Helen Fields is a favorite author of mine! This thriller was twisty with such a unique storyline. I found it compelling.

DS Lively is drawn into a case just as a series of bodies begin turning up—each discovery raising the stakes and tightening the net around both victim and investigator. Fields does a brilliant job blurring the line between fear and reality, letting the tension build naturally as Lively works to uncover the truth.
A dark psychological thriller with real momentum—perfect for fans of Helen Fields’ more sinister stories.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper 360 for the advanced copy of Watching You in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

This book is a triumph on all levels. The story is fantastic, featuring lively, well-developed characters whose personalities truly leap off the page. The writing is top-notch, maintaining a focused, gripping pace that held my attention from beginning to end.

The premise was a very unique in nature as a team of detectives is tasked with tracking down a serial killer who themselves has a chillingly and unique style of murder. While striving to bring this killer to justice, the key investigators find themselves far more deeply entangled in the case than they initially imagined. Ultimately, buried past secrets come to light, revealing shocking truths about some of the characters and transforming the narrative into something far more intricate and compelling than a standard thriller.

The conclusion—specifically the shock ending—caught me completely off guard in a pleasantly surprising way. It cemented this book as one of the best whodunit detective stories I have encountered in a long time.

I without a doubt recommend this book to anyone seeking a thriller with a sinister edge. Its relentless pace created a palpable sense of suspense that kept me uncomfortably on the edge of my seat, making the entire journey an intensely entertaining ride.

Received as review copy through Netgalley, this is an honest review.

Thanks you publisher Harper 360 for the approval to read this book.

Watching You is the kind of thriller that left me experiencing all different kind of emotions reading this book: from gut wrenching sadness for what Beth Waterfall experiences of the harrowing, dark threat that consumes her daughter's Molly's world and realistically shows the cruelty of what people can do to each other- especially how social media can fan the flames so easily.

It's also breathtaking a stark game as a ruthless killer is stalking and destroying its prey with a cold heart, each murder scene leaves the detectives haunted by such brutality. And each victim we get to known through themselves; along through these the individuals leave behind paints a colorful, sometimes tragic portrait of people that deserve to be remembered.

The team that fights to get justice: everyone from the detectives, the M.E. and those that work in the hospital are characters that unforgettable with their wit, quirky and sometimes crass behavior of how to approach their tough jobs feels hauntingly memorable in its realism while always maintaining a deep level of humanity.

Highly recommended.

First time reading a book by Fields and thoroughly enjoyed it! Such a unique plot filled with several twists that kept me on my toes and guessing all the way up the end. Lots of great twists and interesting facts; such a great read!

If you’re in the mood for a dark, twisty and suspenseful psychological thriller, this book may be right up your alley. The fast and intense pacing will keep you glued to the pages with twists that you won’t see coming. What’s better than that? The characters are hard not to like and I hope to see more of them in future books. I didn’t realize this was the third in a series, but I’ll definitely be going back to read the first two. Helen Fields surely knows what’ she’s doing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360 for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

OKAY MS. FIELDS, you have definitely outdone yourself! This story blew me away, the twists left me absolutely SHOCKED😳 As I was getting further along into the story I thought I knew for sure where it was going but then twist after twist kept coming and quite literally left my head spinning😵‍💫 One of the twists was something I didn’t even know could actually be a thing!

Dr. Connie Woolwine is back along with Brodie Baarda to join officers, Lively and Salter, trying to puzzle out who could possibly be committing these heinous murders in Edinburgh. The characters are well-developed and Fields makes the reader want to learn more about them. Woolwine is very quirky, but lovable and her relationship with Baarda is unconventional and makes you wonder if it could possibly turn into something more than just business. Superintendent Overbeck has a smaller role in the story but is hilarious. I actually laughed out loud at some of the things that came out of her mouth and found myself wishing she was more of a main character!

If you are a fan of thrillers that are part police procedural, part psychological suspense then you will love this book. I’m looking forward to the next Connie Woolwine installment! Thank you NetGalley and Harper 360 for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Sometimes it’s just a circle of trauma that destroys everything in its path.”

I’m still thinking about this book. It has me befuddled. Best word I can think of. Multiple twists especially a big one I didn’t see coming. I love good endings wrapped up with a bow. Emotional, harrowing suspense with an unexpected love and found family. Nothing could be better.

I wanted to rate this a 5 star, but the beginning got a bit lost on me. Chapter 1 read more like a prologue. The real meat of the story and the working characters weren’t fully introduced well into chapter 3.

God I love Helen Field’s books! I first discovered her as an ARC reader for Profile K and I could not put it down. There was just something about her writing that was so captivating to me. Watching You was no different. It was a true page turner from the very beginning, and I did not see the ending coming (which is honestly rare for me.) Fields employs a very Stephen King method in that she incorporates characters from her other series into this one. It isn’t technically a part of a series, but anyone who is a bit obsessive in their need to read things in order—like I am—may want to read the Connie Woolwine series and the DI Callanach series first to “meet” those characters. However, it isn’t absolutely necessary. The book stands well on its own. I will admit, I was surprised at the ending, only because I don’t know that that’s how reality would have worked. It was simultaneously sad but also a relief. I can’t give more than that, other than the fact that the world is a cruel place and things don’t often work out in the way that they should in cases like this. But it does leave the book open to be a part of a new series, and it also leaves Connie Woolwine’s series open to… a new avenue of exploration. All in all, if you’re looking for an incredible UK procedural, this is it. Buy it, read it. Right now. Right this second.

Huge thanks to Harper 360 and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

My Review:
Watching You by Helen Fields

This book was nonstop and I was on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I knew all the twists, another twist is thrown at me. It was very impressive how all the murders are connected at the end. I loved how the author put in shocking and thrilling details at the end of chapters, making me want to see what happens next. I rate this book a strong 5 stars!! I highly recommend if you enjoy dark thrillers, suspense and serial killers.

This was my first book by Helen Fields, and I had an absolute blast.

The story is told in third person and blends psychological thriller tension with crime mystery / police procedural vibes. It very much reads like an episode of Criminal Minds mixed with the unsettling obsession of You, dark, sharp, and emotionally charged. Add in a touch of dark cop humor (iykyk), and I was hooked.

The pacing is strong, with plenty of twists that kept the story moving and my attention locked in. The author balances suspense with sarcasm and emotional depth really well, making this both an entertaining and thought provoking read. Themes of mental illness, trauma, grief, and motherhood are woven throughout the story in a way that feels intentional and impactful.

What stood out most for me was how readable and engaging it was, I flew through this book like I was binge-watching a crime show. The dialogue and inner thoughts carried a lot of emotional weight, and several lines genuinely stuck with me, especially reflections on grief, blame, and what it really means to be loved.

Overall, this was a gripping, twisty, and emotionally layered thriller that made a strong first impression. I’ll absolutely be picking up more from this author.

Helen Fields is an auto-read author for me, and Watching You pulled me in right away. The premise is unsettling from the start, tapping into that very real fear of being watched, and the tension builds quickly.

This is a dark, fast-paced crime thriller that kept me turning pages. The pacing is strong, the atmosphere is uneasy, and once the story gets going it doesn’t slow down. I also enjoyed seeing familiar characters again, particularly Dr. Connie Woolwine. While this works well as a standalone, readers of Fields’s other books will appreciate those connections.

Some elements felt familiar within the genre, but I stayed invested throughout and wanted to see how everything would unfold. Overall, Watching You is a solid UK police procedural with plenty of tension and an engaging storyline.

I really loved this one! The pacing is strong and twisty, keeping me fully locked in. Themes of mental illness, trauma, grief, and motherhood are woven in thoughtfully, adding emotional depth without slowing the story down. I flew through this like I was binge-watching a crime show, and several lines about grief and blame really stuck with me. Overall, a gripping, highly readable thriller that made a great first impression. I’ll definitely be picking up more from this author.

Release:  Feb 24, 2026
Author:  Helen Fields
Publisher:  Harper 360
 
Rating: 4.25★  
 
On the dark streets of Edinburgh, a serial killer targets victims seemingly at random, and the investigation becomes urgent when a grieving mother, Beth Waterfall, is at risk. DS Lively and forensic profiler Dr. Connie Woolwine must navigate a series of brutal, unconnected deaths to identify the killer before it’s too late. The story blends high-stakes suspense with layered characterization, keeping the tension tight and personal. Fans of edge-of-your-seat thrillers and clever serial killer mysteries will find it addictive and hard to put down.

Favorite Quote:  
 “Sometimes catching a killer isn’t about the evidence—it’s about understanding what kind of person could look at horror and call it art.”

Such a fantastic, suspenseful, thrilling book!! Crazy at times, but so so good!! I'd love to see this thriller made into a movie!! Hold on to your seat for this one!!