Eight strangers enter a luxury house, each desperate for the million-pound prize that could change their lives forever. Victoria needs the money for her dying daughter's treatment. Marty wants to prove he's changed. And Henry? Well, Henry's just bored.
But this isn't the reality show they signed up for.
The Landlord's rules are survive the tasks, outlast your housemates, win the prize. What he doesn't tell them is that failure has deadly consequences—and someone is watching every move, paying handsomely for the privilege.
When housemates start disappearing and the challenges turn lethal, the remaining contestants realize they're not competing for money. They're fighting for their lives in a twisted game where the audience bids on their suffering, and the only way out is through a wall of fire.
But in a house where everyone has secrets and nothing is as it seems, who can you trust when the person next to you might be playing a completely different game?
I was honoured to have read this book as an ARC reader and this being my first ever ARC book (even though I have been rubbish at getting my review out - sorry!) I thought this was a brilliant book and highly recommend reading it. I really enjoyed this book - it was definitely a gripping read. Had me questioning whodunnit - I definitely thought multiple times I had figured it out but was wrong more than once. The only downside to the book is I wish it was longer, I felt like the final few chapters went too quickly and left me slightly disappointed - I almost wished the Landlord had more sick tricks and turns up their sleeve.
Watched is a brilliantly twisted, pulse pounding descent into the darkest corners of reality television where survival isn’t a metaphor, it’s the only rule that matters. C.L. Sutton takes the familiar setup of strangers entering a luxury competition house and turns it into a razor edged nightmare powered by secrets, desperation, and a voyeuristic audience willing to pay to watch people suffer.
From the moment the eight contestants walk in, the tension hums like a live wire. Victoria’s aching hope for her daughter’s treatment, Marty’s need for redemption, Henry’s casual boredom every motivation is a ticking time bomb. But the real terror comes from The Landlord, a puppet master who transforms the game into a deadly gauntlet of escalating tasks where failure means disappearance… and disappearance means doom.
The pacing is relentless. Each challenge grows more sinister, each vanished housemate leaves a heavier shadow, and the horrifying revelation that viewers are bidding literally bidding on the contestants’ pain elevates the story from suspenseful to sickeningly irresistible. Sutton writes with cinematic clarity: claustrophobic hallways, hidden cameras blinking like predators, alliances built on shaky trust, and characters who must decide what they’re willing to do to survive.
It’s brutal, addictive, and impossibly hard to walk away from. A perfect storm of psychological terror, human vulnerability, and the twisted thrill of spectacle Watched is reality TV meets Saw with the emotional punch of characters you can’t help rooting for… even as the walls close in.
This marks the first book by this author, CL Sutton, that I have had the pleasure of reading. My typical preferences include works by Harlan Coben, Lee Child, Tom Clancy, Patricia Cornwell, James Patterson, Karin Slaughter, Clive Cussler, Preston W Child, and Judah Lamb—the latter two being recent discoveries. I am drawn to narratives that engage me quickly and tend to avoid those with slow beginnings. As a Christian life coach, pastor, cancer motivational speaker, and forensic psychologist, I have a particular interest in the genre focused on serial killers and Dark Psychological Thrillers.
"Watched" is a gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller that masterfully combines elements of reality television and the dark web, infused with a disturbing dose of psychological torment and physical suffering. This narrative unfolds a compelling, twist-laden story that explores the lengths to which individuals will go when driven by desperation for money, along with the deranged minds willing to pay to witness it all.
The premise of a reality show gone awry creates an atmosphere of relentless tension and unexpected twists. The characters' hidden secrets and underlying motives keep readers engaged and guessing, while the perilous "games" evoke a sense of breathless anticipation. For aficionados of psychological thrillers with a sinister edge, this novel is an absolute must-read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Watched is the kind of book that grabs you from page one and doesn't let go until the shocking finale. C.L. Sutton has crafted a masterpiece of psychological thriller that takes the familiar concept of a reality show and twists it into a nightmare scenario that is as socially relevant as it is terrifying.
The author expertly ratchets up the tension, making the reader feel like a housemate—trapped, desperate, and constantly looking over their shoulder. The characters are complex and flawed; you'll root for some and despise others, but you'll be fully invested in their struggle for survial.
Don't start this late at night, because you will be up until you finish the final, unforgettable page. Watched is a dark, gripping, and absolutely essential read that will leave you breathless. Highly, highly recommend!!
Incredibly grateful to have had the chance to read and review a digital arc of this book.
“Watched” by CL Sutton is a such an amazing read that I could not put this book down,that it kept me completely engrossed from start to finish.
With 8 Random Strangers signing up for a reality show, which end up being a nightmare! If you enjoy thrillers,then this is definitely a book for you!
Each character was very well written and felt authentic with their own compelling backstory that draws you deeper into the narrative.
The plot is expertly woven with twists and turns that will keep you guessing throughout. Just when you think you have everything figured out, there is another curveball that completely shifts your perspective.
The ending completely blindsided me in the best possible way.
This is definitely a book that’s both character-driven and plot-driven, with enough surprises to keep you on your toes!
I was honored to be an ARC reader for Watched. Wow! I absolutely loved this book! It takes you on a wild ride and keeps you reading until the end. Unfortunately my eyes made me stop to sleep. Eight strangers are chosen to stay at a luxury house, each desperately needing the million pound prize. When they arrive, they quickly realize things are not as straightforward as they initially seemed. Soon they are terrified and wondering if staying is worth it when housemates start disappearing. The Landlord gives them tasks they are required to compete which soon has them questioning everyone. Who can they trust? What is Susan up to? Who is the Landlord? You will be blown away by this book! If you think you have it figured out, you are wrong! Preorder it now! It releases October 7th
Absolutely loved this book! From the first chapter, I was completely hooked. The whole “reality show gone wrong” concept sounds familiar, but C.L. Sutton takes it somewhere darker and way more intense than I expected. The tension never lets up! Every time I thought I had things figured out, another twist hit me out of nowhere.
I really liked how real the characters felt, especially Victoria. You can’t help but root for her, even when things get seriously messed up. The story is fast-paced, emotional, and genuinely unsettling at times (in a good way!).
If you’re into psychological thrillers that make your heart race and keep you thinking long after you’ve finished, Watched is 100% worth the read. I’ll definitely be checking out more from C.L. Sutton!
Reality TV meets dark Web...sprinkled with a healthy (or unhealthy) dose of psychological torture and physical suffering. A cast of characters that are desperate for money, fame or to escape their shambles of a life-regardless of their reason for participating-that reason will be used to make them suffer. Having read all of C.L. Sutton's books...this one is the chef's kiss! (thank you for the opportunity to be an ARC reader)
It seems like just another reality show. The last one standing wins a million pounds. But this show is very different. All eight people have their own reasons for wanting the money. As each "task" becomes more and more dangerous, the housemates realize that their only escape might be their death. One by one, secrets are revealed and cruelty is the norm. The unexpected twists kept me intrigued. I would recommend it. I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.
This was another great read by this author. The book was written with a focus on various characters who are contestants on a reality tv show with hopes to win big. Sinister forces are at work behind the scenes. Reading this book made me feel like I was watching a movie. There were twists, there were thrills. You get a story that beautifully builds the tension and suspense and I did not guess the ending. Highly recommend giving this a read.
C. L. Sutton has done it again! Watched is a gripping, twist-filled story about how far people will go when desperate for money—and the sick minds willing to pay to watch it all unfold. This dark, addictive read kept me turning pages long past bedtime. And that ending? Jaw-dropping, shocking, and completely unexpected. Thank you for the ARC!
This is a gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller. Twisted, dark, and utterly addictive, this reality-show-gone-wrong premise delivers nonstop tension and shocking turns. The characters’ secrets and motives keep you guessing, and the deadly “games” had me holding my breath. If you love psychological thrillers with a sinister twist, this one is a must-read!
Eight people enter a house for a chance to win big if they make it to the end but there is something odd going on with this reality show. What starts off as a chance to win a fortune ends with terror and survival.
This was a great read which kept me hooked from the first chapter.
I read this book voluntarily for an honest review.
I hope there will be a second book, this one was left on a cliff hanger and I am like WTH you can’t do this to me. Another excellent twisty book from CL Sutton. Have you ever felt like every move you make is being watched, but more then it should… might question that feeling a bit more after this book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Eight strangers who need money desperately enter a reality show. What they don’t realize is failure to do what you are asked, could end in death. This was an action packed thriller with a few twists I didn’t see coming! Release date October 7, 2025
“Watched” by C. L. Sutton is a fun and gripping story that pulls you in from the very beginning. Eight strangers enter a luxury home, each vying for the million-pound prize. But everyone has secrets, and as the lies pile up, trust quickly unravels. With every chapter, the tension escalates and the atmosphere grows darker as housemates begin to disappear. This is a thrilling exploration of greed, deception, and just how far people will go for money and entertainment.