Sunday, February 9, 2020

Random Things Tour - Are You Watching



Today I'm excited to bring to you my thoughts on a debut novel by Vincent Ralph - Are You Watching.  Thanks for stopping by and make sure you check out the other blog tour hosts.







TITLE: Are You Watching
AUTHOR: Vincent Ralph
PUBLISHER:  Penguin
PUBLISHING DATE: February 6, 2020
FROM GOODREADS: 

A page-turning new YA thriller for the social media age, perfect for fans of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and One Of Us Is Lying.

Ten years ago, Jess's mother was murdered by the Magpie Man. 

She was the first of his victims but not the last. 

Now Jess is the star of a YouTube reality series and she's using it to catch the killer once and for all. 

The whole world is watching her every move.

And so is the Magpie Man. 

MY THOUGHTS: I really didn't know much about Are You Watching when I started it and I actually think that made it a more thrilling read.  Jess is in high school and lives with her father. Ten years ago her mother was brutally murdered, the first in what would become a sting of victims for a serial killer eventually known as the Magpie Man.  Early on it's clear that Jess and her father are still struggling to come to terms with what happened, especially given that the police have never found the perpetrator.  When Jess learns about a new You Tube reality TV show being filmed, she's desperate to be chosen.  She feels this is just the chance she needs to bring the case back into the limelight and maybe put an end to the killing spree once and for all.

Are You Watching is a fast-paced read which didn't disappoint.  As a reader, I really connected to Jess and her father and wanted to see them get justice.  Sure, as the novel progresses, Jess makes some pretty reckless choices but given that she is just a teen, they choices she made were realistic and understandable.  I also loved how Ralph capitalized on the fascination society has with social media.  Many outlets were mentioned and used in Jess' quest to find the murderer.  In addition, even though I had an idea the culprit, Ralph threw in a few twists and turns which kept me on my toes.

I will admit I had a few issues with the writing style in the beginning.  While this book is a good length, the chapters were rather brief and sometimes choppy.  At a little over 370 pages, it had more than 70 chapters.  After about 50 pages though I became used to it and by the end, had determined that it worked well to keep up the pacing of the plot.

Overall, I'm glad I read Are You Watching. Anyone who likes YA thrillers should be sure to add this debut novel to their wish lists.

RATING: 4 Paws



ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Vincent Ralph has been writing in one form or another since his teens and always dreamed of being a novelist. He owes his love of books to his mother, who encouraged his imagination from an early age and made sure there were new stories to read.

Vincent has lived in London, Cornwall and Chester but he now lives in his home county of Kent with his wife, son and two cats

18 comments:

  1. This sounds like something I might enjoy! Glad you enjoyed it.

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    1. I think you would like it. Lots of fact paced action.

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  2. I didn't even know about this book but it sounds pretty good. I'm a fan of short chapters, so I'm glad they ended up working out.

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    1. I was invited for a tour and took a leap of faith. Glad I did!

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  3. I love short chapters, but 70 sounds like... a lot! I'm glad you wound up enjoying it. :)

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    1. It did seem like a lot but in the end, the story was still solid which I guess is what really matters.

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  4. I've always been a fan of serial killer stories and this sounds like a good story.

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    1. It was and the Magpie Man was pretty creepy at times.

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  5. I'm reading one right now where I didn't know much about it before starting it. It does add to the suspense.

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    1. Yea sometimes it really works to go in blind!

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  6. This definitely sounds intense, and I love the social media angle. The One Of Us Is Lying comparison got my attention too as I loved that book!

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    1. Yea, I love books that have social media woven into them.

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  7. Ooh, I really like the sound of this one - I'm going to add it to my wishlist right now!
    Lynn :D

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  8. Thanks for the blog tour support Barb xx

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    1. As always you're very welcome Anne and thanks for the invite!

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  9. I think I saw "Are You Watching" around and was very curious about it! Glad to hear it was good! Fast-paced is the way to go with me :) I have the attention spam of a pre-schooler :) I think I like thrillers about social media!

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    1. I do too. Social media can definitely get out of hand at times.

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