Watching You: A Novel

I enjoyed this book. I figured out the killer in chapter 3*, but was still surprised by the ending! The chapters do alternate between the point of view of 3 characters. Which I got used to and didnt mind.

Watching You by Lisa Jewell is a suspenseful masterpiece that keeps you hooked until the very last page. From the intriguing characters to the gripping plot, this psychological thriller delivers a rollercoaster ride of emotions that will leave you wanting more. Jewell's writing style is impeccable, seamlessly weaving together multiple narratives and building up tension with every chapter. The way she delves into the minds of the characters and unravels their secrets is both captivating and unnerving. Each twist and turn is expertly crafted and will keep you guessing until the shocking finale. One of the standout elements of Watching You is the complex and flawed characters. Each one adds their own layer of suspicion to the story, leaving you questioning their motives and intentions. It's both thrilling and unsettling, as you never truly know who to trust. The depth and development of these characters allow them to jump off the page and make the story come alive. Another aspect that sets this book apart is its exploration of voyeurism and the impact it has on individuals and communities. Jewel delves into the darker side of human nature, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about privacy, secrets, and obsession. This adds an extra layer of depth to the story and leaves a lasting impression. Though the pacing may be slower in parts, each scene serves a purpose in unraveling the intricate web of secrets. Jewel's attention to detail and her ability to build suspense will keep you engaged throughout the book. Be prepared for sleepless nights, as you won't be able to put it down until you reach the final reveal. Watching You is a gripping psychological thriller that is sure to captivate fans of the genre. Lisa Jewell's masterful storytelling and skillful character development make this novel a must-read for any mystery lover. Highly recommended for those who enjoy being at the edge of their seat, ready to embark on a journey of suspense and intrigue.

I’m beginning to think that maybe it’s not that I am not a fan of mysteries, it just depends on the mystery itself, you know? Lisa Jewell’s mysteries are not grotesquely dark or super violent - which as it turns out, is very much my taste. This was a very well story and an interesting mystery. Halfway through, I was pretty sure who had “done it” , but it did not ruin the story for me at all. And the epilogue was chef’s kiss.!

There was nothing wrong with Lisa Jewell's new Brit-Lit thriller, <i>Watching You</i>, I just didn't love it. I had a hard time rating it because some parts were a bit trite and unrealistic but there were a few parts that were almost brilliant. I settled on <b>3 Stars</b>. <b>SUMMARY</b> Josephine "Joey" had just returned to her hometown after an adventure of a lifetime, she has been living abroad, working in a tropical island resort. When she returns, she's not alone; she has brought her new husband Alfie, who she has only known a couple months. Her brother, Jack has recently bought a house in an iconic neighborhood, often referred to as The Painted Houses. Jack generously invites Joey and Alfie to live with him and his wife Rebecca until the newly weds can get on their feet. Although life in the painted houses looked ideal from the outside, that impression was far from reality. The book opens with police examining a murder scene in one of the houses. When the story begins with a murder investigation, it's not surprising to find that Joey had some <i>interesting</i> neighbors. Next door was a man dubbed <i>the super headmaster</i>, he was well known across the UK for fixing troubled schools. Nicknamed <i>The Super Head</i>, he and his family moved every two years or so, as soon as he fixed one school, it was time to move to another school in another city. There seemed to be something a bit off about his family, was it maybe his teenaged son who was a bit of a voyeur? Or his much younger wife who just didn't seem to fit in? Or is there something inappropriate about all the attention he gives his female students, many of whom develop crushes on him... And then there is another neighbor, a mother of one of the Super Heads students, who seems to think the Super Head and some of his <i>associates</i> are out to get her. She believes Super Head has a secret gang and they are messing with her by constantly moving things around her house or watching her. With all this craziness, it's no surprise when someone ends up dead. Told from several points of view, the book starts with the police examining the crime scene and then flips back to the events leading up to the murder. WHAT I LOVED This story had a lot going on; several got topics such as domestic abuse, inappropriate relationship between students and teachers , infidelity and mental illness. It was never dull. I, of course, love my Brit -Lit. I can never get enough of it. The best part of the book were a couple of well placed twists. They were where the story was at its best. What is a thriller without the twist?? WHAT I DIDN'T LOVE It's hard to specify what I didn't love about the book. I think it just didn't stand out to me as a book to remember. Am I being too tough on it? Maybe. Probably. But, as stated above, I did not love it. OVERALL It's very readable, but not outstanding.

“I’ve been watching you. All along. Watching everything you do...” - Watching You. SYNOPSIS: Melville Heights is one of the nicest neighborhoods in Bristol, England; home to doctors and lawyers and old-money academics. It’s not the sort of place where people are brutally murdered in their own kitchens. But it is the sort of place where everyone has a secret. And everyone is watching you. As the headmaster credited with turning around the local school, Tom Fitzwilliam is beloved by one and all- including Joey Mullen, his new neighbor, who quickly develops an intense infatuation with this thoroughly charming yet unavailable man. Joey thinks her crush is a secret, but Tom’s teenaged son Freddie- a prodigy with aspirations of becoming a spy for MI5- excels in observing people and has witnessed Joey behaving strangely around his father. One of Tom’s students, Jenna Tripp, also lives on the same street, and she’s not convinced her teacher is as squeaky clean as he seems. For one thing, he has taken a particular liking to her best friend and fellow classmate, and Jenna’s mother- whose mental health has admittedly been deteriorating in recent years- is convinced that Mr. Fitzwilliam is stalking her. Meanwhile, twenty years earlier, a schoolgirl writes in her diary, charting her doomed obsession with a handsome young English teacher named Mr. Fitzwilliam...”- Watching You. REVIEW: Lisa Jewell is one of my favorite authors! I have only read a couple of her titles so far, but have enjoyed every one. This book is quite the thriller, full of plot twists and secrets. In addition, in the book we read from three narrators (Joey, Jenna, and Freddie) so we get to see all different perspectives. This also lends well to the thriller and mystery, since each person knows something that the others don’t, and everyone is watching each other. Also, each character has their own “stuff” going on outside of the main mystery, so it helps the reader connect to the characters more and get to know more about their personalities. I rated this book four stars because I enjoyed it! However, there were a couple things (which I can’t mention due to spoilers) that I still had questions about at the end of the book. Also, while I enjoyed the ending, I wish it was a little more dark or more shocking. I did not guess the end of the thriller, but wanted something a little more. Each of the main characters in this book were great. They all were so well done, that I came to like each of them in their own ways. Also, they tended to take turns that I wasn’t suspecting, and they each were dealing with their own problems throughout the course of the book. It’s hard to pick a favorite character with this one because they all play off one-another and mesh together so well. I do wish that some of the side characters were developed a little more. They were so interesting and I wanted to know more about them! Overall, if you are looking for a quick, page-turning thriller, pick this book up! Lisa Jewell is an amazing writer and her books flow so well. I look forward to making my way through all of her other titles!

This is a review of Lisa Jewell's WATCHING YOU: A Novel. I found this book hard to put down. As with all this author’s books, they always grab me from the start. This book was no exception. This story starts with a murder and evidence found. It introduces Joey Mullen and her husband Alfie Butter, in the beginning as major characters in the book. They are moving into her brother’s home, to live temporarily with him, Jack Mullen, a heart surgeon at Bristol General Hospital and his wife, Rebecca. Their lives soon intertwine with neighbors in the posh Bristol community of Melville Heights, a row of 27 Victorian villas, which were all painted bright colors. Jack and Rebecca live in the cobalt blue house #14. Joey was so moved and excited to take Jack up on his offer of moving into their attic room and helping Rebecca with the baby. Rebecca is several months pregnant. Joey had always admired the homes that graced Melville Heights. As a young girl they were a sign that she was close to home. She fantasized about living up there and now found herself doing just that in the cobalt blue house. As the story goes on, it introduces you to several of the neighbors who are key to this mystery of subterfuge among the locality of Melville. A headmaster of their local state school, Tom Fitzwilliam, an elder, nice looking, gentleman and his family, wife Nicola, with their son, Freddie. They live in the canary yellow villa, two doors down from the Mullens. Another neighbor in the vicinity, who lived in the village, with her daughter Jenna was Frances, a small blonde middle aged woman who is obsessed with fear that she is a target of stalkers. Tom Fitzwilliam being one of them. As the story goes on we are drawn into the drama of these neighbors, each dealing with issues of their own, until towards the end, when they all come together tied up in a neat little bow. This novel keeps you guessing until its conclusion about who is the victim and who is the murderer. Simply a joy to read. Kept me up quite late last night, trying to finish it. I gave this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars because I thoroughly had a good time reading it. Examine it and determine if you concur with the same conclusion.

"It's probably nothing, she muses, just a thing fallen from a fancy handbag. But nothing was often everything in forensics. Nothing could often be the answer to the whole bloody thing." 👢 Welcome to Melville Heights, set at the top of Bristol, with its bright colored houses with exquisite views of the town! 🏘 One of the most sought-after neighborhoods around. There are a few new residents in town. There are newlyweds Joey and Alfie, who have moved in with Joey's brother Jack Mullen and her pregnant sister in law Rebecca. There is also Tom Fitzwilliam (the new head at the local high school), his wife Nicola, and their son Freddie, who live two doors down. Then there are long-term residents Jenna and her mom Mrs. Tripp. The paths of these residents will cross, and someone will be murdered. Whose intentions are more sinister than the surface shows? This book starts out with a diary excerpt from 1996, even though we do not know whose it is. It is told from the POV of Joey (aka Josephine), Jenna, and Freddie. It is broken up into four parts and throughout the book, includes police interviews, which is a nice touch. 👮🏼‍♀️🚔👮🏼‍♂️ I enjoyed all of the red herrings and found myself double guessing my theories often. This was my second read by Lisa Jewell, and I'm ready for more. She has a way of creating stories with difficult topics that are disturbing but yet intriguing, questioning who you should be rooting for. She leaves you wanting more, which makes it hard to put her books down. 📚 4 ⭐️ for me. Enjoy!!

Could not put this book down. Keeps you guessing.

You think it is a good psychological thriller until you reach the last page and then you fall from your chair! Lisa Jewell is a hell of a writer!

Read all her books! Great writer!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn't leave it down. Interesting characters and plot. I found it very engaging and a surprising conclusion.

This psychological thriller slid easily into me with its realities similar to mine's,fragile though ubiquitous relationship between married couple,dreadful memories etched in in uninvited relationships at secondary school. I feel of someone who would drag me into a dark place watching me.

storiella non troppo intrigante