Told alternately by Kateri and Shannon, this twisty mystery is all about marginalized people in a small town. Pearl has gone missing, leaving behind a small child. Kateri, the only female detective, is pulled into the case. Shannon is Pearl's son; his narrative brings the reader up to the present and explains what Kateri too will slowly discover. They are both intriguing characters- well written and strong. There's potential for another outing with Kateri. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read for fans of the genre.

So for the first book in a series, I was surprised by how little time was spent on the backgrounds of the main characters. I finished the book still feeling like I really didn't know Kateri or what led her to the small town of Spring Falls. I hope the next one in the series helps fill in at least some of those gaps. However, the story was really engaging and I liked many of the characters involved in the actual crime. In fact, I wouldn't mind if Shannon, the teen who has taken responsibility for supporting his mom and secret kid sister, showed up in future installments. (Yes, secret sister.) I felt like we got to know him much more than Detective Fisher. And, like the secret sister, this book was full of interesting little pieces that combined together to make for a really enjoyable read.

This was a GREAT suspense novel and Jennifer Pashley certainly should be right up there with some of the big names of crime/suspense today!

The Watcher is a suspenseful crime drama that introduces us to the town of Spring Falls in upstate New York where you can feel the scratch of the brittle tree branches in the woods, the crisp air that never quite smells clean and fresh and the constant stare of every local that knows everyone and everything. Except for hermit Pearl Jenkins' secret that she has tucked away in her beaten down house: a baby girl born without anyone's knowledge. And now her kitchen is found covered in blood with Pearl missing.

The two voices we hear from in this book are Pearl's son, Shannon - a nineteen year old trying to escape the history of drugs, second cousins and crime that his family passed along - and Kateri Fisher - a young detective transferred to this small town department after her drunken, near death car crash. We switch between these two perspectives leading up to and directly after Pearl is found missing, and the rollercoaster ride of whodunnit continues expertly until the twist (which I completely saw play out dramatically like a scene in a movie) leads you into a complicated tangle of explanations.

This book shone for me through the depth of the characters and the unique world the author created. No matter how large or small the character, the author expertly pinpointed their descriptions and gave them each a fresh uniqueness - the repetitive and specific way Bear shows all his teeth when smiling in a threatening manner, the odd and out of place wardrobe of Baby Jane, Shannon's inner turmoil and physical reactions as he comes to understand his sexuality and draw towards older men. I enjoyed the genre pairing of detective crime through Kateri's chapters with the gritty suspense and drama in Shannon's.

If I haven't said it enough - this was an amazing surprise for an avid suspense/crime reader. Pashley should get major attention for this book. Fresh, complex and gritty!

This was quite dark, and perfectly captured the small town feel, and the type of characters you might expect to find.it was a little weird for me in places,but it was worth a read as long as you are not of a nervous disposition,but then you are probably not if you enjoy reading thrillers that are a little on the dark side.I would like to see more books with the female police officer, she was interesting and I would like to see more of her.

Kind of an obvious thriller about a 'good' cop solving the mystery of a bloody house, a missing child, and a woman who lives on the fringes of society.

I think that while this will likely be part of a 'cop' series of books, more details into the bumbling aspect of the police station and their methods would be more interesting.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Wow, wow, wow! This was one of those books that really hooked me! It was absolutely unputdownable, well written, unique, and chilling! I found it to be one of the best books I’ve read this year, as the writing was sooo good and the shocks, twists, thrills, and chills were abundant! Absolutely will be watching for more by this author, as she definitely provides what I’m looking for in a thriller! Highly, highly, highly recommend!
Will make sure to buzz it around and use low Amazon reviewer number to review! Grab today, don’t delay, you won’t want to miss this one!

Edge of your seat good. A thriller/mystery for everyone.
Likable characters. Setting makes you feel you are there. It will pull you right in and won’t let go.
A must read.

5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC for The Watcher by Jennifer Pashley.

In a small town where everybody knows everyone, Pearl Jenkins tries hard to stay under the radar. She has been living as a recluse in the woods until one day, a phone call brings Dectective Kateri Fisher to Pearl’s home, where all she finds is a blood and a five-year-old girl nobody knew existed.

The story that follows pulled me and wouldn’t let go until I had answers to what happened. The story focuses on two perspectives, the dectective, Kateri, and Pearl’s adult son, Shannon. Everyone is quick to blame Shannon for whatever happened in the house, but it seems like there may be more to the story.

I really recommend this book for anyone looking for a book to suck them in!

It's really hard to review this story. I feel like it had its good moments and bad moments. A little. Too much detail at times. Not for the faint hearted x

A novel about being alone, being on your own and not feeling as if you belong. I think an expert on human psychology would have a field day with this. As A reader I did too in many ways as I wanted to know more about Pearl, what they found and what that all meant....

I felt frustrated for the police as this is one tight knit community and the investigator is the outsider. Lots of small town, small minded people images and this was one creepy read as a result.

It had more than its fair share of twists and I didn't know where it would go.

Worth finding out though!

This was a dark and atmospheric read. It was quite a slow burn mystery but it worked really well. I loved the writing and the characters. It had a lot of depth and drew me in from start to finish.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the premise, Kateri Fisher, from a small town in upstate NY takes a case no one else wants. The murder of an outsider living off the grid-draws her in and then a child is dicovered. There were many interesting twists and turns. I would describe it as a slow burn, mystery -thriller.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this interesting book.

jtb
https://seniorbooklounge.blogspot.com/

This seemed to me like the type of thriller that's very popular at the moment that I've read a lot of - easy to mix-up with others in my mind. Not one that stands out particularly, though I bet thriller readers will enjoy it.

This book got just too dark for me. The mention of the young girls raped and left to die. The mother who stripped naked to give birth in front of her young son. I could not continue.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.

Pearl Jenkins is missing. Blood is found in her house and there is evidence of foul play but no body has been found. Pearl’s son has been left behind. He is a teenager that holds some of Pearl’ secrets and is considered a suspect.

Kateri Fisher is a detective on the police force that has recently transferred into the area. She is given the case to look into and keeps running up against blank walls because people don’t know much about Pearl since she was a recluse and some just aren’t willing to talk.

This was a fascinating story. I enjoyed watching the story unravel.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Net Galley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

The Watcher was an entertaining book I would recommend to others. It was written from two different perspectives, a young boy, and a detective. The back and fourth told a story that went from the past (a few montshs ago) to present. Each chapter kept me on the edge of my seat wondering how things all fell together. It was the type of book where I didn't have enough clues to put things together until halfway through the book and still my guesses would never have guessed all that happened. It was a good read and has interested me into looking into other books of hers.

My review is mixed for this book .Sorry there were bits I enjoyed and bits I found a bit boring sorry it maybe just me and someone might think it's an amazing readz

It seems like it's going to be a good book but the way it's laid out there is no paragraphs. A couple of words in a sentence on one line and the rest of the sentence on another, it makes it hard to read. As of right now I haven't finished it, I had to stop reading it.

THE WATCHER was an absorbing read. It starts with a large pool of blood and a small girl locked in a closet. Part of the story is told by Kateri, the detective in charge of the case. Kateri has come to this small Vermont town nursing her own wounds and self-destructive tendencies.. The other part of the story is told by Shannon, the small girl's 19-year-brother. Their mother is missing, and from the amount of blood found, presumed dead. Through Shannon we learn of the events leading up to the violence, and from Kateri, we learns what happens afterward. Pashley is a skillful writer who definitively knows how to let the reader draw their own conclusions by describing events, rather then telling what happened.. This was an excellent read and I am looking forward to the next in the series.

I read this book in 2 sittings. It was compulsively readable. It reminded me of Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. I enjoyed the themes of class and privilege that it deals with. I also really found myself loving Shannon's POV in particular. He was a very tragic, likeable character. Unfortunately I did not really like the detective character. I felt like some her actions/reactions didn't make a lot of sense. I wish the book had spent more time talking about the precinct because some of the 'cop work' they did was abysmal (the stuff with bones). If the book had spent some more time maybe discussing financial issues with the precinct maybe that would have been more believable? Most of the mystery was very obvious but I enjoyed the book enough that it didn't bother me too much. A lot of things were left unanswered which was weird. I wish the book had just been from Shannon's point of view. I feel like this would have been a 4 star read had that been the case.
As it stands, it's 2.5 stars