Genres
Publication
Sphere (2016), Edition: UK ed., 384 pages
Description
Fiction. Literature. Mystery. Thriller. HTML:�??[A] well-told suspense story...refreshingly realistic.�?��??The New York Times Book Review �??Danger feels real in the brilliant I See You�?�Mackintosh seems destined to do important work for many years to come.�?��??The Washington Post �??Mackintosh allots her characters the perfect amount of back story, allowing them to carry their own weight throughout the investigation. She also casts enough extras to keep readers guessing who could be behind these attacks�?�readers may find themselves wanting to reread this one.�?��??Associated Press �??[A] deliciously creepy tale of urban paranoia.�?��??Ruth Ware, New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in Cabin 10 The author of the New York Times bestseller I Let You Go propels readers into a dark and claustrophobic thriller, in which a normal, everyday woman becomes trapped in the confines of her normal, everyday world... Every morning and evening, Zoe Walker takes the same route to the train station, waits at a certain place on the platform, finds her favorite spot in the car, never suspecting that someone is watching her... It all starts with a classified ad. During her commute home one night, while glancing through her local paper, Zoe sees her own face staring back at her; a grainy photo along with a phone number and a listing for a website called FindTheOne.com. Other women begin appearing in the same ad, a different one every day, and Zoe realizes they�??ve become the victims of increasingly violent crimes�??including murder. With the help of a determined cop, she uncovers the ad�??s twisted purpose...A discovery that turns her paranoia into full-blown panic. Zoe is sure that someone close to her has set her up as the next target. And now that man on the train�??the one smiling at Zoe from across the car�??could be more than just a friendly stranger. He could be someone who has deliberately… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member pgchuis
The premise sounded really intriguing: Zoe spots her own photo in the dating/escort services ads of the newspaper and then realizes that a woman whose photo has appeared previously went on to be robbed while dozing on the tube. She manages to interest a PC called Kelly in her story and then a third
Sadly the actual story didn't really live up to its early promise. The mechanics of the ads/website made no sense when you really thought about it. Zoe was mainly interesting for her relationships with her ex, Matt, who seemed to spend a disproportionate amount of time driving her around in his cab, and her boyfriend of four years, Simon, who was a very shadowy figure whom we never really got to know (and nor perhaps had Zoe). Kelly had a very interesting back story, but spent the novel disobeying orders, telling Zoe things she had no right to or had been told not to and generally being incredibly immature.
There were moments of real tension/excitement, but the switching between the perspectives of Zoe, Kelly and the baddie made things drag for me and the book was overlong generally. I thought the twist at the end was terrible - there was no foreshadowing and I couldn't really believe it.
Disappointing.
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woman is murdered and Kelly wins a place on the team investigating this series of events.Sadly the actual story didn't really live up to its early promise. The mechanics of the ads/website made no sense when you really thought about it. Zoe was mainly interesting for her relationships with her ex, Matt, who seemed to spend a disproportionate amount of time driving her around in his cab, and her boyfriend of four years, Simon, who was a very shadowy figure whom we never really got to know (and nor perhaps had Zoe). Kelly had a very interesting back story, but spent the novel disobeying orders, telling Zoe things she had no right to or had been told not to and generally being incredibly immature.
There were moments of real tension/excitement, but the switching between the perspectives of Zoe, Kelly and the baddie made things drag for me and the book was overlong generally. I thought the twist at the end was terrible - there was no foreshadowing and I couldn't really believe it.
Disappointing.
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LibraryThing member skstiles612
This is one of those stories that has you looking over your shoulder. We live in a world that is constantly under surveillance. It seems common place to the point we tend to ignore it. Think of all of the criminals who are caught because they forgot there is the ability to provide surveillance in
We have Kelly a detective who has her own issues and is actually trying to build her reputation back up. She is one person who believes Zoe. This is one of those books where things build up slowly until you suddenly realize how tense the situation is. I was unable to guess who was behind this. That is a plus for me. I hate reading a book and figuring things out so quickly. I loved this book and the way it was written in different points of view. This is a book that I will definitely recommend.
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most every situation. Zoe finds herself stuck on a train on her way home one night. When she begins to read the ads in her paper she sees a picture of herself. There is also a website attached to her picture. Later she finds out that another woman who’s picture was in the paper ended up dead. This pattern keeps happening and she is sure that she is being targeted. I tend to do a lot of reading late at night after I’ve finished grading papers. This one had me so creeped out about being watched that I dreaded having to get out of bed and go to the bathroom. I kept hearing what are normal creaks of our house, but kept imagining someone was in the house.We have Kelly a detective who has her own issues and is actually trying to build her reputation back up. She is one person who believes Zoe. This is one of those books where things build up slowly until you suddenly realize how tense the situation is. I was unable to guess who was behind this. That is a plus for me. I hate reading a book and figuring things out so quickly. I loved this book and the way it was written in different points of view. This is a book that I will definitely recommend.
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LibraryThing member pennsylady
I SEE YOU (Clare Mackintosh)
Fast paced, convoluted, psychological thriller
Our story begins
"When Zoe Walker sees her photo in the classifieds section of a London newspaper, she is determined to find out why it's there. There's no explanation: just a grainy image, a website address and a phone
"Other women begin appearing in the same ad, a different one each day, and...they've become victims of increasingly violent crimes" (publishers notes)
I found this clandestine thriller totally engrossing.
There are twists and turns, dramatic changes in direction and a great deal of watching and waiting.
A well crafted variety of players and the nail biting evasion and pursuit highlighted the suspense.
Nothing could be taken for granted,
The who and why of the advert remained a mystery (to me) til near the novel's end.
I LET YOU GO (Clare Mackintosh)has moved forward on my TBR.
4★ ....ARC provided by Book Browse
Fast paced, convoluted, psychological thriller
Our story begins
"When Zoe Walker sees her photo in the classifieds section of a London newspaper, she is determined to find out why it's there. There's no explanation: just a grainy image, a website address and a phone
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number.""Other women begin appearing in the same ad, a different one each day, and...they've become victims of increasingly violent crimes" (publishers notes)
I found this clandestine thriller totally engrossing.
There are twists and turns, dramatic changes in direction and a great deal of watching and waiting.
A well crafted variety of players and the nail biting evasion and pursuit highlighted the suspense.
Nothing could be taken for granted,
The who and why of the advert remained a mystery (to me) til near the novel's end.
I LET YOU GO (Clare Mackintosh)has moved forward on my TBR.
4★ ....ARC provided by Book Browse
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LibraryThing member StressedRach
I read I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh and really enjoyed it so it was inevitable that I was going to read her new book soon after it was released. I am so glad I did.
The books main character is Zoe Walker and flips between her and PC Kelly Swift who also plays a big part in the book, there is
Zoe commutes to work via the London Underground, she takes the same route every day as do many other ladies. Just by chance she looks at a local London newspaper from front to back and comes across the classifieds, not really looking for anything, just flicking though and spots a photo of herself, with a website and phone number attached. The website leads to a blank page with a box for a password in the centre of the screen. The phone number does not work.
She didn’t put her photo in there, is it even her photo or someone that looks very similar to her? She doesn’t know but has a gut feeling it is her. She shows her family the advert and they tell her that it is probably someone that looks like her too and brushes it off. Zoe is not convinced though and after a woman gets murdered she digs into it more, discovering that the victim’s photo was also in the same classifieds a few days before. She finds a stack of newspapers from various days before and checks the classifieds, different day a different woman. The problem is these women are all starting to have things happen to them.
But is Zoe just being paranoid? Of course she isn’t even though the police kind of brush her off to start with. PC Kelly Swift gets involved as there are links to the paper photos and the murders and other nasty things that have happened and later joins the MIT team just for this one case.
They manage to crack the password but it isn’t that easy, someone seems to be getting information that the police are on their tail and quickly removes the police account to the website. When they do finally get in, they are sent on a wild goose chase trying to find the person behind the website. In th mean time more things are happening and Zoe is getting more worried about what is going on, worried about her safety, and who may be following her but also worried for her daughter Katie who also travels via the London Underground to get to work. She is worrying more and more each day. It goes from one possibility to the next, it is chilling.
This is an absolutely fantastic book to read, especially if you like psychological crime thrillers/suspense’s as you will be kept on the end of your seat until the very end. Just when you think you have the person behind the website, you realise you were very wrong. When the person behind it is revealed I warn you, you will be in for a huge shock.
The book flowed well, I was absolutely hooked and could not put it down, just one more chapter I would say to myself and an hour later I would still be reading it. I really liked Zoe’s character, I could relate to her, with the niggling feeling at the back of her mind. I also liked PC Kelly Swift, she was a determined, dedicated police officer and although things happened in the past she was trying so hard to build her career back up, to be trusted again and I think it finally worked after this case.
There is some violence towards the end, but it needed to be there for obvious reasons which you will discover when reading it and lots of twists and turns. I think this book certainly proves you cannot trust anyone.
The ending has been left open so there may be a sequel in the works. I do hope so!
The books main character is Zoe Walker and flips between her and PC Kelly Swift who also plays a big part in the book, there is
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also a page or two after every few chapters with the website owner’s twisted point of view.Zoe commutes to work via the London Underground, she takes the same route every day as do many other ladies. Just by chance she looks at a local London newspaper from front to back and comes across the classifieds, not really looking for anything, just flicking though and spots a photo of herself, with a website and phone number attached. The website leads to a blank page with a box for a password in the centre of the screen. The phone number does not work.
She didn’t put her photo in there, is it even her photo or someone that looks very similar to her? She doesn’t know but has a gut feeling it is her. She shows her family the advert and they tell her that it is probably someone that looks like her too and brushes it off. Zoe is not convinced though and after a woman gets murdered she digs into it more, discovering that the victim’s photo was also in the same classifieds a few days before. She finds a stack of newspapers from various days before and checks the classifieds, different day a different woman. The problem is these women are all starting to have things happen to them.
But is Zoe just being paranoid? Of course she isn’t even though the police kind of brush her off to start with. PC Kelly Swift gets involved as there are links to the paper photos and the murders and other nasty things that have happened and later joins the MIT team just for this one case.
They manage to crack the password but it isn’t that easy, someone seems to be getting information that the police are on their tail and quickly removes the police account to the website. When they do finally get in, they are sent on a wild goose chase trying to find the person behind the website. In th mean time more things are happening and Zoe is getting more worried about what is going on, worried about her safety, and who may be following her but also worried for her daughter Katie who also travels via the London Underground to get to work. She is worrying more and more each day. It goes from one possibility to the next, it is chilling.
This is an absolutely fantastic book to read, especially if you like psychological crime thrillers/suspense’s as you will be kept on the end of your seat until the very end. Just when you think you have the person behind the website, you realise you were very wrong. When the person behind it is revealed I warn you, you will be in for a huge shock.
The book flowed well, I was absolutely hooked and could not put it down, just one more chapter I would say to myself and an hour later I would still be reading it. I really liked Zoe’s character, I could relate to her, with the niggling feeling at the back of her mind. I also liked PC Kelly Swift, she was a determined, dedicated police officer and although things happened in the past she was trying so hard to build her career back up, to be trusted again and I think it finally worked after this case.
There is some violence towards the end, but it needed to be there for obvious reasons which you will discover when reading it and lots of twists and turns. I think this book certainly proves you cannot trust anyone.
The ending has been left open so there may be a sequel in the works. I do hope so!
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LibraryThing member Darcia
As a whole, I neither loved nor hated this book. The story had enough substance to keep me reading. I wanted to know how it all turned out. But, at the same time, I was often lulled by the tedium, and eventually began skimming pages to get to the heart of the story.
I'll start with the aspects that
Much of the story centers around the London underground trains. We here in the US call them subways, but in England they are the tube. I've never been to London and I know little about their underground system, but the author totally put me there. I felt the crowds, the bodies pressing together unwillingly, the rush on the platforms, and the overall disconnect of all these strangers traveling in a closed space while doing their best to ignore one another.
Now for the not so good stuff. The pace moves at a crawl, particularly through the first half of the book. By the one-third mark, I began wondering if anything of substance was ever going to happen. We spend a whole lot of time doing nothing but listening to Zoe whine, and hanging out with her while she wallows in self-pity. We reflect on her past and her mistakes, and then we sit back and reflect some more. I'm glad I stuck with the story, because the second half does pick up somewhat, and the outcome is worth holding on for.
The author makes some odd choices with the characters' POV parts. Zoe's part is written in first person present tense. Kelly, the police detective, is written in third person past tense. We also have some shorter parts written by the killer, which is in first person present. I had problems with these transitions. The switch from Zoe's present tense to Kelly's past tense constantly jarred me, with an involuntary cue that the present tense parts were happening now while the past tense parts already happened. That isn't the case in this story, and I don't know what purpose those tense switches served. Also, while I thought the killer's parts worked well in first person, I think Zoe's parts would have transitioned more comfortably if they'd been in third person like Kelly's parts.
I didn't feel the kind of dreaded tension I should have throughout this story. Women were being stalked, raped, and murdered. But this happened on the periphery, victims we had no attachment to and learned virtually nothing about. Statistics and news bites. Zoe was also, apparently, being stalked, an issue she questioned and harped on constantly, yet I felt little more than annoyance at her behavior in the face of possible danger.
And, finally, I thought most of the characters were flat. Despite Zoe's part being in first person, and her being the main character, she lacked depth. She came off as a dull shade of gray, and I didn't particularly like her. I did like Kelly, and I thought her character was better developed. Simon, Zoe's live-in boyfriend, came off as controlling and arrogant. I found myself wishing Zoe would toss the man out and go back to her ex-husband, who treated her far better.
In the end, this story will be memorable for the places it takes us, but not for the characters taking us there.
*I was provided with an advance copy by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*
I'll start with the aspects that
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wowed me. First and foremost, the plot is well thought out and absolutely pertinent to our current way of life. Most of us live in societies where we've lost our privacy. Sure, we have the illusion of privacy, largely because the loss has been gradual and we no longer think much about it. Cameras are everywhere, including in everyone's hands with their ubiquitous cell phones. This story's concept and the way it plays out is absolutely chilling in its realism. Much of the story centers around the London underground trains. We here in the US call them subways, but in England they are the tube. I've never been to London and I know little about their underground system, but the author totally put me there. I felt the crowds, the bodies pressing together unwillingly, the rush on the platforms, and the overall disconnect of all these strangers traveling in a closed space while doing their best to ignore one another.
Now for the not so good stuff. The pace moves at a crawl, particularly through the first half of the book. By the one-third mark, I began wondering if anything of substance was ever going to happen. We spend a whole lot of time doing nothing but listening to Zoe whine, and hanging out with her while she wallows in self-pity. We reflect on her past and her mistakes, and then we sit back and reflect some more. I'm glad I stuck with the story, because the second half does pick up somewhat, and the outcome is worth holding on for.
The author makes some odd choices with the characters' POV parts. Zoe's part is written in first person present tense. Kelly, the police detective, is written in third person past tense. We also have some shorter parts written by the killer, which is in first person present. I had problems with these transitions. The switch from Zoe's present tense to Kelly's past tense constantly jarred me, with an involuntary cue that the present tense parts were happening now while the past tense parts already happened. That isn't the case in this story, and I don't know what purpose those tense switches served. Also, while I thought the killer's parts worked well in first person, I think Zoe's parts would have transitioned more comfortably if they'd been in third person like Kelly's parts.
I didn't feel the kind of dreaded tension I should have throughout this story. Women were being stalked, raped, and murdered. But this happened on the periphery, victims we had no attachment to and learned virtually nothing about. Statistics and news bites. Zoe was also, apparently, being stalked, an issue she questioned and harped on constantly, yet I felt little more than annoyance at her behavior in the face of possible danger.
And, finally, I thought most of the characters were flat. Despite Zoe's part being in first person, and her being the main character, she lacked depth. She came off as a dull shade of gray, and I didn't particularly like her. I did like Kelly, and I thought her character was better developed. Simon, Zoe's live-in boyfriend, came off as controlling and arrogant. I found myself wishing Zoe would toss the man out and go back to her ex-husband, who treated her far better.
In the end, this story will be memorable for the places it takes us, but not for the characters taking us there.
*I was provided with an advance copy by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*
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LibraryThing member Carolesrandomlife
I liked this one. The premise of the story really grabbed me because the idea of someone watching when you don't know it is just plain scary. I wouldn't say the book scared me but the idea behind the story is frightening only because of how realistic it really is. I was pulled into this book rather
Zoe is like a lot of other people in that she is a creature of routine. She takes the same route to work and back everyday and follows the same routine. Could this behavior have set her up as a target of a new website? When Zoe notices a picture in the classified section of the paper, she thinks it looks like her but can't believe it. Her loved ones convince her that it couldn't be but she can't quite let it go and shares what she has seen with a local detective.
Kelly gets involved in the case after talking to Zoe. She wants in on the case and pulls a few strings to be assigned to the unit handling it for a period of time. She connects with Zoe and is willing to bend a few rules if that is what it takes to keep her safe. Some women have been victims of crime after their photo ended up in the paper and there has even been a murder. The police are determined to figure out what is going on and stop the crimes from occurring.
This book took a lot of twists and turns and I wasn't ever quite sure who might be responsible. I think that Zoe's feeling of fear and helplessness were accurately displayed while she still had the strength and resolve to continue on with her life. Kelly's perspective added a lot to the book and really illustrated how difficult of a case this really was. I didn't fall in love with any of the characters but I found myself really wanting to see everyone come out of this unharmed with the culprit caught.
I would recommend this book to fans of mystery thrillers. This was a fast paced and exciting novel that had a realistic feel. This is the first book by Clare Mackintosh that I have had a chance to read and I would definitely pick up her work again in the future.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via First to Read.
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quickly and read the entire book in about a day so it definitely held my attention. This was a very entertaining read that kept me guessing right up until the end.Zoe is like a lot of other people in that she is a creature of routine. She takes the same route to work and back everyday and follows the same routine. Could this behavior have set her up as a target of a new website? When Zoe notices a picture in the classified section of the paper, she thinks it looks like her but can't believe it. Her loved ones convince her that it couldn't be but she can't quite let it go and shares what she has seen with a local detective.
Kelly gets involved in the case after talking to Zoe. She wants in on the case and pulls a few strings to be assigned to the unit handling it for a period of time. She connects with Zoe and is willing to bend a few rules if that is what it takes to keep her safe. Some women have been victims of crime after their photo ended up in the paper and there has even been a murder. The police are determined to figure out what is going on and stop the crimes from occurring.
This book took a lot of twists and turns and I wasn't ever quite sure who might be responsible. I think that Zoe's feeling of fear and helplessness were accurately displayed while she still had the strength and resolve to continue on with her life. Kelly's perspective added a lot to the book and really illustrated how difficult of a case this really was. I didn't fall in love with any of the characters but I found myself really wanting to see everyone come out of this unharmed with the culprit caught.
I would recommend this book to fans of mystery thrillers. This was a fast paced and exciting novel that had a realistic feel. This is the first book by Clare Mackintosh that I have had a chance to read and I would definitely pick up her work again in the future.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via First to Read.
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LibraryThing member Twink
Okay, so someone who loves you gave you a gift certificate to a bookstore - nice! And you're debating what to spend it on. I have the answer and you will not regret it - you need to pick up, pre order, download or listen to Clare Mackintosh's newest novel - I See You.
Clare's first novel, I Let You
Set in Britain. Zoe rides the same train, sits in the same seat, sees the same travellers and walks the same route to work every day. Killing time one day, she peruses the local paper while riding the train. And sees her own photo in the personal ads section with a link to a website called FindTheOne.com. Stunned, Zoe convinces herself it's just someone who looks like her. But she keeps checking the paper and each day there's a photo of a different woman in the same ad. Digging deeper, Zoe finds that some of those women have been the victims of various crimes, including murder.
Ahh! What a great premise! Mackintosh provides plenty of suspects to choose from - pretty much everyone who is riding the train, her boss, neighbours, acquaintances - really it could be anyone tracking Zoe and the other women. (And at this point I stopped to wonder how much of a creature of habit I am.....) The watcher is given their own voice every so many chapters - and it's quite chilling.
Mackintosh keeps the reader on their toes, adding in another turn of events, another question and another suspect. And yes, I found myself shouting out loud at Zoe quite often - the equivalent of the movie watching 'don't go in the basement!'
I enjoyed the character of Kelly, a cop who joins the police investigation - she's flawed, driven and intelligent. Always my fave type of cop character. Mackintosh spent twelve years on a police force in Britain and her insider knowledge adds much to this character and the investigation.
Mackintosh ends things with one last twist after what I thought was the answer to the whodunnit. It's absolutely perfect - and nope, didn't see it coming! I See You is the first book out of the gate for me for 2017 and I know it will be one of my top reads for the year.
Clare's first novel, I Let You
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Go, was a runaway success. (my review - I loved it!) There is always that little bit of me that wonders if an author can successfully follow up such a fantastic first novel. Well, as much as I loved I Let You Go, this new book is even better.Set in Britain. Zoe rides the same train, sits in the same seat, sees the same travellers and walks the same route to work every day. Killing time one day, she peruses the local paper while riding the train. And sees her own photo in the personal ads section with a link to a website called FindTheOne.com. Stunned, Zoe convinces herself it's just someone who looks like her. But she keeps checking the paper and each day there's a photo of a different woman in the same ad. Digging deeper, Zoe finds that some of those women have been the victims of various crimes, including murder.
Ahh! What a great premise! Mackintosh provides plenty of suspects to choose from - pretty much everyone who is riding the train, her boss, neighbours, acquaintances - really it could be anyone tracking Zoe and the other women. (And at this point I stopped to wonder how much of a creature of habit I am.....) The watcher is given their own voice every so many chapters - and it's quite chilling.
Mackintosh keeps the reader on their toes, adding in another turn of events, another question and another suspect. And yes, I found myself shouting out loud at Zoe quite often - the equivalent of the movie watching 'don't go in the basement!'
I enjoyed the character of Kelly, a cop who joins the police investigation - she's flawed, driven and intelligent. Always my fave type of cop character. Mackintosh spent twelve years on a police force in Britain and her insider knowledge adds much to this character and the investigation.
Mackintosh ends things with one last twist after what I thought was the answer to the whodunnit. It's absolutely perfect - and nope, didn't see it coming! I See You is the first book out of the gate for me for 2017 and I know it will be one of my top reads for the year.
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LibraryThing member feeroberts64
I See You by Clare Mackintosh is a story about a woman, Zoe Walker, who sees her picture in an ad in a London newspaper which starts a chain of events both mysterious and dangerous. This book started really slow, but the more I read the more intriguing it became. The characters are fairly developed
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and the story is written well. The ending was unexpected, which was exciting, but left me wondering if there will be another book about Zoe Walker. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Show Less
LibraryThing member vera_mallard
STORY-LINE I SEE YOU:
I See You is an intense psychological thriller. Zoe is an ordinary divorced mother of two, working everyday, daily riding the tube to and from work, and with a live in boyfriend. However Zoe's life takes a u-turn into a nightmare as she's stalked by a psychological killer.
One police officer believes her story, and follows through. Can the police keep Zoe safe? Who is stalking these women and why? What is findtheone.com? Who is behind this evil?
Grab a seat, my psychological mystery thriller novel review of I See You follows.
CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, DEVELOPMENT:
First, let me say, this novel made me consider the manner in which I conduct myself during my daily routine. Anyone can become the victim of a stalker, but vigilance can help keep us safe. In I See You, Mackinosh, skillfully leads the reader from scene to another without pause and with smooth transition.
I found the beginning of the book a little slow as the author gives us background on Zoe's and her family's life, however the story quickly gathered speed as it raced towards the ending. Filled with twists and turns, the intrigue is kept at high peak as Mackinstosh does not give away the plotting until the last possible moment. Just when you think you can not be surprised anymore, Mackintosh hits you with the finally bomb. What an ending!
Finally, in concluding my psychological mystery thriller novel review of I See You, I found a solid well-written story-line filled with well-developed characters and an original premise.
I SEE YOU RECOMMENDATION: STARS 4
I would not hesitate to buy this book for my self or a friend. Due to mature subject, I recommend this book for young adults and adults.
FINALLY, PLEASE NOTE:
Additionally, I received this book from the author and chose to voluntarily review the book with an honest psychological mystery thriller novel/book review. Lastly, book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion. Consequently, all book reviews on-line and on my blog, are my opinions. In addition, the ARC did not affect my voluntary psychological mystery thriller novel/book review.
I See You is an intense psychological thriller. Zoe is an ordinary divorced mother of two, working everyday, daily riding the tube to and from work, and with a live in boyfriend. However Zoe's life takes a u-turn into a nightmare as she's stalked by a psychological killer.
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Seeing her face in an ad for findtheone.com, Zoe's life will never be the same again. Other women's photo's begin appearing in the same ad, then rapes, attacks, and murder occur.One police officer believes her story, and follows through. Can the police keep Zoe safe? Who is stalking these women and why? What is findtheone.com? Who is behind this evil?
Grab a seat, my psychological mystery thriller novel review of I See You follows.
CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, DEVELOPMENT:
First, let me say, this novel made me consider the manner in which I conduct myself during my daily routine. Anyone can become the victim of a stalker, but vigilance can help keep us safe. In I See You, Mackinosh, skillfully leads the reader from scene to another without pause and with smooth transition.
I found the beginning of the book a little slow as the author gives us background on Zoe's and her family's life, however the story quickly gathered speed as it raced towards the ending. Filled with twists and turns, the intrigue is kept at high peak as Mackinstosh does not give away the plotting until the last possible moment. Just when you think you can not be surprised anymore, Mackintosh hits you with the finally bomb. What an ending!
Finally, in concluding my psychological mystery thriller novel review of I See You, I found a solid well-written story-line filled with well-developed characters and an original premise.
I SEE YOU RECOMMENDATION: STARS 4
I would not hesitate to buy this book for my self or a friend. Due to mature subject, I recommend this book for young adults and adults.
FINALLY, PLEASE NOTE:
Additionally, I received this book from the author and chose to voluntarily review the book with an honest psychological mystery thriller novel/book review. Lastly, book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion. Consequently, all book reviews on-line and on my blog, are my opinions. In addition, the ARC did not affect my voluntary psychological mystery thriller novel/book review.
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LibraryThing member detailmuse
Zoe Walker’s life has become a predictable, plodding routine -- keeping a home for her boyfriend and her two grown children, commuting on public transportation to and from London for her job as an unappreciated bookkeeper at a real-estate firm. That is, until the day she’s shocked to see her
I like novels of psychological suspense, including woman-in-peril premises, and I enjoyed this one. The three alternating narratives (Zoe; a female detective assigned to the case; and the perpetrator) kept the pages turning until things picked up in the last half. And there were plenty of surprises. But (not a true spoiler ahead, but hiding it for readers who like to go into mysteries knowing very little)the load-bearing twist was, in my opinion, totally unearned (more “OMG!” than “Oh, of course!”), and the final twist seemed mostly to shock (though I did like it) . I have Mackintosh's debut, I Let You Go, in my TBRs and am eager to get to it.
(Review based on an advance reading copy provided by the publisher.)
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own picture posted in a newspaper ad for an apparent dating website, and comes to realize that other women whose pictures have appeared in that ad have become victims of violent crimes.I like novels of psychological suspense, including woman-in-peril premises, and I enjoyed this one. The three alternating narratives (Zoe; a female detective assigned to the case; and the perpetrator) kept the pages turning until things picked up in the last half. And there were plenty of surprises. But (not a true spoiler ahead, but hiding it for readers who like to go into mysteries knowing very little)
(Review based on an advance reading copy provided by the publisher.)
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LibraryThing member Cherylk
The start of this book was good. It had the feel of Girl on a Train. Which is what I was hoping and looking forward towards. Ok, so this story started out slowly with nothing really chilling happening. Yet, I held hope because I thought this was going to be like a psychological thriller. In those
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type of books, sometimes the storyline is slow to build up but gets darker and darker as I get further into the story. Sadly, this was not the case for me. I felt the story slowly building up but it never really reached full dark mode. It was more like sweet and tangy. From everything that I did read, I enjoyed this book. I did read and finish it in two sittings. I know that this author can write a good book from I Let You Go. The next book will hopefully be as good as the prior novel. Show Less
LibraryThing member hubblegal
Zoe Walker is shocked to see her photo in a newspaper advertisement in the section where escort/dating services advertise. She certainly didn’t put it there. But wait, she sees other women appearing in these ads – and these women are involved in crimes, sometimes fatal ones. Is someone watching
I found this book to be a suspenseful, interesting read. I can’t imagine how I would react if I were in Zoe’s shoes. I felt quite a connection with Zoe and all that she’s going through. The book alternates between Zoe’s first person telling of her situation and the third person telling centering on Kelly, the police officer investigating these crimes. The book also goes into the background of these two main characters, which brings another level to the book.
Lots of red herrings, suspects and twists kept me racing through the pages. I thought sure I was narrowing down “who done it” towards the end, but nope, the author did quite a good job of surprising me. Believable? Maybe not completely. But that’s OK – it was a fun and thrilling book.
Recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.
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their every move? Will she be next?I found this book to be a suspenseful, interesting read. I can’t imagine how I would react if I were in Zoe’s shoes. I felt quite a connection with Zoe and all that she’s going through. The book alternates between Zoe’s first person telling of her situation and the third person telling centering on Kelly, the police officer investigating these crimes. The book also goes into the background of these two main characters, which brings another level to the book.
Lots of red herrings, suspects and twists kept me racing through the pages. I thought sure I was narrowing down “who done it” towards the end, but nope, the author did quite a good job of surprising me. Believable? Maybe not completely. But that’s OK – it was a fun and thrilling book.
Recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member debkrenzer
This was definitely a contender for every author's nightmare of trying to write a second book after having written a smash bestseller as their first book. That being said, there are a lot of authors out there who wish their first book was half as good as this book.
I think as a reader, my
This book took a little longer to build up. I think there were quite a few more plot twists going on in this one. However, when the book did take off, I don't think there was one character in the book that I didn't take at least 10 or 20 seconds to ponder hmm "Are they the suspect?" That made it well worth the $$$ for me.
I do have to say I was amazed when I purchased this book last night and checked out the ratings - the book just went on sale today - there were already 6200 reviews. Tell me this wasn't a highly anticipated
I think as a reader, my
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expectations were so enormous and the pedestal so high, that I was expected to be wowed on every page. Yet, when I think back to to I Let You Go, there was quite the build up in that book as well.This book took a little longer to build up. I think there were quite a few more plot twists going on in this one. However, when the book did take off, I don't think there was one character in the book that I didn't take at least 10 or 20 seconds to ponder hmm "Are they the suspect?" That made it well worth the $$$ for me.
I do have to say I was amazed when I purchased this book last night and checked out the ratings - the book just went on sale today - there were already 6200 reviews. Tell me this wasn't a highly anticipated
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LibraryThing member Susan.Macura
I finished this book about an hour ago and I am still shaking. Zoe Walker takes the train to work every day to her boring job. However, one day she realizes her photo has been taken and placed in the newspaper as part of an ad for a dating service. Upon further investigation she soon realizes other
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women have also had their photos in the papers, and that these women have been mugged, raped and some even killed. Not wanting to become the next victim in this sick game, she works with the police to solve the case. The ending is simply unexpected and too, too frightening to contemplate. This is a must read book for anyone who loves a great story or who loves a good scare! I shall not be sleeping well tonight! Show Less
LibraryThing member nicx27
This is Clare Mackintosh doing what she does best: a tense story with many twists and turns so you never know who to trust. She did it so well in I Let You Go and I See You is just as gripping a read.
Zoe Walker travels the tube everyday, taking the same routes at the same times, even down to
This is a fabulous read and a great idea for a story line. I'm surprised I didn't have nightmares as it's really quite unsettling. You can tell Mackintosh is so familiar with police procedure as she writes about it with ease. She's also very good at the red herring. It's a very relevant story, with the prevalence of the internet in today's society and makes you realise how careful you have to be.
It can be hard to follow up a very successful first novel but this is a triumph and I hope that Clare Mackintosh continues to produce other books of this calibre.
Zoe Walker travels the tube everyday, taking the same routes at the same times, even down to
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sitting in the same place and standing at the same place on the platform. How many of us have such a routine? A lot, I would imagine. One day she sees her photo in the London Gazette accompanied by a telephone number and a website address, but nothing else. Understandably she's perturbed but her family manage to convince her it's not her, just someone who looks like her. But then Zoe sees another picture of a woman who she knows was the victim of a crime, and from there we follow events as they escalate and the true scale of crimes against women becomes clear. We also follow the story of PC Kelly Swift, back in uniform after a disgrace in her career. Can she redeem herself and at the same time find the culprit?This is a fabulous read and a great idea for a story line. I'm surprised I didn't have nightmares as it's really quite unsettling. You can tell Mackintosh is so familiar with police procedure as she writes about it with ease. She's also very good at the red herring. It's a very relevant story, with the prevalence of the internet in today's society and makes you realise how careful you have to be.
It can be hard to follow up a very successful first novel but this is a triumph and I hope that Clare Mackintosh continues to produce other books of this calibre.
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LibraryThing member jmchshannon
Clare Mackintosh’s first novel was an excellent twisty thriller. There are plenty of clues scattered throughout the novel, but no matter how many times you guess the ending, you are wrong. The ending comes as a complete surprise and changes the meaning of the entire story.
Given its excellence,
The main disappointment is the fact that the ending is too predictable. You can envision how the story is going to end much too easily. Nothing is really a surprise. To make matters worse, you can accurately predict the ending less than halfway through the story. This is the death knell for thrillers because the minute you do so, the suspense disappears. Such is the case with I See You.
Moreover, Zoe is just plain annoying. She should be sympathetic as she has all of the reasons one should sympathize with her. Divorced, working a job that doesn’t thrill her but keeps her busy, struggling to accept her children’s life choices, and then dropped into the middle of this mystery that has all-too-real consequences. What she comes across as though is whiny, self-absorbed, and meddling. You are not rooting against her so much as you are just waiting for something to happen that will make her see the errors of her ways.
The female detective who takes an interest in Zoe’s case is not much better. She is a person who thinks she has everyone and everything all figured out and rules are made to be broken if she feels it necessary. Except there is no reason for her to do so, and it just adds a layer of unnecessary frustration. Between the main character who I just wanted to stop being so selfish and the detective who I just wanted to get her head out of her ass and start listening to her superiors who knew better than she did, I was already rather aggravated with the story. When I figured out the culprit behind the crime at the halfway point, that is when I became truly disappointed.
Had her first novel not been so stellar with an ending that is the ultimate in shocks, I See You would have been a decent thriller. Because it was however, I was looking for the twist as well as the clues, and doing so ruined the story for me. While you should never judge one book by another, it is difficult to refrain from doing just that when written by the same author. In this case, I suspect that those unfamiliar with Ms. Mackintosh’s previous novel will thoroughly enjoy this one. Those readers who enjoyed it though will be disappointed with her sophomore novel.
Given its excellence,
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there were high hopes for Ms. Mackintosh’s second novel. I See You should be just as amazing and equally thrilling. After all, what is more terrifying than someone stalking you without your knowledge? Unfortunately, lightning does not strike twice in this particular case.The main disappointment is the fact that the ending is too predictable. You can envision how the story is going to end much too easily. Nothing is really a surprise. To make matters worse, you can accurately predict the ending less than halfway through the story. This is the death knell for thrillers because the minute you do so, the suspense disappears. Such is the case with I See You.
Moreover, Zoe is just plain annoying. She should be sympathetic as she has all of the reasons one should sympathize with her. Divorced, working a job that doesn’t thrill her but keeps her busy, struggling to accept her children’s life choices, and then dropped into the middle of this mystery that has all-too-real consequences. What she comes across as though is whiny, self-absorbed, and meddling. You are not rooting against her so much as you are just waiting for something to happen that will make her see the errors of her ways.
The female detective who takes an interest in Zoe’s case is not much better. She is a person who thinks she has everyone and everything all figured out and rules are made to be broken if she feels it necessary. Except there is no reason for her to do so, and it just adds a layer of unnecessary frustration. Between the main character who I just wanted to stop being so selfish and the detective who I just wanted to get her head out of her ass and start listening to her superiors who knew better than she did, I was already rather aggravated with the story. When I figured out the culprit behind the crime at the halfway point, that is when I became truly disappointed.
Had her first novel not been so stellar with an ending that is the ultimate in shocks, I See You would have been a decent thriller. Because it was however, I was looking for the twist as well as the clues, and doing so ruined the story for me. While you should never judge one book by another, it is difficult to refrain from doing just that when written by the same author. In this case, I suspect that those unfamiliar with Ms. Mackintosh’s previous novel will thoroughly enjoy this one. Those readers who enjoyed it though will be disappointed with her sophomore novel.
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LibraryThing member SilversReviews
Seeing your blurry but recognizable photo in an ad for escorts caught Zoe Walker's attention, but no one in her family believed the photo was Zoe.
After seeing other faces in the same ad and seeing that harm had come to those women either brutally or by robbery definitely had Zoe worrying she was
I SEE YOU was confusing at first because there were too many characters, and making a connection took a while.
The plot seemed to go round and round and not get anywhere, but I didn't want to stop because I know Ms. Mackintosh throws in zingers and twists right up to the end.
The zingers started when Zoe's live-in boyfriend and her boss seemed to be suspects in the stalking.
The ending was good and was worth the LONG wait for the suspense to begin.
I am wavering between a 3/5 and a 4/5 for my rating.
The 3/5 would be because it took too long for the suspense to begin.
The 4/5 would be because I SEE YOU dealt with a problem that technology can potentially cause as well as being helpful, the intense ending, and how the characters involved with the crimes were a complete surprise.
I will leave it at that, and let you make your decision after you read the book.
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
After seeing other faces in the same ad and seeing that harm had come to those women either brutally or by robbery definitely had Zoe worrying she was
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next.I SEE YOU was confusing at first because there were too many characters, and making a connection took a while.
The plot seemed to go round and round and not get anywhere, but I didn't want to stop because I know Ms. Mackintosh throws in zingers and twists right up to the end.
The zingers started when Zoe's live-in boyfriend and her boss seemed to be suspects in the stalking.
The ending was good and was worth the LONG wait for the suspense to begin.
I am wavering between a 3/5 and a 4/5 for my rating.
The 3/5 would be because it took too long for the suspense to begin.
The 4/5 would be because I SEE YOU dealt with a problem that technology can potentially cause as well as being helpful, the intense ending, and how the characters involved with the crimes were a complete surprise.
I will leave it at that, and let you make your decision after you read the book.
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member lauriehere
You all know my favorite genre for quite a while anymore has been and still is Thrillers. This Thriller/Murder Mystery had me hooked from the very first sentence to the very last, and through everything that happens in-between. This is one of my favorites this year so far! This is this author’s
Imagine someone you don’t know happens to know your every single move you make every second of your life, but you have NO CLUE as to WHO this person is! Imagine seeing your OWN photo being advertised in the local newspaper in personals website called findtheone.com! Yep! Zoe has a stalker. Someone is after her, and thankfully she does call the police into the scene, thankfully using her better judgement and not allowing her friends and family try to convince her it’s only a photo that looks like her because she knows it’s not. She knows she has a stalker after her. This person knows too many of her personal details for it to not be her. Zoe is looking over her shoulder at every twist and turn. No one knows who this stalker is, and each person she looks at could be the one. She is unnerved.
As you are reading this book, it alternates between Zoe, the Investigator who is Kelly Swift, and the stalker.
This was an excellent thriller. I enjoyed it very much.
I believe this book is being weighed too heavily against this author’s debut thriller, I Let You Go. I wish people weren’t comparing each book against the other, but I understand it. Her debut novel was so strong, very strong, but an author writes each book to stand alone and have their own merits. I believe everyone was expecting to get the same thing out of this second book that they got out of the first. Sure, I admit her first book was stronger, but it was a different book, a different story. Her next book will be different than these two books. This is the beauty of an author and how they write. They leave us wanting for more!! We WILL get more, too! Clare Mackintosh is here to stay and has a LOT of writing left inside of her to put down on the page for us! I truly do look forward to more from her! I highly recommend this book, and I am rating this book on it’s own merits as a stand-alone and am not comparing it to her previous book.
Enjoy your read!!
I want to thank Penguin/Random House/Berkley and NetGalley for providing this book to me for the privilege to read this book and write a review of my own opinion.
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second thriller, and her writing has NO problem immediately sucking us up into this book and keeping us on the edge of our seats until the very last page is turned! Get ready to lose sleep, everyone! It’s time to say, “Bravo”, again, to Clare Mackintosh for a second time in a row! You will NOT put this one down until the very end! I guarantee you this. I don’t care what you have planned the next day, but you WILL be reading well into the night!!! Plan accordingly.Imagine someone you don’t know happens to know your every single move you make every second of your life, but you have NO CLUE as to WHO this person is! Imagine seeing your OWN photo being advertised in the local newspaper in personals website called findtheone.com! Yep! Zoe has a stalker. Someone is after her, and thankfully she does call the police into the scene, thankfully using her better judgement and not allowing her friends and family try to convince her it’s only a photo that looks like her because she knows it’s not. She knows she has a stalker after her. This person knows too many of her personal details for it to not be her. Zoe is looking over her shoulder at every twist and turn. No one knows who this stalker is, and each person she looks at could be the one. She is unnerved.
As you are reading this book, it alternates between Zoe, the Investigator who is Kelly Swift, and the stalker.
This was an excellent thriller. I enjoyed it very much.
I believe this book is being weighed too heavily against this author’s debut thriller, I Let You Go. I wish people weren’t comparing each book against the other, but I understand it. Her debut novel was so strong, very strong, but an author writes each book to stand alone and have their own merits. I believe everyone was expecting to get the same thing out of this second book that they got out of the first. Sure, I admit her first book was stronger, but it was a different book, a different story. Her next book will be different than these two books. This is the beauty of an author and how they write. They leave us wanting for more!! We WILL get more, too! Clare Mackintosh is here to stay and has a LOT of writing left inside of her to put down on the page for us! I truly do look forward to more from her! I highly recommend this book, and I am rating this book on it’s own merits as a stand-alone and am not comparing it to her previous book.
Enjoy your read!!
I want to thank Penguin/Random House/Berkley and NetGalley for providing this book to me for the privilege to read this book and write a review of my own opinion.
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LibraryThing member B.J.O.
4.5 "Routine Will Kill You" Stars for the Story and Narration!
Narration by Rachel Atkins
I See You is a psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you have ever wondered how much information is available in the public domain about yourself, including on social media and
Imagine finding a picture of yourself in an advertisement for a dating site that you did not authorize. How did it get there, and why? This is the scary situation that the protagonist in I See You, Zoe Walker, finds herself in. Moreover, when it becomes clear that the pictures in this particular reoccurring advertisement are connected to violent crimes, how can Zoe stay safe?
Along the way Clare Mackintosh provides us with clues that seem to point in many different directions, including some that hit close to Zoe's work and home life. Just who can she trust, and is she being paranoid or smartly self-guarded?
Fortunately Zoe does get the attention of a police officer, Kelly, who has her own skeletons in her closet and that has been demoted from her prior detective role back to a beat cop. However, Kelly is the only one who initially listens to Zoe's sneaking suspicions. Can Kelly in her present position help? Moreover even if she can, will she be able to do so before it's too late?
Rachel Atkins delivers a powerful performance in I See You. Ms Atkins attention to creating different voices for each character worked well. She also had great timing in her delivery which allows the listener to easily understand the story and feel the pace and emotion of the scene from just her rendition. Ms. Atkins also provides sufficient, personality specific differentiation in the voices she creates for the characters to allow the listener to know who is speaking without having to rely on dialogue tags. This was my first experience listening to Ms. Atkins, but I will definitely be looking for more of her performances.
All in all, lovers of twisty psychological thrillers should enjoy I See You. Moreover, the huge twist at the end means we can hopefully look forward to a sequel sometime in the future!
Source: Review copy provided for review purposes.
Narration by Rachel Atkins
I See You is a psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you have ever wondered how much information is available in the public domain about yourself, including on social media and
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street camera feeds, I See You will definitely give you a spine-tingling eerie feeling. I loved the twists and turns that this action-filled thriller took me on. This book had me guessing as to who was the true villain to the very end. Additionally, the narration by Rachel Atkins was well done and definitely makes this a title that can be enjoyed in audio format. Imagine finding a picture of yourself in an advertisement for a dating site that you did not authorize. How did it get there, and why? This is the scary situation that the protagonist in I See You, Zoe Walker, finds herself in. Moreover, when it becomes clear that the pictures in this particular reoccurring advertisement are connected to violent crimes, how can Zoe stay safe?
Along the way Clare Mackintosh provides us with clues that seem to point in many different directions, including some that hit close to Zoe's work and home life. Just who can she trust, and is she being paranoid or smartly self-guarded?
Fortunately Zoe does get the attention of a police officer, Kelly, who has her own skeletons in her closet and that has been demoted from her prior detective role back to a beat cop. However, Kelly is the only one who initially listens to Zoe's sneaking suspicions. Can Kelly in her present position help? Moreover even if she can, will she be able to do so before it's too late?
Rachel Atkins delivers a powerful performance in I See You. Ms Atkins attention to creating different voices for each character worked well. She also had great timing in her delivery which allows the listener to easily understand the story and feel the pace and emotion of the scene from just her rendition. Ms. Atkins also provides sufficient, personality specific differentiation in the voices she creates for the characters to allow the listener to know who is speaking without having to rely on dialogue tags. This was my first experience listening to Ms. Atkins, but I will definitely be looking for more of her performances.
All in all, lovers of twisty psychological thrillers should enjoy I See You. Moreover, the huge twist at the end means we can hopefully look forward to a sequel sometime in the future!
Source: Review copy provided for review purposes.
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LibraryThing member muddyboy
A creepy novel about crimes committed due to someone making women's routes to work available over the internet for a large fee. Once you buy the information you can use it to just meet the woman or for much more nefarious purposes .The book is told from two perspectives a young woman detective and
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a woman and her daughter who are caught up in this web. The tension builds and there are a couple satisfying twists at the end. I found this novel fresh and captivating/ Show Less
LibraryThing member jmoncton
What would you do if while flipping through the paper, you see a photo in the dating advertisements and it's a picture of you? And as you look through more issues of the paper, there are more women's photos and one of them ends up being a victim of a crime? Just the thought of this makes me look
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over my shoulder. This is a wonderful fast-paced psychological thriller that will have you reading late into the night. There was no way that I could have predicted all the turns and plot twists for this one. What a ride! Show Less
LibraryThing member maggie1961
What a clever original book. Loved the plot line. So nice to read a thriller just a little different than so many of the others out there. Scary though. It wouldn't be that hard to set something like that off and the repercussions are frightening. This book kept my attention and for me, it was fast
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paced. A solid 4 1/2. I need to read her previous one now. Show Less
LibraryThing member irregularreader
I See You begins with a warning:
You do the same thing every day.
You know exactly where you’re going. You’re not alone.
Zoe Walker is on her commute home, going through her normal, everyday routine, when she sees something that derails her normal, everyday life: her face, in an advert in the
Later, Zoe recognizes a face from a past advert–in a news story about a woman who was raped and murdered. Digging in to the ads, Zoe finds that several women featured have been the victims of crime. With the police finally involved, the real purpose of the ads is revealed, and Zoe may be the future victim of a mysterious and violent stalker.
This was a fantastic thriller. To me, the most compelling thing about the book is how Mackintosh takes the normal everyday paranoia that comes from being a woman traveling alone, and dials it to eleven. It’s always there, the constant push-pull of balancing alertness with reason: is it better to make eye contact with the stranger on the train or to ignore all the other passengers? Are there other people around or am I suddenly alone? Is he following me or simply on his way home? Are those running footsteps after me or simply someone late for the bus? The hyper-vigilance is routine, whether you’re traveling home on the bus after a late night of work or making your way through the parking garage at night. It is something not often discussed, but will provoke a visceral reaction when reading the book. This is your everyday life, if all the worst case scenarios floating around in your head suddenly come true.
Mackintosh is a fine writer, and her former career as a police officer stands her in good stead with the finer details of police procedure. Fans of Ruth Ware, Lisa Gardener, and Paula Hawkins will likely enjoy this book.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
You do the same thing every day.
You know exactly where you’re going. You’re not alone.
Zoe Walker is on her commute home, going through her normal, everyday routine, when she sees something that derails her normal, everyday life: her face, in an advert in the
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newspaper, in a section used for escorts and phone sex lines. Who placed the ad? Why? The number listed isn’t real, and the website given goes to a blank page. Is this a prank, a coincidence, or something more?Later, Zoe recognizes a face from a past advert–in a news story about a woman who was raped and murdered. Digging in to the ads, Zoe finds that several women featured have been the victims of crime. With the police finally involved, the real purpose of the ads is revealed, and Zoe may be the future victim of a mysterious and violent stalker.
This was a fantastic thriller. To me, the most compelling thing about the book is how Mackintosh takes the normal everyday paranoia that comes from being a woman traveling alone, and dials it to eleven. It’s always there, the constant push-pull of balancing alertness with reason: is it better to make eye contact with the stranger on the train or to ignore all the other passengers? Are there other people around or am I suddenly alone? Is he following me or simply on his way home? Are those running footsteps after me or simply someone late for the bus? The hyper-vigilance is routine, whether you’re traveling home on the bus after a late night of work or making your way through the parking garage at night. It is something not often discussed, but will provoke a visceral reaction when reading the book. This is your everyday life, if all the worst case scenarios floating around in your head suddenly come true.
Mackintosh is a fine writer, and her former career as a police officer stands her in good stead with the finer details of police procedure. Fans of Ruth Ware, Lisa Gardener, and Paula Hawkins will likely enjoy this book.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member celticlady53
I thoroughly enjoyed I Let You Go, the author's previous book, so I knew I would love this one too. A plot that is scary and plausible in this day and age of computer technology and even the fact that the Dark Net is out there. Anything is possible if you want it bad enough, even the means to stalk
I felt that this story was character driven, as we got a glimpse into all of the people in the novel. From the protagonist to the bad guy. The plot, how creepy that you look in the paper and see yourself there and you know that you did not put it there. To me that was the scariest part. The story is not just about stalking but there are women being murdered too. How do you get the people around you to believe you when you tell them that you feel that you are being followed. Your family thinks you are overacting and the police don't believe you.
I liked this novel, it kept me wondering who was the bad guy, just when I figured it out, I was wrong. To me a book that keeps you guessing is a good one. At times the story lagged but not enough for it to be distracting. I really liked it and recommend it if you like a good thriller, especially an ending you don't expect!
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someone and know every move that someone takes, from being at home to the route you take to work.I felt that this story was character driven, as we got a glimpse into all of the people in the novel. From the protagonist to the bad guy. The plot, how creepy that you look in the paper and see yourself there and you know that you did not put it there. To me that was the scariest part. The story is not just about stalking but there are women being murdered too. How do you get the people around you to believe you when you tell them that you feel that you are being followed. Your family thinks you are overacting and the police don't believe you.
I liked this novel, it kept me wondering who was the bad guy, just when I figured it out, I was wrong. To me a book that keeps you guessing is a good one. At times the story lagged but not enough for it to be distracting. I really liked it and recommend it if you like a good thriller, especially an ending you don't expect!
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LibraryThing member khaddox
When Zoe Walker sees her photo in the classifieds section of a London newspaper, she is determined to find out why it's there. There's no explanation: just a grainy image, a website address and a phone number. She takes it home to her family, who are convinced it's just someone who looks like Zoe.
Is it a mistake? A coincidence? Or is someone keeping track of every move they make . . .
In my humble opinion, there are few things better than a book with a well written twist. There you are, just reading along your merry way and BAM! Maybe you were ready for it, maybe you weren’t, but if it’s truly a twist, your mind may possibly short out for a moment, and it’s glorious. Now, I said there are few things better, but my absolute favorite thing is a book that ends well. When I say well, I don’t mean happily ever after with all the loose ends neatly tucked away. On the contrary, a good ending (again in my opinion) ends true to life. In real life, happily ever after is a rarity, and complete wrapping up of loose ends is nigh on an impossibility. Clare Mackintosh has apparently accepted these life truths and is unafraid to employ them in her books. I’m not going to say anything about the plot, because I don’t want to accidentally give away anything, but Ms. Mackintosh has produced another absorbing page turner. Her characters are multi-dimensional, and the dialogue flows naturally. Under normally circumstances, I would give I See You four stars, but because the ending left me cackling with glee (literally, as my coworker can attest), this, for me, is a five star read.
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But the next day the advert shows a photo of a different woman, and another the day after that.Is it a mistake? A coincidence? Or is someone keeping track of every move they make . . .
In my humble opinion, there are few things better than a book with a well written twist. There you are, just reading along your merry way and BAM! Maybe you were ready for it, maybe you weren’t, but if it’s truly a twist, your mind may possibly short out for a moment, and it’s glorious. Now, I said there are few things better, but my absolute favorite thing is a book that ends well. When I say well, I don’t mean happily ever after with all the loose ends neatly tucked away. On the contrary, a good ending (again in my opinion) ends true to life. In real life, happily ever after is a rarity, and complete wrapping up of loose ends is nigh on an impossibility. Clare Mackintosh has apparently accepted these life truths and is unafraid to employ them in her books. I’m not going to say anything about the plot, because I don’t want to accidentally give away anything, but Ms. Mackintosh has produced another absorbing page turner. Her characters are multi-dimensional, and the dialogue flows naturally. Under normally circumstances, I would give I See You four stars, but because the ending left me cackling with glee (literally, as my coworker can attest), this, for me, is a five star read.
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Awards
The British Book Industry Awards (Shortlist — 2017)
Crimefest Awards (Winner — 2017)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2016-07-28 (UK)
ISBN
075155412X / 9780751554120