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I Am Watching
“Kavanagh keeps the suspense high to the chilling conclusion.”
—Publishers Weekly
From a distance, they seem to be sleeping. Three bodies, sitting propped up against the ancient stones of Hadrian’s Wall. Until a closer look reveals the horror of their too-white faces.
The victims were found by schoolgirl Isla Bell, out on an early morning run along the historic site. That day changed the small town of Briganton forever, and shaped Isla’s life. Twenty years later, she’s a professor of criminal psychology, wrestling with the question that still haunts why? Why did Heath McGowan kill those people—and two more besides—before he was finally caught by Isla’s police detective father?
At last, Isla has a chance to get answers when Heath agrees to take part in her research. Isla’s husband, Ramsey—the only one of Heath’s victims to survive—cautions her against the meeting. But no matter how ready Isla feels to peer within a killer’s mind, there is no way to prepare for the fresh horror about to engulf Briganton. Another body is found, displayed just as before . . . and then another. Is this a copycat, or could the truth be darker still?
“The red herring-filled conclusion should surprise even the most careful reader.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“Smart, fierce, and absorbing, this is a novel that begs to be read deep into the night.”
—Foreword Reviews
—Publishers Weekly
From a distance, they seem to be sleeping. Three bodies, sitting propped up against the ancient stones of Hadrian’s Wall. Until a closer look reveals the horror of their too-white faces.
The victims were found by schoolgirl Isla Bell, out on an early morning run along the historic site. That day changed the small town of Briganton forever, and shaped Isla’s life. Twenty years later, she’s a professor of criminal psychology, wrestling with the question that still haunts why? Why did Heath McGowan kill those people—and two more besides—before he was finally caught by Isla’s police detective father?
At last, Isla has a chance to get answers when Heath agrees to take part in her research. Isla’s husband, Ramsey—the only one of Heath’s victims to survive—cautions her against the meeting. But no matter how ready Isla feels to peer within a killer’s mind, there is no way to prepare for the fresh horror about to engulf Briganton. Another body is found, displayed just as before . . . and then another. Is this a copycat, or could the truth be darker still?
“The red herring-filled conclusion should surprise even the most careful reader.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“Smart, fierce, and absorbing, this is a novel that begs to be read deep into the night.”
—Foreword Reviews
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 20, 2017
91 people are currently reading
1421 people want to read
About the author
Emma Kavanagh
15 books321 followersEmma Kavanagh was born and raised in South Wales. After graduating with a PhD in Psychology from Cardiff University, she spent many years working as a police and military psychologist, training firearms officers, command staff and military personnel throughout the UK and Europe. Now she is lucky enough to be able to write for a living. She lives in South Wales with her husband, young sons, and a dog named Dobby.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
March 29, 2017
This is a dark, bleak, atmospheric, and intense psychological thriller that makes for a disturbing read. In 1995, 15 year old Isla Bell is going for her early morning run when she comes across murder victims posed against Hadrian's Wall and her life and Briganton is never to be the same again. Her father, Sergeant Eric Bell, is lauded a hero and is famous as the man who arrested the killer, Heath McGowan. Twenty years later, Isla is Professor of Criminal Psychology and engaged in research which has her meeting and scanning the brains of serial killers. She is both apprehensive and curious as she meets Heath McGowan in prison, her 13th subject, and unlucky for her and the cursed village of Briganton. The killings begin again with the murder of Victoria Prew, a recent incomer, and the old fears, darkness and suspicions return. Is it a copycat? Is Heath innocent? Where will it all end?
Superintendent Eric Bell is in charge of the case and he is convinced they have a new killer. Iraqi born DC Mina Arian decides to look into the historical killings and the police investigation despite the hostility and opposition of her boss, Bell. She is looking for connections to the present day murders. Isla married the only survivor from the original killings, Ramsey, who is now a journalist and the go to person on the killings. Isla and Ramsey are thinking of having children as danger seeps back into their lives and family as Isla becomes a target. Isla is implacable in her search for the killer, she has brain scans of a number of locals and her family, and she is convinced she can find the perpetrator from her brain research. In a story full of twists, Mina and Isla begin to close in on the killer.
Emma Kavanagh's background as a psychologist serves her well in this dark and compelling story. She is particularly skilled in capturing the fear, the claustrophobia, and the repercussions on Briganton and its residents of the killings. The characters are well developed and drive and move the narrative forward. I particularly liked DC Mina Arian, a courageous character willing to pursue leads, irrespective of the obstacles placed in her path. Definitely a novel that keeps the reader engrossed and desperate to know who the multiple murderer is. Thanks to Random House Cornerstone for an ARC.
Superintendent Eric Bell is in charge of the case and he is convinced they have a new killer. Iraqi born DC Mina Arian decides to look into the historical killings and the police investigation despite the hostility and opposition of her boss, Bell. She is looking for connections to the present day murders. Isla married the only survivor from the original killings, Ramsey, who is now a journalist and the go to person on the killings. Isla and Ramsey are thinking of having children as danger seeps back into their lives and family as Isla becomes a target. Isla is implacable in her search for the killer, she has brain scans of a number of locals and her family, and she is convinced she can find the perpetrator from her brain research. In a story full of twists, Mina and Isla begin to close in on the killer.
Emma Kavanagh's background as a psychologist serves her well in this dark and compelling story. She is particularly skilled in capturing the fear, the claustrophobia, and the repercussions on Briganton and its residents of the killings. The characters are well developed and drive and move the narrative forward. I particularly liked DC Mina Arian, a courageous character willing to pursue leads, irrespective of the obstacles placed in her path. Definitely a novel that keeps the reader engrossed and desperate to know who the multiple murderer is. Thanks to Random House Cornerstone for an ARC.
March 29, 2017
I was hoping for more from this. The premise is a good hook, I love a bit of serial murder in a small town. Yet I guessed the ending within the first few chapters, it was obvious and very clearly signposted. After that it was just watching everyone in the multiple POVs bumble their way to the same conclusion. You only really need to read the first and last 10% if you read it at all.
ARC via Netgalley
ARC via Netgalley
April 1, 2017
Twenty years ago, fifteen year old Isla Bell discovered three bodies propped against Hadrian’s Wall. The case was solved by her father, Detective Sergeant Eric Bell, who became a hero to the local town of Briganton. Now Isla is married to the brother of one of the victims and is a forensic scientist, studying serial killers to try to find a neurological reason for their behaviour.
When the novel begins, Isla is about to carry out tests of Heath McGowan, the man who was the ‘Killer on the Wall,’ and has been incarcerated for the murders carried out all those years ago. Isla’s husband, Ramsey, is uncomfortable about Isla meeting with McGowan and there are obvious mind games going on. However, shortly after Isla does meet with McGowan, the unthinkable happens and there is another murder…
This is an interesting crime novel, with a good setting and characters. Briganton is almost a character itself – nestled under the shadow of Hadrian’s Wall, surrounded by bleak moorland and uncomfortably known as the site for the infamous series of murders. This definition has marked not only the town, but the people. In such a small town, everyone knew someone affected by the crimes and this pall of fear and despair seems to lay over many of the residents.
There are, however, new residents and these include a transplanted Londoner, of Iraqi origin; Detective Constable Mina Arian. Along with Isla, Mina was the character that made the novel work for me and it was a great idea for the author to have an outsider involved in the investigation, who did not bring all of that local history along with her. However, when it seems that there is another murderer on the loose, the now Detective Superintendant Eric Bell, is reluctant to consider any links with the previous case, that he solved. Was another person involved in the original murders? Is there a copycat killer on the loose, or is there another explanation?
Isla is convinced that her research can help find answers, while Mina has to fight against her superior officer to investigate. The author really does use the small, fairly isolated, community to her advantage and also shows the long term damage that such crimes can have on those affected. One of the problems with a small town though, is that there are a limited number of suspects. Still, an enjoyable and atmospheric read and an enjoyable setting. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
When the novel begins, Isla is about to carry out tests of Heath McGowan, the man who was the ‘Killer on the Wall,’ and has been incarcerated for the murders carried out all those years ago. Isla’s husband, Ramsey, is uncomfortable about Isla meeting with McGowan and there are obvious mind games going on. However, shortly after Isla does meet with McGowan, the unthinkable happens and there is another murder…
This is an interesting crime novel, with a good setting and characters. Briganton is almost a character itself – nestled under the shadow of Hadrian’s Wall, surrounded by bleak moorland and uncomfortably known as the site for the infamous series of murders. This definition has marked not only the town, but the people. In such a small town, everyone knew someone affected by the crimes and this pall of fear and despair seems to lay over many of the residents.
There are, however, new residents and these include a transplanted Londoner, of Iraqi origin; Detective Constable Mina Arian. Along with Isla, Mina was the character that made the novel work for me and it was a great idea for the author to have an outsider involved in the investigation, who did not bring all of that local history along with her. However, when it seems that there is another murderer on the loose, the now Detective Superintendant Eric Bell, is reluctant to consider any links with the previous case, that he solved. Was another person involved in the original murders? Is there a copycat killer on the loose, or is there another explanation?
Isla is convinced that her research can help find answers, while Mina has to fight against her superior officer to investigate. The author really does use the small, fairly isolated, community to her advantage and also shows the long term damage that such crimes can have on those affected. One of the problems with a small town though, is that there are a limited number of suspects. Still, an enjoyable and atmospheric read and an enjoyable setting. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
April 20, 2017
The Killer On The Wall is a chilling story about Isla Bell, a young girl that finds three bodies propped against Hadrian's wall. This will have a great impact on her life. She will, later on, dedicate her life studying the brains of serial killers, in hope that one day she will find what makes a person a killer. Then, 20 years later a body is found propped up against the wall, and then another.
I found The Killer On The Wall the be interesting to read. There are several POV's in this book, among them are Isla, her husband who survived the first attack 20 years ago, and her father who caught the killer. But, the one person I think I liked the best was Mina, a young cop that has been transferred from London to Briganton to get away from her overbearing family. Now she faces a nightmare with a serial killer loose.
I read The Missing Hours by the same author last year and I think this book is better. This story was much more interesting and all these different characters make this story engrossing to read. The ending was perhaps not that surprising since there is just not many suspects to chose from anymore. However, I found it fitting because even though one can know a person well, can even the best of us be blind when it comes to seeing things...
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
I found The Killer On The Wall the be interesting to read. There are several POV's in this book, among them are Isla, her husband who survived the first attack 20 years ago, and her father who caught the killer. But, the one person I think I liked the best was Mina, a young cop that has been transferred from London to Briganton to get away from her overbearing family. Now she faces a nightmare with a serial killer loose.
I read The Missing Hours by the same author last year and I think this book is better. This story was much more interesting and all these different characters make this story engrossing to read. The ending was perhaps not that surprising since there is just not many suspects to chose from anymore. However, I found it fitting because even though one can know a person well, can even the best of us be blind when it comes to seeing things...
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
April 8, 2019
Isla found the first bodies by the wall when she was only fifteen--four bodies lined up. Only one survived, teenage Ramsey. His brother, Zach, was among the dead. Three weeks later, another body is found. Then, two weeks later, another. Terror and fear run rampant in the small town of Briganton until Isla's father, Detective Sergeant Eric Bell, brings the killer, Heath McGowan, to justice. Now Isla is a professor of criminal psychology; she specializes in brain function and its influences on criminal behavior. Maybe she can figure out why serial killers are what they are. Maybe she can prevent what happened in Briganton from happening in another town. She and her partner, Connor, have scanned and studied the brains of twelve men--all serial killers. Now, they are on to their thirteenth: Heath McGowan. Meanwhile, Mina a detective on the Briganton force, was drawn to the department by the thought of working with the famous Eric Bell. She answers a routine inquiry for Victoria Prew, who feels that someone has been inside her home. But later that night, a call comes in. They've found Victoria at the wall. It's happening again in Briganton. With Heath McGowan in prison, who has killed Victoria--and will they strike again?
"It began with the bodies."
This was a really good book--just an enjoyable, dark thriller that kept me guessing until the end. I totally thought I had it all figured out, but... nope! Putting all the puzzle pieces together was actually really fun, even though a lot of this one was really gruesome (think: lots of bodies, lots of death, and many piling up at said wall). I kept telling my wife about the plot, and I'm not sure enjoyed the thought of all those bodies-ha!
The characters in this one are not always the most nuanced, but Isla is great--she finds the bodies at age fifteen and now she's a grown woman, struggling to decipher the minds of serial killers. Her father, meanwhile, made his career on the apprehension of Heath McGowan, whom Isla herself is now interviewing and examining. And Mina, new to the small town, is wary of how the case was handled so many years ago, but hesitant to confront her idol.
"She was a thirty-five-year-old woman, and she was afraid of the dark. Heath McGowan was the reason."
There are lots of red herrings in the story and plenty of twists and turns to keep you puzzling and guessing. Despite it being a small town, there is no shortage of suspects. If you enjoy a good, dark thriller, I recommend this one. 4 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
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"It began with the bodies."
This was a really good book--just an enjoyable, dark thriller that kept me guessing until the end. I totally thought I had it all figured out, but... nope! Putting all the puzzle pieces together was actually really fun, even though a lot of this one was really gruesome (think: lots of bodies, lots of death, and many piling up at said wall). I kept telling my wife about the plot, and I'm not sure enjoyed the thought of all those bodies-ha!
The characters in this one are not always the most nuanced, but Isla is great--she finds the bodies at age fifteen and now she's a grown woman, struggling to decipher the minds of serial killers. Her father, meanwhile, made his career on the apprehension of Heath McGowan, whom Isla herself is now interviewing and examining. And Mina, new to the small town, is wary of how the case was handled so many years ago, but hesitant to confront her idol.
"She was a thirty-five-year-old woman, and she was afraid of the dark. Heath McGowan was the reason."
There are lots of red herrings in the story and plenty of twists and turns to keep you puzzling and guessing. Despite it being a small town, there is no shortage of suspects. If you enjoy a good, dark thriller, I recommend this one. 4 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Google+ ~ Instagram ~ Smashbomb
January 17, 2017
It started with the bodies….Well yes, indeed it did and the opening salvo from Emma Kavanagh in The Killer On The Wall made me actually shiver – the scene setting itself would have been enough but then there were BODIES. And I pretty much continued to shiver my way through the rest of the novel as well and not just because of all the death and desolation.
Basically The Killer on the Wall is an utterly riveting psychological thriller with Ms Kavanagh’s trademark divisive yet endlessly compelling characters all living through a nightmare the likes of which is almost unimaginable. If you live in a small community and you know everyone, what do you do when there is a killer on the loose? Even more so when you thought it was all behind you and there had been many years of relative quiet and recuperation.
That is the situation the author throws her group into, all set against a haunting yet beautiful backdrop which comes to life in the telling. Descriptively this is her best yet, so as well as the really quite twisted yet extremely emotive plot developing you’ve got it all happening in a place of beauty, where nothing so ugly should occur.
I love the psychological aspects, I was particularly drawn to Isla who grew up to make a career out of trying to discover why some people can commit these horrific acts having seen the fallout with her own eyes, she is sympathetic and driven. The crime element – whodunnit – is fascinatingly drawn, driven very much by the characters and how they see things. You may or may not see the end coming but to be honest, that may be the pay off but the sheer addictive nature of The Killer on the Wall is found not in the solving of the mystery but in the events leading up to it.
Another huge HUGELY excellent book from an author who is becoming one to watch in Crime writing circles. I’m loving each one more than the last and The Killer On The Wall is perhaps my favourite because it has such a brilliantly atmospheric ambience and a true page turning quality – it is honestly hard to put down once you start.
Wonderful writing, clever and taut storytelling and a definite tendency to make you want to sleep with the lights on.
Highly Recommended.
Basically The Killer on the Wall is an utterly riveting psychological thriller with Ms Kavanagh’s trademark divisive yet endlessly compelling characters all living through a nightmare the likes of which is almost unimaginable. If you live in a small community and you know everyone, what do you do when there is a killer on the loose? Even more so when you thought it was all behind you and there had been many years of relative quiet and recuperation.
That is the situation the author throws her group into, all set against a haunting yet beautiful backdrop which comes to life in the telling. Descriptively this is her best yet, so as well as the really quite twisted yet extremely emotive plot developing you’ve got it all happening in a place of beauty, where nothing so ugly should occur.
I love the psychological aspects, I was particularly drawn to Isla who grew up to make a career out of trying to discover why some people can commit these horrific acts having seen the fallout with her own eyes, she is sympathetic and driven. The crime element – whodunnit – is fascinatingly drawn, driven very much by the characters and how they see things. You may or may not see the end coming but to be honest, that may be the pay off but the sheer addictive nature of The Killer on the Wall is found not in the solving of the mystery but in the events leading up to it.
Another huge HUGELY excellent book from an author who is becoming one to watch in Crime writing circles. I’m loving each one more than the last and The Killer On The Wall is perhaps my favourite because it has such a brilliantly atmospheric ambience and a true page turning quality – it is honestly hard to put down once you start.
Wonderful writing, clever and taut storytelling and a definite tendency to make you want to sleep with the lights on.
Highly Recommended.
June 9, 2019
I AM WATCHING is a serial killer dark thriller by bestselling British author Emma Kavanagh. I have read numerus novels by this author, and always find them enjoyable reads. This was no exception but found it was a little slow at the beginning but soon picked up pace, and had my full attention.
From a distance, they seem to be sleeping. Three bodies, sitting propped up against the ancient stones of Hadrian’s Wall. A closer look reveals the horror of their too-white faces, and the ring of vivid red bruises around each neck.
Isla Bell, a fifteen- year-old schoolgirl had been out for a morning run onto the moor, Hadrian’s Wall, when she discovered four bodies. Only one of them survived, Ramsey Aiken. His brother Zach, Ben Flowers and Kitty Lane were among the dead. That day changed the small, close-knit community of Briganton forever, and it also shaped the course of Isla’s life.
Then a few weeks later, more bodies are found. Isla’s father, DS Eric Bell, brought down the killer on the wall-Heath McGowan…now in prison.
Twenty years later, Isla is a professor of criminal psychology at the University of Northumberland, now married to Ramsey, who still suffers from PTSD. Isla specializes in studying the brain function of psychopaths and serial killers. Specializing in brain function and its influences in criminal behavior. Why did Heath McGowan kill those people?
13 serial killers, removed monsters, to study their brains through MRI.
Finally, Isla has a chance to get answers. Isla convinces Heath, in prison, to take part in her research. Isla’s husband, Ramsey cautions her against the meeting.
But then another body is found, displayed just as before . . . and then another. But the killer on the wall is in prison? A copycat?
Lots of twists and red herrings to occupy the reader’s attention.
Many thanks to the author, Kensington Books via Netgalley for my digital copy.
From a distance, they seem to be sleeping. Three bodies, sitting propped up against the ancient stones of Hadrian’s Wall. A closer look reveals the horror of their too-white faces, and the ring of vivid red bruises around each neck.
Isla Bell, a fifteen- year-old schoolgirl had been out for a morning run onto the moor, Hadrian’s Wall, when she discovered four bodies. Only one of them survived, Ramsey Aiken. His brother Zach, Ben Flowers and Kitty Lane were among the dead. That day changed the small, close-knit community of Briganton forever, and it also shaped the course of Isla’s life.
Then a few weeks later, more bodies are found. Isla’s father, DS Eric Bell, brought down the killer on the wall-Heath McGowan…now in prison.
Twenty years later, Isla is a professor of criminal psychology at the University of Northumberland, now married to Ramsey, who still suffers from PTSD. Isla specializes in studying the brain function of psychopaths and serial killers. Specializing in brain function and its influences in criminal behavior. Why did Heath McGowan kill those people?
13 serial killers, removed monsters, to study their brains through MRI.
Finally, Isla has a chance to get answers. Isla convinces Heath, in prison, to take part in her research. Isla’s husband, Ramsey cautions her against the meeting.
But then another body is found, displayed just as before . . . and then another. But the killer on the wall is in prison? A copycat?
Lots of twists and red herrings to occupy the reader’s attention.
Many thanks to the author, Kensington Books via Netgalley for my digital copy.
March 27, 2019
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I Am Watching by Emma Kavanagh was a quick read for me. It started off slow but definitely picked up the pace towards the end. I picked the ending early on even though the author tried to send us on another path. I struggled with the story at times but overall it was an enjoyable read.
Isla Bell was a child when she found 3 dead bodies lined up along Hadrian Wall. Her father captured the killer on the wall a story he was called Heath McGowan. Now 20 years later she is a professor in criminal psychology specialising in the study of the brain of killers and psychopaths. Heath McGowan has agreed to speak with her and help her with her quest to find out why they do it. But then the bodies start appearing again.. is there a copycat out there or did her Dad get the wrong guy?
Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
I Am Watching by Emma Kavanagh was a quick read for me. It started off slow but definitely picked up the pace towards the end. I picked the ending early on even though the author tried to send us on another path. I struggled with the story at times but overall it was an enjoyable read.
Isla Bell was a child when she found 3 dead bodies lined up along Hadrian Wall. Her father captured the killer on the wall a story he was called Heath McGowan. Now 20 years later she is a professor in criminal psychology specialising in the study of the brain of killers and psychopaths. Heath McGowan has agreed to speak with her and help her with her quest to find out why they do it. But then the bodies start appearing again.. is there a copycat out there or did her Dad get the wrong guy?
Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
January 3, 2018
Intense and atmospheric.
April 9, 2017
I loved The Missing Hours so much that I really jumped at the chance to read Emma Kavanagh’s new novel The Killer On The Wall. Maybe my expectations were too high after the previous one because in this novel I did find a few things that kept me from falling in love like the first time.
There are 2 investigating characters in The Killer On The Wall: Mina who’s a detetective and Isla, the woman who found the first victims of Heath McGowan at the Wall 20 years ago. Isla has dedicated her life and work into the research of psychopaths brain scans. She has tested and MRI’d plenty of convicted killers and she now even sees the Killer On The Wall eye to eye because he agreed to her request.
Then new victims are made with the same MO as before. Coincidence, I think not! But is it a copycat or did Heath instruct someone in prison to mess with the community of Briganton after all these years?
The author makes a lot of suggestions and steered me into one direction for a suspect on the outside only to change direction again in another chapter. I felt myself on a carousel after a while. Although I read this novel with lots of questions on my mind too, most of what was offered didn’t really convince me as a motive and I wasn’t really buying any it. I didn’t know who, why or how but I trusted my own instinct and definitely knew there was something wrong with the picture that was being proferred. When all was finally said and done, the ending was not entirely surprising for me, simply because so many were already suspected and dismissed. What I found a bit strange was there wasn’t much of a motive for the actual killer either and I had high hopes actually for an explanation why these people, and these people in particular, were targeted.
I’m afraid I have to admit that on top of this, I also had a bit of difficulty to fully connect with Isla and Mina, although from both of them I liked detective Mina most. She’s unrelentless in her perusal through boxes and in her investigation she doesn’t want to give up even if it means taking risks and doing unfavourable things. She’s looking for the truth and she will find it, even if it means she’s got to put her own feelings aside.
My overall conclusion is that this was a okay read and there’s no question that she’s a good writer but this one just didn’t tick all the boxes for me. I’m not giving up though and I still look forward to reading her next novel.
There are 2 investigating characters in The Killer On The Wall: Mina who’s a detetective and Isla, the woman who found the first victims of Heath McGowan at the Wall 20 years ago. Isla has dedicated her life and work into the research of psychopaths brain scans. She has tested and MRI’d plenty of convicted killers and she now even sees the Killer On The Wall eye to eye because he agreed to her request.
Then new victims are made with the same MO as before. Coincidence, I think not! But is it a copycat or did Heath instruct someone in prison to mess with the community of Briganton after all these years?
The author makes a lot of suggestions and steered me into one direction for a suspect on the outside only to change direction again in another chapter. I felt myself on a carousel after a while. Although I read this novel with lots of questions on my mind too, most of what was offered didn’t really convince me as a motive and I wasn’t really buying any it. I didn’t know who, why or how but I trusted my own instinct and definitely knew there was something wrong with the picture that was being proferred. When all was finally said and done, the ending was not entirely surprising for me, simply because so many were already suspected and dismissed. What I found a bit strange was there wasn’t much of a motive for the actual killer either and I had high hopes actually for an explanation why these people, and these people in particular, were targeted.
I’m afraid I have to admit that on top of this, I also had a bit of difficulty to fully connect with Isla and Mina, although from both of them I liked detective Mina most. She’s unrelentless in her perusal through boxes and in her investigation she doesn’t want to give up even if it means taking risks and doing unfavourable things. She’s looking for the truth and she will find it, even if it means she’s got to put her own feelings aside.
My overall conclusion is that this was a okay read and there’s no question that she’s a good writer but this one just didn’t tick all the boxes for me. I’m not giving up though and I still look forward to reading her next novel.
June 25, 2017
4.5
Really good book. Created a spooky atmosphere.
In the quiet village of Briganton, Isla Bell is a fifteen year old teenager out for her morning run. She runs the perimeter of the moors and passes by a well-known landmark - Hadrian's wall. On this morning, Isla finds three bodies strangled and poised on the wall. She runs home to tell her father, the local constable, of the tragedy. The police spend some time on the investigation but soon capture the killer.
Twenty years later, Isla Bell is now a psychologist who specializes in serial killers. She is at the prison working with inmates but today, she is working with none other than the infamous "killer on the wall". She receives information that another murder has taken place in her Briganton village and the body has been positioned at Hadrian's wall.
So begins this novel. Is this a one-time murder meant to copy the original crime? Or, is something beginning again after 20 years? The convicted killer is in jail so authorities know it is not him but does he have someone on the outside who he is teaching? Or is there a fan of his? This novel moves at a nice pace which kept me involved with the investigation and a lot more happens than I ever expected. As a fan of Emma Kavanagh, she does a great job with this one. Highly recommended to those who enjoy a good police procedural/investigation.
Really good book. Created a spooky atmosphere.
In the quiet village of Briganton, Isla Bell is a fifteen year old teenager out for her morning run. She runs the perimeter of the moors and passes by a well-known landmark - Hadrian's wall. On this morning, Isla finds three bodies strangled and poised on the wall. She runs home to tell her father, the local constable, of the tragedy. The police spend some time on the investigation but soon capture the killer.
Twenty years later, Isla Bell is now a psychologist who specializes in serial killers. She is at the prison working with inmates but today, she is working with none other than the infamous "killer on the wall". She receives information that another murder has taken place in her Briganton village and the body has been positioned at Hadrian's wall.
So begins this novel. Is this a one-time murder meant to copy the original crime? Or, is something beginning again after 20 years? The convicted killer is in jail so authorities know it is not him but does he have someone on the outside who he is teaching? Or is there a fan of his? This novel moves at a nice pace which kept me involved with the investigation and a lot more happens than I ever expected. As a fan of Emma Kavanagh, she does a great job with this one. Highly recommended to those who enjoy a good police procedural/investigation.
March 31, 2019
4 Solid Stars
This was my first book by Emma Kavanagh and it was a surprisingly good read. An intriguing, addictive, crime mystery with some surprising twists and turns. It was a little slow moving at the beginning but it soon gain some speed and it was truly hard to put down at times. There were few times I thought I got the whole thing figured out to find out that I was wrong on all my guesses. I am a true sucker for a small town crime novels and this book did not disappoint. It hit all the right criteria for a good mystery novel, with strong main characters, good writing style, and some unexpected developments in the story. I will definitely read other books by this author and I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a small town, crime mystery genre.
Thank you NetGalley, Kensington Books, and the author, Emma Kavanagh, for giving me an opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was my first book by Emma Kavanagh and it was a surprisingly good read. An intriguing, addictive, crime mystery with some surprising twists and turns. It was a little slow moving at the beginning but it soon gain some speed and it was truly hard to put down at times. There were few times I thought I got the whole thing figured out to find out that I was wrong on all my guesses. I am a true sucker for a small town crime novels and this book did not disappoint. It hit all the right criteria for a good mystery novel, with strong main characters, good writing style, and some unexpected developments in the story. I will definitely read other books by this author and I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a small town, crime mystery genre.
Thank you NetGalley, Kensington Books, and the author, Emma Kavanagh, for giving me an opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 6, 2018
3.5 * This was my second Kavanagh and quite different, it was a bit slow to start and I guessed early on who the killer was, I suppose that comes from reading a lot of mystery/thrillers but it was still a good story with some interesting characters and a great setting though as someone else mentioned some history on Hadrian's Wall would have been interesting.
I will be picking up more books by this author in future.
I will be picking up more books by this author in future.
April 19, 2017
I have looked forward to reading The Killer on The Wall for a while now and I wasn’t disappointed. Emma Kavanagh has played to her strengths again and based her serial killer thriller in a close knit community where everyone seems to be linked to the crimes committed 20 years ago. Can everyone be trusted especially now it looks like the murders have started up again? And how and why are they happening if the Killer on the Wall is now locked away from society for his crimes.
This is the sort of book where everyone seems like they could be a suspect and we learn to trust no one. Due to the location (which I loved by the way) there was a fabulously claustrophobic atmosphere with all the characters preparing to come together even though their fears were that the murderer was one of their own.
I found this an easy read in a way. I was gripped by the plot details and fascinated by the murderers stylish method of displaying his victims so I read it in one suspense filled session which seemed to fly by as I hardly even raised my head. I had my suspicions about who was responsible but with red herrings galore, I was never able to quite convince myself I was right….Which is just as well as I wasn’t!
I enjoyed The Killer on The Wall more than the authors last book The Missing Hours which took me longer to get into. This one is more on a par with Falling and Hidden so if you enjoyed the writing style of those then you will love this one too.
This is the sort of book where everyone seems like they could be a suspect and we learn to trust no one. Due to the location (which I loved by the way) there was a fabulously claustrophobic atmosphere with all the characters preparing to come together even though their fears were that the murderer was one of their own.
I found this an easy read in a way. I was gripped by the plot details and fascinated by the murderers stylish method of displaying his victims so I read it in one suspense filled session which seemed to fly by as I hardly even raised my head. I had my suspicions about who was responsible but with red herrings galore, I was never able to quite convince myself I was right….Which is just as well as I wasn’t!
I enjoyed The Killer on The Wall more than the authors last book The Missing Hours which took me longer to get into. This one is more on a par with Falling and Hidden so if you enjoyed the writing style of those then you will love this one too.
May 29, 2017
Enjoyable crime thriller with a few twisty-turny bits, not all of which I saw coming. Isla and Mina were great characters, but it was the setting of Hadrian's Wall that really distinguished this novel for me.
December 27, 2017
This is a novel with the WOW factor.
Isla has lived with the murders of Briganton, since she was a girl and she found the bodies propped against the wall. The Wall being the famous Hadrians wall, but the history of the Northern sleepy town in which she lived was lost when a serial killer took over.
Now twenty years later, Isla's job as a Forensic psychologist has brought her in touch with the man who killed three people and left for dead the man who is now her husband.
Heath McGowan, having been arrested by Isla's father is now undergoing an MRI to find out why he killed and is the 13th serial killer that Isla has tested.
Then... a body is found, killed and propped up against the wall.
The Killer on the Wall is dark, twisted and very very good.
Emma Kavanagh is one of those authors who can do wrong. She has a knack for taking the reader on a journey is so cleverly plotted I honestly didn't see the ending at all.
I must admit, halfway through the tale. Isla is having a group discussion and it was this that made start thinking differently about who the killer might be.
I was hooked from the start and what must have been lengthy research, Kavanagh's 4th novel is superbly brilliant.
The characters, the setting, and of course the whole scene of Police involvement and the serial killer insights was for me an enjoyable learning curve as well as a fabulous read.
Highly recommended
Isla has lived with the murders of Briganton, since she was a girl and she found the bodies propped against the wall. The Wall being the famous Hadrians wall, but the history of the Northern sleepy town in which she lived was lost when a serial killer took over.
Now twenty years later, Isla's job as a Forensic psychologist has brought her in touch with the man who killed three people and left for dead the man who is now her husband.
Heath McGowan, having been arrested by Isla's father is now undergoing an MRI to find out why he killed and is the 13th serial killer that Isla has tested.
Then... a body is found, killed and propped up against the wall.
The Killer on the Wall is dark, twisted and very very good.
Emma Kavanagh is one of those authors who can do wrong. She has a knack for taking the reader on a journey is so cleverly plotted I honestly didn't see the ending at all.
I must admit, halfway through the tale. Isla is having a group discussion and it was this that made start thinking differently about who the killer might be.
I was hooked from the start and what must have been lengthy research, Kavanagh's 4th novel is superbly brilliant.
The characters, the setting, and of course the whole scene of Police involvement and the serial killer insights was for me an enjoyable learning curve as well as a fabulous read.
Highly recommended
March 29, 2017
Definitely a book that needs a large suspension of disbelief: there's a kind of muddy feel to the writing, a lack of clarity and direction. At the same time, there are so few suspects that anyone familiar with the genre is likely to see where this is going from pretty early on - the denouement doesn't really make psychological sense despite a last minute half-hearted revelation of childhood abuse as a kind of explanation for psychopathy.
The close atmosphere is both a plus and a minus: on one hand it's unlikely in the extreme that such a close-knit group of people would be allowed to work together like this (and any university ethics committee would have a problem with a researcher experimenting on a criminal who tried to kill the researcher's husband and who was caught and jailed by her father: biased? just a bit!) - on the other, it does create atmosphere and a sense of claustrophobia.
This works as a switch-off read but is awkward and unbelievable in comparison to Kavanagh's The Missing Hours which was far slicker and tighter.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via NetGalley
The close atmosphere is both a plus and a minus: on one hand it's unlikely in the extreme that such a close-knit group of people would be allowed to work together like this (and any university ethics committee would have a problem with a researcher experimenting on a criminal who tried to kill the researcher's husband and who was caught and jailed by her father: biased? just a bit!) - on the other, it does create atmosphere and a sense of claustrophobia.
This works as a switch-off read but is awkward and unbelievable in comparison to Kavanagh's The Missing Hours which was far slicker and tighter.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via NetGalley
April 22, 2017
Isla was just fifteen when she came across three dead bodies sat up against Hadrian’s Wall. Alongside them was the brother of one of the victims, injured but still alive. Isla ran to get help from her father Sergeant Eric Bell and he made it his mission to find out who committed this atrocity in the small town community of Briganton. Life was never the same again, the scars of the events of 1995 never quite healing.
In the present day Isla is Professor of Criminal Psychology, her way of trying to ensure that future killers are stopped before they inflict any damage. She is currently involved in a project to scan the brains of serial killers to see what, if any difference, she can find to contrast their make-up to the vast majority of the population who don’t feel the urge to kill others.
It is no great surprise that one of the candidates for her study is Heath McGowan the man convicted of the terrible crimes that she discovered. Isla has had to overcome her fear, she does it daily, running the same path along the wall to banish those demons from twenty years ago but will she be able to face up to this particular psychopath? Imagine Isla’s horror shared with the rest of the small community, when another victim is found positioned in a similar pose to those of all those years ago.
The face of the Police investigation should be Eric Bell whose career flourished after he found the killer back in 1995 but I was far more entranced by Detective Constable Mina Arian who wasn’t afraid to follow her instincts in coming up with an explanation why the killings have started again.
As with all her previous books Emma Kavanagh draws heavily on her background in psychology, having gained a PhD in the subject at Cardiff University, and so you can rest assured this is not pop psychology but the real deal. It is this underlying truth that make her books so fascinating. The Killer on the Wall is fundamentally about psychopaths and in part how to first spot them (face it, you will know at least one) and to know that they will lie and cheat to get what they want no matter the cost to others. Fortunately for the rest of us, not all psychopaths need to kill us but nevertheless this is a book that hits that nerve where you realise that even in a community where everyone knows each other, you’re not as safe as you would like to believe.
The plot is not as fast moving as in the author’s previous books but as I’ve mentioned before, I’ve come to appreciate the slower pace which gives you time to reflect on the knowledge gained so far and I firmly believe that it is this pace that gives headroom for those deep-seated fears so the tension comes from as much within the reader as the words on the page – far more scary!!
In the present day Isla is Professor of Criminal Psychology, her way of trying to ensure that future killers are stopped before they inflict any damage. She is currently involved in a project to scan the brains of serial killers to see what, if any difference, she can find to contrast their make-up to the vast majority of the population who don’t feel the urge to kill others.
It is no great surprise that one of the candidates for her study is Heath McGowan the man convicted of the terrible crimes that she discovered. Isla has had to overcome her fear, she does it daily, running the same path along the wall to banish those demons from twenty years ago but will she be able to face up to this particular psychopath? Imagine Isla’s horror shared with the rest of the small community, when another victim is found positioned in a similar pose to those of all those years ago.
The face of the Police investigation should be Eric Bell whose career flourished after he found the killer back in 1995 but I was far more entranced by Detective Constable Mina Arian who wasn’t afraid to follow her instincts in coming up with an explanation why the killings have started again.
As with all her previous books Emma Kavanagh draws heavily on her background in psychology, having gained a PhD in the subject at Cardiff University, and so you can rest assured this is not pop psychology but the real deal. It is this underlying truth that make her books so fascinating. The Killer on the Wall is fundamentally about psychopaths and in part how to first spot them (face it, you will know at least one) and to know that they will lie and cheat to get what they want no matter the cost to others. Fortunately for the rest of us, not all psychopaths need to kill us but nevertheless this is a book that hits that nerve where you realise that even in a community where everyone knows each other, you’re not as safe as you would like to believe.
The plot is not as fast moving as in the author’s previous books but as I’ve mentioned before, I’ve come to appreciate the slower pace which gives you time to reflect on the knowledge gained so far and I firmly believe that it is this pace that gives headroom for those deep-seated fears so the tension comes from as much within the reader as the words on the page – far more scary!!
May 28, 2017
I bought my own copy. Sorry couldn't get into this fictional story. However I have read the works of psychologist Kent Kiehl and gave that a five star rating. The idea for The Killer On The Wall book has been loosely based on psychologist Kent Kiehl looking into criminal minds. The Killer On The Wall. It began with the bodies. They had been seated backs propped against the tumbledown stones of Hadrian's Wall. Thirteen serial killers, thirteen times they had removed monsters from their cages and had peered into their brains. A professor of criminal psychology at the University of Northumberland specialises in brain function and it's influences on criminal behaviour.
It's a shame I didn't get into this story as all other novels by Emma kavanagh I have truly loved. I found myself not engaging in any of the characters. There wasn't any specific characters that I wanted to care about. Gave up book after few chapters.
It's a shame I didn't get into this story as all other novels by Emma kavanagh I have truly loved. I found myself not engaging in any of the characters. There wasn't any specific characters that I wanted to care about. Gave up book after few chapters.
May 1, 2017
It began with the bodies…
What an opening line! The bodies are all lined up against Hadrian’s Wall, almost like they have just fallen asleep – except they haven’t, they have been brutally murdered. Isla Bell is 15 and out for her morning run when she comes across these 3 bodies back in July 1996.
The narrative then moves to October 2016 and it is revealed that Heath McGowan is the killer on the wall. Isla is now a professor of criminal psychology and is undertaking a study on brain functionality and it’s influences upon criminal activity – and Heath is one of her subjects.
Isla’s father is DS Eric Bell, and the man who put Heath behind bars for the murders of 6 people including Heath’s own, pregnant girlfriend. 20 years later and everyone is still dealing with the aftermath of the murders, including Ramsey who was attacked and let at Hadrian’s Wall but lived to tell the tale. However, the murders then start again – a copy cat killer, an associate or the killer themselves? DS Bell is involved in the new investigation but his pride and reputation is at stake when it’s suggested that maybe Heath wasn’t the killer 20 years ago and Eric got it wrong.
The Killer on the Wall has two very strong protagonists in both Isla and DC Mina Arian, who is enlisted to investigate the present murders. They are both well rounded characters who are fighting for what they believe in, but both troubled by their respective pasts. DC Arian is pushing the boundaries with DS Bell but has integrity and faith in pursuit of justice.
Kavanagh has created a plot full of so many twists and turns (not to mention red herrings!) that kept me guessing. I couldn’t put this book down and was suspicious of everyone! I enjoyed reading chapters from various points of view which provided a well rounded plot (not to mention tension filled, generating lots of question and suspicion!).
A fantastic crime thriller that keeps you guessing, a massive 5 stars from me. Highly recommended – once I finished this one I sought out Kavanagh’s other books to get them added to the TBR list (like I need to add more :))
What an opening line! The bodies are all lined up against Hadrian’s Wall, almost like they have just fallen asleep – except they haven’t, they have been brutally murdered. Isla Bell is 15 and out for her morning run when she comes across these 3 bodies back in July 1996.
The narrative then moves to October 2016 and it is revealed that Heath McGowan is the killer on the wall. Isla is now a professor of criminal psychology and is undertaking a study on brain functionality and it’s influences upon criminal activity – and Heath is one of her subjects.
Isla’s father is DS Eric Bell, and the man who put Heath behind bars for the murders of 6 people including Heath’s own, pregnant girlfriend. 20 years later and everyone is still dealing with the aftermath of the murders, including Ramsey who was attacked and let at Hadrian’s Wall but lived to tell the tale. However, the murders then start again – a copy cat killer, an associate or the killer themselves? DS Bell is involved in the new investigation but his pride and reputation is at stake when it’s suggested that maybe Heath wasn’t the killer 20 years ago and Eric got it wrong.
The Killer on the Wall has two very strong protagonists in both Isla and DC Mina Arian, who is enlisted to investigate the present murders. They are both well rounded characters who are fighting for what they believe in, but both troubled by their respective pasts. DC Arian is pushing the boundaries with DS Bell but has integrity and faith in pursuit of justice.
Kavanagh has created a plot full of so many twists and turns (not to mention red herrings!) that kept me guessing. I couldn’t put this book down and was suspicious of everyone! I enjoyed reading chapters from various points of view which provided a well rounded plot (not to mention tension filled, generating lots of question and suspicion!).
A fantastic crime thriller that keeps you guessing, a massive 5 stars from me. Highly recommended – once I finished this one I sought out Kavanagh’s other books to get them added to the TBR list (like I need to add more :))
August 26, 2019
Wonderful first chapter, I was captivated from the start.
My favourite character was Isla’s husband, Ramsey. I really felt for Ted Heron and felt his character was written so well, I was given an insight into his suffering.
I loved the welsh reference to DC Mina Arian’s name, however, she was my least favourite character.
My favourite character was Isla’s husband, Ramsey. I really felt for Ted Heron and felt his character was written so well, I was given an insight into his suffering.
I loved the welsh reference to DC Mina Arian’s name, however, she was my least favourite character.
April 21, 2019
http://openbooksociety.com/article/i-...
I Am Watching
By Emma Kavanagh
ISBN#9781496713742
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
From a distance, they seem to be sleeping. Three bodies, sitting propped up against the ancient stones of Hadrian’s Wall. A closer look reveals the horror of their too-white faces, and the ring of vivid red bruises around each neck.
The victims were found by schoolgirl Isla Bell, out on an early morning run along the historic site. That day changed the small, close-knit community of Briganton forever, and it also shaped the course of Isla’s life. Twenty years later, she’s a professor of criminal psychology at the University of Northumberland. She specializes in studying the brain function of psychopaths and serial killers, wrestling with the question that still haunts her: why? Why did Heath McGowan kill those people–and two more besides–before he was finally caught by Isla’s police detective father?
At last, Isla has a chance to get answers. Heath, previously unforthcoming about the murders, agrees to take part in her research. Isla’s husband, Ramsey–the only one of Heath’s victims to survive–cautions her against the meeting. But no matter how ready Isla feels to peer within a killer’s mind, there is no way to prepare for the fresh horror about to engulf Briganton. Another body is found, displayed just as
before . . . and then another. Is this a copycat, someone inspired by or receiving help from the serial killer behind bars? Or could the truth be darker still?
A brilliantly twisted thriller–gripping, atmospheric, and skillfully layered, I Am Watching will keep readers guessing until the very end. (Goodreads)
Review:
I enjoyed I Am Watching, especially the emphasis on the psychology of psychopaths. It was suspenseful enough to keep me reading into the night.
Isla’s life changed forever when she happened across three murder victims during an early morning run. She has made a career out of studying the psychotic mind, a life with the serial killer’s only surviving victim Ramsey. After repeated pleas to study Heath McGowan’s brain, he finally relents…and the murders start up again. Is it a copycat killer at work…or did the wrong person go to jail for the crimes twenty years ago?
I Am Watching gets off to a somewhat sluggish start. The murders and Isla’s research study are interesting enough, but the characters do not grab you and hold on tight. The lack of character development is a huge missed opportunity here and my biggest complaint about the story. Isla, her husband Ramsey, and the whole community have experienced trauma that they are never quite able to get over. Everyone has scars, but the characters are not fleshed out as well as they could have been. This makes the book enjoyable, but it could have been stellar. That said, Detective Constable Mina Arian is a bright spot, and though we do not learn a great deal about her, her tenacity in finding the truth is appealing.
I pegged the killer early on in the book, but raced through the pages to verify my hunch. This “need to know” made the book compelling for me, especially the last third or so of the tale. The buildup to the big reveal is suspenseful, but the actual execution of it was a bit lackluster. Another missed opportunity. The best aspect of the plot was that the current victims were connected to the past victims. This added depth to the tale.
I Am Watching is a nice departure from my usual historical and mystery fiction reading, and I liked it; I just hoped for a bit more from it. Recommended for suspense readers who are interested in the psychological aspects of a serial killer and readers who enjoy English police procedurals.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
I Am Watching
By Emma Kavanagh
ISBN#9781496713742
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
From a distance, they seem to be sleeping. Three bodies, sitting propped up against the ancient stones of Hadrian’s Wall. A closer look reveals the horror of their too-white faces, and the ring of vivid red bruises around each neck.
The victims were found by schoolgirl Isla Bell, out on an early morning run along the historic site. That day changed the small, close-knit community of Briganton forever, and it also shaped the course of Isla’s life. Twenty years later, she’s a professor of criminal psychology at the University of Northumberland. She specializes in studying the brain function of psychopaths and serial killers, wrestling with the question that still haunts her: why? Why did Heath McGowan kill those people–and two more besides–before he was finally caught by Isla’s police detective father?
At last, Isla has a chance to get answers. Heath, previously unforthcoming about the murders, agrees to take part in her research. Isla’s husband, Ramsey–the only one of Heath’s victims to survive–cautions her against the meeting. But no matter how ready Isla feels to peer within a killer’s mind, there is no way to prepare for the fresh horror about to engulf Briganton. Another body is found, displayed just as
before . . . and then another. Is this a copycat, someone inspired by or receiving help from the serial killer behind bars? Or could the truth be darker still?
A brilliantly twisted thriller–gripping, atmospheric, and skillfully layered, I Am Watching will keep readers guessing until the very end. (Goodreads)
Review:
I enjoyed I Am Watching, especially the emphasis on the psychology of psychopaths. It was suspenseful enough to keep me reading into the night.
Isla’s life changed forever when she happened across three murder victims during an early morning run. She has made a career out of studying the psychotic mind, a life with the serial killer’s only surviving victim Ramsey. After repeated pleas to study Heath McGowan’s brain, he finally relents…and the murders start up again. Is it a copycat killer at work…or did the wrong person go to jail for the crimes twenty years ago?
I Am Watching gets off to a somewhat sluggish start. The murders and Isla’s research study are interesting enough, but the characters do not grab you and hold on tight. The lack of character development is a huge missed opportunity here and my biggest complaint about the story. Isla, her husband Ramsey, and the whole community have experienced trauma that they are never quite able to get over. Everyone has scars, but the characters are not fleshed out as well as they could have been. This makes the book enjoyable, but it could have been stellar. That said, Detective Constable Mina Arian is a bright spot, and though we do not learn a great deal about her, her tenacity in finding the truth is appealing.
I pegged the killer early on in the book, but raced through the pages to verify my hunch. This “need to know” made the book compelling for me, especially the last third or so of the tale. The buildup to the big reveal is suspenseful, but the actual execution of it was a bit lackluster. Another missed opportunity. The best aspect of the plot was that the current victims were connected to the past victims. This added depth to the tale.
I Am Watching is a nice departure from my usual historical and mystery fiction reading, and I liked it; I just hoped for a bit more from it. Recommended for suspense readers who are interested in the psychological aspects of a serial killer and readers who enjoy English police procedurals.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
April 25, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC of
I Am Watching.
I was interested to read this because I love murder mysteries, especially when it involves a serial killer.
But there was something about I Am Watching that I just did not like, and I can't' quite put my finger on why exactly.
The premise wasn't bad, just not original.
Twenty years ago, a man was arrested for a spate of serial murders that shocked a small town. Twenty years later, the murders begin again.
Is the original killer dictating these new kills from behind the scenes? Who is responsible?
Okay, not bad. I can get on board this gravy train. I enjoy a good serial killer story just as much as the next person.
Oof, but the characters and the lack of development made it difficult to get drawn into the story.
Isla Bell is a professor of criminal psychology, astute and working on understanding why psychopaths kill.
Like real life and in fiction, she is intelligent and self aware about what she does but a total moron when it comes to her personal life.
But readers don't know her. Why did she and her husband get married? Love? Convenience? Because they survived a tragedy together?
No one is written with any depth, they're just chess pieces moving on a board and eliminated when the killer comes a-calling.
This story didn't resonate because it was SOO predictable.
I called out each twist as they occurred; police corruption, that the killer in prison is not who he says he is, the continual fake-outs of "It was this person! No, it wasn't. It was this one! No? Then, this dude who is standing right next to me!"
When the true identity of the murderer is revealed...wow, I saw that coming a mile away.
The big twist is not a twist. It was contrived and phony, because since there is no exposition on anyone, the identity of this person came out of left field.
We know nothing about this person, his or her thoughts, why he or she did what she did, what made this person this way.
Who are any of these people? What has surviving a serial killer done to a person?
Who were they before the murders?
I didn't care or like any of these people because I know nothing about them. I didn't even hate them enough to like them in that way. At least give me that!
It's like the author just chose this person to shock the reader but didn't take into account that readers aren't that stupid to fall for this fake-out.
I was interested to read this because I love murder mysteries, especially when it involves a serial killer.
But there was something about I Am Watching that I just did not like, and I can't' quite put my finger on why exactly.
The premise wasn't bad, just not original.
Twenty years ago, a man was arrested for a spate of serial murders that shocked a small town. Twenty years later, the murders begin again.
Is the original killer dictating these new kills from behind the scenes? Who is responsible?
Okay, not bad. I can get on board this gravy train. I enjoy a good serial killer story just as much as the next person.
Oof, but the characters and the lack of development made it difficult to get drawn into the story.
Isla Bell is a professor of criminal psychology, astute and working on understanding why psychopaths kill.
Like real life and in fiction, she is intelligent and self aware about what she does but a total moron when it comes to her personal life.
But readers don't know her. Why did she and her husband get married? Love? Convenience? Because they survived a tragedy together?
No one is written with any depth, they're just chess pieces moving on a board and eliminated when the killer comes a-calling.
This story didn't resonate because it was SOO predictable.
I called out each twist as they occurred; police corruption, that the killer in prison is not who he says he is, the continual fake-outs of "It was this person! No, it wasn't. It was this one! No? Then, this dude who is standing right next to me!"
When the true identity of the murderer is revealed...wow, I saw that coming a mile away.
The big twist is not a twist. It was contrived and phony, because since there is no exposition on anyone, the identity of this person came out of left field.
We know nothing about this person, his or her thoughts, why he or she did what she did, what made this person this way.
Who are any of these people? What has surviving a serial killer done to a person?
Who were they before the murders?
I didn't care or like any of these people because I know nothing about them. I didn't even hate them enough to like them in that way. At least give me that!
It's like the author just chose this person to shock the reader but didn't take into account that readers aren't that stupid to fall for this fake-out.
June 7, 2019
This was my first book by Emma Kavanagh and it was an exceptionally good read. It was intriguing and addictive with many surprising twists and turns. Although I found the start a little slow, the pace soon picked up and I became engrossed in the story. I love small-town crime novels and this book did not disappoint, especially as it was set around the historical site of Hadrian's Wall, which is very local to me. It hit all the right criteria for a good mystery novel, with strong main characters, good writing style, and some unexpected developments in the story. I will be reading other books by this author, Emma Kavanagh and I highly recommend "I Am Watching" to anyone who likes crime mysteries. Rating: 5 Stars.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
April 11, 2020
The killer on the wall
If I could score this more than five stars, then I would.
I absolutely loved this book.
It's a first for me reading anything by Emma Kavanagh, but it won't be the last.
The Killer On The Wall is a story about a killer who leans his victims up against Hadrian's Wall, but the killer was eventually caught and sentenced.
Twenty years later, another body appears leaning against the wall, exactly the same as before. Is this a copycat killer?
A truly gripping story and one I highly recommend
If I could score this more than five stars, then I would.
I absolutely loved this book.
It's a first for me reading anything by Emma Kavanagh, but it won't be the last.
The Killer On The Wall is a story about a killer who leans his victims up against Hadrian's Wall, but the killer was eventually caught and sentenced.
Twenty years later, another body appears leaning against the wall, exactly the same as before. Is this a copycat killer?
A truly gripping story and one I highly recommend
August 15, 2019
This was kind of dumb. Weird continuity errors, such as a woman who gets out of a car that she never got into in the first place. Factual errors, like feeling a baby kick only eight weeks into pregnancy. And just a dumb plot in general. Sociopaths/psychopaths are such a cop out. They're the "a wizard did it" of the mystery genre.
Why can't there be more smart mystery/thrillers? Tana French and Kate Atkinson can only write so many books.
Why can't there be more smart mystery/thrillers? Tana French and Kate Atkinson can only write so many books.
October 9, 2019
Had us guessing until the end.
May 11, 2017
Well first of all, the blurb tells you everything you need to know about the basic plot, so no more from me on that score. However what the blurb can't tell you is how well written and engaging this book is. From a dramatic start with the discovery of 3 bodies and a badly injured 4th victim, to the jaw-dropping end via fear, doubt and mistrust in the middle.
The book is set in Northumberland, in the fictional village of Briganton, somewhere close to Hadrian's wall. Using the setting of a small close-knit community, serves to heighten the horror of what happens as everyone is under suspicion, and it's evident that the killer is one of their own. While Isla Bell may have discovered the bodies, it was her father now Detective Sergeant Eric Bell who was responsible for tracking down and arresting Heath McGowan for the murders.
Twenty years later, and Isla is now married to Ramsey, the badly injured 4th victim, who also lost his brother to the killer. Now working as a forensic psychologist Isla's is researching what makes a person do what they do, and her study has now brought her face to face with Heath McGowan.
This meeting proves fatal for some, as it's the catalyst for the killings to start again. The village is once more engulfed by dread and panic as the unthinkable happens. Still on the case is DS Eric Bell but he's now been joined by DC Mina Arian, an incomer from London. Mina has her own baggage, which makes her an interesting character, but she also has her own mind, and her theories about the killings are not well received by DS Bell.
The fact that Heath McGowan, was safely locked up inside when the new killings occur, throws up lots of questions about the initial investigation, questions that certain people are not willing to answer. So the quest is on, to discover the truth about the past, before more lives are lost in the present.
I enjoyed this book on several levels. Firstly, as a police procedural (my favourite), I enjoyed following the investigation and piecing the clues and mis-directions. I always enjoy the team relationships and dynamics, and when they are amiss, as in this case it adds to the complications. Secondly, the characters, they were all well drawn, even the minor characters, and this latter really added to the pathos, when that character was the partner of a murder victim - you'll know when you there. Thirdly, the setting - almost a character in itself. The brooding, almost claustrophobic pall that envelops the town when the killings start again is indicative of a close-knit community already bearing the scars from the past. Finally, there is an interesting sub thread running through that looks at the nature of families, via sibling and parent/child relationships.
The big question with any thriller is did I guess the who was the culprit? Well despite having someone firmly in mind, I'll have to admit no I didn't, which really added to the shock, when they were finally revealed. So overall a thoroughly engaging read, with a satisfactory outcome.
I received an ecopy via NetGalley to enable this review.
The book is set in Northumberland, in the fictional village of Briganton, somewhere close to Hadrian's wall. Using the setting of a small close-knit community, serves to heighten the horror of what happens as everyone is under suspicion, and it's evident that the killer is one of their own. While Isla Bell may have discovered the bodies, it was her father now Detective Sergeant Eric Bell who was responsible for tracking down and arresting Heath McGowan for the murders.
Twenty years later, and Isla is now married to Ramsey, the badly injured 4th victim, who also lost his brother to the killer. Now working as a forensic psychologist Isla's is researching what makes a person do what they do, and her study has now brought her face to face with Heath McGowan.
This meeting proves fatal for some, as it's the catalyst for the killings to start again. The village is once more engulfed by dread and panic as the unthinkable happens. Still on the case is DS Eric Bell but he's now been joined by DC Mina Arian, an incomer from London. Mina has her own baggage, which makes her an interesting character, but she also has her own mind, and her theories about the killings are not well received by DS Bell.
The fact that Heath McGowan, was safely locked up inside when the new killings occur, throws up lots of questions about the initial investigation, questions that certain people are not willing to answer. So the quest is on, to discover the truth about the past, before more lives are lost in the present.
I enjoyed this book on several levels. Firstly, as a police procedural (my favourite), I enjoyed following the investigation and piecing the clues and mis-directions. I always enjoy the team relationships and dynamics, and when they are amiss, as in this case it adds to the complications. Secondly, the characters, they were all well drawn, even the minor characters, and this latter really added to the pathos, when that character was the partner of a murder victim - you'll know when you there. Thirdly, the setting - almost a character in itself. The brooding, almost claustrophobic pall that envelops the town when the killings start again is indicative of a close-knit community already bearing the scars from the past. Finally, there is an interesting sub thread running through that looks at the nature of families, via sibling and parent/child relationships.
The big question with any thriller is did I guess the who was the culprit? Well despite having someone firmly in mind, I'll have to admit no I didn't, which really added to the shock, when they were finally revealed. So overall a thoroughly engaging read, with a satisfactory outcome.
I received an ecopy via NetGalley to enable this review.
May 22, 2017
The setting is Briganton, infamous as the town where, twenty years previous, Heath McGowan went on a killing spree, with a signature of leaving his victims propped up against Hadrian’s Wall.
McGowan is now in prison but the killings have started again. Are they connected to the original murders and how can they be stopped?
Professor Isla Blair is a psychologist with a special interest in psychopathy. Her father is the police superintendent who solved the original case, and she is now married to the sole survivor of Heath McGowan’s attacks. McGowan has kept quiet on his crimes for the last twenty years, can she get him to talk, and will it help?
This is an entertaining and absorbing thriller. The success of Emma Kavanagh’s novels lies in her ability to produce well written, unusual and complex plots. Her tendency to re-tell a section from the perspective of each character, darkens the atmosphere as much as the endless wind and rain.
It is just a shame that neither Isla Blair nor Mina Arian, the determined police detective, truly take off as great characters, but the tension holds up almost to the end.
After The Missing Hours I looked forward to the next one, my expectations have been well satisfied.
I look forward to reading more.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK
McGowan is now in prison but the killings have started again. Are they connected to the original murders and how can they be stopped?
Professor Isla Blair is a psychologist with a special interest in psychopathy. Her father is the police superintendent who solved the original case, and she is now married to the sole survivor of Heath McGowan’s attacks. McGowan has kept quiet on his crimes for the last twenty years, can she get him to talk, and will it help?
This is an entertaining and absorbing thriller. The success of Emma Kavanagh’s novels lies in her ability to produce well written, unusual and complex plots. Her tendency to re-tell a section from the perspective of each character, darkens the atmosphere as much as the endless wind and rain.
It is just a shame that neither Isla Blair nor Mina Arian, the determined police detective, truly take off as great characters, but the tension holds up almost to the end.
After The Missing Hours I looked forward to the next one, my expectations have been well satisfied.
I look forward to reading more.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK
April 11, 2017
This for me didn’t live up to the expectations of the initial description. I really wanted to enjoy it but it just seemed to obvious. I’d got it down to two people quite quickly and both became part of the big reveal. Just a bit too much foreshadowing and not enough suspense for me.
The premise was a good one – small village murders being recreated twenty years on. Is it a copy cat? Was the original killer working with someone else who’s gone undetected all this time? These ideas are great and I would have liked to have seen these explored more. I enjoyed the multiple POVs – funnily enough the main one of Isla the university psychological specialist who played the biggest part was the least interesting for me. I’m glad it wasn’t solely focused on her. I enjoyed the POV of Mina the detective. I found her an intelligent and well developed character and could actually enjoy something based purely on her and the two other male junior detectives.
In the end just not enough suspense to keep me page turning
Free ARC on netgalley
The premise was a good one – small village murders being recreated twenty years on. Is it a copy cat? Was the original killer working with someone else who’s gone undetected all this time? These ideas are great and I would have liked to have seen these explored more. I enjoyed the multiple POVs – funnily enough the main one of Isla the university psychological specialist who played the biggest part was the least interesting for me. I’m glad it wasn’t solely focused on her. I enjoyed the POV of Mina the detective. I found her an intelligent and well developed character and could actually enjoy something based purely on her and the two other male junior detectives.
In the end just not enough suspense to keep me page turning
Free ARC on netgalley
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