When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole

When No One Is Watching

by Alyssa Cole

An instant NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

"I was knocked over by the momentum of an intense psychological thriller that doesn’t let go until the final page. This is a terrific read." – Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author

*A Marie Claire Book Club Pick* 

Rear Window meets Get Out in this gripping thriller from a critically acclaimed and New York Times Notable author, in which the gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood takes on a sinister new meaning…

Sydney Green is Brooklyn born and raised, but her beloved neighborhood seems to change every time she blinks. Condos are sprouting like weeds, FOR SALE signs are popping up overnight, and the neighbors she’s known all her life are disappearing. To hold onto her community’s past and present, Sydney channels her frustration into a walking tour and finds an unlikely and unwanted assistant in one of the new arrivals to the block—her neighbor Theo.

But Sydney and Theo’s deep dive into history quickly becomes a dizzying descent into paranoia and fear. Their neighbors may not have moved to the suburbs after all, and the push to revitalize the community may be more deadly than advertised.

When does coincidence become conspiracy? Where do people go when gentrification pushes them out? Can Sydney and Theo trust each other—or themselves—long enough to find out before they too disappear?

Featured in Parade, Essence, Bustle, Popsugar, Elle, Shondaland, Marie Claire, Buzzfeed, Entertainment Weekly, Good Housekeeping, Brit + Co, Real Simple, Lit Hub, Crime Reads, Blavity, Ms. Magazine, Hello Giggles, The New York Times, Town & Country, Newsweek, New York Post, Refinery29, Woman's World, Washington Post, the Skimm, Book Riot, Bookish, Huffington Post, and more!

Reviewed by kimbacaffeinate on

4 of 5 stars

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Wow… this was my first experience with Alyssa Cole and her writing is smooth, poignant and twisted.

The story provides two perspectives in alternating chapters. The principal character a black woman named Sydney whose world is falling apart bit by bit. Divorce, moving home, her mother’s illness, debt collectors and now witnessing the strange happenings from her front stoop.

The second perspective is from a white man named Theo, who bought the home across the street with his affluent girlfriend. Only she lives on the first floor with the air conditioning and he lives in the sweltering hot attic with the crappy bathroom.

Research for a local block party has Theo and Sydney working on a project together. They bear witness to strange occurrences, injustice and more…but with two unreliable narrators who can trust who. Eep!

The dynamics between Theo and Sydney were interesting. Their friendship start with mistrust and is hampered by his racist girlfriend. The trust between them builds, but both are keeping secrets and when attraction factors into the equation it complicates things.

While this was a story about the gentrification of a neighborhood it delivered a suspenseful mystery with clever unthinkable twists. All I can say is find a quiet place, plug in your headphones and devour this! This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 6 October, 2020: Finished reading
  • 6 October, 2020: Reviewed