I See You: The Number One Sunday Times Bestseller

First, on a positive note, the author writes in a fast paced style which is very enjoyable. Also, I wasn’t able to predict the ending ( primarily because it was so ridiculous). In fact, the whole premise of the book was ridiculous. It is not revealing too much to say that the criminal was just asking to be caught when he/she started posting photos in the newspaper of unsuspecting subway passengers for an online “dating” site-. Did he/she want to get caught? Sometimes originality in the plot doesn’t cover up its stupidity.

I gave this 3 stars because, while the writing is readable, this book finally beat my willing suspension of disbelief to death. There are huge problems, such as whyever someone would pay a premium to a website for a woman's commute schedule when he could just stalk women himself. Especially when at least one of the website members has murder in mind--surely he'd be wary of joining a site and entrusting a stranger not to turn him in, even if the cops didn't lean on said stranger. Many readers will figure out whodunnit ahead of the reveal, but the final twist is just silly. I also had a problem with how slow Zoe (our protagonist/victim) and the cops were to figure things out--It seems Mackintosh thinks her readers are stoopid. This is the second Brit author I've read in as many months that had talent but used it to produce a silly book (the other is Sophie Hannah).

I loved this book and thought it an excellent sophomore novel, cementing Claire Mackintosh's status as an expert thrill writer. I think she may rival Dame Agatha as the queen of red herrings. Well done, and I hope her next book is in the works!

I really liked her first book and bought this one as soon as it came out. It has an interesting premise which kept me reading. I found it harder to get into initially. A little over a third of the way into the book, the plot became very interesting and I enjoyed the book very much. But up to that point, it was a bit of a slog.

I can always count on a Clare McIntosh thriller, and this latest one did not disappoint. Zoe thought an advertisement in local paper included a photo of her in a dating ad. Zoe, involved in a relationship with Simon, mother of two young adults is undoubtedly rattled. Thus begins the novel. Zoe makes a police report and little attention is paid to her fears. As the novel progresses, it seems the advertisement ties in to local murders. Is Zoe next to die? The story is full of twists and turns, and the ending is chilling.

This was definitely a contender for every author's nightmare of trying to write a second book after having written a smash bestseller as their first book. That being said, there are a lot of authors out there who wish their first book was half as good as this book.

I think as a reader, my expectations were so enormous and the pedestal so high, that I was expected to be wowed on every page. Yet, when I think back to to I Let You Go, there was quite the build up in that book as well.

This book took a little longer to build up. I think there were quite a few more plot twists going on in this one. However, when the book did take off, I don't think there was one character in the book that I didn't take at least 10 or 20 seconds to ponder hmm "Are they the suspect?" That made it well worth the $$$ for me.

I do have to say I was amazed when I purchased this book last night and checked out the ratings - the book just went on sale today - there were already 6200 reviews. Tell me this wasn't a highly anticipated book.

I guessed this one, though having read and loved I Let You Go I was looking not to be caught out again! A truly unsettling premise, especially when read on my (wholly routine) commute! I just hope it doesn't give anyone ideas...

Having previously read Clare Macintosh's debut novel and been completely blown away by it, I was itching to get my hands on this book. Every bookshop I tried was completely sold out, but fortunately the last shop I tried managed to find a copy hidden in the back of the store. If some poor soul had stashed it for themselves then they're out of luck, it's mine now!

I have mixed feelings about this book. I did enjoy it and I flew through it in no time at all, but it didn't have the same impact as I Let You Go. I think perhaps I was all hyped up and preparing myself for a massive twist that would leave me reeling like I experienced with I Let You Go, and as a result maybe my expectations were too high.

Even though I found I See You to be a page turner and it drew me in right from the beginning, I feel there was something missing. I couldn't connect with the main character, I didn't find her engaging and there was nothing appealing or likeable about her. At times she felt rather dull and old for her age, yet at other times she came across as overly needy and somewhat childish.

On the other hand, there was something unputdownable about the book. The sections told from the perspective of the stalker were great and the scenes on the underground were done well. It's scary how easy it is for someone to watch you in this way and I found myself being drawn into the whole experience. It could happen to anyone and it's frightening to realise how unaware we could potentially be of someone watching, waiting, learning our daily routines and habits etc. It really brings to the forefront how vulnerable we are as individuals and why we should pay more attention to, and be more aware of, our surroundings and those around us.

All in all, I liked the concept and I found it to be enjoyable at the time of reading. However, the ending felt rushed and I had already worked out who the guilty party was before the reveal. The very last twist did come as a surprise, but I don't know if I liked it, it felt like it was thrown in purely for the shock factor.

“I See You” is the second book by Clare Mackintosh following her breakout debut “I Let You Go” which I thoroughly enjoyed. This one, not so much.

The premise for this novel is basically the idea of cyber stalking, how much we are all exposed by the things we post on the internet and other social media platforms. We are becoming accustomed to revealing lots of our data on the web, assuming that it is protected. However tech savvy computer types can usually access most data. Just reading the news daily we know that the government, credit card hackers, etc. are becoming increasingly better at breaking code even at what was once thought to be deeply embedded software.

Zoe Walker is a victim of routine, as so many of us are, taking the same commute daily to and from work. She sees a photo in the classified section of a newspaper while on the train and recognizes the picture to be her own, even though she can’t place exactly when it was taken. As the novel proceeds Zoe is increasingly sure that she is in harm’s way and reports her suspicions to the police and her family and friends. Here begins my disbelief in the character. Although she suspects danger, she doesn’t do anything to change her routine or protect herself.
Zoe hasn’t had the easiest start with relationships, having been married and divorced with two teenaged children and now living with Simon, a man whom she has brought in to live with her and her and her kids. Considering all that she has gone through she still comes across to me as being naive and trusting.

Enter Kelly, a detective struggling to clear her name from a previous incident with a suspect in which she lost control and lashed out. She gets the call from Zoe and wants in on this case. She is my favorite character because she seems the most genuine. She learns from her mistakes, seems to be whip smart and cares about the victims. As the case progresses it is her quick thinking and willingness to think outside the box and put her reputation on the line to help Zoe that resolves the case. Upon researching there are links to the photos and women who have reported theft, being followed and even a murder. At this point Kelly’s supervisor is beginning to see the light and provides backup for Kelly’s investigation.

There is, of course, a whole cast of characters. Melissa, Zoe’s next door neighbor and best friend whom she has relied upon since the kids were little. Zoe’s kids, Katie a 19 year old with acting aspirations but not a lot of common sense and Justin, Katie’s older sibling who seems to have turned the corner after being in some trouble as a younger teen. Matt is Zoe’s ex-husband who stays very involved with his kids and seems to be the good one that got away.

My take on a psychological thriller is always that it has to be believable for me to get that tense, edge of your seat, quickly turning pages feeling. There should also be a sociopath controlling the reigns somewhere along the line. This book fell short for me because of the characters. I felt Zoe to be rather a weak character who has little control over what her kids do or say even though they are living under her roof. Having raised four daughters I think I have some good experience with teens. Simon was mushy sweet and shallow I couldn’t see how he could ever be accepted in this teenaged household nor why he would choose to be involved with Zoe and all of her emotional baggage.

I liked the epilogue but again found it unbelievable, just too much evil to be present in one person’s life among the people that she loves and trusts.

I am in the minority on this one so give it a whirl and see what you all think, I’ll be interested to read following reviews.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley, thank you.

I consider I SEE YOU, Clare Mackintosh's follow-up to the amazing debut 2016 novel I LET YOU GO the equivalent of the films M. Night Shyamalan did after "The Sixth Sense". Shyamalan made many other fine films but after the amazing twist that was revealed to audiences of "The Sixth Sense" every succeeding movie he made was unfairly compared to it and the feeling we got from that shocking plot twist.

I LET YOU GO was an incredible novel that just happened to have one of the best twists in recent memory. I even was aware that there was going to be a major plot twist and was still surprised by it. Even if the comparison is unfair it will inevitably happen. That is why I SEE YOU may be an even bigger literary feat because, even though there is no 'huge' twist, this ingenious novel breaks new ground with a story that was completely original.

Set in London, Zoe Walker is commuting home from work only to innocently open up the local paper to a shocking find. There is a photo of herself staring back at her from the pages of her newspaper. Under the photo is a phone number and a website entitled FindTheOne.com. When Zoe investigates this website it gives the appearance of being a way for commuters to connect with each other. As she digs deeper she finds something for more sinister going on.

When she finds photos of other women she Googles them and it turns out a few of them were the victims of foul crimes up to and including murder. She contacts the local police and finds her complaint and case put into the hands of Kelly Swift, an investigator trying to bounce back from a case where she messed up really badly. Kelly does her own investigating and believes that Zoe may be the potential victim in a series of crimes. The only trouble is coming up with motive as the creator of FindTheOne.com has done a great job of covering their tracks with no way of uncovering the sites owner.

I SEE YOU shifts between Zoe and Kelly. We see Zoe becoming more and more paranoid especially when she finds out that her boyfriend lied to her about losing his job several months earlier. Kelly is also experiencing much self-doubt coupled with the pressure of nailing this case and clearing up her professional reputation.

Clare Mackintosh deftly begins to peel back layer upon layer in a brilliant plot. The website in question holds far darker secrets and motives than anyone could have guessed. The novel starts out a bit slow but picks up steam rather quickly with a final act that is almost unbearably suspenseful. She also sends out a parting shot on the final page which will leave readers gasping. We may be witnessing a major new talent in thriller fiction as I SEE YOU proves that her first novel was no fluke!

Clare Mackintosh's sophomore novel brings terror and unease to your front door. While not as addictive and compelling as her debut, I See You will certainly make you look over your shoulder before you carry out habitual daily routines again.

When someone asks you to think of something that's truly terrifying, what's the first thing you think of? Probably something personal to you—whether it be your own mortality, the thought of losing a loved one, or perhaps losing everything you own.

The concept behind Mackintosh's I SEE YOU will give you chills because what happened to Zoe Walker could (in a way) happen to all of us. We are all creatures of habit, many of us carrying out the same tasks everyday. What if someone dangerous caught on to your routine and aimed to do you harm? The thought of that is horrifying, right? It's so scary because it would be so simple and the consequences could be deadly.

With all of that said, it's that thought and that concept that made me read I See You and ultimately made me like it. I always like it when I read a thriller that has elements that are relatable. The ability to put myself in the protagonist's shoes makes the book that much more chilling to me as a reader. It's that whole "What if that were me" thing that made this one so creepy.

This book asks a lot of its readers in the area of believability. We're asked to believe that many men if given the chance to essentially have access to a women's every move would immediately go straight for criminal mischief. Um...no. I didn't buy this at all. Mackintosh takes the simplistic idea of someone watching you (a concept I liked in its purest form) and adds a complexity to it that I won't go into so as not to spoil the reading experience. But suffice it to say, it's the complexity that I found to be more than a little far-fetched that took me out of that "what if it were me" mindset because I had a hard time buying what she was asking the reader to believe.

Like in most thrillers, Mackintosh adds in a fair share of red herrings leading up to the big reveal as to who is behind findtheone.com. But I found the reveal a bit underwhelming and if I'm honest, unconvincing and overdramatic.

* Thanks to Penguin Audio for providing me with an audiobook copy. Receiving this audiobook for free did not affect my opinion.

This is a story told from multiple viewpoints. The first is Zoe Walker who is an ordinary woman in her late thirties. She is divorced with a new live-in boyfriend. She also has two grown children both living at home. Justin is her oldest and works in a coffee shop for a neighbor. Katie is the youngest who wants to be an actress despite Zoe's encouragement to take a secretarial course so that she has a back-up plan.

Zoe commutes each day from suburban London to central London. She takes the same busses and trains. She even sits or stands in the same places in the cars. One day she happens to glance at an add in the personals of the newspaper and sees her picture over a website URL and a phone number. At first her family tries to convince her that it is only someone who looks like her. Each day there is a new picture of a new woman.

The second viewpoint character is Kelly Swift. She is a law enforcement officer who has just come back from a long leave resulting from her assault of a prisoner. She is a great investigator but currently in disgrace. She is obsessed with the rape of her twin sister on her college campus ten years earlier even though that sister has moved on and forged a new happy life. Any sort of rape case triggers her anger. She is currently investigating a case where a woman fell asleep on her commuter train and someone stole her keys.

When Zoe sees someone she recognizes in an ad she calls the police and ends up with Kelly. Kelly is skeptical that the ads have anything to do with the crime until a young woman who is pictured in one of the ads is found murdered.

Kelly wedges her way into the task force that is investigating the murder and soon they are investigating the ads and the connections to crimes. After some detective work, the ad leads to a website that sells information about women to anyone who wants to buy a membership. It tracks details about each woman including her daily commute and where she can be found. Investigating who owns the site and who is downloading the information quickly gets involved in all sorts of complex ways of hiding data and money.

Meanwhile, Eve still feels that she is being watched and followed and becomes suspicious of everyone in her life from her live-in to her daughter's new boyfriend. The tension keeps ramping up in this one until it comes to a stunning conclusion.

Interspersed between sections from Zoe's viewpoint which is getting more tense as each day passes and Kelly's viewpoint about the frustrations of the investigation, we have the viewpoint of the person responsible for and profiting from the website. This person is perhaps the creepiest part of the whole story as they victimize women for profit.

I enjoyed this story very much and kept reading it late into the night since I couldn't sleep until I found out who the criminal was.

To inveterate mystery consumers like myself, the Plot Twist is endlessly interesting. Generally it has to do with the culprit not being whom you suspect; the writer lays a trail to one or more characters, and then...it turns out that somebody you barely noticed (the butler?) did it. I think it is an effective device partly because it is based on real-life psychology. While a bad guy you don’t know is frightening in an abstract way, there is nothing scarier than the revelation of an evil secret self within a person you love and trust.

Clare Mackintosh is an expert at this sort of misdirection, as she proved in her first book, the bestselling thriller I LET YOU GO. For the sake of those who haven’t yet read this tale of a grieving woman and a fatal hit-and-run, I won’t go the spoiler route. But the surprises it delivers are so ingenious that after finishing the book, I wanted to go back and reread it in a whole different light.

You may feel the same way about I SEE YOU, Mackintosh’s second mystery, which has a couple of major, head-snapping twists toward the end. It begins, though, on familiar territory for this female city dweller. Please don’t think that I’m paranoid when I say that urban women are intrinsically at risk. We are forced to be cautious about crowded subway cars, empty subway cars, deserted lobbies and dark alleys, lest we be groped, robbed, raped or worse.

I SEE YOU builds on that nerve-wracking reality when it introduces us to Zoe Walker, a 40-year-old divorced mother with a long commute --- same route, even the same seats, day after day --- to her bookkeeper/office-manager job in central London. One day, to her shock, she sees her own face staring out at her from a photograph in a newspaper ad, on the same page as promotions for escort services and chat lines. There’s a phone number listed, and a website, FindTheOne.com. Neither appears to function. She tries to forget it. But when she sees another woman’s picture in the same type of ad --- a woman who was recently robbed on the London Underground --- she starts to wonder if there’s a link between the photo and the crime (is she next?), and she contacts the police. Enter P.C. Kelly Swift.

Kelly is a copper with career problems. Because her sister was sexually assaulted while in college, she is especially sensitive to crimes against women. Four years ago, she physically attacked a rape suspect and was taken off British Transport Police’s Sexual Offenses Unit. Now, a temporary attachment to the Dip Squad, which nabs pickpockets in the Underground, gets her involved in Zoe’s case. It turns out there are quite a few women whose photos appeared in the same context as Zoe’s. When the police discover that one of them has been raped and another murdered, they launch a full-scale hunt for the mastermind behind the ads.

With some dazzling detective work and the help of a former boss, Kelly finesses her way onto the Murder Investigation Team (Mackintosh was a policewoman for 12 years before she turned to writing, so the procedural aspect of I SEE YOU is persuasive and abundantly detailed). The scheme the police uncover uses social media and high-tech manipulation to prey on women with a regular daily commute; it’s entirely modern, and utterly chilling.

Mackintosh ramps up the tension by having Zoe and Kelly take turns telling the story. There is a third narrator, too, who breaks in every few chapters in italicized passages. It’s the voice of the villain, and it reeks of greed, cruelty and voyeurism. “Routine is comforting to you,” this anonymous presence intones to the hapless commuters whose predictability makes them vulnerable. “It’s familiar, reassuring. Routine makes you feel safe. Routine will kill you.”

As the investigation unfolds, it becomes frighteningly clear that the culprit could be someone close to Zoe, but that leaves plenty of choice: her cheating ex-husband, her less-than-truthful live-in lover, her obnoxious boss, her financially overextended neighbors, her actress daughter’s creepy new boyfriend. It takes many chapters for Mackintosh to populate this large school of red herrings, and after a while I became impatient, even slightly bored, with the lengthy set-up. I wanted the action to begin.

And then it did, and I couldn’t stop reading. The book began to accelerate --- wham! --- and soon, heart in mouth, eyes wide, I was following the fortunes of Kelly, Zoe, and Zoe’s daughter, Katie (who is in grave jeopardy as the book hurtles toward its climax). Finally --- wham again! --- there are those amazing twists. (No peeking ahead.)

This is not a complex, character-driven mystery like those of Tana French, Ruth Rendell, Val McDermid, Elizabeth George, Susan Hill or Denise Mina (to name a few of my personal faves). But as smart, shivery entertainment that will keep you up way past bedtime, with an ending that will knock your socks off, I SEE YOU is a humdinger.

And if you’re a commuter, it might make you think about changing your daily route.

Reviewed by Katherine B. Weissman

I See You is a slowly-building thriller from Clare Mackintosh that is all the more scary because it is a premise that is well within the realm of possibility. My rating is probably more like a 4.5 than a 4.0 but have a tendency to round down.

One of the strengths of the book might also be one of its weaknesses, though I did not find it to be very weak even in this area, namely characters and characterization. One of my favorite aspects of the book was that I could read the story as being primarily about Zoe, primarily about Kelly or about them both. Technically the story is the dynamic between all of the characters and as such does not have to be about any one particularly but I have a tendency to attach myself to a character and read the book as such. I personally found Kelly's story to be more interesting (though Zoe was going through things I can't even imagine, so her story was also compelling).

In giving a significant amount of time to both Zoe and Kelly, as well as the police procedural aspects, I did feel like both of the main characters could have used a little, for lack of a better term, humanizing background. By that I mean that we were made to understand their actions wonderfully but it felt at times as though their feelings were being muted in the telling, the things that would have made them a bit more human. I felt this more with Zoe. Saying this does not mean I think they were poorly drawn, on the contrary, I am afraid that doing this extra bit on the characterization might have hurt the flow of the story, so maybe it is an either/or dynamic here.

Speaking of flow, I was unsure at first what I thought of the way the story progressed pace-wise. As I continued I was very pleased with the manner in which Mackintosh started slowly, let the entire premise become slowly evident to the reader (and the characters) then once we were hooked the pace picked up and I couldn't read the last third of the book fast enough.

I would recommend this to fans of crime fiction, thrillers and suspense. The novel will entertain you and the premise will cause you to view surveillance and coincidence in a new light.

Reviewed from a copy made available through Goodreads First Reads.

Zoe Walker is traveling on the crowded London subway when he sees a photograph in the newspaper that looks just like her. It’s a creepy feeling, indeed, as she has no connection with the website. She shows it to her family and they think the picture is her but might not be as it has a grainy quality. Meanwhile she’s dealing with her family, particularly a partner who thinks her son should pay rent and contribute to the family finances as he’s 22 years old and other minor issues.
We are then introduced to Kelly, a detective demoted to a police officer who has a bad work history that she is trying to overcome by proving herself in her new job. Her biggest problem is that she tends to react on instinct and that’s not always the brightest or safest way to perform. Assaulting an alleged criminal is a no-no that has left Kelly with a hot-head reputation.
The next day Zoe sees a different woman’s picture in the same classified ad section and wonders what’s going on. As time passes, we also have italicized messages from a voyeur who is taking pictures of women with a very set purpose; the messages are creepy and make the reader tense with anticipation of some crime soon to be committed.
So, the plot moves forward alternating between the mundane, everyday thrills and tussles of life and these photos of different women appearing in the daily newspaper.
Suspicions begin to form around Zoe’s acquaintances, even those who have been very good to Zoe and her family. No spoilers here. Suffice to say that the last portion of the novel is stunning as we discover who is behind these pictures – and a murder – and why.
Claire Mackintosh has crafted an interesting mystery that bounces between some boredom over the simple family discussions and the chilling fear elicited over who is clearly a dangerous stalker! Nicely done, Ms. Mackintosh!

While taking the London Underground home, Zoe Walker thumbs through a newspaper and sees her photo in an advert (as the Brits call it) for a website called FindTheOne.com. Huh? Zoe is middle-aged with two young-adult children and a job as an office manager. She does not want to be The One for a person to find.

Later she goes through back issues of the newspaper and finds the photo of a woman in a FindTheOne.com advert who said in a news story that someone stole the keys from her purse while she was in the Tube. Then a third woman whose photo adorned a similar advert is found murdered.

When Zoe calls the police, she is transferred to Police Constable Kelly Swift, whose sister had been raped and who is trying to re-start her career after a disciplinary demotion. Kelly, her partner and a police cyber expert uncover a business in which men pay for information about women they can follow and meet -- or steal from or assault.

The novel is told through Zoe, Kelly and a nameless creep who matches stalkers with stalkees. “I see you,” says this broker. “But you don’t see me.”

Who provided the website with Zoe’s description and commuting routine? The man who lives with her? Her ex-husband? Her boss? Someone else? Did a man push her as she stood on the edge of the platform? Was her daughter’s flame following her?

You may connect the dots before a prolonged cat-and-mouse game that leads to the bloody climax. But the epilogue gives us an extra dot. It will surprise you.

Author Clare Mackintosh, a former police officer, certainly knows police procedure and the London Underground. This is her second thriller. I reviewed her her first, “I Let You Go,” for the store on June 5, 2016, and said she deserved a Best Plot Twist award. For “I See You,” she deserves another.

Zoe Walker is a normal, everyday-type person, which is one reason this book is pretty darn scary. If bad things can happen to her, they can happen to anyone. She's a divorced mom whose children are almost grown. She's a bookkeeper for a realty company plus does some accounting on the side. Her ex-husband still loves her which makes her live-in boyfriend very jealous.

She has a routine. She takes the Underground and Overground trains to work every day. Same time, waits in the same places, stands or sits in the same spots if they're available. One day she's glancing at a London newspaper and sees her picture along with a web address in a dating-type column - and she did not put it there.

She finds out that other women's pictures have also been displayed in the newspaper and various crimes have been committed against some of these other women including rape and murder.

Kelly Swift works as an officer for the British Transport Police but she really wants to work on the Murder Investigation Team working on these pictures and crimes.

The story is told from both Zoe's and Kelly's points of view and it held my interest from start to a shocking finish.

I like the author's writing style. The story drew me in and I couldn't help putting myself in Zoe's shoes. Fast moving, scary and believable.

I recommend this to anyone looking for an exciting psychological suspense thriller, British mystery, or police procedural novel.

I received this book from Berkley Publishing through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased review.

When flipping through a London newspaper Zoe Walker comes across what looks to be a photo of herself in a rather sketchy ad in the classifieds section. No explanation of what the ad is meant to be about other than a website and phone number that doesn’t work.

The next day there is another ad with another woman, the day after yet another ad and another woman. Zoe doesn’t know what to make of the photos but when she finds that something starts happening to the other women pictured she becomes to determined to find out what is happening before she becomes a victim herself.

I See You by Clare Mackintosh was one of those books that was easy to become completely engaged in the story. This is the type of thriller read that gives me chills as I go along since the content seems so real to life that something like this could actually take place in today’s society which makes the story just that much more captivating waiting to find out just what will happen with our main character and how it will end.

The main character in this book is an average working mother who finds that she is being watched and really has no idea why or what it all means. With easy to relate to characters and a plot that seems like it could happen this was one that I just couldn’t put down at all. There are plenty of suspects to keep a reader guessing all throughout the book and wondering just how it will all work out in the end. Definitely one I’d recommend checking out if a fan of mystery/thrillers.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Clare Mackintosh is the kind of author who writes books that stay with you, burrowing into your unconscious and making you see the world through Wes Craven colored glasses.

I See You will completely change forever how you watch romance movies with stories about those seemingly innocent love at first sight moments. As a woman, it’s impossible to ever feel completely safe again after reading this without realizing how easy it is for someone to invade your life beyond the normal threats we hear that come from oversharing on social media or getting your laptop camera hacked. It’s becoming the norm that instead of making us safer technology is exponentially increasing the danger in our lives and this book exploits that fact in one of the creepiest ways.

Mackintosh in her continued genius of writing intriguing thriller has created a new set of characters for you to follow. Like with her previous knockout novel, her experience in law enforcement continues to shine through as she is able to make police work, even the mundane aspects, seem interesting. Instead of detectives and police coming off as one dimensional filler material she makes them a very real part of the story so you don’t just blow through the chapters from their point of view.

Her plot line was fast paced and never let up even after the ‘Big Bad’ was caught.

Mackintosh is one of those rare authors whose books you can pre-order in hardback without worrying that paying around $20 or more will feel like a rip off.

When Zoe Walker absentmindedly flips through a newspaper left behind on her commute home and spots a classified ad with a photo that looks just like her, she's unsettled but allows her family to convince her it's just a fleeting resemblance. But in the following days, the same ad features other women, and several of them are recognizable as victims of violent crimes. Zoe knows she's unearthed something deeply sinister, and it sets off a chain of events that no one could have predicted.

I was impressed by Clare Mackintosh's shocking debut I Let You Go when I belatedly read it for the first time not long ago, and then it seemed everywhere I looked I was met with mixed reviews for her follow up novel, I See You, and her upcoming third novel, Let Me Lie. I still wanted to give them both a shot, but at the end of the day, "mixed" is probably the best word to describe my feelings for her second book.

I See You's greatest strength is in its realism. The women in this book are targeted because they've fallen into routine and grown too trusting in their surroundings - and isn't that something we're all a little guilty of? The chilling message is simply that you never know who's watching, and there'll be moments reading when goosebumps will crawl up your arms. I know I certainly won't be viewing public transit the same way again.

Mackintosh has a signature writing style that works well for what she's trying to accomplish. The chapters bounce back and forth between two different perspectives, progressing the plot from both sides. Zoe Walker is the victimized civilian telling the story in first person, and Kelly Swift is the determined investigator trying to solve the case from a third person perspective. I See You also has the unnerving addition of an unknown third "narrator" from the start, whose motives slowly unfold over the course of the story.

Where in I Let You Go I appreciated the civilian's chapters much more than the law enforcement's, I felt that this time it was the other way around: Kelly Swift has something to prove after a tragedy in her past affected her ability to do her job. She's determined to see this case through and seek redemption in the process. While some of her insistence to defy orders irritated me, I genuinely enjoyed her character development, relationship with her fellow officers, and how the case helped her come to terms with her past.

I had a harder time liking Zoe Walker, but it's not entirely her fault. I See You got off to an admittedly slow start. Zoe's claims seem outlandish and paranoid whenever she tries to share them, and it isn't until a hundred or so pages in that anyone's taking her seriously. Unfortunately, that portion of the book only served to make me grow somewhat frustrated with her character as I waited for the plot to pick up. It's definitely a tricky line to straddle when one of the lead characters has access to more resources than the other, and Mackintosh doesn't quite achieve convincing me to like both. That said, I did find Zoe's relationships with her family, especially with her ex-husband and daughter, to be one of the stronger parts of the novel.

The pacing picks up towards the end when the pieces start falling into place. Mackintosh is great at throwing in red herrings, all too believable because of Zoe's increased paranoia, and I didn't see the whodunnit coming until the last possible moment.

Despite my misgivings, I did enjoy I See You. The ending was fast-paced and twisty, and I loved the focus on the relationships between characters even when I was irritated with the characters themselves. This one's a solid 3.5 stars for me, but you'll still catch me tuning back in for Clare Mackintosh's upcoming novels!

Graham Hallow (Hallow & Reed boss) gave Zoe Walker (wife/mother) her work assignments.
The 11/13, London Gazette issue Zoe was reading she noticed a picture on a page, it was her.
Simon Thornton (2nd. Husband, Telegraph Sr. journalist, editor) is suggesting Justin (older son/stepbrother) needs to get a job, & pay rent or get his own place.
Justin gripes because Katie (daughter/stepsister) doesn’t have to.

Why did Zoe call DC Kelly Swift (British Transport PD)?
Cathy Tanning (37) was found murdered.
Racheal Lovelock (Sky News reporter) broadcasting live TV news Tania Beckett (St. Christopher’s primary school teacher) is the 2nd. victim.
Her body was found in the Cranley Gardens (Muswell Hill).
Aunt Kelly went to see her family: Lexi (wife/mother), Stuart husband/father), Alfie (5, son/brother), & Fergus (3, son/brother).
DI Nick Rampello (NW Murder Investigation Team MIT) came to interview Zoe.
FindTheOne.com. was brought up.
DC Swift went to visit with DI Nick Rampello (NW Murder Investigation Team MIT).
Laura Keen was #3.
Operation FURNISS was established to help solve the murders & other crimes.
DI Rampello came to interview Zoe Walker.
FindTheOne.com. was brought up.
Why did DC Swift & DI Rampello go pay Mrs. Melissa Stanford a visit?
Luke Friedland name came up in the investigation.
Will the killer be caught & brought to justice?

Warning: This book is for adults only & contains extreme violent or graphic adult content or profanity &/or sexually explicit scenarios. It may be offensive to some readers.

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written cybercrime book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great cat/mouse thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free Goodreads; Making Connections; Berkley (Penguin Random House LLC.); Author; paperback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

"You do the same thing every day. You know exactly where you're going. You're not alone."

I found I See You to be fanatically creepy from the very start. In the beginning we meet the two main characters; Zoe and Kelly. Zoe see her photo in the classifieds section of the London newspaper, along with a website and a phone number. Zoe brings the newspaper home and shows her family, who convinces her that the picture isn't her, just someone who looks similar, since the photo is fairly grainy. But when Zoe looks at the same newspaper the following day, she sees a photo of a different woman, along with the same website and phone number, as well as one the next day. Zoe decides to reach out to the police when she starts making connections with local crimes, even though her family still believes the picture doesn't belong to her.

Kelly has been working as a uniformed office in the London subway system after being demoted from her detective position. She has recently worked with the theft division and finds that Zoe's concerns may also be linked to a case that she previously worked. As Kelly gets more involved with the classified ads in the paper and Zoe, she goes to her old boss and requests to be transferred to the MIT department that is currently working a murder connected to the ads. From there, Zoe and Kelly's stories start to over lap, as Kelly realizes that the ads are put of a much larger series of crimes then she originally believed.

This book was quite interesting from the very beginning. The chapters flip back and forth between Zoe and Kelly, which became slightly frustrating during more action packed sections of the book where a chapter would end on a cliffhanger and switch to the other character's point of view. This is the first book I have read by the author, but liked it so much I immediately ordered the first book she wrote. The story moves along at a fairly steady pace, but I enjoyed getting the perspective of Zoe, the sort of victim in this case, along with the police perspective from Kelly. Along the way we learn about both Zoe and Kelly's families and backgrounds and I felt like we got to know both of the characters pretty well. The book has the right amount of family involvement, police work, suspense and crime. I kept trying to work out the plot twist and who was responsible for the classified ads and every time I thought I had figured it out, I was wrong. The ending of the book reminded me a bit of the ending to Gillian Flynn's books, which I love, where at the very end, there's another plot twist that you may or may not see coming. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of psychological thrillers. Thank you to the publisher for sending my a review copy of this book.

When the author admits right out of the gate that this book was "a tricky beasts", I believed her. Following up her smash debut novel I LET YOU GO, can have its drawbacks. I received this from NetGalley for an honest review. Sorry, I didn't like it more.

It's about 100 pages too long. Character names are so similar it was difficult at times to separate them. I was in the middle of Chapter 7 before things began to get moderately interesting. However, most of the book fell flat for me. It's a who done it crime with a ridiculous amount of shady characters to chose from--with an ending to prove the point.

I will say, I enjoyed the way Mackintosh writes dialogue. She didn't lose her touch in this prose. But I was definitely let down by the novel.

I've enjoyed other Clare Mackintosh books, so I was surprised to find myself slogging through this and not really caring about any of the characters. The premise is interesting. Someone has figured out a way for men to subscribe to a website that allows them to track women during their journeys on London's tube and overground trains. They can then "meet cute" or indulge in more sinister activities. I hated the character of the railway policewoman. She is openly insubordinate and frankly, I would have fired her at several junctures. The main character, Zoe, is also unlikable. She's comes across as a whiny user of people. She has an ex-husband who is a London Black Cab driver and she uses him for cab rides. She has a creepy, lying, unemployed boyfriend who is so insecure he can't treat her adult children with respect. Her boss is a caricature of a jerk boss...until he becomes inexplicably compassionate and tells her to take some time off, which of course serves to drive the plot. She has a "friend" she has used for child minding and other favors. And on and on.
The identity of the criminal is telegraphed quite early on and I easily guessed "whodunit". There aren't really any twists and turns in the plot, just a lot of filler until we get to the rather damp squib of an ending.

Zoe Walker, completely by chance, sees her picture in a newspaper, the London Gazette. It's especially disturbing that her picture is included in what appears to be an advertisement for a dating site, or possibly a sex chat line.

It's not long before she learns hat another woman whose picture was also used in one of these ads, for the same website, FindtheOne.com, had her keys stolen from her bag when she fell asleep while riding public transit. Yet another featured woman is killed.

Her son and daughter, and her partner, insist the picture isn't really her, but she continues to be afraid.

Meanwhile, PC Kelly Swift, still trying to rebuild her career from the time when she lost control and assaulted a prisoner, starts out investigating these crimes from the other direction. She investigated the case of the stolen keys, and is the officer the victim in that case calls when she thinks someone has been in her house. When Zoe also calls her, and convinces her there's a series of crimes here, she wants to keep investigating--but she's a British Transport Police patrol officer, not a detective.

Both women are very determined, and not easily discouraged.

Mackintosh very effectively builds an intricate plot, with the clues all there for the reader, while keeping that evidence easy to overlook.

We also get anonymous sections from the viewpoint of the criminal, which are fascinating and chilling and give nothing away.

As the story progressed, there were several points at which I thought I had identified the bad guy, and I was wrong, and the ending was not at all a cheat.

This is a bit darker than my usual taste, and in the content warning category, it should be mentioned that there are sexual crimes recounted.

Overall, though, definitely recommended.

I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via Netgalley, and am reviewing it voluntarily.

Like thousands of city residents, fortyish Zoe Walker commutes to work every day on the London Underground - contending with the noise, jostling, and strangers packed too close. One day, while perusing the 'London Gazette' on the train, Zoe is startled to see a picture of herself. There, among ads for escort services and dating sites, is her photo - associated with an ad for 'FINDTHEONE.com.' When Zoe tries the ad's phone number and web address, the number doesn't work and the site requires an unknown password.

When she gets home, Zoe shares her discovery with her live-in boyfriend Simon and her children, 22-year-old Justin and 19-year-old Katie. They're skeptical that the Gazette photo is actually Zoe, and downplay her concerns. Nevertheless, Zoe continues to check the ad regularly - noting that it features a different female's photo every day. Zoe soon realizes that the women in the photos seem to be the targets of crimes, such as stolen keys and a break-in. Zoe brings this to the attention of Police Constable Kelly Swift, a disgraced/demoted detective who's now assigned to policing the Underground.

Kelly badly wants to redeem herself, and - and when one of the 'photo women' is murdered - manages to get herself seconded to the Murder Investigation Team (MIT). With Kelly's help the MIT discovers that one of the FINDTHEONE' women was raped, and others were crime victims as well.

As for Zoe, she notices that a well-dressed gent seems to be stalking her on the Underground. Moreover, when Zoe almost 'falls' onto the tracks, the man pulls her back.....and asks for a date. Zoe becomes increasingly paranoid, fearing that various commuters are ogling and chasing her.

On top of that, Zoe has personal concerns. Zoe's son Justin, a computer nerd who works in a coffee shop - tends to sponge off his mother; Zoe's daughter Katie, an aspiring actress, is dating a handsome, older director who seems shady; and Zoe's boyfriend Simon has been grouchy lately, and resentful of her ex-husband (Jusin and Katie's dad). Zoe's only moments of relaxation seem to be with her friend and neighbor Melissa, who's always good for a conversation and a cuppa.

Meanwhile, the MIT is making progress with their inquiries, and Kelly advises Zoe to be super careful....and to alter her travel habits. Interspersed with the actual events in the story are creepy observations from the 'perp', explaining the sinister behavior.

Events in the book escalate to a finale that reveals all, and there are some twists and surprises.

SPOILER ALERT

I think, in an effort to up the ante for readers who've come to anticipate 'big twists' at the end of thrillers, some authors go overboard.....and stretch credibility beyond the breaking point. For me, that's the case with this book. I didn't buy the epilog.

END SPOILER ALERT

Overall, I enjoyed the novel. The premise of the story, that our 'personal information' is too public, is very relevant to modern times. And the main characters are fleshed out and interesting. On the downside, the middle of the story moves rather slowly, but this is a minor quibble.

The book is entertaining, and I'd recommend it to fans of thrillers.

*************3.5 Stars************

I've heard such great things about Clare Mackintosh that I couldn't wait to pick up one of her books. I was so excited when my library had the audio version available that I snatched it up. The book kept me entertained though the craziness that is Los Angeles traffic. While the book read more women fiction then thriller/mystery, I still really enjoyed the characters and the story.

The narrator: This had to be the best narrator of a book yet. This lady was amazing and do so many different voices well that at times i forgot I was listening to one person and really brought the story to life.

The Story: While I went into the book thinking more thriller or cat and mouse game, to my surprise the story ended up really being about the lives of Zoe and Kelly outside the mystery. We really got to know the ladies in depth, learned about the lives from young ages, what makes them tick, the mistakes they made and how they are just trying to survive at times.

While at times it was interesting to really dig into the lives of these two women, it made the book feel slow at times. As much of the details just didn't move the mystery along.

The author really focused a lot on police procedure and what they do in order to solves a case. I did find some of that very interesting as the English justice system is different the US and it was intriguing to see it at work. However, at times it seemed a bit much and slowed down the pace of the story.

The author did a great job at hiding who the perpetrator was, that I was never really able to guess who the person was until it was revealed. The Author had a great twist at the very end, that had me gasping a bit and yelling in my car at one point, i knew it.

Overall a very solid and entertainment read that is perfect for a family road trip or to listen to while cleaning the house.

Standing waiting for the subway, contemplating your day, the people around you a blur.. the train comes; everyone rushes in, seats every where taken. You stand, personal space goes unheeded, and was that inadvertent contact from the person next to you? You think so, but is it, really? Have you not seen this person before? Must be a coincidence as we all make our trek to the same place each day, we’re bound to see the same person time and time again, right? Is that a glance of recognition or something else, interest, maybe?

Zoe Walker takes the underground to and from work along with the (washed and unwashed) masses heading in all directions, mostly oblivious to those around her. Whiling away the time it takes to get home reading the paper until a personal ad catches her eye. Strangely as a the personal section is last of the paper, a picture of a woman offering her “services” (and a quite a price no less) looks like her. Puzzled, Zoe contemplates how this could be! Once home the thought of calling the published number to see what’s all about comes back disconnected, breathing a sign of relief, must be an error, we all have look-a-likes..

Kelly Swift also rides the underground trains, keeping close watch at the hordes embarking and disembarking, hoping for her day to end. All hopes disperse though, as a familiar face is seen in the crowd, and she realizes her day is not over yet. Too late she’s spotted and the chase ensues, her working day has just gotten longer, life as a British Transport Police officer is never over. One less criminal to put in the system, someone has to keep these people safe, if even for their own sakes they haven’t a clue, Kelly just wishes it wasn’t her.

Someone is out there, seeing it all happen. How can they all stand there unawares, thinking all is safe, do they not know a mastermind watches?

I See You is the second release by Clare Mackintosh, riveting suspense will keep you watching over your shoulder and for good reason. Another heart pounding read...do not skip any words no matter how fast you want to read through them!

I received this book via NetGalley to give an honest review.

Man oh man what did I read? Let me tell you this I was so caught up in this book that when the ending came about I was thinking to myself OH NO SHE DIDN'T GO THERE!!! I loved the ending.

So Zoe is a single mom of two, who is in a relationship with Simon and trying to live day to day.
When she sees her picture in the paper it has her uneasy even though no one wants to really believe it is her. Then it starts getting a bit crazier as Zoe starts seeing others and knows that something else has to be going on, but will she be a victim as well. It seems that someone out there is playing a game with unsuspecting women.
Then in pops up Kelly an officer who is determine to investigate who is putting people in the newspaper. What they end up uncover is something that is HUGE! It just goes too show you that you can never truly trust anyone.
While Kelly is investigating she is also coming to terms with her twin sister's decision to move on with her life. It is like the two things that Kelly is dealing with go hand to hand in some way.
We go back and forth between the different P.O.V.'s of Kelly and Zoe and for me it was not confusing at all.
Can't wait to read more by this author.
Characters! Zoe is kind of plain just trying her best to make it and support her family. Though we see her start to panic and really see just how much she cares for her family when put into a situation. It made it exciting.
Kelly the police officer. I liked her she came into the story just running the show. She didn't back down when not finding answers she kept trying until she got what she needed. I hope we get more books with Kelly in it, because I think we got just a small taste of who she really is and what she can do.
I can't wait to read more by this author. I love how she is able to just pull you in and have you guessing until the end to find out who dun it.

Mackintosh's second novel, I See You, is not to be missed by the reader who loves a good suspense-thriller. All obligatory scenes of this genre are carried out masterfully-- sympathetic victims, the terror of potential future crimes, red herrings, the hero at the mercy of the villain, and a false ending followed by a surprising twist-- but with no sense of formulaic predictability. MacKintosh's profound personal knowledge of  life in law enforcement is evident in her writing. But most compelling, is the premise-- women on their mundane and predictable daily commutes in London are unknowingly becoming targets as their profiles and patterns are sold for profit. A police officer who has difficulty following orders, and a potential victim who has happened upon an ad with her own photo, find themselves marching faster and faster to unravel the mystery behind this deadly cat-and-mouse game before the next woman is killed. I very much look forward to the next Clare Mackintosh novel.

Zoe Walker follows the same routine to work and back every day, and has for a very long time. One night on her way home, she sees her own picture on an ad for a website called FindTheOne.com. She knows nothing about the site, and is pretty upset about being there. Zoe brings the police into the investigation, but they really aren’t as worried as they should be. As Zoe and the police delve into what is going on, some of the girls who also appear without their knowledge like Zoe, are murdered or hurt in horrific ways. I See You, by Clare Mackintosh, is a psychological thriller that will get anyone worried about their own safety in a world with social media and high tech.

Set in the UK, where it seems almost everyone takes public transportation to and from work, the book has some charming, yet different aspects as opposed to if it was set in the US. Since Zoe knows that she and other women are being observed without knowing by whom, the novel has a creepy feel, and the suspense builds throughout the entire story. Readers who can put themselves in Zoe’s place will be a bit freaked out and will be looking over their shoulders whenever alone.

Mackintosh has a good writing style, and her characters are well-developed. Some reviewers have said that this kind of thing is improbable, but they might be living in a fantasy world since things like this are going on all the time. The book is easy to read, and quite fast moving. It won’t win any literature awards, but is a good book to pick up for a vacation or summer read.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Narration by Rachel Atkins

I See You is a psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you have ever wondered how much information is available in the public domain about yourself, including on social media and street camera feeds, I See You will definitely give you a spine-tingling eerie feeling. I loved the twists and turns that this action-filled thriller took me on. This book had me guessing as to who was the true villain to the very end. Additionally, the narration by Rachel Atkins was well done and definitely makes this a title that can be enjoyed in audio format. 

Imagine finding a picture of yourself in an advertisement for a dating site that you did not authorize. How did it get there, and why?  This is the scary situation that the protagonist in I See You, Zoe Walker, finds herself in. Moreover, when it becomes clear that the pictures in this particular reoccurring advertisement are connected to violent crimes, how can Zoe stay safe?

Along the way Clare Mackintosh provides us with clues that seem to point in many different directions, including some that hit close to Zoe's work and home life. Just who can she trust, and is she being paranoid or smartly self-guarded?

Fortunately Zoe does get the attention of a police officer, Kelly, who has her own skeletons in her closet and that has been demoted from her prior detective role back to a beat cop. However, Kelly is the only one who initially listens to Zoe's sneaking suspicions. Can Kelly in her present position help?  Moreover even if she can, will she be able to do so before it's too late?

Rachel Atkins delivers a powerful performance in I See You. Ms Atkins attention to creating different voices for each character worked well. She also had great timing in her delivery which allows the listener to easily understand the story and feel the pace and emotion of the scene from just her rendition. Ms. Atkins also provides sufficient, personality specific differentiation in the voices she creates for the characters to allow the listener to know who is speaking without having to rely on dialogue tags. This was my first experience listening to Ms. Atkins, but I will definitely be looking for more of her performances.

All in all, lovers of twisty psychological thrillers should enjoy I See You. Moreover, the huge twist at the end means we can hopefully look forward to a sequel sometime in the future!

Source: Review copy provided for review purposes.

Zoe Walker rides the train to and from work everyday. As she is riding one day, she is looking at the paper and sees an advertisement with her picture on it. At least she thinks it’s her. It is for one of those dating websites. Her boyfriend and kids don’t think it’s her. The next day, she sees another woman’s face on the ad. The next day, another woman….Maybe it’s some weird fluke until things start happening to the women in the ads. Is she next? She begins getting paranoid about everyone around her on the train, on the street, in her home. Her daughter is starting a play that she got cast in rather strangely. Is someone after her? Her boyfriend is acting strange. Her son seems okay. He is working at her best friend Melissa’s cafe but he is awfully quiet too. She involves Kelly, a police officer with her own demons, who finds herself totally absorbed into what’s happening with these ladies. Will they figure out who’s behind it all in time to save Zoe?

Okay. That ending! I was not expecting that at all. There were times that I was feeling that the story was dragging a bit. Her first book, I Let You Go, did a better job of keeping me enthralled throughout but this was a solid second effort. That ending though! It does have an interesting concept with the “dating” site and what that means. It is not a stretch to believe that it could really happen. But that ending! Do not read ahead to the ending on this one because it will ruin the whole story for you.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

This book was... different. Confusing at first. I will be honest, I had a hard time in the beginning. It wasn't making sense. I knew that it would eventually, but it took a little too long to start to come together for me.

Once the book picked up and really started, I was hooked. I had no idea who was behind everything. Everyone was a suspect. I thought that each character was guilty at one point or another. I never saw that ending coming.

This is one of those books that will keep readers guessing from the get go. It definitely is not obvious who and why. When it happens, it smacks the reader in the face.

This was my first book by Mackintosh. I own another of her book and plan on reading it after reading this one. For those who like a book that will keep you guessing and turning the pages like a crackhead, this is definitely a book for you.

Title: I See You
Author: Clare Mackintosh
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Series: Standalone
Star Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

I borrowed this book through my local library and reviewed it.

One of my book club buddies was nervous about this book, so when I saw it lurking on a table at my local library, I took it upon myself to read it ahead for her, to let her know that it's worth checking it out. And it is! (You know who you are! Wink wink!) I've been really curious about Clare Mackintosh, ever since her first novel, I Let You Go. Frankly, I'm kicking myself over it now, because wow. Just wow! I am blown away, bowled over, my blood still chilled, and I've sat on my thoughts for a night because I was still processing. I've seen quite a few thrillers in my short life, but this is one that is electric, paranoia-inducing, and fearsome. A slick, creepy thriller with enough turns to boggle the mind, I See You is one of my favorite books of 2017!

Zoe Walker lives a relatively normal life in London with her husband and children. She's happy, or at least tries to be. But when a picture of her shows up in the local paper, she soon discovers a tangled web of deceit and betrayal, and the deeper she digs, the closer the danger looms. Forced to choose between having answers and her life, Zoe begins to realize that the danger may be in the one place she didn't suspect...

This book, in a word, was insane. This thriller seemed to creep into my mind, squirrel its way under my skin, until I was constantly thinking about it, even when I wasn't reading it. It was so creepy and scary; it had me jumping at every small noise and constantly looking over my shoulder when I went out, even if it wasn't alone. I loved every crazy moment of it. It's been a rather long time since such a type of book got into my head that way. While it wasn't entirely pleasant, I enjoyed the experience. It also made me think of just how much of myself I want to put out on the internet, because after all, you never know.

The prose was sparse and hypnotic, casting an eerie spell over me as I went on, until I literally couldn't stop turning pages. I also really liked the way that Zoe's narrative intersected with Kelly Swift's, the law enforcement officer who interacts with her. The whole Walker family was absolutely fascinating. And that ending--I did not see it coming! Wow! I've definitely become a fan of Clare Mackintosh! I can't wait to read I Let You Go! The bottom line: A creepy, twisty thriller that scared the wits out of me, I See You is one of the best books of 2017! Next on deck: Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth!

When Zoe Walker sees her photo in the classifieds section of a London newspaper, she is determined to find out why it's there. There's no explanation: just a grainy image, a website address and a phone number. She takes it home to her family, who are convinced it's just someone who looks like Zoe. But the next day the advert shows a photo of a different woman, and another the day after that.
Is it a mistake? A coincidence? Or is someone keeping track of every move they make . . .

In my humble opinion, there are few things better than a book with a well written twist. There you are, just reading along your merry way and BAM! Maybe you were ready for it, maybe you weren’t, but if it’s truly a twist, your mind may possibly short out for a moment, and it’s glorious. Now, I said there are few things better, but my absolute favorite thing is a book that ends well. When I say well, I don’t mean happily ever after with all the loose ends neatly tucked away. On the contrary, a good ending (again in my opinion) ends true to life. In real life, happily ever after is a rarity, and complete wrapping up of loose ends is nigh on an impossibility. Clare Mackintosh has apparently accepted these life truths and is unafraid to employ them in her books. I’m not going to say anything about the plot, because I don’t want to accidentally give away anything, but Ms. Mackintosh has produced another absorbing page turner. Her characters are multi-dimensional, and the dialogue flows naturally. Under normally circumstances, I would give I See You four stars, but because the ending left me cackling with glee (literally, as my coworker can attest), this, for me, is a five star read.

Mackintosh delivers a chillingly timely and topical psychological thriller combining aspects of technology with voyeurism.

After reading her debut, I LET YOU GO, I knew I needed to get my hands on her second book, I SEE YOU, which is a bit like an episode of "Criminal Minds" meets THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN (I know, I know: a collective groan as I compare to yet another 'girl' title). Here's why: scores of women are boarding the commuter train in the U.K. They go the same place at approximately the same time each day. Their routines rarely vary. The sit in the same seat, trundle through the same hallways, always making a left turn, then a right, and then...

Some end up murdered, raped, their homes broken into. What's behind it? Technology. A website selling profiles (mostly to men) of (women) commuters, their routes depicted in detail, their typical attire, approximate age under the guise of a dating website, a happenstance encounter. Someone is watching. But who?

I SEE YOU is a lite procedural psych thriller, Mackintosh having been a former police detective. It shows. The writing is engaging and very authentic. What ensues is a cat-and-mouse style of book along the lines of Alex Patterson.

At times, I felt everyone was a suspect, which is exactly what a good mystery is all about. Yet I knew there had to be a twist; and twist there is. But for me, it fell a bit flat (the set-up wasn't as strong as it *could* have been; but I am reading an early edition, this may have been corrected). I wasn't as invested in the characters as I wanted to be, either, but still I was turning the pages, mostly because I wanted to see if my hunch proved correct (it was).

If you read and loved I LET YOU GO, the sense of place in I SEE YOU isn't as immediate or scenic as the rocky coast of England, the crashing waves, the salty sea air. I SEE YOU is set entirely in London and The Underground, but that shouldn't dissuade.

I liked this one. The premise of the story really grabbed me because the idea of someone watching when you don't know it is just plain scary. I wouldn't say the book scared me but the idea behind the story is frightening only because of how realistic it really is. I was pulled into this book rather quickly and read the entire book in about a day so it definitely held my attention. This was a very entertaining read that kept me guessing right up until the end.

Zoe is like a lot of other people in that she is a creature of routine. She takes the same route to work and back everyday and follows the same routine. Could this behavior have set her up as a target of a new website? When Zoe notices a picture in the classified section of the paper, she thinks it looks like her but can't believe it. Her loved ones convince her that it couldn't be but she can't quite let it go and shares what she has seen with a local detective.

Kelly gets involved in the case after talking to Zoe. She wants in on the case and pulls a few strings to be assigned to the unit handling it for a period of time. She connects with Zoe and is willing to bend a few rules if that is what it takes to keep her safe. Some women have been victims of crime after their photo ended up in the paper and there has even been a murder. The police are determined to figure out what is going on and stop the crimes from occurring.

This book took a lot of twists and turns and I wasn't ever quite sure who might be responsible. I think that Zoe's feeling of fear and helplessness were accurately displayed while she still had the strength and resolve to continue on with her life. Kelly's perspective added a lot to the book and really illustrated how difficult of a case this really was. I didn't fall in love with any of the characters but I found myself really wanting to see everyone come out of this unharmed with the culprit caught.

I would recommend this book to fans of mystery thrillers. This was a fast paced and exciting novel that had a realistic feel. This is the first book by Clare Mackintosh that I have had a chance to read and I would definitely pick up her work again in the future.

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via First to Read.

I’ve only heard wonderful things for Clare Mackintosh’s writing. Not having read I Let You Go, I had no idea what to expect from this author, but I was so impressed and intrigued with what I got!

When Zoe sees her face on an ad in the newspaper for the website findtheone.com, she’s creeped out. She’s convinced it’s her, but her family thinks it’s someone who looks like her. The next day, another woman appears, and so on. What happens when one of these women ends up murdered?

I admit, it took me a bit to get completely hooked on the story. Our main character Zoe lives a very normal, boring, relateable life. There wasn’t anything outstanding about Zoe and if it had been just her POV, I would have been very bored with the story seeing as a lot of her thoughts were monotonous. Thankfully, the author introduced Kelly, who’s a police officer investigating Zoe’s case and soon, all the cases from the women featured in the ad. Kelly was a strong and level-headed character that I instantly liked. Her POV was much more entertaining and intriguing.

There are short chapters that give more insight to why the website was created. They are also the creepiest chapters of the story! They make you second-guess everything you do, where you go, your routines, what you post on social media, and just every aspect of your life. Especially for those who use public transportation all the time. This book will make you rethink public transportation and everyone who looks at you while commuting.

The last two pages of the story left my mind going crazy with the sudden twist that Clare introduced! I was so shocked! I remember screaming, “WHAT?!” and re-reading the last few paragraphs. So shocked, you guys! It’s safe to say I did not see that coming at all.

I believe readers will be impressed by this story. You will be second-guessing everybody and wondering what the heck is going on, why the person is doing what they are doing, who is the person!!! The tension that the author slowly built up for the climax kept me on edge!

I See You is a chilling and powerful psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat! It is slightly slow but the tension and the shocking ending makes it all worthwhile!

I really liked the premise of this novel - it was interesting, original and plausible. The overall plot too, was well constructed. In short, this was a finely written novel which does justice to its genre.

The characters were - if not sympathetic exactly, at least characters the readers cared enough to continue reading to the end, to see what, if anything happens to them.

I especially liked PC Kelly. She was an exemplary (maybe too much so?) member of the police - dedicated, hard working, and has a mind brilliantly suited to her career.

I also liked the fact that Zoe Walker was not the budding Nancy Drew she started to be, as I wouldn't have felt it realistic if she had solved the case based on her own reasoning and intuition alone. I so feared this event, and thus, applaud Clare Mackintosh for having the character realize it's much better to let the authorities with all the resources at their disposal do their job.

The twist of the villain was a surprise to me, and I must admit to feeling conflicted on this point, because I could make a case for and against the culprit doing what s/he did. On the one hand, I could understand the malefactor's motive, but on the other hand, that motive was not one hundred percent convincing. I also sensed there was more to the twist (and was glad to be proven correct) since I couldn't understand how the culprit had the technical knowledge to commit the crimes (hacking of CCTV, re-routing of ISPs, etc.). And I must say, this additional twist really propelled the novel from the realm of good to great.

All in all, this was an enjoyable read. Well worth one's time and effort.

Clare Mackintosh returns following her smashing debut and international bestseller, (2016)I Let You Go landing on my Top 50 Books of 2016, with a strong follow-up. A clever, gritty, dark and twisty psychological thriller, I SEE YOU.

Someone is watching when you least expect. FindTheOne.com is more than a dating site. An online matchmaking service for more than dating. Find the victim, and go for the kill. A commute to work. A dreaded task. The Tube. However, someone has hacked into the system and they are watching the daily routines of women. A devious dangerous plan. Cyber Crime, coffee shops, CCTV, money laundering, greed, stalking, adverts, a killer, FindTheOne.com, an ax to grind, payback, and murder. Trust no one.

Middle-class Zoe Walker, a mother of two teens (Katie and Justin) -divorced, and dating a guy named Simon- must take the train to work. The only jobs worth taking were in zone one; the only affordable mortgages in zone four. She could only dream of working close enough to her home to walk.

On her morning commute, she is shocked to discover in the London Gazette a photo of herself in the personal ads. FindtheOne.com. What the heck? She is looking at herself. A forty-year-old woman. The woman in the advert is none other than herself. Soon other women’s photos appear, and they end in a crime.

We also are introduced to Kelly Swift, the detective who has been disgraced and back on the scene with the latest murders. Her departure four years earlier from British Transport Police’s Sexual offenses Unit had been rapid and uncomfortable. She had spent nine months off sick returning to what had been presented to her as a clean slate but was really a punishment posting.

She had thrown herself into her shift work, quickly becoming one of the most respected officers on the Neighborhood Policing Team, pretending to herself she was a uniform cop through and through when every day she yearned to be dealing with serious investigations again. Will she lose control again?

The Underground Crime soars with the investigation into crime on public transport after record increases in reported sexual offenses, violent assaults, and thefts. Terrifying enough to make you stop using the Tube altogether. Kelly is back on the case full force.

With sprinkles of spine-chilling words in italics, from the mystery person throughout the novel (the best parts). Told from three POV: Zoe, the mom; Kelly the determined police officer, and the creepy mystery person.

“I see you. But you don’t see me. You’re engrossed in your book; a paperback cover with a girl in a red dress. I can’t see the title but it doesn’t matter; they’re all the same. If it isn’t boy meets girl, it’s boy stalks girl. Boy kills the girl. The irony isn’t lost on me . . . You’re still reading. And I’m still watching.”

Zoe is worried for all the women and girls out there as well as her daughter and herself. She feels the danger. She cannot see it, but she can feel it. She knows it is getting close.

“Routine is comforting to you. It’s familiar, reassuring. Routine makes you feel safe. Routine will kill you.”

"You never know where you might meet The One. A way of introductions between London’s commuters on FindTheOne.com. A matchmaker. A broker. A go-between. To give coincidence a head start. . ."

Soon the adverts are all-consuming for Zoe, and Kelly is determined to find the killer. They work together and believe the adverts are at the heart of the series of crime against women. What is the motive and who is stalking and preparing information on each woman? Who are the buyers/subscribers? These customers come from all walks of life.

Who are these men?

“They’re your friends. Father. Brother. Best Friend. Neighbor. Boss. The people you see every day; the people you travel to and from work with. You think you know them better than that. You’re wrong.”

The ruthless psychopath is more than a matchmaker. “Someone could be downloading your profile right now. . . A facilitator for desires hidden so deep inside they’re barely acknowledged. The chance to kill someone.”

From making notes of everything from hair color, body size, duration, availability, employment, routines, timing, locations, and a rating of easy, moderate, difficult. A cost. Chilling!

As Zoe and Kelly plan an attack, they are in danger as well as Katie. Any woman on the train could be the next victim. Once the photo appears, are they worth the amount someone is willing to pay to kill?

With a cast of characters, the author leaves you in suspense as you doubt everyone close to Zoe. Who is the sinister mastermind behind this elaborate cybercrime – a deadly scheme of cat and mouse?

Mackintosh spins an elaborate set up with the slow burning background of Zoe and her family as well as Kelly. Two interesting women. The suspense builds to a fast-paced heart-pounding climax, with an array of red herrings. Readers will be mindful of their own daily routines and possibly be looking over their shoulders, or mixing up their daily grind. I know, I will. Take a different route, a different time.

In our world of identity theft, technology, social media, and cyber-crimes, a horrifying fictional account, and yet a believable one which makes it even scarier. I See You, would make a great movie. You never know who is watching. Are we ever safe? Highly entertaining, suspenseful, and innovative.

For me, the mystery secret person and the words in italics— "the icing on the cake." The twisty finale will leave you spinning. The secret is finally revealed. I was reminded of the final episode of Season One TV Series, Secrets and Lies. Deliciously evil!

Well crafted, Mackintosh once again uses her cop procedural expertise mixed with her fine-tuned writing abilities, to keep readers glued to the pages for a strong and gritty second installment. Highly recommend both books.

A special thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a complimentary reading copy, in exchange for an honest review.

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