The only other book I have read by Lisa Jewell is Then She Was Gone, which I absolutely loved. I found Watching You to be completely different, but still a wonderful read.
The novel follows a wide array of characters, but mainly focuses on Melville Heights- a nice neighborhood in Bristol, England- and those who leave there or close by. Tom Fitzwilliam, the headmaster at a local school, is adored by everyone he comes into contact with, including his neighbor, Joey Mullen. She quickly strikes up a fascination with him, and is always on the lookout for a glimpse of him. Tom's son Freddie enjoys observing the actions of his neighbors, and has noticed the way Joey behaves around his father.
Freddie especially enjoys watching one of Tom's students Jenna Tripp. She is one of the few people who is unconvinced of Mr. Fitzwilliams' charm.
There is a lot going on in Watching You, but Jewell manages to write in a way that keeps the plot from being confusing or unbelievable. I didn't find myself attaching to any of the characters, but I still needed to know what happened to them. I also love the way the mystery progressed. In the beginning it just felt like a standard small town drama. But as the plot continued, I began to realizes that something sinister was occurring. At one moment I suspected one person, only to realize it was actually someone else.
I did figure out the outcome of the novel before it was revealed, but it did not take away from the story for me. I love the way Lisa Jewell writes and I will certainly be looking out for more from her.
The novel follows a wide array of characters, but mainly focuses on Melville Heights- a nice neighborhood in Bristol, England- and those who leave there or close by. Tom Fitzwilliam, the headmaster at a local school, is adored by everyone he comes into contact with, including his neighbor, Joey Mullen. She quickly strikes up a fascination with him, and is always on the lookout for a glimpse of him. Tom's son Freddie enjoys observing the actions of his neighbors, and has noticed the way Joey behaves around his father.
Freddie especially enjoys watching one of Tom's students Jenna Tripp. She is one of the few people who is unconvinced of Mr. Fitzwilliams' charm.
There is a lot going on in Watching You, but Jewell manages to write in a way that keeps the plot from being confusing or unbelievable. I didn't find myself attaching to any of the characters, but I still needed to know what happened to them. I also love the way the mystery progressed. In the beginning it just felt like a standard small town drama. But as the plot continued, I began to realizes that something sinister was occurring. At one moment I suspected one person, only to realize it was actually someone else.
I did figure out the outcome of the novel before it was revealed, but it did not take away from the story for me. I love the way Lisa Jewell writes and I will certainly be looking out for more from her.