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Don't Look Too Close: A Psychological Thriller

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Someone is watching her. And they’re getting too close.

Morgan Sims has spent years piecing together a broken past. After her father’s death and a devastating betrayal, she retreated into a quiet life. But when a serial killer, “The Stalker,” begins haunting the city, Morgan’s fragile sense of security unravels. Strange occurrences begin to plague her—anonymous notes, unexplained noises, and shadows that leave her questioning her sanity. As paranoia gives way to panic, Morgan discovers the horrifying truth:

The danger isn’t just in her head.

Don’t Look Too Close is a gripping psychological thriller with twists that will keep you guessing until the final page.

299 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 31, 2024

6 people are currently reading
50 people want to read

About the author

R.C. David

4 books5 followers
R.C. David is a teacher, husband, and father of two, with a passion for crafting stories that are sharp, engaging, and approachable. His debut novel, a gripping psychological thriller, showcases his love for suspense and unexpected twists.

R.C. David is currently working on a middle grade book, further expanding his range as a storyteller. When he's not writing or teaching, he enjoys spending time with his family and diving into the worlds of thrillers, science fiction, and fantasy.

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5 stars
20 (36%)
4 stars
20 (36%)
3 stars
10 (18%)
2 stars
2 (3%)
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3 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
Profile Image for Maria.
50 reviews3 followers
January 28, 2025
I will admit the initial chapters were such a slow burn and repetitive.

I understand that some writers really enjoy going into the nitty-gritty, but this seems a bit over the top with the unimportant stuff. The laundry scenes, in particular, really stand out.

The daily habits of the main character brought back memories of my own experience living independently in my early twenties. Her life’s routine and schedule felt incredibly familiar and relatable.

I appreciated how the different viewpoints really brought the story together in the end.

Overall the story of the book was rather interesting.

This author shows great potential, and I'm excited to see what other works he will create.

Thank you to Booksirens and R.C David for a free copy to read and review.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Laura Smith.
527 reviews23 followers
January 21, 2025
DON'T LOOK TOO CLOSE: A PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER BY BY R. C. DAVID
I'm so glad I requested to read this one.
This was my first book from this author and it won't be the last 
This was a fast and quick read for me.
I found it rather creepy, gripping from very early on and turned pages so fast to find out how it was going to end .
Really enjoyed this one.
Profile Image for Kris.
36 reviews1 follower
February 10, 2025
The synopsis of the book really sparked my interest and I had a feeling I would enjoy it (I was not wrong).

The book is about Morgan, a 23 year old woman, who looks like a child (mostly because of her petite figure), she has a rough and sad childhood unraveling because of her father's death that she hasn't entirely dealt with, instead she likes to pretend things simply don't exist and ignore them all together (this is her go-to whenever she doesn't want to confront reality: she just simply ignores it and hopes it goes away). Unfortunately for her, she is quite paranoid but not without reason, there is a serial killer on the loose and every month he chooses a victim to stalk, take pictures, and then kill them, but as Morgan does, she decides to ignore this, even though there are strange things happening around her: a person lurking outside her apartment, sudden noises at home (she lives alone with her cat, Klive), a sticky note… but let's just ignore the serial killer, because why would anyone choose her, a nobody who leaves alone in a questionable apartment, right?

At first, it was a bit hard for me to get into, but only because I hadn't quite catch on why or how the first storyline actually applied in the story, but when I did catch on, the pages flew by and I was almost done; I just couldn't put it down.


This book surprised me in many ways, good ways, that made me want to finish the book ASAP, which is what I tried, and I'd say, succeeded —is reading the book in about a day a success? Because I'll take it.

However, though I did enjoy the book quite a lot, I did not give it five stars mainly because of the writing, in the flashbacks chapters I kept thinking it could've had more structure, and at times (like close to the ending), the plot felt rushed, but it was all well aligned and connected, which is why I thought the book earned four stars, and of course because of the twists and many surprises it offered, keeping me on the edge of my seat and wanting more.


This book is perfect if you're looking for a short and fast-paced read, and enjoy a psychological thriller/mystery. So give it a chance!


I am leaving this review voluntarily, after I received an advance review copy for free.
Profile Image for Lizz.
221 reviews15 followers
January 27, 2025
Synopsis
Someone is keeping an eye on her, and they’re getting alarmingly close. Morgan Sims has dedicated years to reconstructing her shattered past. Following her father's death and a painful betrayal, she chose to live a life of solitude. However, when a serial killer known as “The Stalker” starts terrorizing the city, Morgan’s delicate sense of safety begins to crumble. Odd events start to invade her life—mysterious notes, strange sounds, and fleeting shadows that make her doubt her own mind. As her anxiety spirals into full-blown panic, Morgan uncovers a chilling reality: the threat is all too real.

My Thoughts
This narrative takes its time to develop. Television news warns viewers about a stalker who enjoys snapping selfies and targets single women. Morgan, who has been self-reliant since her father's death, lives a rather dreary life. Her mother, diagnosed with Fregoli delusion, is in a care facility. Morgan's days are filled with a dull job, takeout meals, re-reading Charlotte's Web over and over, and watching Netflix. The only friend she has is Susan, a coworker at Lowe's Customer Service. Then, Dean enters the picture, who starts at Lowe's and becomes obsessed with Morgan. The first half of the book tends to repeat itself, with long stretches of little action and some loose ends that I wished were resolved. Nevertheless, it was a quick read, and I found the ending to be quite unexpected and enjoyable.
Thank You @booksirens for allowing me to review this book.


#booksirensreview #bookreviewer #bookreview #goodreads #booktokfyp #thrillerbooks #thrillerbookrecommendations #booktok #book #bookreview #booksirens
Profile Image for Sara Shah.
21 reviews2 followers
February 12, 2025
◇◇ ARC Review◇◇
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Rating: 3.5☆
Genre: Psychological thriller
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Don't Look Too Close by R. C. David is a psychological thriller.
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The story follows Morgan, the main character as she navigates her life amidst the dangers of a serial killer on the loose. The story is full of twists and turns as she deals with a stalker on her tail while she is also piecing together her past.
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I ate this up in one go. A short, fast paced thriller that keeps you guessing as to how the story will turn. The initial few chapters are a little too detailed and a bit slow for my liking but soon the story picks up pace. The dual POV also provides a nice touch. And to be very honest, the ending had my jaw on the floor. DID NOT expect the ending at all.
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Thankyou R. C. david and Book Sirens for reaching out to me and sharing this book with me.
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I received a free copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Eva Edge.
1,278 reviews41 followers
February 14, 2025
Don't Look Too Close by R.C. David is a mysterious psychological thriller where you guess one thing after another. And the chapter after the epilogue... Oh my, that's so original! If I was in between 4 and 5 stars, that was like a massive YES for 5 stars!

It took me a bit to get into this story but once it started to flow, the story took me into the madhouse that the author set up for us. There were some small jumps in time, like memories from the past so it was easy to follow. Each part was presented from a different point of view to show us a three-dimensional story. I absolutely enjoy this book!

Morgan has an ordinary life following a traumatic childhood. She kind of stuck where she is and struggles to move forward.
Everyone is extra careful as there is a serial kiIIer on the loose. All this makes Morgan extra sensitive and paranoyed, she think that strange things happens to her and around her. Is she imagining or she is the target?

Thank you Booksirens for this copy!
Profile Image for Teresa Collins.
1,121 reviews19 followers
March 7, 2025
This is the strangest book, but I don't mean that in a negative way. While I normally do not enjoy a book with 90% narration, for the story Mr. David has chosen to tell I'm not sure there was another way to accomplish his purpose. The majority of the book is about what is going on in our two main characters' minds, so Mr. David had to use narration instead of dialogue, but he uses it to great success. The story is compelling even though it moved slowly for the first quarter. But by the halfway mark it had picked up speed. I recommend not even trying to figure out what is going on because until Mr. David spells it out for you, you aren't going to be sure. You may have an idea or two, but you won't figure it out. Also, the ending was one of the most unexpected and twisted I've run across in a long time. A total curveball. I highly recommend this book.

I received a review copy from the author via BookSirens and this review is my honest and voluntary opinion.
Profile Image for Pheadra.
1,066 reviews56 followers
January 16, 2025
I received an advance copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Television reports warn the public about a stalker who enjoys taking selfies who preys on single women.
Morgan who has had to fend for herself from an early age following the death of her father has a dreary life. Her mother diagnosed with Fregoli delusion disease has been committed to a hospital. Morgan's only friend is Susan, a colleague she works with on the Customer Service desk at Lowe's. Her life revolves around a mundane job and eating take out in between re-reading Charlotte's Web for the umpteenth time and watching Netflix.
Enter Dean, an equally dull character who gains employment at Lowe and becomes obsessed with Morgan's.
Interesting ending. 4 stars
Profile Image for Cortney Calhoun.
5 reviews1 follower
February 6, 2025
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Although I had a hunch about its direction, I was pleasantly surprised by its twists and turns. The clues provided by R.C. David throughout the book were cleverly woven and ultimately led to a satisfying conclusion. While the beginning did feel a bit repetitive, it didn’t deter me from continuing to read. I also appreciated the diverse perspectives that contributed to the overall narrative.

Considering this is R.C. David’s debut novel, I have no doubt that he has the potential to become a prominent figure in the psychological thriller genre. I eagerly anticipate reading more of his works in the future.

I want to express my gratitude to Booksirens and R.C. David for providing me with a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
132 reviews2 followers
February 15, 2025
DON'T LOOK TOO CLOSE, RC David's first psychological thriller. Meet Morgan, a petite 23-year-old with a troubled past who copes by pretending things aren't happening. But when a stalker/killer begins to terrorize her, she can no longer ignore the danger.

The story, a quick read, unfolds with a deliberate pace, punctuated by unexpected twists. The dual perspectives provide a comprehensive understanding of the events, leading to a surprising climax.  Even if you think you've figured out the stalker's identity, the last two chapters will still manage to shock you!

Thank you, RC David. Your book held my attention from beginning to end. It's worth reading!

I extend my gratitude to BookSirens for the opportunity to review this book.
Profile Image for K.
528 reviews28 followers
February 27, 2025
The first fifty pages of this book were a mixture of intrigue and tedium, which seems like a contradiction... The overall plot was exciting, but I swear every single day just went 'Morgan made coffee and it smelled great and then she thought about showers and bought loads of fast food and scrolled on Netflix and then got a film from Redbox and fell asleep early'. I don't know if it's standard American behaviour to eat fast food for every meal, but it felt very bizarre to me as an English reader.

That being said, I thought this was fairly well-written, and the last section was brilliant. Such a great ending, and brought my rating up a star. I also really liked the other timeline that was brought into it - learning the character's backstory bit by bit was cool, and it was an unusual plot.
Profile Image for Zodiac Mindwarp.
34 reviews
January 26, 2025
After reading the first 14 pages of 'Don't Look Too Close', I was intrigued and requested an advanced reader copy. Thank you to both BookSirens and author R.C. David for approving my request.

There is a serial killer stalking women, killing one a month. Is our main character, Morgan, destined to be the next victim? Could it be someone she knows?

The debut novel from David shows great promise. The storyline is interesting and the characters are relatable. There is, unfortunately, quite a bit of repetition in the first half of the book, and extended periods where nothing much happens. Nonetheless, this was a fun, quick read and I expect good things from R.C. David in the future.
32 reviews1 follower
February 10, 2025
This was a great debut novel and I was able to breeze through it. I loved the writing style and how the book split into parts from the various viewpoints of the characters and the ending, albeit a bit rushed was a great way to complete the book and leave things open to the readers interpretation.

I definitely enjoyed the read and thoroughly expect great things from.the author down the line. This was a page turner for me in all the right ways, with a few slow plodding portions in the early portion of the book a bit less rushed ending it would have been even better.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
544 reviews22 followers
March 14, 2025
This book is very slow in the beginning. It had just enough mystery to keep me going from the first part to the second part. I expected to be giving no more than 3 stars. But the second part is not slow and contains plenty of suspense. I'm glad that I did not abandon it.

I liked how the second part filled in and explained much of what happened in the first part. There were surprises toward the end, and the ending I predicted didn't happen. I liked the Epilogue and the chapter after the Epilogue clinched a 4th star.

I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Jackie Welcel.
450 reviews6 followers
January 31, 2025
This book was so good. I kind of thought I knew who was under the blanket but for a different reason! It was interesting how the first half is Morgan's point of view, including snippets of her past, and then the second from another point of view (no spoilers from me!) I 've never read an ending like this, very unique. I enjoyed the writing style and I liked how the author used actual place and product names. I could picture the inside of a Lowe's instead of a "big box hardware store". good book! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Lynseygibs.
364 reviews3 followers
January 19, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thanks to BookSirens, publishers and author for an ARC of Don't Look Too Close.

I found this book a slow burn, and after one particular chapter (regarding the main character doing laundry) I was wondering was it going to pick up. But at the same time I was gripped, something was coming. And something was coming, highly enjoyed this book.
Profile Image for Terri.
193 reviews1 follower
February 1, 2025
Wow, ok I'm not sure what to think. There is much more I can say without giving it away. It was an interesting read, I'm a huge fan of getting things from different perspectives. The only thing that held me back from that last star was I felt I wanted more at the end. Overall a quick read and one I'm glad I discovered.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Becky Johnson.
14 reviews
February 6, 2025
This book was very slow. Nothing happened. I've never read a book that focused soo much space on what fast food the main character was picking up. Also for a book that is supposed to be about a serial killer, there was very very little serial killer in the book. He was in like 4 pages and that was it. Very boring.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Claire.
155 reviews1 follower
April 18, 2025
I received a free ARC of this book and I am leaving an honest and voluntary review. After recovering from past trauma, Morgan's life seems pretty normal, but her city is being terrorised by a serial killer known as The Stalker. Strange things start happening, but is it all in her head? This was a really interesting story, set out in two distinct narratives. I enjoyed the twists and turns, but the ending left me a bit cold as I wanted more. Still a great read!
Profile Image for Kimberly.
170 reviews6 followers
January 20, 2025
Thank you to author R.C. David and BookSirens for the free ARC. All opinions are my own and are voluntary.

Don't Look Too Close by R.C. David is a very fast-paced psychological thriller. The characters are engaging not too many to follow. Normally I am very good at figuring out the twists, but I missed a couple! An ending I did not see coming. I would definitely recommend.
Profile Image for AMBER CLARK.
961 reviews24 followers
Read
January 23, 2025
A fast-paced thriller with engaging characters. The twists and turns will keep you guessing. Morgan has worked hard to overcome tragedy in her past when a serial killer begins haunting the city she lives in. When strange things start to happen, she can't decide if it's real or her own paranoia. I truly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading more from R.C. David.
Profile Image for Katy The Sleepy Reader.
392 reviews40 followers
February 13, 2025
I am so glad I chose this book for my next ARC. The description of this book really intrigued me, and I was not disappointed. It was also funny to me that the main character went to Taco Bueno (IYKYK).

The book centers mainly around Morgan, a 23-year-old petite woman who works in the customer service section of Lowes. Shes somewhat shy, lives alone with her cat Klive and enjoys watching true crime shows. Her upbringing was nothing short of traumatic with a father who died and a mother who couldn't come to terms with it. Because of her upbringing, she is rather paranoid and the fact that there seems to be a serial killer in the city isn't helping it.

While at work one day, someone leaves her a sticky note and then she finds a rose in her house that she did not put there. Unexplained noises and the feeling she's being watched. Are her concerns warranted or is she just being paranoid?

I really liked this story and had a hard time putting it down. I was going to give it 5 stars, but I felt like the last little bit before we got the twist was a little rushed and could have used more structure and I would have liked a little more information on the mom and the story there. However, all in all this was a great book and highly recommend it. I received this book free from Booksirens for an honest review.
Profile Image for Sandy Goguen-Young.
272 reviews15 followers
February 6, 2025
This was a true psychological thriller. With twists throughout the story it kept me guessing until the end. The 1st POV is from Morgan's perspective, and an occasional perspective when she was a child. The 2nd perspective from another character covering the same perspective of Morgan. I absolutely loved the ending.

Got this ARC through Book Sirens and happy to give this voluntary review.
7 reviews
February 12, 2025
I could not put this book down! I was lucky enough to receive a free ARC, and this was a great book! The book kept me on my toes, constantly guessing what each character’s intentions were. Once I was invested in the main character, I had to know how everything would play out. Loved this book and would absolutely ready more by this author.
Profile Image for Amanni Evans.
67 reviews6 followers
February 14, 2025
Wow, that was not at all what I was expecting. I was hooked until the very end. I will admit the ending through me off a bit and I was not expecting it. I really enjoy when I can’t predict how a book will end and this was definitely unpredictable. I loved it!!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Lacey Scheidel.
88 reviews1 follower
January 19, 2025
WHOA! The twists and turns of this book are the wildest I’ve read in a long time! The main character is very relatable which makes it an easy read. The ending is crazy and I couldn’t set it down!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Lisa Q.
15 reviews
January 22, 2025
Fast paced and fun read. The ended was different but not bad at all. I will definitely be checking out other books by this author.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for book_lover.
12 reviews2 followers
February 8, 2025
Really enjoyed the book!! I’m not a massive fan of a slow burn thriller but I love the suspense and worry it brings. I was flipping through the pages fast and really enjoyed the ending. Definitely recommend to others to read if they like the slow paste thrillers
Profile Image for Denice Bradbury.
5 reviews
February 10, 2025
Great book. Took a few chapters to get into it but when I did I couldn’t stop reading until the end. It’s a quick read with a startling ending. If you like thrillers and suspense, this book is worth the read.
Profile Image for Shelia.
44 reviews4 followers
February 15, 2025
I was lucky to get to read an ARC of this book. OMG it was so good. I definitely did not guess the twists in this book. Is Morgan going crazy hearing things in her apartment? Or can someone be in there. Maybe it is a ghost? Read your copy now!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews

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