When Theo learns that Sydney needs help with her research for the walking tour, he volunteers and she reluctantly agrees. it’s also just a great book to let anyone blow off steam about the annoying crazy neighbors we all see posting on NextDoor, and what they might really be up to. The narrative kept me on my toes, as I wasn’t ever really sure where things were going, but it GOES there in a very blatant and obvious way. Well Sydney and Theo will aim to figure it all out. Read : 298, Author : Soon enough she's made to feel like an outsider in her own neighbourhood by the new white arrivals.

I enjoyed Sydney's character and how important her neighborhood was to her.

Or a story you would picture when thriller is mentioned. Read : 785, Author : Vincent Macraven The majority of When No One is Watching is not very thrilling. But friendly reminder that you can't be compliant with racism and racist systems and not be racist.

All I can speak about is how this book made me feel and I felt all of it. Sydney befriends new neighbor Theo and the two begin a project of their own—coming up with a tour of the neighborhood that highlights Black history and culture. *Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy. Her beloved neighbourhood has changed and it seems like everything she loved about Brooklyn is disappearing - and fast. Though it takes the form of a suspense novel, and is extremely fun to read, it also does a fantastic job of letting white readers know what it is like for people of color to be targeted and to feel constantly unsafe.

But due to gentrification so many of her long-time neighbors have left and the new people moving in have drastically changed the look and vibe of the neighborhood. The strategy works effectively, seeing as Cole has crafted two likable, but slightly unreliable protagonists.

As they get deeper into the history of the neighborhood, they start noticing the push the gentrification narrative is a bit more complex than they thought. The realism of the story is part of what makes it so terrifying- this could happen.

File Size : 84.34 MB Because the novel completely goes off the rails, verging on the edge of ridiculous. Scenes that should have been horrifying are delivered in a slapstick kind of way. Sydney’s emotional and psychological stability is debatable, thanks to an ill mother and a recent divorce. But for a novel that spends so much of its time being deeply rooted in fact and history, this type of sudden, extreme, and incongruous conclusion simply does not make sense.

His girlfriend Kim and the other white people came across as two dimensional to me, cardboard cliches. This should also be read by those who say, “I’m not racist, but...” White people have been moving in at an alarming rate, and the neighborhood's property taxes have been exponentially growing in return for its gentrification and newly popularized area.

We've got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day. What begins as a slow burning mystery eventually converts to a heart-pounding reveal, and while I think this story was incredibly creative and necessary, my only complaint was that the pacing felt off, and the ending felt as if there was so much packed in that might have been served better spread out a bit more across the length of the story. I have adored everything Alyssa Cole has written, so when I heard about this new mystery thriller I knew it would make my most anticipated releases of the year list! Her neighbors are moving out of their houses with no notice and no goodbye, and white families are moving in. She really did her research and provided an alternative thriller story. And where are all of the older black neighbors disappearing to??? When No One Is Watching Alyssa Cole. File Size : 23.28 MB The blurb for this book already tells a large part of the first half of the book.

When Theo meets Sydney he is immediately captivated by her enthusiasm, determination, beauty and strength of character. ...more, / / / Read more reviews on my blog / / /When No One is Watching is a gripping read, think Hitchcock by way of Liane Moriarty.The novel is set in a predominantly black neighbourhood in Brooklyn. Nothing stays buried in this city, though." I would have preferred the beginning to be slightly faster paced and the ending fleshed out a bit more, but it didn't detract from my experience that much.

I enjoyed Sydney's character and how important her neighborhood was to her. Because the novel completely goes off the rails, verging on the edge of ridiculous. This book has a great cover picture and the title really spoke to me when I picked it out. It’s intelligent and direct; clear and concise. The ending seemed lacked the oopmh of Get Out, and perhaps it tries to follow it too closely. Ending I realize the author was making a point about what is happening today in many cities but it seemed as though she was telling one story about people struggling to hold on to what is theirs and fighting “city hall” and big business and then, suddenly she switched to violence and vigilantism.

When No One is Watching was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.