Harmony House has a voyeur. Someone with hidden cameras throughout the building. The residents are unaware they’re being watched, especially the ones up to no good.
I spy with my little eye; someone is going to die…
It's my pleasure to be hosting the blog tour for The Watcher today. Many thanks to Lisa Sell and to Red Dragon Publishing for my advance digital copy of the novel.
Most of us will have experienced that unsettling feeling of being watched at some point in our lives; and if we're honest, we'll also admit to indulging in a little people watching of our own from time to time. Whether it's a curtain twitching look to see what the neighbours are up to or a surreptitious study of strangers in a public place, the snippets we see of other people's lives can be fascinating.
However, when watching turns into voyeurism, it becomes much more sinister and there are intrusive eyes everywhere in the rather inappropriately named Harmony House in Southbourne. Sophie initially welcomes the opportunity to flat-sit one of its eight deluxe apartments – she's been struggling recently following a devastating miscarriage and although she and her husband, Ben are still very much in love with one another, she decides that some time away to think would help her come to terms with her loss. It's her determination to make the most of her break, coupled with her natural desire to look out for people that leads to her refusal to escape Harmony House, even when it seems obvious that the most sensible decision would be to leave as soon as possible
The narrative is shared between Sophie's perspective and that of the unnamed Watcher. It soon becomes evident that they aren't far away and with everybody who lives in the building seemingly keeping something secret, there's a growing sense of tension as Sophie tries to figure out whether two separate tragedies really were accidents. Her new neighbours quickly make an impression on her but the behaviour of even the most likeable characters raises suspicions and this tense and twisty thriller has a cleverly propulsive plot that ensured I kept turning the pages to find out the identity of the Watcher.
They have a particular reason for being interested in Sophie but throughout the book, it's made clear that this could change at any time – meaning the sinister surveillance could turn into something more deadly. Throughout it all, it's apparent that Sophie has long struggled with mental health issues but despite her anxiety, she's an empathetic character who makes the effort to get to know the other residents. We all know that what goes on behind closed doors can be very different to the way people behave in public but the thin walls of Harmony House means the lives of the residents have become inextricably intertwined.
Domestic violence, mental health issues, neurodiversity, promiscuity and grief all feature here and feed the insatiable desire of the Watcher who loves to see people suffer. They aren't immune to manipulating events too, which intensifies the action still further; compulsively watching and judging isn't creepy enough for this voyeur and their interventions can prove deadly. With so much drama occurring under one roof, the scene is set for a terrifying final reckoning and although I'd figured out who couldn't be trusted by this point (the Watcher makes sure the clues are there to be followed after all!), I was still shocked by the denouement. I suspect the conclusion may divide opinions and if I'm honest, I'm not really sure how I feel about it myself and have to admit to not quite experiencing the emotional impact I might have expected. However, I always admire books that make me consider my own response to them and The Watcher did exactly that.
The seaside setting means The Watcher will be the ideal book to read on holiday this summer – although you may want to check your accommodation for hidden cameras...! A spine-tinglingly dark and compelling thriller, I enjoyed it very much and look forward to reading more of Lisa Sell's books in the future.
The Watcher is published by Red Dragon Publishing, it can be purchased now from Amazon where it is also available on Kindle Unlimited.
Don't miss the rest of the blog tour, details are below.
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About the Author
Lisa Sell is a thriller, crime, and mystery author. She is an avid reader with a to-be-read tower rather than a pile.
Music rocks Lisa’s world too, particularly a good eighties tune. If lost, you’ll find her in a DeLorean, headed for her favourite decade.
Lisa’s cats try to help her write but often fail. The furry pests demand attention and desk space. Lisa is currently applying for cat wrangling to be recognised as an Olympic sport.
Huge thanks for your support, Karen xxx
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