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While No One Was Watching
Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, at 12:30 p.m., U.S. President John F. Kennedy is assassinated as his motorcade hits town, watched by crowds of spectators and the world’s media. Watching too from the grassy knoll nearby is a young mother who, in the confusion, lets go of her daughter's hand. When she turns around the little girl has vanished. Fifty years later, when everyone remembers what they were doing at that moment in history, she is still missing. Who will remember her? Local hack Gary Blanchet, inspired by the mother’s story, joins forces with former police psychic Lydia Collins to seek answers. Risking ridicule for their controversial theories and with a classroom shooting close to home to deal with, they re-examine the evidence from that day, study footage, and look at the official report for details of witnesses in the JFK case. But this time they re not looking for a man in a crowd with a gun; they are looking for little Eleanor Boone. Gone while no one was watching? Maybe someone was.
- GenresMystery
500 pages, Paperback
First published October 29, 2013
2 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 13, 2016
The idea sounded promising: A small child went missing at the very moment and the very site of JFK's assassination in 1963. Fifty years later, a reporter and a psychic from Dallas try to solve the case and the possible connections to Kennedy, Ruby & Oswald.
The execution unfortunately leaves a lot to be desired: Told in four sections alternatively by the reporter Gary, a stereotype who of course has problems with alcohol, his boss, ex-wife and teenage son and Lydia, a semi-retired black psychic with tons of emotional problems herself, who both have an unpleasant narrative voice, made even worse by the attempt to re-create a mix of Texan and Ebonics (AKA African American Vernacular English) for Lydia.
Without going into too much detail, While No One Was Watching would benefit from tighter editing and a MUCH more interesting ending. I'm surprised that Debz Hobbs-Wyatt confesses in her afterword to creating a (what I would call 'uneven') mix of several conspiracy theories.
I wanted to give the author a chance and finished the book despite longing to put it aside, and I'm sorry to say, it wasn't really worth the time.
The execution unfortunately leaves a lot to be desired: Told in four sections alternatively by the reporter Gary, a stereotype who of course has problems with alcohol, his boss, ex-wife and teenage son and Lydia, a semi-retired black psychic with tons of emotional problems herself, who both have an unpleasant narrative voice, made even worse by the attempt to re-create a mix of Texan and Ebonics (AKA African American Vernacular English) for Lydia.
Without going into too much detail, While No One Was Watching would benefit from tighter editing and a MUCH more interesting ending. I'm surprised that Debz Hobbs-Wyatt confesses in her afterword to creating a (what I would call 'uneven') mix of several conspiracy theories.
I wanted to give the author a chance and finished the book despite longing to put it aside, and I'm sorry to say, it wasn't really worth the time.
June 9, 2014
With its twists and turns and mystery, I found this story easy to read whilst unfolding a fairly complex, unique and gripping storyline. The characters were described in fine detail, so we really got to know them, although one of the main characters, Lydia, does have a verbal accent that I found hard to follow at times. However, I could totally understand why Lydia’s narrative and speech were portrayed this way; it was totally in character to do so.
On many occasions, whilst reading, I felt in awe of the author for thinking up the plot and for delivering it with such detail, and I really got to know, and like, the characters.
There were, on occasion, a few too many words to keep the plot moving along at a regular pace; such as the description of minor events and extra details about the characters that I thought were a little irrelevant. That aside, it was very enjoyable and kept me guessing until the end.
On many occasions, whilst reading, I felt in awe of the author for thinking up the plot and for delivering it with such detail, and I really got to know, and like, the characters.
There were, on occasion, a few too many words to keep the plot moving along at a regular pace; such as the description of minor events and extra details about the characters that I thought were a little irrelevant. That aside, it was very enjoyable and kept me guessing until the end.
February 6, 2014
It's hard for me to give an appropriate star rating for this book because I don't read thrillers, but this one is by a lovely friend, and it's a real page turner. I can't say much because it would really spoil it for other readers if I do, but take my word for it, you will want to keep reading and reading to find out what happens. And congratulations to Debz for having written such a good debut novel that weaves the past and present together so well, delivering a few surprises along the way, and with some appealing characters, too, who really do come alive in the reader's mind.
February 3, 2014
This modern twist on an old conspiracy theory is very compelling. As a new mum, the thought of turning away for a moment and losing a child instantly got me hooked and emotionally involved. I enjoyed the characters although I did find reading Lydia's sections slowed me down a bit as I kept thinking I'd missed words out. Overall, I enjoyed the story and was kept guessing until the end.
April 22, 2014
A hugely enjoyable novel. The sentiments & dialogue feel authentic, honest and engaging for bothof the very different narrators and the premise of the novel is fresh and clever. It's thoughtful and not afraid to explore the baggage everyone carries while still managing to be pacey, interesting and gripping. The ending felt satisfying without being too neat. A fantastic debut.
December 15, 2013
A thrilling page turner which weaves many different plots but centres on the conspiracy surrounding the assassination of JFK, and the difficulties of solving the fifty year old case of a missing girl.
May 31, 2016
I won this book through goodreads first reads, and was instantly drawn to the storyline. It is a different genre for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well done. Cant wait to read other books from same author.
March 2, 2014
Very well written , I really felt as if I knew each character , the author had done a lot of research for this book , easy to read
April 7, 2014
Brilliant book, loved a lot of the concepts and themes the book brought to life.
July 7, 2016
Great book. I thought the characters were very believable. Would highly recommend.
July 2, 2018
Not happy with the insanely open ended ending. I felt like going through the whole book and being back to square one with no new information. Deeply unsatisfying.
May 22, 2021
I don’t think I even have the words to explain my emotions for this book, at time of writing this review I read the book several weeks ago and I’m still not sure I’m truly over this book. Maybe I am a little bias as I know the author who is a wonderful lady, but this book was phenomenal.
On the 22nd November 1969 President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in front a crowd who had lined the streets to see him. But on the 22nd November 1969 the assassination was not the only major event to happen in Dallas at 12.30pm. While everyone turned to watch the event unravel with the president a young mother let go of her daughter’s hand and the little girl vanished. Fifty years on a report learns about the missing girl, but with no formal document of the abduction does anyone remember her and no what happened on that day. Gray the reporter must team up with police psychic Lydia to look for answers. Can the evidence of the President assassination assist them?
The novel is narrated by the two main characters Gary and Lydia, which the book being spilt into parts. With my dyslexia I can find it extremely difficult to picture stories and hear different characters, but I instantly had a voice for Gary and a different voice for Lydia. The section narrated by the two characters I written distinctively different to know who point of view the story is being told from. Although this novel has a number of complex substories running throughout the book, I found it easy to follow. Generally, I work out the conclusion of the story way before the ending leaving me disappointed this was not the case with while no one was watching I had no clue how it was going to end. I would like to praise the author for the amount of research she must have done when writing this book. This was a gripping novel that left me questioning whether the little girl really was adducted the day Kennedy was shot even though I knew the story was fictional.
On the 22nd November 1969 President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in front a crowd who had lined the streets to see him. But on the 22nd November 1969 the assassination was not the only major event to happen in Dallas at 12.30pm. While everyone turned to watch the event unravel with the president a young mother let go of her daughter’s hand and the little girl vanished. Fifty years on a report learns about the missing girl, but with no formal document of the abduction does anyone remember her and no what happened on that day. Gray the reporter must team up with police psychic Lydia to look for answers. Can the evidence of the President assassination assist them?
The novel is narrated by the two main characters Gary and Lydia, which the book being spilt into parts. With my dyslexia I can find it extremely difficult to picture stories and hear different characters, but I instantly had a voice for Gary and a different voice for Lydia. The section narrated by the two characters I written distinctively different to know who point of view the story is being told from. Although this novel has a number of complex substories running throughout the book, I found it easy to follow. Generally, I work out the conclusion of the story way before the ending leaving me disappointed this was not the case with while no one was watching I had no clue how it was going to end. I would like to praise the author for the amount of research she must have done when writing this book. This was a gripping novel that left me questioning whether the little girl really was adducted the day Kennedy was shot even though I knew the story was fictional.
August 21, 2017
Fantastic from the beginning. Great read. Highly recommend.
January 17, 2024
Really involving as the search for the child who goes missing as JFK is shot is undertaken by a young teenager. Some fascinating characters and history.
September 26, 2016
A very enjoyable book, I wasn't sure when I first started to read it, then I was hooked. Thankyou Debz
August 25, 2016
Why this is not a bigger success I don't know. It was one of those books I started to read when I should have been working, or that made me burn something I was cooking because I wanted to get a few more pages on.
I came to it by chance. I happened to be sitting next to the author in a pub, so, making polite conversation I made a note of this book, ordered it when I got home and, months later, thought I'd better read it. I loved it.
Perhaps in the US the conspiracy theories surrounding JFK's murder have been overdone, but this was a different take. You have a case, many years later (2013), of a girl who went missing the day Kennedy was shot - she's in the photos from that day. A not-as-good-as-he-was journalist takes up the case just when a school shooting happens at his son's school. And, despite his cynicism, he has to enrol the help of a psychic who, many years before, got a case so wrong she was humiliated by the press.
It's really about relationships, and finding yourself, and being confident about who you are, and talking openly and honestly about yourself and taking the opportunities you might otherwise miss. And it's about ethics - not the classic journalist ethics as such, but the whole question of whether or not to run a story or ask people those challenging questions journalists are supposed to ask. It makes a great case for privacy - and, as a journalist, that is something I have opposed for a long time.
It challenged preconceptions. Read it. Challenge your own.
May 15, 2023
i thought this was a very ingenious idea for a storyline centred around the scene of the shooting of President Kennedy but yet a totally different story to follow. A little girl and her mother are lined up awaiting the President's motorcade so that they can glimpse the President, when suddenly the little girl disappears-- while no one was watching --or so we think at the beginning. The only part i feel was perhaps a little too drawn out was the central chapters surrounding the clairvoyant Lydia, who helps to solve the mystery, but it all unfolds really well
August 29, 2014
abandoned
March 21, 2016
Excellent read - interesting slant on a day in history well known to those who were around then
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews