What do you think?
Rate this book
Kateri Fisher
The Watcher
Pearl Jenkins is a nobody. She was a woman who lived as a hermit in the woods. Then, one day, she's nowhere to be found, and all that's left is a pool of blood and a child no one knew existed, raised completely off the grid and in the grip of Pearl's manic paranoia.Kateri Fisher is used to being an outsider. Now, she's the only female detective in the tiny upstate New York town of Spring Falls, where everyone knows everyone, but no one will talk. It's fitting that she takes the case that no one else wants. But as Kateri struggles to navigate the harsh rules of a new town while trying to learn the truth about the Jenkins family, only one thing becomes neither she nor Pearl are as invisible as she first thought. Someone's always watching.
Audio CD
First published September 8, 2020
51 people are currently reading
665 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
September 14, 2020
The Watcher by Jennifer Pashley is the first in a new crime fiction series featuring Kateri Fisher. Fisher has just moved to a new police force in a small, rural town in upstate New York. She has a past that she wishes to forget but is reminded of daily through the physical scars that she wears. Assigned to desk duty for months, her first "real" case involves the murder of the town's outcast, Pearl Jenkins. The prime suspect is Pearl's son Shannon who has become entangled with two men, both of whom are mysterious in their own right. From the beginning to the end, Pashley weaves a tale that is never quite what we expect as Fisher attempts to thread together the scattered pieces of the Jenkins' family's life.
Pashley is a gifted writer who captivates and enthralls her readers with her effluent prose. While The Watcher is one heck of a good crime story, the core of the book is about the characters who brilliantly are brought to life. I have not read a crime fiction tale this good in such a long time that The Watcher soars to the top of my favorites this year.
Pashley is a gifted writer who captivates and enthralls her readers with her effluent prose. While The Watcher is one heck of a good crime story, the core of the book is about the characters who brilliantly are brought to life. I have not read a crime fiction tale this good in such a long time that The Watcher soars to the top of my favorites this year.
October 24, 2020
This first book in a series is absolutely brilliant - from the emotionally heartbreaking story, the atmospheric and claustrophobic small town feel, to the desperation and poverty, this was an amazing thriller that sure made my pulse pound!
This crime thriller is as captivating and an enthralling read for the characters in this story - highlighting the people that live in poverty, mental illness and addiction - the societal outcast we want to ignore and just not see.
But someone knows and someone is always watching.
A well written police procedural The Watcher is definitely one of my top reads this year.
Kateri Fisher is going to be one of my favorite characters and I cannot wait for the next installment of this series. Pashley is definitely a writer to watch.
Consider adding this read to your TBR.
This crime thriller is as captivating and an enthralling read for the characters in this story - highlighting the people that live in poverty, mental illness and addiction - the societal outcast we want to ignore and just not see.
But someone knows and someone is always watching.
A well written police procedural The Watcher is definitely one of my top reads this year.
Kateri Fisher is going to be one of my favorite characters and I cannot wait for the next installment of this series. Pashley is definitely a writer to watch.
Consider adding this read to your TBR.
September 21, 2020
Kateri Fisher is the only female detective in a small town. This is her punishment for an act that caused her to be relocated from the last police department she was employed in. Let's say driving while drunk on duty is not the thing to do.
Pearl Jenkins has been reported as missing. There is no body. but blood is splattered everywhere. And inside a locked closet is a child .... a young child with red hair and blue eyes. She says she is waiting for the angel. No one knows who this child is .....
While investigating, she learns that this small town has its secrets .... and no one wants to see them exposed. Neither she nor Pearl are invisible ....someone is always watching.
First in a new crime fiction series featuring Detective Kateri Fisher, this is a well-written police procedural. Suspenseful from the very beginning, it is fast-paced and leads to an unpredictable surprising ending.
Many thanks to the author /Crooked Lake Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime drama. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Pearl Jenkins has been reported as missing. There is no body. but blood is splattered everywhere. And inside a locked closet is a child .... a young child with red hair and blue eyes. She says she is waiting for the angel. No one knows who this child is .....
While investigating, she learns that this small town has its secrets .... and no one wants to see them exposed. Neither she nor Pearl are invisible ....someone is always watching.
First in a new crime fiction series featuring Detective Kateri Fisher, this is a well-written police procedural. Suspenseful from the very beginning, it is fast-paced and leads to an unpredictable surprising ending.
Many thanks to the author /Crooked Lake Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime drama. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
September 3, 2020
A literary, atmospheric and compelling story that will have you wanting more of Kateri Fisher. I loved this book. I love Pashley's writing. A winner on all fronts!
August 13, 2021
Notevole
May 18, 2021
Yet another one of those white trash noir thrillers. Or maybe I’m just saying yet another because I’ve just read one. Or maybe no one actually calls them white trash noirs, but what is their proper name then? Enlighten me.
A tiny depressed and depressing upstate New York town. A tough female detective named Kateri (presumably to be memorable or maybe just because Katherine would be too easy) investigates a potential murder/disappearance of a really, really white trashy family. Or technically just the mother and daughter. The son, Shannon, is around and gets accused of all sorts of things, though he’s really a very nice boy, all things considered, just trying to survive a crazy junkie mother and take care of a five years old sister the mother insists on hiding away from the world. All the while Shannon has to work a crappy minimum wage job, take care of the bills and contend with being gay in town so small it’s bound to be smallminded.
And then the boy meets someone who seems to be the answer to it all, a gorgeous generous sexy man who wants Shannon and wants to help Shannon. And, of course, Shannon is too young and naïve to know that things like that come at a cost…even an older and less naïve person might not have anticipated just how high that cost would be.
So a classic genre structure of split narrative, Kateri handling the present and Shannon the immediate past leading up to it. A perfectly decent read that just doesn’t offer enough to stand out in the ever busy sea of the ubiquitous same. Some twists, some turns, some predictable, a few surprises. In the end, nothing exceptional about this and, while this is obviously meant to be Kateri’s show, Shannon steals it right from under her. The boy being a much more original and compelling of a character than yet another tough recovering alcoholic detective.
The book is well written, well paced and manages to tell the story in well under 300 pages, which is a pleasant change from the genre traditional 336, 368 or 400 (always those numbers). Nothing exceptional, though, or memorable. It’s just another thriller. And another reminder to stay away from small towns.
A tiny depressed and depressing upstate New York town. A tough female detective named Kateri (presumably to be memorable or maybe just because Katherine would be too easy) investigates a potential murder/disappearance of a really, really white trashy family. Or technically just the mother and daughter. The son, Shannon, is around and gets accused of all sorts of things, though he’s really a very nice boy, all things considered, just trying to survive a crazy junkie mother and take care of a five years old sister the mother insists on hiding away from the world. All the while Shannon has to work a crappy minimum wage job, take care of the bills and contend with being gay in town so small it’s bound to be smallminded.
And then the boy meets someone who seems to be the answer to it all, a gorgeous generous sexy man who wants Shannon and wants to help Shannon. And, of course, Shannon is too young and naïve to know that things like that come at a cost…even an older and less naïve person might not have anticipated just how high that cost would be.
So a classic genre structure of split narrative, Kateri handling the present and Shannon the immediate past leading up to it. A perfectly decent read that just doesn’t offer enough to stand out in the ever busy sea of the ubiquitous same. Some twists, some turns, some predictable, a few surprises. In the end, nothing exceptional about this and, while this is obviously meant to be Kateri’s show, Shannon steals it right from under her. The boy being a much more original and compelling of a character than yet another tough recovering alcoholic detective.
The book is well written, well paced and manages to tell the story in well under 300 pages, which is a pleasant change from the genre traditional 336, 368 or 400 (always those numbers). Nothing exceptional, though, or memorable. It’s just another thriller. And another reminder to stay away from small towns.
July 25, 2021
Se Il Caravan era bello questo è bello e straziante. Sempre alternando i pdv Pashley crea un mosaico temporale in cui non solo tutti i ruoli vengono svelati un po' alla volta, ma con cautela riesce anche a distruggere le ipotesi di chi legge in modo abbastanza crudele.
Boschi fin troppo frequentati, relazioni manipolative e una buona dose di sangue e amore.
Boschi fin troppo frequentati, relazioni manipolative e una buona dose di sangue e amore.
July 15, 2021
Per me, più tre che quattro.
January 7, 2021
[Blog]::[Youtube]::[Twitter]::[Instagram]::[Pinterest]::[Bloglovin]
“The Watcher” is dark, atmospheric, and a book that slowly creeps up on you.
The first thing that captured my attention was how the author wrote the timelines—the chapters alternate between Kateri’s and Shannon’s perspectives. Shannon’s chapters take place a few months before the one in Kateri’s chapters, making the story stand out.
The characters made this story memorable. Shannon was my favorite! I loved how the author elaborately portrayed him. On the one hand, he struggles with his family financially, and on the other, he is falling into a dangerous relationship with Bear. Your heart goes out to him, where you wonder what will happen to him. In the same manner, Bear is unpredictable and mysterious, which makes you wonder what he has up his sleeve.
Moreover, the author writes the story in an eerie and calm manner, which slowly leads to a shocking climax. One of my favorite scenes is when Kateri and Hurt bring Shannon for questioning and pressure him to tell the truth. Furthermore, there are quite a lot of plot twists that I did not expect.
Probably my only minor criticism is Kateri’s character. She did not come across as a strong lead character in her profession, as she did not stand out. For me, the entire story balanced on Shannon and Bear, who I thought shined in their roles. Also, after reading the story, I felt that we did not hear from Birdie’s side. I would have loved to get her perspective on the events that transpired.
As this is the first book in the series, perhaps we will read about it in the next book! Overall, “The Watcher” is a gripping procedural, and I loved the various nuances that the author added to the tale.
November 9, 2020
Detective Kateri Fisher gets called out to a disturbance in the woods. The cabin she arrives at looks deserted, but, once she enters, it's clear it's lived in, and it's clear there's been a murder. The owner of the property, Pearl Jenkins, and her son are no where to be found, but, upon further inspection, they find a little girl in a closet who no one knew existed. All signs point to Pearl being dead and her son the murderer. As she navigates her way through the case, she knows one thing for sure: someone is always watching.
This was absolutely incredible. The writing. The story. The characters. Every part of it. I'm not usually a huge fan of police procedurals; I really have to be in the mood to enjoy them. Sometimes they feel too bogged down with police, ya know, procedural things (🤦🏻♀️), but this was the perfect balance due to the dual narrative. The story is told through Kateri's and Shannon's POVs, and I honestly loved both characters. The pacing of the story was spot on, just enough at the end of each chapter to keep me wanting more. I did not at all see the end coming; I thought I had it figured out, and I was way wrong with part of it. This is my favorite kind of thriller because it was all believable. I hate when you read a book and the twist is so out there, you have to roll your eyes. Not at all the case here. And this is the beginning of a Detective Kateri Fisher series... I'm not one to read all the books in a series, and, like I said, not the biggest police procedural fan, but sign me up for the pre-order of the sequel, please! 🙋🏻♀️
This was absolutely incredible. The writing. The story. The characters. Every part of it. I'm not usually a huge fan of police procedurals; I really have to be in the mood to enjoy them. Sometimes they feel too bogged down with police, ya know, procedural things (🤦🏻♀️), but this was the perfect balance due to the dual narrative. The story is told through Kateri's and Shannon's POVs, and I honestly loved both characters. The pacing of the story was spot on, just enough at the end of each chapter to keep me wanting more. I did not at all see the end coming; I thought I had it figured out, and I was way wrong with part of it. This is my favorite kind of thriller because it was all believable. I hate when you read a book and the twist is so out there, you have to roll your eyes. Not at all the case here. And this is the beginning of a Detective Kateri Fisher series... I'm not one to read all the books in a series, and, like I said, not the biggest police procedural fan, but sign me up for the pre-order of the sequel, please! 🙋🏻♀️
July 21, 2021
Merita quattro stelle nel contesto del suo genere, cioè il thriller/giallo. È scorrevole e appassionante, una perfetta storia estiva da leggere d'un fiato, e i personaggi sono interessanti e complessi. Tratteggia inoltre una relazione gay manipolatrice e abusive, il che è molto interessante perché non replica dinamiche etero di violenza di genere ma si inoltra in un territorio poco esplorato.
P.S. È il primo di una serie, e sono molto contenta che sia così.
P.S. È il primo di una serie, e sono molto contenta che sia così.
October 26, 2020
Linda Zagon's review Oct 26, 2020 · edit
really liked it
Linda's Book Obsession Reviews "The Watcher" by Jennifer Pashley, Crooked Lane Books, September 2020 for Suzy Approved Book Tours
Jennifer Pashley, the author of "The Watcher" has written a dark, intriguing, captivating, and suspenseful novel. The genres for this book are mystery, thriller, suspense, crime novel, and fiction. The timeline for this story is set in the author's present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters and events in the story. The setting for this story is mostly in an upstate New York town, by the isolated woods. The author describes her characters as quirky, dysfunctional, unusual, desperate, each with their own set of problems. Investigating the unique case is a woman detective, Kateri Fisher, who feels like an outsider in this town. There are betrayals, threats, danger, crimes, and murder. If you are sensitive to topics such as drugs, rape, and murder, be aware they are discussed in this story.
The Jenkins family has been living in a house by the woods. Pearl, the mother is prepared to run with the family at any given moment. She seems to be in fear of her husband who is in jail, accused of arson, where his family was almost killed. Shannon is her son, who takes on the responsibility of earning money to help pay for bills, and wants to protect his young sister.
Pearl has cameras set around the property and keeps both Shannon and her young daughter captive in their home. Only one day, Kateri Fisher finds that there is evidence that Pearl is dead. The leading suspect is her son Shannon. It also seems that Kateri finds Pearl's young daughter in the closet. Kateri takes the daughter to the hospital to make sure she is emotionally and physically healthy.
This is an action-filled book, and there are twists and turns, and strange and unusual suspects. There is a dark and hopeless feeling of darkness and despair in this story. It is almost like everybody is being watched, and has nothing to lose by their actions. I would recommend this edgy, chilling thriller for readers.
Want to read
September 17, 2022
“Do not miss this dark and gorgeously told mystery that combines both the literary and noir. I was completely enthralled…You will not be able to turn away! 𝙑𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙖 𝙇𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙚, bestselling author of 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘴𝘵
When favorite authors @vanessalillie, @wendywalkerauthor and @laynefargo endorse this thriller, I’m on it!
Jennifer Pashley writes a searing literary noir about what it means to live on the margins of society and what happens when no one is watching in 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿.
𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆:
Pearl Jenkins is a nobody. She was a woman who lived as a hermit in the woods. One day, she's nowhere to be found, and all that's left behind is a pool of blood and a child no one knew existed, raised completely off the grid and in the grip of Pearl's manic paranoia.
Kateri Fisher is used to being an outsider. Now, she's the only female detective in the tiny upstate New York town of Spring Falls, where everyone knows everyone, but no one will talk. It's fitting that she takes the case that no one else wants. But as Kateri struggles to navigate the harsh rules of a new town while trying to learn the truth about the Jenkins family, only one thing becomes clear: neither she nor Pearl are as invisible as she first thought. Someone's always watching.
Told from alternating points of view, this mystery will have you turning the pages well into the night! I love a good crime thriller set in a small town with phenomenal characters. It is multi-layered, fast moving and intriguing. This was reminiscent of Lisa Gardner novels for me. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧 is the first in a series, and I can’t wait for the next one! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @jenniferpashley for the gifted copy, which is published by @crookedlanebooks . It is available now.
“Do not miss this dark and gorgeously told mystery that combines both the literary and noir. I was completely enthralled…You will not be able to turn away! 𝙑𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙖 𝙇𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙚, bestselling author of 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘴𝘵
When favorite authors @vanessalillie, @wendywalkerauthor and @laynefargo endorse this thriller, I’m on it!
Jennifer Pashley writes a searing literary noir about what it means to live on the margins of society and what happens when no one is watching in 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿.
𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆:
Pearl Jenkins is a nobody. She was a woman who lived as a hermit in the woods. One day, she's nowhere to be found, and all that's left behind is a pool of blood and a child no one knew existed, raised completely off the grid and in the grip of Pearl's manic paranoia.
Kateri Fisher is used to being an outsider. Now, she's the only female detective in the tiny upstate New York town of Spring Falls, where everyone knows everyone, but no one will talk. It's fitting that she takes the case that no one else wants. But as Kateri struggles to navigate the harsh rules of a new town while trying to learn the truth about the Jenkins family, only one thing becomes clear: neither she nor Pearl are as invisible as she first thought. Someone's always watching.
Told from alternating points of view, this mystery will have you turning the pages well into the night! I love a good crime thriller set in a small town with phenomenal characters. It is multi-layered, fast moving and intriguing. This was reminiscent of Lisa Gardner novels for me. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧 is the first in a series, and I can’t wait for the next one! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @jenniferpashley for the gifted copy, which is published by @crookedlanebooks . It is available now.
November 22, 2020
Kateri is a female cop banished to a small town in upstate New York because of her drinling problem.
Pearl is a nobody. A pill addicted woman who lives in a house in the woods. So isolated that she delivers a baby girl who, when this story takes place, is now 5 and has never seen a doctor or been to town.
Shannon is Pearl's teenage son. Forced to drop out of school and work a menial job to pay bills and buy food. An out cast.
Their lives collide when Pearl's home is found smothered in blood. No body. The little girl found unharmed in the closet.
Out of nowhere is Bear. The attractive man who takes Shannon under his wing. Offers him money, work and sex.
But what does Bear really want? Because Shannon isnt working much.
Shannon. Wow. Just a terribly sad boy. Horrible life circumstances and no self esteem. Has no one to turn to. And now is charged with murder, even tho there is no body, just some bones. He is desperate to care for his sister and has no idea how to do it and whom to trust
This should have kept my attention. Great atmosphere. Shannon just tugged at your heart. Maybe it moved slow? Maybe at the end it was kind of boom boom? For whatever reason, it was an ok story but not one I will especially remember
Pearl is a nobody. A pill addicted woman who lives in a house in the woods. So isolated that she delivers a baby girl who, when this story takes place, is now 5 and has never seen a doctor or been to town.
Shannon is Pearl's teenage son. Forced to drop out of school and work a menial job to pay bills and buy food. An out cast.
Their lives collide when Pearl's home is found smothered in blood. No body. The little girl found unharmed in the closet.
Out of nowhere is Bear. The attractive man who takes Shannon under his wing. Offers him money, work and sex.
But what does Bear really want? Because Shannon isnt working much.
Shannon. Wow. Just a terribly sad boy. Horrible life circumstances and no self esteem. Has no one to turn to. And now is charged with murder, even tho there is no body, just some bones. He is desperate to care for his sister and has no idea how to do it and whom to trust
This should have kept my attention. Great atmosphere. Shannon just tugged at your heart. Maybe it moved slow? Maybe at the end it was kind of boom boom? For whatever reason, it was an ok story but not one I will especially remember
November 11, 2020
This was a book where I thought some parts were very good and others, not so much. As a whole, I did not think it worked as it meandered and was quite dark. Some of the parts were very well written, showing me a writer with potential, and causing me to give a conflicted review.
I found the most interesting chapters were the ones narrated by Shannon, a teenager old beyond his years. He is raised in abject poverty by an drug-addled mother, and he has a baby sister that is a big secret. Shannon's father is in prison for attempting to murder his entire family, and does not know about his sister, as he is not the father. Already very murky.
The ostensible protagonist of this book is Kateri Fisher, a detective in this upstate NY town, and she has her own sordid past. There are a few other unsavory characters who are involved in this story. Both of them may or may not be involved in the ensuing disappearance of the sister and apparent murder of Shannon's mother.
I found the most interesting chapters were the ones narrated by Shannon, a teenager old beyond his years. He is raised in abject poverty by an drug-addled mother, and he has a baby sister that is a big secret. Shannon's father is in prison for attempting to murder his entire family, and does not know about his sister, as he is not the father. Already very murky.
The ostensible protagonist of this book is Kateri Fisher, a detective in this upstate NY town, and she has her own sordid past. There are a few other unsavory characters who are involved in this story. Both of them may or may not be involved in the ensuing disappearance of the sister and apparent murder of Shannon's mother.
January 4, 2021
This dark and atmospheric thriller is everything I was looking for. It's twisty, with just enough plot lines to keep you guessing, but not so many that it gets confusing. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down.
Detective Fisher is called out to a house in the middle of the woods for a welfare check. What she finds is a pool of blood and a young girl who was locked in a closet. No body to be found. She has to figure out who this unknown girl is and where her mother disappeared to. Nothing makes sense in this case.
Very vivid writing. Pulls you right in. I highly recommend! Can't wait to read more about Detective Fisher.
Detective Fisher is called out to a house in the middle of the woods for a welfare check. What she finds is a pool of blood and a young girl who was locked in a closet. No body to be found. She has to figure out who this unknown girl is and where her mother disappeared to. Nothing makes sense in this case.
Very vivid writing. Pulls you right in. I highly recommend! Can't wait to read more about Detective Fisher.
December 10, 2020
The Watcher is a dark, gritty, police procedural set in upstate New York. Centered around a family living on the margins of society and a detective working to overcome tragedies in her own past, the back stories and evil doings created a tense, complex story. This was a compulsive read that I could not put down once started, and finished in a single evening!
CW: child neglect, mental illness, drug addiction, alcohol abuse, erotic asphyxiation, attempted sexual assault, incarcerated parent, mention of past rape and murder
CW: child neglect, mental illness, drug addiction, alcohol abuse, erotic asphyxiation, attempted sexual assault, incarcerated parent, mention of past rape and murder
October 20, 2025
I loved the dual narrators and the fast pace of this story. It’s gritty and real, never shying away from the emotional weight of the characters’ experiences, which makes the stakes feel high and personal. The small town setting and portrayal of addiction give Ozark vibes and the mother is so well written that you can’t help but dislike her. My heart goes out to Shannon and Birdie. The Watcher is the first in the Kateri Fisher series and was published in 2020. I wish there was something I could find online about a sequel.
September 30, 2020
Dark and filled with a ton of twists! I enjoyed the tough female lead. I couldn't detect how it would unfold and was mesmerized by Jennifer's ability to keep the clues hidden perfectly throughout the story.
January 24, 2021
I really enjoyed The Watcher. If you’re looking for a suspenseful crime drama, definitely grab this one.
October 1, 2020
The Watcher focuses on the first case in Kateri's Fisher new assignment in Spring Falls, a small town in upstate New York. She gets a call and finds a lot of blood in Pearl Jenkin's cabin on the outskirts of town. Along with the blood, she finds a child that nobody knew about. Pearl Jenkins is a known hermit and nobody knew much about her and her family so Kateri has a hard time determining who's responsible for the crime.
I enjoyed this book. It's written from two different perspectives, that of Kateri's and that of Shannon's (Pearl Jenkins' other child). I found myself feeling sorry for Shannon from the beginning. He was treated as a suspect in many crimes just because of his family.
From beginning to end, this story hooked me and I found myself quite eager to find out who did the crime. When I did find out, I was stunned. The ending was truly a surprise.
I would definitely try more books by this author
This book would be rated 'R' in my opinion. There were a lot of adult themes within this book.
I enjoyed this book. It's written from two different perspectives, that of Kateri's and that of Shannon's (Pearl Jenkins' other child). I found myself feeling sorry for Shannon from the beginning. He was treated as a suspect in many crimes just because of his family.
From beginning to end, this story hooked me and I found myself quite eager to find out who did the crime. When I did find out, I was stunned. The ending was truly a surprise.
I would definitely try more books by this author
This book would be rated 'R' in my opinion. There were a lot of adult themes within this book.
November 15, 2020
THE WATCHER - 3.5⭐️ - The premise of this one was about a young girl being found in a cabin where a murder had clearly occurred, but no body. I thought it would be a story of uncovering details from the little girl, but it wasn’t. I got confused a couple times, but still enjoyed it though! I liked the two POVs- the female detective, and the son of the murdered woman. It has LGBTQ representation, a suspenseful plot, and likable lead characters.
June 3, 2020
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book, but one chapter in and I couldn’t put it down. Kateri Fisher is a small town cop still considered new to town. When she is handed the assignment of a bloody house, missing girl, and burning bones, she is right in her element. I couldn’t have guessed all the different ways this book would go. Loved it!
October 27, 2020
THE WATCHER: a novel.
A Kateri Fisher Novel Book 1.
260pages, 31 chapters.
#justreleased in September 2020.
___________
❤️ Fall is all about spooky, thrillers & mysteries
or
is it just me?
___________
📌 JENNIFER PASHLEY is the award-winning author of two short story collections, States, and The Conjurer, and a novel, The Scamp.
She has been awarded
the Red Hen Prize for Fiction,
the Mississippi Review Prize for fiction,
and
the Carve Magazine Esoteric Award for LGBT Fiction.
___________
📌 "The characters in The Watcher will rip your heart out…
There is HOPE at the heart of this novel, and also REDEMPTION and JUSTICE.
You’ll find yourself reading faster to discover what happens next and slowing down to wallow in the BEAUTIFUL prose.
Pashley writes about the people on the fringes of society with clear-eyed compassion and grace.
It’s a gift.”----
___________
📌Pearl Jenkins is a nobody. She was a woman who lived as a hermit in the woods. Then, one day, she's nowhere to be found, and all that's left is a pool of blood and a child no one knew existed, raised completely off the grid and in the grip of Pearl's manic paranoia.
Kateri Fisher is used to being an outsider. Now, she's the only female detective in the tiny upstate New York town of Spring Falls, where everyone knows everyone, but no one will talk. It's fitting that she takes the case that no one else wants. But as Kateri struggles to navigate the harsh rules of a new town while trying to learn the truth about the Jenkins family, only one thing becomes clear: Neither she nor Pearl are as invisible as she first thought. Someone's always watching.
📌 The story proceeds with a TWO NARRATION PERSPECTIVE; one of SHANNON and other of, KATERI.
KATERI'S story begins with 16th Oct and the last chapter ends on 4th Nov.
The INTENSE STORY, begins with KATERI losing her only support, her grandmother & at the same time, going through a divorce.
She's posted to a tiny rural Hamilton County.
Here, she works along with JOEL HURT in a place, to solve cases, where everything seems sublime and calm, on the face.
But.. Someone's always watching.
She is assigned a case wherein she finds, a house having blood spattered everywhere, the body cut & tattered into pieces with a young girl, BIRDIE, sitting silently in the park. The body is assumed to be of her mother, PEARL JENKINS.
SHANNON is the son of PEARL & brother of BIRDIE.
As a kid, SHANNON'S father tried to kill him, in a house fire, when he was just 4.. Or is it what he has assumed all along.. But why..
📌This MURDER, is not as simple as it looks.. There are loads of SECRETS, TWISTS AND TURNS which reveal gradually and keep the READER GLUED TO THE BOOK.
There's drugs, robbery, domestic- child abuse, animal cruelty..amongst other things.
📌A PERFECT thriller, because the PLOT DOES NOT UNRAVEL TILL THE VERY END- the sign of a good writing.
📖READ it to know more!
A Kateri Fisher Novel Book 1.
260pages, 31 chapters.
#justreleased in September 2020.
___________
❤️ Fall is all about spooky, thrillers & mysteries
or
is it just me?
___________
📌 JENNIFER PASHLEY is the award-winning author of two short story collections, States, and The Conjurer, and a novel, The Scamp.
She has been awarded
the Red Hen Prize for Fiction,
the Mississippi Review Prize for fiction,
and
the Carve Magazine Esoteric Award for LGBT Fiction.
___________
📌 "The characters in The Watcher will rip your heart out…
There is HOPE at the heart of this novel, and also REDEMPTION and JUSTICE.
You’ll find yourself reading faster to discover what happens next and slowing down to wallow in the BEAUTIFUL prose.
Pashley writes about the people on the fringes of society with clear-eyed compassion and grace.
It’s a gift.”----
___________
📌Pearl Jenkins is a nobody. She was a woman who lived as a hermit in the woods. Then, one day, she's nowhere to be found, and all that's left is a pool of blood and a child no one knew existed, raised completely off the grid and in the grip of Pearl's manic paranoia.
Kateri Fisher is used to being an outsider. Now, she's the only female detective in the tiny upstate New York town of Spring Falls, where everyone knows everyone, but no one will talk. It's fitting that she takes the case that no one else wants. But as Kateri struggles to navigate the harsh rules of a new town while trying to learn the truth about the Jenkins family, only one thing becomes clear: Neither she nor Pearl are as invisible as she first thought. Someone's always watching.
📌 The story proceeds with a TWO NARRATION PERSPECTIVE; one of SHANNON and other of, KATERI.
KATERI'S story begins with 16th Oct and the last chapter ends on 4th Nov.
The INTENSE STORY, begins with KATERI losing her only support, her grandmother & at the same time, going through a divorce.
She's posted to a tiny rural Hamilton County.
Here, she works along with JOEL HURT in a place, to solve cases, where everything seems sublime and calm, on the face.
But.. Someone's always watching.
She is assigned a case wherein she finds, a house having blood spattered everywhere, the body cut & tattered into pieces with a young girl, BIRDIE, sitting silently in the park. The body is assumed to be of her mother, PEARL JENKINS.
SHANNON is the son of PEARL & brother of BIRDIE.
As a kid, SHANNON'S father tried to kill him, in a house fire, when he was just 4.. Or is it what he has assumed all along.. But why..
📌This MURDER, is not as simple as it looks.. There are loads of SECRETS, TWISTS AND TURNS which reveal gradually and keep the READER GLUED TO THE BOOK.
There's drugs, robbery, domestic- child abuse, animal cruelty..amongst other things.
📌A PERFECT thriller, because the PLOT DOES NOT UNRAVEL TILL THE VERY END- the sign of a good writing.
📖READ it to know more!
September 11, 2020
Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf
‘The Watcher‘ will have you on edge throughout as the tensions build, the mystery deepens, and the danger looms ever closer.
Told from two points of view, Kateri’s and Shannon’s, we’ll get information as to what’s happening in this small, secretive town spread out over time. As Kateri is new to the town and to the police force there, she’s already feeling like an outsider. But time isn’t changing that perception as people in the town of Spring Falls keep their secrets very close. When Pearl, the town hermit or recluse, goes missing leaving behind a pool of blood and a teenager who no one seems to have known much about Kateri is assigned the case. She’s going to come up against a blank wall after wall in trying to put together clues, and she’s not getting much help from the other cops on the job or the residents.
This is a story that I really don’t want to say much about because you need to fall into this world and be surprised, even scared as the story progresses. The details of every character, main or secondary, bring them to life easily making that ‘look over your shoulder creepy feeling’ even stronger. It was hard to get a good take on Kateri for me. I liked her but didn’t always understand the whys of what she was doing. Shannon probably stole this story – and I don’t want to spoil your chance to see and understand Shannon for yourself.
I’m being vague on purpose for as a Thriller/Mystery you need to be surprised and not told every detail in advance. ‘The Watcher‘ kept me reading long past bedtime, it often gave me shivers, insight into the characters, and a feeling of impending doom as it moved along. I enjoyed myself in this world, and should this become a series one day I’d certainly follow Kateri’s adventures into crimes and more.
If you enjoy a good Thriller, if Mystery or Crime drama is your thing, then ‘The Watcher‘ should be on your reading radar to pick up soon.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
‘The Watcher‘ will have you on edge throughout as the tensions build, the mystery deepens, and the danger looms ever closer.
Told from two points of view, Kateri’s and Shannon’s, we’ll get information as to what’s happening in this small, secretive town spread out over time. As Kateri is new to the town and to the police force there, she’s already feeling like an outsider. But time isn’t changing that perception as people in the town of Spring Falls keep their secrets very close. When Pearl, the town hermit or recluse, goes missing leaving behind a pool of blood and a teenager who no one seems to have known much about Kateri is assigned the case. She’s going to come up against a blank wall after wall in trying to put together clues, and she’s not getting much help from the other cops on the job or the residents.
This is a story that I really don’t want to say much about because you need to fall into this world and be surprised, even scared as the story progresses. The details of every character, main or secondary, bring them to life easily making that ‘look over your shoulder creepy feeling’ even stronger. It was hard to get a good take on Kateri for me. I liked her but didn’t always understand the whys of what she was doing. Shannon probably stole this story – and I don’t want to spoil your chance to see and understand Shannon for yourself.
I’m being vague on purpose for as a Thriller/Mystery you need to be surprised and not told every detail in advance. ‘The Watcher‘ kept me reading long past bedtime, it often gave me shivers, insight into the characters, and a feeling of impending doom as it moved along. I enjoyed myself in this world, and should this become a series one day I’d certainly follow Kateri’s adventures into crimes and more.
If you enjoy a good Thriller, if Mystery or Crime drama is your thing, then ‘The Watcher‘ should be on your reading radar to pick up soon.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
August 24, 2020
This was a GREAT suspense novel and Jennifer Pashley certainly should be right up there with some of the big names of crime/suspense today!
The Watcher is a suspenseful crime drama that introduces us to the town of Spring Falls in upstate New York where you can feel the scratch of the brittle tree branches in the woods, the crisp air that never quite smells clean and fresh and the constant stare of every local that knows everyone and everything. Except for hermit Pearl Jenkins' secret that she has tucked away in her beaten down house: a baby girl born without anyone's knowledge. And now her kitchen is found covered in blood with Pearl missing.
The two voices we hear from in this book are Pearl's son, Shannon - a nineteen year old trying to escape the history of drugs, second cousins and crime that his family passed along - and Kateri Fisher - a young detective transferred to this small town department after her drunken, near death car crash. We switch between these two perspectives leading up to and directly after Pearl is found missing, and the rollercoaster ride of whodunnit continues expertly until the twist (which I completely saw play out dramatically like a scene in a movie) leads you into a complicated tangle of explanations.
This book shone for me through the depth of the characters and the unique world the author created. No matter how large or small the character, the author expertly pinpointed their descriptions and gave them each a fresh uniqueness - the repetitive and specific way Bear shows all his teeth when smiling in a threatening manner, the odd and out of place wardrobe of Baby Jane, Shannon's inner turmoil and physical reactions as he comes to understand his sexuality and draw towards older men. I enjoyed the genre pairing of detective crime through Kateri's chapters with the gritty suspense and drama in Shannon's.
If I haven't said it enough - this was an amazing surprise for an avid suspense/crime reader. Pashley should get major attention for this book. Fresh, complex and gritty!
The Watcher is a suspenseful crime drama that introduces us to the town of Spring Falls in upstate New York where you can feel the scratch of the brittle tree branches in the woods, the crisp air that never quite smells clean and fresh and the constant stare of every local that knows everyone and everything. Except for hermit Pearl Jenkins' secret that she has tucked away in her beaten down house: a baby girl born without anyone's knowledge. And now her kitchen is found covered in blood with Pearl missing.
The two voices we hear from in this book are Pearl's son, Shannon - a nineteen year old trying to escape the history of drugs, second cousins and crime that his family passed along - and Kateri Fisher - a young detective transferred to this small town department after her drunken, near death car crash. We switch between these two perspectives leading up to and directly after Pearl is found missing, and the rollercoaster ride of whodunnit continues expertly until the twist (which I completely saw play out dramatically like a scene in a movie) leads you into a complicated tangle of explanations.
This book shone for me through the depth of the characters and the unique world the author created. No matter how large or small the character, the author expertly pinpointed their descriptions and gave them each a fresh uniqueness - the repetitive and specific way Bear shows all his teeth when smiling in a threatening manner, the odd and out of place wardrobe of Baby Jane, Shannon's inner turmoil and physical reactions as he comes to understand his sexuality and draw towards older men. I enjoyed the genre pairing of detective crime through Kateri's chapters with the gritty suspense and drama in Shannon's.
If I haven't said it enough - this was an amazing surprise for an avid suspense/crime reader. Pashley should get major attention for this book. Fresh, complex and gritty!
October 26, 2020
Linda's Book Obsession Reviews "The Watcher" by Jennifer Pashley, Crooked Lane Books, September 2020 for Suzy Approved Book Tours
Jennifer Pashley, the author of "The Watcher" has written a dark, intriguing, captivating, and suspenseful novel. The genres for this book are mystery, thriller, suspense, crime novel, and fiction. The timeline for this story is set in the author's present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters and events in the story. The setting for this story is mostly in an upstate New York town, by the isolated woods. The author describes her characters as quirky, dysfunctional, unusual, desperate, each with their own set of problems. Investigating the unique case is a woman detective, Kateri Fisher, who feels like an outsider in this town. There are betrayals, threats, danger, crimes, and murder. If you are sensitive to topics such as drugs, rape, and murder, be aware they are discussed in this story.
The Jenkins family has been living in a house by the woods. Pearl, the mother is prepared to run with the family at any given moment. She seems to be in fear of her husband who is in jail, accused of arson, where his family was almost killed. Shannon is her son, who takes on the responsibility of earning money to help pay for bills, and wants to protect his young sister.
Pearl has cameras set around the property and keeps both Shannon and her young daughter captive in their home. Only one day, Kateri Fisher finds that there is evidence that Pearl is dead. The leading suspect is her son Shannon. It also seems that Kateri finds Pearl's young daughter in the closet. Kateri takes the daughter to the hospital to make sure she is emotionally and physically healthy.
This is an action-filled book, and there are twists and turns, and strange and unusual suspects. There is a dark and hopeless feeling of darkness and despair in this story. It is almost like everybody is being watched, and has nothing to lose by their actions. I would recommend this edgy, chilling thriller for readers.
January 29, 2021
This story is told from two perspectives and - at first - two timelines: the first is Kateri Fisher, an investigator with the Spring Falls Police Department in the present day, when she is called to the grisly scene of a crime. Pearl Jenkins is missing, there’s a ton of blood everywhere and her daughter is found hidden in a closet. The second narrator is Shannon Jenkins, Pearl’s 19-year-old son. His story starts several months before the crime, when life in the Jenkins home begins to fall apart: the family’s trailer is about to be auctioned off, the water and electricity are shut off and Pearl doesn’t seem to care. Shannon, at his wit’s end, is forced to turn to two mysterious men who enter his life, though he knows little about either. The stories intersect at the bloody trailer, where nobody seems to know what happened, but. No one seems to want to tell the truth about what led up to that day either...
I hope that explanation was clear, because the story is complex, but it makes sense hen you’re reading it. And it’s very good. The author really knows how to set a scene and draw characters who are very vivid and make you want to know more about them. There’s a lot of background with Shannon and his family that also plays into things, but I won’t spoil any of that. It’s also very good.
The ending wasn’t a huge surprise, though there were some twists that the author peppers in to really keep things interesting. There’s a whole world that the author creates in the book that she works with to pull the threads together to create the ending. It’s really very good.
As indicated in the title, this appears to be the first in a coming series centered around Kateri, and I definitely would read more about her. She has her own dark past to explore and I really liked her as a character. She is the perfect blend of vulnerable and tough, in my opinion.
If you’re looking for a new mystery series, I would say give this one a try. It’s got some great storytelling and a complex plot that will keep you interested throughout!
I hope that explanation was clear, because the story is complex, but it makes sense hen you’re reading it. And it’s very good. The author really knows how to set a scene and draw characters who are very vivid and make you want to know more about them. There’s a lot of background with Shannon and his family that also plays into things, but I won’t spoil any of that. It’s also very good.
The ending wasn’t a huge surprise, though there were some twists that the author peppers in to really keep things interesting. There’s a whole world that the author creates in the book that she works with to pull the threads together to create the ending. It’s really very good.
As indicated in the title, this appears to be the first in a coming series centered around Kateri, and I definitely would read more about her. She has her own dark past to explore and I really liked her as a character. She is the perfect blend of vulnerable and tough, in my opinion.
If you’re looking for a new mystery series, I would say give this one a try. It’s got some great storytelling and a complex plot that will keep you interested throughout!
September 10, 2020
4.5 stars.
The Watcher by Jennifer Pashley is a riveting mystery.
Detective Kateri Fisher is still relatively new to Spring Falls. She recently relocated from Syracuse after her personal life entered into a downward spiral. Kateri is walking a fine line as it becomes apparent she has not quite conquered her demons. She is an intuitive investigator who takes a compassionate approach as she interviews suspects. But underneath her kindhearted exterior is a steely determination that proves to be invaluable on her current investigation.
Kateri and her partner Detective Joel Hurt's newest case is a little perplexing. During a welfare check at Pearl Jenkins' home, Kateri finds a bloody scene but there is no body. Their search of the home turns up an unexpected discovery: a young girl that no one knows lived with Pearl or her nineteen year old son Shannon. While the forensic team continues searching for evidence and hopefully Pearl, Kateri goes to the hospital with five year old Birdie who is clearly traumatized.
Finally locating Shannon, Kateri initially believes he is not involved in what happened to his mother. But she and Joel both believe he knows more than he is telling them. She is also rather curious about his involvement with newcomer Bear Miller. He does not have anything of note in his past, but Kateri is certain there is more to this stranger than she has uncovered. And as the situation begins to look grim for Shannon, she is determined to follow her instincts and keep digging for answers.
The narration seamlessly shifts between Kateri's perspective in the present and Shannon's in the weeks leading up to the discovery at his house. Shannon is a sympathetic young man who is forced to grow up way to fast. He is very mature for his age, but he is soon embroiled in something that is way over his head.
The Watcher is a multi-layered mystery that is fast-paced and engrossing. The storyline is intriguing and Kateri and Joel are engaging and likable characters. The investigation moves at a brisk pace and Jennifer Pashley brings this spellbinding mystery to an unpredictable conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this well-written police procedurals to fans of the genre.
The Watcher by Jennifer Pashley is a riveting mystery.
Detective Kateri Fisher is still relatively new to Spring Falls. She recently relocated from Syracuse after her personal life entered into a downward spiral. Kateri is walking a fine line as it becomes apparent she has not quite conquered her demons. She is an intuitive investigator who takes a compassionate approach as she interviews suspects. But underneath her kindhearted exterior is a steely determination that proves to be invaluable on her current investigation.
Kateri and her partner Detective Joel Hurt's newest case is a little perplexing. During a welfare check at Pearl Jenkins' home, Kateri finds a bloody scene but there is no body. Their search of the home turns up an unexpected discovery: a young girl that no one knows lived with Pearl or her nineteen year old son Shannon. While the forensic team continues searching for evidence and hopefully Pearl, Kateri goes to the hospital with five year old Birdie who is clearly traumatized.
Finally locating Shannon, Kateri initially believes he is not involved in what happened to his mother. But she and Joel both believe he knows more than he is telling them. She is also rather curious about his involvement with newcomer Bear Miller. He does not have anything of note in his past, but Kateri is certain there is more to this stranger than she has uncovered. And as the situation begins to look grim for Shannon, she is determined to follow her instincts and keep digging for answers.
The narration seamlessly shifts between Kateri's perspective in the present and Shannon's in the weeks leading up to the discovery at his house. Shannon is a sympathetic young man who is forced to grow up way to fast. He is very mature for his age, but he is soon embroiled in something that is way over his head.
The Watcher is a multi-layered mystery that is fast-paced and engrossing. The storyline is intriguing and Kateri and Joel are engaging and likable characters. The investigation moves at a brisk pace and Jennifer Pashley brings this spellbinding mystery to an unpredictable conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this well-written police procedurals to fans of the genre.
November 4, 2020
A debut author has done it again…I was wow’d by The Watcher! Jennifer Pashley created a new female detective that I really love! Katerie Fisher is the newest detective in the small town of Spring Falls, NY. Katerie has years of experience as a detective but a recent loss in her life lead her down a dark path of drunken nights and anonymous sexual encounters. An accident, forced sobriety, and a desire for a fresh start prompted Katerie to relocate to Spring Falls.
Pearl Jenkins lives in a run down cabin in the woods. Pearl is a victim of the opioid crisis and a hermit. She forces her son Shannon to keep her secrets and clean up her messes. There’s never enough money for utilities, property taxes, or food. Pearl claims to live in fear of her ex-husband despite the fact that he’s in prison for arson and attempted murder. Years ago, Pearl and Shannon were almost killed by a fire, set by Pearl’s ex and they both have the scars to prove it.
Suddenly Pearl is missing, nothing left behind but pools of blood, charred bones, a shoe, a bracelet, and a 5 year old child no one in Spring Falls knew existed.
Fairly quickly, Shannon is the prime suspect in Pearl’s murder and Birdie, the 5 year old child has been kidnapped from her hospital room. A police officer who was supposed to be guarding Birdie is also dead.
This book was full of so many aspects that I love in a thriller: short chapters, great pacing, small town setting, secrets and lies, missing person, murder, and flawed characters! Told in alternating POV’s we get the story from Kateri and Shannon’s perspective, shifting from present day with Katerie and a few days in the past from Shannon. There were a few plot twists that took me by surprise. No one in this twisted tale is who you think they are!!!
I thoroughly enjoyed the Watcher and rate it 4 solid stars. Thank you to Suzyapprovedbooktours, Jennifer Pashley, and Crooked Lane Books for my copy of the book to review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews