Queen of psychological thrillers, Helen Fields has done it again with her latest offering Watching You. From the very first page, the reader is thrown into a darkly disturbing death and the drama doesn’t let up for a moment.

With eight bodies and eight gruesome deaths, to unravel, we are reintroduced to Scotland finest detectives: Lively and Salter, accompanied by the super profiler Woolwine and what follows in an action-packed, nail biting gem of a story.

Multiple POV from the Watcher, victims and our heroes result in a twisty narrative that is impossible to put down.

Dark, unbelievably clever and emotionally taught, I devoured this in one setting, and am already eager to see what wonders Fields comes up with next!

Thanks you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.

Helen Fields never misses. She’s one of my favorite authors for a reason and Watching You only reminded me why. Her ability to mix chilling suspense with raw emotion is unmatched. From the very first chapter I was pulled into this dark and haunting story.

The plot is intense. A serial killer is stalking the streets of Edinburgh and the sense of urgency is real as each new body drops. I loved the dynamic between DS Lively and Dr Connie Woolwine. Watching them work against the clock added so much tension. But what really stood out to me was Beth Waterfall’s storyline. Her grief, her fear, her strength, it all hit hard. Knowing her daughter’s stalker might be back for her made everything feel even more personal and terrifying.

This one had me tense, emotional, and completely absorbed. Helen Fields knows how to write layered characters and truly sinister plots that stay with you. If you love smart, gripping thrillers with heart and edge, this book is it.

Watching you is a deeply suspenseful mystery in which a serial killer is at loose, committing opportunistic murders that seemingly have nothing in common. It takes the outstanding talent of profiler Connie Woolwine to link the deaths and set the detectives onto the correct path but even Connie can be mistaken. Another ingredient is the burgeoning romance between DS Sam Lively and surgeon Dr Beth Waterfall whose daughter Molly fell victim to a stalker. When these two threads become entwined, with the Watcher watching Beth, the situatI0n becomes full of tension and the suspense kept me reading to the twisty end. I have not read anything by Helen Fields before but, after reading Watching You, I will definitely read more. Helen's style brings the characters of DS Christie Salter, DS Sam Lively, profiler Dr Connie Woolwine and her assistant Brodie Baarda into sharp reality. I loved every one of this team of investigators for their quirky, distinctive personalities and can't wait to read more about them. Highly recommended to readers who enjoyed a great puzzle with lots of suspense.

Originally featured on The Bookish Drop newsletter (31st July)

Zoe: Set in the gloomy lanes of Edinburgh, a murderer lurks. When a corpse is discovered, it's just the tip of the iceberg. Seven more will soon follow. Following one body is another, then another. The savage deaths all appear unrelated, but it soon becomes clear a serial killer is on the loose - and targeting one victim’s grieving mother for their next kill.

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but I've never been one to play by the rules. Based on its dust jacket artwork, I suspected Watching You would fall into what I like to dub 'supermarket thrillers' - the throwaway reads you always pick up on offer at Asda and devour in a day on holiday, but roll your eyes at the implausible ending.

However, within a few chapters, I realised Fields had created something with much more substance than its cover indicates. It's an intense, fast-paced read, something you can certainly read in one sitting, but unlike its cover peers, the characters are well developed, and the twists and turns are believable.

The killer's presence looms throughout the entire novel, and despite the subject matter being quite grim, the story is character-driven rather than resorting to gore or shock tactics to get the plot going. If you're looking for a crime thriller that won't leave you frustrated this summer, grab a copy of Watching You when it's released on August 28.

Having read everything Helen Fields has ever written, I was so grateful to the publisher for this ARC copy. Needless to say, it did not disappoint.

Watching You is a deep psychological thriller that draws you in from the very first page. No spoilers here, but if you know Helen’s work, you’ll know you’re in for a twist — and this one delivers in spades. Fields crafts a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere, perfectly balancing character depth with an ever-tightening plot.

This is the kind of book that keeps you turning the pages late into the night, desperate to uncover the truth. A must-read for fans of intelligent, chilling thrillers and for anyone who enjoys being kept on their toes until the very last chapter.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future

I was unaware when I started reading that this is part of a police detective series, I will definitely be going back to read the first book. Gripping story with great twists, just something about the ending that jarred me so I’m giving it a 4⭐️ review.

Helen does it again!
Kept me enthralled by the drama.
A book with substance too.
Interesting outcome.
I would recommend!

Surgeon Beth Waterfall is struggling after her daughter succumbed to a vicious stalker and now he’s coming for her. Meanwhile, when multiple bodies turn up suspiciously, seemingly unconnected, it is down to DS Lively and his team, along with profiler Connie Woolwine to try and discover what is really going on.

Helen Fields is one of my favourite authors and I have especially enjoyed the Dr Woolwine novels. Having her investigate dark crimes alongside the characters from Edinburgh police was a great concoction. The characters are all interesting in their own rights, having a real depth behind them. This especially goes for the character of The Watcher, where the author manages to provoke a chilling portrayal of their inner thoughts and overall psyche.

The story is immersive throughout and moves a long at an even pace, intwining different narratives, while having a dark, eerie undercurrent. The writing style is very strong with clever twists and turns. I found the conclusion very interesting and enjoyed the authors note at the end. This was another thrilling book by this author overall and I will certainly recommend to current fans or ones yet to read anything by Helen Fields, she definitely remains one of my go to authors. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

An absolute treat. I had this sitting in my waiting to be read folder for quite some time, like a precious jewel to be savoured and looked forward to. I was almost afraid to start it because I knew it’d only take me a day or so to read and then I’d be back waiting patiently for another to be written. Anyway I digress slightly, needless to say though I wasn’t disappointed, Helen is and remains one of my most favourite authors, for very good reason.
I was drawn straight into this book, the characters are mesmerisingly good and the narrative superb. The gore level is perfect, accurately descriptive but not excessive so that the seed is planted in your mind’s eye and you can control how far you take it. As always the science is perfect, incredibly accurate and explained in a very inclusive way so you feel equipped to follow the storyline from a privileged insider perspective.
There are quite a few nervous, heart pounding moments, to the point I had to read in shorter sections and allow myself recovery time for these. There are two wow, twist moments which sneaked up on me towards the end and shocked and delighted me in equal measures. All in all an excellent read, I’m only sorry I’ve finished it. More please.

👀 ARC REVIEW 👀

PUB DATE: Aug 27th 2025

My Rating : ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️💫 3.8 Hair Raising Stars

If you love police procedural crime thrillers that are dark and detailed and hold nothing back then save this post because you’re going to love this one !

Watching You is a crime thriller that has us following a forensic profiler DR Connie Woolvine & DS Lively and together they are trying to catch a serial killer.

With its multiple POV’s and one of them is The Watcher we are taken on a gruesome and descriptive hunt that will leave your stomach in knots.

Watching You started off really strong and I was cringing at times and holding my breath with every turn of the page as we counted down to the next victim .

The writing is good and full of rich detail that makes Helen Fields stand out as a crime writer as they come across as true crime .

At times it did get a little slow and the ending was not quite what I was hoping for , but upon reading the authors note I learned a little something that I can’t post as it would be a spoiler .

Overall I’m glad to have read this and it is part of a series but can totally be read as a stand alone .

Thank you NetGalley , Avon Books UK and Helen Fields for this white knuckled and gripping ARC 🙏

This is a compelling read - very well-written with strong characters. I loved the Edinburgh setting and the dark, creepy atmosphere. A good plot with lots of twists and turns. The tension never let up as we hurtled towards the shocking ending. Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.














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Another fantastic Connie Woolwine installment, this time drafted in to help solve a series of seemingly unrelated murders. It's tense and tackles some dark mental health issues but it's so well written, it's a very emotional read where I felt totally connected to the characters. Connie and Brodies relationship is unnerving and also feels like it's teetering on a cliff edge. Altogether a super read.

Watching You is another expertly crafted police procedural from Helen Fields, combining psychological insight with gripping suspense. Criminal psychologist Connie Woolwine and her partner Brodie Baarda are drawn into a chilling investigation involving three seemingly unconnected murders in Edinburgh. As familiar characters from Fields’ broader universe reappear—including DS Lively and DS Salter—longtime fans will enjoy the crossover, while new readers will find a taut and immersive narrative that stands strongly on its own.
Fields’ use of shifting timelines, layered perspectives, and emotionally resonant character work heightens the psychological tension throughout. The novel explores themes of grief, obsession, and vulnerability with nuance, particularly through the compelling subplot involving surgeon Beth Waterfall and her past trauma. Connie’s unique, empathic profiling methods contrast brilliantly with Lively’s hard-edged pragmatism, creating dynamic investigative interplay.
With sharp prose, a haunting atmosphere, and a truly unpredictable conclusion, Watching You is a standout instalment in Fields’ catalogue—both thought-provoking and unputdownable.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This type of book is by far my favourite read. A murderer is on the lose and it’s the job of Connie, baarda and Carrie to find them before more people end up dead. This book is fast paced and kept me wanting to read more. There is a good dynamic between the team working to catch the killer and the character development is good I certainly had a sense of the characters in The book. It took me a while to put the names with the roles they played in The book especially as sometime the author referred to them by surname and sometime by Christian name but I got therein The end. Not in a million years will you be able to predict the ending. Thoroughly enjoyable and left me wanting to read more from this author. 💜

Watching You by Helen Fields is a gripping, dark, and thought-provoking thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. Connie Woolwine, as always, is a tour de force—fierce, intelligent, and unapologetically complex. Alongside ex-police officer Brodie Baarda, she works with DS Lively and his partner to hunt down a potential serial killer before he strikes again.

Helen Fields masterfully balances the intensity of a police investigation with the vulnerability of a team driven to stop a murderer. Her character development is exceptional, deepening with each installment of the Connie Woolwine series and making me feel increasingly connected to them. The forensic detail, especially in neurology and psychological profiling, adds remarkable depth and credibility—clearly the result of meticulous research.

This book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone, but starting with The Shadow Man will give you the full scope of the character arcs and relationships.

Highly recommended. I really enjoyed this book.

With thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for the much-appreciated ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Helen’s books, but unfortunately I just didn’t get on with this one. It was probably more my issue than the book itself but I just felt so overloaded with characters and scene changes that I got confused and lost interest.
I did stop at 35%, but that aside, the storyline felt like it was going to be great and had I not struggled I’d imagine it would put you on the edge of your seat when it all came together!

gripping from the start to the finish. i love it when i read even the first page of a book and know im in, its got me already. its such an exciting feeling. books are just great. when you get a book like this they become wonderful things and it reminds you to be thankful to talent like Helen every day.
there is a killer and they are watching deep within the shadow of Edinburgh. the bodies are piling up but what is their connection, or whom?
it seems Beth is being watched. she lost her daughter tragically to a stalker, and it seems her wants to take her too. can the team stop this happening?
the wit that weaves through this book is just great, alongside a great team working together. they are clearly a team and i like getting to know their personalities too. it always helps me care more about a book when i truly root for a character or in this case a set of characters.
the banter with the team offers a lighter note to some of the darker and emotionally heart tugging moments to do with the case. it was so sad to hear the tale of both mother and daughter in this book. and even more sad because its almost too relevant to our time today and stories we see far too often now.
i love how the layout takes us to both the story from the Teams front but also the other( ill let you find that out but its a great if chilling time)
the tension and almost anxious state this book left me in was brilliant, lol. i was genuinely worried what was coming, happening next or would end up happening and this for me means i've enjoyed a thriller. i do love a good thriller when it can do that to me.
a tense, gripping and book to both feel for and run for. i enjoyed every moment and it refused to let me go all the way through.
i cant wait to see what this author has next up her sleeve and im crossing my fingers im lucky enough to read it.

Complicated thriller with a lot of back and forth between then and now which works well in
some spots and so much so in others.
DS Lively is investigating murders which nay be connected to one killer with the help of his entire detective unit, and finding some sparks of a possible romance with Beth, a surgeon in the middle of the investigation.
The action is swift, suspenseful and fully engaging, until it is not.
The forensic profiler, Connie is too free wheeling and definitely off the cuff for my taste.
Other than her continuing presence, the story is tense and action filled.
But too many side distractions for me.

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and the publisher for approving my request to read this book.

Oh my goodness, what did I just read?! I absolutely loved this fast paced, gritty, psychological thriller and I've never read an ending quite like this one, it absolutely fascinated me.

Watching You is extremely well crafted, very clever and had me gripped the entire way through, this ones not to be missed!