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The Watcher

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The Watcher

By: Ross Armstrong
Narrated by: Catherine Steadman
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About this listen

 ‘An eerily atmospheric reworking of Hitchcock’s Rear Window’ – The Guardian

She’s watching you, but who’s watching her?

Lily Gullick lives with her husband Aiden in a new-build flat opposite an estate which has been marked for demolition. A keen birdwatcher, she can’t help spying on her neighbours.

Until one day Lily sees something suspicious through her binoculars and soon her elderly neighbour Jean is found dead. Lily, intrigued by the social divide in her local area as it becomes increasingly gentrified, knows that she has to act. But her interference is not going unnoticed, and as she starts to get close to the truth, her own life comes under threat.

But can Lily really trust everything she sees?

‘Ross Armstrong will feed your appetite for suspense’ – Evening Standard

©2016 Ross Armstrong (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Amateur Sleuths Crime Fiction Detective Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Exciting

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Critic reviews

‘Addictive and eerie, you’ll finish the book wanting to chat about it’ – Closer Magazine, Must Read

‘A twisted homage to Hitchcock set in a recognisably post-Brexit broken Britain. Tense, fast-moving and with an increasingly unreliable narrator, The Watcher has all the hallmarks of a winner.' – Martyn Waites

‘Ross Armstrong will feed your appetite for suspense’ – Evening Standard

‘Unreliable narrator + Rear Window-esque plot = sure-fire hit’ – The Sun

‘Brilliantly written…this psychological thriller is definitely one that will keep you up to the early hours. Five Stars.’ – Heat, Book of the Week

‘A dark, unsettling page turner’ – Claire Douglas, author of Local Girl Missing.

‘Creepy and compelling’ – Debbie Howells author of The Bones of You

‘The Watcher is an intense, unsettling read… one that had me feeling like I needed to keep checking over my shoulder as I read.; – Lisa Hall, author of Between You and Me
All stars
Most relevant  
Couldn't persevere to the end of this. just not my cup of tea. Maybe go back to it sometime.

Struggled.

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This book has it all. It’s pacey, twisty and mostly absolutely brilliant. A real thriller which I would have read in one sitting had I not started it so late at night. It tells the somewhat confused story of Lilly and her associates, people living in blocks of flats on two sides of an estate one earmarked for domolition and in the process of being torn down for rebuilding. A regeneration project but people are dying and Lilly sees it all as a bird watching writing to ehr dad but there’s much more to it than that. You want to know more? Read the book, you will not be disappointed. The performance is excellent but five stars? No way, not on your life, the book is brilliant, the writing mostly is good but way too much of the usual boring he said she said so five stars? No way.

This is too weird

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Struggled to finish this book,was ok in places but found the narration boring and too fast,not my favourite.

Not my favourite

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There were times when I loved the book and times when the main character annoyed me so much I wanted to give up. 3 star rating for that reason.

Had a love hate relationship with this one

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No doubt there are clear remnants of Girl on a Train and Rear Window in this psychological thriller, and having heard a fair few, sometimes it seems obvious who the culprit is.

However - the twists and turns to get to the climax are absolutely gut wrenching, the first personal dialogue writing in a journal is engaging and the contemporary plot is interesting - so it's well worth the listen. Catherine Steadman is a great performer - and it reminded me of listening to Paula Hawkin's character - there are clear similarities. Overall, definitely worth any hype.

One of the best thrillers I've heard in a while

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I enjoyed listening to this. Great twists and turns and an unreliable narrator! Fantastic reader.

Engaging story and reader

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I didn't find this listen very grippy or overall a great story. It need something more....
A little letdown

Not very exciting

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When I was listening to this book I found the narrator irritating, " I sar it " SAW!! It's SAW! there is no R! he was sarring SAWING!! Also "ive been sat here" poor grammar, I didn't like that. The story was a bit boring for me , not enough going on , too much bird watching . I wouldn't recommend it.

Strange

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Really struggled though this.
Started great but decreased quickly towards the end of the book.

Decends quickly.

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What would have made The Watcher better?

The story in itself would be reasonable to read in a book, but it's the kind of story that is so complicated with so many names you need to keep looking back which is not easy on ipod.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I felt the build up expeced a different ending. A bit flat really.

What three words best describe Catherine Steadman’s voice?

Catherine Steadmans voice was very good. No complaints there.
Three words.....varied voices distinct.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

disappointment.

Any additional comments?

Just that, some books were not meant for audible, and this is one. The amazon reviews are variable and liken the book to marmite. I think it would be a good book to read but not listen to.

Not for Audible

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