Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole

188 reviews

surlamer7803's review against another edition

dark emotional funny informative mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Really well written and very well researched book that I found to be unexpectedly informative and educational but done so in a way that was enhancing to the story and overall entangling. Loved the theme and thrills of this book - done very differently to others of the genre which was very refreshing. Very much enjoyed the climactic and satisfying conclusion as well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Gun violence and Murder

Minor: Slavery

boba_nbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Spice Rating: 🌶️ / 5

On the surface, When No One Is Watching is thriller novel, but when you start to dig into the material, you find that the author weaves the important subjects of racism and gentrification into the suspense.

Sydney has lived in Brooklyn all her life, but the neighborhood she knows and loves is transforming before her eyes as more and more white people are moving into homes that have been owned by Black families for years. One of those people is Theo, who moved into one of the homes with his long-term girlfriend with the intent of flipping the house and reselling it. In order to keep the history of the neighborhood at the forefront, Sydney decides to create her own historical tour and asks Theo to help her dig into the rich past of the area. But the further they look, the more suspicious behaviors and conspiracies they uncover, and the pair becomes unsure of who they can trust.

This novel is definitely a slow burn. There is a lot of build-up before the tension comes to a head at the very end. Throughout the story, you're unsure of who you can trust--including both our main narrators, Sydney and Theo. I think the themes could've been more poignant and the ending could've been more realistic than leaning into science-fiction. 

When No One Is Watching brings the vital issues of racism, injustice, and gentrification to the forefront of its story. These subjects were what brought the most chilling themes to me, and if you're wanting to learn more about them through a thrilling ride, I'd definitely recommend this novel to you.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Racism

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Death of parent

Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Slavery

tmchopra's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Drug use, Cultural appropriation, and Deportation

haemby's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This is the first time I've read a thriller. I gotta say...everything I read after this is going to have big shoes to fill.

From the beginning, the author sewed the seeds of mystery surrounding the main and side characters. There's a constant tenseness when flipping through the pages that makes it impossible to put down.

The plot slows at points, but I think it's because I'm so used to watching a thriller. Reading a thriller gives you every single detail you may miss from a fast paced movie. This author does not disappoint. Makes me want to watch it on a screen!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Medical content

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

kylieqrada's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Truth really is stranger than fiction. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Racism

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Death of parent

Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Slavery

m_moon's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Vomit

acciodogs's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

Comparing this to Get Out is doing this book some favors. 
I liked the idea, but didn’t love the execution. Pacing was off, the writing wasn’t great…it felt like it took forever to get to what was obvious. I did like the small bits of history in it, but this thriller barely felt suspenseful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence

shaun_dh's review against another edition

challenging dark funny informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail

passionatereader78's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

If you liked Ace of Spade by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé you will like this book.  It's an emotional read! Well written and powerful.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Murder, and Classism

Minor: Infidelity, Vomit, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

bringitona's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Slavery, Terminal illness, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism