“Watch Your Back”, by Terri Parlato, is an excellent thriller with several twists to keep you guessing what’s really going on. It begins with a disconcerting glimpse of the future with one of the main character’s unable to see or speak and with only a vague idea of what’s just happened to him. It’s a great cold open for a book like this, and while it tends to be common the scene itself is anything but. Parlato expertly sets this book apart from the usual things you can expect in a psychological thriller.

There’s a lot of convenient connections here too, but I was able to overlook those for the sake of the story and how well crafted it was overall. Everything’s important and everything’s connected, and that’s as much as I can say without dipping into spoiler territory—but the most important reason to mention all of that is to show how well put together the story and all its moving parts are. I can’t say it enough how fantastic the book is with all this. The characters are also more grounded in reality than others and are easily relatable. Even when one of them is doing something remarkably dumb or terrible to another, you still find yourself rooting for them in the end.

This title receives an easy 5 out of 5 stars for me. It was a lot of fun to read, and I’m very much looking forward to the next book I get from Terri Parlato. Simply fantastic!

What a great revenge story. I had a feeling I knew who was behind it, but the reveal was way more than I anticipated! This was a great read!

I enjoyed reading this twisty thriller. Nathan and Eve are married with a baby and demanding careers. Like many couples they find themselves drifting apart. When a series of crimes start to take place around them the police are not sure if the culprit is a stranger or closer to home. I really liked Detective Rita Myers. The mystery was good with lots of twists. Although this is part of a series it can be read as a stand alone. I will be reading more. Enjoy

Everyone has secrets. Usually, those who project a perfect life carry the most. As a psychiatrist, Eve should know that secrets never stay secrets forever. In this book, Eve's secrets are being aired out. I like Eve and I like the mental health aspect as I find that intriguing. People's minds are peculiar. I think anyone who enjoys a thriller that reads more like a mystery will really enjoy this.

Watch Your Back is the third book in the Detective Rita Myers series and it is a page turner from beginning to end. Even though this is a part of a series it can be read as a standalone. The book will keep you guessing until the very end and you will be in complete suspense the entire time. The author did a great job writing this and I can not wait to read more of the author's book. All of the characters and twists in this were so good. I loved the book and would recommend it to any reader, especially if you love thrillers. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this amazing read in exchange of my honest review of Watch Your Back by Terri Parlato.

Having read other mysteries from Detective Rita Myers I was really looking forward to this new one!

Psychiatrist Eva Thayer is a new mum but not everything is a perfect as it seems. On the contrary: her marriage is going downhills.
Furthermore plenty of strange incidents happen in Eva's surroundings which makes Rita secondguess everything she finds out.
I don't want to spoil too much of the plot, but the story is without a doubt multilayered!

Thank you #NetGalley #Kensington Publishing | Kensington for this ARC

This was my first read from this author and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The stakes were enough to keep you reading in hopes of solving the mystery. I had no problems having never read the previous 2 books. Thank you to Netgalley, the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this prior to publication.

I didn't realise that this was the third book in the detective Rita series until I started reading it. I feel this should have been made clearer as it is a lot harder to enjoy going into a book where characters are already established.

Terri Parlato's *Watch Your Back* is a gripping domestic thriller that explores the unraveling lives of a seemingly perfect couple against the backdrop of a harsh Boston winter. The novel masterfully blends suspense, psychological depth, and intricate character dynamics, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

The narrative maintains a dynamic and engaging pace, with escalating events that heighten tension and suspense. Parlato skillfully balances intense action with profound, introspective moments, allowing readers to immerse themselves fully in the unfolding drama. This rhythm ensures the story remains compelling and makes it difficult to put down.

Themes of trust, deception, and the fragility of relationships are central to *Watch Your Back*. The novel examines how external pressures and hidden secrets can erode the foundation of a marriage, leading to suspicion and betrayal. Additionally, it delves into the psychological impact of trauma and the lengths individuals will go to protect their loved ones, even when faced with moral dilemmas.

Parlato employs a multi-perspective narrative, primarily focusing on Eve Thayer, her husband Nathan, and Detective Rita Myers. This approach provides a well-rounded view of the events, allowing readers to understand each character's motivations and inner turmoil. The prose is sharp and evocative, with descriptive passages that vividly portray the bleak, wintry setting, enhancing the novel's atmospheric tension.

*Watch Your Back* comes highly recommended for fans of domestic thrillers and psychological suspense. Readers who appreciate complex character studies and narratives that delve into the darker aspects of human relationships will find this novel especially compelling. Although it is the third installment featuring Detective Rita Myers, the book stands well on its own, making it accessible to both new and returning readers. Those who enjoy authors like Lisa Jewell and Claire Douglas are likely to find Parlato's storytelling style appealing.

Watch Your Back is a cleverly woven domestic thriller that kept me on edge from start to finish. The chilling Boston winter setting adds a perfect backdrop to the unraveling lives of Eve and Nathan Thayer. The plot is full of twists and turns, making you question every character's motives and the true nature of the accidents surrounding them.

Eve’s unease, both in her personal life and at work, creates an intense, gripping atmosphere. I was hooked as the tension built and secrets began to surface. The addition of Detective Rita Myers to the investigation added another layer of suspense, as I was constantly wondering if Eve was a target or involved in something much darker.

The slow-burn mystery, the well-developed characters, and the shocking revelations made this book a compelling read. I couldn’t put it down, and while the ending left me satisfied, it also made me think about how far some people will go to protect their lives and the secrets they hold. Definitely recommended for fans of suspenseful, twisty thrillers!

ARC Review- 5 ⭐
Publication Date- 12/24/2024

Wow--this book was quite the shock. I have never heard of this author or this book title, so I was a little apprehensive going in. It was labeled as a thriller and a thriller it was. I was on the edge of my seat throughout, constantly guessing who I thought would be the one to have committed the crimes. The characterization throughout was top notch and I felt myself relating with the struggles that each faced during the story.

Eve is a psychiatrist at an inpatient facility downtown. Her husband Nathan manages a collision center. Her best friend is an artist with a gallery downtown. Even and Nathan have a daughter, Rosewyn who is being watched by a "friend" within the neighborhood. One day Rosewyn goes missing and Eve's life begins to unravel. Who kidnapped her baby and what are they trying to tell her?

This book was so good from start to finish. It immediately pulled me in and did not let up. Also the main twist is not too early in the book like happens with many other thrillers. Do yourself a favor and add this to your TBR, you won't regret it!

✨Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review ✨

Eve seemingly has the perfect life; a great job as a psychiatrist, the perfect husband, a baby. What more could she ask for? However, she works too much, her marriage is on the rocks, and her baby was just kidnapped from the babysitters.
Nathan, her husband, just broke up with his mistress, when their baby is kidnapped.
Detective Rita Myers is on the case to figure out what happened to their baby.

I enjoyed the fast-paced and multiple point of views of this book. There were a ton of suspects, and every chapter I thought it was a new person who took the baby. Overall, I enjoyed the book; however, the ending was a lot for me. I felt like there was a lot going on and I found myself questioning what was happening and if I caught everything.

Thank you Terri Parlato, Kensington Publishing, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

THE GOOD:
Chilling, intriguing, intelligent.
Characters with depth and solid back-stories.
Kept me guessing and turning the pages.
Nathan’s relationship with his young daughter Rosewyn (such an odd name) was sweet and endearing.
Room was left for a sequel with Detective Rita, but not in a cliffhanger way - the story wrapped up completely and with a couple of happy endings.

THE BAD:
A bit of diversity checklist bingo, with a throw-away character in the gay male couple upstairs neighbors to Detective Rita.
Husband Nathan cheats on wife Eve, although you find out later it was purposeful entrapment.
It was a bit of a surprise who the “bad guy” was - the foreshadowing was there, but could have been a tad better.

CONCLUSION:
Recommended. Should be a hit for fans of domestic suspense or crime fiction.

This story is told from multiple POV - a wife, a husband, and a detective. I found the pace to be very slow and the plot to be a bit far fetched.

It wasn't advertised that this was book three in the Detective Rita Myers series. While most of the book works okay as a standalone, there were several things in Rita's personal life that seemed missing. It makes sense now to know that there were others in the series.

I dont know if it would have been better if I had read the others but I felt that I was missing background information (Publishers, PLEASE start advertising books as being part of a series!)

Many thanks to NetGalley and RBMedia for allowing me to read this ARC.

Deadly accidents keep surrounding a couple, and detective Rita Myers must figure out if they are suspects or targets.

I didn't realize that this was the third in this detective series until I started reading it. It was a lot harder for me to enjoy I think because the characters were already established and I had not read the first ones.

I love when I find new to me authors through Netgalley.
This was a good twisty, turny thriller. I'll definitely be looking for other books by this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to get a copy of this book as it's the third I've read that follows the same Boston detective, whom I have grown to love. This book was no exception to the others I've read and also really enjoyed. The mystery was so multi-layered and kept me guessing. I guessed some parts of this, but some parts really got me. However, I really did not like one of the main characters, Dr. Eve Thayer. She just got on my nerves multiple times in the story, which may have been the intention of the author. But, Detective Rita Meyers continued to be developed in the third book that included her and I'm excited to read the next one. I was captivated and kept reading to find out what would happen. Another great read by Parlato!

Kept me guessing the whole time! The suspense was kept high and I thought three POVs worked really well.

I figured out part of it pretty quickly, but was stumped by the rest. Enjoyed the twisty ending even if a little unbelievable.

Thank you NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Terri Parlato for the early access copy of Watch Your Back.

After a whirlwind romance, Nathan and Eve start to settle into their day-to-day life with their little girl. From the outside, they have it all, beautiful home on a quiet street, perfect family, and the perfect life. However, not everything is what it seems. Eve's feeling the pressure from all areas of life, Nathan is lonely, and after a break-in on the street, their street no longer feels safe. Then, accidents start getting closer to home. Detective Rita Myers is on the case.

With an intense prologue and multiple twists, this is a third book in the Detective Rita Myer series but can be read as a standalone. This will be a great fit for those who like stories written in multiple points-of-view, is a psychological domestic thriller that has police procedures.

The story was intriguing the first few chapters then it was dragging. It was very slow burn.
Ending was good so as to why I still give it 3 stars