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The Watcher Girl
A woman’s suspicions about her ex-boyfriend become a dangerous obsession in a twisting novel of psychological suspense by Washington Post and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Minka Kent.
Eight years ago, Grace McMullen broke Sutton Whitlock’s heart when she walked away. But it was only to save him from the baggage of her own troubled past. Now all she wants is to make sure he’s okay.
Only everything she learns about him online says otherwise. According to his social media accounts, he placed roots in her hometown, married a look-alike, and even named his daughter Grace. He clearly hasn’t moved on. In fact, it’s creepy. So Grace does what any concerned ex-girlfriend would she moves home…and watches him.
But when Grace crosses paths with Sutton’s wife, Campbell, an unexpected friendship develops. Campbell has no idea whom she’s inviting into her life. As the women grow closer, it becomes clear to Grace that Sutton is not the sentimental man she once knew. He seems controlling, unstable, and threatening. And what a broken man like Sutton is capable of, Grace can only imagine. It’s up to her to save Campbell and her baby now—but while she’s been watching them, who’s been watching her?
Eight years ago, Grace McMullen broke Sutton Whitlock’s heart when she walked away. But it was only to save him from the baggage of her own troubled past. Now all she wants is to make sure he’s okay.
Only everything she learns about him online says otherwise. According to his social media accounts, he placed roots in her hometown, married a look-alike, and even named his daughter Grace. He clearly hasn’t moved on. In fact, it’s creepy. So Grace does what any concerned ex-girlfriend would she moves home…and watches him.
But when Grace crosses paths with Sutton’s wife, Campbell, an unexpected friendship develops. Campbell has no idea whom she’s inviting into her life. As the women grow closer, it becomes clear to Grace that Sutton is not the sentimental man she once knew. He seems controlling, unstable, and threatening. And what a broken man like Sutton is capable of, Grace can only imagine. It’s up to her to save Campbell and her baby now—but while she’s been watching them, who’s been watching her?
236 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2021
4565 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 950 reviews
May 20, 2021
This was my second read from Minka Kent. I loved her previous novel "The Memory Watcher" and was excited to read more from this talented author. I had an audible credit and decided to give the audiobook a try. I'm glad I did.
I listened to it over the course of a few evenings and I really enjoyed it.
I think this could be read (or listened to) as a standalone. However, reading "The Memory Watcher" beforehand does give some history that made this book even more interesting. TMW is still my favorite from the author but I thought this sequel was very good too. I also thought the narration was excellent.
I'm definitely going to check out more from this author!
June 4, 2021
3.5*
Grace has returned home with the hopes of creating some much-needed closure with ex-boyfriend Sutton. But what precisely does Grace want with Sutton? After all, he’s moved on with a new wife and daughter.
The first 50% of this book was unputdownable! Very creepy, highly exciting. I felt the build up towards an inevitable explosive end you’re certain is just around the next corner. And then…zippo. Nothing. I actually thought I somehow missed the twist. Nope, it was there, It just fell flat.😕
This book reminded me of the anticipation of an ice-cold soda on a hot, summer afternoon. You’re parched and the soda in the fridge is calling your name. You fill your glass tumbler full of ice and grab that frosty soda. Finally, twisting off the cap to hear the explosion of bubbles. Only to get 'pfft' as all your excited little taste-buds ask, “what happened?”😫
When I began this book up I wasn’t aware it was a follow up to The Memory Watcher, which was a solid five-star read for me. I suggest starting with that read to get the entire background on Grace.
Though the ending was a letdown for me I will definitely be picking up this author’s next release.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.
Grace has returned home with the hopes of creating some much-needed closure with ex-boyfriend Sutton. But what precisely does Grace want with Sutton? After all, he’s moved on with a new wife and daughter.
The first 50% of this book was unputdownable! Very creepy, highly exciting. I felt the build up towards an inevitable explosive end you’re certain is just around the next corner. And then…zippo. Nothing. I actually thought I somehow missed the twist. Nope, it was there, It just fell flat.😕
This book reminded me of the anticipation of an ice-cold soda on a hot, summer afternoon. You’re parched and the soda in the fridge is calling your name. You fill your glass tumbler full of ice and grab that frosty soda. Finally, twisting off the cap to hear the explosion of bubbles. Only to get 'pfft' as all your excited little taste-buds ask, “what happened?”😫
When I began this book up I wasn’t aware it was a follow up to The Memory Watcher, which was a solid five-star read for me. I suggest starting with that read to get the entire background on Grace.
Though the ending was a letdown for me I will definitely be picking up this author’s next release.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.
July 22, 2023
This is a very fast read, which I enjoy. I like to have something for the “in between” times when I’m not reading something super dark or heavy or emotional. This is definitely that.
I had read The Memory Watcher, so at first I wasn’t sure how to feel about this book. But as with her other works, Ms. Kent has very readable prose. Nothing earth-shattering and no wow factor, but consistent and comfortable.
It feels out of character for Grace to become more worried about Campbell’s safety; the whole premise is for her to confront Sutton. Plus, Grace is this super smart sleuth. Yet she drives a woman she barely knows hours away to a random cabin in the woods?
Grace actually is relatable, if not necessarily the most likable character. I can’t really talk about the last 20% or so without spoiling, but it was…fitting. Sweet without being sappy, and kept true to Grace.
It felt like the author found her stride with this story. Her more far-fetched premises start off better than this one did, but they fall so flat in the endings. This is my third book of Ms. Kent’s, and she finally stuck the landing this time. Great to see.
I had read The Memory Watcher, so at first I wasn’t sure how to feel about this book. But as with her other works, Ms. Kent has very readable prose. Nothing earth-shattering and no wow factor, but consistent and comfortable.
It feels out of character for Grace to become more worried about Campbell’s safety; the whole premise is for her to confront Sutton. Plus, Grace is this super smart sleuth. Yet she drives a woman she barely knows hours away to a random cabin in the woods?
Grace actually is relatable, if not necessarily the most likable character. I can’t really talk about the last 20% or so without spoiling, but it was…fitting. Sweet without being sappy, and kept true to Grace.
It felt like the author found her stride with this story. Her more far-fetched premises start off better than this one did, but they fall so flat in the endings. This is my third book of Ms. Kent’s, and she finally stuck the landing this time. Great to see.
May 3, 2021
First thing to know going in (which I didn’t) - this book is a sequel to Minka Kent’s previous book, The Memory Watcher. It probably works fine as a standalone, but as it was starting to get into the backstory I felt a bit lost. So I went to Amazon and what do you know - the Memory Watcher is currently free on Kindle Unlimited. Score one for me (and possibly for you).
I liked The Memory Watcher too, but I actually liked this one more. Grace, our protagonist, is the daughter from the Memory Watcher, all grown up. She returns to her hometown and can’t stop thinking about her ex-boyfriend Sutton. She begins to watch him, and soon learns he has a wife who looks and acts just like Grace. And it seems she may be in danger.
I think Minka Kent’s writing has grown since the prequel, because this novel felt a bit more assured, and the characters more developed. I found Grace and her job (removing horrible things from the internet) very interesting. It’s also fun to revisit the backstory of the guest book now that Grace is an adult. Like the previous book, it’s not too hard to see where the book is going, but it’s fun getting there. No reinventing the thriller wheel in this one, but I enjoyed it. 3.75 stars.
I liked The Memory Watcher too, but I actually liked this one more. Grace, our protagonist, is the daughter from the Memory Watcher, all grown up. She returns to her hometown and can’t stop thinking about her ex-boyfriend Sutton. She begins to watch him, and soon learns he has a wife who looks and acts just like Grace. And it seems she may be in danger.
I think Minka Kent’s writing has grown since the prequel, because this novel felt a bit more assured, and the characters more developed. I found Grace and her job (removing horrible things from the internet) very interesting. It’s also fun to revisit the backstory of the guest book now that Grace is an adult. Like the previous book, it’s not too hard to see where the book is going, but it’s fun getting there. No reinventing the thriller wheel in this one, but I enjoyed it. 3.75 stars.
June 25, 2021
3 Stars
Grace showed up unannounced to her father's doorstep after years of radio silence and it wasn’t because of her mother’s being in a prison (as a murderer). She’s there on a mission to save someone but do they really need saving or is she who really needs it!?!
Told in single POV, 1st person, it’s a standalone novel. I’d read books by this author before and quite enjoyed them but unfortunately, this wasn’t as good. There wasn’t any real mystery to solve and the twist was predictable from the start (at least for someone who is a mystery reader), therefore there was a lack of thrilling. Nothing really exciting here! Overall, it fell flat for me and hope you enjoy it more than me!
Grace showed up unannounced to her father's doorstep after years of radio silence and it wasn’t because of her mother’s being in a prison (as a murderer). She’s there on a mission to save someone but do they really need saving or is she who really needs it!?!
Told in single POV, 1st person, it’s a standalone novel. I’d read books by this author before and quite enjoyed them but unfortunately, this wasn’t as good. There wasn’t any real mystery to solve and the twist was predictable from the start (at least for someone who is a mystery reader), therefore there was a lack of thrilling. Nothing really exciting here! Overall, it fell flat for me and hope you enjoy it more than me!
May 30, 2021
Grace is returning home after staying away for many years from her hurtful, dysfunctional family. Grace has recently found out that her old and wonderful boyfriend that she walked out on eight years ago has remarried and should be living happily ever after but it seems there are real problems in paradise. Sutton's wife Campbell is the mirror image of Grace and he has even had the audacity to name his baby daughter Grace! Grace wants to visit Sutton and make things right and hopefully find out that Sutton hasn't gone off the deep end because that could mean his wife Campbell is in serious trouble. Grace only has good intentions but without meaning to she opens several cans of worms and before long she knows she and Campbell are in danger because someone has also been watching Grace's every move and if she doesn't leave town soon she might not get away at all.
This was an intriguing and very fast based book that had some clever twists. Grace is an interesting character with a unfortunate backstory that led to the complicated person she became. I didn't realize there was a prequel to this book and I think it would have helped me understand Grace a little more but this book definitely can be read as a stand-alone. I enjoyed all the characters for better or worse and finding out more about her family and why she wanted to distance herself from them. This was a great little domestic thriller and I recommend the book to any mystery/suspense lover. I didn't realize I had purchased this book when I requested it on Netgalley. Just wanted to add it was money well spent.
I want to thank the publisher "Thomas & Mercer" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this story and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have the this book a rating of 4 Intriguing 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
This was an intriguing and very fast based book that had some clever twists. Grace is an interesting character with a unfortunate backstory that led to the complicated person she became. I didn't realize there was a prequel to this book and I think it would have helped me understand Grace a little more but this book definitely can be read as a stand-alone. I enjoyed all the characters for better or worse and finding out more about her family and why she wanted to distance herself from them. This was a great little domestic thriller and I recommend the book to any mystery/suspense lover. I didn't realize I had purchased this book when I requested it on Netgalley. Just wanted to add it was money well spent.
I want to thank the publisher "Thomas & Mercer" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this story and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have the this book a rating of 4 Intriguing 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
May 31, 2021
“At the end of the day, we can say everything we need to say to someone, but we can’t control how they receive”
― Minka Kent, The Watcher Girl
Review to follow.
Grace. Campbell. Sutton.
Those are the three main characters in this fast paced little book.
The Watcher Girl is a continuation of Kent's book, "The Memory Watcher." This is something I did not even know when I chose it! But it was a good thing as I was a huge fan of Memory Watcher.
I should mention this can be read as a stand-alone.
Grace is a jaded soul. She's had a rough past and is a loner. She spends most of her time doing her job which is to wipe the internet of things her company's clients do not like. That aspect was fascinating.
Grace has come home where her mom is serving a life sentence for attempted murder. Grace has come home to check up on her former boyfriend Sutton.
You see, Grace had left him, breaking his heart in the process. Grace has a commitment problem and felt Sutton was to good for her. However, she has kept tabs on him and is concerned that he has not got over her. He's married Campbell, a lady who looks just like her and making matters worse, has named their daughter after Grace. Grace wants to make sure he is OK and she wants closure.
There is much more to the story then that. But this is just a bare plot outline.
I enjoyed the book. It was a pleasant distraction and a book I finished quickly. Yet, I cannot say I loved this. There are a few reasons for that.
This book was very predictable. I could figure out much of it very quickly.
I also did not like the ending which I will get more into in the spoiler part of my review.
But it did not have that chilling suspense that Memory Watcher had. I have read other books by Kent. She is a terrific writer and is no different here. Her characterizations are stunningly strong and I do not think she has ever written a book I hated which is great.
She does the domestic thriller better than almost anyone.
It has nothing to do with the writing in terms of why I did not love it.
The book depressed me a bit. I liked Grace, unlike many other readers. I related to her (what does that say about me I wonder?) I mostly related to her deeply analytical mind as well as her cynicism
Now the ending wasn't BAD but some of it made no sense.
I also just did not feel like it was a page turner. I did want to know what would happen next but the book wasn't mind blowing like some of her others.
Now-SPOILERS:
The ending turned me off a bit. Please understand that I need to understand my characters. It sort of all fell apart for me when Sutton told Grace Campbell was lying to her. Did this make sense to anyone else?
I do not see honestly how Campbell could have become so obsessed with Grace had Sutton felt nothing for her. Plus it is implied that Sutton could not get over their breakup. At the end, there is a scene between him and Grace where he tells her everything Campbell said was a lie including that she and Grace were sisters.
This made no sense. Campbell's whole motivation for hating Grace was that Sutton still loved her. Now obviously Campbell was crazy but it never sounded to me like that story about Sutton crying as he burned the things he'd shared with Grace was false. It made perfect sense. Campbell knew her husband loved someone else and that someone else happened to be her sister. So, Campbell goes batshit crazy.
But if none of that is true it changes everything and all the motivations become murky. Why would Campbell even have cared what Grace did if he had no feelings for Grace? I find it hard to believe Sutton was not still in love with Grace. Plus, why would Campbell even make up a story like that? To win the trust of Grace? It seems things became awfully complicated when they didn't have to be.
I did not get why Campbell would make up a complicated story as to how she and Sutton met. What would be the point?
So, the ending was a point of utter bewilderment for me. And yes, darn it, I wanted these two together. The whole book was sort of heading that way. What can I say? I'm jaded but maybe a bit of a romantic since I did want these two to end up together and it seemed natural that they would.
Other then that, I have no complaints. It was a fast and fun read and I liked the main character. I wish the end had been different and the book had that "Memory Watcher" magic but I still really like Kent and will continue to be a fan. 3.5 stars from me.
― Minka Kent, The Watcher Girl
Review to follow.
Grace. Campbell. Sutton.
Those are the three main characters in this fast paced little book.
The Watcher Girl is a continuation of Kent's book, "The Memory Watcher." This is something I did not even know when I chose it! But it was a good thing as I was a huge fan of Memory Watcher.
I should mention this can be read as a stand-alone.
Grace is a jaded soul. She's had a rough past and is a loner. She spends most of her time doing her job which is to wipe the internet of things her company's clients do not like. That aspect was fascinating.
Grace has come home where her mom is serving a life sentence for attempted murder. Grace has come home to check up on her former boyfriend Sutton.
You see, Grace had left him, breaking his heart in the process. Grace has a commitment problem and felt Sutton was to good for her. However, she has kept tabs on him and is concerned that he has not got over her. He's married Campbell, a lady who looks just like her and making matters worse, has named their daughter after Grace. Grace wants to make sure he is OK and she wants closure.
There is much more to the story then that. But this is just a bare plot outline.
I enjoyed the book. It was a pleasant distraction and a book I finished quickly. Yet, I cannot say I loved this. There are a few reasons for that.
This book was very predictable. I could figure out much of it very quickly.
I also did not like the ending which I will get more into in the spoiler part of my review.
But it did not have that chilling suspense that Memory Watcher had. I have read other books by Kent. She is a terrific writer and is no different here. Her characterizations are stunningly strong and I do not think she has ever written a book I hated which is great.
She does the domestic thriller better than almost anyone.
It has nothing to do with the writing in terms of why I did not love it.
The book depressed me a bit. I liked Grace, unlike many other readers. I related to her (what does that say about me I wonder?) I mostly related to her deeply analytical mind as well as her cynicism
Now the ending wasn't BAD but some of it made no sense.
I also just did not feel like it was a page turner. I did want to know what would happen next but the book wasn't mind blowing like some of her others.
Now-SPOILERS:
The ending turned me off a bit. Please understand that I need to understand my characters. It sort of all fell apart for me when Sutton told Grace Campbell was lying to her. Did this make sense to anyone else?
I do not see honestly how Campbell could have become so obsessed with Grace had Sutton felt nothing for her. Plus it is implied that Sutton could not get over their breakup. At the end, there is a scene between him and Grace where he tells her everything Campbell said was a lie including that she and Grace were sisters.
This made no sense. Campbell's whole motivation for hating Grace was that Sutton still loved her. Now obviously Campbell was crazy but it never sounded to me like that story about Sutton crying as he burned the things he'd shared with Grace was false. It made perfect sense. Campbell knew her husband loved someone else and that someone else happened to be her sister. So, Campbell goes batshit crazy.
But if none of that is true it changes everything and all the motivations become murky. Why would Campbell even have cared what Grace did if he had no feelings for Grace? I find it hard to believe Sutton was not still in love with Grace. Plus, why would Campbell even make up a story like that? To win the trust of Grace? It seems things became awfully complicated when they didn't have to be.
I did not get why Campbell would make up a complicated story as to how she and Sutton met. What would be the point?
So, the ending was a point of utter bewilderment for me. And yes, darn it, I wanted these two together. The whole book was sort of heading that way. What can I say? I'm jaded but maybe a bit of a romantic since I did want these two to end up together and it seemed natural that they would.
Other then that, I have no complaints. It was a fast and fun read and I liked the main character. I wish the end had been different and the book had that "Memory Watcher" magic but I still really like Kent and will continue to be a fan. 3.5 stars from me.
April 12, 2021
This was my Amazon First Reads pick for the month of April. Unfortunately.......
Grace McMullen, a narcissist and all around unlikable human being, walked away from her boyfriend years ago claiming she was "saving him" from her baggage. A tired cliche but one still used apparently. She just knows he's depressed without her because why wouldn't he be? She's the best thing that ever happened to him. Just ask her. She's been watching his social media and she can see how he hasn't moved on, even though he's married with a child, because she's super duper smart. So she does what any crazy, psycho, full of herself ex-girlfriend would do, she heads home to stalk him and his family so she can prove how hard it is for people to live without her.
Honestly, I'm surprised the author could fit Grace's ego within the pages of this story. It's so large. After about 4-5 chapters of her thinking so highly of herself, I was done. I skipped to the end, shook my head at the absurdity of it all and closed my kindle. Best thing I ever did.
Grace McMullen, a narcissist and all around unlikable human being, walked away from her boyfriend years ago claiming she was "saving him" from her baggage. A tired cliche but one still used apparently. She just knows he's depressed without her because why wouldn't he be? She's the best thing that ever happened to him. Just ask her. She's been watching his social media and she can see how he hasn't moved on, even though he's married with a child, because she's super duper smart. So she does what any crazy, psycho, full of herself ex-girlfriend would do, she heads home to stalk him and his family so she can prove how hard it is for people to live without her.
Honestly, I'm surprised the author could fit Grace's ego within the pages of this story. It's so large. After about 4-5 chapters of her thinking so highly of herself, I was done. I skipped to the end, shook my head at the absurdity of it all and closed my kindle. Best thing I ever did.
February 4, 2021
3.5/5
A few years ago I read The Memory Watcher by the same author and was obsessed! This is a follow up of sorts as it follows one of the characters from that books years later. It’s totally fine to read on its own but TMW was fantastic so you should read that one first.
There was a lot to like about this one for me, I love the authors writing style and always find her books to be compulsive reads, this was no exception. There was such a great combination of drama and obsession in this one and I’m all about that when I’m reading a domestic thriller. Grace herself was a fascinating character with so many demons and while I wouldn’t say I loved her, she was super interesting. This one was also fairly predictable for me though, I saw where things were headed pretty early on and was a little disappointed when I realized I was right. Not a huge deal, but still wanted to mention it as I think avid thriller readers may have the same issue. I’m still a huge fan of the author and can still say I liked this, it’s just not my favorite from her.
A few years ago I read The Memory Watcher by the same author and was obsessed! This is a follow up of sorts as it follows one of the characters from that books years later. It’s totally fine to read on its own but TMW was fantastic so you should read that one first.
There was a lot to like about this one for me, I love the authors writing style and always find her books to be compulsive reads, this was no exception. There was such a great combination of drama and obsession in this one and I’m all about that when I’m reading a domestic thriller. Grace herself was a fascinating character with so many demons and while I wouldn’t say I loved her, she was super interesting. This one was also fairly predictable for me though, I saw where things were headed pretty early on and was a little disappointed when I realized I was right. Not a huge deal, but still wanted to mention it as I think avid thriller readers may have the same issue. I’m still a huge fan of the author and can still say I liked this, it’s just not my favorite from her.
June 28, 2021
Maybe it’s because this book is a sequel?, but I just never took to this story and couldn’t wait for it to be over. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
April 28, 2021
** Arc received in exchange for an honest review **
***3 estrelas***
[..]
De primeiro momento eu não entendi toda a obsessão de Grace, lógico que durante a leitura você vai começando a ficar com um pé atrás com Sutton, mas a verdade é que nesse livro ninguém é confiável. Além de a gente acompanhar Grace e com Sutton e sua família, a gente também acompanha ela com sua família e todas as revelações que ela faz.
Esse livro tinha uma premissa que me chamou muita atenção, mas a verdade é que a história demorou muito para me prender, entre as revelações da família dela e da família de Sutton o livro não fluía muito e só depois dos 50% que ele ficou realmente bom.
O plot mesmo sendo algo que eu imaginei logo de início, ainda assim foi algo que a autora conseguiu levar por um bom tempo, mas o verdadeiro plot do livro não foi só sobre Sutton e sim sobre a própria família de Grace.
Esse é aquele livro de suspense que a gente lê e enxerga um filme muito bom nele, mesmo com a leitura não sendo o que eu esperava ainda é um livro que se um dia virar filme eu com certeza voou querer assistir.
Resenha Completa no Blog
***3 estrelas***
[..]
De primeiro momento eu não entendi toda a obsessão de Grace, lógico que durante a leitura você vai começando a ficar com um pé atrás com Sutton, mas a verdade é que nesse livro ninguém é confiável. Além de a gente acompanhar Grace e com Sutton e sua família, a gente também acompanha ela com sua família e todas as revelações que ela faz.
Esse livro tinha uma premissa que me chamou muita atenção, mas a verdade é que a história demorou muito para me prender, entre as revelações da família dela e da família de Sutton o livro não fluía muito e só depois dos 50% que ele ficou realmente bom.
O plot mesmo sendo algo que eu imaginei logo de início, ainda assim foi algo que a autora conseguiu levar por um bom tempo, mas o verdadeiro plot do livro não foi só sobre Sutton e sim sobre a própria família de Grace.
Esse é aquele livro de suspense que a gente lê e enxerga um filme muito bom nele, mesmo com a leitura não sendo o que eu esperava ainda é um livro que se um dia virar filme eu com certeza voou querer assistir.
Resenha Completa no Blog
October 13, 2021
Spoilers are possible:
The whole premise of this book was unrealistic. The main character Grace was unlikable and completely ridiculous. The idea that she needed to stalk her ex boyfriend whose heart she broke years ago because she believes he didn't move on, was not something I could convince myself a sane person would ever do. It was presented as if this was a totally normal and reasonable thing. My guess was because of this Grace would end up being the psycho but nope, that twist never came.
Grace talks about how amazing her ex Sutton was but then she becomes friends with his wife, Campbell, who quickly convinces Grace that Sutton has done a complete 180 and turned into a wife-beating, controlling abuser. Because Grace is so out of touch with reality, she assumes that breaking up with Sutton all those years ago must have drove him insane. Now she needs to save his wife from the monster she created.
The secondary story about Grace's adoptive mom being in prison for killing her husband's mistress and the nanny who was a suspect in the disappearance of Grace's real mom (and also pretended to be someone else for a while???) who is missing, just completely falls flat. No resolution is given except that Grace decides she can move on and let go of her darkness and transform into a new person. Only I couldn't have cared less because Grace really isn't likable and it didn't matter to me what happened to her. And why such a convoluted back story if it will never be elaborated on and developed?
The ending was not realistic to me. Campbell tricking Grace into coming to an isolated cabin, and revealing that SHE is actually the nut case who is (of course) jealous of Grace, and needs to kill her was a little bit of a surprise. But the whole rescue scenario was silly. Sutton shows up, pretends he wants to kill Grace too, tells Campbell to go in another room and stay there. Then he puts a gun to Grace's back and takes her to the woods. He really is leading her to safety however. I still don't understand why miles into a hike through the woods, well away from his wife, Sutton still had to pretend he was really going to kill Grace. Then he tells her to run. And she ends up bumping right into the cops. Later she finds out he was actually a good guy.
I gave the book 2 stars because the premise was so unbelievable with no satisfactory resolutions or surprises, to the point it took enjoyment out of it...I wanted to give it 3 stars which means I finished it and it was good enough to keep my interest as a nice time waster, even if a little silly, but in the end the story just made me roll my eyes too much and fell too flat.
The whole premise of this book was unrealistic. The main character Grace was unlikable and completely ridiculous. The idea that she needed to stalk her ex boyfriend whose heart she broke years ago because she believes he didn't move on, was not something I could convince myself a sane person would ever do. It was presented as if this was a totally normal and reasonable thing. My guess was because of this Grace would end up being the psycho but nope, that twist never came.
Grace talks about how amazing her ex Sutton was but then she becomes friends with his wife, Campbell, who quickly convinces Grace that Sutton has done a complete 180 and turned into a wife-beating, controlling abuser. Because Grace is so out of touch with reality, she assumes that breaking up with Sutton all those years ago must have drove him insane. Now she needs to save his wife from the monster she created.
The secondary story about Grace's adoptive mom being in prison for killing her husband's mistress and the nanny who was a suspect in the disappearance of Grace's real mom (and also pretended to be someone else for a while???) who is missing, just completely falls flat. No resolution is given except that Grace decides she can move on and let go of her darkness and transform into a new person. Only I couldn't have cared less because Grace really isn't likable and it didn't matter to me what happened to her. And why such a convoluted back story if it will never be elaborated on and developed?
The ending was not realistic to me. Campbell tricking Grace into coming to an isolated cabin, and revealing that SHE is actually the nut case who is (of course) jealous of Grace, and needs to kill her was a little bit of a surprise. But the whole rescue scenario was silly. Sutton shows up, pretends he wants to kill Grace too, tells Campbell to go in another room and stay there. Then he puts a gun to Grace's back and takes her to the woods. He really is leading her to safety however. I still don't understand why miles into a hike through the woods, well away from his wife, Sutton still had to pretend he was really going to kill Grace. Then he tells her to run. And she ends up bumping right into the cops. Later she finds out he was actually a good guy.
I gave the book 2 stars because the premise was so unbelievable with no satisfactory resolutions or surprises, to the point it took enjoyment out of it...I wanted to give it 3 stars which means I finished it and it was good enough to keep my interest as a nice time waster, even if a little silly, but in the end the story just made me roll my eyes too much and fell too flat.
April 2, 2021
I love when when Kindle First has an author that I know and like. Although this can be read as a stand alone, some of the same characters appear in The Memory Watcher. The family's dark past is mentioned in this one, but not in great detail, so I recommend that book too!
The book never dragged, it's not that long, and it kept me asking if I had time for one more chapter. It took some interesting turns, taking me by surprise a couple of times.
Grace is not the most likable character. She's closed off and uncomfortable around most people. Considering her upbringing, I found it understandable and I admired how direct she was. She's concerned that she ruined her ex-boyfriend by leaving him years prior and comes home to check things out under the guise of visiting her family. But this ALSO forces Grace to interact with her family and it turns out to be a very good thing for her.
Her befriending her ex's wife was weird/stalker-ish, and it became odder as the story went on. Who was stalking who? When things got dire for Grace, she was forced to take a really hard look at her life , which ultimately turned out to be a good thing.
The book never dragged, it's not that long, and it kept me asking if I had time for one more chapter. It took some interesting turns, taking me by surprise a couple of times.
Grace is not the most likable character. She's closed off and uncomfortable around most people. Considering her upbringing, I found it understandable and I admired how direct she was. She's concerned that she ruined her ex-boyfriend by leaving him years prior and comes home to check things out under the guise of visiting her family. But this ALSO forces Grace to interact with her family and it turns out to be a very good thing for her.
Her befriending her ex's wife was weird/stalker-ish, and it became odder as the story went on. Who was stalking who? When things got dire for Grace, she was forced to take a really hard look at her life , which ultimately turned out to be a good thing.
May 8, 2021
Grace McMullen left the man she loved 8 years ago. She has a troubled past and did not want him to have to deal with her baggage.
She's been following him online just to make sure he's okay ... but what she finds is troubling. He has moved on ... back to her hometown. Married a woman who could be her double. Has a young daughter named Grace. Now she's afraid that he hasn't moved on at all.
Making a decision, she goes back to her hometown, meets with her family that she's avoided for years and finds that the ex-boyfriend lives only a few blocks away. She waits ... and she watches.
An accidental meeting of his wife, Campbell, a friendship develops. Campbell has no idea that Grace is her husband's ex-girlfriend. According to Campbell, her husband has become manipulative, controlling, and threatening. Campbell has shown up more than once with suspicious bruises.
Did he do this much changing because she walked away from him? And how does she protect Campbell and her daughter? Who can she trust?
Grace becomes this creepy stalker that leads to places she does not want to visit. She has a dysfunctional family ... she was adopted and never felt that she belonged. Her adoptive mother, after finding that her husband was cheating, murdered the girlfriend and now resides behind bars for the next 20 or so years.
This is well-written, a little on the creepy side, with characters that are solidly drawn. Grace comes across as a very troubled woman, and unpredictable in her actions. There's a lot going on between the covers of this book, and every bit of it is compelling. The ending was quite surprising.
Many thanks to the author / Amazon Publishing / Thomas & Mercer / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
May 17, 2021
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enjoyable (if maybe a bit predicable)
PROS
-- This author has a very readable way to her writing.
-- Fast paced
-- Quick read
-- Engaging plot
-- Likable characters
-- Satisfying ending
CONS
-- Grace wasn't the most likable of characters.
-- As I mentioned above, this was a pretty predictable read. I figured out how this was going to go from early on.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
PROS
-- This author has a very readable way to her writing.
-- Fast paced
-- Quick read
-- Engaging plot
-- Likable characters
-- Satisfying ending
CONS
-- Grace wasn't the most likable of characters.
-- As I mentioned above, this was a pretty predictable read. I figured out how this was going to go from early on.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
May 5, 2021
Lady thrillers (unless there’s a more suitable moniker for these ever so popular female authored female centric genre)…there are the good, the crappy and the perfectly decent ones somewhere in between. Minka Kent writes the latter variety. Consistently so. This is the third book I’ve read by her to the same effect and personally I do appreciate consistency. Meaning it’s essentially a good enough book well written and diverting, but it just doesn’t have that wow can’t put you down factor.
Watcher Girl features a 30 year old protagonist named Grace who as the title suggests is a somewhat remote person. Not just because she works remotely, scrubbing undesirable information from the internet, but also in her personal life, in the ways she comports herself, etc. You can’t really blame Grace, when she was just ten her mom went to prison for life for killing her dad’s mistress and then there was an exploitive tell all book about it and the entire thing just really put Grace off relationships, familial and otherwise. She’s been estranged from her two siblings and her father for years and haven’t visited her dad in ages, she can’t even commit to a living situation, drifting around from city to city. Until one day, somewhat suddenly her conscience kicks into overdrive and she decides to go back to apologize to her first and only love, Sutton, for leaving him.
The idea is that she believes he’s having a tough time from what she gathers online, but in reality he seems to be fine, employed, married, a new dad. Sure, he married a woman who looks like Grace’s doppelganger, sure, he’s named his daughter Grace, but otherwise…fine.
So Grace returns with best intentions and all and proceeds to do the thing she does best…watch. Though as it soon turns out passive and/or clandestine watching in a town that small is all but impossible and soon she’s getting all kinds of involved in things best left alone.
And there you have it, a basic love triangle of a story with a few other elements thrown in. It may not be the most thrilling thriller out there and the twist is somewhat predictable, but the writing and character development are the loadbearing elements here. Plus it’s told through a single narrator and timeline, which is nice, for a change. Plus it’s only 236 pages, practically lightweight for a genre that normally go well above 300, often for no reason but sheer volume. So the overall effect is that of an entertaining quick mindless sort of read. And that’s exactly what was expected. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
Watcher Girl features a 30 year old protagonist named Grace who as the title suggests is a somewhat remote person. Not just because she works remotely, scrubbing undesirable information from the internet, but also in her personal life, in the ways she comports herself, etc. You can’t really blame Grace, when she was just ten her mom went to prison for life for killing her dad’s mistress and then there was an exploitive tell all book about it and the entire thing just really put Grace off relationships, familial and otherwise. She’s been estranged from her two siblings and her father for years and haven’t visited her dad in ages, she can’t even commit to a living situation, drifting around from city to city. Until one day, somewhat suddenly her conscience kicks into overdrive and she decides to go back to apologize to her first and only love, Sutton, for leaving him.
The idea is that she believes he’s having a tough time from what she gathers online, but in reality he seems to be fine, employed, married, a new dad. Sure, he married a woman who looks like Grace’s doppelganger, sure, he’s named his daughter Grace, but otherwise…fine.
So Grace returns with best intentions and all and proceeds to do the thing she does best…watch. Though as it soon turns out passive and/or clandestine watching in a town that small is all but impossible and soon she’s getting all kinds of involved in things best left alone.
And there you have it, a basic love triangle of a story with a few other elements thrown in. It may not be the most thrilling thriller out there and the twist is somewhat predictable, but the writing and character development are the loadbearing elements here. Plus it’s told through a single narrator and timeline, which is nice, for a change. Plus it’s only 236 pages, practically lightweight for a genre that normally go well above 300, often for no reason but sheer volume. So the overall effect is that of an entertaining quick mindless sort of read. And that’s exactly what was expected. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
May 6, 2021
Wow! What a change from this authors last couple of books. This one is fantastic while I wasn’t a huge fan of the others. So glad I picked this one up and I look forward to reading more from her.
May 8, 2021
An Amazon First Reads pick. Fast-paced and entertaining mystery thriller.
May 7, 2024
The Watcher Girl (audio) 2.25⭐️
I’m working my way through Minka Kent’s full collection. If you add this to your TBR I recommend reading The Memory Watcher first. I didn’t realize they were tied together until I started listening, (besides finding it interesting she had two books closely named). It can be a standalone read, but I’m glad I read the other one first. Unfortunately both of these books just didn’t hit the way the other Kent books do for me. This started as a fine domestic suspense, but the ending took a nosedive.
I’m working my way through Minka Kent’s full collection. If you add this to your TBR I recommend reading The Memory Watcher first. I didn’t realize they were tied together until I started listening, (besides finding it interesting she had two books closely named). It can be a standalone read, but I’m glad I read the other one first. Unfortunately both of these books just didn’t hit the way the other Kent books do for me. This started as a fine domestic suspense, but the ending took a nosedive.
October 27, 2021
Honestly, I'm surprised the author could fit Grace's ego within the pages of this story. It's so large. After about 4-5 chapters of her thinking so highly of herself, I was done. I skipped to the end, shook my head at the absurdity of it all and closed my kindle. Best thing I ever did.
May 6, 2021
This was a bland and underwhelming domestic suspense novel that failed to deliver, despite having some intriguing elements and a promising start.
I got this for free as part of the Amazon Kindle Monthly picks. It seemed like the most interesting of the bunch. Otherwise, I wouldn't have willingly purchased it going by the grey cover alone.
I have not read any of the author's previous books before. The blurb presented this as a standalone novel, but it was only upon reading some GR reviews, I discovered this was a spin-off novel on one of the characters in the author's novel entitled 'THE MEMORY WATCHER'. But I suppose a first time reader can read it as a stand-alone if they wish. But be warned that some of the previous events which occurred in the first book will not be expanded upon.
The Plot: It started off alright and there was nice air of mystery and suspense surrounding both the plot and characters. A young woman Grace (in psychological thrillers, it seems Grace is a very popular name choice), has returned back to her hometown to apologise to her ex-boyfriend Sutton about how she left him broken hearted upon their split. He's married to a look-alike woman Campbell, has a baby daughter also named Grace, and it seems he's moved on with his life.
The troubled and narcissistic Grace's arrival sets up a troubling and destructive motion of events that threaten to disrupt the married couple's happiness. But are appearance's deceptive? Or is Grace losing it?
Cons:
1) Silly character names: Bliss. Campbell. Sutton. It was a bit much.
2) Annoying, toxic MC: Grace got annoying really quick. Having to read her bitchy and infuriating ramblings was a chore. She whined a lot of the time. It was hard to feel much sympathy for her 'hard-done-by' routine. She wasn't a likeable character, not even to her rich family. She's the type of person that is toxic to everyone she meets. She sucks the joy out any situation. I'm sure we've all met a lot of people like that in our lives, unfortunately.
I don't expect book characters to be likeable, especially in my thrillers, but Grace had practically nothing going for her. She just sat around moaning and judging everyone. She was a seriously unhappy person that loved to create drama. I would have been happy if Campbell had got her way and killed her. What a whinger!!
3) Adoption subplot that just went nowhere. Grace is trying to find info about her bio mother, but nothing is resolved at the end.
Pros
1) Career/Hobbies of MC:
Grace works as a dark web specialist. This means she is paid to get rid of dirt on people and clean up their social media profiles. I would have liked to hear more about that, or at least the author could have developed that part of her character more. Only a short mention of a cryptocurrency exchange and that was that.
2) Dysfunctional Family/Murderer Mother. There was a subplot surrounding her rich and supposedly perfect adopted mother being locked in a prison for murdering one of the womanizer husband's girlfriends. I thought that would be expanded upon, so was confused when it was just mentioned briefly in the novel. But this is a spin-off.
3) Decent writing. Everything flowed well. It didn't feel too clunky or clumsy.
After reading TWG, I won't read the first novel because I got put off by the shoddy and disappointing characterisation and the predictable way the plot developed. Also, it seemed towards the middle the story seemed to sag as though the author was making stuff up on the fly. How many times can these characters keep bumping into each other in the supermarket? It just didn't feel believable.
The writing was ok (hence a very generous 2 star rating), if very rushed towards the final third.
Overall, a trashy, quick read that will leave you feeling unsatisfied.
I got this for free as part of the Amazon Kindle Monthly picks. It seemed like the most interesting of the bunch. Otherwise, I wouldn't have willingly purchased it going by the grey cover alone.
I have not read any of the author's previous books before. The blurb presented this as a standalone novel, but it was only upon reading some GR reviews, I discovered this was a spin-off novel on one of the characters in the author's novel entitled 'THE MEMORY WATCHER'. But I suppose a first time reader can read it as a stand-alone if they wish. But be warned that some of the previous events which occurred in the first book will not be expanded upon.
The Plot: It started off alright and there was nice air of mystery and suspense surrounding both the plot and characters. A young woman Grace (in psychological thrillers, it seems Grace is a very popular name choice), has returned back to her hometown to apologise to her ex-boyfriend Sutton about how she left him broken hearted upon their split. He's married to a look-alike woman Campbell, has a baby daughter also named Grace, and it seems he's moved on with his life.
The troubled and narcissistic Grace's arrival sets up a troubling and destructive motion of events that threaten to disrupt the married couple's happiness. But are appearance's deceptive? Or is Grace losing it?
Cons:
1) Silly character names: Bliss. Campbell. Sutton. It was a bit much.
2) Annoying, toxic MC: Grace got annoying really quick. Having to read her bitchy and infuriating ramblings was a chore. She whined a lot of the time. It was hard to feel much sympathy for her 'hard-done-by' routine. She wasn't a likeable character, not even to her rich family. She's the type of person that is toxic to everyone she meets. She sucks the joy out any situation. I'm sure we've all met a lot of people like that in our lives, unfortunately.
I don't expect book characters to be likeable, especially in my thrillers, but Grace had practically nothing going for her. She just sat around moaning and judging everyone. She was a seriously unhappy person that loved to create drama. I would have been happy if Campbell had got her way and killed her. What a whinger!!
3) Adoption subplot that just went nowhere. Grace is trying to find info about her bio mother, but nothing is resolved at the end.
Pros
1) Career/Hobbies of MC:
Grace works as a dark web specialist. This means she is paid to get rid of dirt on people and clean up their social media profiles. I would have liked to hear more about that, or at least the author could have developed that part of her character more. Only a short mention of a cryptocurrency exchange and that was that.
2) Dysfunctional Family/Murderer Mother. There was a subplot surrounding her rich and supposedly perfect adopted mother being locked in a prison for murdering one of the womanizer husband's girlfriends. I thought that would be expanded upon, so was confused when it was just mentioned briefly in the novel. But this is a spin-off.
3) Decent writing. Everything flowed well. It didn't feel too clunky or clumsy.
After reading TWG, I won't read the first novel because I got put off by the shoddy and disappointing characterisation and the predictable way the plot developed. Also, it seemed towards the middle the story seemed to sag as though the author was making stuff up on the fly. How many times can these characters keep bumping into each other in the supermarket? It just didn't feel believable.
The writing was ok (hence a very generous 2 star rating), if very rushed towards the final third.
Overall, a trashy, quick read that will leave you feeling unsatisfied.
April 10, 2021
Grace and Sutton broke up years ago. Sutton has a new life with Grace’s look alike wife and a daughter named Grace. Grace and Sutton’s wife Campbell become friends. This is where the story begins with obsession and Grace’s questioning of Sutton’s behavior. I highly recommend this thriller! Suspicions, Sharpness and Unexpected Ending! 4.5 stars! I received an early advance copy from Goodreads. Many thanks for this!
May 7, 2021
Really good, fast paced thriller. Super fast paced, at 233 pages there are no wasted words. I saw a few of the twists coming a mile away but still a very enjoyable read.
May 5, 2021
WHO WATCHES THE WATCHER?
“I was born with a darkness inside. Hard to love.”
Seeing isn’t always believing.
We’re all just voyeurs along for the tense ride in twisty and mysterious THE GIRL WATCHER with its fresh spin on stalking and obsession. Romance author Winter Renshaw carves out a real niche for herself in psych thriller/suspense as her alter ego Minka Kent in each enticing book. A simple plan goes awry for heroine Grace (30), an unemotional loner who’s been estranged from her adoptive family for a decade. Grace can’t commit and has a bad case of wanderlust. Her only anchor is a job as an internet sanitizer removing bad things for clients on the dark web. She stalks for a living.
Grace finally comes home to apologize and give closure to ex college beau Sutton for vanishing without a trace and breaking his heart, after some internet stalking convinces her that she hurt Sutton far worse than imagined. So bad that he married her lookalike, has a toddler named after her, and relocated a few blocks from Grace’s dad and his latest girlfriend. How is Sutton not over her and coincidentally living in Grace’s hometown? The answer lies in stalking and obsession.
This isn’t just a simple stalking story. It’s multi-layered with unexpected complications and hidden agendas. There’s alot of subtext about things in the past and present that she thinks she knows, but does she really? Is she a reliable narrator in her own life or is she missing details?
As Grace’s stalking of Sutton’s family compounds, she convinces herself of truths that might be lies in a pageturning mystery that made me suspicious of everyone and not sure I had a handle on any of it. There’s the strange behavior of Sutton’s apparently abused wife Campbell, Grace’s realization that Sutton is nothing like the man she once knew, and that her own adoptive family’s secrets are not as they appear to be, nor is her place in the family. As she befriends Campbell, getting emotionally invested spells trouble for her with the discovery of some family skeletons and realization that her assumptions and truths are unreliable.
While Grace is watching everyone else, who is watching Grace?
There are several roadblocks laid out in a measured pace that increasingly drew me in and anxious for answers. The perfection on the surface of Sutton’s family and her own family actually hides the imperfections underneath. A nail-biting big reveal came with a surprise I’d suspected and ones that shocked me, and left me so curious about the ambiguous nature of another. Despite the bittersweet journey, Grace finds some uplifting closure of her own.
“We all have our fears, and oftentimes those fears dictate exactly how we live our lives – whether we realize it or not. I had it all wrong. Life has a twisted sense of humor."
“I was born with a darkness inside. Hard to love.”
Seeing isn’t always believing.
We’re all just voyeurs along for the tense ride in twisty and mysterious THE GIRL WATCHER with its fresh spin on stalking and obsession. Romance author Winter Renshaw carves out a real niche for herself in psych thriller/suspense as her alter ego Minka Kent in each enticing book. A simple plan goes awry for heroine Grace (30), an unemotional loner who’s been estranged from her adoptive family for a decade. Grace can’t commit and has a bad case of wanderlust. Her only anchor is a job as an internet sanitizer removing bad things for clients on the dark web. She stalks for a living.
Grace finally comes home to apologize and give closure to ex college beau Sutton for vanishing without a trace and breaking his heart, after some internet stalking convinces her that she hurt Sutton far worse than imagined. So bad that he married her lookalike, has a toddler named after her, and relocated a few blocks from Grace’s dad and his latest girlfriend. How is Sutton not over her and coincidentally living in Grace’s hometown? The answer lies in stalking and obsession.
This isn’t just a simple stalking story. It’s multi-layered with unexpected complications and hidden agendas. There’s alot of subtext about things in the past and present that she thinks she knows, but does she really? Is she a reliable narrator in her own life or is she missing details?
As Grace’s stalking of Sutton’s family compounds, she convinces herself of truths that might be lies in a pageturning mystery that made me suspicious of everyone and not sure I had a handle on any of it. There’s the strange behavior of Sutton’s apparently abused wife Campbell, Grace’s realization that Sutton is nothing like the man she once knew, and that her own adoptive family’s secrets are not as they appear to be, nor is her place in the family. As she befriends Campbell, getting emotionally invested spells trouble for her with the discovery of some family skeletons and realization that her assumptions and truths are unreliable.
While Grace is watching everyone else, who is watching Grace?
There are several roadblocks laid out in a measured pace that increasingly drew me in and anxious for answers. The perfection on the surface of Sutton’s family and her own family actually hides the imperfections underneath. A nail-biting big reveal came with a surprise I’d suspected and ones that shocked me, and left me so curious about the ambiguous nature of another. Despite the bittersweet journey, Grace finds some uplifting closure of her own.
“We all have our fears, and oftentimes those fears dictate exactly how we live our lives – whether we realize it or not. I had it all wrong. Life has a twisted sense of humor."
October 16, 2021
The Watcher Girl is my sixth book by this author. This book is a psychological thriller.
The narrator is 30 year old Grace McMullen (1st person POV). Her job as an internet sanitizer (removing things online) was so unique and fascinating.
She returns home to her dad's house after many years away. She has come back to apologize to her ex, Sutton.
This book is connected to The Memory Watcher. However it can be read as a standalone.
There were so many intriguing characters in this book including Grace, Sutton and his new wife Campbell. I also really enjoyed Grace's sister Rose. And her father's girlfriend, Bliss.
This was an enjoyable read with lots of short chapters. My only real issue is that a certain part was a bit too predictable. But that said the story kept my attention, the characters were very interesting, and the ending was very good.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and netgalley for allowing me to read this book.
January 22, 2025
It was predictable, and lacked a back story. This is one of the cases where it would have been nice to have flashback chapters, so we could understand Grace and Sutton’s relationship better. The side story about her family and being adopted took up too much of the book and wasn’t really that relevant in the end! This one was a miss for me but I’ve enjoyed other books by this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2021
This was a fantastic book! I've read 4 books by Minka Kent. Two I thought were o.k., "The Roommate" and "When I Was You". The other one, "The Memory Watcher", was also a five star read. I read it quite a while ago, and I didn't realize right away that this book is the sequel! At the end of "The Memory Watcher", we were left wondering what was going to happen to 10 year old Grace, a troubled, sad little girl. This book opens with 30 year old Grace returning to her childhood home. Her mother is still in prison, and her father is living there with his new girlfriend, who has the unlikely name of Bliss. The reason Grace has returned home is because she is worried about her ex-boyfriend.
Grace broke up with Sutton when she was 22, after dating him for four years. She still loved him. The reason she left him is because Grace was worried about her own character and the havoc she believed she wrought on other people. She saw herself as being a destructive person who had an uncontrollable impulse to destroy anything good. She described Sutton as being "perfect", a kind, sensitive, optimistic guy, and she didn't want to ruin him by continuing to be with him. Now, 8 years later, she had discovered some disturbing info about him. He was married to a woman who strongly resembled her. He had moved into her hometown, three blocks away from her parents' home. His baby daughter was named Grace! Grace decided the reason for all of this was because he had never gotten over her. He married a woman who looked like her, named his baby after her, and moved to her hometown. She wants to meet up with him, to let him know how sorry she was for hurting him and that it wasn't because she didn't love him, or because he had done anything wrong, it was because she loved him so much she couldn't stay with him and destroy his life. The problem is, instead of just trying to contact him, she wanted to set things up to make it look like she just ran into him. In order to do that, she has to investigate his life, to arrange this random meeting. She actually runs into his wife instead, and things get complicated.
There's no need to read "The Memory Watcher" first in order to understand this book. Grace gives enough background info to understand what happened 20 years ago and how it affected her life.
Grace broke up with Sutton when she was 22, after dating him for four years. She still loved him. The reason she left him is because Grace was worried about her own character and the havoc she believed she wrought on other people. She saw herself as being a destructive person who had an uncontrollable impulse to destroy anything good. She described Sutton as being "perfect", a kind, sensitive, optimistic guy, and she didn't want to ruin him by continuing to be with him. Now, 8 years later, she had discovered some disturbing info about him. He was married to a woman who strongly resembled her. He had moved into her hometown, three blocks away from her parents' home. His baby daughter was named Grace! Grace decided the reason for all of this was because he had never gotten over her. He married a woman who looked like her, named his baby after her, and moved to her hometown. She wants to meet up with him, to let him know how sorry she was for hurting him and that it wasn't because she didn't love him, or because he had done anything wrong, it was because she loved him so much she couldn't stay with him and destroy his life. The problem is, instead of just trying to contact him, she wanted to set things up to make it look like she just ran into him. In order to do that, she has to investigate his life, to arrange this random meeting. She actually runs into his wife instead, and things get complicated.
There's no need to read "The Memory Watcher" first in order to understand this book. Grace gives enough background info to understand what happened 20 years ago and how it affected her life.
March 21, 2021
Adopted by the McMullens as a child Grace she’s always felt like an outsider. When her adoptive mother commits a crime and is sent to prison for life Graces life is changed forever. Now an adult she struggles with trust and allowing people to get close to her, she was in love once with a man named Sutton, but ended it suddenly and it’s something she feels guilt over. Grace feels more comfortable behind a computer and she works with the dark web taking pages and pictures down. Grace has decided to head home and see her family ,and while she’s there she’s going to explain her actions to Sutton and finally put it behind her. Sutton is now married and has a baby daughter and she’s shocked that the little girl is also named Grace, and his wife could be Graces twin. In a chance meeting Grace bumps into Sutton’s wife Campbell and they meet for coffee, Grace doesn’t tell Campbell who she really is but she notices some bruises on Campbell and how it appears she’s nervous all the time, what’s really going on behind closed doors, is Campbell in danger. Grace soon finds herself heading down a path filled with sinister motives and secrets and even obsession. I truly enjoyed this book it’s so much more than a thriller it also shows it’s ok to accept who you are and opening up to family and loving yourself and your flaws and letting the past go. Four stars!
June 1, 2021
3.5 Just Checking, OK Stars
* * * 1/2 Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
Oh, how we have such a hard time letting go. We have clutter in our homes and it turns out we have clutter in our minds, too. Relationships may be over but the need to see what is happening with those exes is hard to let go of. Thank goodness we have the groundbreaking new technology today to helps keep up.
Yes, there is Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. All the ways to stay connected to others and this is how Grace McMullen is making sure Sutton Whitlock has moved on from the relationship she ended with him. As Grace looks deeper and deeper into Sutton's new life, she sees many disturbing things. She decides to move back to the same town as him to truly make sure he heals.
Only that is not exactly what happens, instead, Grace becomes friends with Sutton's new wife. She sees things that may not be the best for this woman and daughter and must decide how to handle what she sees.
All this from watching and tracking from the net. What Grace seems to have forgotten is someone could be watching her too.
The Watcher Girl
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
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* * * 1/2 Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
Oh, how we have such a hard time letting go. We have clutter in our homes and it turns out we have clutter in our minds, too. Relationships may be over but the need to see what is happening with those exes is hard to let go of. Thank goodness we have the groundbreaking new technology today to helps keep up.
Yes, there is Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. All the ways to stay connected to others and this is how Grace McMullen is making sure Sutton Whitlock has moved on from the relationship she ended with him. As Grace looks deeper and deeper into Sutton's new life, she sees many disturbing things. She decides to move back to the same town as him to truly make sure he heals.
Only that is not exactly what happens, instead, Grace becomes friends with Sutton's new wife. She sees things that may not be the best for this woman and daughter and must decide how to handle what she sees.
All this from watching and tracking from the net. What Grace seems to have forgotten is someone could be watching her too.
The Watcher Girlhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
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May 11, 2021
"The Watcher Girl" proves coincidences don't exist.
After avoiding Monarch Falls for nearly a decade, Grace returns to her hometown to confront her ex. Sutton, the former love of her life and the man whose heart she broke, recently moved to her hometown, married a woman who looks eerily like Grace, and has a newborn daughter...named Grace. Thinking that she was only making a quick stop into her past to settle Sutton's apparent obsession, Grace soon realizes she has to confront her own buried demons.
With a premise of obsessive exes and confronting one's past, "The Watcher Girl" immediately grabbed my attention as a promising domestic suspense. This book is a loose sequel of "The Memory Watcher", though there's enough context given that you can read this as a standalone. Beneath the intrigue of this possible doppelganger premise, the plotline of Grace drudging up her family's twisted past and rebuilding broken relationships plays an equally (if not more) important role in the book's progression. While I enjoyed unraveling the truth of Sutton's new family, the tension was lacking and didn't drive home the suspense. Sometimes Grace's naivete and thought process felt like a purposeful attempt at misleading the reader more than it did a genuine contribution to the character's development. There were several side plots with Grace and various family members and they all felt like they were too easily resolved. It was often Grace asking a lot of questions and everyone giving her the exact answers she wanted.
If you're interested in a book about family drama with a side suspense plot, "The Watcher Girl" would be a great book to add to your shelf.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for this ARC.
After avoiding Monarch Falls for nearly a decade, Grace returns to her hometown to confront her ex. Sutton, the former love of her life and the man whose heart she broke, recently moved to her hometown, married a woman who looks eerily like Grace, and has a newborn daughter...named Grace. Thinking that she was only making a quick stop into her past to settle Sutton's apparent obsession, Grace soon realizes she has to confront her own buried demons.
With a premise of obsessive exes and confronting one's past, "The Watcher Girl" immediately grabbed my attention as a promising domestic suspense. This book is a loose sequel of "The Memory Watcher", though there's enough context given that you can read this as a standalone. Beneath the intrigue of this possible doppelganger premise, the plotline of Grace drudging up her family's twisted past and rebuilding broken relationships plays an equally (if not more) important role in the book's progression. While I enjoyed unraveling the truth of Sutton's new family, the tension was lacking and didn't drive home the suspense. Sometimes Grace's naivete and thought process felt like a purposeful attempt at misleading the reader more than it did a genuine contribution to the character's development. There were several side plots with Grace and various family members and they all felt like they were too easily resolved. It was often Grace asking a lot of questions and everyone giving her the exact answers she wanted.
If you're interested in a book about family drama with a side suspense plot, "The Watcher Girl" would be a great book to add to your shelf.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for this ARC.
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