Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons!
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 do 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. Let me know in the comments below what are some of your favorite reads of 2019 so far.
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Because there is always time to read,
Xepherus3
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