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The People Watcher
Mercy Lake likes to fix things. To fix people. Trapped inside during daylight hours, hostage to her phobias, she uses the cover of night to watch the people in her town. And if someone needs her help, she steps in - secretly and with compassion.
When Mercy meets Louis, her lonely, unusual life is suddenly filled with excitement. Because Louis likes intervening in other people's lives too, only he prefers a more direct - even violent - approach. As they grow closer, Mercy is enchanted but frightened by his actions. How many lines is he willing to cross? And how much is he prepared to risk?
And then there's Nadia. Nadia knows she's being watched, even if the police think differently. But with her own secrets to protect, she's not going to wait around for the watcher to make their move. She's going to stop them dead.
When Mercy meets Louis, her lonely, unusual life is suddenly filled with excitement. Because Louis likes intervening in other people's lives too, only he prefers a more direct - even violent - approach. As they grow closer, Mercy is enchanted but frightened by his actions. How many lines is he willing to cross? And how much is he prepared to risk?
And then there's Nadia. Nadia knows she's being watched, even if the police think differently. But with her own secrets to protect, she's not going to wait around for the watcher to make their move. She's going to stop them dead.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published June 8, 2023
120 people are currently reading
1817 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
February 16, 2023
4.5 rounded up
A squalid hideout, a woman and child, dark figures sliding through trees, a German Shepherd, shocking memories from two years ago and capture. Three years later Mercy Lake is a night person, a fixer of things and lives, existing on the periphery and after an encounter which seems to promise a violent outcome she meets Louis, her rescuer. Or is he? As they become closer it’s clear they’re yin and yang but are his approaches to situations too violent for Mercy? How far is she prepared to go?
I think this is another cracking slow burner thriller from Sam Lloyd with several clever plot elements that make it stand out for me. First of all, Mercy has trauma in her past that has left her with physical problems that explain her peripheral existence and this is used to great effect giving a vertiginous edge to the storytelling and heightening moments of tension. Mercy has good in her heart and her nighttime watches and actions try to right the multitude of wrongs being done. What of Louis? He’s certainly fascinating and charismatic but is he bringing light or dark to Mercy’s world, that is the conundrum. A saviour or a destroyer? This is a terrific part of the plot as you try to figure him out.
The author keeps you on tenterhooks for a long time in understanding Mercy’s past and in perceiving her actions in the present day. Along the route there are many shocking, scary moments which often have a violent outcome. There is plenty tension especially as dangerous nets close in leaving a riot of destruction in its wake.
I love the clever use of music tracks which are used so effectively at key moments and the occasional humour that breaks the tension.
Overall, this is another compelling novel which is very hard to put down so organise a block of time or it’ll be a midnight oil burner! The characterisation is excellent, it takes some unusual angles which I really enjoy, there’s plenty of drama and well thought out plot twists, what’s not to like??!!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Transworld for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
A squalid hideout, a woman and child, dark figures sliding through trees, a German Shepherd, shocking memories from two years ago and capture. Three years later Mercy Lake is a night person, a fixer of things and lives, existing on the periphery and after an encounter which seems to promise a violent outcome she meets Louis, her rescuer. Or is he? As they become closer it’s clear they’re yin and yang but are his approaches to situations too violent for Mercy? How far is she prepared to go?
I think this is another cracking slow burner thriller from Sam Lloyd with several clever plot elements that make it stand out for me. First of all, Mercy has trauma in her past that has left her with physical problems that explain her peripheral existence and this is used to great effect giving a vertiginous edge to the storytelling and heightening moments of tension. Mercy has good in her heart and her nighttime watches and actions try to right the multitude of wrongs being done. What of Louis? He’s certainly fascinating and charismatic but is he bringing light or dark to Mercy’s world, that is the conundrum. A saviour or a destroyer? This is a terrific part of the plot as you try to figure him out.
The author keeps you on tenterhooks for a long time in understanding Mercy’s past and in perceiving her actions in the present day. Along the route there are many shocking, scary moments which often have a violent outcome. There is plenty tension especially as dangerous nets close in leaving a riot of destruction in its wake.
I love the clever use of music tracks which are used so effectively at key moments and the occasional humour that breaks the tension.
Overall, this is another compelling novel which is very hard to put down so organise a block of time or it’ll be a midnight oil burner! The characterisation is excellent, it takes some unusual angles which I really enjoy, there’s plenty of drama and well thought out plot twists, what’s not to like??!!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Transworld for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
June 9, 2023
EXCERPT: 'Keira Greenaway?' demands the man.
I shake my head. 'Keira Greenaway is dead.'
He blinks, stares at me hard, decides that I'm lying. 'Keira Greenaway, I'm arresting you on the suspicion of child abduction. You do not have to say anything -'
I want to say something.'
He sets his jaw. 'You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defense if -'
'Don't take him back there,' I tell him. 'Please, it isn't safe.'
ABOUT 'THE PEOPLE WATCHER': 'I watch them because I think they need help.'
Mercy Lake likes to fix things. To fix people. Trapped inside during daylight hours, hostage to her phobias, she uses the cover of night to watch the people in her town. And if someone needs her help, she steps in - secretly and with compassion.
When Mercy meets Louis, her lonely, unusual life is suddenly filled with excitement. Because Louis likes intervening in other people's lives too, only he prefers a more direct - even violent - approach. As they grow closer, Mercy is enchanted but frightened by his actions. How many lines is he willing to cross? And how much is he prepared to risk?
And then there's Nadia. Nadia knows she's being watched, even if the police think differently. But with her own secrets to protect, she's not going to wait around for the watcher to make their move. She's going to stop them dead.
'Small acts of kindness are far less effective than fear'
MY THOUGHTS: This is certainly an original storyline, one that intrigued me at the beginning but had palled slightly by the end. I think it took far too long for the reason why Mercy was the way she was to come out. If that had been revealed at the beginning, I think it would have improved the outcome for me. It was made out to be some great mystery with small snippets of information being revealed throughout the storyline, and it really wasn't necessary to do it this way.
Mercy is a complex character. We know she has problems with her balance, and heterochromia iridium - which may be part of a genetic condition or may be a growth (iris nevus) or, in the case of Mercy, occur after an eye or head injury - she is prone to blackouts and has an irrational fear of daylight. She collects lives - other people's - and intervenes in them, kindly, trying to make a positive difference. I loved Mercy's kind heart, the nicknames she devised for those she watched, and had great hopes for her.
Louis was the character I had problems with. He kind of took over her life and manipulated her into doing things that she would never have considered on her own. Louis, I felt, was a little too extreme.
Having said that, the plot intrigued me, and I wanted to know just how far this couple would go. It was kind of like driving past a car wreck and not being able to not look.
I liked The People Watcher, but I didn't love it.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#ThePeopleWatcher #NetGalley
I: #samlloyd #randomhouseUK
T: @samlloydwrites @BantamPress
#contemporaryfiction #crime #mystery #thriller
THE AUTHOR: Sam Lloyd grew up in Hampshire, where he learned his love of storytelling. These days he lives in Surrey with his wife, three young sons and a dog that likes to howl.
DISCLOSURE: A huge thank you to Random House, Transworld Publishing, Bantam Press via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Rising Tide by Sam Lloyd. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
I shake my head. 'Keira Greenaway is dead.'
He blinks, stares at me hard, decides that I'm lying. 'Keira Greenaway, I'm arresting you on the suspicion of child abduction. You do not have to say anything -'
I want to say something.'
He sets his jaw. 'You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defense if -'
'Don't take him back there,' I tell him. 'Please, it isn't safe.'
ABOUT 'THE PEOPLE WATCHER': 'I watch them because I think they need help.'
Mercy Lake likes to fix things. To fix people. Trapped inside during daylight hours, hostage to her phobias, she uses the cover of night to watch the people in her town. And if someone needs her help, she steps in - secretly and with compassion.
When Mercy meets Louis, her lonely, unusual life is suddenly filled with excitement. Because Louis likes intervening in other people's lives too, only he prefers a more direct - even violent - approach. As they grow closer, Mercy is enchanted but frightened by his actions. How many lines is he willing to cross? And how much is he prepared to risk?
And then there's Nadia. Nadia knows she's being watched, even if the police think differently. But with her own secrets to protect, she's not going to wait around for the watcher to make their move. She's going to stop them dead.
'Small acts of kindness are far less effective than fear'
MY THOUGHTS: This is certainly an original storyline, one that intrigued me at the beginning but had palled slightly by the end. I think it took far too long for the reason why Mercy was the way she was to come out. If that had been revealed at the beginning, I think it would have improved the outcome for me. It was made out to be some great mystery with small snippets of information being revealed throughout the storyline, and it really wasn't necessary to do it this way.
Mercy is a complex character. We know she has problems with her balance, and heterochromia iridium - which may be part of a genetic condition or may be a growth (iris nevus) or, in the case of Mercy, occur after an eye or head injury - she is prone to blackouts and has an irrational fear of daylight. She collects lives - other people's - and intervenes in them, kindly, trying to make a positive difference. I loved Mercy's kind heart, the nicknames she devised for those she watched, and had great hopes for her.
Louis was the character I had problems with. He kind of took over her life and manipulated her into doing things that she would never have considered on her own. Louis, I felt, was a little too extreme.
Having said that, the plot intrigued me, and I wanted to know just how far this couple would go. It was kind of like driving past a car wreck and not being able to not look.
I liked The People Watcher, but I didn't love it.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#ThePeopleWatcher #NetGalley
I: #samlloyd #randomhouseUK
T: @samlloydwrites @BantamPress
#contemporaryfiction #crime #mystery #thriller
THE AUTHOR: Sam Lloyd grew up in Hampshire, where he learned his love of storytelling. These days he lives in Surrey with his wife, three young sons and a dog that likes to howl.
DISCLOSURE: A huge thank you to Random House, Transworld Publishing, Bantam Press via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Rising Tide by Sam Lloyd. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
May 19, 2023
I loved this book so much that I couldn't put it down. The People Watcher by Sam Lloyd is a brilliant and twisty slow-burning thriller that kept me guessing until the very end.
The author did a great job of creating a complex and realistic character in Keira, who is obsessed with watching other people's lives through her binoculars. She is not a typical heroine, but a flawed and troubled person who makes some questionable choices. The plot was well-paced and full of surprises, and the writing was engaging and immersive. The author also used some clever techniques to make the reader question what they see and who they believe.
This was one of the best thrillers I've read in some time and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good psychological suspense novel.
Thanks to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for supplying an ARC copy of this publication.
The author did a great job of creating a complex and realistic character in Keira, who is obsessed with watching other people's lives through her binoculars. She is not a typical heroine, but a flawed and troubled person who makes some questionable choices. The plot was well-paced and full of surprises, and the writing was engaging and immersive. The author also used some clever techniques to make the reader question what they see and who they believe.
This was one of the best thrillers I've read in some time and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good psychological suspense novel.
Thanks to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for supplying an ARC copy of this publication.
April 19, 2023
I was proper chuffed to snag this one from Netgalley, it's another pretty decent slow burner from Sam Lloyd, with plenty of intrigue and mystery to keep me going. I liked the characters, good and bad, and it was well written with little breadcrumbs gradually dropped along the way to keep the reader turning the pages. I was able to root for Mercy the main character, and found her quirks and medical history intriguing. I really enjoyed this one, Sam Lloyd is becoming a favourite, and I'll very much be looking out for his next offering.
Many thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for the ARC.
Many thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for the ARC.
January 31, 2025
Mercy Lake likes to fix things and people. She uses the cover of night to watch the people in her town and if someone needs her help, she steps in - secretly and with compassion. Then Mercy meets Louis who also likes intervening in other people's lives, only he prefers a more direct - even violent - approach. As they grow closer, Mercy is enchanted but frightened by his actions.
Excuse me while I unravel what I just read so that I can put together a coherent review. In the beginning I thought I was going to be in trouble because I had to force myself to put the book down but it gradually lost its grip on me. Not that I liked the book any less but I thought it went on a bit long and I was anxious to get to the end and have all my questions answered. Mercy Lake is a very likeable character with a big heart but I was a little worried about Louis. This is a slow burn novel with a bit too much gratuitous violence in my opinion.
This is Sam Lloyd's third novel and I've read them all. His books are highly recommended. His 4th novel is slated for release in June this year and I'm really looking forward to it.
TW: animal neglect, sadistic behaviour.
Thanks to the London Public Library for the loan of this book.
Published May 21, 2024
Excuse me while I unravel what I just read so that I can put together a coherent review. In the beginning I thought I was going to be in trouble because I had to force myself to put the book down but it gradually lost its grip on me. Not that I liked the book any less but I thought it went on a bit long and I was anxious to get to the end and have all my questions answered. Mercy Lake is a very likeable character with a big heart but I was a little worried about Louis. This is a slow burn novel with a bit too much gratuitous violence in my opinion.
This is Sam Lloyd's third novel and I've read them all. His books are highly recommended. His 4th novel is slated for release in June this year and I'm really looking forward to it.
TW: animal neglect, sadistic behaviour.
Thanks to the London Public Library for the loan of this book.
Published May 21, 2024
May 26, 2023
Sometimes on a warm day, one likes to sit outside a pub with a drink in hand, or lounge on a park bench with a yummy ice cream. And sometimes one might like to watch people from behind a pair of dark sunglasses, make up stories about them, imagine their lives. Just me? Right, moving swiftly on then.
That's not quite what goes on in Sam Lloyd's 'The People Watcher' as Mercy Lake knows a fair bit about the stories and lives of the residents in her town. It's what she does after all. Watch people and possibly also try to help them somehow. A little kindness goes a long way, does it not? But Mercy has issues. A rather long list of them, as it goes. These all seem to stem from something that happened to her a few years ago. It's also somehow connected as to why she's here, doing what she does.
Mercy's life may not amount to much from an outsider's point-of-view, but she's coping as best as she can. There's something admirable about her, in a way. The way she tries to make someone else's life better, while her own is a bit of a mess. As the reader, you want good things for her. You hope there's another life for her out there. Could that possibly be with Louis? He too likes to watch people and help them, but let's just say he is more from the dark side. The two have an instant connection though.
Lots of questions in need of answers. Why is Mercy the way she is? Why is the Rafferty family so important to her? It takes a while for the pieces of the puzzle to come together. Obviously, or this would have been a really short book. But I had a fabulous time trying to work things out. I thought I had a bit of an inkling but I was never quite sure of where things were heading. In hindsight, I doubt I could have predicted how the whole picture came together.
I have to admit there was one character I found somewhat superfluous to the story. It seemed to me that things would have worked out just perfectly without that particular personage. I didn't quite see the need for them, nor their actions. It often felt rather gratuitous to me.
'The People Watcher' is an intriguing and compelling psychological thriller. There's an underlying current of tension, that feeling in your bones that you shouldn't get too comfortable because there's danger somewhere. You just don't know where it's going to come from. I was fascinated by the subtle changes that Louis brings about, captivated by this odd relationship he and Mercy seem to have, wondering how far Mercy would be willing to go, and always utterly absorbed by the tale Sam Lloyd was spinning me. 'The People Watcher' is a clever, well-plotted and entertaining story that held my attention throughout, and most definitely my favourite Sam Lloyd to date.
That's not quite what goes on in Sam Lloyd's 'The People Watcher' as Mercy Lake knows a fair bit about the stories and lives of the residents in her town. It's what she does after all. Watch people and possibly also try to help them somehow. A little kindness goes a long way, does it not? But Mercy has issues. A rather long list of them, as it goes. These all seem to stem from something that happened to her a few years ago. It's also somehow connected as to why she's here, doing what she does.
Mercy's life may not amount to much from an outsider's point-of-view, but she's coping as best as she can. There's something admirable about her, in a way. The way she tries to make someone else's life better, while her own is a bit of a mess. As the reader, you want good things for her. You hope there's another life for her out there. Could that possibly be with Louis? He too likes to watch people and help them, but let's just say he is more from the dark side. The two have an instant connection though.
Lots of questions in need of answers. Why is Mercy the way she is? Why is the Rafferty family so important to her? It takes a while for the pieces of the puzzle to come together. Obviously, or this would have been a really short book. But I had a fabulous time trying to work things out. I thought I had a bit of an inkling but I was never quite sure of where things were heading. In hindsight, I doubt I could have predicted how the whole picture came together.
I have to admit there was one character I found somewhat superfluous to the story. It seemed to me that things would have worked out just perfectly without that particular personage. I didn't quite see the need for them, nor their actions. It often felt rather gratuitous to me.
'The People Watcher' is an intriguing and compelling psychological thriller. There's an underlying current of tension, that feeling in your bones that you shouldn't get too comfortable because there's danger somewhere. You just don't know where it's going to come from. I was fascinated by the subtle changes that Louis brings about, captivated by this odd relationship he and Mercy seem to have, wondering how far Mercy would be willing to go, and always utterly absorbed by the tale Sam Lloyd was spinning me. 'The People Watcher' is a clever, well-plotted and entertaining story that held my attention throughout, and most definitely my favourite Sam Lloyd to date.
July 8, 2023
3 / 5
I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I had hoped for. I was expecting something dark, sinister and grotesque but it wasn’t really that. I’m still processing the ending and the book in general but it’s giving me mixed feelings.
The book follows Mercy Lake who suffers blackouts due to a brain injury she sustained in Italy. She is a people watcher who refers to herself as night people, where she’s alive at night and sleeps through the day. During the time she’s awake, she watches people from afar and goes out of her way to fix things for people in the small town called Cranners ford. A habit she formed after her injury. She meets Louis at a Texaco petrol station who saves her from the abuse and grief from the local boys. She strikes a partnership with Louis carrying out helpful deeds at night. But the interventions of the partnership evolves and starts starts going too far and she is forced to take action and starts to review over the incidents leading up to her injury.
The premise revolves around the brain injury/ traumatic event, with focus of two characters Simon and Nadia. At the start it makes no sense on what Is happening and how these characters will meet. This book is a slow burn in all fairness, for the most 300 pages nothing happens, it’s really the last 70 pages where things kick up a notch. I was struggling to see how the ending of the book would play out, but personally I did t really like the ending or the twists. Overall, this book wasn’t for me, I struggled a lot with the slow pace, so to take myself out of the misery I just forced myself to read the book whole. Even though the book was easy to read I didn’t really like the plot/ the plot felt pointless in the end, the reveal took too long that by the time it was revealed I had already felt like the book should be over. I also didn’t like Louis that much, it just gave me pedo/ manipulator vibes even though nothing of that happened.
I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I had hoped for. I was expecting something dark, sinister and grotesque but it wasn’t really that. I’m still processing the ending and the book in general but it’s giving me mixed feelings.
The book follows Mercy Lake who suffers blackouts due to a brain injury she sustained in Italy. She is a people watcher who refers to herself as night people, where she’s alive at night and sleeps through the day. During the time she’s awake, she watches people from afar and goes out of her way to fix things for people in the small town called Cranners ford. A habit she formed after her injury. She meets Louis at a Texaco petrol station who saves her from the abuse and grief from the local boys. She strikes a partnership with Louis carrying out helpful deeds at night. But the interventions of the partnership evolves and starts starts going too far and she is forced to take action and starts to review over the incidents leading up to her injury.
The premise revolves around the brain injury/ traumatic event, with focus of two characters Simon and Nadia. At the start it makes no sense on what Is happening and how these characters will meet. This book is a slow burn in all fairness, for the most 300 pages nothing happens, it’s really the last 70 pages where things kick up a notch. I was struggling to see how the ending of the book would play out, but personally I did t really like the ending or the twists. Overall, this book wasn’t for me, I struggled a lot with the slow pace, so to take myself out of the misery I just forced myself to read the book whole. Even though the book was easy to read I didn’t really like the plot/ the plot felt pointless in the end, the reveal took too long that by the time it was revealed I had already felt like the book should be over. I also didn’t like Louis that much, it just gave me pedo/ manipulator vibes even though nothing of that happened.
June 12, 2023
It’s been almost 4 years since I read The Memory Woods by Sam Lloyd and to be honest, the story still resonates in my mind, haunting me with the most complex portrayal of its protagonist. The People Watcher by the same standards is another example of phenomenal writing by the author whose central character carves a piece of your heart. Mercy Lake is a woman who has recovered from blunt trauma to her brain, with coordination and mobility issues, her vertigo hitting her at inopportune times and causing mayhem, her eyes suffering from heterochromia and to top it all her irrevocable fear of daylight leading to an invisible existence as a Night person.
Her life is Cranner’s Road is a lonely one but the simple acts of kindness she bestows on the people she watches at night give her a reason to plod thru and it is that loneliness that allows her to open up to Louis who walks in like an angel but soon becomes something more.
The story is engrossing and trust me, when I say this that you better get all your chores done before taking this up coz, no way you are gonna be happy about letting time come in between the events unfolding in Mercy Lake’s life. Sam Lloyd’s fantabulous writing captures the town and the residents that Mercy watches in all its technicolor and the nicknames adding to the charm of these people whose life Mercy intervenes in. The surprising twists and the revelations of the trauma that Mercy suffered are thru flashbacks and it takes its time to get there but the reader is made to feel the uneasiness of an explosion just waiting to happen as Louis begins to control Mercy’s action and takes it upon himself to play judge and jury.
A slow burn thriller that leaves you with goosebumps, The People Watcher is yet again a cracking page turner from Sam Lloyd.
Masterful indeed!
Many thanks to Net Galley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog Rain'n'Books, ##Goodreads, ##Amazon India, ##Book Bub, ##Medium.com, ##Facebook, ##Twitter.
Her life is Cranner’s Road is a lonely one but the simple acts of kindness she bestows on the people she watches at night give her a reason to plod thru and it is that loneliness that allows her to open up to Louis who walks in like an angel but soon becomes something more.
The story is engrossing and trust me, when I say this that you better get all your chores done before taking this up coz, no way you are gonna be happy about letting time come in between the events unfolding in Mercy Lake’s life. Sam Lloyd’s fantabulous writing captures the town and the residents that Mercy watches in all its technicolor and the nicknames adding to the charm of these people whose life Mercy intervenes in. The surprising twists and the revelations of the trauma that Mercy suffered are thru flashbacks and it takes its time to get there but the reader is made to feel the uneasiness of an explosion just waiting to happen as Louis begins to control Mercy’s action and takes it upon himself to play judge and jury.
A slow burn thriller that leaves you with goosebumps, The People Watcher is yet again a cracking page turner from Sam Lloyd.
Masterful indeed!
Many thanks to Net Galley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog Rain'n'Books, ##Goodreads, ##Amazon India, ##Book Bub, ##Medium.com, ##Facebook, ##Twitter.
October 23, 2023
really intriguing synopsis and i enjoyed following Mercy, but i’m not sure if it was just the writing or the way new characters kept being introduced throughout the book, but i spent a lot of the last half of the book really confused on what was happening and who these characters even were
June 15, 2023
Definitely not your run of the mill crime thriller. I loved the main character Mercy who cannot bear bright light so only ventures out at night. Mercy had a traumatic brain injury in her past and lives a very singular life and finds it very hard to trust. Mercy is also a people watcher and likes to help in her own way whether it is needed or not. Mercy meets another people watcher who befriends her and unbeknownst to her has more of a hands on approach to the people they watch.. Once I started reading I could not put this book down. I was rooting for Mercy all the way. Almost five stars and highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
May 21, 2023
I was lucky enough to receive a proof copy of this book from the publisher. Mercy is a slightly troubled young woman whose aversion to daylight means she only comes out at night to secretly watch various people around the town of Cranner's Ford. One night she meets Louis who changes the way she interacts with the people she watches. I wasn't sure what kind of thriller this was going to be at first; it took a little while to figure Mercy out. She's a complex character but believable and I was curious to see where the author would take her story. It kind of pootles along with Louis adding some unpredictability until the ending totally ramps up the action. I liked how the connections between the people Mercy watched were gradually revealed.
May 9, 2023
Sam Lloyd is the King of the rollercoaster read…
The People Watcher was totally not what I expected, and like nothing else I have read. Part a Good Samaritan tale, part “grab you by the throat” thriller, and packing an ending to rock you to the core.
Half of me wanted to devour the book, another part wanted to savour it. Either way, like his other novels in previous years, The People Watcher is my book of the year, and I very much look forward to Sam’s next offering.
Whatever his next book is, it will be unexpected, and a neat dodge away from the generic thrillers of recent times. Just brilliant.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
**Triggers - contains descriptions of animal suffering and abuse, I normally abandon books when I get a whiff of this coming, but on persevering (and trusting this particular author to not use the subject matter for the sake of it or being too detailed) - it was actually ok. As an animal lover and with friends who feel the same, I always like to be alerted if a book contains anything offensive in this manner, **potential minor spoiler** - and the perpetrators got their just deserts. And nothing further happens to the featured puppy.
The People Watcher was totally not what I expected, and like nothing else I have read. Part a Good Samaritan tale, part “grab you by the throat” thriller, and packing an ending to rock you to the core.
Half of me wanted to devour the book, another part wanted to savour it. Either way, like his other novels in previous years, The People Watcher is my book of the year, and I very much look forward to Sam’s next offering.
Whatever his next book is, it will be unexpected, and a neat dodge away from the generic thrillers of recent times. Just brilliant.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
**Triggers - contains descriptions of animal suffering and abuse, I normally abandon books when I get a whiff of this coming, but on persevering (and trusting this particular author to not use the subject matter for the sake of it or being too detailed) - it was actually ok. As an animal lover and with friends who feel the same, I always like to be alerted if a book contains anything offensive in this manner, **potential minor spoiler** - and the perpetrators got their just deserts. And nothing further happens to the featured puppy.
October 17, 2023
Mercy is a loner. She only ventures out at night, on her trusty trike. She watches the world during the long nights, observing the good people, the bad people, the people who need help.
Then she meets Louis. He brings excitement into her life and suddenly she’s filled with purpose. She lets him into her world and watches him wreak revenge on those that deserve it.
Mercy and Louis both observe Nadia. She knows she’s being watched and she’s nervous. The police don’t care so she’s going back to her past to get the protection she needs. But is Nadia good or bad?
This is my second Sam Lloyd book and it didn’t disappoint. So much of this story is set in the dead of night, which conjures up a real atmosphere of darkness and menace. It’s a slow burn, which I was expecting. Getting to know all of the characters Mercy observes was fascinating. And talking of fascinating I was utterly captivated with Tapia, his character was mesmerising.
With a plot that slowly creeps along until it suddenly spins around, knocks you off your feet and leaves you gasping with shock, this truly is a brilliantly clever and exceptionally well plotted book.
Then she meets Louis. He brings excitement into her life and suddenly she’s filled with purpose. She lets him into her world and watches him wreak revenge on those that deserve it.
Mercy and Louis both observe Nadia. She knows she’s being watched and she’s nervous. The police don’t care so she’s going back to her past to get the protection she needs. But is Nadia good or bad?
This is my second Sam Lloyd book and it didn’t disappoint. So much of this story is set in the dead of night, which conjures up a real atmosphere of darkness and menace. It’s a slow burn, which I was expecting. Getting to know all of the characters Mercy observes was fascinating. And talking of fascinating I was utterly captivated with Tapia, his character was mesmerising.
With a plot that slowly creeps along until it suddenly spins around, knocks you off your feet and leaves you gasping with shock, this truly is a brilliantly clever and exceptionally well plotted book.
May 27, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I really enjoy reading this book right up until the end, I just feel like certain characters had a shit ending, all this build up just thrown away…
Also if the writer wants to talk about nail polish and being in a beauty salon they probably need to do more research, there’s no Acetone in Nail Polish!! … and that smell when you walk into a salon also won’t be acetone, it’ll be monomer - sorry just had to say it as I’m a nail tech 😂😂
I really enjoy reading this book right up until the end, I just feel like certain characters had a shit ending, all this build up just thrown away…
Also if the writer wants to talk about nail polish and being in a beauty salon they probably need to do more research, there’s no Acetone in Nail Polish!! … and that smell when you walk into a salon also won’t be acetone, it’ll be monomer - sorry just had to say it as I’m a nail tech 😂😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2023
I was first introduced to Sam Lloyd’s books through THE RISING TIDE, a pulse-pounding thriller that easily made it onto my favourites list and which I still recommend to people who are looking for a fast-paced, suspenseful read. In THE PEOPLE WATCHER, Lloyd again presents us with characters who are secretive and not fully reliable narrators, which put all my senses on instant alert.
Mercy Lake is as intriguing as she is damaged. We learn early on that she has suffered a serious traumatic brain injury, which has made her a recluse who secretly spies on people in the dark and likes to dispense little acts of kindness to make their lives better. We also know that she has had a run-in with the law and is still known to the police, even though the details of her past won’t be revealed until much later. Enter Louis, who saves Mercy from teenage thugs harassing her one night and ends up befriending her. Louis likes Mercy’s idea of righting wrongs in the community, though he prefers to take a more violent approach. And thus, Mercy’s mission suddenly takes on a much more sinister turn …
There are so many hidden secrets in Lloyd’s latest book that it took me a while to make sense of it all. The hunters suddenly become the hunted, the victims the perpetrators, and just as I thought I had worked it all out, everyone switched sides again. Though I was intrigued throughout, I admit that not everything fell into place for me in the end, and some answers weren’t as satisfactory as I had hoped. At one point, the story took a very dark and sinister turn, and I was glad that the author tugged on the reins just in time before letting that particular thread spiral out of control.
In summary, I found THE PEOPLE WATCHER to be a very original and intriguing premise that may have taken on just a bit more than it could satisfactorily wrap up in the end without losing some credibility. That said, it certainly kept me turning the pages to find out all the answers.
3.5 stars
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Mercy Lake is as intriguing as she is damaged. We learn early on that she has suffered a serious traumatic brain injury, which has made her a recluse who secretly spies on people in the dark and likes to dispense little acts of kindness to make their lives better. We also know that she has had a run-in with the law and is still known to the police, even though the details of her past won’t be revealed until much later. Enter Louis, who saves Mercy from teenage thugs harassing her one night and ends up befriending her. Louis likes Mercy’s idea of righting wrongs in the community, though he prefers to take a more violent approach. And thus, Mercy’s mission suddenly takes on a much more sinister turn …
There are so many hidden secrets in Lloyd’s latest book that it took me a while to make sense of it all. The hunters suddenly become the hunted, the victims the perpetrators, and just as I thought I had worked it all out, everyone switched sides again. Though I was intrigued throughout, I admit that not everything fell into place for me in the end, and some answers weren’t as satisfactory as I had hoped. At one point, the story took a very dark and sinister turn, and I was glad that the author tugged on the reins just in time before letting that particular thread spiral out of control.
In summary, I found THE PEOPLE WATCHER to be a very original and intriguing premise that may have taken on just a bit more than it could satisfactorily wrap up in the end without losing some credibility. That said, it certainly kept me turning the pages to find out all the answers.
3.5 stars
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April 1, 2023
Woweeee this latest book from the amazingly talented Sam Lloyd certainly hits the spot as far as gripping thrillers go I absolutely loved it.
Mercy Lake is a people watcher and someone who likes to fix things for needy souls using the cover of night due to her phobia of daylight creeps around the neighbourhood visiting the people she cares about without their knowledge. But Mercy is much more than she seems and after a traumatic incident where she meets the enigmatic Louis things began to take a sinister turn and my goodness I had no idea where this book was going !
There are so many twists in the story and it’s very gruesome but what I loved was the many emotions I felt when reading it, the story builds up slowly releasing bits of information that as the book progresses it all begins to make sense but what surprised me most was just how much I loved Mercy.
Its a story that’s hard to describe because it’s very different and I think this is the best book that Sam Lloyd has written, it was a thriller yes …but oh so much more than that !
So for me a 5 star read and one I would highly recommend I can’t fault it and many thanks Mr Lloyd it was a wild ride!
My thanks also to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Bantam for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Mercy Lake is a people watcher and someone who likes to fix things for needy souls using the cover of night due to her phobia of daylight creeps around the neighbourhood visiting the people she cares about without their knowledge. But Mercy is much more than she seems and after a traumatic incident where she meets the enigmatic Louis things began to take a sinister turn and my goodness I had no idea where this book was going !
There are so many twists in the story and it’s very gruesome but what I loved was the many emotions I felt when reading it, the story builds up slowly releasing bits of information that as the book progresses it all begins to make sense but what surprised me most was just how much I loved Mercy.
Its a story that’s hard to describe because it’s very different and I think this is the best book that Sam Lloyd has written, it was a thriller yes …but oh so much more than that !
So for me a 5 star read and one I would highly recommend I can’t fault it and many thanks Mr Lloyd it was a wild ride!
My thanks also to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Bantam for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 17, 2023
I know I’ll be in the minority with this review as so many people have loved this book but for me I just couldn’t get on with it and found it didn’t hold my interest. I did finish it as there was a ‘shocking’ ending promised, but it wasn’t really a surprise to me. I couldn’t gel with any of the characters and didn’t really enjoy reading it. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and the author for the chance to review.
June 10, 2023
This story had a good premise and it started out intriguing and gripping. I then lost interest in the middle and the story arc ended up a little too predictable for me to stay gripped unfortunately. I wanted a little more from the characters and had lost interest by the end.
Not for me unfortunately!
Not for me unfortunately!
June 6, 2025
Puh, ich weiß gar nicht so recht, was ich zu diesem Buch sagen soll. Irgendwie hat es mich unterhalten, irgendwie aber auch nicht. Ich fand es stellenweise ganz spannend und dann gab es wieder Abschnitte, die mich gelangweilt und/oder verwirrt haben. Die Charaktere waren ziemlich schräg und nicht auf die gute Art. Der Plottwist am Ende - wenn man es denn so nennen kann - wirkte auf mich an den Haaren herbeigezogen und zu sehr inszeniert, da es meines Erachtens nach im Verlauf der Handlung keinerlei Hinweise darauf gab. Vielleicht habe ich sie aber auch überlesen, wer weiß. Außerdem war mir das Ende etwas zu offen, ich hätte gern einen „sauberen“ Abschluss gehabt. Solide 3 Sterne für „Sie sieht, was du tust“, aber ich würde das Buch nicht weiterempfehlen. Eingefleischte Thriller - Liebhaber*innen kommen hier leider nicht auf ihre Kosten.
July 22, 2025
Ich muss sagen ich fande das Buch unglaublich öde. Ich habe mit den Hauptcharakteren null sympathisiert und die Story hat sich so gezogen. Einen "Plottwist" gab es für mich nicht wirklich, da es alles sehr vorhersehbar war 🥲
June 8, 2023
The People Watcher is an excellent, unsettling and very different thriller from anything I’ve read this year.
A book that really hooks you in, and everything I thought I had worked out was never what happened.
It’s unique, complex and just hold your intrigue, it’s really very good,
The pacing feels right as Sam Lloyd slowly and surely builds to the brilliant crescendo.
. It’s fine writing. One of my favourites of the year from a massively talented author.
A book that really hooks you in, and everything I thought I had worked out was never what happened.
It’s unique, complex and just hold your intrigue, it’s really very good,
The pacing feels right as Sam Lloyd slowly and surely builds to the brilliant crescendo.
. It’s fine writing. One of my favourites of the year from a massively talented author.
March 12, 2025
Mercy Lake ist ein Nachtmensch. Bei Tageslicht verbarrikadiert sie sich zu Hause, doch kaum ist die Sonne untergegangen, geht sie ihrem “Geschäft” nach: Sie beobachtet ihre Mitmenschen in der Kleinstadt und manipuliert unbemerkt an ihren Leben herum, doch immer mit einem wohlwollenden Grundgedanken. Da wird der stadtbekannte Ganove am Einbrechen gehindert, dem bettlägerigen Alten ein schönerer Fensterausblick arrangiert und der vergesslichen Dame die Mülltonne rausgestellt. Doch eines Nachts trifft Mercy auf Louis, der ganz fasziniert von ihr zu sein scheint. Er schließt sich ihren nächtlichen Aufgaben an, doch schnell wird klar, dass Louis weit drastischere Vorgehensweisen bevorzugt. Zunächst ist Mercy ganz angetan von Louis und den neuen Impulsen, doch die Situation beginnt allmählich zu eskalieren…
Mercy Lake ist eine sehr seltsame Person. Die anfängliche Beschreibung von ihr war echt bizarr und ich hatte Schwierigkeiten ein Bild vor meinen Augen entstehen zu lassen. Die derzeitige Situation von Mercy gibt viele Rätsel auf, die man als Leser auch nicht sofort erfassen kann. Was es mit Mercys Zustand und ihrer Allgemeinverfassung auf sich hat, das bekommen wir portionsweise im Laufe der Story mit, doch so richtig Sinn macht es erst zum Ende des Buches. Auf jeden Fall haben wir hier mit Mercy eine sehr einprägsame Protagonistin. Doch wir lesen die Geschichte nicht nur aus Mercys Perspektive.
Ein besonderes Augenmerk ist im Buch auf die weiteren Personen gelegt worden. Dadurch dass Mercy ihre Mitmenschen alle nur durch reines Beobachten “kennt”, hat sie ihnen passende Spitznamen gegeben. Und so bemerkt man manchmal erst im Laufe des Kapitels, dass wir hier gerade aus der Perspektive eines Menschen lesen, den wir von Mercys Erzählungen her mit einem ganz anderen Namen kennen. Anfangs fand ich den Wust an vorkommenden Personen etwas viel und hatte die Befürchtung, dass ich durcheinander komme. Außerdem war mir lange nicht ganz klar wohin die Erzählung eigentlich gehen möchte, doch selten hat der Spruch “Trust the Process” so viel Sinn ergeben wie hier. Scheinbar unzusammenhängende Szenen und Personen, ergeben am Ende einfach total Sinn und ergeben ein rundes Bild.
Der Einstieg in das Buch war zugegebenermaßen etwas holperig. Man bekommt nicht direkt mit, wie die anfänglichen Kapitel zusammenhängen, doch wie gesagt, lohnt es sich am Ball zu bleiben. Generell könnte ich mir schon vorstellen, dass manche sich mit dem Sprachstil etwas schwer tun. Manche Szenen werden einfach sehr merkwürdig beschrieben, die Sätze waren teilweise einfach etwas holperig und absichtlich abgehackt. Worte werden einfach so einzeln stehen gelassen. Ich nehme an, dass das durchaus gewollt war und eben auf Mercys Gesundheitszustand zurückzuführen ist. Dennoch habe ich mich zwischenzeitlich gefragt was für einen wirren Unsinn ich hier lese.
Das letzte Drittel hat dem Buch definitiv einen Aufschwung verpasst, denn ab dem Punkt, wo alles etwas klarer wurde, konnte ich das Buch kaum noch weglegen. Trotz der gewöhnungsbedürftigen Schreibweise, lässt dich alles sehr schnell lesen und vor allem die kleinen Geschichten drum herum haben es sehr interessant gemacht. Sicherlich nicht ein Buch für Jedermann, aber wer gerne Thriller liest und einfach mal einen etwas anderen Spin reinbringen möchte, der sollte sich dieses Buch mal anschauen!
Mercy Lake ist eine sehr seltsame Person. Die anfängliche Beschreibung von ihr war echt bizarr und ich hatte Schwierigkeiten ein Bild vor meinen Augen entstehen zu lassen. Die derzeitige Situation von Mercy gibt viele Rätsel auf, die man als Leser auch nicht sofort erfassen kann. Was es mit Mercys Zustand und ihrer Allgemeinverfassung auf sich hat, das bekommen wir portionsweise im Laufe der Story mit, doch so richtig Sinn macht es erst zum Ende des Buches. Auf jeden Fall haben wir hier mit Mercy eine sehr einprägsame Protagonistin. Doch wir lesen die Geschichte nicht nur aus Mercys Perspektive.
Ein besonderes Augenmerk ist im Buch auf die weiteren Personen gelegt worden. Dadurch dass Mercy ihre Mitmenschen alle nur durch reines Beobachten “kennt”, hat sie ihnen passende Spitznamen gegeben. Und so bemerkt man manchmal erst im Laufe des Kapitels, dass wir hier gerade aus der Perspektive eines Menschen lesen, den wir von Mercys Erzählungen her mit einem ganz anderen Namen kennen. Anfangs fand ich den Wust an vorkommenden Personen etwas viel und hatte die Befürchtung, dass ich durcheinander komme. Außerdem war mir lange nicht ganz klar wohin die Erzählung eigentlich gehen möchte, doch selten hat der Spruch “Trust the Process” so viel Sinn ergeben wie hier. Scheinbar unzusammenhängende Szenen und Personen, ergeben am Ende einfach total Sinn und ergeben ein rundes Bild.
Der Einstieg in das Buch war zugegebenermaßen etwas holperig. Man bekommt nicht direkt mit, wie die anfänglichen Kapitel zusammenhängen, doch wie gesagt, lohnt es sich am Ball zu bleiben. Generell könnte ich mir schon vorstellen, dass manche sich mit dem Sprachstil etwas schwer tun. Manche Szenen werden einfach sehr merkwürdig beschrieben, die Sätze waren teilweise einfach etwas holperig und absichtlich abgehackt. Worte werden einfach so einzeln stehen gelassen. Ich nehme an, dass das durchaus gewollt war und eben auf Mercys Gesundheitszustand zurückzuführen ist. Dennoch habe ich mich zwischenzeitlich gefragt was für einen wirren Unsinn ich hier lese.
Das letzte Drittel hat dem Buch definitiv einen Aufschwung verpasst, denn ab dem Punkt, wo alles etwas klarer wurde, konnte ich das Buch kaum noch weglegen. Trotz der gewöhnungsbedürftigen Schreibweise, lässt dich alles sehr schnell lesen und vor allem die kleinen Geschichten drum herum haben es sehr interessant gemacht. Sicherlich nicht ein Buch für Jedermann, aber wer gerne Thriller liest und einfach mal einen etwas anderen Spin reinbringen möchte, der sollte sich dieses Buch mal anschauen!
April 16, 2025
Dies ist mein drittes Buch von Sam Llyod und deswegen haben mich die schlechten Rezensionen nicht abgeschreckt, weil ich das Sturmopfer und der Mädchenwald für mich gute Bücher gewesen sind.
Somit bin ich ja schon mit einer positiven und freudigen Stimmung ans Buch gegangen. Und ich fand den Anfang tatsächlich auch vielversprechend, vor allem da Mery ein ausßergewöhnlicher Charakter gewesen ist und ich mag sowas tatssächlich gerne, weil so oft gibt es immer die gleichen Stereotypen. Louis ist auch ein interessanter Charakter gewesen, auch wenn ich es persönlich etwas drüber fand wie er sich verhalten hat.
Joah, Und dann verließ mich mein Optimismus, da der Mittelteil schon eine wilde Fahrt an Verwirrungen und Irrungen gewesen ist, die mit Längen kombiniert worden sind, die man sicherlich hätte kürzen können. Und da verstehe ich tatsächlich auch von einigen anderen die Kritik, das war stellenweise wirklich ein Fiebertraum. Umso überraschender ist es gewesen, dass das Ende tatsächlich Sinn gemacht hat und ich es auch tatsächlich verstanden habe und es auch noch spannend geworden ist. Das hätte ich nicht mehr erwartet und das Ende konnte dann auch noch etwas rausholen. Dennoch würde ich dieses Buch nicht wirklich weiterempfehlen, weil es stellenweise anstrengend gewesen ist und es ist schade, dass man hier nicht das Potenzial genutzt hat.
Somit bin ich ja schon mit einer positiven und freudigen Stimmung ans Buch gegangen. Und ich fand den Anfang tatsächlich auch vielversprechend, vor allem da Mery ein ausßergewöhnlicher Charakter gewesen ist und ich mag sowas tatssächlich gerne, weil so oft gibt es immer die gleichen Stereotypen. Louis ist auch ein interessanter Charakter gewesen, auch wenn ich es persönlich etwas drüber fand wie er sich verhalten hat.
Joah, Und dann verließ mich mein Optimismus, da der Mittelteil schon eine wilde Fahrt an Verwirrungen und Irrungen gewesen ist, die mit Längen kombiniert worden sind, die man sicherlich hätte kürzen können. Und da verstehe ich tatsächlich auch von einigen anderen die Kritik, das war stellenweise wirklich ein Fiebertraum. Umso überraschender ist es gewesen, dass das Ende tatsächlich Sinn gemacht hat und ich es auch tatsächlich verstanden habe und es auch noch spannend geworden ist. Das hätte ich nicht mehr erwartet und das Ende konnte dann auch noch etwas rausholen. Dennoch würde ich dieses Buch nicht wirklich weiterempfehlen, weil es stellenweise anstrengend gewesen ist und es ist schade, dass man hier nicht das Potenzial genutzt hat.
May 21, 2023
The People Watcher is my first read by author Sam Lloyd. Sam Lloyd knows how to write captivating, heart breaking and realistic characters. I loved the depth and vividness that we are treated to with the main character, Mercy Lake. I felt for her, I felt sad for her and I very much wanted to see her succeed. The secondary characters in this story are excellent and unique in their own right and enjoyable to read about. An absolute page turner because of the characters, despite it being a bit of a slow burn at times. There is an unsettling sense of dread while reading this one and a feeling that no matter how you guess you won’t be able to guess what is coming. The story held my interest and made me want to keep reading. I’d read more by this author.
July 21, 2023
Mercy Lake is a 23-year-old woman who suffers from blackouts and vertigo due to a brain injury sustained five years earlier. She avoids daylight and only leaves her apartment at night. We also learn very soon that Mercy Lake is not her real name and that she hides from a traumatic event that caused her brain injury.
She spends most of her nights watching other people and fixing things for those in need. One night she happens to meet charismatic Louis at a petrol station. They strike up a friendship and Louis joins her in her nightly activities until Louis begins to punish those people who do wrong. At first Mercy is drawn to his sense of justice but gradually Mercy is forced to intervene and start reflecting on the traumatic events that happened five years ago.
Among all the people Mercy and Louis regularly watch, Nadia and Simon are those in the center of Mercy's attention. It becomes clear to the reader very soon that there is some shared history which dates back to Mercy's brain injury. And when Nadia and Simon become aware of Mercy's nightly stalking activities, she puts herself in extreme danger since she knows their little secret...
I was looking forward to this book so much since I had loved the author's previous two thrillers. But unfortunately this book, a real slow burner, wasn't for me. It took me a long time to get into the story since nothing much happened in the first 300 pages. Then, finally, Mercy's shared history with Nadia and Simon is revealed and the plot picks up speed and becomes more exciting. But I wasn't really happy with the ending, and most importantly, I couldn't connect to any of the characters. It's not a bad read at all, but I didn't really get hooked.
She spends most of her nights watching other people and fixing things for those in need. One night she happens to meet charismatic Louis at a petrol station. They strike up a friendship and Louis joins her in her nightly activities until Louis begins to punish those people who do wrong. At first Mercy is drawn to his sense of justice but gradually Mercy is forced to intervene and start reflecting on the traumatic events that happened five years ago.
Among all the people Mercy and Louis regularly watch, Nadia and Simon are those in the center of Mercy's attention. It becomes clear to the reader very soon that there is some shared history which dates back to Mercy's brain injury. And when Nadia and Simon become aware of Mercy's nightly stalking activities, she puts herself in extreme danger since she knows their little secret...
I was looking forward to this book so much since I had loved the author's previous two thrillers. But unfortunately this book, a real slow burner, wasn't for me. It took me a long time to get into the story since nothing much happened in the first 300 pages. Then, finally, Mercy's shared history with Nadia and Simon is revealed and the plot picks up speed and becomes more exciting. But I wasn't really happy with the ending, and most importantly, I couldn't connect to any of the characters. It's not a bad read at all, but I didn't really get hooked.
August 31, 2025
1.5 stars, DNF.
I have to admit I probably didn't give this book as much time as I probably should have to actually judge, but almost 100 pages in I am just not invested in the story and there are far too many books that I want to read to persist with this one. I can't for the life of me work out if .
I see other reviewers have described this one as a slow-burn, so once again it might get better, and I might have persisted and gotten more into the story as a result had I not been in a bit of a reading slump recently, so I think I'm just going to let this one go.
I have to admit I probably didn't give this book as much time as I probably should have to actually judge, but almost 100 pages in I am just not invested in the story and there are far too many books that I want to read to persist with this one. I can't for the life of me work out if .
I see other reviewers have described this one as a slow-burn, so once again it might get better, and I might have persisted and gotten more into the story as a result had I not been in a bit of a reading slump recently, so I think I'm just going to let this one go.
March 16, 2025
Der Einstieg in das Buch war eher holprig, denn ich konnte so gar nichts mit der Protagonistin anfangen. Teilweise fand ich es auch etwas unrealistisch, da sie aufgrund von ihren Gesundheitlichen Problemen meiner Meinung nach gar nicht zu gewissen Dingen in der Lage gewesen wäre, die sie aber hier vollbringt. Jedoch hat mich die Geschichte je länger je mehr in ihren Bann gezogen und ab der Mitte wollte ich dann nur noch wissen, wie das ganze ausgeht. Das Ende hat mich dann nochmal überrascht, das habe ich so nicht kommen sehen. Die Geschichte baut sich ganz langsam auf, Action kommt hier keine auf.
January 4, 2025
After suffering personal trauma, Mercy Lake has become a 'night person' — leaving her apartment only at night to watch people; anonymously helping them with small acts of kindness. One night she meets Louis Carter at a petrol station and discovers he's watching people too. They form a bond but Mercy soon realises that instead of helping, he wants to punish the people he watches. And he wants Mercy to join him.
The People Watcher is a great psychological thriller with dark undertones. It slowly captured my attention and drew me in. The main action taking place under cover of darkness creates an extremely unsettling atmosphere. Never being sure which direction it's going to take left me feeling increasingly anxious. The slow pacing suited the plot, culminating in a fantastic ending I didn't see coming. An excellent read.
The People Watcher is a great psychological thriller with dark undertones. It slowly captured my attention and drew me in. The main action taking place under cover of darkness creates an extremely unsettling atmosphere. Never being sure which direction it's going to take left me feeling increasingly anxious. The slow pacing suited the plot, culminating in a fantastic ending I didn't see coming. An excellent read.
February 15, 2024
Slow and steady I think is the best way to describe this. I was expecting something more brutal, but what I actually got was a nice chilled, easy read. I wouldn’t say I’d recommend it. I wouldn’t say I’d actively discourage anyone from reading it either. I did enjoy the book, I can’t point to any particular fault with it, but it didn’t set my world on fire either. Reading my own words I feel like this sounds like a three star, but it’s a solid four. Quite conflicted here 😂. Perhaps it seems tame because I’m currently watching Penny Dreadful 🧟♂️ - nope, came back to change it to a 3
January 26, 2025
How to rate this? I loved everything except the ending. And isn't the ending often the most important to conclude a satisfying read? This was a book that I was thinking about, when I was not reading it, when under the shower, standing in line waiting for my food... And then the end was just like any other thriller. Nothing special, like the rest of the book felt like... So I'll do a solid 3.5
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