I am watching

Title:

I am watching

Author:

Kavanagh, Emma author.

ISBN:

9781496713742

Edition:

1st Kensington hardcover ed.

Physical Description:

321 pages ; 22 cm.

Subject Term:

Serial murderers -- Fiction.

Small cities -- Fiction.

College teachers -- Fiction.

Prisoners -- Examination -- Fiction.

Homecoming -- Fiction.

Criminal profilers -- Fiction.

Genre:

Mystery fiction.

Suspense fiction.

Summary:

From a distance, they seem to be sleeping. Three bodies, sitting propped up against the ancient stones of Hadrian's Wall. A closer look reveals the horror of their too-white faces, and the ring of vivid red bruises around each neck. The victims were found by schoolgirl Isla Bell, out on an early morning run along the historic site. That day changed the small, close-knit community of Briganton forever, and it also shaped the course of Isla's life. Twenty years later, she's a professor of criminal psychology at the University of Northumberland. She specializes in studying the brain function of psychopaths and serial killers, wrestling with the question that still haunts her: why? Why did Heath McGowan kill those people--and two more besides--before he was finally caught by Isla's police detective father? At last, Isla has a chance to get answers. Heath, previously unforthcoming about the murders, agrees to take part in her research. Isla's husband, Ramsey--the only one of Heath's victims to survive--cautions her against the meeting. But no matter how ready Isla feels to peer within a killer's mind, there is no way to prepare for the fresh horror about to engulf Briganton. Another body is found, displayed just as before . . . and then another. Is this a copycat, someone inspired by or receiving help from the serial killer behind bars? Or could the truth be darker still?

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Bayport Public Library	FICTION KAV	Searching... Unknown
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury)	FICTION KAV	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

"The red herring-filled conclusion should surprise even the most careful reader. In Kavanagh's capable hands, the familiar plot of serial-killer-strikes-again is given a fresh and complex feel, complete with several truly sneaky twists."
-- Kirkus Reviews

"Smart, fierce, and absorbing, this is a novel that begs to be read deep into the night."
-- Foreward Reviews

" Kavanagh keeps the suspense high to the chilling conclusion ."
--Publishers Weekly

"A solid psychological thriller by a former police and military psychologist ."
--Booklist

From a distance, they seem to be sleeping. Three bodies, sitting propped up against the ancient stones of Hadrian's Wall. A closer look reveals the horror of their too-white faces, and the ring of vivid red bruises around each neck.

The victims were found by schoolgirl Isla Bell, out on an early morning run along the historic site. That day changed the small, close-knit community of Briganton forever, and it also shaped the course of Isla's life. Twenty years later, she's a professor of criminal psychology at the University of Northumberland. She specializes in studying the brain function of psychopaths and serial killers, wrestling with the question that still haunts her: why? Why did Heath McGowan kill those people--and two more besides--before he was finally caught by Isla's police detective father?

At last, Isla has a chance to get answers. Heath, previously unforthcoming about the murders, agrees to take part in her research. Isla's husband, Ramsey--the only one of Heath's victims to survive--cautions her against the meeting. But no matter how ready Isla feels to peer within a killer's mind, there is no way to prepare for the fresh horror about to engulf Briganton. Another body is found, displayed just as
before . . . and then another. Is this a copycat, someone inspired by or receiving help from the serial killer behind bars? Or could the truth be darker still?

A brilliantly twisted thriller--gripping, atmospheric, and skillfully layered, I Am Watching will keep readers guessing until the very end.

Author Notes

Emma Kavanagh is the acclaimed UK bestselling author of The Missing Hours . Born and raised in South Wales, she is a former police and military psychologist. After completing her PhD, Emma began her own consultancy business, providing training to police and military across the UK and Europe. She taught police officers and NATO personnel about the psychology of critical incidents, terrorism, body recovery and hostage negotiation. She has run around muddy fields taking part in tactical exercises, has designed live fire training events, has been a VIP under bodyguard protection and has fired more than her fair share of weapons. She is married with two small sons and considers herself incredibly privileged to get to make up stories for a living.

Reviews (3)

Publisher's Weekly Review

In 1996, 15-year-old Isla Bell, the heroine of this engrossing mystery from Kavanagh (The Missing Hours), finds three bodies strangled and lined up against Hadrian's Wall in the moorlands of Brigandon, England. Two more murders follow before Isla's father, Det. Sgt. Eric Bell, apprehends the killer, Heath McGowan, and gains widespread fame that propels him to a successful law enforcement career. Twenty years later, Isla is a professor of criminal psychology at the University of Northumberland, where she studies the minds of serial killers. When a woman is found strangled and propped against Hadrian's wall, Briganton once again is overtaken with fear. Brought in to solve the case, Eric insists on running the investigation his own way and clashes with a relatively new member of the force, Det. Constable Mina Arian, over how to proceed. Meanwhile, Isla persuades the incarcerated Heath to take part in her research. As more victims turn up, the police wonder whether a copycat is at work, or is the killer getting help from Heath? Kavanagh keeps the suspense high to the chilling conclusion. Agent: Camilla Wray, Darley Anderson Literary (U.K.). (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Kirkus Review

Twenty years ago in rural England, teenager Isla Bell found three murdered bodies near Hadrian's Wall. Now a professor of criminal psychology, she has a chance to study the imprisoned killerbut then the killings start again.There was plenty of evidence to find Heath McGowan guilty of the original murders, and it was Isla's police officer father, Eric Bell, who found it. Nailing the killer fast-tracked his career, and now, as Superintendent Bell, he's in charge when another victim is found. Could there be a copycat killer, or did McGowan have an accomplice that was never found? As Isla studies brain patterns of killers looking for links, DC Mina Arian is assigned to the case. As she stubbornly investigates both past and present cases, Arian begins to see gaps, questions unanswered; but does she dare question the famous Superintendent Bell? Further complicating matters is Isla's husband, Ramsey, who was one of the original victims and the only survivor. He is very sure Isla shouldn't be stirring up things or talking with McGowan. The author (The Missing Hours, 2016, etc.) uses her own background as a former police psychologist to strong advantage, especially with Isla's profiling. Occasionally, her penchant for wordy descriptions ("they couldn't see the iron fist within the silk glove") slows the pace, but the red herring-filled conclusion should surprise even the most careful reader.In Kavanagh's capable hands, the familiar plot of serial-killer-strikes-again is given a fresh and complex feel, complete with several truly sneaky twists. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

As a teenager, Isla Bell, a police chief's daughter, found the corpses of three of her neighbors posed against Hadrian's Wall. She's now a criminal psychologist at the University of Northumberland, scanning brains of psychopaths to see what makes them tick. Shortly after she scans the brain of the man arrested for the Hadrian's Wall murders, a similar string of killings takes place. Was the wrong man arrested? Was Isla's dad's original investigation flawed? Or did Isla's much-publicized work spawn a copycat? A solid psychological thriller by a former police and military psychologist (The Missing Hours, 2018).--Karen Keefe Copyright 2019 Booklist

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Bound With These Titles

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Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Reviews (3)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Kirkus Review

Booklist Review

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