From the award-winning author of The Scamp, Jennifer Pashley is back with a searing literary noir about what it means to live on the margins of society and what happens when no one is watching…Pearl Jenkins is a nobody. She was a woman who lived as a hermit in the woods. One day, she’s nowhere to be found, and all that’s left behind is a pool of blood and a child no one knew existed, raised … knew existed, raised completely off the grid and in the grip of Pearl’s manic paranoia.
Kateri Fisher is used to being an outsider. Now, she’s the only female detective in the tiny upstate New York town of Spring Falls, where everyone knows everyone, but no one will talk. It’s fitting that she takes the case that no one else wants. But as Kateri struggles to navigate the harsh rules of a new town while trying to learn the truth about the Jenkins family, only one thing becomes clear: neither she nor Pearl are as invisible as she first thought. Someone’s always watching.
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THE WATCHER: a novel.
A Kateri Fisher Novel Book 1.
260pages, 31 chapters.
#justreleased in September 2020.
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Fall is all about spooky, thrillers & mysteries
or
is it just me?
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JENNIFER PASHLEY is the award-winning author of two short story collections, States, and The Conjurer, and a novel, The Scamp.
She has been awarded
the Red Hen Prize for Fiction,
the Mississippi Review Prize for fiction,
and
the Carve Magazine Esoteric Award for LGBT Fiction.
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“The characters in The Watcher will rip your heart out…
There is HOPE at the heart of this novel, and also REDEMPTION and JUSTICE.
You’ll find yourself reading faster to discover what happens next and slowing down to wallow in the BEAUTIFUL prose.
Pashley writes about the people on the fringes of society with clear-eyed compassion and grace.
It’s a gift.”—-
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Pearl Jenkins is a nobody. She was a woman who lived as a hermit in the woods. Then, one day, she’s nowhere to be found, and all that’s left is a pool of blood and a child no one knew existed, raised completely off the grid and in the grip of Pearl’s manic paranoia.
Kateri Fisher is used to being an outsider. Now, she’s the only female detective in the tiny upstate New York town of Spring Falls, where everyone knows everyone, but no one will talk. It’s fitting that she takes the case that no one else wants. But as Kateri struggles to navigate the harsh rules of a new town while trying to learn the truth about the Jenkins family, only one thing becomes clear: Neither she nor Pearl are as invisible as she first thought. Someone’s always watching.
The story proceeds with a TWO NARRATION PERSPECTIVE; one of SHANNON and other of, KATERI.
KATERI’S story begins with 16th Oct and the last chapter ends on 4th Nov.
The INTENSE STORY, begins with KATERI losing her only support, her grandmother & at the same time, going through a divorce.
She’s posted to a tiny rural Hamilton County.
Here, she works along with JOEL HURT in a place, to solve cases, where everything seems sublime and calm, on the face.
But.. Someone’s always watching.
She is assigned a case wherein she finds, a house having blood spattered everywhere, the body cut & tattered into pieces with a young girl, BIRDIE, sitting silently in the park. The body is assumed to be of her mother, PEARL JENKINS.
SHANNON is the son of PEARL & brother of BIRDIE.
As a kid, SHANNON’S father tried to kill him, in a house fire, when he was just 4.. Or is it what he has assumed all along.. But why..
This MURDER, is not as simple as it looks.. There are loads of SECRETS, TWISTS AND TURNS which reveal gradually and keep the READER GLUED TO THE BOOK.
There’s drugs, robbery, domestic- child abuse, animal cruelty..amongst other things.
A PERFECT thriller, because the PLOT DOES NOT UNRAVEL TILL THE VERY END- the sign of a good writing.
READ it to know more!
Pearl has come up missing. Her house is full of blood but her body is no where to be found. Kateri has been called to the scene. Then she discovers a little girl, Birdie, locked in a closet. No one knew Birdie existed. She is possibly the only witness to Pearl’s disappearance. Then…Birdie is taken. But, Kateri is not going to stop till she discovers the truth.
I enjoyed Kateri. She is a smart, no nonsense detective with flaws. I enjoy strong women characters and Kateri is definitely a good one.
Then there is Shannon. He has had a terrible life. His father is in prison because he tried to kill Shannon and his mother in a fire. Shannon is struggling to leave the past behind come into his own. Then tragedy strikes…again.
This is a story which captivates and keeps you reading. As a matter of fact, it moves so quickly you can read it in one sitting.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest opinion.
The Watcher by Jennifer Pashley is a fantastic novel that kept me on the edge of my seat.
Detective Kateri Fisher has been reassigned to a small town in upstate NY after she was involved in an unfavorable incident. This small town of Spring Falls is one of those places where everyone knows everyone and Kateri is the only female detective.
There is a mysterious crime that needs to be solved. There are secrets hiding in every corner.
The story is told in multiple points of view and time periods which works in this story.
The characters are well fleshed out with secrets of their own, even Kateri.
I hope there is more to come of Detective Kateri.
Since I grew up in tiny town NY it’s always nice to read a book in that setting! It always feels like coming home to me, even if I’m reading a crime based book. The Watcher is the first book in a new crime series and I can honestly say that after reading the first I cannot wait to continue this series! Pashley just has a way with words that makes them flow off the page in such a delightful way!
For being a crime book this read is incredible atmospheric, which I think is the perfect addition to crime novels. It just adds that perfect extra sense of dread and etherealness that helps to captivate you as you read. And even outside of this the characters were all really interesting. I enjoyed learning more about them and getting all sides of the story.
Knowing small town antics I could easily see a small town crumble like it did in this story. And overall this was one of those books that I couldn’t look away from. It just had that perfect combination of realness, amazing writing, and an engaging story that will leave you needing more. And I really look forward to seeing what Pashley comes up with next!
Linda Zagon’s review Oct 26, 2020 · edit
really liked it
Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “The Watcher” by Jennifer Pashley, Crooked Lane Books, September 2020 for Suzy Approved Book Tours
Jennifer Pashley, the author of “The Watcher” has written a dark, intriguing, captivating, and suspenseful novel. The genres for this book are mystery, thriller, suspense, crime novel, and fiction. The timeline for this story is set in the author’s present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters and events in the story. The setting for this story is mostly in an upstate New York town, by the isolated woods. The author describes her characters as quirky, dysfunctional, unusual, desperate, each with their own set of problems. Investigating the unique case is a woman detective, Kateri Fisher, who feels like an outsider in this town. There are betrayals, threats, danger, crimes, and murder. If you are sensitive to topics such as drugs, rape, and murder, be aware they are discussed in this story.
The Jenkins family has been living in a house by the woods. Pearl, the mother is prepared to run with the family at any given moment. She seems to be in fear of her husband who is in jail, accused of arson, where his family was almost killed. Shannon is her son, who takes on the responsibility of earning money to help pay for bills, and wants to protect his young sister.
Pearl has cameras set around the property and keeps both Shannon and her young daughter captive in their home. Only one day, Kateri Fisher finds that there is evidence that Pearl is dead. The leading suspect is her son Shannon. It also seems that Kateri finds Pearl’s young daughter in the closet. Kateri takes the daughter to the hospital to make sure she is emotionally and physically healthy.
This is an action-filled book, and there are twists and turns, and strange and unusual suspects. There is a dark and hopeless feeling of darkness and despair in this story. It is almost like everybody is being watched, and has nothing to lose by their actions. I would recommend this edgy, chilling thriller for readers.
This first book in a series is absolutely brilliant – from the emotionally heartbreaking story, the atmospheric and claustrophobic small town feel, to the desperation and poverty, this was an amazing thriller that sure made my pulse pound!
This crime thriller is as captivating and an enthralling read for the characters in this story – highlighting the people that live in poverty, mental illness and addiction – the societal outcast we want to ignore and just not see.
But someone knows and someone is always watching.
A well written police procedural The Watcher is definitely one of my top reads this year.
Kateri Fisher is going to be one of my favorite characters and I cannot wait for the next installment of this series. Pashley is definitely a writer to watch.
Consider adding this read to your TBR.
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: ℎ ℎ
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: 293
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: 09/08/2020
: (5 stars)
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This is the first book I have ever read from this author. Thank you Jennifer & Crooked Lane books for my #gifted copy. This has the perfect spooky cover for an October read.
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: We follow Pearl Jenkins who is a nobody that lived as a hermit in the woods . One day she’s nowhere to be found, and all that is left behind is a pool of blood and a child no one never knew existed, raised completely off the grid and in the grip of Pearl’s manic paranoia.
This book was very deep, and definitely shook me to my core. I loved seeing multiple point of views from Kateri the female detective in Spring Falls to other characters throughout as everything unfolded. The pacing was very unique, but was perfect for the story. Jennifer’s writing style is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. It is very dark and detailed making you feel a wide range of emotions. I highly recommend this book to all Thriller readers because it is a very unique premise that is new to the Thriller world, and I absolutely loved it!!!!
**Trigger warnings**
This book does mention drugs and rape, so if those are triggers to you, please proceed with caution.