A review by lon3rston3r
When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole

mysterious tense

3.0

Sydney is dealing with her mother's failing health and what seems to be a rapid loss of not only her neighbors but the sense of community that she once knew. When she's suddenly paired up with her white neighbor, Theo, they suddenly become intertwined while they research the history of Sydney's home and uncover the mystery around the gentrification taking place.

This was an original and fresh psychological thriller with a twist that feels very 'Get Out'. I felt for Sydney but I did find her character super annoying. I'm not a huge fan of the protagonist being very "I don't have my life together" and Sydney was that. I don't know if that's a way to accentuate the quirkiness of Sydney, but either way not a fan. The twist is about as f*cked up as you would expect a Jordan Peele-esque horror to go. While the climax fit into the trope, it unraveled in such a messy way that I found myself left unsatisfied by the ending.