolutely entertaining and will keep you on the edge of your seat! I felt as if I was in survival mode and up against an invisible being. The twists were unexpected. I think the characters were dynamic in their own way building the climax and concealing motives. It was a web of intrigue and I am excited for everyone else to read it, so don't miss it!!
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for this incredible ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fun book. I love this concept of a game that no one quite knows what is happening, and itself is a game within a game. The stakes are high when there is $10,000,000 on the line. Everything about this book is fast paced. Twist and turns face readers left and right and lead to a delightful read. The only thing that bothered me about this book was that the end was predictable and way too quick for all the buildup throughout the rest of the book. That being said, the ending does sum up the story very well.
Thank you so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.