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Someone Is Watching You
An abandoned prison. A deadly game. How far would you go for a dare?
Nia would do anything to win the approval of her boyfriend Scott and his friends, especially mean girl Olivia. When Olivia dares Nia to explore an abandoned prison, she sees it as the perfect opportunity to prove herself. Facing dark tunnels, distant noises and creepy mementoes left behind by incarcerated criminals will surely all be worth it.
But it isn't long before Nia and her little sister, Kayla, find themselves trapped inside. And then Kayla vanishes.
Suddenly, this feels like more than a game gone wrong. Someone is hellbent on making Nia and Kayla the prison's last inmates ...
An utterly compelling, terrifying thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat, from remarkable new author Tess James-Mackey.
Nia would do anything to win the approval of her boyfriend Scott and his friends, especially mean girl Olivia. When Olivia dares Nia to explore an abandoned prison, she sees it as the perfect opportunity to prove herself. Facing dark tunnels, distant noises and creepy mementoes left behind by incarcerated criminals will surely all be worth it.
But it isn't long before Nia and her little sister, Kayla, find themselves trapped inside. And then Kayla vanishes.
Suddenly, this feels like more than a game gone wrong. Someone is hellbent on making Nia and Kayla the prison's last inmates ...
An utterly compelling, terrifying thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat, from remarkable new author Tess James-Mackey.
320 pages, Paperback
Published February 2, 2023
17 people are currently reading
1633 people want to read
About the author
Tess James-Mackey
5 books34 followersAfter growing up in rural Shropshire, Tess set out to explore the world and find her place in it. She quickly rushed straight back to Shrewsbury when she realised she'd been where she belonged from the start. She now lives in a quiet suburb with a noisy partner and daughter, two extremely noisy cats, and a less noisy tortoise.
She spent years mucking out and getting trampled on by horses, before finally deciding she might prefer a less precarious office job. Between analysing insurance risk, she writes teens into terrifying situations inspired by her lived experiences.
When she's not allowing her mind to wander to dark and twisty places, she pursues more wholesome activities, like growing mediocre vegetables in her garden, camping with her daughter, and even riding the odd horse.
She spent years mucking out and getting trampled on by horses, before finally deciding she might prefer a less precarious office job. Between analysing insurance risk, she writes teens into terrifying situations inspired by her lived experiences.
When she's not allowing her mind to wander to dark and twisty places, she pursues more wholesome activities, like growing mediocre vegetables in her garden, camping with her daughter, and even riding the odd horse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
January 12, 2023
An atmospheric and plot twistingly creepy YA thriller that takes toxic friendships and teenage insecurities to a whole (terrifying) new level!
It follows fifteen year old Nia, who is forced to spend her weekend with her mum, sister and baby brother in an abandoned prison turned-soft play centre, as punishment for losing her sister during an unapproved house party.
Bored out of her mind and willing to do anything to win the approval of her boyfriend’s friends, Nia finally has a chance to prove herself—by sneaking off and checking out the dark (and even dingier) areas of the former prison that aren’t on view to the public. Whilst completing a series of dares…
But it isn’t long until Nia and her little sister Kayla find themselves trapped with in the prison. And they may not be the only ones. When Kayla vanishes, the game has transformed into Nia’s worst nightmare—as someone is determined to keep them both from making it out alive…
This was such a creepy and thoroughly addictive thriller that really enjoyed! It takes the universal teenage need to belong and twists it into a ferociously intense and gripping tale of toxicity, bullying and that (universally relatable) teenage conundrum of wanting to be liked.
Given the atmospheric and deeply unsettling location, it’s no surprise that I was on the edge of my seat, biting my nails to the quick and hoping that Nia and her adorable little sister would survive.
The opening scene was definitely quite dark and really sets the tone for what’s about to take place. I loved the overlying sense of dread that surrounds Nia (and all her dubious actions that lead her to the prison.) the it was soo deliciously intense!
I can’t say I was all that fussed about popularity when I was Nia’s age , but her the struggle with insecurity is definitely something that’s universal (we’ve all felt it at some point in our lives.) And for me, that made Nia such a relatable protagonist. It was also what scared me the most! Deep down we all wonder what we’d be willing to do in certain scenarios (or at least I do) and to see how easily (and quickly) a situation can escalate to something far darker was incredibly spine-chilling.
Also, as a history nerd, I loved that it’s based on an actual former prison—and definitely helped in upping the creep factor for me (I did a Google search and the tunnels look especially daunting.)
I LOVED the pacing, which was surprisingly quick despite nearly every page dripping with suspense and tension-filled moments of reflection that gave us snap shots into Nia life in the months and weeks before the book takes place—scenes which really made me love Kayla and want to wrap her up and protect her at all costs.
I can’t say anything else without spoiling any of the plot, but I know that if you love pacey, YA thrillers and Karen McManus’s One Of Is Lying then you definitely don’t want to miss Tess James-Mackey’s chilling and utterly suspenseful debut.
And a huge thank you to Jasmin at Hachette Children’s for the wonderful proof.
It follows fifteen year old Nia, who is forced to spend her weekend with her mum, sister and baby brother in an abandoned prison turned-soft play centre, as punishment for losing her sister during an unapproved house party.
Bored out of her mind and willing to do anything to win the approval of her boyfriend’s friends, Nia finally has a chance to prove herself—by sneaking off and checking out the dark (and even dingier) areas of the former prison that aren’t on view to the public. Whilst completing a series of dares…
But it isn’t long until Nia and her little sister Kayla find themselves trapped with in the prison. And they may not be the only ones. When Kayla vanishes, the game has transformed into Nia’s worst nightmare—as someone is determined to keep them both from making it out alive…
This was such a creepy and thoroughly addictive thriller that really enjoyed! It takes the universal teenage need to belong and twists it into a ferociously intense and gripping tale of toxicity, bullying and that (universally relatable) teenage conundrum of wanting to be liked.
Given the atmospheric and deeply unsettling location, it’s no surprise that I was on the edge of my seat, biting my nails to the quick and hoping that Nia and her adorable little sister would survive.
The opening scene was definitely quite dark and really sets the tone for what’s about to take place. I loved the overlying sense of dread that surrounds Nia (and all her dubious actions that lead her to the prison.) the it was soo deliciously intense!
I can’t say I was all that fussed about popularity when I was Nia’s age , but her the struggle with insecurity is definitely something that’s universal (we’ve all felt it at some point in our lives.) And for me, that made Nia such a relatable protagonist. It was also what scared me the most! Deep down we all wonder what we’d be willing to do in certain scenarios (or at least I do) and to see how easily (and quickly) a situation can escalate to something far darker was incredibly spine-chilling.
Also, as a history nerd, I loved that it’s based on an actual former prison—and definitely helped in upping the creep factor for me (I did a Google search and the tunnels look especially daunting.)
I LOVED the pacing, which was surprisingly quick despite nearly every page dripping with suspense and tension-filled moments of reflection that gave us snap shots into Nia life in the months and weeks before the book takes place—scenes which really made me love Kayla and want to wrap her up and protect her at all costs.
I can’t say anything else without spoiling any of the plot, but I know that if you love pacey, YA thrillers and Karen McManus’s One Of Is Lying then you definitely don’t want to miss Tess James-Mackey’s chilling and utterly suspenseful debut.
And a huge thank you to Jasmin at Hachette Children’s for the wonderful proof.
November 26, 2022
Well holy HELL this book was absolutely INCREDIBLE. An abandoned prison that’s now used as a soft play centre? ICONIC. Honestly. That’s just inviting trouble right into your arms isn’t it? I read this in two hours because I refused to put it down, or do anything else with my time. Poor Nia really needed to rid herself of the toxic friendships in her life, and this book is a prime article of toxicity in friendships. I haven’t been this gripped by a YA mystery/thriller since One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus. I haven’t read anything by this author before (I can’t remember if this is a debut or not) but they’ve just popped themselves straight onto my instant buy author list. What an incredible talent. If I could give this book a thousand starts I would.
Chillingly atmospheric that’s faster paced than my erratic heartbreak while reading it. Definitely add this to your TBR for an amazing read this February.
Thank you so much to BKMRK for sending me a proof of this amazing book.
Chillingly atmospheric that’s faster paced than my erratic heartbreak while reading it. Definitely add this to your TBR for an amazing read this February.
Thank you so much to BKMRK for sending me a proof of this amazing book.
April 2, 2023
Our main character, Nia, would do anything to win the approval of her boyfriend Scott and his friends, especially mean girl Olivia.
After Olivia dares Nia to explore an abandoned prison, she has no choice. She has to prove she has what it takes to be accepted by the group of friends.
But soon after Nia starts exploring the abandoned prison with her little sister, Kayla, they find themselves trapped inside.To make things even worse, Kayla disappears.
An intriguing and atmospheric mystery to solve inside the dark tunnels and empty cells of an abandoned prison. What happened in those cells and who were the prisoners? But most important of it all, how will Nia make it out of there alive?
This book was really enjoyable and hard to put down. The story offers great pacing to keep the reader entertained and intrigued at all times. Definitely a thriller that manages to keep the tension up to the very end.
Apart from being a chilling thriller, it also has some important messages like toxic friendships.
Perfect for: Fans of a good twisty and creepy YA thriller.
After Olivia dares Nia to explore an abandoned prison, she has no choice. She has to prove she has what it takes to be accepted by the group of friends.
But soon after Nia starts exploring the abandoned prison with her little sister, Kayla, they find themselves trapped inside.To make things even worse, Kayla disappears.
An intriguing and atmospheric mystery to solve inside the dark tunnels and empty cells of an abandoned prison. What happened in those cells and who were the prisoners? But most important of it all, how will Nia make it out of there alive?
This book was really enjoyable and hard to put down. The story offers great pacing to keep the reader entertained and intrigued at all times. Definitely a thriller that manages to keep the tension up to the very end.
Apart from being a chilling thriller, it also has some important messages like toxic friendships.
Perfect for: Fans of a good twisty and creepy YA thriller.
March 6, 2025
The first 60% I thought this was a book you should read while in high school. Because it felt fluffy and there’s definitely a lesson about choosing your friends. But dang things take a turn for the worse after that. It just got creepy and twisted. Honestly didn’t expect the twistedness.
I do not appreciate the ‘open’ ending in the epilogue. The epilogue is to wrap things up nice. Nia was home safe with her sister. And then James-Mackay ruins the feeling. Don’t know if I can forgive her for that. The final chapters were brutal and then she rips away the feeling of being safe again.
I do not appreciate the ‘open’ ending in the epilogue. The epilogue is to wrap things up nice. Nia was home safe with her sister. And then James-Mackay ruins the feeling. Don’t know if I can forgive her for that. The final chapters were brutal and then she rips away the feeling of being safe again.
September 26, 2022
I had the pleasure of reading earlier drafts of this book and those were brilliant too - but everything is ramped up in this... especially the eeriness of the setting. There's some genuinely creepy moments and it's so easy to get swept up with Nia as she explores the prison. I flew through this in one sitting - pacey and gripping, told over the course of a few hours, it examines toxic friendships in a terrifying setting.
Don't plan for a good night's sleep after this!
Don't plan for a good night's sleep after this!
November 2, 2022
A genuinely chilling horror and a brilliantly layered tale of toxic friendship, Someone Is Watching You is not only frightening but moving too. The characterisation is so strong, and I was really rooting for Nia, the flawed but relatable protagonist who finds herself trapped inside a prison - a perfectly eerie setting for this compelling debut. I loved it.
May 23, 2023
3,5 ⭐️
По принцип не чета трилъри, но анотацията на тази книга ми хвана окото, освен това ми беше препоръчана от самия издател, така че нямаше как да не я захвана.
Действието се развива бързо и динамично, самата книга е кратка, два големи бонуси на тази книга. Романът ни отвежда в изоставен затвор, част от който е реновиран и превърнат в детски център (и на мен ми изглеждаше фантастично, но се оказва наистина съществуващо място в Англия), а главната ни героиня с огромно нежелание отива там, заедно с по-малките си брат и сестра. За нейно нещастие приятелите ѝ много обичат да ѝ възлагат предизвикателства, а фактът, че е в изоставен затвор е просто перфектната възможност за още едно такова.
Ния се впуска в разглеждане на затвора, а малката ѝ сестра я следва, първоначално без нейното знание. Оттам историята ни превежда през страх и отчаяние, показва ни лудостта на човешкия мозък. Но няма да ви разказвам повече от сюжета, ако случайно решите да прочетете книгата.
Ния е странен главен герой - водена от своята необходимост да бъде харесване от популярните деца в училище, тя им угажда както намери и забравя за собственото си добруване, което в крайна сметка я отвежда и в изоставения затвор. На моменти ми идваха в повече нещата, които правеше, за да се хареса, бяха ми нелогични, но пък наистина ме накараха да се замисля колко далече би стигнал човек, за да се хареса на другите. Ния също си задава този въпрос и то многократно и въпреки това продължаваше напред. Накрая ми хареса нейното израстване като герой и това, че любовта ѝ към сестра ѝ се оказа по-силна от желанието да бъде част от свитата на Оливия.
От другата страна е именно Оливия - популярното момиче, което всички искат да бъдат. Интересен персонаж, но повърхностно написан - няма никаква мотивация зад действията ѝ, персонажът ѝ не беше разгърнат на 100% според мен. Наистина добър пример за извратеността на човешкия мозък, на моменти даже твърде много. Именно това ме отблъскваше понякога - трудно ми бе да си представя, че Оливия, Скот, Макс и Клоуи са 16-годишни деца, които са способни на нещата, които извършват. Затова и често забравях, че героите всъщност са тийнейждъри и за тях това е “забавление”.
Като цяло това е критиката ми към книгата, единственото нещо, което ще добавя е, че за мен епилогът не беше добър - не смятам, че тази книга трябваше да завършва с отворен край, но щом авторът е преценил, че има какво още да каже в тази история, то нека така да бъде. С удоволствие ще погледна и други книги на този автор. ☺️
По принцип не чета трилъри, но анотацията на тази книга ми хвана окото, освен това ми беше препоръчана от самия издател, така че нямаше как да не я захвана.
Действието се развива бързо и динамично, самата книга е кратка, два големи бонуси на тази книга. Романът ни отвежда в изоставен затвор, част от който е реновиран и превърнат в детски център (и на мен ми изглеждаше фантастично, но се оказва наистина съществуващо място в Англия), а главната ни героиня с огромно нежелание отива там, заедно с по-малките си брат и сестра. За нейно нещастие приятелите ѝ много обичат да ѝ възлагат предизвикателства, а фактът, че е в изоставен затвор е просто перфектната възможност за още едно такова.
Ния се впуска в разглеждане на затвора, а малката ѝ сестра я следва, първоначално без нейното знание. Оттам историята ни превежда през страх и отчаяние, показва ни лудостта на човешкия мозък. Но няма да ви разказвам повече от сюжета, ако случайно решите да прочетете книгата.
Ния е странен главен герой - водена от своята необходимост да бъде харесване от популярните деца в училище, тя им угажда както намери и забравя за собственото си добруване, което в крайна сметка я отвежда и в изоставения затвор. На моменти ми идваха в повече нещата, които правеше, за да се хареса, бяха ми нелогични, но пък наистина ме накараха да се замисля колко далече би стигнал човек, за да се хареса на другите. Ния също си задава този въпрос и то многократно и въпреки това продължаваше напред. Накрая ми хареса нейното израстване като герой и това, че любовта ѝ към сестра ѝ се оказа по-силна от желанието да бъде част от свитата на Оливия.
От другата страна е именно Оливия - популярното момиче, което всички искат да бъдат. Интересен персонаж, но повърхностно написан - няма никаква мотивация зад действията ѝ, персонажът ѝ не беше разгърнат на 100% според мен. Наистина добър пример за извратеността на човешкия мозък, на моменти даже твърде много. Именно това ме отблъскваше понякога - трудно ми бе да си представя, че Оливия, Скот, Макс и Клоуи са 16-годишни деца, които са способни на нещата, които извършват. Затова и често забравях, че героите всъщност са тийнейждъри и за тях това е “забавление”.
Като цяло това е критиката ми към книгата, единственото нещо, което ще добавя е, че за мен епилогът не беше добър - не смятам, че тази книга трябваше да завършва с отворен край, но щом авторът е преценил, че има какво още да каже в тази история, то нека така да бъде. С удоволствие ще погледна и други книги на този автор. ☺️
March 31, 2025
4,75☆
This was so good!
I loved the quick pacing and how the plot progressed. Everything Nia went through in terms of friendships and relationships felt very true to the emotions of actual fifteen-year-olds. I really liked how complex she was as a character.
The twists and thrills were great, and this was really well written. I literally read this in one sitting. A big recommendation to all YA thriller lovers!
This was so good!
I loved the quick pacing and how the plot progressed. Everything Nia went through in terms of friendships and relationships felt very true to the emotions of actual fifteen-year-olds. I really liked how complex she was as a character.
The twists and thrills were great, and this was really well written. I literally read this in one sitting. A big recommendation to all YA thriller lovers!
November 13, 2022
As someone who almost exclusively reads LGBTQ love stories and children's comedies, I wasn't expecting to spend the last two days glued to a copy of the (fairly intense) thriller Someone is Watching You. But I'm so glad I did!
Set in an old prison turned soft play area, the novel follows Nia and her plight to get the older kids in school to finally take her seriously. There's a group of them, led by mean girl Olivia, and they keep her around - ostensibly as 'one of them' - but treat her horrendously. This doesn't stop Nia from being desperate to please them, and her desire to be truly accepted leads to a dangerous, life-threatening, ordeal.
Aside from the final chapter and several 'flashbacks', the whole story takes place during one day, in which Nia accepts a dare to explore the prison without realising the consequences of doing so. I don't think I've ever read a YA book that takes place in such a short time frame, but it worked incredibly! I was desperate to get back to reading every time I was interrupted, and even found myself thinking about what might happen next whilst I was in work, which of course led to me coming up with my own theories and sharing them with my colleagues.
It's an exciting thriller, with some gory elements near the end that did in fact make me dry-heave, and my heart is still beating faster than usual even now. Tess James-Mackey has a true gift for keeping a reader engaged as well as writing complex, intriguing characters. Olivia, for example, was one of the most vile antagonists I've come across in a while, but I'd happily read a spin-off story focused on her thanks to the small glimpses of her life we were given that suggest she is in fact capable of feeling human emotion.
I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys fast-paced stories that you simply don't want to put down. Between the enjoyable writing style, the abundant plot twists and the cuteness of Nia's little sister Kayla, there is a LOT to enjoy about the story! It's also an excellent commentary on toxic friendships, and the lasting impact they can have on people.
Set in an old prison turned soft play area, the novel follows Nia and her plight to get the older kids in school to finally take her seriously. There's a group of them, led by mean girl Olivia, and they keep her around - ostensibly as 'one of them' - but treat her horrendously. This doesn't stop Nia from being desperate to please them, and her desire to be truly accepted leads to a dangerous, life-threatening, ordeal.
Aside from the final chapter and several 'flashbacks', the whole story takes place during one day, in which Nia accepts a dare to explore the prison without realising the consequences of doing so. I don't think I've ever read a YA book that takes place in such a short time frame, but it worked incredibly! I was desperate to get back to reading every time I was interrupted, and even found myself thinking about what might happen next whilst I was in work, which of course led to me coming up with my own theories and sharing them with my colleagues.
It's an exciting thriller, with some gory elements near the end that did in fact make me dry-heave, and my heart is still beating faster than usual even now. Tess James-Mackey has a true gift for keeping a reader engaged as well as writing complex, intriguing characters. Olivia, for example, was one of the most vile antagonists I've come across in a while, but I'd happily read a spin-off story focused on her thanks to the small glimpses of her life we were given that suggest she is in fact capable of feeling human emotion.
I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys fast-paced stories that you simply don't want to put down. Between the enjoyable writing style, the abundant plot twists and the cuteness of Nia's little sister Kayla, there is a LOT to enjoy about the story! It's also an excellent commentary on toxic friendships, and the lasting impact they can have on people.
April 9, 2023
The plot twist. That’s all.
April 15, 2023
This book was so good I loved it that I finished it yesterday and tonight in two sittings we follow fifteen year old Nia who wants to impress her boyfriend Scott and his friends so they set up this deadly game for her to go to a prison but things didn’t go as they way she wanted along with her seven year old sister Kayla things became a challenge for her to survive out of her because she Nia herself hasn’t been a happy teenage girl in her life and she doesn’t know who her real dad is so she’s been with her stepdad which made her mum birth Kayla and Deon her baby brother so it’s all been a difficult time for Nia…
I really love how Mackey was so structured in the voice of Nia they’re times I found her annoying but her being fifteen I could understand and relate to the silly decisions she was making also trying to fit in with Scott who was her boyfriend and his friends but in the end how cruel they were to her was sad I loved Nia little sister Kayla she was so angelic to read about my heart really felt for Ms Mackey characters because they felt like real people despite Nia’s friends I didn’t really love couldn’t stand how mean they were to her it was honestly full of twists and punches that made me kept binging the book and I can’t wait to read the sequel I feel Ms Mackey might become my favourite author because for a debut I was so invested and impressed by her skill of writing her characters
I really love how Mackey was so structured in the voice of Nia they’re times I found her annoying but her being fifteen I could understand and relate to the silly decisions she was making also trying to fit in with Scott who was her boyfriend and his friends but in the end how cruel they were to her was sad I loved Nia little sister Kayla she was so angelic to read about my heart really felt for Ms Mackey characters because they felt like real people despite Nia’s friends I didn’t really love couldn’t stand how mean they were to her it was honestly full of twists and punches that made me kept binging the book and I can’t wait to read the sequel I feel Ms Mackey might become my favourite author because for a debut I was so invested and impressed by her skill of writing her characters
June 23, 2023
I feel like this book was told in two parts.
The first 200 pages were very juvenile, with switching between Nia wanting to protect her little sister, and then to texting her friends. From “my sister is the most important thing in the world - I will change my attitude to show her how much I love her” to “oh no I’ve not thought about my sister in 3 chapters, I wonder where she is”. The writing felt very young YA, with a dead pigeon thrown in.
The final 100 pages was wild. The plot twist was expected, but not bad. The themes immediately amped it up a notch and even I cringed at the gore at one point.
Overall 3 stars for the two contrasting parts of this book. Not quite sure on what age range this is intended for at the end of the day but it took me from jumping in “AAAH!” moments, to rolling my eyes and wanting to confiscate a teenagers phone. Really not sure.
The first 200 pages were very juvenile, with switching between Nia wanting to protect her little sister, and then to texting her friends. From “my sister is the most important thing in the world - I will change my attitude to show her how much I love her” to “oh no I’ve not thought about my sister in 3 chapters, I wonder where she is”. The writing felt very young YA, with a dead pigeon thrown in.
The final 100 pages was wild. The plot twist was expected, but not bad. The themes immediately amped it up a notch and even I cringed at the gore at one point.
Overall 3 stars for the two contrasting parts of this book. Not quite sure on what age range this is intended for at the end of the day but it took me from jumping in “AAAH!” moments, to rolling my eyes and wanting to confiscate a teenagers phone. Really not sure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2022
4 stars.
RTC.
RTC.
January 4, 2023
Do you remember being 15 years old? How the world revolved around your friends and trying to fit in. You'd do anything to be part of the 'cool' group and have the attention of the boy your smitten with? That's exactly how Nia feels. Her mother takes her & her siblings to the soft play in the old prison. When she tells her friends where she is, the queen bee dares her to 'get lost'. Of course Nia has to do it. She heads off to explore, followed by her 7 year old sister. Just one picture is all she needs to prove she's cool. But that one picture keeps escalating, its never enough for Queen Bee. Things quickly take a dark turn and Nia realises they aren't alone in the prison...someone is watching them.
I loved this! Couldn't put it down and highly recommend 👌
I loved this! Couldn't put it down and highly recommend 👌
November 30, 2022
This is a fabulous and terrifying thriller. Tess is an amazing writer and I can't wait to read her next book!
March 24, 2023
It was a fast, fun and quick read but the writer practically shoved the plottwist down your throat by making the characters so unbearably mean and annoying. It was over the top and extremely unbelievable which was very unfortunate because if Olivia and her gang were toned down a notch the plottwist would’ve came as a big surprise rather than a dull plottwist.
I do want to say that I can definitely see the potential in this author. She brings something new to the YA thriller genre. Idk how to explain it but I am certain her next book will be even better!
I do want to say that I can definitely see the potential in this author. She brings something new to the YA thriller genre. Idk how to explain it but I am certain her next book will be even better!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2022
This is an absolutely incredible debut. It is dark and creepy with a chilling atmosphere all the way through. it is so fast paced and gripping and I loved the setting of an old prison turned into a soft play area for children - if that isnt asking for trouble I don't know what is. I loved it.
October 29, 2022
Just smashed through this read
Who would make a childplay in an old prison building? Why would you go?
A game of dare goes horribly wrong when Nia realises someone is watching her. She is not alone.
This went to a darker place than I expected & really examined teen friendships, the horrible role phone group chats play in bullying & the illusion of fitting in.
It was really creepy, the tension tight as Nia found the hanging room.
The end had exactly what I wanted too. I highly recommend it for fans of thrillers, Five Survive by Holly Jackson or One of Us Is lying
Thank you 5GetBookish for my gifted proof copy it was perfect to read this Halloween half term
Who would make a childplay in an old prison building? Why would you go?
A game of dare goes horribly wrong when Nia realises someone is watching her. She is not alone.
This went to a darker place than I expected & really examined teen friendships, the horrible role phone group chats play in bullying & the illusion of fitting in.
It was really creepy, the tension tight as Nia found the hanging room.
The end had exactly what I wanted too. I highly recommend it for fans of thrillers, Five Survive by Holly Jackson or One of Us Is lying
Thank you 5GetBookish for my gifted proof copy it was perfect to read this Halloween half term
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2025
Being a teenager is tough… and for Nia, she’s just about ready to do anything to fit in with the ‘cool’ gang, even if that means putting herself and her little sister in danger. Tense, reflective and emotional this book packed a punch for a YA horror/thriller. So many nuances and themes perfectly integrated within the creepy storyline set in the ruins of an abandoned jail such as belonging, consent, family and bullying. A spooky read with some very ‘real’ horrors.
January 12, 2023
For a YA book, this was genuinely terrifying at times. It got a little more gruesome towards the end than I expected but I was shocked by the final words…talk about an ending to set the nerves jangling!
Our main character is Nia, a young girl desperate for the approval of her boyfriend and his friends, even though she recognises they’re not pleasant people who don’t offer her much. Still, having got into trouble by organising a party and losing her younger sister Nia is on a tight leash.
The story is set in a childrens’ play centre which happens to be in a deserted prison. An unusual setting, so when Nia is dared by her ‘friends’ to get lost in the prison it is quite intriguing. She quickly finds her way into the old prison and some deserted areas - you have to ignore the obvious lack of veracity - but is scared when her sister goes missing.
Strange noises, creepy rooms, the sinister link to the building’s past and a growing awareness from the character of her mistakes made for a tightly-paced story. Nia’s discovery was a little convenient, but it did allow us a more sympathetic view of a girl who would, in real life, be incredibly irritating. When the truth about her situation came it, the need for her to act quickly was more apparent.
Without giving details away, I found the plot really unlikely. We didn’t see enough of some of the other views to help make this seem credible. Squeamishness aside, the closing stages of the book became hard to read because we had little idea why this was happening.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this in advance of publication.
Our main character is Nia, a young girl desperate for the approval of her boyfriend and his friends, even though she recognises they’re not pleasant people who don’t offer her much. Still, having got into trouble by organising a party and losing her younger sister Nia is on a tight leash.
The story is set in a childrens’ play centre which happens to be in a deserted prison. An unusual setting, so when Nia is dared by her ‘friends’ to get lost in the prison it is quite intriguing. She quickly finds her way into the old prison and some deserted areas - you have to ignore the obvious lack of veracity - but is scared when her sister goes missing.
Strange noises, creepy rooms, the sinister link to the building’s past and a growing awareness from the character of her mistakes made for a tightly-paced story. Nia’s discovery was a little convenient, but it did allow us a more sympathetic view of a girl who would, in real life, be incredibly irritating. When the truth about her situation came it, the need for her to act quickly was more apparent.
Without giving details away, I found the plot really unlikely. We didn’t see enough of some of the other views to help make this seem credible. Squeamishness aside, the closing stages of the book became hard to read because we had little idea why this was happening.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this in advance of publication.
October 18, 2022
This accomplished debut from Tess James-Mackey is fast-paced and fabulously creepy with a convincing and relatable teen protagonist. The sinister setting - a disused prison turned soft play area - is a character in itself with dozens of dark corners and winding passageways for Nia to get lost in while she runs from the terrifying Rat Man. The pacy plot kept me turning pages until the early hours, racing towards a brilliant twist I did not see coming.
July 17, 2023
A very dark and eerie YA read that dives straight into the action, Someone is Watching You by Tess James-Mackey will have you on the edge of your seat.
We follow Nia, a young girl that pushes herself to explore an abandoned prison in order to impress a new group of "friends", including her new boyfriend. The story take a creepy turn when Nia, along with her younger sister Kayla being to see and hear things even though they're supposed to be the only two down there. When Kayla goes missing, it only gets worse for Nia.
A classic YA mystery here that gets darker as you read on. This book deals with a lot, for example, acceptance, bullying and family. I liked how the story gets straight to the point, from the first chapter we are in the action. It's a straightforward read, with a bit of back and forth between past and present, explaining a bit of background for our main character.
The ending is intense and will have you gripping the book tight to find out how this finale unfolds. If you're a fan of a darker YA, keep your eye out for this one!
* Please research any trigger warnings before reading *
We follow Nia, a young girl that pushes herself to explore an abandoned prison in order to impress a new group of "friends", including her new boyfriend. The story take a creepy turn when Nia, along with her younger sister Kayla being to see and hear things even though they're supposed to be the only two down there. When Kayla goes missing, it only gets worse for Nia.
A classic YA mystery here that gets darker as you read on. This book deals with a lot, for example, acceptance, bullying and family. I liked how the story gets straight to the point, from the first chapter we are in the action. It's a straightforward read, with a bit of back and forth between past and present, explaining a bit of background for our main character.
The ending is intense and will have you gripping the book tight to find out how this finale unfolds. If you're a fan of a darker YA, keep your eye out for this one!
* Please research any trigger warnings before reading *
May 29, 2023
I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
At first I wasn’t convinced by this, but it’s a quick read and I did find myself getting sucked into it as it continued. It did a good job of upping the tension throughout and I found myself wanting to know how it all played out.
Nia is not my fave main character, as she’s very shallow most of the time, but she has terrible “friends” egging her on lol. I did wonder for a second if there was going to be a supernatural element, but no, thankfully!
In the end I did enjoy how it wrapped up, but it just all felt a little far fetched. 3 stars.
At first I wasn’t convinced by this, but it’s a quick read and I did find myself getting sucked into it as it continued. It did a good job of upping the tension throughout and I found myself wanting to know how it all played out.
Nia is not my fave main character, as she’s very shallow most of the time, but she has terrible “friends” egging her on lol. I did wonder for a second if there was going to be a supernatural element, but no, thankfully!
In the end I did enjoy how it wrapped up, but it just all felt a little far fetched. 3 stars.
February 4, 2024
loved the plot, the high-stakes, the storyline, the slight indication of found family and the horrors! it's an amazing binge read for sure
April 3, 2024
3/5 ⭐
Oh, I was so close to DNF-ing this book. I must have been about 50 pages in when I thought I couldn't read another chapter of this whiny and annoying fifteen year old this desperate for the attention of these horrible people. I mean, sure, we've all been fifteen and all been stupid. But these people were plain mean and horrible. At this point you can't even defend her stupidity, even less so how badly she treated her angelic little sister. I think that part made me dislike her the most. I don't care much about her redemption in the end. She treated Kayla like shit and it took all of THIS just for her to appreciate that sweet baby. No thank you.
I didn't DNF this book because I physically can't, not because I didn't really want to. I can't see myself DNF-ing something me, or someone else, paid money for (as I read the physical book version). Then I guess when I got to 60/70% of the book it started getting better and a bit creepy and mysterious. That's when I started reading more and more chapters without putting it down. Why? Because most of the reviews for this book convinced me that the plot twist at the end was super mega worth it.
SPOILER: it wasn't. Before discovering the final twist, I had a few ideas in mind about what it could be from all the little weird moments I read, and honestly, I'd have been happier with the ending if it had been what I'd have guessed. It'd have been super sad and creepy, but imo, better than what we got. It wasn't the worst plot twist, like I will admit I DIDN'T see it coming but it wasn't surprising in the least. I read it being like oh, yeah, you know what - I'm not surprised by this revelations.
Also, this wasn't as gruesome and gore as some people said in the reviews. At least not for me. If you can watch all sorts of horror movies without feeling sick or anything, you can easily read this without feeling the slightest bit grossed out. I was literally only sad about the pigeons but that's only because I'm sensitive to anything animal related. So, yeah, it's not that gore at all. Not how I imagined it anyways when reading the reviews.
Overall this wasn't the worst book but not the best either. I cannot emphasize enough how the whole "I'm so so desperate for my HORRIBLE and cringe friends' behavior and acceptance that I will do anything for them to accept me" ruined the entire book for me. And her behavior towards her sister, god, I won't forget that one looking back at this book. Sure everyone makes mistakes, but being this mean and careless towards someone as sweet and forgiving as SEVEN YEARS OLD Kayla is cruel, I don't care. I'll shut up about that now.
Overall I don't regret having continued reading it instead of my initial wish to DNF, and it was a very easy read and the chapters weren't long either, which I like. If you can survive the initial cringe of Nia and her desperation and her horrible friends, you can make it through this book alright.
Oh, I was so close to DNF-ing this book. I must have been about 50 pages in when I thought I couldn't read another chapter of this whiny and annoying fifteen year old this desperate for the attention of these horrible people. I mean, sure, we've all been fifteen and all been stupid. But these people were plain mean and horrible. At this point you can't even defend her stupidity, even less so how badly she treated her angelic little sister. I think that part made me dislike her the most. I don't care much about her redemption in the end. She treated Kayla like shit and it took all of THIS just for her to appreciate that sweet baby. No thank you.
I didn't DNF this book because I physically can't, not because I didn't really want to. I can't see myself DNF-ing something me, or someone else, paid money for (as I read the physical book version). Then I guess when I got to 60/70% of the book it started getting better and a bit creepy and mysterious. That's when I started reading more and more chapters without putting it down. Why? Because most of the reviews for this book convinced me that the plot twist at the end was super mega worth it.
SPOILER: it wasn't. Before discovering the final twist, I had a few ideas in mind about what it could be from all the little weird moments I read, and honestly, I'd have been happier with the ending if it had been what I'd have guessed. It'd have been super sad and creepy, but imo, better than what we got. It wasn't the worst plot twist, like I will admit I DIDN'T see it coming but it wasn't surprising in the least. I read it being like oh, yeah, you know what - I'm not surprised by this revelations.
Also, this wasn't as gruesome and gore as some people said in the reviews. At least not for me. If you can watch all sorts of horror movies without feeling sick or anything, you can easily read this without feeling the slightest bit grossed out. I was literally only sad about the pigeons but that's only because I'm sensitive to anything animal related. So, yeah, it's not that gore at all. Not how I imagined it anyways when reading the reviews.
Overall this wasn't the worst book but not the best either. I cannot emphasize enough how the whole "I'm so so desperate for my HORRIBLE and cringe friends' behavior and acceptance that I will do anything for them to accept me" ruined the entire book for me. And her behavior towards her sister, god, I won't forget that one looking back at this book. Sure everyone makes mistakes, but being this mean and careless towards someone as sweet and forgiving as SEVEN YEARS OLD Kayla is cruel, I don't care. I'll shut up about that now.
Overall I don't regret having continued reading it instead of my initial wish to DNF, and it was a very easy read and the chapters weren't long either, which I like. If you can survive the initial cringe of Nia and her desperation and her horrible friends, you can make it through this book alright.
February 25, 2023
Time taken to read - 8 hours
Pages - 320
Publisher - Hodder Children's books
Source - Vine
Blurb from Goodreads
An abandoned prison. A deadly game. How far would you go for a dare?
Nia would do anything to win the approval of her boyfriend Scott and his friends, especially mean girl Olivia. When Olivia dares Nia to explore an abandoned prison, she sees it as the perfect opportunity to prove herself. Facing dark tunnels, distant noises and creepy mementoes left behind by incarcerated criminals will surely all be worth it.
But it isn't long before Nia and her little sister, Kayla, find themselves trapped inside. And then Kayla vanishes.
Suddenly, this feels like more than a game gone wrong. Someone is hellbent on making Nia and Kayla the prison's last inmates ...
An utterly compelling, terrifying thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat, from remarkable new author Tess James-Mackey.
My Review
This is my first time reading this author but when I seen abandoned prison I was in, I love abandoned buildings! This however is an abandoned prison now lightly converted into a kids soft play type area. Much of the prison is of course off limits and some of it in states of crumbling disrepair. Meet Nia, she has a new boyfriend and group of friends, they are the year above so Nia could not believe her luck when Scott not only noticed her but is now hers! Being a tiny bit older (Nia is fifteen) and they are all still in school so Nia is doubly desperate to be accepted. The gang is led by Olivia who is one of those mean popular girls the group all pander to and Nia is determined to keep her man. Ah to be fifteen again eh! Nia is raging at her wee sister Kayla as she got Nia busted for a home party & now she is at soft play in the prison keeping mum and little sister company and her friends are keeping tabs via messaging.
Oh I wouldn't want to be fifteen again and certainly no in this wee group of frenemies, they always play dares as per Olivia and Nia feels hers is always worse. Anyways back to the prison, it is run down and when she gets dared to check it out Nia will not back down. Of course the wean wants to follow her and then goes missing and that is when things really kick off. For being young adult and the main characters teens the author does a great job creating creepy and tense atmosphere. The Whatsapp messages and goading/clipped and nippy messages takes you right back to your younger years regardless of your age or your social circle at the age.
The characters aren't really likeable and I think that self centred manipulation was captured well and sets up for all that follows, I felt so sorry for the wee sister who just wants her older sister to like and be with her.
I loved the exploration of the prison, I was having flashes to The Walking Dead programme so built quite an effective picture. The book features some adult themes (not in large measures), manipulation, control, coercion, toxic relationships, peer pressure to name a few. I think the thing that really gave a kick was the author has actually went to a soft play that was in an old prison, I would LOVE to visit. This was my first dance with this author, it won't be my last 4/5 for me this time.
Pages - 320
Publisher - Hodder Children's books
Source - Vine
Blurb from Goodreads
An abandoned prison. A deadly game. How far would you go for a dare?
Nia would do anything to win the approval of her boyfriend Scott and his friends, especially mean girl Olivia. When Olivia dares Nia to explore an abandoned prison, she sees it as the perfect opportunity to prove herself. Facing dark tunnels, distant noises and creepy mementoes left behind by incarcerated criminals will surely all be worth it.
But it isn't long before Nia and her little sister, Kayla, find themselves trapped inside. And then Kayla vanishes.
Suddenly, this feels like more than a game gone wrong. Someone is hellbent on making Nia and Kayla the prison's last inmates ...
An utterly compelling, terrifying thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat, from remarkable new author Tess James-Mackey.
My Review
This is my first time reading this author but when I seen abandoned prison I was in, I love abandoned buildings! This however is an abandoned prison now lightly converted into a kids soft play type area. Much of the prison is of course off limits and some of it in states of crumbling disrepair. Meet Nia, she has a new boyfriend and group of friends, they are the year above so Nia could not believe her luck when Scott not only noticed her but is now hers! Being a tiny bit older (Nia is fifteen) and they are all still in school so Nia is doubly desperate to be accepted. The gang is led by Olivia who is one of those mean popular girls the group all pander to and Nia is determined to keep her man. Ah to be fifteen again eh! Nia is raging at her wee sister Kayla as she got Nia busted for a home party & now she is at soft play in the prison keeping mum and little sister company and her friends are keeping tabs via messaging.
Oh I wouldn't want to be fifteen again and certainly no in this wee group of frenemies, they always play dares as per Olivia and Nia feels hers is always worse. Anyways back to the prison, it is run down and when she gets dared to check it out Nia will not back down. Of course the wean wants to follow her and then goes missing and that is when things really kick off. For being young adult and the main characters teens the author does a great job creating creepy and tense atmosphere. The Whatsapp messages and goading/clipped and nippy messages takes you right back to your younger years regardless of your age or your social circle at the age.
The characters aren't really likeable and I think that self centred manipulation was captured well and sets up for all that follows, I felt so sorry for the wee sister who just wants her older sister to like and be with her.
I loved the exploration of the prison, I was having flashes to The Walking Dead programme so built quite an effective picture. The book features some adult themes (not in large measures), manipulation, control, coercion, toxic relationships, peer pressure to name a few. I think the thing that really gave a kick was the author has actually went to a soft play that was in an old prison, I would LOVE to visit. This was my first dance with this author, it won't be my last 4/5 for me this time.
November 29, 2022
Someone is Watching You is a new YA thriller, set in an abandoned prison, that explores teenage insecurities and toxic friendships. Written by debut author Tess James-Mackey.
Fifteen-year-old Nia goes to desperate lengths to impress her older boyfriend Scott and his bullying circle of friends. When it-girl Olivia dares Nia to ‘get lost’ in an abandoned prison that’s been converted into a children’s soft play centre, she encounters a chilling lost world of the lives it held before. Desperately trying to find her younger sister who’s also lost somewhere inside and narrowly escaping the decaying building, Nia finally realises the truth about her so-called ‘friends’.
I had high hopes for this book but it was overall a disappointing read. The story takes places over only two hours, with flashbacks to a prior incident, leaving no time for real story progression or an effective climax. All of the characters are incredibly undeveloped - for the most part some were only present over text message and even when they are introduced in-person it’s difficult for the reader to make any real connection to any of the protagonists or antagonists, who all come across as annoying and unemotional. The mentions of emotional abuse, sexual coercion and physical violence, warned at the beginning of the book, should be incredibly important to get right for the novel’s young audience, but sadly these are merely resolved or explored in any depth whatsoever.
Someone is Watching You is publishing in February 2023 in paperback, e-book and audiobook.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Hodder Children’s Book/Harper Collins for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️
Fifteen-year-old Nia goes to desperate lengths to impress her older boyfriend Scott and his bullying circle of friends. When it-girl Olivia dares Nia to ‘get lost’ in an abandoned prison that’s been converted into a children’s soft play centre, she encounters a chilling lost world of the lives it held before. Desperately trying to find her younger sister who’s also lost somewhere inside and narrowly escaping the decaying building, Nia finally realises the truth about her so-called ‘friends’.
I had high hopes for this book but it was overall a disappointing read. The story takes places over only two hours, with flashbacks to a prior incident, leaving no time for real story progression or an effective climax. All of the characters are incredibly undeveloped - for the most part some were only present over text message and even when they are introduced in-person it’s difficult for the reader to make any real connection to any of the protagonists or antagonists, who all come across as annoying and unemotional. The mentions of emotional abuse, sexual coercion and physical violence, warned at the beginning of the book, should be incredibly important to get right for the novel’s young audience, but sadly these are merely resolved or explored in any depth whatsoever.
Someone is Watching You is publishing in February 2023 in paperback, e-book and audiobook.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Hodder Children’s Book/Harper Collins for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️
January 24, 2023
For more YA reviews, visit my blog –
Unsupervised in a Bookstore
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Warning: this book is addictive! I stayed up reading past midnight three nights in a row to reach the end and find out what happened to the characters. It would make a fantastic single-afternoon binge-read.
When Nia accepts a dare from her friends to explore an abandoned prison, she plans to sneak in, grab a couple of selfies, and get out. But before long her friends are demanding more evidence of her discoveries, and her efforts to demonstrate her bravery lead her further into the dark and dangerous building. Worse – her little sister has followed her inside, and it doesn't take long for them both to be lost in the maze of corridors and cell blocks. Nia discovers more than she had bargained for as she searches for her sister, and desperately attempts to find her way out.
This is an absolutely gripping story, infused throughout with danger, fear, and a building sense of dread. The author creates an irresistibly creepy setting for the action, ramping up the tension with mysterious events, text messages from the protagonist's friends urging her to take greater and greater risks, and the panic of a phone battery running out at just the wrong moment. Add in Nia's terror of losing her little sister, and the lengths she is willing to go to to prove herself to her friends, and you have the recipe for a perfect, nail-biting read.
Someone is Watching You will be published on February 2nd. Thank you to Hodder for the ARC – I loved it!
Warning: this book is addictive! I stayed up reading past midnight three nights in a row to reach the end and find out what happened to the characters. It would make a fantastic single-afternoon binge-read.
When Nia accepts a dare from her friends to explore an abandoned prison, she plans to sneak in, grab a couple of selfies, and get out. But before long her friends are demanding more evidence of her discoveries, and her efforts to demonstrate her bravery lead her further into the dark and dangerous building. Worse – her little sister has followed her inside, and it doesn't take long for them both to be lost in the maze of corridors and cell blocks. Nia discovers more than she had bargained for as she searches for her sister, and desperately attempts to find her way out.
This is an absolutely gripping story, infused throughout with danger, fear, and a building sense of dread. The author creates an irresistibly creepy setting for the action, ramping up the tension with mysterious events, text messages from the protagonist's friends urging her to take greater and greater risks, and the panic of a phone battery running out at just the wrong moment. Add in Nia's terror of losing her little sister, and the lengths she is willing to go to to prove herself to her friends, and you have the recipe for a perfect, nail-biting read.
Someone is Watching You will be published on February 2nd. Thank you to Hodder for the ARC – I loved it!
April 14, 2024
4/5⭐️
i really like how you think what the book will be about but it but it completely throws you! it makes your realise that you shouldn’t have to chase your friends they should be there for you and making you realise that boys aren’t everything and you shouldn’t drop people for them that make your life worse.
THE ENDING FUCKING THREW ME!! IT WAS SO GOODDDDDDDD in the last 100 pages it definitely ramps up!! i would read it just for the ending 100 times overs!! the characters made me so madddd but like in a good way!!
the plot twists where enjoyable! and the cliffhangers were really good! i could have never have guessed what was going to happen and i loved Nia and her character.
but my only question is…
will there be a second one?
i really like how you think what the book will be about but it but it completely throws you! it makes your realise that you shouldn’t have to chase your friends they should be there for you and making you realise that boys aren’t everything and you shouldn’t drop people for them that make your life worse.
THE ENDING FUCKING THREW ME!! IT WAS SO GOODDDDDDDD in the last 100 pages it definitely ramps up!! i would read it just for the ending 100 times overs!! the characters made me so madddd but like in a good way!!
the plot twists where enjoyable! and the cliffhangers were really good! i could have never have guessed what was going to happen and i loved Nia and her character.
but my only question is…
will there be a second one?
January 18, 2023
Teen thrillers are edging out of have to solve a murder and into have to not be murdered, and if this book in indicative of the quality of them, I'm all for it. Someone is Watching You is a tense, well written book. It's hard to believe that most of the events in it take place over just a couple of hours.
The flashbacks here and there are well enough signposted that it wasn't confusing, and they add to the story rather than distract from it. I thought the twist was kind of surprising - I can see, looking back, where it was flagged, but at the time I didn't pick it out!
The prison makes for a very atmospheric place to be trapped, and I felt the claustrophobia at times. Nia's desperation to be part of the group is familiar to anyone who's ever been a teen, and I cheered when a certain thing happened!
I very much hope there's more planned for these characters - the end seems to imply it, and I would love to read the next part. Whatever Tess writes, though, I'll be happy to read. She's going to do very well.
The flashbacks here and there are well enough signposted that it wasn't confusing, and they add to the story rather than distract from it. I thought the twist was kind of surprising - I can see, looking back, where it was flagged, but at the time I didn't pick it out!
The prison makes for a very atmospheric place to be trapped, and I felt the claustrophobia at times. Nia's desperation to be part of the group is familiar to anyone who's ever been a teen, and I cheered when a certain thing happened!
I very much hope there's more planned for these characters - the end seems to imply it, and I would love to read the next part. Whatever Tess writes, though, I'll be happy to read. She's going to do very well.
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