When No One Is Watching: An Edgar Award Winner

By Alyssa Cole

An instant NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

"I was knocked over by the momentum of an intense psychological thriller that doesn’t let go until the final page. This is a terrific read." – Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author

*A Marie Claire Book Club Pick* 

Rear Window meets Get Out in this gripping thriller from a critically acclaimed and New York Times Notable author, in which the gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood takes on a sinister new meaning…

Sydney Green is Brooklyn born and raised, but her beloved neighborhood seems to change every time she blinks. Condos are sprouting like weeds, FOR SALE signs are popping up overnight, and the neighbors she’s known all her life are disappearing. To hold onto her community’s past and present, Sydney channels her frustration into a walking tour and finds an unlikely and unwanted assistant in one of the new arrivals to the block—her neighbor Theo.

But Sydney and Theo’s deep dive into history quickly becomes a dizzying descent into paranoia and fear. Their neighbors may not have moved to the suburbs after all, and the push to revitalize the community may be more deadly than advertised.

When does coincidence become conspiracy? Where do people go when gentrification pushes them out? Can Sydney and Theo trust each other—or themselves—long enough to find out before they too disappear?

Featured in Parade, Essence, Bustle, Popsugar, Elle, Shondaland, Marie Claire, Buzzfeed, Entertainment Weekly, Good Housekeeping, Brit + Co, Real Simple, Lit Hub, Crime Reads, Blavity, Ms. Magazine, Hello Giggles, The New York Times, Town & Country, Newsweek, New York Post, Refinery29, Woman's World, Washington Post, the Skimm, Book Riot, Bookish, Huffington Post, and more!

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Sep 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9780062982667

Alyssa Cole

Alyssa Cole is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers and romance (historical, contemporary, and sci-fi). Her books have received critical acclaim from Library Journal, BuzzFeed, Kirkus, Booklist, Jezebel, Vulture, Book Riot, Entertainment Weekly, and various other outlets. When she’s not working, she can usually be found watching anime or wrangling her many pets.

Reviews for When No One Is Watching

[susanne Wilson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The book needs some serious editing to focus the plot line. Gentrification, racism, Conspiracy theories, romance was a bit too much for me. I enjoyed the insights into the history of Brooklyn a lot and the unlikely friendship between the main characters. Graphic sex scene was unnecessary.

[tonyapinkins · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A page turner full of history, intrigue and suspense. I loved it!

[Jennifer Washington · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So good. Great build with a very suspenseful story. Informative also.

[Maeen Elbashir · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing read! Very informative of an issue so well hidden by corruption.

[Kimmy Auguste · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was amazing, I wanted to know what was happening every time I turned the page. The romance was adorable, This books may have turned me into an advocate for swirl life lol

[jclavet17 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best thrillers I've read in a long time. Tied in with some timely topics and it's just *chef's kiss*.

[bookczuk · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

2022 pandemic read. Brooklyn meets Jordan Peele.

[risingpilots · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I couldn't put this book down once I started. It had me on the edge of my seat and after it ended I wanted to stay in this world a little bit longer.

[ellenh_28 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Nice combination of thriller, history lesson on race issues, and a little romance thrown in for good measure. It took about half the book to build to the suspense, and there were some holes in the plotting and story. But still a good book.

[fionaanne · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the second Alyssa Cole book I've read and the first I was able to finish. She's a decent writer with some great ideas but she needs a better editor or critique partner or something cause her execution fails. Pacing is irregular, characters lack depth, inconsistent tone, etc. But the story is fun and if they made a movie, I would absolutely watch it.

[jynell-71874 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Are you torn between reading what you love (thrillers) and learning more about social issues? If so, then this is the perfect book to dig into. Alyssa Cole does a fabulous job bringing the social issue of gentrification front and center in this tale and mixing it with a thrilling plot line.

From the beginning, I was interested in the story that unfolded. Unsure where the thriller part was until the end (the only part I disliked), the story kept me turning the pages. Rather than just telling the reader what gentrification is and spilling information about it, Alyssa beautifully places the reader front and center, sharing feelings and sneaking information and details in without it feeling like a non-fiction find.

This is a book I'll be recommending to everyone as I feel it's more important than ever to learn about this and yet, still feeling entertained. It was so beautifully done and I don't think I can properly explain all the positive feelings I have for this book.

Thank you Libro.fm for allowing me to read this and give my honest opinion.

[thewanderingjew_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When No One Is Watching, Alyssa Cole, author; Susan Dalian, Jay Aaseng, narratorsThe book is billed as a thriller, but most of the book spends time leading up to that part that one would call a thriller. For about 3/4ths of the book, the topic really revolves around corruption, racism and romantic involvements, in a Brooklyn neighborhood that is in the throes of gentrification. The novel is filled with stereotypical characters and a dialogue that tries to address the reality of blacks who are being targeted in their own neighborhoods by police, realtors, and elitists looking to take advantage of those that are disadvantaged, those who live in a prime neighborhood, but who are struggling. They do it simply because they can. The elitists view the residents as unworthy, and indeed, take advantage of them using silver tongued salespeople. Although many of the elitists fear their neighbors, their fears are exaggerated and are often unwarranted. However, on the other side of the coin, the neighborhood is drawn as nirvana, with no real consideration of the crime and real poverty, that is rampant in so many of these depressed areas. It also seems, that black residents both fear and distrust all white people, in general, which is just as much of an exaggeration.For most of the book, the reader will wonder where the thriller part is, as the residents are preoccupied with day-to-day events, survival, planning, sparring and spatting with each other. As residents seem to disappear, as property changes hands, often unfairly, the atmosphere in the neighborhood begins to grow tense. The residents are powerless against the forces that are blossoming around them, changing their world, they cannot get answers to their questions which are dismissed as not credible or worthy of answers. Sometimes the answers, when provided, are insulting. The fears and questions the residents have raised are dismissed as conspiracy theories, as they have been, for years. How the residents are taken advantage of, mocked and injured, in the effort to remove them from their homes, and in the broader world, as well, is the main thrust of the book. As the characters face their racial differences, the reader witnesses the formation of new bonds, even as others are broken. A commonality is sometimes discovered which finally offers some hopefulness.Often, the two main characters spar with each other. Theo tries ineffectively to please Sydney, who is black, and Sydney who is conditioned to resent and fear Theo because he is white, constantly taunts him. Sydney, is a responsible citizen, however, a teacher who struggles, but tries to do the right thing. Theo on the other hand, has a GED, is out of work, and has no compunction about committing crimes to satisfy his needs. On the surface, he seems genuine, but he has spent his life taking advantage of others, in contrast with Sydney who lives in a neighborhood where people help each other. Both Theo and Sydney like their neighborhood, however, although Theo’s girlfriend Kim wants to change it so that her elitist friends and business associates can take over and then force out those who have been residents for years. Where do they expect them to go? Theo and Sidney first meet when they go on the same walking tour of their black neighborhood. Sydney insists on asking several disruptive questions, causing the very rude tour guide to suggest that she start her own tour business. Encouraged by her mom, Sydney attempts to do just that. Soon, as Kim and Theo move into their new house, and they become neighbors of Sydney, resentment grows between the two women.Soon Theo and Kim's relationship withers. They both have different world views. Will that be the catalyst for a new relationship to form, because both Sydney and Theo are dumped by their significant others? Will they cross the color line?When there is a meeting of the neighborhood residents to plan for their annual Gifford Place event, Theo attends, but Kim does not. He becomes better acquainted with Sydney who really treats him rudely and mocks him. When he offers to help her with her research for her neighborhood tour business, she agrees, but she insists she won’t pay him, but he should consider his help, as reparations.As the forces at work seem to influence some of the homeowners in the neighborhood to sell their places, they seem to leave without saying goodbye. No one hears from them again. Where are they going? Is this real estate market on the up and up? Is it the elitists forcing out the poorer homeowners so they can live in luxury without any regard for those they displace? At the same time, as property is changing hands, there is also a medical research lab being built in an old hospital facility nearby. Is something nefarious going on there too?Eventually, after many trials and tribulations, after Sydney jumps to false conclusions and Theo reveals more about himself, they become good friends, helping each other, trusting each other, regardless of racial issues. As they both notice odd things going on in the neighborhood and their curiosity and fear are piqued, the action develops. In the end, will they be able to stop the forces of evil at work? In the end, will they bring about positive change? Is their retribution or resolution of the many issues raised? Not all questions will be answered.The dialogue is often crude and too sexual, creating a negative stereotype, unnecessarily, and making the book a difficult read. On the positive side, the narrators do a very good job creating their characters.

[mutantpudding · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The story itself wasn't too scary but the real life facts and history was. America is fucked up. At first I found the villains in this story cartoonishly evil but disturbingly they aren't really, racists in real life do the same shit they just don't monologue about it coherently.

[geauxgetlit · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The gentrification of Brooklyn was at the core of the book. Race contentions and conspiracy theories were also at play. I listened to this book on audio, so that might have made a difference in my opinion. However, the writing and the tone didn’t sit well with me on this book. The twist at the end was somewhat predictable, yet it delivered a much greater punch...but still left things flat.

[maydacat_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Though marketed as a thriller, this book is really more psychological suspense. It is rather slow moving for much of the book, as readers get to know the characters. Finally, the book concludes with an exciting and horrifying end. The book deals with gentrification of a poor neighborhood, much to the dismay of its inhabitants. People who have lived there their all their lives are disappearing. Stores are changing as new owners move in. Sidney is distraught with the neighborhood changes and her mother’s illness. She meets a new neighbor, a white man, and they gradually become friends. But the worst is yet to come. It was hard for me to like any of these characters. They could hardly express a thought without profanity. They admitted to being thieves, and worse. They all committed crimes, and blamed others. The author appears to be making a point about something she believes in, but she failed to get me on her side with such disreputable characters. The writing itself was disjointed, with questions left unanswered, story threads left dangling, and no justice for anyone.

[pegmcdaniel · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This novel is promoted as a thriller but it was not very suspenseful for me until the last third. The first 2/3rd had poor pacing while the characters were being set with details pertinent to the plot. The premise of the story is gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood. There is a look into the past regarding the history, racism, poverty, and history of this neighborhood.The protagonist is Sydney who is trying to save her mother's home from being sold as many of her neighbors have sold their homes and left the area. She notices all the changes that have taken place and starts to investigate what's happening. She becomes friends with a neighbor, Theo, who she meets on a walking tour of the neighborhood. We soon learn that there is a system regarding housing developments that harms and afflicts minority residents. This was very disturbing to me. There was a lot of gun and racial violence during the last third of the book, also very disturbing.There was a secondary plot with a romance between Sydney and Theo which wasn't necessary to the plot. They could have been friends so we wouldn't have had to experience the open door sex scene between them. But what was really uncomfortable to me was the use of the "F" word. It was used 4 times on the first, short, page; actually used 94 times throughout the novel, according to Kindle's count.If I didn't know much about gentrification, I surely do now. I felt this was a good learning experience but there was not much enjoyment due to the violence and language.

[techeditor_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The title of WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING promises more than the book delivers. It contains too much foul language and bitterness and way too much whining. I resented the time I spent on it.

[bibliovermis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a bit uneven—it started out hitting many of the beats of a romance/family drama, hinted at a couple of not-very-mysterious mysteries, but then completely switched gears about 3/4 of the way through to suspense/action thriller. I'm very sympathetic to the simplicity of the idea of societal evils being caused by a deliberate conspiracy, and the catharsis of the somewhat direct (and violent) solutions thereof in this book. Wouldn't it be nice if in real life, racism and gentrification were much less systemic and society-encompassing problems and instead had such specific, localized villains?

[bookmarque · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable, but uneven. Social justice and outrage, coming-of-age, unreliable narrator & a dash of romance. What a mash-up. I’m not doubting the veracity of the reflection of reality that we get through Sidney’s experiences, but I was gob-smacked that people act like that. Not making the right change and stealing. Cutting off in line out of some misplaced superiority. The constant "those people" in the mouths of whites. I’d never do any of those things to anyone and I was surprised no one called out the racist behavior they were seeing. I’ve called it out on people (mostly my bigoted relatives) and so it’s not that hard to do, but I guess cowardice is a prevailing factor. Anyway...I liked it and hope she writes more stand alones along these lines. Just tighter and with less incredible endings. I just didn’t buy Sidney’s sudden shift to cold-blooded-killer.

[lyndainoregon · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cole can't decide whether she wants to write a scathing exposé on the human cost of gentrification, or the story of a woman trying desperately to hold on to a life that is spiraling out of control, or a conspiracy thriller that almost makes QAnon look sane.Sydney Green has come back to her Brooklyn home after her marriage implodes and her mother becomes ill. She finds a neighborhood that is changing as wealthy young white couples buy out the middle-class Black families who have made it their home for decades, aided by aggressive realtors and rising tax rates. Angered by inaccurate information given in a walking tour of the neighborhood, Sydney is driven to research the history of Gifford Place, and one of her new neighbors, a young man called Theo, asks to help with the project.The research gives Cole a platform to discuss the long and ugly history of systematically depriving Black citizens of property rights – a cycle which seems to be repeating itself as many of Brooklyn’s brownstones pass from multi-family apartments for middle-class Black families to prime targets for renovation and flipping by the new white owners. Then things get muddled as the story shifts to curious and disturbing disappearances of many of the residents. Friends disappear without a trace, a young man is arrested on what appears to be a trumped-up charge, a neighborhood storekeeper is replaced after unspecified problems with Immigration. Cole does a good job of creating a menacing atmosphere here, but her main characters – Sydney and Theo – are so unlikable that it’s hard for the reader to care about them. Things drag on for the middle third of the book as our two unreliable narrators move into and out of a prickly relationship, and then the last fifty or so pages turns to a video-game level of violence and a conspiracy theory to end all conspiracy theories, only to be overcome by an even less-likely counter-conspiracy.It’s too bad Cole didn’t narrow the focus a bit and keep the very real problems of gentrification on the front burner, instead of conjuring up Illuminati-style plots.

[bookappeal · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cole reveals the discriminatory practices throughout history, culminating in gentrification, that contributed to the destruction of Black neighborhoods in Brooklyn as she slowly sets up a suspenseful narrative involving two flawed characters. Sydney returned to her mother's home in Brooklyn when her own marriage fell apart. Now, her mother is ill and Sydney is still struggling with her self-esteem and as well as with paying mounting bills, all the while noticing alarming changes in the neighborhood where she grew up. Theo and his girlfriend recently purchased the Brownstone across from Sydney but Theo is beginning to discover just how much he does not belong in his girlfriend's world, despite the extreme efforts he took to become part of it. When the narrative finally addresses the underlying suspense that has been very slowly building through the first three quarters of the book, everything happens very quickly and melodramatically. This novel feels like two, maybe three, completely different books and, while each is entertaining in its own way, the whole was a bit jarring and disconnected.

[ridgewaygirl · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a thriller about gentrification. A small Brooklyn neighborhood is changing. Almost every day it seems that a long-time resident sells up and a white family moves in, or a local shop is replaced with an upscale boutique. At first, Sydney barely notices, she's wrapped up in her own financial difficulties and still reeling from the collapse of her marriage. But as the offers on her mother's brownstone become more numerous and insistent, she notices that the changes to the neighborhood seem malevolent and centered on a new medical research company headquarters. As a book about how gentrification harms long-established communities and as a history of how that has played out in Brooklyn, this novel is a success. There's also a rising sense of being powerless in the face of injustice that was very effective. As a thriller, the big reveal felt abrupt, although the violent Tarantino-style final scenes certainly made an impact.

[eas7788 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Spoilers. I had a hard time getting a handle on the tone and mood. I guess it was akin to Get Out (in many ways) where it seemed to be realism but was really thriller/conspiracy. Uncanny, horror. At the end I was really not sure if it was going to go all the way dark.

[lycomayflower · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

CW: racism; historical, systemic racist practices; white folk being super ugly and racist; racist, non-consensual medical experimentation on humansThis thriller about gentrification in a Brooklyn neighborhood was a fascinating combination of history, all-too-believable current-day racist conspiracy, and light romance. I'm not usually terribly into thrillers because I find they tend not to do enough character development to hold my interest, but not so here. I enjoyed the main characters thoroughly and wanted to stick with them, find out what happened to them, and route for them. Recommended, but see my content warnings.

[twink_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love suspense reads, so the cover shot of Alyssa Cole's new novel, When No One is Watching and that tiny "A Thriller" non the front door definitely caught eye.Gentrification has come to Sydney's Brooklyn neighbourhood. Neighbours that have been in their homes for forty years are selling up and disappearing. Sydney is also feeling the pressure from aggressive real estate agents. She is determined to hold out and hang on to the neighbourhood she knew. She finds an unlikely partner with Theo, a new resident.Right off the bat, I have to say how disgusted I was with the new white people moving in this predominantly Black neighbourhood. Their comments and actions are so disgusting - and yet sadly are true. A timely take on race and privilege. So that's one bit of this book. But there's also some romance - also well done. Cole's previous books have been romance reads, so they come off well. History plays a part also, with details of Brooklyn and New York past. And last but certainly not least - the thriller part. Completely unexpected! There was no way to predict this plotline at all. And I'm not going to spoil it for you at all. Things do end on a bit of a rushed note, but it was hard to stop flipping pages at the end. A great read on so many levels. Cole is a talented wordsmith, weaving together many threads.

[signoraedie_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a thriller about the gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood and systemic racism. As a white woman, I found much of it enlightening! I like the two main characters. My only complaint is that the ending seemed a bit bizarre and unbelievable...but it did not detract from the novel's message.

[ewhatley_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Although well written this book fell a little flat for me. I'm a thriller/suspense reader and this one does not cleanly fall into those categories in my opinion. I found the story line predictable, tiresome and cliche. It would likely be a popular made-for-TV movie, although I wouldn't watch it. Would not recommend for my fellow dedicated gritty thriller readers.

[rmarcin-630843 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a thriller that builds very slowly. At the end, you realize that they were many clues, but they are subtly placed throughout the novel. Sydney has recently moved back to Brooklyn from Seattle after her divorce and is living at her mother’s house. Her mother is very ill, and Sydney has a hard time dealing with this, and with the mounting bills. She is getting lots of calls from creditors and keeps putting them off. People keep wanting to buy her house, but she doesn’t want to let it go.Meanwhile, Kim and Theo move into the neighborhood, along with other white families, pushing out the black owners. Stores are disappearing, and homeowners seem to go missing as well. There is a new hospital being built in the community, although the residents have opposed it. All of these changes and worry over her mother are weighing heavily on Sydney. Although she doesn’t want to, she finds herself doing some research on the history of the neighborhood and is using Theo to help with her research. What they uncover is more sinister than you can imagine.The novel builds and builds until reaching a tense conclusion. I enjoyed the novel up until the last few chapters which I felt were an unlikely. outcome, just not all together believable. Other than that, I did enjoy the book. Thanks to The Book Club Girls, Harper Collins, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.#WhenNoOneIsWatching #NetGalley#AlyssaCole

[ashles_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When No One Is Watching is a very timely thriller covering gentrification, racism, and a whole host of other very topical matters. It's well-written with a conversational tone, and I had a hard time putting this book down. I stayed up all night reading, had nightmares about it, and then woke up and finished reading. Highly recommended.

[fastforward-46127 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There's many things I loved about this book even though it fell a little short in the thriller department. I was impressed how the author incorporated relevant issues into the story. I also appreciated how the story featured a Black female lead character as non-white characters are underrepresented in the thriller/mystery/suspense genres. (Definitely the case in other genres as well, but in my opinion the genres I mentioned have the worst record for diverse reads.)Sydney Green has spent most of her life in the same Brooklyn neighborhood. But due to gentrification so many of her long-time neighbors have left and the new people moving in have drastically changed the look and vibe of the neighborhood. Sydney wants to preserve the history by giving guided walking tours of the area. Theo, one of her new neighbors, offers to help Sydney with her research. As they dig for info, let's just say things get weird and perhaps they should proceed with caution. The story alternates between the perspectives of Sydney and Theo.I read books in this genre all the time, and I really feel like the author brought something new to the table. To take a topic like gentrification and to build a story around it was a brilliant move in my opinion. This wasn't a typical mindless read as it was definitely thought provoking. And the reason you feel uneasy, tense, and even angry while reading is because it feels so darn realistic.The pace unfortunately is very slow for so much of the story but then the ending feels rushed. It doesn't hit all high marks for specific things I like in a thriller but the depth the author brought to the story and Sydney really outshines everything.Highly recommend giving this book a chance.Thank you to William Morrow for sending me an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.