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kittietta's review against another edition
4.0
Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Crossing for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
The Watcher wasn't my favorite book I have read this year, but it was ok. The plot kept me interested, the writing flowed well. I did find the characters weak, at least in the beginning, but I guess that's true for a lot of books. It gives them room to evolve and grow.
Debated forever whether to rate a 3 or a 4 star. Since I can't give half stars going to give it a 4.
The Watcher wasn't my favorite book I have read this year, but it was ok. The plot kept me interested, the writing flowed well. I did find the characters weak, at least in the beginning, but I guess that's true for a lot of books. It gives them room to evolve and grow.
Debated forever whether to rate a 3 or a 4 star. Since I can't give half stars going to give it a 4.
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
2.0
A slow read for a Swedish psychological thriller! It all takes place in the lead character’s mind so it’s very claustrophobic and unsettlingas you never know what really is going on.
The book sets the scene well with the isolation, the house, the boredom and the imagination of a writer looking for her next plot. There’s a little bit of nosiness in all of us I think so to have someone watch the house next door makes sense.
The novel takes off as it were, when the woman starts to discover more and the pace picks up. What took away the pace here though was the alternation view points which up until now hadn’t bothered me. It mirror the thought process here I suppose but I wanted to feel the full impact of the ending.
There’s no locations of interest but just as well as I wouldn’t want to meet any of the people in the novel!
The book sets the scene well with the isolation, the house, the boredom and the imagination of a writer looking for her next plot. There’s a little bit of nosiness in all of us I think so to have someone watch the house next door makes sense.
The novel takes off as it were, when the woman starts to discover more and the pace picks up. What took away the pace here though was the alternation view points which up until now hadn’t bothered me. It mirror the thought process here I suppose but I wanted to feel the full impact of the ending.
There’s no locations of interest but just as well as I wouldn’t want to meet any of the people in the novel!
indydriven's review against another edition
2.0
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Elena has separated from her husband and takes a short term townhouse rental to allow her time to decide what she wants to do with respect to her marriage. She is an author but has been suffering from writer’s block. Instead of working on a new novel, she begins to watch her neighbors through the kitchen window and she believes that something is terribly wrong with them. This is another unreliable narrator plot but unfortunately it really wasn’t my kind of book. This may appeal to readers who really enjoy unreliable narrators/story lines.
Elena has separated from her husband and takes a short term townhouse rental to allow her time to decide what she wants to do with respect to her marriage. She is an author but has been suffering from writer’s block. Instead of working on a new novel, she begins to watch her neighbors through the kitchen window and she believes that something is terribly wrong with them. This is another unreliable narrator plot but unfortunately it really wasn’t my kind of book. This may appeal to readers who really enjoy unreliable narrators/story lines.
cassies_books_reviews's review against another edition
3.0
First I want to thank netgalley and the author for an advanced copy of this book for my kindle! I really enjoyed this book this was definitely a psychological thriller. The book started out introducing you to Elena an author who has hit a rough patch in her marriage and decided she needs a three month break so she moves into her sisters friends home and house sits while the friend is away. While she’s there she decides to watch her neighbors house and soon gets involved in there everyday problems which includes befriending there loner son. Soon you don’t know what’s real and what’s not since elana isn’t sleeping or eating and trying to write a new book. She’s certain the neighbors wife is planning to murder her husband or is she. The book can get a bit confusing with the back and forth but it was a quick read and I enjoyed it!
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
2.0
A slow read for a Swedish psychological thriller! It all takes place in the lead character’s mind so it’s very claustrophobic and unsettlingas you never know what really is going on.
The book sets the scene well with the isolation, the house, the boredom and the imagination of a writer looking for her next plot. There’s a little bit of nosiness in all of us I think so to have someone watch the house next door makes sense.
The novel takes off as it were, when the woman starts to discover more and the pace picks up. What took away the pace here though was the alternation view points which up until now hadn’t bothered me. It mirror the thought process here I suppose but I wanted to feel the full impact of the ending.
There’s no locations of interest but just as well as I wouldn’t want to meet any of the people in the novel!
The book sets the scene well with the isolation, the house, the boredom and the imagination of a writer looking for her next plot. There’s a little bit of nosiness in all of us I think so to have someone watch the house next door makes sense.
The novel takes off as it were, when the woman starts to discover more and the pace picks up. What took away the pace here though was the alternation view points which up until now hadn’t bothered me. It mirror the thought process here I suppose but I wanted to feel the full impact of the ending.
There’s no locations of interest but just as well as I wouldn’t want to meet any of the people in the novel!
agness757's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
teagandoeswords's review against another edition
3.0
ARC from Netgalley.
A new take on an old favourite, The Watcher features elements of classic film Rear Window. Written by a Swedish author, it's one to watch for fans of Swedish crime and psychological thrillers.
Read my full review here.
A new take on an old favourite, The Watcher features elements of classic film Rear Window. Written by a Swedish author, it's one to watch for fans of Swedish crime and psychological thrillers.
Read my full review here.
alstrath's review against another edition
5.0
Elena, an author, living in a sub-let townhouse is on a trial separation from her husband and has lost her creative mojo and is caught up in insomnia and a feeling of being lost. The only thing that starts to bring her to some sort of stability is watching her neighbors, the Storms, and becoming drawn into their world.
The more you read, the more the Storm's seem to intrigue a person and you wonder what secret is lurking in their background? You start to also wonder is Elena hiding some dark secrets of her own? What is the reason for her own separation?
The story is told by three different voices - one is definitely Elena, another one an unidentified husband and the other one the innermost thoughts of the unidentified husband's also unidentified wife. These three distinct voices tell the tales so compellingly that by chapter 10 you're hooked; wondering what's happening, what's real and what's imaginary. They pull you into the pages, unable to put it down in case you miss anything until you reach the shattering revelation of what is actually the real story, one you didn't predict at all.
I could not believe this was a translated novel, in my mind nothing was lost. It was brilliantly written with so many twists in the tale.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book.
The more you read, the more the Storm's seem to intrigue a person and you wonder what secret is lurking in their background? You start to also wonder is Elena hiding some dark secrets of her own? What is the reason for her own separation?
The story is told by three different voices - one is definitely Elena, another one an unidentified husband and the other one the innermost thoughts of the unidentified husband's also unidentified wife. These three distinct voices tell the tales so compellingly that by chapter 10 you're hooked; wondering what's happening, what's real and what's imaginary. They pull you into the pages, unable to put it down in case you miss anything until you reach the shattering revelation of what is actually the real story, one you didn't predict at all.
I could not believe this was a translated novel, in my mind nothing was lost. It was brilliantly written with so many twists in the tale.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book.