What’s it About?
The young star of a YouTube reality tv show uses her platform to try and find the man who murdered her Mum.
What I liked :
I love a good thriller and this was pretty cool - it was a new and interesting take on the whole thing. And I loved how it illustrated the power of social media and how what you see isn't necessarily what you get. The story was clever and well-plotted and it hooked me in. I was sick when I read it and it was the perfect distraction.
What I liked Less:
It was just so far-fetched, like, hardly anybody in Jess's life objected to her filming everything - even her Dad who given all we learnt about his character should have done, went along with it. She was given so much freedom. Absolutely nothing happens when a member of the film crew makes some really questionable choices. It's a shame because I did like it and all of the eye-rolling it made me do really took away from that.

I love a good thriller and have recently been loving YA Thrillers, so when I heard about a new YA Thriller, Are You Watching? I knew I had to devour it, and let me tell you this…I was at a loss for words when reading it.

At the age of seven, Jess lost her mother after she was murdered by a serial killer, her and her dad dubbed the ‘Magpie Man’. Ten years later, she is now the star of a new YouTube reality series and is using it to try and catch her mother’s killer, and finally get some justice. The whole world is watching Jess, including The Magpie Man.

WOW! Is the first thing I want to say about Are You Watching? I was, well, I was blown away by it. I literally did not want to put it down and when I had to it was a struggle, let me tell you that. It was such an adrenaline inducing, gripping, thrilling read that had me on the edge of my seat for most of the time I was reading it. This was a YA Thriller done perfectly.

The way social media was woven into the plot, made the entire story stand out. It also felt relevant to today’s social media generation and I feel would appeal to that demographic highly. How Jess managed to increase awareness of her case and find others to help her get justice for her mother could only have been achieved through a big audience, and in today’s world the only way to gain that is through having a big enough profile through social media. I also found it highly fascinating seeing how Jess adapted to her new found fame, as we would all deal with it in different ways.

The plot itself was fast paced, electrifying and just full on mind-blowing. There were times within the story that even I started to get a bit scared for Jess and could feel my heart racing. Those chilling moments had me wondering why I’d decided to read it at night. When a book can do that to you, you know you are reading an amazing creation. Sometimes, when I am reading a thriller or crime novel I find myself guessing who had done it way before the reveal. This was not the case with Are You Watching? When I thought I had guessed correctly, something was revealed and I knew I was wrong! The unveiling of the Magpie Man had me shook and gasping in disbelief!

Jess was such a wonderful protagonist. Her determination to get justice for her mother was just admirable. I loved how real she felt as well, yes she got herself into some scary situations, but everyone does things without a second thought. Her interactions with best friends Hanna and Emily also brought some light to what was a dark book. She was honestly one of the most realistic, well thought up characters in any YA Thriller I have read.

Are You Watching? took me on a frantic, hair-raising journey and I can honestly say that it has become one of my favourite YA Thrillers of all time. The way it was written put you right in the moment and you genuinely couldn’t predict what was going to happen next. I will be recommending this book to everyone..mark my words.

Ten years ago, Jess’s mother was the first victim of a serial killer that proceed to claim many more—one woman every none months since then. Tired of said killer still being at large, Jess decides to apply to a YouTube reality show that will give her one day of air time every week, which she plans to use to appeal to potential witnesses, and basically keep the case hot so that her family can finally see justice being served.

All in all, this story turned out enjoyable and fairly well-constructed overall, with a nice balance of red herrings and suspense, even though the premise is slightly over the top. (The first thing anyone should think when it comes to Jessica’s means is “if that killer’s still around it will attract their attention and she’ll be their next victim for sure”, so it’s kind of baffling that the adults around her were relatively easily on board with it—especially in that time and age, when the flip side of social media is not a mystery.) It also has something very simple; but that I enjoy in this kind of novel: short chapters (sometimes 1-2 pages long, not more), which means that, since I mainly read while commuting and during breaks, I could easily stop and pick it up again pretty much at any time, even when I only had five minutes to read. And I did want to keep reading, and knowing what would happen next.

Of course, the heroine being 17, her decisions were often reckless and bordering on stupid, which is definitely not unheard of in YA stories… On the other hand, it does make up for twists and not-so-happy consequences for the characters, so that’s that. All TSTL tendencies set apart, though, I really liked the other aspects of the story. Jess’s relationship with her close firneds. How her family has been spending the past ten years mired in grief, with her father trying to function as best as he could but never becoming who he used to be again. Her meeting the families of the other victims of the “Magpie Man”. It wasn’t only about catching a killer, but also about (re)discovering how to live after such gruesome events, after a loved one is snatched away from you—and after realising that yes, one’s actions always has consequences.

Conclusion: 3.5 stars.

Interesting take on the serial killer genre. A seven year old girl’s mother is brutally raped and murdered and ten years on, the killer continues to kill at the rate of about one victim every 9 months. The now 17 year old uses the opportunity of a tv reality show in an attempt to flush him out.

This is a serial killer thriller with a difference – Jessica’s mother was the first victim of the Magpie Man, ten years ago. Since then, she’s had no closure and her dad is a shell of the man he was before losing the love of his life.

Today, she’s taking part in a YouTube reality show to try to find help solving this case. There have been 12 more victims in the past decade and there have been no clues or witnesses to the crimes, only a trail of destroyed families who have to find a way to keep on going. She knows that there’s no way for her to move on until she knows who was responsible.
She has a plan in mind for drawing the killer out, which is gradually revealed and doesn’t always work out in ways she expects. This is a good reminder of the fact that she’s only 17 years old and has grown up with no active parental figures, her independence is what makes her such a compelling main character as well as fallible.
What makes this book stand out from other crime thrillers is that it’s a YA novel for the internet age – it has the timeless struggles of being a teenager, a series of murders but also the web series dimension that I had never considered before. The young adults of today intuitively know how to manipulate the internet and online audiences in ways my teenage self wouldn’t have been able to dream of (oh god. I’m old.).
The clue dropping and pacing is excellent, though some of the red herring conclusions were less satisfying. That said, I really enjoyed this book and enjoyed the quirks and modern twist on a somewhat overdone trope.

A clever YA thriller which looks a closely at the pros and cons of the modern world of social media. A good run page turning read with some really interesting characters. Also kept me guessing until the end.

Are You Watching follows protagonist Jess, who’s mother was killed ten years by the mysterious Magpie Man. A murderer who was never brought to justice. Now 17, she sets to draw the murderer out of hiding by appearing on a new reality show that will stream her story live over the Internet, and hopefully gather awareness to her cause. Except it might not just be viewers watching Jess, and not everyone watching will want to help.

I thought the premise for this was incredibly interesting and of it’s time. In a world obsessed with technology and social media it feels natural to assume that the very worst of human nature could use it to their advantage. I also found this to be quite an emotional read, with Jess reminiscing about her and sharing her memories in a touching and realistic way. Grief is a subject handled sensitively and with respect throughout the novel, creating tension amongst the family dynamics without coming across as gratuitous.

I also really liked Jess, who is an insightful and positive protagonist. She’s inquisitive without bordering on naive or down right stupid, like a lot of leads in thrillers seem to be. She bucks the cliches. I will say that I got annoyed at her voice constantly being overlooked by the police and older adults. It made me feel frustrated, and began to feel more like a plot moving device than having some kind of point to it by the end. I also wasn’t that taken with the reveal at the end. Introducing the killer near the end lessened any kind of emotional attachment or theories I might have had.

That said, this is a strong introduction to the ya thriller genre with some truly unique and interesting concepts and a fast pace and engaging writing style that kept me gripped throughout.

A modern topical read.

The concept of ‘Are You Watching’ is definitely a modern topical read, which will certainly appeal to teenagers and a younger audience.

The main character is Jess, whose mother was murdered when she was only seven years old. Fast forward ten years and Jess is seventeen now, living with her father and in the sixth form at school.

It becomes obvious that the murderer is actually a serial killer, nicknamed The Magpie Man, but the police haven’t caught him yet. Jess sets herself the challenge of trying to catch him, especially as she is invited to take part in a competitive YouTube show, hence using the tool of social media in her quest, and reaching out to a wider audience.

I felt that although this is a fast-paced psychological thriller, it was somewhat unrealistic especially as the police hadn’t caught the killer in ten years, bearing in mind the killer was continuing to be active in all that time!

There are several twists and turns throughout, and I guess that Vincent Ralph’s concept, using social media is definitely bang up to date.

Galadriel.

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.

Despite this book being classed as a Young Adult read, I decided to give it a go. The plot line appealed to me.

Jess is 17 years old, her mother had been murdered when she was only seven years old, the killer had never been caught, I like the way that the trauma of her loss and grief is addressed throughout the story.

Jess applies for a you tube type television show called The Eye where she will be filmed for three months, for viewers to watch, she doesn’t tell her father she has applied. With social media as it is today this story is bang up to date, with you tubers, bloggers, influencers. Her father has never recovered from the loss of his wife. Her father had given the killer the name ‘The Magpie Man’ as hell said he liked shiny things and her mother had been the shiniest.

The Magpie Man’ he has taken a further 13 lives since the first murder, and it is looking like he will never be caught. Jess want’s to draw the killer out of hiding one way or another, but if she succeeds can she handle the consequences?

I like Jess she comes across as believable and sympathetic, yes she takes a risk trying to draw a killer out, but she didn’t just lose her mum that day, but her father as well, she is a strong determined female, who wants to bring her father back to the land of the living, whilst he is still young enough to have some life. The only problem she has is that it brings her more attention maybe than she had expected, with text messages, being followed, is the killer closer to home than she ever realised.

I loved the quick, tiny chapters that just grip you and have you whizzing through the book, At times there were a few little things that you feel are stretching things just a little too far, but I guess this is fiction. Overall I enjoyed the read.

I would like to thank #netgalley and #Penguin for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.

So good!! I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. A nice modern twist on a thriller and I’d recommend reading.

This book was captivating and intense, right from the beginning. Jess’s mother was murdered and she sets up a YouTube channel to try and find the killer. All the way through, this book was filled with mystery and suspense and many unexpected twists and turns. With this book, you could never predict what’s going to happen next, and that’s one of the things that makes this novel by Vincent Ralph so brilliant.

This kept me turning the pages! The short chapters meant I was completely sucked in and every time one ended, I said to myself "just one more..." and before I knew it, I'd finished most of the book in one sitting! A good gripping YA mystery/thriller that managed to surprise me with its twist - great addition to the UK YA market.

A young girl, Jess, joins a YouTube reality series that follow her around one day every week in an attempt to lure a killer dubbed The Magpie Man out into the open. She wants justice for the ruthless murder of her mother.

'Are You Watching' is a must read. I was hooked from the beginning. Aimed at the young adult market, this book had mystery and crime nicely rolled together. An intriguing story, well told and I really had no idea who the Magpie Man was until it was revealed! I couldn't put the book down, and can't wait to read more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for my review.

This is actually quite a good thriller for a novel aimed at young adults! The use of social media was nicely done and the anger of the bereaved was loud and clear.

Short and sweet but definitely worth a read. Decently written and a thumping story.

When Jess was seven her mum was killed by a killer dubbed The Magpie Man. Ten years later he still hasn’t been caught, killing every nine months. She’s determined for justice, so she joins a YouTube reality series that will follow her around one day every week.

She wants to provoke a reaction, get him out of the shadows but is she ready to face him?

What a fantastic debut Are You Watching is!

I absolutely devoured Are You Watching. It combines two of my favourite genres, mystery and young adult, to make an absolutely sensational story. There’s the sort of young adult contemporary aspect where we have a damaged character who goes on an emotional journey of self discovery, then we have the mystery which was both intriguing and nail biting to satisfy a crime addict like myself.

I warmed to Jess from the start. Yes, she was a little selfish and reckless but losing her mum at a young age in such a violent way is bound to have a bad effect on someone. I also appreciated that the author showed the ripple effect of how a crime can affect someone, especially if they’ve had no sort of justice.

A nice surprise for me was I had no idea who the Magpie Man was until it was revealed which is a hard thing to do to an avid crime reader like myself!

Are You Watching is utterly compelling and addictive, I just couldn’t get enough! I can’t wait to read more from this author.

A fast-paced thriller for the social media age. Like Nerve, it has its flaws but it hooks you in, draws you in, twists and turns until spitting you out at the end.
Jess has lived for years defined by the events that happened when she was seven. Her mother was brutally murdered in an alleyway less than a minute from her home. She was the first victim of the killer who has been dubbed The Magpie Man. A solitary magpie has always been seen as bad luck, but this moniker stemmed from her father’s attempts to protect his daughter and make sense of something brutal - he told Jess his mum was taken because she was beautiful and magpies like to collect shiny things.
Now, Jess is determined to step out from the shadows. She wants to find the killer...he has thirteen victims to his name so far, and Jess believes it’s only a matter of months until he tries to find another victim.
So Jess signs up to take part in a reality TV show streamed on You Tube. Each person chosen is filmed one day a week for a month. Whoever gets the highest views will then be watched for a further three months. Jess is determined to take her chance to catch her mother’s killer.
What follows is highly improbable. Jess does some very stupid things. People who should know better allow stupid things to happen. But it all adds up to a jumpy tension-filled story. Highly enjoyable.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for my review.

I’m sure this book could have been a really good read, unfortunately my enjoyment was marred by the dreadful editing of the ARC Kindle copy, which had half finished words, after a while I found this hindered my read as I had to keep second guessing the missing words, for me this constant second guessing really spoilt the read for me. I’m sure the publishers will have by now edited the book, but although I do expect to find errors in an ARC I do also expect it to be readable and not have glaring errors that make a read ‘unreadable.’ Saying that I will definitely buy the book as I was intrigued and the first part of the book really drew me in and I need to find out how the story ended.

Such a unique concept with the web show. This was so fast paced and easy to read, I would definitely recommend.

Really great teen thriller even though I’m not I loved it. Loved the characters especially Jess. I found this book to be a just one more page one more page I didn’t want to put it down until it was finished! A gripping skilfully written thrilling book and in this modern age totally possible. I would recommend this book.
Many thanks to both the author and net galley for allowing me to read this book.

Are You Watching follows Jess as she applies to be part of a YouTube reality show, her plan is to use it to catch the serial killer who killed her mother.

Although this story is completely unrealistic, I was gripped. I read it in just one sitting because I wanted to find out who the Magpie Man was. Usually with these types of books I can guess the bad guy but I didn’t with this one.

A fast paced, well written thriller, with a great group of characters. I would recommend.