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dethklok1985's review against another edition
2.0
A delusional creep stumbles onto a plot that's crazier than he is.
stilinskiforthewin's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Excrement and Stalking
lanternsjourney's review against another edition
3.0
The first half of They're Watching was very creepy and intriguing. It sucked me right in and pulled me in many directions because it doesn't seem to be straightforward voeuyerism coming into play from Brian, the protagonist. The middle dragged a little bit as a new story thread was introduced and some of the elements from the beginning fell by the wayside.
I wanted more! The ending redeemed itself, but not fully. I still wanted a little more answers... if not from the ending, then from clues left more in the middle of the book where it seemed to drag. I just felt as if the whole middle didnt progress the overall story and was there just to throw the reader off.
I wanted more! The ending redeemed itself, but not fully. I still wanted a little more answers... if not from the ending, then from clues left more in the middle of the book where it seemed to drag. I just felt as if the whole middle didnt progress the overall story and was there just to throw the reader off.
aksel_dadswell's review against another edition
4.0
A pulpy, fast-paced little novel that feels lived-in and tactile. The characters aren't just cleanly moving through the world but interacting with it, and getting their bodily fluids all over the place. There are music and film references, characters eat and shit and kill. Everything that happens feels solid and real in a way that lends authenticity to the narrative and makes you care about people you may not really like.
The authors fit a lot into the book's short runtime and it feels like a love-letter to giallo horror - I think I would have preferred a meatier ending but this was an engaging and fun and quite often gross story with enough twists and enough snark to make it a fast read that swallowed up my time with it.
The authors fit a lot into the book's short runtime and it feels like a love-letter to giallo horror - I think I would have preferred a meatier ending but this was an engaging and fun and quite often gross story with enough twists and enough snark to make it a fast read that swallowed up my time with it.
mrfrank's review against another edition
4.0
THEY'RE WATCHING is a heart pounding suspense thriller, tickled through with elements of horror. And it better be, as this offering is the brainchild of the two hosts of THIS IS HORROR Podcast, Michael David Wilson and Bob Pastorella. There's a lot of pressure to deliver the goods for a duo who bring you the best in horror week and week on their popular podcast. And, they pull it off!
They're Watching is aptly titled. People are watching at all times. You kinda feel watched yourself as you fall into the story. This reads just like a good mystery or suspense thriller. The story telling is tight and for a story told between a guy from the UK and a guy from the US, the voice is seamless.
Almost. If there was one grip I had, it was that at one point in the story, the two writers seemingly argue amongst themselves as to which direction the story should play out. The result pulls you a bit out of the story but is, in a way, kind of funny to watch play out. (Almost like watching Bugs Bunny argue with the guy animating him.) By act three, they get back on the same page and really end things on a decidedly horrific note.
THEY'RE WATCHING is a solid story all around despite some minor hiccups. The plot is immersive. The tone is unique. One minute you're reading a mystery, the next a suspense thriller. It all ends just the way most would hope, a horrific conclusion any listener of THIS IS HORROR would open this book and expect to see.
The eyes have it!
They're Watching is aptly titled. People are watching at all times. You kinda feel watched yourself as you fall into the story. This reads just like a good mystery or suspense thriller. The story telling is tight and for a story told between a guy from the UK and a guy from the US, the voice is seamless.
Almost. If there was one grip I had, it was that at one point in the story, the two writers seemingly argue amongst themselves as to which direction the story should play out. The result pulls you a bit out of the story but is, in a way, kind of funny to watch play out. (Almost like watching Bugs Bunny argue with the guy animating him.) By act three, they get back on the same page and really end things on a decidedly horrific note.
THEY'RE WATCHING is a solid story all around despite some minor hiccups. The plot is immersive. The tone is unique. One minute you're reading a mystery, the next a suspense thriller. It all ends just the way most would hope, a horrific conclusion any listener of THIS IS HORROR would open this book and expect to see.
The eyes have it!
chickflix's review against another edition
3.0
Super creepy little horror novel based around voyeurism and obsession.
A man moves into a new apartment which has a hole in the wall that looks into his neighbor's apartment. He starts watching her, becomes more and more obsessed with her, and then things get weird. I don't totally understand the reveals at the end, and I'm not sure I'm supposed to.
I preferred the author's other book [b:The Girl in the Video|50391580|The Girl in the Video|Michael David Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579728631l/50391580._SY75_.jpg|75348300] (which has similar themes) slightly more, but I will continue to follow his work.
A man moves into a new apartment which has a hole in the wall that looks into his neighbor's apartment. He starts watching her, becomes more and more obsessed with her, and then things get weird. I don't totally understand the reveals at the end, and I'm not sure I'm supposed to.
I preferred the author's other book [b:The Girl in the Video|50391580|The Girl in the Video|Michael David Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579728631l/50391580._SY75_.jpg|75348300] (which has similar themes) slightly more, but I will continue to follow his work.
motherhorror's review against another edition
3.0
Honored to have early eyes on this one. Review to come!
readswithdogs's review against another edition
3.0
The cover for this book is fantastic and eye-catching!
They're Watching is a book from the This is Horror podcast duo and it's creepy as heck! It's the story of a guy who moved to a strange quaint town and begins peeping on his hot neighbor. She dances nude every night to hypnotic music and he's entranced, but is he the watcher or the watched?
The first 3/4s of this book were very tense and suspenseful and had me intrigued to keep reading and find out wtf was going on! Brian is a total creep, but maybe his neighbor wants him to creep? Is this town just all a big cult?! Does this dude really have a job or is he a little delusional? What's with all the fish?!
Unfortunately, the last quarter of the story read like it was extremely rushed and everything just fell apart.
They're Watching is a book from the This is Horror podcast duo and it's creepy as heck! It's the story of a guy who moved to a strange quaint town and begins peeping on his hot neighbor. She dances nude every night to hypnotic music and he's entranced, but is he the watcher or the watched?
The first 3/4s of this book were very tense and suspenseful and had me intrigued to keep reading and find out wtf was going on! Brian is a total creep, but maybe his neighbor wants him to creep? Is this town just all a big cult?! Does this dude really have a job or is he a little delusional? What's with all the fish?!
Unfortunately, the last quarter of the story read like it was extremely rushed and everything just fell apart.
brennanlafaro's review against another edition
5.0
Certainly you can’t name your novel They’re Watching without evoking a sense of paranoia and mystery. So just looking at the cover page, Michael David Wilson and Bob Pastorella of This is Horror, have set the bar for what they’ve promised the reader.
The novel delivers on these promises in a bigger way than I could have anticipated, however. We spend the runtime following Brian, who has just moved into a new apartment and wastes no time discovering a peephole that offers an unfettered view into his attractive neighbor’s apartment. What he sees sets an entire chain of events in motion that takes the reader to some quite unexpected places.
I mean unexpected. Wilson and Pastorella have done a stellar job of creating a narrative that moves along at a rapid fire pace - you won’t be able to limit yourself to just a chapter, I promise you. The story keeps the reader feeling like they’re constantly off balance. Consciously or not, I find myself thinking of what might happen next in a story, and I was on the money exactly zero times while reading this one. It creates an immersive, unsettling atmosphere when, moving parallel to Brian, the reader doesn’t know who to trust or what to make of the events that unfold.
There are some terrific supporting cast members on display in They’re Watching. Ted, the private investigator, makes for quite a few memorable moments, while still remaining something of an enigma to the reader. His interactions with Brian add a great deal to the complete product. Lexie and Yuki round out the group, putting themselves on display to Brian, but keeping just far enough into the shadows to leave the reader with questions.
The movement of the story, the seamless way that Wilson and Pastorella blend their voices together, the ending - oh my god, the ending - and the resounding note of unease that plays throughout the whole thing make this one of my favorite reads this year, and I can’t recommend it enough.
I received a copy from the authors for review consideration.
The novel delivers on these promises in a bigger way than I could have anticipated, however. We spend the runtime following Brian, who has just moved into a new apartment and wastes no time discovering a peephole that offers an unfettered view into his attractive neighbor’s apartment. What he sees sets an entire chain of events in motion that takes the reader to some quite unexpected places.
I mean unexpected. Wilson and Pastorella have done a stellar job of creating a narrative that moves along at a rapid fire pace - you won’t be able to limit yourself to just a chapter, I promise you. The story keeps the reader feeling like they’re constantly off balance. Consciously or not, I find myself thinking of what might happen next in a story, and I was on the money exactly zero times while reading this one. It creates an immersive, unsettling atmosphere when, moving parallel to Brian, the reader doesn’t know who to trust or what to make of the events that unfold.
There are some terrific supporting cast members on display in They’re Watching. Ted, the private investigator, makes for quite a few memorable moments, while still remaining something of an enigma to the reader. His interactions with Brian add a great deal to the complete product. Lexie and Yuki round out the group, putting themselves on display to Brian, but keeping just far enough into the shadows to leave the reader with questions.
The movement of the story, the seamless way that Wilson and Pastorella blend their voices together, the ending - oh my god, the ending - and the resounding note of unease that plays throughout the whole thing make this one of my favorite reads this year, and I can’t recommend it enough.
I received a copy from the authors for review consideration.
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