My thanks to Random House Publishers and NetGalley for a copy of “ The People Watcher” for an honest review

I’ve enjoyed other books by Sam Lloyd , but unfortunately not this one.
I’ve tried on a couple of occasions to get through this one , but it didn’t engage me , and I ended up skimming through it.I would definitely try other books by the author , but this one just wasn’t for me

A very intriguing story which had me hooked purely by its quirkiness! Mercy Lake aka Keira Greenaway is damaged goods and due to injuries sustained in her dim and distant past she only comes out at night - literally! During a late night incident at a petrol station she is rescued by Louis - Louis lives in his camper van and feels that it is fate that has brought the two of the, together. Mercy introduces him to some of the folk she helps during her nighttime escapades and he decides to assist her. However, she resists telling him about her obsession with her motherless baby nephew Oliver and his stepmother Nadia. The characters were fascinating and their vigilante exploits kept the pages turning however, the conclusion left me disillusioned and disappointed!

In The People Watcher, we meet Mercy Lake, a woman who likes to fix things—especially people. Trapped by her phobias during daylight hours, she secretly observes the lives of the people in her town at night. When someone needs help, she steps in with compassion. But then she encounters Louis, whose approach to intervention is more direct and even violent. As their relationship grows, Mercy is both enchanted and frightened by his actions. How far is Louis willing to go, and how much risk is he prepared to take?

Nadia, another character, knows she’s being watched, despite the police thinking otherwise. With her own secrets to protect, she won’t wait for the watcher to make a move. She’s determined to stop them.

The novel weaves together suspense, psychological tension, and unexpected twists. Mercy’s past trauma adds depth to her character, and the moral murkiness of Louis added another layer. As dangerous nets close in, the stakes rise, leaving destruction in their wake.

The People Watcher is a twisty, dark, and intriguing thriller that cleverly explores the complexities of human behavior and the blurred lines between helping and harming.

Very hard to review without spoiling so all I’ll say is this - the writing is fab, the plot is unexpected, and the characters work their way into your mind until you can’t stop thinking about them, you simply have to finish the book and find out the ending!

Slow burn of a read but we'll worth sticking with this twisty read. Looking forward to seeing what comes next from Sam having enjoyed his two previous reads also.

This is a amazing twisty read kept me guessing until the end I just couldn't put it down it kept me up way past my bed time

WOW! This book was twisted. The hunted becomes the hunter in a seriously scary tale of shear evil. I loved every page, but was so scared I couldn’t sleep for days as this book gets under your skin. Amazing!!!

I absolutely adored The Memory Tree so I was super existed to read this. It didn’t disappoint. It was intense, mysterious, and there were so many twists and turns. It was slow at the start but I actually liked because it allowed me to really get to know the characters and fully immerse myself in the plot. Sam Lloyd is one to watch, and I’m looking forward to reading more from them in the future.

This book started off a bit slow so I was unsure but then it picked up and was so good. I enjoyed the really creepy vibes and found it so intriguing for the remainder of the book, Horror and thriller fans will love this one.

Well this was certainly on the dark side. A girl that only lives her life after the sun goes down likes to watch the people in a small community helping out in small ways those in need. She unexpectedly meets a man and forms a friendship of sorts with him but all is not as it seems.
A good paced thriller that's a bit on the gory side with a brilliant twist that I didn't see coming.

A slow burner but definitely worth sticking with it. A creepy mystery with great characters. Lots of twists and the you have a sense of unease throughout. I would definitely recommend for something abit different

Thank you Random House and Netgalley - wow what a book
This was great from start to finish, well written, great characters, brilliant storyline and creepy. I couldn't put it down.
Highly recommend.

Mercy Lake (aka Keira Greenwood) is suffering from a brain injury that she received in a violent attack some years earlier.
She’s moved to Cranmer Falls to ‘watch’.
All of those she watches are people in need of help, whether they are people whose lives have dealt them a poor hand and who are in need of simple acts of kindness. Or else they are those who dole out injustices to others, be it serial adulterers, wife-beaters, home-invaders and puppy farmers. The victims of these people are helped anonymously by Mercy in small ways.
But when an enigmatic stranger named Louis turns up in Cranmer Falls in Eleanor the Camper Van, it seems like his and Mercy’s meeting is fate, destined that they watch and help together.
Louis’ arrival makes the interventions much more ‘hands-on’ and usually violent. Mercy is initially upset by his approach, but his methods cut to the chase quicker and much more effectively.
But someone is watching the watchers!
As the story turns ever more violent and twisty, you find yourself wondering if retribution is better served up with a huge dose of fear!
As the book progresses, we find out more about Mercy/Keira’s brain injury and past. And at the end, we also find out why Louis turned up in Cranmer Falls.
This is a totally immersive book about retribution and revenge and blurs the ethical boundaries of right and wrong.
I’ve now read all of Sam Lloyd’s work and he’s definitely an author you know is going to serve up a banquet in his books.

A great thriller which left me wanting more. I enjoyed this so very much and felt so sorry for the main character and her son living rough in the winter. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Massive twists and turns, very much an edge-of-your-seat kind of read. Really enjoyed, and will definitely be picking up more of the authors work!

Really enjoyed this as I have done with all Sam Lloyds novels
After being violently attacked and left for dead a few years ago -Keira Greenaway has clawed her way back to life albeit with numerous issues both medical and personal.
She cannot bear to be in the sunlight - so she only ventures out at night keeping watch on the local people and helping out anonymously whenever she thinks they need it.
But there is a reason she is in this town and a reason she has been watching this particular family -what she doesn't realise -is someone is also watching her .....

Thankyou NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review

4 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2023/09/28/the-people-watcher-by-sam-lloyd/
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Quirky and entertaining mystery thriller

I read The People Watcher some time ago during a period where my blogging and reviewing took something of a backseat. Fortunately my reading picked up and having a Sam Lloyd story definitely helped with that. Unfortunately I fell behind writing reviews and am still playing catch up but even with that gap in reading this and writing about it I still remember my feeling of compelling curiosity. This is a very unusual story and it takes a little time to set the scene but in a similar way to The Memory Wood (my first book by this author) this is a book that is pleasingly perplexing.

So, the main character is Mercy. She has problems. Following a violent attack she suffers from trauma and phobias. Mercy doesn’t go out in the daylight, she has issues with her balance and she’s living a lonely life on the edges of society. But Mercy is a conundrum, every night she goes out and watches people in the community, not with ill intentions, she wants to help people, in little ways, in spite of her problems she travels out to try to help others. Then, one day, she meets a curious character called Louis. Louis slowly but surely inveigles himself into Mercy’s life, at first subtly with small kindnesses, but eventually turning up and becoming involved in Mercy’s night ventures. The thing is, Louis is not as gentle as Mercy, he has a more direct approach and isn’t averse to taking risks.

Now on top of this there’s another character, a woman called Nadia. Nadia knows that someone is watching her and she has decided to take her own action – a decision that brings in a very unstable and violent character.

These elements and the opening chapters will eventually resolves themselves but in the meantime take a seat and enjoy the ride. Lloyd manages to pull together, a psychological thriller that is not only entertaining and compelling but is also mixed up in a fascinating way. Mercy is a great character and easy to like. There are moments of fun that lighten the mood but there are also some darker threatening moments.

I had a good time with this. It was very easy to read and doesn’t fit into a conventional murder mystery style. I confess myself incredibly excited to see what this author comes up with next.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

A fantastic book that had me gripped right from the very first page. It was unsettling, chilling and atmospheric. I loved it

Mercy Lake is a Night Person. Following a traumatic incident in her past, she ventured out at night to watch people. However when she meets newcomer Louis, things take a dark turn. This is very different to The Memory Wood and The Rising Tide.
It’s dark and compelling and highly recommended if you want to read something a little different.

Thrilling read, the book takes shape in this haunting thriller, leaving you questioning reality and fearing the dark secrets that lie beneath. Loved it.