I didn't realise that this was the third book in the detective Rita series until I started reading it. I feel this should have been made clearer as it is a lot harder to enjoy going into a book where characters are already established.

Terri Parlato's *Watch Your Back* is a gripping domestic thriller that explores the unraveling lives of a seemingly perfect couple against the backdrop of a harsh Boston winter. The novel masterfully blends suspense, psychological depth, and intricate character dynamics, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

The narrative maintains a dynamic and engaging pace, with escalating events that heighten tension and suspense. Parlato skillfully balances intense action with profound, introspective moments, allowing readers to immerse themselves fully in the unfolding drama. This rhythm ensures the story remains compelling and makes it difficult to put down.

Themes of trust, deception, and the fragility of relationships are central to *Watch Your Back*. The novel examines how external pressures and hidden secrets can erode the foundation of a marriage, leading to suspicion and betrayal. Additionally, it delves into the psychological impact of trauma and the lengths individuals will go to protect their loved ones, even when faced with moral dilemmas.

Parlato employs a multi-perspective narrative, primarily focusing on Eve Thayer, her husband Nathan, and Detective Rita Myers. This approach provides a well-rounded view of the events, allowing readers to understand each character's motivations and inner turmoil. The prose is sharp and evocative, with descriptive passages that vividly portray the bleak, wintry setting, enhancing the novel's atmospheric tension.

*Watch Your Back* comes highly recommended for fans of domestic thrillers and psychological suspense. Readers who appreciate complex character studies and narratives that delve into the darker aspects of human relationships will find this novel especially compelling. Although it is the third installment featuring Detective Rita Myers, the book stands well on its own, making it accessible to both new and returning readers. Those who enjoy authors like Lisa Jewell and Claire Douglas are likely to find Parlato's storytelling style appealing.

Watch Your Back is a cleverly woven domestic thriller that kept me on edge from start to finish. The chilling Boston winter setting adds a perfect backdrop to the unraveling lives of Eve and Nathan Thayer. The plot is full of twists and turns, making you question every character's motives and the true nature of the accidents surrounding them.

Eve’s unease, both in her personal life and at work, creates an intense, gripping atmosphere. I was hooked as the tension built and secrets began to surface. The addition of Detective Rita Myers to the investigation added another layer of suspense, as I was constantly wondering if Eve was a target or involved in something much darker.

The slow-burn mystery, the well-developed characters, and the shocking revelations made this book a compelling read. I couldn’t put it down, and while the ending left me satisfied, it also made me think about how far some people will go to protect their lives and the secrets they hold. Definitely recommended for fans of suspenseful, twisty thrillers!

ARC Review- 5 ⭐
Publication Date- 12/24/2024

Wow--this book was quite the shock. I have never heard of this author or this book title, so I was a little apprehensive going in. It was labeled as a thriller and a thriller it was. I was on the edge of my seat throughout, constantly guessing who I thought would be the one to have committed the crimes. The characterization throughout was top notch and I felt myself relating with the struggles that each faced during the story.

Eve is a psychiatrist at an inpatient facility downtown. Her husband Nathan manages a collision center. Her best friend is an artist with a gallery downtown. Even and Nathan have a daughter, Rosewyn who is being watched by a "friend" within the neighborhood. One day Rosewyn goes missing and Eve's life begins to unravel. Who kidnapped her baby and what are they trying to tell her?

This book was so good from start to finish. It immediately pulled me in and did not let up. Also the main twist is not too early in the book like happens with many other thrillers. Do yourself a favor and add this to your TBR, you won't regret it!

✨Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review ✨

Eve seemingly has the perfect life; a great job as a psychiatrist, the perfect husband, a baby. What more could she ask for? However, she works too much, her marriage is on the rocks, and her baby was just kidnapped from the babysitters.
Nathan, her husband, just broke up with his mistress, when their baby is kidnapped.
Detective Rita Myers is on the case to figure out what happened to their baby.

I enjoyed the fast-paced and multiple point of views of this book. There were a ton of suspects, and every chapter I thought it was a new person who took the baby. Overall, I enjoyed the book; however, the ending was a lot for me. I felt like there was a lot going on and I found myself questioning what was happening and if I caught everything.

Thank you Terri Parlato, Kensington Publishing, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

THE GOOD:
Chilling, intriguing, intelligent.
Characters with depth and solid back-stories.
Kept me guessing and turning the pages.
Nathan’s relationship with his young daughter Rosewyn (such an odd name) was sweet and endearing.
Room was left for a sequel with Detective Rita, but not in a cliffhanger way - the story wrapped up completely and with a couple of happy endings.

THE BAD:
A bit of diversity checklist bingo, with a throw-away character in the gay male couple upstairs neighbors to Detective Rita.
Husband Nathan cheats on wife Eve, although you find out later it was purposeful entrapment.
It was a bit of a surprise who the “bad guy” was - the foreshadowing was there, but could have been a tad better.

CONCLUSION:
Recommended. Should be a hit for fans of domestic suspense or crime fiction.

This story is told from multiple POV - a wife, a husband, and a detective. I found the pace to be very slow and the plot to be a bit far fetched.

It wasn't advertised that this was book three in the Detective Rita Myers series. While most of the book works okay as a standalone, there were several things in Rita's personal life that seemed missing. It makes sense now to know that there were others in the series.

I dont know if it would have been better if I had read the others but I felt that I was missing background information (Publishers, PLEASE start advertising books as being part of a series!)

Many thanks to NetGalley and RBMedia for allowing me to read this ARC.

Deadly accidents keep surrounding a couple, and detective Rita Myers must figure out if they are suspects or targets.

I didn't realize that this was the third in this detective series until I started reading it. It was a lot harder for me to enjoy I think because the characters were already established and I had not read the first ones.

I love when I find new to me authors through Netgalley.
This was a good twisty, turny thriller. I'll definitely be looking for other books by this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to get a copy of this book as it's the third I've read that follows the same Boston detective, whom I have grown to love. This book was no exception to the others I've read and also really enjoyed. The mystery was so multi-layered and kept me guessing. I guessed some parts of this, but some parts really got me. However, I really did not like one of the main characters, Dr. Eve Thayer. She just got on my nerves multiple times in the story, which may have been the intention of the author. But, Detective Rita Meyers continued to be developed in the third book that included her and I'm excited to read the next one. I was captivated and kept reading to find out what would happen. Another great read by Parlato!

Kept me guessing the whole time! The suspense was kept high and I thought three POVs worked really well.

I figured out part of it pretty quickly, but was stumped by the rest. Enjoyed the twisty ending even if a little unbelievable.

Thank you NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Terri Parlato for the early access copy of Watch Your Back.

After a whirlwind romance, Nathan and Eve start to settle into their day-to-day life with their little girl. From the outside, they have it all, beautiful home on a quiet street, perfect family, and the perfect life. However, not everything is what it seems. Eve's feeling the pressure from all areas of life, Nathan is lonely, and after a break-in on the street, their street no longer feels safe. Then, accidents start getting closer to home. Detective Rita Myers is on the case.

With an intense prologue and multiple twists, this is a third book in the Detective Rita Myer series but can be read as a standalone. This will be a great fit for those who like stories written in multiple points-of-view, is a psychological domestic thriller that has police procedures.

The story was intriguing the first few chapters then it was dragging. It was very slow burn.
Ending was good so as to why I still give it 3 stars

I absolutely love Terri Parlato books! I always get excited when I see she has a new one coming out. I was so excited to have another mystery for Detective Rita to solve. I LOVE her character. This was another book with a well written story and characters.

Psychiatrist Eva Thayer never intended on getting married and having a family but an accident led her to Nathan's Collision Shop and that changed everything. Now she finds herself struggling with a marriage, a new baby and a high pressure career. She thought she found the perfect nanny in Barbara until her baby goes missing while she was watching her. Then their is a break in at the empty house that backs up to their house. Is all of this just a series of coincidences or is something happening? Detective Rita doesn't think so and she's on the case!

This book will have you second guessing yourself and everyone in the book. This was such a great psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. I definitely didn't see the twists and turns that were coming and that made it fun and interesting. Terri always makes sure you have a good time when reading or listening to her books. I would definitely recommend this book and anything that Terri Parlato writes.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing | Kensington for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

Terri Parlato's Watch Your Back is a psychological thriller that expertly blends domestic suspense with a gripping mystery. At the heart of the novel is psychiatrist Eve Thayer, who lives an outwardly perfect life with her husband, Nathan, and their baby daughter. But beneath the surface, cracks begin to appear, setting off a series of events that threatens to unravel everything Eve holds dear.

Eve’s life seems ideal: she met Nathan after a car accident (a meeting she now believes was serendipitous), they’ve settled into a charming home, and they’ve found the perfect babysitter for their daughter. However, the mounting stress in her life, both at work and at home, begins to take its toll. Eve feels increasingly uneasy at the clinic where she works, a former institution for the criminally insane, and a nearby break-in has her feeling unsafe in her seemingly peaceful neighborhood.

Detective Rita Myers enters the story when Eve becomes entangled in a series of mysterious events that may indicate she’s either a target—or a suspect. As Eve’s carefully constructed life starts to show signs of strain, Parlato pulls readers deeper into a web of uncertainty. Every clue, every disturbing discovery, seems to point back to Eve. The tension intensifies when a deadly ice storm sweeps through the area, forcing the characters to confront the chilling reality that the secrets they’ve hidden may be far more sinister than they could have ever imagined.

Parlato’s writing is taut and atmospheric, skillfully creating a sense of mounting dread. The reader is drawn into Eve’s perspective, questioning what’s real and what may be a product of her own increasingly fractured psyche. As Eve’s life unravels, the tension builds with each page, and the twists keep coming, leading to a final, shocking revelation.

Watch Your Back is a masterful suspense thriller, expertly combining domestic drama with a gripping mystery. Parlato keeps readers on edge with her unpredictable plot, flawed yet relatable characters, and a carefully crafted sense of danger that escalates to a heart-pounding climax. Fans of psychological thrillers will find this novel a thoroughly engaging and satisfying read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to honestly review.

I started 2024 with @terriparlatoauthor’s book What Waits In The Woods and started 2025 reading her newest book and continuation of the Detective Rita Myers series, Watch Your Back.

This third book has sealed Parlato as a must read author for me. I love the character, Detective Rita Myers. She has depth and is flawed, but she is smart and dedicated to her investigations. The twists in this story were surprising and kept coming, especially in the second half of the book.

I highly recommend this book and Parlato’s other books especially if you enjoy dark crime fiction with complex domestic relationships.

Oh, Rita how I have missed you! This is the third book of the series that features Detective Rita Myers and I enjoyed this book as much as I did the others. Rita is a character I would want as a friend. She’s authentic, intelligent, and empathetic with a witty sense of humor. I enjoy her thoughts and perspective as the story develops. Once again, Terri Paralto delivers an intense, suspenseful, gripping mystery that pulled me in immediately. I look forward to future books by this author. Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for my copy.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

"Watch Your Back" by Terri Parlato is a gripping and heart-pounding psychological thriller that takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of suspense and emotion. Parlato masterfully crafts a story that is chilling and captivating.

The novel follows the life of Grace, a woman whose seemingly perfect world is shattered when she begins to receive ominous and threatening messages. As the threats escalate, Grace is forced to confront her past and unravel the mystery of who is behind these attacks. The tension builds steadily as she delves deeper into a web of deceit, betrayal, and hidden secrets.

Parlato's writing is sharp and evocative, creating a palpable sense of fear and urgency. The characters are richly developed, each with their own complexities and motivations that add depth to the narrative. Grace, in particular, is a compelling protagonist whose strength and vulnerability resonate with readers.

The plot is intricately woven, with unexpected twists and turns that keep readers guessing. Just when you think you have figured out the mystery, Parlato throws in another curveball that keeps you hooked. The pacing is impeccable, with a perfect balance of action, suspense, and character development.

"Watch Your Back" apart is its exploration of themes such as trust, paranoia, and the impact of past traumas on present actions. Parlato skillfully portrays the psychological toll of living in fear and the lengths to which people will go to protect themselves and their loved ones.

"Watch Your Back" is a standout thriller that showcases Terri Parlato's talent for crafting suspenseful and emotionally resonant stories. It is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and anyone who enjoys a well-written, edge-of-your-seat narrative. This novel will leave you breathless and eager for more from this talented author.

Eve is a psychiatrist who is married to Nathan, a collision center manager, and they have a beautiful little 9 month old girl, Rosewyn. When Rosie is taken from her babysitter's home, the parents and the sitter are devastated. The police step in immediately and identify several potential suspects who are all well described with possible motives.
This police procedural was a quick read, although it did tend to get repetitive, it kept me guessing right along with them.
The ending as a let down because it was predictable, and the connections were too far fetched. However, it was an engaging book and one that I'd recommend.

3.5 ⭐️ for me on this one
I absolutely tore through it, and really didn’t see the end coming…in a bad way. (You thrillers readers know what I mean)
Eve is a psychiatrist in and old psych hospital.
Life seems to be going well, but when her sweet baby daughter is taken from her home, her life goes upside down. Who did this to her family, and is it connected to one of her patients?
This is a twisty ride. I listened to it quickly, and it’s a well done audio. Recommend, just wish the ending didn’t feel so coincidental.
Thank you netgalley for the ARC.