Terrifyingly plausible in a heart-stopping way, We Are Watching gave me a chilling ride of suspense just barely tinged with horror that had me thinking long and hard after I read the last word. From the unsettling conspiracy theory plot to the well-honed characters that took center stage, what could have been way over-the-top without any payoff was anything but. I mean, while at first glance there is a definite need to suspend all disbelief, once I looked a bit harder at the underlying topics, it was something that could definitely happen for real. After all, given the political extremes that have currently taken over our world, I can all too easily see a scheme like this playing out in the news.
Even more impressive, though, was how beneath the thought-provoking premise was a plot that shined from each and every page. After a slow burn start that lined up Lily and Meg’s poignant backstory with stunning precision, the pace picked up steam as the well-hidden zealots began to descend. So intense that I often found myself holding my breath, the ratcheting foreboding and unending dread led up to an adrenaline-pumping climax that had my fingers flying at speed. And with deftly written multiple POVs and one heck of a jaw-dropping twist that I absolutely didn’t see coming, there was very little I would’ve wanted to change, all things considered.
The only minor imperfection that I could detect as I sped through this book was a teeny, tiny reveal in the final handful of pages. Not only did it feel a little bit like an afterthought to the rest of the finale, it just wasn’t genuine to what would have happened in real life. The rest of it, though, was complete and utter perfection. Shocking but realistic, it also left me guessing thanks to a somewhat open-ended conclusion.
All in all, while the themes in this tale of psychological suspense weren’t ones that I normally read, I was wholly invested from beginning to end. Eye-popping, thrilling, and downright disturbing, the dark, twisted story made my heart race and my blood turn to ice. I even had a tear or two well up in my eyes. You see, the themes hit way too close to home at times as I ripped through this novel. Combined with the sinister feel and characters who had me suspecting everyone in turn, it was not only unputdownable, it had me wishing that sleep wasn’t required. And while I believe that this book is not necessarily made for everyone out there, I still recommend it with every fiber of my being. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Meg Russo was behind the wheel when it happened. She and her husband Justin were driving their daughter Lily to Ithaca College, the family celebrating the eighteen-year-old music prodigy’s future. Then a car sidled up beside them, the young men inside it behaving erratically. The Russos’ car went off the road, and Justin didn’t survive the accident.
Four months later, Meg works to distract herself from her grief, reopening her small local bookstore. But soon after returning to work, bizarre messages and visitors begin to arrive, with strangers threatening Meg and vandalizing the store. They are obsessed with a young adult novel tiled The Prophesy, which was published 20 years earlier. An online group of believers are convinced the book predicted a plague, and social media posts link it to Satanism. People are sure it heralds the apocalypse. These conspiracy theorists vow to seek revenge on its author...Meg.
As the threats turn more violent, Meg begins to suspect that Justin's death may not have been an accident. To find answers and save herself and Lily, she must get to the root of the lies fueling these people to come after them—and find a way to face them head on.
Thank you to Alison Gaylin and William Morrow for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 28, 2025
Content warning: fatal car accident, death of a spouse/father, antisemitism, police swatting, knife violence, kidnapping, mention of: cult