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Social Media Murders #2
Watch Me
*The Sunday Times bestseller* ‘Smart, sassy and totally on point.’ SARAH PINBOROUGH, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF BEHIND HER EYES ‘Fast-paced and full of excitement…It kept me gripped.’KATERINA DIAMOND, AUTHOR OF THE TEACHER YOU HAVE SIX SECONDS TO READ THIS MESSAGE… The body of a 15-year-old is found hours after she sends a desperate message to her friends. It looks like suicide, until a second girl disappears. This time, the message is sent directly to the Metropolitan Police – and an officer’s younger sister is missing. DS Nasreen Cudmore and journalist Freddie Venton will stop at nothing to find her. But whoever’s behind the notes is playing a deadly game of hide and seek – and the clock is ticking. YOU HAVE 24 HOURS TO SAVE THE GIRL’S LIFE.MAKE THEM COUNT. ‘Creepy, clever and unnerving,’ C. L. Taylor ’‘Heart-pounding suspense…’ Sharon Bolton
340 pages, Paperback
First published January 12, 2017
45 people are currently reading
827 people want to read
About the author
Angela Clarke
11 books254 followersAngela Clarke is an author, playwright, columnist, screenwriter and broadcaster. Her debut crime thriller Follow Me was named Amazon’s Rising Star Debut of the Month January 2016, longlisted for the Crime Writer’s Association Dagger in the Library 2016, and shortlisted for the Dead Good Reader Page Turner Award 2016. Watch Me is the second instalment in the Social Media Murder Series. Angela’s memoir Confessions of a Fashionista is an Amazon Fashion Chart bestseller. Her play, The Legacy, enjoyed its first run and rave reviews at The Hope Theatre in June 2015. She hosted the current affairs show Outspoken on Radio Verulam for six months in 2014, and has appeared on the BBC World Service, BBC Radio 4, BBC Three Counties and more. Her journalist contributions include: The Guardian, Independent Magazine, The Daily Mail, Cosmopolitan, and Writing magazine. In 2015 Angela was awarded the Young Stationers' Prize for achievement and promise in writing and publishing. She volunteers with Womentoring, and the RSA Meet a Mentor scheme, and others, to help encourage and support marginalised artists into the industry. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Angela lives with her husband and far too many books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
February 4, 2024
This is the second in the 'Social Media' series featuring Sergeant Nasreen Cudmore. Though I'd not read the first in the series I found it read really well as a standalone.
'Watch Me' highlights the dangers of the internet when used by someone with an axe to grind. 15 year Chloe Strofton is already dead, apparently having committed suicide after being bullied via a new app, and another girl has been abducted.
The cyber and e-crimes unit, of which Nasreen is a team member, receive a message that the latest abductee is the sister of DCI Jack Burgone, and not only that, but they're given just six seconds to read the message before it disappears, and just 24 hours to find her or she dies!
Nasreen and her old pal Freddie Vinton were responsible some years before, for putting away 'The Hashtag Murderer' and Nas begins to see a link between that case and this more recent one. Could he be responsible? He's still in prison with no access to the internet, so how likely is that?
The action takes place over a twenty four hour period, and what a twenty four hours it is! Fast paced, edgy and with tension and dread filling every page, it's hard to put it down.
Though it puts the unsavoury subject of revenge porn under scrutiny, especially as some of the victims are young teens, it is, without question completely gripping.
Might have to go back and take a look at the first in the series, as this one was so good!
*Thank you to Netgalley & Harper Collins UK Avon for my free copy in exchange for a fair and honest review*
'Watch Me' highlights the dangers of the internet when used by someone with an axe to grind. 15 year Chloe Strofton is already dead, apparently having committed suicide after being bullied via a new app, and another girl has been abducted.
The cyber and e-crimes unit, of which Nasreen is a team member, receive a message that the latest abductee is the sister of DCI Jack Burgone, and not only that, but they're given just six seconds to read the message before it disappears, and just 24 hours to find her or she dies!
Nasreen and her old pal Freddie Vinton were responsible some years before, for putting away 'The Hashtag Murderer' and Nas begins to see a link between that case and this more recent one. Could he be responsible? He's still in prison with no access to the internet, so how likely is that?
The action takes place over a twenty four hour period, and what a twenty four hours it is! Fast paced, edgy and with tension and dread filling every page, it's hard to put it down.
Though it puts the unsavoury subject of revenge porn under scrutiny, especially as some of the victims are young teens, it is, without question completely gripping.
Might have to go back and take a look at the first in the series, as this one was so good!
*Thank you to Netgalley & Harper Collins UK Avon for my free copy in exchange for a fair and honest review*
December 11, 2016
This is the second in the Sergeant Nasreen Cudmore and the Social Media series. It works reasonably well as a standalone. Nasreen is attached to the Cyber & E-crime Gremlin taskforce headed by DCI Jack Burgone. She feels that she is constantly having to prove herself and whilst DI McCain is not so bad, DI Pete Saunders is a nightmare. It begins with her regretting her lapse in judgement in sleeping with Burgone. Her day is about to spiral out of control when the team receive a message about Jack's sister, Lottie, an internet star. She has gone missing and the team are informed they have 24 hours to save her. Earlier, another girl had sent a message and her body was later discovered. It was assumed that she had committed suicide.
Nasreen knows she is the connection between the two girls but not sure why. She also is aware that if she tells the team of this she will be suspended from the case. She gets in touch with Freddie Venton, a journalist, who is still in a bad place from a previous case. Nasreen and Freddie go on a frenetic hunt for Lottie. I must admit that the break neck narrative over a period of 24 hours made me feel ill at ease, but the story is a good one. This investigation takes in the worst aspects of the world of social media such as cyber bullying, internet shaming and hacking. The repercussions of this are laid bare.
This is a salutory story of today's social media world. It raises concern about the abuses of it and makes it a pertinent and compelling read. I did not always connect with the actions and behaviour of Nasreen but the character development is good. It is a quick read. Thanks to HarperCollins Avon for an ARC.
Nasreen knows she is the connection between the two girls but not sure why. She also is aware that if she tells the team of this she will be suspended from the case. She gets in touch with Freddie Venton, a journalist, who is still in a bad place from a previous case. Nasreen and Freddie go on a frenetic hunt for Lottie. I must admit that the break neck narrative over a period of 24 hours made me feel ill at ease, but the story is a good one. This investigation takes in the worst aspects of the world of social media such as cyber bullying, internet shaming and hacking. The repercussions of this are laid bare.
This is a salutory story of today's social media world. It raises concern about the abuses of it and makes it a pertinent and compelling read. I did not always connect with the actions and behaviour of Nasreen but the character development is good. It is a quick read. Thanks to HarperCollins Avon for an ARC.
June 21, 2023
Writing: solid | Plot: honestly idk | Ending: thank god
SYNOPSIS
DS Nasreen Cudmore and journalist Freddie Venton are reunited when a 'suicide note' sent via Snapchat gives them 24 hours to find the victim before she dies.
MY OPINION
I was really excited to get into this because I'm fascinated by cyber crime. Maybe because I work in cybersecurity? Idk. Anyways, I was hoping this would serve up Unit 42 vibes, but unfortunately it gave me Treehouse Detectives with a weak wifi connection.
The writing itself is SOLID. Angela Clarke certainly isn't a poor writer. She has a great command of stylistic and structural choices, which a picky hoe like me will always appreciate. Where this falls short is the storytelling. Maybe I was only flying at quarter-mast (usually I'm at a solid half-mast), but I found this book confusing. Here we have dual third-person limited omnipresent POVs, with Freddie's narration being noticeably more detail than Nasreen's. In fact, Nasreen's pov felt more third-person objective, but I don't think that was the intention.
Now, my rich homie qualm isn't the third person narration, because that's my preferred POV tbh. My issue is Clarke leveraged the wrong character's POV during pivotal scenes. For example, when Nasreen finds the addy for their big dawg suspect and then later chases down and tackles said suspect, it's told from Freddie's pov?? For what?? It would've created more suspense and excitement if Nasreen had taken us on this journey, instead of Freddie relaying the news as an outsider.
I haven't read the first book in the series, so perhaps this is all my bizzle, but we spent more time on Freddie's emotions and inner turmoil than Nasreen. My understanding from the blurb was that Nasreen was the MC since this is a police procedural, and Freddie was just the helpful sidekick. All we get emotions wise from Nasreen is she wants to climb her boss like a tree. Tbh I didn't need Freddie in this book at all; her contributions should've been made by Nasreen and she was always sticking her foot in it.
SPOILERS ALERT. SCROLL TO BOTTOM
Up to 50% I was set on tossing it a Honda Civic Reliable, but this crumbled like the housing market in 2008. This is a case where the author purposefully waits to drop bombshell 'forensics' at the end, when really it should've been discovered early in the investigation. Freddie's major contribution is realizing that Lottie (the current missing girl) is wearing a smart watch which should track her running route when she was kidnapped.
That's great and all but why did it take until 80% of the book for someone to realize this? But wait, it gets worse—the routes were all shared to her public Instagram profile, which everyone had looked through at the very beginning of the case. Sooooo no one noticed this??? C'mon guys. Nailing down the victim's last movements is literally step 1. And given that they actually had IT involved in the case, we can't be letting a whole ass civilian with a Harry Potter scar be the one to put 2 and 2 together.
Another unbelievable aspect is Lorna being able to pass a police background checking using fake IDs. Either she uses the same ID guy as Raymond Reddington in the Blacklist, or Elmo performed this background check because ain't no way.... There's other stuff too but honestly I'm lazy and a spider bit my finger so yeah.
SPOILERS DONE
PROS AND CONS
Pros: juicy case, great writing
Cons: confusing third person narratives, shoddy police work, Freddie's character was unnecessary—her contributions could've been made by the professional investigators if they pulled their finger out, repetitive, very rah-rah political so if you don't like that... stay clear
____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
SYNOPSIS
DS Nasreen Cudmore and journalist Freddie Venton are reunited when a 'suicide note' sent via Snapchat gives them 24 hours to find the victim before she dies.
MY OPINION
I was really excited to get into this because I'm fascinated by cyber crime. Maybe because I work in cybersecurity? Idk. Anyways, I was hoping this would serve up Unit 42 vibes, but unfortunately it gave me Treehouse Detectives with a weak wifi connection.
The writing itself is SOLID. Angela Clarke certainly isn't a poor writer. She has a great command of stylistic and structural choices, which a picky hoe like me will always appreciate. Where this falls short is the storytelling. Maybe I was only flying at quarter-mast (usually I'm at a solid half-mast), but I found this book confusing. Here we have dual third-person limited omnipresent POVs, with Freddie's narration being noticeably more detail than Nasreen's. In fact, Nasreen's pov felt more third-person objective, but I don't think that was the intention.
Now, my rich homie qualm isn't the third person narration, because that's my preferred POV tbh. My issue is Clarke leveraged the wrong character's POV during pivotal scenes. For example, when Nasreen finds the addy for their big dawg suspect and then later chases down and tackles said suspect, it's told from Freddie's pov?? For what?? It would've created more suspense and excitement if Nasreen had taken us on this journey, instead of Freddie relaying the news as an outsider.
I haven't read the first book in the series, so perhaps this is all my bizzle, but we spent more time on Freddie's emotions and inner turmoil than Nasreen. My understanding from the blurb was that Nasreen was the MC since this is a police procedural, and Freddie was just the helpful sidekick. All we get emotions wise from Nasreen is she wants to climb her boss like a tree. Tbh I didn't need Freddie in this book at all; her contributions should've been made by Nasreen and she was always sticking her foot in it.
SPOILERS ALERT. SCROLL TO BOTTOM
Up to 50% I was set on tossing it a Honda Civic Reliable, but this crumbled like the housing market in 2008. This is a case where the author purposefully waits to drop bombshell 'forensics' at the end, when really it should've been discovered early in the investigation. Freddie's major contribution is realizing that Lottie (the current missing girl) is wearing a smart watch which should track her running route when she was kidnapped.
That's great and all but why did it take until 80% of the book for someone to realize this? But wait, it gets worse—the routes were all shared to her public Instagram profile, which everyone had looked through at the very beginning of the case. Sooooo no one noticed this??? C'mon guys. Nailing down the victim's last movements is literally step 1. And given that they actually had IT involved in the case, we can't be letting a whole ass civilian with a Harry Potter scar be the one to put 2 and 2 together.
Another unbelievable aspect is Lorna being able to pass a police background checking using fake IDs. Either she uses the same ID guy as Raymond Reddington in the Blacklist, or Elmo performed this background check because ain't no way.... There's other stuff too but honestly I'm lazy and a spider bit my finger so yeah.
SPOILERS DONE
PROS AND CONS
Pros: juicy case, great writing
Cons: confusing third person narratives, shoddy police work, Freddie's character was unnecessary—her contributions could've been made by the professional investigators if they pulled their finger out, repetitive, very rah-rah political so if you don't like that... stay clear
____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
March 17, 2017
I have been saving this book for months for a time when I could simply relax and immerse myself into the story and enjoy it the way I did with Follow Me, the first book in the Social Media Murders series. These books completely draw me in to the point that my house could fall down and I would probably not notice. I absolutely fell in love with Freddie in the first book and gained a much deeper understanding of her in this second book as layers were peeled away to reveal a more vulnerable character beneath the tough exterior. I love a story with a strong, memorable lead female character and this series has the added bonus of two kick-ass ladies. The plot was tightly woven into the narrative and the pace of the story left me breathless with the added tension of the countdown. I actually wondered if it would help Nas and Freddie if I read quicker!!! Another thing I love about these books is that as a 'get by' kind of person on social media I always learn something from these stories. Sometimes that information scares me but mostly it informs me. If you want a skilled, current crime thriller with excellent writing and impeccably drawn characters, then this is the novel for you.
September 14, 2019
After my review of book one, I didn’t realise how much I would LOVE this one.
That’s why I never give up on an author (usually) after reading at least a few of their books.
I thoroughly enjoyed this authors other series
Bk 1 The wicked girls
Bk 2 The killer next door
Bk 3 The darkest secret
So this series I anticipated.
SOCIAL MEDIA MURDERS
Bk 1 Follow me
Bk 2 Watch Me
Bk 3 Trust me
This is an exciting fast past read which takes place in all of 24 hours, and guess what! I read it within 24 hours as it was so compelling.
Fabulous
That’s why I never give up on an author (usually) after reading at least a few of their books.
I thoroughly enjoyed this authors other series
Bk 1 The wicked girls
Bk 2 The killer next door
Bk 3 The darkest secret
So this series I anticipated.
SOCIAL MEDIA MURDERS
Bk 1 Follow me
Bk 2 Watch Me
Bk 3 Trust me
This is an exciting fast past read which takes place in all of 24 hours, and guess what! I read it within 24 hours as it was so compelling.
Fabulous
December 8, 2016
3.5 stars
This is book #2 in the Social Media Murders series & picks up where “Follow Me” left off. DS Nasreen Cudmore is now part of the elite cyber & e-crimes task force & struggling to find her place. Her boss DCI Jack Burgone & colleague DI McCain are ok but DI Pete Saunders never misses a chance to let her know she’s only there because she’s female & decorative.
The team gets news that a teenage girl has committed suicide after being bullied online via a new app. No one is more shocked than Nasreen. She & pal Freddie Venton have a history with the girl’s older sister that she would prefer her colleagues didn’t know. Then an already bad day gets worse.
The unit gets a message that the sister of one of the cops has been snatched & they have 24 hours to find her. They recognize the app as the same one that virtually attacked the first girl.
In the ensuing panic, Nasreen begins to suspect it’s related to her previous case. She & Freddie were responsible for putting away the Hashtag Murderer but at great cost. Nasreen is no longer the confidant woman she was & Freddie is struggling with PTSD. Is it possible there is an accomplice still out there or is this a copycat?
The story takes place over a 24 hour period as the unit races to find the girl alive. It’s a well paced read that delves into the shadowy world of hacking & cyber shaming. There’s a small cast of central characters so we get a sense of what makes them tick. The one exception for me was Saunders. His vitriolic & misogynist comments are off the charts, especially given his personal history which you’d think would make him more tolerant. But maybe he’s just an ass.
Some suspension of disbelief is required. That a cop would be allowed to enlist the help of her civilian bestie to crack such a high profile case was a bit tough to believe. And at times I wondered about some of Nasreen’s decisions & had to remind myself she’s an inexperienced 24 year old. I think it depends on the type of police procedural you enjoy reading & is just a matter of taste.
It’s full of romantic suspense & picks up speed for the last third leading to a bloody showdown between Nasreen & the killer. But it also shines a light on the sad reality of cyber bullying & its tragic consequences that we hear about too often in our hyper-connected world. Should appeal to (and scare the pants off) Twitter addicts & other avid users of social media.
My sincere thanks to Harper Collins/Avon UK for sending a copy my way.
This is book #2 in the Social Media Murders series & picks up where “Follow Me” left off. DS Nasreen Cudmore is now part of the elite cyber & e-crimes task force & struggling to find her place. Her boss DCI Jack Burgone & colleague DI McCain are ok but DI Pete Saunders never misses a chance to let her know she’s only there because she’s female & decorative.
The team gets news that a teenage girl has committed suicide after being bullied online via a new app. No one is more shocked than Nasreen. She & pal Freddie Venton have a history with the girl’s older sister that she would prefer her colleagues didn’t know. Then an already bad day gets worse.
The unit gets a message that the sister of one of the cops has been snatched & they have 24 hours to find her. They recognize the app as the same one that virtually attacked the first girl.
In the ensuing panic, Nasreen begins to suspect it’s related to her previous case. She & Freddie were responsible for putting away the Hashtag Murderer but at great cost. Nasreen is no longer the confidant woman she was & Freddie is struggling with PTSD. Is it possible there is an accomplice still out there or is this a copycat?
The story takes place over a 24 hour period as the unit races to find the girl alive. It’s a well paced read that delves into the shadowy world of hacking & cyber shaming. There’s a small cast of central characters so we get a sense of what makes them tick. The one exception for me was Saunders. His vitriolic & misogynist comments are off the charts, especially given his personal history which you’d think would make him more tolerant. But maybe he’s just an ass.
Some suspension of disbelief is required. That a cop would be allowed to enlist the help of her civilian bestie to crack such a high profile case was a bit tough to believe. And at times I wondered about some of Nasreen’s decisions & had to remind myself she’s an inexperienced 24 year old. I think it depends on the type of police procedural you enjoy reading & is just a matter of taste.
It’s full of romantic suspense & picks up speed for the last third leading to a bloody showdown between Nasreen & the killer. But it also shines a light on the sad reality of cyber bullying & its tragic consequences that we hear about too often in our hyper-connected world. Should appeal to (and scare the pants off) Twitter addicts & other avid users of social media.
My sincere thanks to Harper Collins/Avon UK for sending a copy my way.
March 4, 2017
“You have six seconds to read this message.”
Taking place over just 24 hours, this novel is nothing if not fast-paced and heart-thumping.
A body of a 15 year old girl is found not long after she sends a social media message to her friends. It looks like suicide until a second girl disappears. This one is Lottie, the younger sister of a senior investigating officer with the Metropolitan Police. As the story unfolds it becomes clear that the kidnapper is playing a deadly game of hide and seek with the police.
The victim is a young woman with a high social media profile of her own, giving rise to speculation that she might be partly to blame. Did she bring this on herself, by putting herself out there?
The kidnapper uses Snapchat to send messages to the police, especially DS Nasreen Cudmore and her journalist friend, Freddie Venton, teasing and taunting them, continually reminding them that they have just 24 hours to find her alive. Each snapshot message lasts for a just a few seconds, an effective means of ramping up the tension that Clarke using to heart-pounding effect.
February 7, 2017
Watch Me is the second in the social media series by Angela Clarke and having not read the first, Follow Me, which surrounded the world of Twitter and the "Hashtag Murderer" who posts cryptic messages online, it took me a while to get up to speed with the characters and their relative history. Whilst it doesn't take too long to work out the set-up, it is sub-optimal to come into this one afresh, especially when frequent reference is made to the case which has seen former old school friends police officer Nasreen Cudmore, uniting with civilian journalist and digital expert, Freddie Venton. The fortunes of the friends have however diverged after their first dramatic case, Nasreen having been headhunted and promoted to DS and Freddie still making a slow recovery, mentally and physically from a narrow escape with death in the denouement of the first novel.
The novel opens with DS Nasreen Cudmore making a late appearance in the office just eight weeks into her new job with the four-man team that comprise the specialised cyber and e-crime Gremlin taskforce overseen by consummate professional DCI Jack Burgone. Not given the warmest welcome by her other two colleagues, the experienced DI McCain (Chips) and the ambitious DI Pete Saunders who seems to look for any opportunity to criticise her, it appears they both have reservations about her hire. At the age of twenty-four and off the back of a one-night-stand with her new DCI, she isn't best prepared for the biggest day of her short career to date. What begins as a team meeting surrounding a request for education to local schools regarding the recent suicide of fifteen-year-old Chloe Strofton, whose suicide note was shared by Snapchat and widely circulated on social media, quickly escalates into a full-blown crisis. Cudmore immediately recognises the surname and is thrown right back into a teenage nightmare of her own when she knew the family, and was blamed, along with friend Freddie, for the suicide attempt of Chloe's elder sister, Gemma. She is attempting to process this only for the simultaneous beeping of the team's mobile to signal a new Snapchat notification, of what appears to be another suicide note with an ominous message that they have just twenty-four-hours to save the life of the girl involved... Only DCI Jack Burgone's recognises the number which belongs to his eighteen-year-old sister, Lottie.
More threatening in tone, Nasreen expects a random demand to swiftly follow but before that a probe into the life of Lottie Burgone reveals an exercise enthusiast with a high-profile on social media, both Snapchat and Instagram, including a sponsorship deal to promote the fitness wear that she features heavily in her photos. One suicide already and with Lottie at risk of harm and DS Nasreen Cudmore quickly sums up that she is the common link uniting the two incidents. A closer analysis of the suicide notes reveals an acrostic formation hidden in their midst, revealing the online name of the Hashtag Murder, Apollyon. Given that he is behind bars, supposedly in solitary confinement and without access to social media, it seems highly unlikely that he can be pulling the strings behind the scenes. Unwilling to expose her own past and her involvement is Gemma's unsuccessful wrist slitting attempt, Cudmore opts to keep her personal history private. Convincing Chips to give her three hours to investigate a possible connection between Chloe and Lottie's final notes, she convinces him to allow her to consult Freddie Venton, under strict instructions to keep her role off-record. When photos of Lottie in scantily clad attire and compromising positions turn up on the same site that featured Chloe, team Gremlin are given a harsh reminder of the vulnerability of Lottie. With the clock ticking and with the bosses sister at risk, the stakes are higher than ever.
Watch Me is a fast and undemanding read, but I also found it pretty uninspiring, following a rather mundane path and initially lacking in the tension is what is supposed to be a twenty-four-hour fight to secure a young woman's life. I suspect much of this springs from how implausible so many aspects of the novel were, from the Gremlin task force not comprising any technical specialists to DS Cudmore gallivanting off to resurrect her old school friend to consult on the case. Surely this would amount to a serious breach of trust. Given that the team only downloaded the Snapchat application the prior night in the pub, I wasn't convinced that they were qualified and in tune with the latest developments in the digital world.
Freddie Venton is tactless, sarcastic and anti-establishment. In short, she epitomises the liberal ideals of a teenager with a rebellious streak, and comes across as immature and confrontational. DS Nasreen Cudmore is a buttoned-up, diligent to the point of officious character, who has little natural rapport with her supposed childhood friend, seeming as irritated by her as the reader quickly becomes. Keen to rein in the anarchic Venton, Cudmore is on edge and aware of what a risk she is taking. With Venton's confidence shot and having yet to return to London after her own injury, she herself is in a fragile state and experiencing panic attacks. I failed to connect with either of these characters; Venton came across as juvenile and Cudmore irked because of her sanctimonious attitude, the most obvious example of which were in relation to sexism in the workplace, where she vociferously railed against the banter of DI Saunders and demanded equality on the one hand, but found it acceptable to undo her shirt buttons and push up her chest prior to interviewing a suspect.
I was hoping that Watch Me would shine a light on the murky world of social media, but apart from highlighting its negative aspects, the officers seemed to have the knowledge of layperson's not bringing much more to the table that your average internet user would have discovered. Given that the first suicide note shared on Snapchat was that of fifteen-year-old Chloe Strofton dead from a heroin overdose with no history of drug use, I expect that this should have flagged up several pertinent questions which would have seen her friends and computer scrutinised. Given that it only takes Venton several minutes to discover Chloe's recent humiliation with risqué photos posted to the Are You Awake website, was the possibility of bullying really never mooted amongst the local force? Within ten minutes of Cudmore enlightening Venton on the fate of Chloe, she has found a Facebook tribute in which a close friend of Chloe's lays the blame at the door of former boyfriend, William Taylor. Attempting to uncover more, Cudmore and Venton visit Chloe's school in a bid to garner some insight into the abduction of Lottie. Whilst this is an easily readable novel, it lacked credibility, from the stereotypical characters to the unlikelihood of cutting through the usual police bureaucracy and acting on the hoof. I doubt I will read more of this series finding the investigation quite straightforward and the central characters juvenile.
As a reader of extensive crime fiction, Watch Me was mildly engaging, but with the emphasis on the response to the actions of the perpetrator, the focus was on little more than fire-fighting the incidents which occurred. I was pleased that the tension did considerably increase as the clock wound down and when it became quite clear that that the teams every move was also being watched by an enemy, this certainly provided an added frisson of electricity. After a slow start and failing to make any connection with either Cudmore or Venton, Watch Me did improve considerably and delivered an insight into the world of revenge pornography and the limitations to the recently enacted Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 pertaining to revenge pornography, raising some thought-provoking questions.
With Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram already covered, this is a series that will rely on the advances of the internet to drive its future. I will be interested to see what the future holds for DS Nasreen Cudmore and the Gremlin taskforce but being ambivalent towards Cudmore and irritated by Venton, I sadly won't be following. The implausibility of the investigative approach detracted from this novel and given that so much reference in made to the Hashtag Murderer of the first case it has limited appeal as a standalone.
The novel opens with DS Nasreen Cudmore making a late appearance in the office just eight weeks into her new job with the four-man team that comprise the specialised cyber and e-crime Gremlin taskforce overseen by consummate professional DCI Jack Burgone. Not given the warmest welcome by her other two colleagues, the experienced DI McCain (Chips) and the ambitious DI Pete Saunders who seems to look for any opportunity to criticise her, it appears they both have reservations about her hire. At the age of twenty-four and off the back of a one-night-stand with her new DCI, she isn't best prepared for the biggest day of her short career to date. What begins as a team meeting surrounding a request for education to local schools regarding the recent suicide of fifteen-year-old Chloe Strofton, whose suicide note was shared by Snapchat and widely circulated on social media, quickly escalates into a full-blown crisis. Cudmore immediately recognises the surname and is thrown right back into a teenage nightmare of her own when she knew the family, and was blamed, along with friend Freddie, for the suicide attempt of Chloe's elder sister, Gemma. She is attempting to process this only for the simultaneous beeping of the team's mobile to signal a new Snapchat notification, of what appears to be another suicide note with an ominous message that they have just twenty-four-hours to save the life of the girl involved... Only DCI Jack Burgone's recognises the number which belongs to his eighteen-year-old sister, Lottie.
More threatening in tone, Nasreen expects a random demand to swiftly follow but before that a probe into the life of Lottie Burgone reveals an exercise enthusiast with a high-profile on social media, both Snapchat and Instagram, including a sponsorship deal to promote the fitness wear that she features heavily in her photos. One suicide already and with Lottie at risk of harm and DS Nasreen Cudmore quickly sums up that she is the common link uniting the two incidents. A closer analysis of the suicide notes reveals an acrostic formation hidden in their midst, revealing the online name of the Hashtag Murder, Apollyon. Given that he is behind bars, supposedly in solitary confinement and without access to social media, it seems highly unlikely that he can be pulling the strings behind the scenes. Unwilling to expose her own past and her involvement is Gemma's unsuccessful wrist slitting attempt, Cudmore opts to keep her personal history private. Convincing Chips to give her three hours to investigate a possible connection between Chloe and Lottie's final notes, she convinces him to allow her to consult Freddie Venton, under strict instructions to keep her role off-record. When photos of Lottie in scantily clad attire and compromising positions turn up on the same site that featured Chloe, team Gremlin are given a harsh reminder of the vulnerability of Lottie. With the clock ticking and with the bosses sister at risk, the stakes are higher than ever.
Watch Me is a fast and undemanding read, but I also found it pretty uninspiring, following a rather mundane path and initially lacking in the tension is what is supposed to be a twenty-four-hour fight to secure a young woman's life. I suspect much of this springs from how implausible so many aspects of the novel were, from the Gremlin task force not comprising any technical specialists to DS Cudmore gallivanting off to resurrect her old school friend to consult on the case. Surely this would amount to a serious breach of trust. Given that the team only downloaded the Snapchat application the prior night in the pub, I wasn't convinced that they were qualified and in tune with the latest developments in the digital world.
Freddie Venton is tactless, sarcastic and anti-establishment. In short, she epitomises the liberal ideals of a teenager with a rebellious streak, and comes across as immature and confrontational. DS Nasreen Cudmore is a buttoned-up, diligent to the point of officious character, who has little natural rapport with her supposed childhood friend, seeming as irritated by her as the reader quickly becomes. Keen to rein in the anarchic Venton, Cudmore is on edge and aware of what a risk she is taking. With Venton's confidence shot and having yet to return to London after her own injury, she herself is in a fragile state and experiencing panic attacks. I failed to connect with either of these characters; Venton came across as juvenile and Cudmore irked because of her sanctimonious attitude, the most obvious example of which were in relation to sexism in the workplace, where she vociferously railed against the banter of DI Saunders and demanded equality on the one hand, but found it acceptable to undo her shirt buttons and push up her chest prior to interviewing a suspect.
I was hoping that Watch Me would shine a light on the murky world of social media, but apart from highlighting its negative aspects, the officers seemed to have the knowledge of layperson's not bringing much more to the table that your average internet user would have discovered. Given that the first suicide note shared on Snapchat was that of fifteen-year-old Chloe Strofton dead from a heroin overdose with no history of drug use, I expect that this should have flagged up several pertinent questions which would have seen her friends and computer scrutinised. Given that it only takes Venton several minutes to discover Chloe's recent humiliation with risqué photos posted to the Are You Awake website, was the possibility of bullying really never mooted amongst the local force? Within ten minutes of Cudmore enlightening Venton on the fate of Chloe, she has found a Facebook tribute in which a close friend of Chloe's lays the blame at the door of former boyfriend, William Taylor. Attempting to uncover more, Cudmore and Venton visit Chloe's school in a bid to garner some insight into the abduction of Lottie. Whilst this is an easily readable novel, it lacked credibility, from the stereotypical characters to the unlikelihood of cutting through the usual police bureaucracy and acting on the hoof. I doubt I will read more of this series finding the investigation quite straightforward and the central characters juvenile.
As a reader of extensive crime fiction, Watch Me was mildly engaging, but with the emphasis on the response to the actions of the perpetrator, the focus was on little more than fire-fighting the incidents which occurred. I was pleased that the tension did considerably increase as the clock wound down and when it became quite clear that that the teams every move was also being watched by an enemy, this certainly provided an added frisson of electricity. After a slow start and failing to make any connection with either Cudmore or Venton, Watch Me did improve considerably and delivered an insight into the world of revenge pornography and the limitations to the recently enacted Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 pertaining to revenge pornography, raising some thought-provoking questions.
With Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram already covered, this is a series that will rely on the advances of the internet to drive its future. I will be interested to see what the future holds for DS Nasreen Cudmore and the Gremlin taskforce but being ambivalent towards Cudmore and irritated by Venton, I sadly won't be following. The implausibility of the investigative approach detracted from this novel and given that so much reference in made to the Hashtag Murderer of the first case it has limited appeal as a standalone.
February 7, 2017
I love this series by Angela Clarke, its probably one of the most relevant to today’s world of technology where people live out their lives online, often without a thought that once it’s out there that’s it, forever sitting in a dark corner of if the internet! There have been many cases of “revenge porn” reported in the media recently, a crime that most people had never even heard of until a few years ago, but is now scarily very commonplace.
We are back in the company of Freddie and Nasreen, last seen hunting the hashtag killer back in Follow Me. Don’t worry if you havent read that book though as Watch Me works perfectly well as a standalone. This time Snapchat plays a huge role in bringing the crimes to the attention of the police. Nasreen is fighting a few personal battles but these need to be put on the back burner when a countdown timer begins-and its counting down the hours and minutes left to save the life of a young girl. And that certainly wracked up the tension as we watch Nas and Freddie dig deep to solve all the clues before its too late. All I can say is don’t start this book if you want a decent nights sleep! You will either be up most of the night just reading “one more chapter” or even if you do put it down, this plot will be swirling around your head making it impossible to relax. I think its the realism that makes it so scary, that crimes can become so accessible though social media. And Angela Clarke knows her stuff here, keeping her storyline fresh and current with her intense writing style and chapter cliffhangers. I had no idea where the plot was heading so just sat back and let it build up to that brilliantly gripping conclusion.
I really enjoyed this and can’t wait for another foray into the darkside of internet technology. These books are very of their time and I think readers of all ages will find them absolutely fascinating, I know I did! Definitely recommended by me!
We are back in the company of Freddie and Nasreen, last seen hunting the hashtag killer back in Follow Me. Don’t worry if you havent read that book though as Watch Me works perfectly well as a standalone. This time Snapchat plays a huge role in bringing the crimes to the attention of the police. Nasreen is fighting a few personal battles but these need to be put on the back burner when a countdown timer begins-and its counting down the hours and minutes left to save the life of a young girl. And that certainly wracked up the tension as we watch Nas and Freddie dig deep to solve all the clues before its too late. All I can say is don’t start this book if you want a decent nights sleep! You will either be up most of the night just reading “one more chapter” or even if you do put it down, this plot will be swirling around your head making it impossible to relax. I think its the realism that makes it so scary, that crimes can become so accessible though social media. And Angela Clarke knows her stuff here, keeping her storyline fresh and current with her intense writing style and chapter cliffhangers. I had no idea where the plot was heading so just sat back and let it build up to that brilliantly gripping conclusion.
I really enjoyed this and can’t wait for another foray into the darkside of internet technology. These books are very of their time and I think readers of all ages will find them absolutely fascinating, I know I did! Definitely recommended by me!
November 27, 2017
Watch Me is the sequel to Follow me and as I hadn't read the first book was this my first introduction to DS Nasreen Cudmore and journalist Freddie Venton. I optioned to listen to the audio version of the book and it was in hindsight perhaps not the best thing, Now both Nasren and Freddie are quite young, in the early twenties, and there is nothing wrong with that, it's just that Imogen Wilde made them sound like they were much younger than that. And, I'm sorry to say I just had some trouble taken them serious as a DS and an (ex)journalist. It's interesting how a narrator can affect the book in that way. I just want to stress that there is nothing wrong with Imogen Wildes voice. I just felt it didn't really suit this book.
As for the story. It was OK. The media angle, hacking, Snapchat, Facebook the constant awareness where you are through updates. That makes you an easy target. And, it's a perfect instrument for a crime plot. Nasreen and Freddie both know the effect of bullying and that makes this case very personal for them. It also gets a lot more personal when a colleague's sisters get kidnapped and they got 24 hours to find her.
I found the last part of the book the best when the pace started to increase when things started to both unravel and be revealed (keeping secrets is never good). As I wrote before I found the narrator not perfect for the characters, however, I did like Nasreen and Freddie and their friendship. It's a perfectly alright book and it's a series I would definitely read more from.
As for the story. It was OK. The media angle, hacking, Snapchat, Facebook the constant awareness where you are through updates. That makes you an easy target. And, it's a perfect instrument for a crime plot. Nasreen and Freddie both know the effect of bullying and that makes this case very personal for them. It also gets a lot more personal when a colleague's sisters get kidnapped and they got 24 hours to find her.
I found the last part of the book the best when the pace started to increase when things started to both unravel and be revealed (keeping secrets is never good). As I wrote before I found the narrator not perfect for the characters, however, I did like Nasreen and Freddie and their friendship. It's a perfectly alright book and it's a series I would definitely read more from.
December 8, 2016
Watch Me is book 2 in the social media murders series. In the first it was Twitter danger we had to look out for, this time it is snapchat giving our main characters grief – one girl is dead another girls life hangs in the balance and the clock is ticking…
Watch Me is fast paced, bang on thrilling fun as Nasreen and Freddie race said clock trying to save a life. Not just any life, the life of somebody a little too close to home for the right amount of distance which allows for some interesting moral dilemma’s for our two and indeed for the rest of the investigative team.
The plot development is fairly relentless, no time for due consideration as you race through the pages, each chapter telling you how long is left and boy do those hours go fast while you are reading this. I liked how Nasreen developed as a character during Watch Me, Freddie too as she deals with the aftermath of Follow Me. Their relationship is well drawn and compelling in this instalment, leading me to look forward muchly to what may come next.
Tis a twisty path to the edge of the seat finale, overall this will have you glancing suspiciously at all your various social media accounts – personally I don’t have snapchat and I think that is exactly how it will stay! Angela Clarke pens a current and relevant police procedural with an awful lot of thrills and spills, I thoroughly enjoyed it and this was another one that I read in a fast and furious manner, suffering the odd paper cut along the way.
Recommended for crime fans. A great way to spend an afternoon.
Watch Me is fast paced, bang on thrilling fun as Nasreen and Freddie race said clock trying to save a life. Not just any life, the life of somebody a little too close to home for the right amount of distance which allows for some interesting moral dilemma’s for our two and indeed for the rest of the investigative team.
The plot development is fairly relentless, no time for due consideration as you race through the pages, each chapter telling you how long is left and boy do those hours go fast while you are reading this. I liked how Nasreen developed as a character during Watch Me, Freddie too as she deals with the aftermath of Follow Me. Their relationship is well drawn and compelling in this instalment, leading me to look forward muchly to what may come next.
Tis a twisty path to the edge of the seat finale, overall this will have you glancing suspiciously at all your various social media accounts – personally I don’t have snapchat and I think that is exactly how it will stay! Angela Clarke pens a current and relevant police procedural with an awful lot of thrills and spills, I thoroughly enjoyed it and this was another one that I read in a fast and furious manner, suffering the odd paper cut along the way.
Recommended for crime fans. A great way to spend an afternoon.
January 18, 2017
This is the second in the Social Media Murder series and follows the characters of DS Nasreen Cudmore and her one time childhood friend Freddie Venton. Both appeared in the first book, Follow Me, which had at its core, the use of Twitter to publicise a murder. This time, the social media app in the spotlight is Snapchat. I’ve never used this app and now that I know a little more about it, I don’t intend to!
When a young women disappears and is shortly after found dead, the circumstances of her death lead to the conclusion of suicide – there being no reason to think that there was anything suspicious. However it is not until there is another disappearance, this time connected to the police cyber crime team that Nasreen is working with that a pattern emerges and it becomes clear that the team have a dangerous individual to deal with.
If you have read Follow Me, you will know the background to Nasreen and Freddie and how Freddie came to be involved in the #Apollyon murders. Whilst not a direct sequel, this second story does follow on and makes reference to previous events so some parts may be a spoiler. If you haven’t read Follow Me then you are definitely missing out on character development and background but Watch Me can be read and enjoyed quite easily on its own.
The main part of the story is set over a period of 24 hours and this timeframe gives a sense of immediacy and heightened tension to the plot. With each chapter heading including a time countdown, the reader is always aware of time being of the essence in the race to save a girl’s life. The story moves along at a fast pace with the investigation team making use of Freddie’s in depth knowledge of social media to help solve the case. As you would expect with a crime thriller, there are twists and turns throughout and I have to admit that all the way through I had no idea who was responsible – I just sat back and enjoyed the journey!
I enjoyed the first book but with Watch Me the bar has been raised. Nasreen and Freddie’s friendship is still complicated and even though there is now an uneasy acceptance between them, they are both still struggling with their past, especially Freddie who has gone from being a kick ass character to an emotionally fragile and rather vulnerable one, although she can still kick off and lose her temper on occasion. She is still trying to come to terms with the trauma suffered from previous events and I felt much more sympathetic to her in this book.
With this series, the dangers that come with our obsession with social media are highlighted and it makes for a chilling story. The issues are relevant and have been cleverly incorporated into a believable story encompassing revenge porn and email hacking etc. with the perpetrator taunting the police through the use of Snapchat where messages are short lived and self deleting – unless of course they are screenshot before they disappear …… The way that such apps are used for bullying and blackmail is particularly nasty and this aspect brings a sobering tone to the story.
Watch Me is a fabulously addictive read that will pull you in from the first page and for those who will particularly enjoy the social media aspect, this is definitely one to put on your reading list. The third book in the series ‘Trust Me’ is out later this year. I can’t wait!
When a young women disappears and is shortly after found dead, the circumstances of her death lead to the conclusion of suicide – there being no reason to think that there was anything suspicious. However it is not until there is another disappearance, this time connected to the police cyber crime team that Nasreen is working with that a pattern emerges and it becomes clear that the team have a dangerous individual to deal with.
If you have read Follow Me, you will know the background to Nasreen and Freddie and how Freddie came to be involved in the #Apollyon murders. Whilst not a direct sequel, this second story does follow on and makes reference to previous events so some parts may be a spoiler. If you haven’t read Follow Me then you are definitely missing out on character development and background but Watch Me can be read and enjoyed quite easily on its own.
The main part of the story is set over a period of 24 hours and this timeframe gives a sense of immediacy and heightened tension to the plot. With each chapter heading including a time countdown, the reader is always aware of time being of the essence in the race to save a girl’s life. The story moves along at a fast pace with the investigation team making use of Freddie’s in depth knowledge of social media to help solve the case. As you would expect with a crime thriller, there are twists and turns throughout and I have to admit that all the way through I had no idea who was responsible – I just sat back and enjoyed the journey!
I enjoyed the first book but with Watch Me the bar has been raised. Nasreen and Freddie’s friendship is still complicated and even though there is now an uneasy acceptance between them, they are both still struggling with their past, especially Freddie who has gone from being a kick ass character to an emotionally fragile and rather vulnerable one, although she can still kick off and lose her temper on occasion. She is still trying to come to terms with the trauma suffered from previous events and I felt much more sympathetic to her in this book.
With this series, the dangers that come with our obsession with social media are highlighted and it makes for a chilling story. The issues are relevant and have been cleverly incorporated into a believable story encompassing revenge porn and email hacking etc. with the perpetrator taunting the police through the use of Snapchat where messages are short lived and self deleting – unless of course they are screenshot before they disappear …… The way that such apps are used for bullying and blackmail is particularly nasty and this aspect brings a sobering tone to the story.
Watch Me is a fabulously addictive read that will pull you in from the first page and for those who will particularly enjoy the social media aspect, this is definitely one to put on your reading list. The third book in the series ‘Trust Me’ is out later this year. I can’t wait!
January 26, 2018
I loved this book it was absolutely amazing! packed with suspense and drama. I read this book in one sitting and can honestly say my heart was in my mouth it was just brilliant. This is one if the best thriller and crime based novels I have read for a while and would highly recommend it !!!
January 12, 2017
Angela Clarke's first book in this series passed me by, which was a shame as events that happened there were important as to how the characters were at the time of this story. Having said that, this was a cracker of a book!
Do you know who can get hold of your online information? Do you know what they can do with it? I'm just thankful I'm at an age where the daft things I did were not in the digital age! I hate bullying, but cyber-bullying takes it to a whole new nastier level. When a victim of this is found dead, the police are called in to investigate. The lead detective's sister was an internet fitness vlogger. When she goes missing the team have twenty four hours to find her.
The countdown to her fate running throughout the narrative ramps up the suspense. With great characters and an interesting plot this was a great five star read. Thanks to Natgalley & the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review it.
Do you know who can get hold of your online information? Do you know what they can do with it? I'm just thankful I'm at an age where the daft things I did were not in the digital age! I hate bullying, but cyber-bullying takes it to a whole new nastier level. When a victim of this is found dead, the police are called in to investigate. The lead detective's sister was an internet fitness vlogger. When she goes missing the team have twenty four hours to find her.
The countdown to her fate running throughout the narrative ramps up the suspense. With great characters and an interesting plot this was a great five star read. Thanks to Natgalley & the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review it.
November 11, 2016
Razor sharp, tense and authentic. A gripping police procedural that will leave you wanting more.
January 3, 2018
Intriguing follow up to the excellent Follow Me. 3.5 stars.
February 18, 2017
Bitterly disappointed in this book which is the second in the "Social media murders" series. I've gone from loving the strong female leads to feelings of annoyance mostly.
I won't go into too much detail but I will say what a disappointment in the "Hashtag murder" interview, talking him up like he's bloody Hannibal Lector or something only for the whole situation end so abruptly.
There's plenty more to say but I will leave it for another day. Such a pity.
I won't go into too much detail but I will say what a disappointment in the "Hashtag murder" interview, talking him up like he's bloody Hannibal Lector or something only for the whole situation end so abruptly.
There's plenty more to say but I will leave it for another day. Such a pity.
February 28, 2020
Great book, although I wish I had read the first one in the series first even though people have said you didn't need to. It is a good stand alone book.
March 2, 2017
Follow DS Nasreen Cudmore and her old pal from school, Freddie Venton in this British crime thriller that involves revenge porn and social media. Watch Me is the second book in this series but can be read as a standalone.
I have NOT read the first book in Angela’s Social Media Murders series called Follow Me. But this is not a problem as Watch Me can be read as a standalone AND bit by bit through Watch Me, you are given the gist of Follow Me and the #hashtag murderer. It irritated me how this novel kept going back to the first novel. It seemed as though you were only getting half a new novel and I suspect readers who had read Follow Me would feel short changed.
This novel does explore what can go wrong with social media and how images can be used for a wider audience. The plot is a little far fetched but together Nasreen and Freddie have the skills to catch the bad guys. However, this buy one, get one free style of policing is a little hard to believe. Nasreen gets her police salary but her old school pal Freddie can work unpaid alongside the police team to get the result. Freddie is even given a lanyard to wear, calling her a consultant, so she can stroll around the police station at will. Pull the other one, Angela.
The characterisation of Nasreen and Freddie develops at a fair pace. They have a long standing and cosy relationship that is easy for the reader to play along with. But for all the seriousness of this novel, including suicide or perhaps murder, our crime solving duo come across just like those charming television presenters Mel and Sue.
As I read through Watch Me, I could not get the image of Mel and Sue out of my mind. Even the way the evidence was presented seemed so much like an episode of The Great British Bake Off. Regular police work involves a lot of disciplines and tools but good old Freddie needs just the one tool to solve the case, her blasted smartphone. I read so much about Freddie using her wonderful smartphone, I just hoped she would trip on the stairs and her internet enabled mobile would crash up her backside.
I found Watch Me to be an okay read, it has it’s faults but passed the time. It has a happy ending and can serve as a warning to new users of social media. But for reading pleasure, Watch Me gets the middle score of 3 stars from me. Having read this, I will not bother to read the first book as I get the general idea. I would not be surprised that as more social media platforms are launched, Nasreen and Freddie will embark on another half crime solving adventure that repeats Follow Me and Watch Me in book 3. When authors write a series, each book should have new content and not rely on previous work.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Avon Books UK for giving me a copy of this book on the understanding that I provide an honest review.
I have NOT read the first book in Angela’s Social Media Murders series called Follow Me. But this is not a problem as Watch Me can be read as a standalone AND bit by bit through Watch Me, you are given the gist of Follow Me and the #hashtag murderer. It irritated me how this novel kept going back to the first novel. It seemed as though you were only getting half a new novel and I suspect readers who had read Follow Me would feel short changed.
This novel does explore what can go wrong with social media and how images can be used for a wider audience. The plot is a little far fetched but together Nasreen and Freddie have the skills to catch the bad guys. However, this buy one, get one free style of policing is a little hard to believe. Nasreen gets her police salary but her old school pal Freddie can work unpaid alongside the police team to get the result. Freddie is even given a lanyard to wear, calling her a consultant, so she can stroll around the police station at will. Pull the other one, Angela.
The characterisation of Nasreen and Freddie develops at a fair pace. They have a long standing and cosy relationship that is easy for the reader to play along with. But for all the seriousness of this novel, including suicide or perhaps murder, our crime solving duo come across just like those charming television presenters Mel and Sue.
As I read through Watch Me, I could not get the image of Mel and Sue out of my mind. Even the way the evidence was presented seemed so much like an episode of The Great British Bake Off. Regular police work involves a lot of disciplines and tools but good old Freddie needs just the one tool to solve the case, her blasted smartphone. I read so much about Freddie using her wonderful smartphone, I just hoped she would trip on the stairs and her internet enabled mobile would crash up her backside.
I found Watch Me to be an okay read, it has it’s faults but passed the time. It has a happy ending and can serve as a warning to new users of social media. But for reading pleasure, Watch Me gets the middle score of 3 stars from me. Having read this, I will not bother to read the first book as I get the general idea. I would not be surprised that as more social media platforms are launched, Nasreen and Freddie will embark on another half crime solving adventure that repeats Follow Me and Watch Me in book 3. When authors write a series, each book should have new content and not rely on previous work.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Avon Books UK for giving me a copy of this book on the understanding that I provide an honest review.
February 1, 2017
Watch Me is the thrilling second instalment of The Social Media Murders, if you haven’t read the first, Follow Me, don’t worry as this works well as a standalone novel.
Following the death of a fifteen-year old girl whose suicide note is sent via social media, a chilling snapchat message is sent to the officers in the Met’s Gremlin taskforce. An officer’s younger sister is missing and it looks as though the previous death was not a suicide at all. With only twenty-four hours to find and save the girl’s life, DS Nasreen Cudmore and journalist Freddie Venton find themselves in a game of cat and mouse in which time is of the essence.
Throughout Watch Me the reader is aware of the ever-present ticking of the clock, making this a fast-paced crime thriller that has you holding your breath and unable to put the book down.
Clarke has created a great range of characters. Nasreen is the hard-working, ‘follow the rules’ DS who has progressed rapidly in her career, however she also has her flaws making her well-rounded and likeable. The mix of characters within the Gremlin Taskforce complement each other and are realistic in that they do not all get on, as happens in workplaces. Freddie is the antidote to Nasreen’s ‘follow procedure’ approach to the law, highlighting the grey areas rather than seeing things in black and white.
I really liked the messages that come across throughout Watch Me which are incredibly current. Society tends to live their lives out on social media and this can make us incredibly vulnerable. With our whole lives displayed for the whole world to see our privacy has diminished. Personally, I tend to have a bit of a love/hate relationship with social media recognising that while it is a great asset in many respects, it can also cause problems for people. Revenge porn and attitudes towards it are explored in Watch Me, making it a compelling and frightening read and this book has certainly added to my concerns about social media! I love a crime thriller that has an added layer to it and Watch Me certainly delivered on this front.
A fast-paced, very current read, Watch Me causes late nights as you are compelled to keep reading to find out what will happen until you reach the ending that…well, you won’t be disappointed! All in all a great crime thriller!
A huge thank you to Angela Clarke and Helena at Avon Books for the advance copy in exchange for my review and for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.
Following the death of a fifteen-year old girl whose suicide note is sent via social media, a chilling snapchat message is sent to the officers in the Met’s Gremlin taskforce. An officer’s younger sister is missing and it looks as though the previous death was not a suicide at all. With only twenty-four hours to find and save the girl’s life, DS Nasreen Cudmore and journalist Freddie Venton find themselves in a game of cat and mouse in which time is of the essence.
Throughout Watch Me the reader is aware of the ever-present ticking of the clock, making this a fast-paced crime thriller that has you holding your breath and unable to put the book down.
Clarke has created a great range of characters. Nasreen is the hard-working, ‘follow the rules’ DS who has progressed rapidly in her career, however she also has her flaws making her well-rounded and likeable. The mix of characters within the Gremlin Taskforce complement each other and are realistic in that they do not all get on, as happens in workplaces. Freddie is the antidote to Nasreen’s ‘follow procedure’ approach to the law, highlighting the grey areas rather than seeing things in black and white.
I really liked the messages that come across throughout Watch Me which are incredibly current. Society tends to live their lives out on social media and this can make us incredibly vulnerable. With our whole lives displayed for the whole world to see our privacy has diminished. Personally, I tend to have a bit of a love/hate relationship with social media recognising that while it is a great asset in many respects, it can also cause problems for people. Revenge porn and attitudes towards it are explored in Watch Me, making it a compelling and frightening read and this book has certainly added to my concerns about social media! I love a crime thriller that has an added layer to it and Watch Me certainly delivered on this front.
A fast-paced, very current read, Watch Me causes late nights as you are compelled to keep reading to find out what will happen until you reach the ending that…well, you won’t be disappointed! All in all a great crime thriller!
A huge thank you to Angela Clarke and Helena at Avon Books for the advance copy in exchange for my review and for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.
March 13, 2017
Angela Clarke has taken it to the next level with her second book. Although this picks up about three months after the events of the first book, it is not necessary to have read the first one - Follow Me.
A 15 year old girl has apparently committed suicide. But when, soon after, the younger sister (Lottie) of DCI Jack Burgone is abducted, it becomes apparent that the cases are linked (naturally you will take my work for this). The perp is taunting them by sending messages to all the officers in Jack's team - the Cyber and e-crime Gremlin Taskforce. They have 24 hours before Lottie is killed.
Sergeant Nasreen Cudmore wants to enlist Freddie Venton's help again. Freddie (a journalist with social media skills) reluctantly agrees but when she finds the same message on her phone the two friends start to worry that this might be linked to the Hashtag Killer from the previous book. As the clock ticks down everybody's nerves start to fray. The suspense is pretty high as a picture is slowly emerging, but who is orchestrating this? Can they find Lottie in time? And will careers be destroyed in the fallout.
Tightly plotted and fast-paced throughout, this was quite the gripping read. Freddie is still volatile but also more subdued after her near death experience at the hands of the Hashtag Killer. And Nasreen has become more professional. These characters are coming along nicely and I really hope Angela Clarke keeps the series going, its a bit of a different slant on things and protagonists are refreshingly normal.
A 15 year old girl has apparently committed suicide. But when, soon after, the younger sister (Lottie) of DCI Jack Burgone is abducted, it becomes apparent that the cases are linked (naturally you will take my work for this). The perp is taunting them by sending messages to all the officers in Jack's team - the Cyber and e-crime Gremlin Taskforce. They have 24 hours before Lottie is killed.
Sergeant Nasreen Cudmore wants to enlist Freddie Venton's help again. Freddie (a journalist with social media skills) reluctantly agrees but when she finds the same message on her phone the two friends start to worry that this might be linked to the Hashtag Killer from the previous book. As the clock ticks down everybody's nerves start to fray. The suspense is pretty high as a picture is slowly emerging, but who is orchestrating this? Can they find Lottie in time? And will careers be destroyed in the fallout.
Tightly plotted and fast-paced throughout, this was quite the gripping read. Freddie is still volatile but also more subdued after her near death experience at the hands of the Hashtag Killer. And Nasreen has become more professional. These characters are coming along nicely and I really hope Angela Clarke keeps the series going, its a bit of a different slant on things and protagonists are refreshingly normal.
August 23, 2017
The follow-up to Follow Me, this sees the possible return of Apollyon and focuses on the online crime of revenge porn and cyber bullying. This one was slightly better than the first, the main characters didn't seem to rush off and do stupid things quite as much. Both still irritating though.
December 14, 2016
Watch Me – Another Stunning Social Media Thriller
Angela Clarke debuted with Follow Me which followed police officer Nasreen Cudmore and her journalist friend Freddie Venton in the Twitter Hashtag Murders. She returns to the theme of social media with her latest thriller Watch Me, which is an absolutely stunning thriller that keeps you on edge all the way through the story.
Since the Hashtag Murders DS Nasreen Cudmore has moved to the newly set up ‘Gremlin’ unit which targeted cyber and e-crime, could even be looked as a team of geeks. When the younger sister of her detective chief inspector is snatched from the street, and it is linked with a suicide of a young girl in the Watford/St Albans area, Nasreen realises is that she is the link.
When Nasreen and her fellow members are informed by snapchat about the snatching of the latest girl, and that they have just twenty-four hours to find her, the pressure is on. As they grasp at straws they seem to be going nowhere fast she asks for permission to bring Freddie Venton to act as a consultant, little did she know that Freddie has been sent the same snapchat.
As the investigation continues at a pace, competing with the clock, the snapchat messages keep coming and taunting the police, even more so when they are hacked and put out at to the press. So, with the press watching, a killer taunting them and seemingly untouchable they need to go back to wherever the beginning is. None of this makes for easy reading for Nasreen who is trying to keep it together and Freddie, is a blow-up away from speaking her mind and upsetting everyone including whoever the murderer is.
As the clock turns and the pressure is on the big question is can they find the killer and more importantly save a life in the process. Little did the cool and calm detective sergeant Nasreen Cudmore realise that there would be more twists and turns as she and Freddie race to solve the mystery.
Once again Angela Clarke has written a compelling read, that is fast pace with style and an eye for detail. Watch Me is a slick and clever thriller, that is both disturbing and chilling as this scenario could be being played out right now. Clarke is down with kids as she is using social media murders, bringing the concept in to the twenty-first century so if you are a technophobe this will put you off current trends even more. Angela Clarke is a writer we need to watch as she knows how to keep the reader entertained and turning the page and wanting more, she is getting better with every new book.
Angela Clarke debuted with Follow Me which followed police officer Nasreen Cudmore and her journalist friend Freddie Venton in the Twitter Hashtag Murders. She returns to the theme of social media with her latest thriller Watch Me, which is an absolutely stunning thriller that keeps you on edge all the way through the story.
Since the Hashtag Murders DS Nasreen Cudmore has moved to the newly set up ‘Gremlin’ unit which targeted cyber and e-crime, could even be looked as a team of geeks. When the younger sister of her detective chief inspector is snatched from the street, and it is linked with a suicide of a young girl in the Watford/St Albans area, Nasreen realises is that she is the link.
When Nasreen and her fellow members are informed by snapchat about the snatching of the latest girl, and that they have just twenty-four hours to find her, the pressure is on. As they grasp at straws they seem to be going nowhere fast she asks for permission to bring Freddie Venton to act as a consultant, little did she know that Freddie has been sent the same snapchat.
As the investigation continues at a pace, competing with the clock, the snapchat messages keep coming and taunting the police, even more so when they are hacked and put out at to the press. So, with the press watching, a killer taunting them and seemingly untouchable they need to go back to wherever the beginning is. None of this makes for easy reading for Nasreen who is trying to keep it together and Freddie, is a blow-up away from speaking her mind and upsetting everyone including whoever the murderer is.
As the clock turns and the pressure is on the big question is can they find the killer and more importantly save a life in the process. Little did the cool and calm detective sergeant Nasreen Cudmore realise that there would be more twists and turns as she and Freddie race to solve the mystery.
Once again Angela Clarke has written a compelling read, that is fast pace with style and an eye for detail. Watch Me is a slick and clever thriller, that is both disturbing and chilling as this scenario could be being played out right now. Clarke is down with kids as she is using social media murders, bringing the concept in to the twenty-first century so if you are a technophobe this will put you off current trends even more. Angela Clarke is a writer we need to watch as she knows how to keep the reader entertained and turning the page and wanting more, she is getting better with every new book.
Read
December 6, 2016"Watch Me" is the second book in a series focusing on murders with a connection to social media. The first book, "Follow Me", introduced us to Freddie and Nas who were investigating a series of murders with a link to Twitter. Both characters are back in this follow up but the action has moved to snapchat and internet forums.
This book focuses on 'Revenge Porn' - something that seems to be increasingly in the news these days. A suicide note is received by a girl's friends via snapchat which states that she will be dead in 24 hours. When a second girl shortly goes missing whilst out jogging, who just happens to be the sister of Nas' new boss (and last night's one night stand), also snapchatting a suicide note, Freddie and Nas are tasked with finding the perpetrator.
I found the characters of Nas and Freddie a lot more likeable in this book as opposed to the first one where I struggled to find much likeable about either of the two.
You will need to read "Follow Me" first as the case from that is referenced very heavily in this book and I think you would struggle to follow it otherwise.
The only criticism I would have is both books involve someone "on the inside" and I found this a bit unbelievable that it would happen twice... However apart from that minor point, I would thoroughly recommend this book - it had me gripped from the beginning right up to the twist at the end which I didnt see coming.
This book focuses on 'Revenge Porn' - something that seems to be increasingly in the news these days. A suicide note is received by a girl's friends via snapchat which states that she will be dead in 24 hours. When a second girl shortly goes missing whilst out jogging, who just happens to be the sister of Nas' new boss (and last night's one night stand), also snapchatting a suicide note, Freddie and Nas are tasked with finding the perpetrator.
I found the characters of Nas and Freddie a lot more likeable in this book as opposed to the first one where I struggled to find much likeable about either of the two.
You will need to read "Follow Me" first as the case from that is referenced very heavily in this book and I think you would struggle to follow it otherwise.
The only criticism I would have is both books involve someone "on the inside" and I found this a bit unbelievable that it would happen twice... However apart from that minor point, I would thoroughly recommend this book - it had me gripped from the beginning right up to the twist at the end which I didnt see coming.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
November 22, 2016The clock is ticking in Angela Clarke's excellent new novel Watch Me. DS Nasreen Cudmore and her friend Freddie Venton receive a chilling message via social media - they only have 24 hours to save the life of a young woman. Who has taken her? The answer lies online but the deeper they delve into the murky depths of the Internet the more dangerous the situation becomes.
Clever, creepy and disturbing, you won't ever want to log on again.
Clever, creepy and disturbing, you won't ever want to log on again.
June 26, 2017
“You have 6 seconds to read this message”
Hello! It’s nearly the end of Books Beyond The Story’s crime month special! Only two books to go! Today’s book is ‘Watch Me’ by Angela Clarke.
The story revolves around a police force; Nasreen and Freddy are on the hunt for a killer that murders teenagers making it look like a suicide. The suicide notes are sent through snapchat (the app with the little ghost on it) and there is only so long to read the message before it disappears… But when the next victim is a little close to home for the team, they are on a race against time to find her and the killer before it’s too late.
This is the second book in Clarke’s ‘social media murders’ series and I have to say, I think I would have enjoyed this book more had I read the first installment first. Some book series I feel you can read in any order providing they can be regarded as a stand-alone book (for example, Kate Rhodes’s ‘Alice Quentin’ series I read completely out of order but found that they worked as stand-alone novels). I would advise you to read the first book ‘Follow Me’ first as to, not only enjoy ‘Watch Me’ better but there are spoilers in the second novel regarding the first that I think would maybe reduce the tension factor!
Because the book related to the first so much I did find it hard to connect with the characters and understand their past together. A bit more background would have been a bonus but again, I suspect this was covered in the first novel (I have started reading ‘Follow Me’ to fill in the gaps!)
The concept of this story is rather intriguing; social media has seemed to blow up over night which can be a way to connect with people- but this story reveals a darker side. Clarke’s research for the plot must’ve been extensive as all the apps involved and information was highly detailed. Even with not having read the first book I was gripped by the novel from page 1.
The novel is fast paced and there isn’t really anytime to lose! With Instagram-famous fitness enthusiast Lottie missing, fears that the hashtag murderer is back… but how? Is there a copycat? Is the murderer continuing playing the game from the inside? It’s up to ‘odd couple’ team Nasreen and Freddy to find her before it’s too late.
This novel raises concerns over the current dangers of social media. What a week as well with Snapchat launching ‘map’ which allows users to see people’s locations… I am not a fan of this ‘no-privacy’ malarkey if I’m honest. This book seems to agree with my views and maybe heeds a warning for readers and users of social media.
All in all, I quite enjoyed this book and I was gripped from the start even though at times the odd pieces of the puzzle weren’t credible and lacked suspense now and again. I did like the fact that this book had one, if not two, strong female leads (which could have perhaps been stronger but- events from the first novel may explain why they are a little reserved).
I personally prefer ‘stand-alone’ books as opposed to reading a series of books (although I am on the a look-out for a series that takes my fancy!) I do read the odd ‘series’ of books and most of them, like this one, I rather enjoyed. It’s just personal preference…
To sum up I would say this novel is ‘a dark and twisted take on the dangers of social media… #YouHaveBeenWarned “ 😉
I would recommend this book to fans of thrillers with a twist! You can’t help but be a little unnerved as you never know who is watching you… I would also recommend this book for people breaking out of the YA genre as the plot relates to a lot of teenagers and with social media on the rise, a book full of suspense might be right up your street!
Let me know what you think! Happy reading! Lx
Hello! It’s nearly the end of Books Beyond The Story’s crime month special! Only two books to go! Today’s book is ‘Watch Me’ by Angela Clarke.
The story revolves around a police force; Nasreen and Freddy are on the hunt for a killer that murders teenagers making it look like a suicide. The suicide notes are sent through snapchat (the app with the little ghost on it) and there is only so long to read the message before it disappears… But when the next victim is a little close to home for the team, they are on a race against time to find her and the killer before it’s too late.
This is the second book in Clarke’s ‘social media murders’ series and I have to say, I think I would have enjoyed this book more had I read the first installment first. Some book series I feel you can read in any order providing they can be regarded as a stand-alone book (for example, Kate Rhodes’s ‘Alice Quentin’ series I read completely out of order but found that they worked as stand-alone novels). I would advise you to read the first book ‘Follow Me’ first as to, not only enjoy ‘Watch Me’ better but there are spoilers in the second novel regarding the first that I think would maybe reduce the tension factor!
Because the book related to the first so much I did find it hard to connect with the characters and understand their past together. A bit more background would have been a bonus but again, I suspect this was covered in the first novel (I have started reading ‘Follow Me’ to fill in the gaps!)
The concept of this story is rather intriguing; social media has seemed to blow up over night which can be a way to connect with people- but this story reveals a darker side. Clarke’s research for the plot must’ve been extensive as all the apps involved and information was highly detailed. Even with not having read the first book I was gripped by the novel from page 1.
The novel is fast paced and there isn’t really anytime to lose! With Instagram-famous fitness enthusiast Lottie missing, fears that the hashtag murderer is back… but how? Is there a copycat? Is the murderer continuing playing the game from the inside? It’s up to ‘odd couple’ team Nasreen and Freddy to find her before it’s too late.
This novel raises concerns over the current dangers of social media. What a week as well with Snapchat launching ‘map’ which allows users to see people’s locations… I am not a fan of this ‘no-privacy’ malarkey if I’m honest. This book seems to agree with my views and maybe heeds a warning for readers and users of social media.
All in all, I quite enjoyed this book and I was gripped from the start even though at times the odd pieces of the puzzle weren’t credible and lacked suspense now and again. I did like the fact that this book had one, if not two, strong female leads (which could have perhaps been stronger but- events from the first novel may explain why they are a little reserved).
I personally prefer ‘stand-alone’ books as opposed to reading a series of books (although I am on the a look-out for a series that takes my fancy!) I do read the odd ‘series’ of books and most of them, like this one, I rather enjoyed. It’s just personal preference…
To sum up I would say this novel is ‘a dark and twisted take on the dangers of social media… #YouHaveBeenWarned “ 😉
I would recommend this book to fans of thrillers with a twist! You can’t help but be a little unnerved as you never know who is watching you… I would also recommend this book for people breaking out of the YA genre as the plot relates to a lot of teenagers and with social media on the rise, a book full of suspense might be right up your street!
Let me know what you think! Happy reading! Lx
November 19, 2018
I enjoyed it, but...
A taskforce dedicated to fighting cyber crime filled with cops who can hardly use a smartphone? How come in 2016 in London there are police officers who are this clueless about internet and social media? They couldn't find their own asses without Freddie there to point out the freaking obvious to them, and yet at every turn they whine about how they shouldn't have civillians and outsiders on the case... Wow. Inspires confidence in the police force.
How utterly stupid was Nasreen in this one? Feeling all righteous and contempuous towards Lorna/Gracie for being selfish and trying to save her own skin first and foremost... all the while hiding her connection to the Stroftons and putting her own career over the life of her boss's sister. The final scene in the wood shed was a clear attempt to redeem her hypocrisy, selfishness and foolishness and making her a hero, but it fell flat for me. It was the least she could do after nearly derailing the whole investigation. No points from me.
A taskforce dedicated to fighting cyber crime filled with cops who can hardly use a smartphone? How come in 2016 in London there are police officers who are this clueless about internet and social media? They couldn't find their own asses without Freddie there to point out the freaking obvious to them, and yet at every turn they whine about how they shouldn't have civillians and outsiders on the case... Wow. Inspires confidence in the police force.
How utterly stupid was Nasreen in this one? Feeling all righteous and contempuous towards Lorna/Gracie for being selfish and trying to save her own skin first and foremost... all the while hiding her connection to the Stroftons and putting her own career over the life of her boss's sister. The final scene in the wood shed was a clear attempt to redeem her hypocrisy, selfishness and foolishness and making her a hero, but it fell flat for me. It was the least she could do after nearly derailing the whole investigation. No points from me.
September 1, 2017
I don't know why it took me so long to read this as it was so gripping! I love how it changed social media platforms from the first book and it's basis was with Snapchat.
December 31, 2017
Follow Me was a compelling read which I found fabulously dark and brilliantly disturbing. So earlier this year I was delighted to discover that the second book in the series had been published.
It was so good to be reacquainted with studious detective Nasreen Cudmore and bubbly, in your face Freddie Venton. Although I must say that I found it hard to recognise Freddie at first. I hate spoilers and I don't know whether you've read the first book in the series so I'll be as vague as I can and say that the events at the end of Follow Me changed Freddie and unfortunately not for the better.
In Follow Me I felt Freddie took the limelight, and rightly so. I really like Freddie's character as she's everything I'm not. In Watch Me it was Nasreen's turn to steal the show and she does a brilliant job. This book focuses so much more on the detective's side of the investigation with Freddie making the occasional contribution. This really worked for me as I feel I'm much more 'Nasreen' than I am 'Freddie' (in the same way that I'm much more 'Monica' than I am 'Rachel or Phoebe').
As in the first book the subject matter was current and handled with great care and respect. I felt slightly uncomfortable that the victims of the attacks tended to be teenagers but I get the feeling this is what Clarke wants the reader to feel. I can understand why the author chose to make one of the victims 15 years old as this demonstrates that age is no barrier to this particular crime (in fact, it's probably more likely to happen to younger teenagers wanting to prove they are all 'grown up') but it did make me feel uncomfortable. I applaud the author for having the courage to make her readers squirm. I, for one, can confirm that this is a book I won't forget in a while.
I would definitely recommend that you read Follow Me before making a start on Watch Me. The characters back stories are beautifully laid out in this book and you get to learn everything you need to know about them, apart from what actually happened at the end of the first book. It's alluded to throughout but you will be left wondering about the exact details if you haven't read Follow Me. Plus I will always recommend that you start with the first book in the series and work your way through.
I loved the conclusion. It was such a surprise to me and everything I want in my crime thrillers. Great pacing with a fantastic build up, that feeling that you know exactly what's going on when you haven't a clue. Brilliant.
Would I recommend this book? I would but please make sure you read Follow Me first as otherwise you'll be left wondering exactly what happened at the end of the first book. I hold a great deal of affection for Nasreen and Freddie and I can't wait for more from Angela Clarke. A great series that all crime fans should make a point of reading.
Four and a half out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an eARC of Watch Me. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
It was so good to be reacquainted with studious detective Nasreen Cudmore and bubbly, in your face Freddie Venton. Although I must say that I found it hard to recognise Freddie at first. I hate spoilers and I don't know whether you've read the first book in the series so I'll be as vague as I can and say that the events at the end of Follow Me changed Freddie and unfortunately not for the better.
In Follow Me I felt Freddie took the limelight, and rightly so. I really like Freddie's character as she's everything I'm not. In Watch Me it was Nasreen's turn to steal the show and she does a brilliant job. This book focuses so much more on the detective's side of the investigation with Freddie making the occasional contribution. This really worked for me as I feel I'm much more 'Nasreen' than I am 'Freddie' (in the same way that I'm much more 'Monica' than I am 'Rachel or Phoebe').
As in the first book the subject matter was current and handled with great care and respect. I felt slightly uncomfortable that the victims of the attacks tended to be teenagers but I get the feeling this is what Clarke wants the reader to feel. I can understand why the author chose to make one of the victims 15 years old as this demonstrates that age is no barrier to this particular crime (in fact, it's probably more likely to happen to younger teenagers wanting to prove they are all 'grown up') but it did make me feel uncomfortable. I applaud the author for having the courage to make her readers squirm. I, for one, can confirm that this is a book I won't forget in a while.
I would definitely recommend that you read Follow Me before making a start on Watch Me. The characters back stories are beautifully laid out in this book and you get to learn everything you need to know about them, apart from what actually happened at the end of the first book. It's alluded to throughout but you will be left wondering about the exact details if you haven't read Follow Me. Plus I will always recommend that you start with the first book in the series and work your way through.
I loved the conclusion. It was such a surprise to me and everything I want in my crime thrillers. Great pacing with a fantastic build up, that feeling that you know exactly what's going on when you haven't a clue. Brilliant.
Would I recommend this book? I would but please make sure you read Follow Me first as otherwise you'll be left wondering exactly what happened at the end of the first book. I hold a great deal of affection for Nasreen and Freddie and I can't wait for more from Angela Clarke. A great series that all crime fans should make a point of reading.
Four and a half out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an eARC of Watch Me. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
February 24, 2017
Watch me by Angela Clarke.
YOU HAVE SIX SECONDS TO READ THIS MESSAGE…
The body of a 15-year-old is found hours after she sends a desperate message to her friends. It looks like suicide, until a second girl disappears.
This time, the message is sent directly to the Metropolitan Police – and an officer’s younger sister is missing.
DS Nasreen Cudmore and journalist Freddie Venton will stop at nothing to find her. But whoever’s behind the notes is playing a deadly game of hide and seek – and the clock is ticking.
YOU HAVE 24 HOURS TO SAVE THE GIRL’S LIFE.
MAKE THEM COUNT.
Fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved the story. Really had me on the edge of my seat. Completely enthralling. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.
YOU HAVE SIX SECONDS TO READ THIS MESSAGE…
The body of a 15-year-old is found hours after she sends a desperate message to her friends. It looks like suicide, until a second girl disappears.
This time, the message is sent directly to the Metropolitan Police – and an officer’s younger sister is missing.
DS Nasreen Cudmore and journalist Freddie Venton will stop at nothing to find her. But whoever’s behind the notes is playing a deadly game of hide and seek – and the clock is ticking.
YOU HAVE 24 HOURS TO SAVE THE GIRL’S LIFE.
MAKE THEM COUNT.
Fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved the story. Really had me on the edge of my seat. Completely enthralling. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.
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