Official Review: Somebody’s Watching You
Authors and publishers are not able to post replies in the review topics.
- Caroline Anne Richmond
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 755
- Joined: 24 May 2020, 17:41
- Currently Reading: The Little Book of Bad Intentions
- Bookshelf Size: 147
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-caroline-anne-richmond.html
- Latest Review: Alpha Buddies Land by Donna Marie Rink
Official Review: Somebody’s Watching You
Somebody’s Watching You is a fictional novel written by Robin D’Amato. This book is full of suspense and will appeal to adults who enjoy the thriller genre. The book tells the story of a couple from Long Island who becomes dangerously involved in a cult and fight to gain back their freedom.
Melody met Jeff in a live music bar in Long Island. Melody is a freelance interior designer, and Jeff is a DJ at a local radio station. They immediately hit it off and enjoy talking about their mutual love of music. They both have a dream of living in New York City but are excited to buy a perfect home in Long Island, with enough space for their very own music room.
Ten years later, Jeff has taken a turn for the worst with his mental health. He is suffering from depression. He hardly laughs or communicates and often stays in bed for days on end. Melody has taken a lot of time away from work to stay at home and care for Jeff. One day, out of the blue, Jeff gets out of bed, showers, and takes the car for a drive. Melody begins to worry as time passes on, but he returns with a book. This book was given to him by Floyd from the Church of Philomathics, and the book is by their deceased founder E.W. Peabody. Jeff spends more time with Floyd and at the Church, and his health improves, although Melody feels perturbed by his disquieting smile. Melody supports her husband and pretends she is interested in his new religious teachings, but she soon realises the unnatural hold this organisation has over their lives. Melody finds out first-hand the dangers of this oppressive belief system.
This novel cleverly describes how religious organisations with cult mentalities prey on vulnerable people. I liked how the author gave Jeff an illness that made him open to persuasion and control. The book shows mechanisms of brain-washing individuals and reminds the reader that this could happen to any one of us. The author builds tension in the book as the pressure of the cult becomes more intense. The book is a real page-turner, and I found it very hard to put down. As a reader, I felt empathy, concern, fear, and anger for the characters as the story progressed and an increasing hatred for the Church of Philomathics and its zombie-like followers.
I enjoyed the characters in the book. Their meeting was romantic, and it was nice to read about the progression of their relationship. The depression Jeff suffered with is hard to read, and the constant imposition of the church members is intolerable. Throughout the book, I desperately wanted things to work out for the couple and for those with bad intentions to be punished. The author has provided lead characters that deserve a happy ending.
The author includes workplace tension for Melody. This part of the story is relatable to anyone who has had issues with work colleagues and makes the reader admire Melody’s strength. She handles these problems with dignity and intelligence, and I thought she was an admirable and strong female lead character.
I didn’t find anything to dislike about this book, and I didn’t find any spelling or grammar errors, so I believe it is exceptionally edited. I loved the storyline and thought it was scary that this fictional story reminded me of other religious belief systems and how they may behave in ways similar to those described in this book. I loved the characters, and I enjoyed the build-up of suspense and tension. I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. Any adult reader will enjoy this book who likes a thrilling tale about unscrupulous religious organisations who prey on the vulnerable and use threatening and unlawful tactics to intimidate their members.
******
Somebody’s Watching You
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
- The frant1c reader
- Posts: 178
- Joined: 06 Jun 2020, 16:51
- Favorite Book: Crime and Punshment
- Currently Reading: The Fox
- Bookshelf Size: 172
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-the-frant1c-reader.html
- Latest Review: We are Voulhire: The Fires of Virko by Matthew Tysz
~Dune.
- Urvashi Tripathi
- Posts: 247
- Joined: 25 May 2021, 03:08
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 121
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-urvashi-tripathi.html
- Latest Review: The Different Kinds Of Monsters by Seth Chambers
-
- Posts: 44
- Joined: 01 Aug 2023, 09:04
- Currently Reading: Their Winter Burn
- Bookshelf Size: 39
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-trungdn.html
- Latest Review: Unlight by Chandra Shekhar
Gripping plot: The novel's plot is tightly constructed and logical. The events are interwoven in a clever way, making it impossible to predict what will happen next.
Well-developed characters: The characters in the novel are very realistic and believable. You will easily empathize with them and you will want to know what happens to them.
Surprise ending: The novel's ending is very surprising and it will make you think.
If you are a fan of the thriller genre, then you should definitely read this book. Somebody’s Watching You is a suspenseful novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
-
- Posts: 102
- Joined: 28 Aug 2021, 03:10
- Currently Reading: Healing Wounds of the Soul
- Bookshelf Size: 27
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-sia-young.html
- Latest Review: The Shanghai Circle by Tony Henderson
- 2024 Reading Goal: 20
- 2024 Goal Completion: 35%
- Hazel Mae Bagarinao
- Posts: 3408
- Joined: 20 Mar 2022, 06:53
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 148
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-hazel-mae-bagarinao.html
- Latest Review: The Sound of Creation by Gabriella Zielke
-
- Posts: 16
- Joined: 13 Mar 2023, 02:10
- Currently Reading: Terms of Service
- Bookshelf Size: 7
- Margi zuu202
- Posts: 1151
- Joined: 01 Aug 2022, 06:08
- Favorite Book: Living in Color
- Currently Reading: Water Bound (Sisters of the Heart, #1)
- Bookshelf Size: 84191
- 2024 Reading Goal: 1000
- 2024 Goal Completion: 1177%
- Nemanja Jankovic
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 700
- Joined: 27 Aug 2022, 07:12
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 546
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-nemanja-jankovic.html
- Latest Review: Phobia Relief by Kalliope Barlis
- Domeseo Camus Meda
- Posts: 222
- Joined: 20 Jun 2019, 07:18
- Currently Reading: The Stealthy Viral Pimpernel
- Bookshelf Size: 195
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-domeseo-camus-meda.html
- Latest Review: The Beautiful Business by Steven Morris
A BOOK FOR ADULT FANS OF SCIENCE FICTION AND THRILLER.GOOD REVIEW
-
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 173
- Joined: 26 Jun 2023, 07:23
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 22
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-catherine-radford.html
- Latest Review: Fish Wielder by J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison
- Asma Aisha Ansari
- Posts: 2074
- Joined: 28 Oct 2020, 12:09
- Favorite Book: Roadside Picnic
- Currently Reading: Sapiens
- Bookshelf Size: 813
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-asma-aisha-ansari.html
- Latest Review: Niching Up by Chris Dreyer
- Unique Esther 20
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 13 Aug 2023, 06:37
- Bookshelf Size: 0
The Novel ending is very surprising I recommend you read this novel. It’s a good novel
- Emjopin
- Posts: 210
- Joined: 03 Jun 2018, 10:43
- Favorite Book: The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci
- Currently Reading: Lost Secret of the Ancient Ones
- Bookshelf Size: 127
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-emjopin.html
- Latest Review: The Unbound Soul by Richard L. Haight
-
- Posts: 49
- Joined: 13 Aug 2023, 03:25
- Currently Reading: Snatched Up to Heaven for Kids
- Bookshelf Size: 16
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-noorko.html
- Latest Review: Their Winter Burn by Mary Ann Trail