Cover Image: I See You

I See You

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Zoe is divorced, hates her boss and has two grown children who still live at home. She and her partner Simon are more and more in love. She leads a routine and ordinary life, taking the same train every morning, choosing the same seat in the same carriage, stopping at the same cafe, and giving 10p to the girl who sings outside the train station on her way home. And it is this routine that gets Zoe on the radar of someone who puts her picture in the classifieds of a London newspaper. Every day the picture of a different woman appears in the newspaper with a phone number and a website that lead nowhere. As some of these women are robbed, assaulted or killed, Zoe's fears for her safety rise.
This story is dark and captivating with many twists and much suspense, and relatable characters. The author perfectly portrays Zoe's fears as she starts suspecting everyone, even the people she loves. The novel doesn't focus only on Zoe's story, but also on one of the detectives investigating her case. Kelly is a hard-working police officer, who often gets too involved with the victims of the cases she is investigating. She is very invested in her job but is also driven by personal reasons. This is a chilling and disturbing novel that will make you rethink your commute to work.

Was this review helpful?

Looking for your next vacation read, the one you cannot put down, the one where you want the world to stop tugging on your shirt sleeve? Look no further - Clare Mackintosh's latest (I Let You Go) is a serious page turner, as was her last one. Written up in the New York Times book section for hot new mysteries, this one deserves all the accolades. Playing on the real fears surrounding CTV, social media, and our obsession to let the world know everything about our lives, Mackintosh weaves a tale of suspense. Two women take center state: Kelly, a police officer, dying to be more than just on patrol and to work in the 'majors,' a dark past that keeps her back, and an insatiable curiosity and spot-on memory; Zoe, an ordinary mum, stuck in a dead-end job, torn between the current husband and the cheating ex, who sees a picture of herself in a newspaper advertisement as she rides the subway home. As Kelly begins to piece together the pattern of rapes and murders, Zoe must protect not only herself, but her nineteen year old daughter. Macintosh throws in numerous possible suspects, leading us down one dark alley after another, with a shocker of an ending. This book does not disappoint.

Was this review helpful?

Wow! I definitely did not see that ending coming. Kept me riveted until the final page and up late reading after a full day at Disney World.

Was this review helpful?

It took me a little while to get into I See You. It starts out a little slow, mostly establishing the characters. But once it fully settles into the main mystery I was hooked.

The story follows Zoe, a woman who finds her picture advertising a dating site she’s never heard of in the paper, Kelly, a police office trying to gain some redemption from past mistakes, and snippets from the anonymous villain. At first I found the switch in POV between Zoe and Kelly a little jarring, almost feeling like they were two completely different stories. Once we get further into the story, though, I found myself really enjoying each perspective. While they both had their flaws, they were likable characters that I was rooting for the whole time. I also really liked Kelly’s new DI, Nick.

I thought the author did a good job of conveying Zoe’s paranoia. While the book didn’t really have the creepy atmosphere I was expecting, it snuck up on me later, when I wasn’t reading. The idea of how most of us are creatures of habit and how easy it would be for anyone to use that predictability against you is a scary thought. I’ve always been someone who closes all the blinds as soon as it gets dark enough outside for people to be able to see in. The thought of being watched has always creeped me out and I think this book will make me a little more paranoid than I already am.

The mystery was pretty well done. I suspected several people of being behind the website all throughout the book and while the villain was one of my suspects, it still surprised me. I think it worked, though. And I LOVED the ending.

Overall, I enjoyed I See You. Though it started out a little slow for me, it did end up really sucking me in and I had a hard time putting it down. The mystery was well done and kind of terrifying in how plausible it is. I would definitely recommend it to mystery/thriller fans. Just be prepared to be looking over your shoulder after you do.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 4 Stars

Was this review helpful?

A book full of twists and turns, leaving the reader surprised until
the very last page.

Was this review helpful?

There are suspense novels in which the type of crime can seem remote from the actual lives of readers. Then there are those like Clare MacKintosh’s “I See You,” in which the crime is alarmingly possible in the most normal and routine of lives. And it’s that routine that provides the premise for the plot. As a narrator in the book says “Routine is comforting to you. It’s familiar, reassuring. Routine makes you feel safe. Routine will kill you.”

Someone in London is watching women and carefully noting the details of their lives. And that watching is stunningly easy because of the routine the women follow and their presence on social media, either directly or through the posts of others. Who is watching and why? Discovering the answer to those questions as well as the fates of individual characters propelled me quickly through the book to the astonishing conclusion. Although the characters weren’t as well developed as I would have liked, Mackintosh’s years of service in policing added verisimilitude to an absorbing and extremely suspenseful plot.

My review was posted on Goodreads on 3/3/17

Was this review helpful?

The start of this book was good. It had the feel of Girl on a Train. Which is what I was hoping and looking forward towards. Ok, so this story started out slowly with nothing really chilling happening. Yet, I held hope because I thought this was going to be like a psychological thriller. In those type of books, sometimes the storyline is slow to build up but gets darker and darker as I get further into the story. Sadly, this was not the case for me. I felt the story slowly building up but it never really reached full dark mode. It was more like sweet and tangy. From everything that I did read, I enjoyed this book. I did read and finish it in two sittings. I know that this author can write a good book from I Let You Go. The next book will hopefully be as good as the prior novel.

Was this review helpful?

Clare Mackintosh is the kind of author who writes books that stay with you, burrowing into your unconscious and making you see the world through Wes Craven colored glasses.

I See You will completely change forever how you watch romance movies with stories about those seemingly innocent love at first sight moments. As a woman, it’s impossible to ever feel completely safe again after reading this without realizing how easy it is for someone to invade your life beyond the normal threats we hear that come from oversharing on social media or getting your laptop camera hacked. It’s becoming the norm that instead of making us safer technology is exponentially increasing the danger in our lives and this book exploits that fact in one of the creepiest ways.

Mackintosh in her continued genius of writing intriguing thriller has created a new set of characters for you to follow. Like with her previous knockout novel, her experience in law enforcement continues to shine through as she is able to make police work, even the mundane aspects, seem interesting. Instead of detectives and police coming off as one dimensional filler material she makes them a very real part of the story so you don’t just blow through the chapters from their point of view.

Her plot line was fast paced and never let up even after the ‘Big Bad’ was caught. Just like with her previous novel those twists and turns literally did not stop until the last word of the book.

Mackintosh is one of those rare authors whose books you can pre-order in hardback without worrying that paying around $20 or more will feel like a rip off.

Was this review helpful?

I purchased this book on release date after having really enjoyed the author's previous release, and this one definitely did not disappoint!

Was this review helpful?

When Zoe Walker sees a picture of a woman that looks exactly like her in a classified ad for a FindTheOne.com, during her commute home from work, she finds herself more than a little concern. It doesn’t seem to help that despite the fact that she is sure that the picture is of her (but she doesn’t know where and how it was taken) her family doesn’t seem to feel the same way.

Not too long after, Zoe finds another woman that she knows of in the ad and the fact that a crime was committed against her. Soon a string of women appear, not too long after their pictures are displayed in the ad, with crimes committed against them.

Now Zoe is scared, not only for her own life, but how the ads might be related to the crimes.

This was an interesting story. It is told from the POV of Zoe Walker and also follows Kelly – a police officer that Zoe contacts about one of the women – that ends up working on the cases under a detective.

I admit, it took me a bit to get into the story and it wasn’t until about 40% in did I start to find myself invested. It felt slow at first, but once it took off I found it to be a real solid page turner.

I really liked the format of the book the most I think. I like how we got to see Zoe’s POV and how she was feeling and the fear she was dealing with while waiting for the police to do something. I also liked that we got to see Kelly in her role, while battling her own demons – and how the case slowly unfolded.

It was gripping, chilling, exciting, and nerve wrecking when it had at one point crossed my mind that things like this – can in fact happen.

It also makes me happier that I no longer take the subways in New York late at night like I use to before coming here.

Is the entire situation plausible? Maybe not. Not all women had crimes committed against them in the book, not all women followed, but there is a sense of realism to it that can feel a bit terrifying.

The ending was a bit nerve wracking and the epilogue was chilling. I wasn’t sure exactly if I agreed or liked, by the way things ended – because that part did not seem to make sense to me (about how someone like that is capable of what they did) – but nevertheless, the ending was jaw dropping and unexpected.

Overall, I really enjoyed this. Once the book started to move for me, I was immersed in the character and their stories. I wanted more, I needed to know who was behind this plan and what would come of it. As the layers peeled away, I found myself glued to the edge until the story was over.

Was this review helpful?

I wasn't the audience for this book, but I know some readers who will enjoy it. Readers who don't quite understand modern technology and who get suckered in by scary click bait headlines and urban legends. The twist with the villain felt really forced.

Was this review helpful?

Zoe Walker is traveling on the crowded London subway when he sees a photograph in the newspaper that looks just like her. It’s a creepy feeling, indeed, as she has no connection with the website. She shows it to her family and they think the picture is her but might not be as it has a grainy quality. Meanwhile she’s dealing with her family, particularly a partner who thinks her son should pay rent and contribute to the family finances as he’s 22 years old and other minor issues.
We are then introduced to Kelly, a detective demoted to a police officer who has a bad work history that she is trying to overcome by proving herself in her new job. Her biggest problem is that she tends to react on instinct and that’s not always the brightest or safest way to perform. Assaulting an alleged criminal is a no-no that has left Kelly with a hot-head reputation.
The next day Zoe sees a different woman’s picture in the same classified ad section and wonders what’s going on. As time passes, we also have italicized messages from a voyeur who is taking pictures of women with a very set purpose; the messages are creepy and make the reader tense with anticipation of some crime soon to be committed.
So, the plot moves forward alternating between the mundane, everyday thrills and tussles of life and these photos of different women appearing in the daily newspaper.
Suspicions begin to form around Zoe’s acquaintances, even those who have been very good to Zoe and her family. No spoilers here. Suffice to say that the last portion of the novel is stunning as we discover who is behind these pictures – and a murder – and why.
Claire Mackintosh has crafted an interesting mystery that bounces between some boredom over the simple family discussions and the chilling fear elicited over who is clearly a dangerous stalker! Nicely done, Ms. Mackintosh!

Was this review helpful?

The Short Of It:
A quick, creepy British thriller with average writing and plot.

The Long Of It:
Your life is quiet, comfortable, routine. And then one day on your train commute to work, you happen across something that changes everything -- your own photo in a very strange newspaper classified ad, accompanied only by a website URL -- findtheone.com -- and an invalid phone number. You do a little investigating and are horrified to discover that the ad features a different woman every day -- and that some of the women have subsequently been victims of crimes. You, of course, begin to wonder if you're next in line -- for stalking, burglary, or much worse.

That's the new normal for Zoe Walker, whose fears are brushed off by both her family and law enforcement. Enter police officer Kelly Swift -- a woman battling some demons of her own -- who takes Zoe seriously and is quick to see the potential danger in those alarming ads, which turn out to be far more twisted and disturbing than anyone could've imagined.

As with many thrillers, I had trouble actually connecting with and becoming invested in the fate of our main character -- so often, I feel like these protagonists lack depth. But while I didn't really care if Zoe lived or died or something in between, I was definitely curious to see what unfolded. And I did like Kelly -- enough that I almost wished this were the first in a detective series in which she was the star.

I admit to doing a bit of skimming here and there, because after all the whole point of a run-of-the-mill thriller is to find out whodunit and the middle parts can seem a bit tedious at times, but overall the pace was fast enough, the mystery was intriguing enough and the story was disturbing enough to keep me interested. The novel definitely had some of the lurking look-over-your-shoulder creepiness that so permeated Caroline Kepnes' "You," and it had me wanting to double-check the privacy settings on my Facebook page! "I See You" was your typical quick-read thriller-with-a-twist, and it's worth a chance next time you're craving something easy that'll keep you turning pages.

*I received a free advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

“I See You” is the second book by Clare Mackintosh following her breakout debut “I Let You Go” which I thoroughly enjoyed. This one, not so much.

The premise for this novel is basically the idea of cyber stalking, how much we are all exposed by the things we post on the internet and other social media platforms. We are becoming accustomed to revealing lots of our data on the web, assuming that it is protected. However tech savvy computer types can usually access most data. Just reading the news daily we know that the government, credit card hackers, etc. are becoming increasingly better at breaking code even at what was once thought to be deeply embedded software.

Zoe Walker is a victim of routine, as so many of us are, taking the same commute daily to and from work. She sees a photo in the classified section of a newspaper while on the train and recognizes the picture to be her own, even though she can’t place exactly when it was taken. As the novel proceeds Zoe is increasingly sure that she is in harm’s way and reports her suspicions to the police and her family and friends. Here begins my disbelief in the character. Although she suspects danger, she doesn’t do anything to change her routine or protect herself.
Zoe hasn’t had the easiest start with relationships, having been married and divorced with two teenaged children and now living with Simon, a man whom she has brought in to live with her and her and her kids. Considering all that she has gone through she still comes across to me as being naive and trusting.

Enter Kelly, a detective struggling to clear her name from a previous incident with a suspect in which she lost control and lashed out. She gets the call from Zoe and wants in on this case. She is my favorite character because she seems the most genuine. She learns from her mistakes, seems to be whip smart and cares about the victims. As the case progresses it is her quick thinking and willingness to think outside the box and put her reputation on the line to help Zoe that resolves the case. Upon researching there are links to the photos and women who have reported theft, being followed and even a murder. At this point Kelly’s supervisor is beginning to see the light and provides backup for Kelly’s investigation.

There is, of course, a whole cast of characters. Melissa, Zoe’s next door neighbor and best friend whom she has relied upon since the kids were little. Zoe’s kids, Katie a 19 year old with acting aspirations but not a lot of common sense and Justin, Katie’s older sibling who seems to have turned the corner after being in some trouble as a younger teen. Matt is Zoe’s ex-husband who stays very involved with his kids and seems to be the good one that got away.

My take on a psychological thriller is always that it has to be believable for me to get that tense, edge of your seat, quickly turning pages feeling. There should also be a sociopath controlling the reigns somewhere along the line. This book fell short for me because of the characters. I felt Zoe to be rather a weak character who has little control over what her kids do or say even though they are living under her roof. Having raised four daughters I think I have some good experience with teens. Simon was mushy sweet and shallow I couldn’t see how he could ever be accepted in this teenaged household nor why he would choose to be involved with Zoe and all of her emotional baggage.

I liked the epilogue but again found it unbelievable, just too much evil to be present in one person’s life among the people that she loves and trusts.

I am in the minority on this one so give it a whirl and see what you all think, I’ll be interested to read following reviews.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley, thank you.


also posted to Amazon on February 25, 2017

Was this review helpful?

3+ stars. I can't bring myself to give I See You 4 stars. There were a few too many things that bugged me. But it's definitely a tad higher than a 3 star read. I See You starts with middle aged mother of young adults Zoe seeing a photo of herself in the dating service section of a newspaper. She ends up in contact with police office Kelly. And the story unfolds from both their points of view. I can't say any more to avoid spoilers.

Some strengths:
-Near the beginning in a brief interlude, the unknown perpetrator declares "Routine will kill you". I loved that MacKintosh's book plays with the reality for urban commuters -- jammed together on subways, buses and streetcars everyday with the same people, but somehow assuming anonymity as we all pretend we're somewhere else through phones, books, daydreams or sleep.
-I liked Kelly. She reminded me a bit of Havers in Elizabeth George's Linley and Havers series -- well meaning and smart, but often overly eager.
-I didn't love Zoe as a character, but I did like the interactions with her various family members.
-The very end was clever, although awfully disturbing.

What bugged me:
-I never quite bought into the premise of the purpose for which Zoe and other women's photos ended up in the dating service section of the newspaper without their knowledge.
-Although generally very readable, the middle of I See You felt kind of slack and aimless.
-The "who" part of the resolution irked me. It didn't ring true.

Not a waste of time, but definitely not a favourite read. Many GR friends loved Mackintosh's I Let You Go, which I haven't read. I would definitely give it a try based on what I liked in I See You. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.

Was this review helpful?

I loved Mackintosh's debut novel 'I Let You Go'and was thrilled to receive a copy of her newest novel. Though it was just as addicting the 'reveal' was not as climatic for me. Still a very good. There were several loose ends hanging, so I'm optimistic that there will visit these characters again. I will continue to highly recommend these novels for a quick satisfying read. 4 stars.

Was this review helpful?

Clare Mackintosh's first novel was an excellent twisty thriller. There are plenty of clues scattered throughout the novel, but no matter how many times you guess the ending, you are wrong. The ending comes as a complete surprise and changes the meaning of the entire story.

Given its excellence, there were high hopes for Ms. Mackintosh's second novel. I See You should be just as amazing and equally thrilling. After all, what is more terrifying than someone stalking you without your knowledge? Unfortunately, lightning does not strike twice in this particular case.

The main disappointment is the fact that the ending is too predictable. You can envision how the story is going to end much too easily. Nothing is really a surprise. To make matters worse, you can accurately predict the ending less than halfway through the story. This is the death knell for thrillers because the minute you do so, the suspense disappears. Such is the case with I See You.

Moreover, Zoe is just plain annoying. She should be sympathetic as she has all of the reasons one should sympathize with her. Divorced, working a job that doesn't thrill her but keeps her busy, struggling to accept her children's life choices, and then dropped into the middle of this mystery that has all-too-real consequences. What she comes across as though is whiny, self-absorbed, and meddling. You are not rooting against her so much as you are just waiting for something to happen that will make her see the errors of her ways.

The female detective who takes an interest in Zoe's case is not much better. She is a person who thinks she has everyone and everything all figured out and rules are made to be broken if she feels it necessary. Except there is no reason for her to do so, and it just adds a layer of unnecessary frustration. Between the main character who I just wanted to stop being so selfish and the detective who I just wanted to get her head out of her ass and start listening to her superiors who knew better than she did, I was already rather aggravated with the story. When I figured out the culprit behind the crime at the halfway point, that is when I became truly disappointed.

Had her first novel not been so stellar with an ending that is the ultimate in shocks, I See You would have been a decent thriller. Because it was however, I was looking for the twist as well as the clues, and doing so ruined the story for me. While you should never judge one book by another, it is difficult to refrain from doing just that when written by the same author. In this case, I suspect that those unfamiliar with Ms. Mackintosh's previous novel will thoroughly enjoy this one. Those readers who enjoyed it though will be disappointed with her sophomore novel.

Was this review helpful?

Clare Mackintosh has done it again! This is her second book and with a new author I am never sure what to expect. Clare has proven that she has talent! Her first book I Let You Go blew me away so I was hoping for the same result with I See You and I got it! I See You is amazing.

I was scared, worried, and terrified for the safety of the women who choose to ride the London Underground. They were being stalked, watched, followed, and their paths were being noted and share with men. The questions was how? And who?

I felt the fear of Zoe. She seemed to be the one who found the clues and put them together. She had a fear for herself and her safety but also for her daughter Katie and the rest of the women who are targets without even knowing they are.

I See You is a thriller. Now that I am done reading I continue to think about the what if’s, the could have beens, and the Oh My Gosh moments. There were so many clues given that could be leading in the right direction or could be leading in the wrong direction. I never saw the ending coming!

This is a book I recommend for all my thrill seeking readers.

Was this review helpful?

I would like to thank Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

As a female, I was raised with words of caution that I always needed to do certain things to look out for myself, such as not going into certain parts of town alone after dark, or even alone at all. That I should carry my purse with its strap across my chest so that it is harder for someone to take it from me. That I always needed to keep an eye on what was going on around me and be aware of who and what is going on around me. I’ve even heard that it is not a good idea to get into the habit of following a routine for too long because someone could use that against you.

As a female who has been raised with these cautionary words ringing in my ears my whole life, I found this book to be the literary version of one of my worst nightmares come to life. In I See You, women who get into routines and follow that same comfortable routine on their way to work every day become the prey of men who may or may not have nefarious plans for them. And suddenly what used to be comfortable and familiar is frightening for the MC, Zoe Walker.

I distrusted almost every single male in this book by the end. I cannot think of another book where I have suspected so many different characters during the course of the story. Just when I was absolutely sure that I had figured it out, I would suddenly be absolutely sure that his next person was the bad guy, and off I would go again. And honestly, I loved every single minute. My blood was pounding and I was completely anxious for hours at a time while reading this book, but I was THERE…I was there on the Tube while Zoe was scared of everyone, and in her house, while she discussed things with her family. I was there with the police while they did their jobs.

I was able to experience this frightening story from the safety of my home, and I learned a lot. I got that (probably much needed) reminder that falling into a comfortable routine on one’s commute to work or school is not a good idea. As I’ve always been told, it’s best to mix it up with different times and different routes. Don’t make it easy for someone to take a shine to wanting to hurt you. Because while PROBABLY nothing will ever happen, who’s to know?

I’m giving this 5 stars because I really, really loved this book. I was emotionally invested and I lost myself in the story for what must have been hours on end without even realizing that time was passing.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am never compensated for my reviews.

Was this review helpful?