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