I See You by Clare Mackintosh – a Review

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description
You do the same thing every day.

You know exactly where you’re going.

You’re not alone.

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 website, a grainy image 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

Review:

I See You by Clare Mackintosh is another wonderful exciting psychological thriller.  I loved Mackintosh’s debut novel, I Let You Go, and could not wait to see what she had for us next.   I See You is a different type of read, but equally fascinating.  The story does fluctuate between the two female leads.  There are also the occasional thoughts of a third party, presumed to be the person behind everything.

Zoe Walker hates her commute to work, but she has a good job and needs the money.  One day, looking at the newspaper adverts, she sees a picture that looks like her, with a dating site. When Zoe shows it to her family (daughter, son and boyfriend), they tell her it’s just probably a look alike, as the picture was grainy. A few days later, she sees a picture for the same site, with a different woman; but a short time later she will find out that the woman in the ad was murdered.   Zoe begins to worry that she has become someone’s target, and she begins to look over her shoulder often.  No one believes her when she tries to tell the cops about the advert

Kelly Swift is a cop, who has been regulated to the BTP Dip squad.  Kelly was a good detective in the Sexual Offense Unit, until 4 years ago, when she attacked a rape suspect.  Kelly’s sister had been raped, and the offender was never found, and to this day, Kelly can’t stop thinking about it.   When she gets a call from Zoe Walker about her fears, Kelly starts to investigate.  She tries to talk to the Detective in charge about some of her findings, and that Zoe Walker might be right, those adverts might be behind the murder and another robbery.  When she gets no satisfaction from the Detective, she goes to her commanding officer to request a transfer, and is given 3 months to work on the Investigation Unit. 

Zoe’s fears are real, and it begins to affect her life and work.  Everyone thinks she is worrying for no reason, and when she is “rescued” by a man who seems to pop up often, she goes to Kelly for help.  This will lead to an exciting police procedural trying to find that man, and the site that doesn’t exist; except it really does for those who will pay exorbitant prices to find all information about the lady in the advert, including their daily route to and from work.  What makes this a bit creepy and chilling is that in real life, with cameras everywhere, internet which watches your moves, and those who can easily hack your computer and follow you.  It is a scary thought.

Kelly and her new boss, Nick begin to tie things together, including a rape, which will lead to more clues. There were a number of unforeseen twists and turns that had me holding my breath in fear, as we realized how close things were to Zoe.  What follows is a scary pulse pounding exciting race to find the culprit, before Zoe’s life is in danger.  The ending was so tense, as we watched Kelly and the detectives discover the truth; but will they be able to save Zoe and her daughter, Katie?  I See You had a wild action filled ending that was a gripping thriller chiller. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher