In the new psychological thriller, Watching You Without Me, Karen returns home to Nova Scotia to close down her deceased mother’s house. But her original plans to put her “250-pound mentally handicapped” older sister, Kelli, in a group home are upended when she meets the charismatic caregiver, Trevor.
The pacing in this book is more like woman’s fiction or even gothic novels than like a modern thriller. It’s more a slow-boil of atmospheric dread than a race to the conclusion. However, the character building is finely honed. Everyone, even the “villain”, only act as a real person would in the same situation. Nothing they do feels solely like a plot device. Unfortunately, I found the conclusion disappointing so 3 stars. If you like slice-of-life literary fiction, you will probably rate it higher.
Thanks to Knopf Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.