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The Making of Riley Paige #1
Watching
"A masterpiece of thriller and mystery! The author did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side that is so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page."
--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)
WATCHING (The Making of Riley Paige--Book One) is book #1 in a new psychological thriller series by #1 bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose free bestseller Once Gone (Book #1) has received over 1,000 five star reviews.
22 year old psychology major--and aspiring FBI agent--Riley Paige finds herself in a battle for her life as her closest friends on campus are abducted and killed by a serial killer. She senses that she, too, is being targeted--and that if she is to survive, she must apply her brilliant mind to stop the killer herself.
When the FBI hits a dead end, they are impressed enough by Riley's keen insight into the killer's mind to allow her to help. Yet the killer's mind is a dark, twisted place, one too diabolical to make sense of, and one that threatens to bring Riley's fragile psyche crashing down. In this deadly game of cat and mouse, can Riley survive unscarred?
An action-packed thriller with heart-pounding suspense, WATCHING is book #1 in a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night. It takes readers back 20 plus years--to how Riley's career began--and is the perfect complement to the ONCE GONE series (A Riley Paige Mystery), which includes 13 books and counting.
Book #2 in THE MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE series is also now available!
--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)
WATCHING (The Making of Riley Paige--Book One) is book #1 in a new psychological thriller series by #1 bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose free bestseller Once Gone (Book #1) has received over 1,000 five star reviews.
22 year old psychology major--and aspiring FBI agent--Riley Paige finds herself in a battle for her life as her closest friends on campus are abducted and killed by a serial killer. She senses that she, too, is being targeted--and that if she is to survive, she must apply her brilliant mind to stop the killer herself.
When the FBI hits a dead end, they are impressed enough by Riley's keen insight into the killer's mind to allow her to help. Yet the killer's mind is a dark, twisted place, one too diabolical to make sense of, and one that threatens to bring Riley's fragile psyche crashing down. In this deadly game of cat and mouse, can Riley survive unscarred?
An action-packed thriller with heart-pounding suspense, WATCHING is book #1 in a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night. It takes readers back 20 plus years--to how Riley's career began--and is the perfect complement to the ONCE GONE series (A Riley Paige Mystery), which includes 13 books and counting.
Book #2 in THE MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE series is also now available!
225 pages, Paperback
First published May 15, 2018
4098 people are currently reading
4286 people want to read
About the author
Blake Pierce
685 books5,777 followersBlake Pierce is author of the bestselling RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seven books (and counting). Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); and of the new KERI LOCKE mystery series.
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 518 reviews
March 9, 2020
Gosh, I like this author; he never disappoints!
September 8, 2019
“But what happened to people who started empathizing with monsters? Might they become monsters themselves?”
This was a free Kindle book that intrigued me. Watching made a good Labor Day weekend read - it was a fast-paced, light thriller, easily put down and picked up again.
“Surely one of her best friends hadn’t just been savagely murdered.”
...And yet.
A psych student, Riley, helps solve the mystery of her friends’ murders. Her ideas intrigue the FBI who ask for her help with the case and offer her an internship. Apparently this is the start of a prequel series to another Riley Paige series, where she is an adult.
There are times you have to suspend disbelief and the killer was super predictable, but I think the character has potential. I may check out the other books in the future as I enjoyed the Criminal Minds feel of this one.
This was a free Kindle book that intrigued me. Watching made a good Labor Day weekend read - it was a fast-paced, light thriller, easily put down and picked up again.
“Surely one of her best friends hadn’t just been savagely murdered.”
...And yet.
A psych student, Riley, helps solve the mystery of her friends’ murders. Her ideas intrigue the FBI who ask for her help with the case and offer her an internship. Apparently this is the start of a prequel series to another Riley Paige series, where she is an adult.
There are times you have to suspend disbelief and the killer was super predictable, but I think the character has potential. I may check out the other books in the future as I enjoyed the Criminal Minds feel of this one.
June 17, 2018
Watching is a murder mystery featuring psychology student Riley Paige. Having never read a book by Blake Pierce, I dove in completely blind to the character Riley. Maybe that hindered my ability to get into this story, I don't know, but I felt no connection with the main character nor any of the other characters. Honestly I found myself dreading having to pick it back up and continue reading. Simply put... I was bored. The story is very cliché and predictable and I knew who the killer was about 40% through the book. ⭐⭐ for effort I guess.
I was provided an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was provided an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2021
This is a 2.5 star read.
It pains me to say this but I was really disappointed with this novella. The start of the story felt like the author was speaking and dumbing down the explanations to you, with a glaring mistake made regarding "murderers have no emotions, no empathy"! Surely the author means psychopaths/serial killers? To make matters worse the exciting lead up to the ending was marred by another big mistake in scenes that totally contradicted each other. All in all this felt like it needed a damn good edit before being released as an ebook.
It pains me to say this but I was really disappointed with this novella. The start of the story felt like the author was speaking and dumbing down the explanations to you, with a glaring mistake made regarding "murderers have no emotions, no empathy"! Surely the author means psychopaths/serial killers? To make matters worse the exciting lead up to the ending was marred by another big mistake in scenes that totally contradicted each other. All in all this felt like it needed a damn good edit before being released as an ebook.
December 4, 2018
Plot: formulaic, predictable
Characters: one dimensional
Editing: atrocious
Grammar: abysmal
Believability: stretched to breaking point
I highlighted sections throughout the ebook which I might add into this review later.
When a book like this has a rating of 4.27 on Goodreads, you really have to wonder about the reading ability of the general population.
Characters: one dimensional
Editing: atrocious
Grammar: abysmal
Believability: stretched to breaking point
I highlighted sections throughout the ebook which I might add into this review later.
When a book like this has a rating of 4.27 on Goodreads, you really have to wonder about the reading ability of the general population.
July 1, 2023
This book was boring to me
June 4, 2018
WATCHING is book #1 in a riveting new series. It takes readers back 20 plus years—to how Riley’s career began—and is the perfect complement to the ONCE GONE series (A Riley Paige Mystery), which includes 13 books and counting.
Psychology major Riley finds herself embroiled in a murder mystery. When a friend in her dorm is discovered in her room with her throat sliced, Riley finds she has an amazing ability. She literally places herself in the mind of a serial killer. Thinking this is a one-off she tells no one, fearing they will think she's crazy.
Weeks later there is another murder. This time it's Riley's best friend and roommate.
She senses that she, too, is being targeted—and that if she is to survive, she must apply her brilliant mind to stop the killer herself.
Not having read any of the series that features Riley, I was pleasantly surprised to read this introduction. There is a bit of a cliff hangar that promises to be solved in the second part ... WAITING.
Riley is a terrific character ... she's young, feisty, and is determined to get through her personal issues. Her mother was murdered in front of her when she was a teenager and her relationship with her father is far from being satisfactory. There's a lot of suspense, with several credible suspects to follow.
Many thanks to the author / Kobo Writing Life / Netgalley for the digital copy of WATCHING. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
August 20, 2019
This was the first book in the Riley Paige series that I have read and maybe this was the wrong one to start with but the first thing that confused me was the fact that the book starts with Riley Sweeney, then she meets Ryan Paige which acts as a massive spoiler for what’s to come...I assume having not read the next book. I found the plot too simple and the characters too superficial for the reader to empathise with and the ending was not a surprise at all. Written mainly from the point of view Riley I found it odd that it switched part way through to the point of view of her friend Trudy. My final frustration was the fact that on the last few chapters professor Hayman refers to Riley as Riley Paige in the library?!! Then is mysteriously no longer in the library and she calls him in his office. It’s blunders like this that can only leavings me guessing as to how this was a bestseller. So many better mystery books out there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2018
Does this book remind me of a Lifetime movie? Yes. But, does it also have thinly-developed characters and a plot so obvious that it can you can almost expect the main characters to shout out the plot points as they occur? Yes.
June 20, 2019
A teenager's dream story
This book I feel was written for a teenage girl, not for an adult. It really dragged at times with girlie teenage nonsense discussions that really bored me to death. The last 10% of the book finally perked my interest and saved it from a 1 star rating.
This book I feel was written for a teenage girl, not for an adult. It really dragged at times with girlie teenage nonsense discussions that really bored me to death. The last 10% of the book finally perked my interest and saved it from a 1 star rating.
August 6, 2020
Love this prequel series!
July 23, 2020
Por alguna razón no pude empatizar con los personajes, creo que les faltó profundidad y en general me resultó predecible.
July 28, 2023
This book was absolute dogshit!!!!! The FBI decides to let a college student help them investigate a series of murders. (??) This college student has vague "visions" about the murderer. (But specifically *not* psychic).
Last, but not least, it's set in Virginia, and the audiobook reader read it in an English accent. I only finished this because it was free on Spotify, but if this was the last book left in the world, I would throw it over a cliff.
Last, but not least, it's set in Virginia, and the audiobook reader read it in an English accent. I only finished this because it was free on Spotify, but if this was the last book left in the world, I would throw it over a cliff.
November 11, 2023
Tutto d'un fiato!
Il libro narra di una giovane studentessa di psicologia che si ritrova a fare i conti con sé stessa dopo che nel suo campus avvengono fatti inaspettati.
La sua vita viene stravolta e messa in discussione e il susseguirsi di episodi ed emozioni tengono il lettore sospeso su ogni parola, quasi obbligandolo a leggere tutto d'un fiato un libro scritto in maniera semplice, diretta ed elegante.
La suspance fa da padrona tanto quanto i colpi di scena. Impossibile non appassionarsi fin da subito.
Un viaggio inaspettato nella mente umana, in ciò che potrebbe rivelarsi una scoperta di sé stessi o delle capacità che la psiche, talune volte, nasconde consapevolmente.
Inutile dire che l'autore ha suscitato in me una bramosa voglia di continuare a leggere le sue opere.
Consigliato a tutti coloro che vogliono addormentarsi con la voglia di andare avanti per sapere che succede.
Il libro narra di una giovane studentessa di psicologia che si ritrova a fare i conti con sé stessa dopo che nel suo campus avvengono fatti inaspettati.
La sua vita viene stravolta e messa in discussione e il susseguirsi di episodi ed emozioni tengono il lettore sospeso su ogni parola, quasi obbligandolo a leggere tutto d'un fiato un libro scritto in maniera semplice, diretta ed elegante.
La suspance fa da padrona tanto quanto i colpi di scena. Impossibile non appassionarsi fin da subito.
Un viaggio inaspettato nella mente umana, in ciò che potrebbe rivelarsi una scoperta di sé stessi o delle capacità che la psiche, talune volte, nasconde consapevolmente.
Inutile dire che l'autore ha suscitato in me una bramosa voglia di continuare a leggere le sue opere.
Consigliato a tutti coloro che vogliono addormentarsi con la voglia di andare avanti per sapere che succede.
September 19, 2018
eh. interesting premise for a character, but the writing style wasn't to my taste, and i didn't find myself caring for the characters at all.
i may give the original series a try, though, as i really like the criminal behavioral analysis concept.
(also: girl why are you thinking of settling down and having kids with a dude you met 3 times and stayed over with for 5 days. chill, that's a wild and extreme fantasy)
i may give the original series a try, though, as i really like the criminal behavioral analysis concept.
(also: girl why are you thinking of settling down and having kids with a dude you met 3 times and stayed over with for 5 days. chill, that's a wild and extreme fantasy)
July 15, 2018
Je me suis ennuyée durant plus de la moitié du roman qui n'a rien de palpitant et dont certains passages sont redondants. La fin ne m'a pas surprise car j'avais deviné assez tôt qui était le tueur. Le synopsis est plutôt trompeur, il m'a fait espérer une lecture plus angoissante, avec plus de suspense. Bref, je suis déçue.
September 20, 2020
Great book. Really kept me guessing.
I've enjoyed this character in the other books by this author, so it was great to get her story from the beginning. I will certainly be reading book two very soon .
I've enjoyed this character in the other books by this author, so it was great to get her story from the beginning. I will certainly be reading book two very soon .
May 21, 2019
Riley, a psychology major reluctantly goes to a party with friends. She had everything planned for her future but what wasn't in her plan was a murder. The next day her friend is found dead in her dorm. It bought back all the bad memories of her past. A past that was tragic and fearful.
Now she and her other friends are potential suspects. Little by little the bigger picture comes in view and the revelation is a startling and unsettling conclusion. After her her friend, her roommate was found killed in the same gruesome manner.Riley couldn't help but guilty that she wasn't able to help her friends. That's when she realized that she had a ability to be a talented Profiler yet she was in denial.
Riley is loosing herself to unravel the killer motives. Can she find who the killer is? What if the killer was a lot closer to her than what she first thought?
Watching is the first book in The Making of Riley Paige. Being a psychological thriller twists and turns were unexpected and I cannot wait to continue the rest of the series.
Now she and her other friends are potential suspects. Little by little the bigger picture comes in view and the revelation is a startling and unsettling conclusion. After her her friend, her roommate was found killed in the same gruesome manner.Riley couldn't help but guilty that she wasn't able to help her friends. That's when she realized that she had a ability to be a talented Profiler yet she was in denial.
Riley is loosing herself to unravel the killer motives. Can she find who the killer is? What if the killer was a lot closer to her than what she first thought?
Watching is the first book in The Making of Riley Paige. Being a psychological thriller twists and turns were unexpected and I cannot wait to continue the rest of the series.
November 10, 2023
tbh i usually love the second half of mystery books but i just couldn’t get into this one, i knew who the killer was from the beginning too and the characters weren’t that lovable.
and the accidental pregnancy at the end, like wtf this isn’t a romance book.
and the accidental pregnancy at the end, like wtf this isn’t a romance book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2018
I received Watching (The Making of Riley Paige #1) in a Goodreads giveaway, and this is my honest review, no compensation was given. This is the first book from Blake Pierce that I have read. This book is a prequel of sorts to the Once Gone Series, which has 13 books so far. This books takes place 20 years prior to the first book in the Once Gone Series.
Let me start this review by saying that I was totally impressed by the story line of this book, so that part gets 5 stars. Now lets get the not so great parts of this book out of the way. This author has written many books, therefore correct grammar is expected! I was surprised to find multiple grammatical errors, and to be honest if I could spot them they had to be pretty obvious. There was one error that I feel obliged to mention ( I have never done this before) at location 1231 the wrong name was used in the sentence. I won't say more than that because I don't want to give any of the plot away. So the grammar/editing gets 4 sad stars.
I did truly enjoy reading this book, so much that I finished it in just a few days. The author does an impressive job developing the main characters so much so you feel you are part of the story. The main character, Riley, is one that you will immediately feel a connection with, the author gives you true insight into her mind and how she evolves as the story progresses. The suspense in this book never lets up and will keep you reading and guessing who the killer is from the beginning to the end. I am looking forward to the second book in this series sans errors.
Let me start this review by saying that I was totally impressed by the story line of this book, so that part gets 5 stars. Now lets get the not so great parts of this book out of the way. This author has written many books, therefore correct grammar is expected! I was surprised to find multiple grammatical errors, and to be honest if I could spot them they had to be pretty obvious. There was one error that I feel obliged to mention ( I have never done this before) at location 1231 the wrong name was used in the sentence. I won't say more than that because I don't want to give any of the plot away. So the grammar/editing gets 4 sad stars.
I did truly enjoy reading this book, so much that I finished it in just a few days. The author does an impressive job developing the main characters so much so you feel you are part of the story. The main character, Riley, is one that you will immediately feel a connection with, the author gives you true insight into her mind and how she evolves as the story progresses. The suspense in this book never lets up and will keep you reading and guessing who the killer is from the beginning to the end. I am looking forward to the second book in this series sans errors.
August 11, 2019
I love the once series...
But this left me kind of wishing for more. Much of the writing seemed stilted, mechanical... then there were so many errors and things that didn’t add up. Near the end, Dr. Hayman calls her Riley Paige, but she isn’t even seeing Ryan then much less married to him. Then she decides to see Dr. Hayman after reading a few paragraphs of Dr. Zimmerman’s book... but why isn’t Hayman still at the library since he greeted her there just moments ago? Or if it wasn’t moments... I sure couldn’t tell. Unfortunately, this book was rather disappointing... and needed a better editor.
But this left me kind of wishing for more. Much of the writing seemed stilted, mechanical... then there were so many errors and things that didn’t add up. Near the end, Dr. Hayman calls her Riley Paige, but she isn’t even seeing Ryan then much less married to him. Then she decides to see Dr. Hayman after reading a few paragraphs of Dr. Zimmerman’s book... but why isn’t Hayman still at the library since he greeted her there just moments ago? Or if it wasn’t moments... I sure couldn’t tell. Unfortunately, this book was rather disappointing... and needed a better editor.
August 13, 2021
I thought, from the awesome simple, yet frightening cover, this would be a good one and I was not disappointed. I had suspect after suspect, first swayed this way then that, and though I had the villain in sight the entire time, I could not firm it up. I was in suspense, frightened for Riley and wondering how many would have to die before the villain was exposed. It took a twist and it wasn’t what I expected. The why of it had me stumped and impressed with the author’s ability to surprise me and treat to me such a wonderfully interesting character as Riley.
See more at fundinmental
See more at fundinmental
August 6, 2019
"Not for me"
I can't see what all the fuss is about this book. The writing is OK. The story line is OK. There are a few mistakes and there's the promise of a whole series to follow.. For me, the characters were shallow and I kept waiting for the fire to start to match the blurb, but it never did.
I can't see what all the fuss is about this book. The writing is OK. The story line is OK. There are a few mistakes and there's the promise of a whole series to follow.. For me, the characters were shallow and I kept waiting for the fire to start to match the blurb, but it never did.
January 14, 2019
Era un po’ che non leggevo di Riley e mi ha fatto piacere ritrovarla, soprattutto leggere di lei agli inizi. Un po’ giovane e ingenua ma sempre super intelligente.
May 3, 2025
This Review does contain some spoilers towards the book but nothing major.
Honestly I don’t have a lot of positive to say about this book.
I figured the killer out pretty soon on. I found nothing twisty about it. I did not feel the thriller vibes at all.
I have questions: why do you call a series the riley paige series when you introduce us to riley sweeney to than introduce a ryan paige? Way to blow that one off that’s one suspect less.
Never is it mentioned what time this book is taking place so call me hella confused when the main character is like oh they must have a cell phone, i am being what time are we in that no one has a cellphone?
The amount of use of first and last names threw me.
How she calls het father constantly daddy also gave me major icks.
It just feels written by a dude which also when she was sexually assaulted was proved again. Because it was described as well you gave a solid story and his counterpart is that you solemnly lured him her to beat him up. Yeah dude read a room read up on women being sexually assaulted because even if semen is found the perpetrator is in a lot of cases not found guilty!!
It all just annoyed the hell out of me.
Beside that why throw in that she is pregnant in the end? Whats does that add to this story? Just no like no like why?
She is in to great things and you make her pregnant?
Just na hell na.
So I have one positive thing I could jab this out with bookfriends of mine which was a good thing.
Safe to say I won’t read more of this.
Honestly I don’t have a lot of positive to say about this book.
I figured the killer out pretty soon on. I found nothing twisty about it. I did not feel the thriller vibes at all.
I have questions: why do you call a series the riley paige series when you introduce us to riley sweeney to than introduce a ryan paige? Way to blow that one off that’s one suspect less.
Never is it mentioned what time this book is taking place so call me hella confused when the main character is like oh they must have a cell phone, i am being what time are we in that no one has a cellphone?
The amount of use of first and last names threw me.
How she calls het father constantly daddy also gave me major icks.
It just feels written by a dude which also when she was sexually assaulted was proved again. Because it was described as well you gave a solid story and his counterpart is that you solemnly lured him her to beat him up. Yeah dude read a room read up on women being sexually assaulted because even if semen is found the perpetrator is in a lot of cases not found guilty!!
It all just annoyed the hell out of me.
Beside that why throw in that she is pregnant in the end? Whats does that add to this story? Just no like no like why?
She is in to great things and you make her pregnant?
Just na hell na.
So I have one positive thing I could jab this out with bookfriends of mine which was a good thing.
Safe to say I won’t read more of this.
April 22, 2020
Se imaginan tener la habilidad de meterte en la mente de un asesino? No es algo paranormal, es una una intuición super desarrollada y es super útil para un perfilador criminal. Me ha gustado esta habilidad que tiene la protagonista, no es la típica niña tonta que quiere hacerse le heroína. No lo sentí como un thriller juvenil del montón, tiene un thriller muy maduro.
Más o menos después del primer asesinato ya intuía quien era el asesino y vaya que me no me equivoque, me siento orgullosa de mi 😅
Leeré más de este autor, super recomendado.
Más o menos después del primer asesinato ya intuía quien era el asesino y vaya que me no me equivoque, me siento orgullosa de mi 😅
Leeré más de este autor, super recomendado.
February 15, 2021
lo que hace no tener luz.
me ha gustado demasiado el libro, AMÉ A RILEY CON TODO MI SER; comprendí que empecé desde la precuela pero me vale, yo seguiré leyendo.
quiero que se desarrolle más su relación con ryan, los amo a los dos💗
me ha gustado demasiado el libro, AMÉ A RILEY CON TODO MI SER; comprendí que empecé desde la precuela pero me vale, yo seguiré leyendo.
quiero que se desarrolle más su relación con ryan, los amo a los dos💗
April 23, 2023
AUDIOLIBRO
Pues otro que me ha gustado y además hay 3000 de esta "serie" ( bueno 3000 no, pero otros 13 ya hay ... )
Una trama nada compleja pero, que finalmente sorprende, bastante bien llevada aunque cae un pelín en lo cansino de siempre, el reptirse y repetirse los pensamientos de.los protagonistas.
Lo del viaje a ver al padre le ha costado una estrella por mi parte ... a ver si os parece igual de "mal hecho" que a mí.
Pero aún así, no lo bajo de 4, espero que los siguientes me.gusten al menos tanto como éste.
Pues otro que me ha gustado y además hay 3000 de esta "serie" ( bueno 3000 no, pero otros 13 ya hay ... )
Una trama nada compleja pero, que finalmente sorprende, bastante bien llevada aunque cae un pelín en lo cansino de siempre, el reptirse y repetirse los pensamientos de.los protagonistas.
Lo del viaje a ver al padre le ha costado una estrella por mi parte ... a ver si os parece igual de "mal hecho" que a mí.
Pero aún así, no lo bajo de 4, espero que los siguientes me.gusten al menos tanto como éste.
August 6, 2020
OMG I am excited to read this book. I hadn't realized there was a prequel. I love the Riley Paige Series!!!
This was a page turner!!! Starting book 2 now! I love how Pierce leaves you on the edge wanting more with his cliff hangers.
This was a page turner!!! Starting book 2 now! I love how Pierce leaves you on the edge wanting more with his cliff hangers.
July 7, 2023
This is the first book I've ever listened to as an audiobook instead of physically reading and it was a great choice. I found myself constantly guessing and really loving the main character. The mystery thriller aspect was perfect and realistic. The ending is a cliffhanger so if course I immediately downloaded book two!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 518 reviews