You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by loribelle100
Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
What an intense book! Unfamiliar with Tracy Sierra, I grabbed this audiobook from Libby this morning when I realized the one I had from the library was something I’d already read. “Psychological suspense” caught my eye, and boy was that accurate! I’m in the middle of a 677-page print book that I’d hoped to finish today, but it was difficult to pull away from this wild story. It really had me on the edge of my seat, so I carried my tablet around all day, when doing laundry, taking out the garbage, brushing my teeth, watering plants, etc.
While the main character was often irksome with her nagging self-doubt, the backstory interspersed throughout illuminated many of her issues. [Sometimes that back-and-forth in time makes things confusing, but it was well done here.] I enjoyed the image of a mom — however damaged — willing to fight for her children, even in a traumatic and confusing situation. Sierra threw in some mom-details that I’ve never heard in other books, and that was fun. The twists were great, even if a couple weren’t exactly shocking. And the end was just enough different from what I expected to make me happy.
Bonus with the audiobook: narrator Emily Ellet was fantastic! With a story this nerve-jangling, an overly dramatic read would have pushed it over the top. Ellet’s distinctive voicing of different characters was good enough for me to know who was speaking before the names were said. When the kids were upset, she didn’t exaggerate their words. The mom’s confusion and anxiety were detectable without whining or shrillness. She’s good enough that I’ll seek out books she narrates just like I would a favorite author.
While the main character was often irksome with her nagging self-doubt, the backstory interspersed throughout illuminated many of her issues. [Sometimes that back-and-forth in time makes things confusing, but it was well done here.] I enjoyed the image of a mom — however damaged — willing to fight for her children, even in a traumatic and confusing situation. Sierra threw in some mom-details that I’ve never heard in other books, and that was fun. The twists were great, even if a couple weren’t exactly shocking. And the end was just enough different from what I expected to make me happy.
Bonus with the audiobook: narrator Emily Ellet was fantastic! With a story this nerve-jangling, an overly dramatic read would have pushed it over the top. Ellet’s distinctive voicing of different characters was good enough for me to know who was speaking before the names were said. When the kids were upset, she didn’t exaggerate their words. The mom’s confusion and anxiety were detectable without whining or shrillness. She’s good enough that I’ll seek out books she narrates just like I would a favorite author.