OCTOBER 2020 - AudioFile
Susan Dalian’s and Jay Aaseng’s skilled vocal ranges complement witty prose and a plot that cleverly dramatizes racial injustices. Sydney creates a walking tour to retain her Brooklyn neighborhood’s history during an unsettlingly fast gentrification. When new neighbor Theo joins the effort, and the pair uncover horrors that are more than historical, they’re catapulted into a state of fear. Dalian seamlessly switches between opposing personalities: the entitled new residents and the salt-of-the-earth characters who have lived in the neighborhood for decades. In one scene, newly settled Kim screeches her threat to call the cops when longtime resident Sydney calmly asserts her place in a bodega line. The other narrator, Aaseng, cheerily shouts, “I’ve got beer!” to diffuse a confrontation, delivers a Caribbean accent, and voices female characters realistically. Listeners will be gripped by the performance and the story. A.L.C. 2021 Audies Winner © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
"What would fall be without a fantastic and nerve-wracking thriller? Enter When No One Is Watching... A fantastic choice for fans of Get Out, this is a compulsive, entertaining, and thought-provoking novel." — Shondaland (6 Best Books of September)
“When No One is Watching is a thriller, Hitchcockian in its essence (those brownstones have plenty of windows, and a love story emerges as well), but with expert character development that demonstrates Cole’s ability to craft a story, it’s just as much about people as it is about place. The themes Cole explores throughout—racism, white greed, sickness, addiction, encroaching gentrification—are ones that are acutely aligned with the current social climate.” — Parade
“To turn a knotty social and economic issue into a riveting psychological thriller is no easy task, but then again, should we really be surprised the extraordinary Alyssa Cole has done it? When No One Is Watching uproots the steady gentrification of Brooklyn and transforms it into an eerie horror story where 'revitalization' itself is the monster.” — Elle (The 40 Best New Books Of Summer 2020)
"Suspense at its best... you aren’t going to be able to put it down until you finish it." — Book Riot (Best Books We Read in June)
"This high-octane thriller hits right where it hurts, taking aim at gentrification and racism as conjoined forces of literary horror… Expect major palm sweat as the novel barrels toward its chilling and eye-opening conclusion.” — Esquire (Best Books of Fall 2020 for Those Long, Chilly Nights)
"From the first page of WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING, I felt like I was right there in the gentrifying Brooklyn neighborhood, filled with sharply etched characters and dialogue that zings. Then bam! 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
“Masterfully written suspense. Beneath a seemingly ordinary setting, Cole weaves layers of dread, all building toward a shocking and satisfying conclusion." — Kelley Armstrong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of City of the Lost
“With a keen eye for details, Alyssa Cole deftly unspools a rich narrative with compelling characters who live and breathe against a vibrant backdrop. From the bold first line to the exquisitely subtle last, WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING is a top-notch page-turner!” — Wendy Corsi Staub, New York Times bestselling author
"Dread builds and mutates into near-horror... It was eye-opening, sad, shocking, gripping, I devoured it in one go. I recommend SO HIGHLY." — Marian Keyes, #1 bestselling author
"this outstanding thriller... builds to a credible finale. This stellar and unflinching look at racism and greed will have readers hooked til the end." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“[A] searing indictment of the inseparable evils of racism and gentrification wrapped in an anxiety-inducing thriller with elements of romance and horror… Cole expertly layers plot twists, raising the stakes until the dramatic finale, and readers will cheer when the real heroes are revealed. Cole is a sure-bet suggestion for romance readers, and When No One Is Watching will expand her already enthusiastic audience.” — Booklist (starred review)
"[T]his twisty tale tackles with a somber wit ongoing issues of race, class inequity, social injustice, and predatory housing practices... This sizzling summer thriller starts on low and heats up fast. Smart, sexy, and surprising, this suspenseful novel revealing the underbelly of urban gentrification will keep readers reading late into the night." — Library Journal (starred review)
“Combining the voyeuristic paranoia of Rear Window with the searing social commentary of Get Out, this thriller from Alyssa Cole turns gentrification into fodder for a horror movie.” — Entertainment Weekly (20 New Books Coming in September)
“When No One Is Watching is romance writer superstar Alyssa Cole’s debut thriller…It’s a really creepy, smart page-turner.” — Buzzfeed
“Cole is known for romance, but don’t let that fool you into thinking she can’t genre-jump with ease. Her first thriller, When No One is Watching, is a triumph. Sydney Green is a well-crafted protagonist and her paranoia is justified in this poignant story, which has a lot to say about racism and gentrification in America... It’s page-turning and engrossing all the while giving a history lesson on racial disparities and inequality. A timely read, and an incredibly smart writer.” — Crime Reads
“One of our fave romance writers is out with a psychological thriller. This buzzy fiction book follows a woman who's looking into the gentrification of her Brooklyn neighborhood. Turns out there's something a lot more sinister going on. Cue paranoia, suspense, and some ‘Get Out’ vibes.” — theSkimm
“When No One Is Watching is inspired by Cole’s own experiences, and examines gentrification via the erasure of Black people from Brooklyn’s history—with quite the suspenseful twist.” — Refinery 29
“The novel couldn’t be timelier, and it’s been praised as ‘Rear Window’ meets ‘Get Out.’ So yeah, you’re going to want to read it ASAP. No spoilers, but: holy plot twist.” — Hello Giggles (11 Best Books to Read this September)
"The dangers of gentrification turn very literal in romance veteran Alyssa Cole’s unputdownable new thriller." — Harper's Bazaar (43 Best Books to Read in 2020)
“…if “Rear Window” and “Get Out” got married and had a baby that was a book, it would indeed be “When No One Is Watching,” which takes place in contemporary Brooklyn and combines a page-turning thriller with shrewd social commentary on race, gentrification and greed.” — Seattle Times
Wendy Corsi Staub
With a keen eye for details, Alyssa Cole deftly unspools a rich narrative with compelling characters who live and breathe against a vibrant backdrop. From the bold first line to the exquisitely subtle last, WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING is a top-notch page-turner!
Marian Keyes
"Dread builds and mutates into near-horror... It was eye-opening, sad, shocking, gripping, I devoured it in one go. I recommend SO HIGHLY."
Elle (The 40 Best New Books Of Summer 2020)
To turn a knotty social and economic issue into a riveting psychological thriller is no easy task, but then again, should we really be surprised the extraordinary Alyssa Cole has done it? When No One Is Watching uproots the steady gentrification of Brooklyn and transforms it into an eerie horror story where 'revitalization' itself is the monster.
Alafair Burke
"From the first page of WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING, I felt like I was right there in the gentrifying Brooklyn neighborhood, filled with sharply etched characters and dialogue that zings. Then bam! 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."
Esquire (Best Books of Fall 2020 for Those Long
"This high-octane thriller hits right where it hurts, taking aim at gentrification and racism as conjoined forces of literary horror… Expect major palm sweat as the novel barrels toward its chilling and eye-opening conclusion.
Kelley Armstrong
Masterfully written suspense. Beneath a seemingly ordinary setting, Cole weaves layers of dread, all building toward a shocking and satisfying conclusion."
Parade
When No One is Watching is a thriller, Hitchcockian in its essence (those brownstones have plenty of windows, and a love story emerges as well), but with expert character development that demonstrates Cole’s ability to craft a story, it’s just as much about people as it is about place. The themes Cole explores throughout—racism, white greed, sickness, addiction, encroaching gentrification—are ones that are acutely aligned with the current social climate.
Book Riot (Best Books We Read in June)
"Suspense at its best... you aren’t going to be able to put it down until you finish it."
Shondaland (6 Best Books of September)
"What would fall be without a fantastic and nerve-wracking thriller? Enter When No One Is Watching... A fantastic choice for fans of Get Out, this is a compulsive, entertaining, and thought-provoking novel."
Hello Giggles (11 Best Books to Read this September)
The novel couldn’t be timelier, and it’s been praised as ‘Rear Window’ meets ‘Get Out.’ So yeah, you’re going to want to read it ASAP. No spoilers, but: holy plot twist.
Seattle Times
…if “Rear Window” and “Get Out” got married and had a baby that was a book, it would indeed be “When No One Is Watching,” which takes place in contemporary Brooklyn and combines a page-turning thriller with shrewd social commentary on race, gentrification and greed.
Crime Reads
Cole is known for romance, but don’t let that fool you into thinking she can’t genre-jump with ease. Her first thriller, When No One is Watching, is a triumph. Sydney Green is a well-crafted protagonist and her paranoia is justified in this poignant story, which has a lot to say about racism and gentrification in America... It’s page-turning and engrossing all the while giving a history lesson on racial disparities and inequality. A timely read, and an incredibly smart writer.
Entertainment Weekly (20 New Books Coming in September)
Combining the voyeuristic paranoia of Rear Window with the searing social commentary of Get Out, this thriller from Alyssa Cole turns gentrification into fodder for a horror movie.
Harper's Bazaar (43 Best Books to Read in 2020)
"The dangers of gentrification turn very literal in romance veteran Alyssa Cole’s unputdownable new thriller."
Buzzfeed
When No One Is Watching is romance writer superstar Alyssa Cole’s debut thriller…It’s a really creepy, smart page-turner.
theSkimm
One of our fave romance writers is out with a psychological thriller. This buzzy fiction book follows a woman who's looking into the gentrification of her Brooklyn neighborhood. Turns out there's something a lot more sinister going on. Cue paranoia, suspense, and some ‘Get Out’ vibes.
Refinery 29
When No One Is Watching is inspired by Cole’s own experiences, and examines gentrification via the erasure of Black people from Brooklyn’s history—with quite the suspenseful twist.
Booklist (starred review)
[A] searing indictment of the inseparable evils of racism and gentrification wrapped in an anxiety-inducing thriller with elements of romance and horror… Cole expertly layers plot twists, raising the stakes until the dramatic finale, and readers will cheer when the real heroes are revealed. Cole is a sure-bet suggestion for romance readers, and When No One Is Watching will expand her already enthusiastic audience.
Roxane Gay on A Princess in Theory
This book was a lot of fun, sexy, with a compelling story. I really enjoyed the romance... Lots of erotic tension and a deeply satisfying ending. Definitely dive into this one.
null Vulture.com on An Extraordinary Union
Cole deftly interweaves the fraught realities of American history with romance and adventure — this is a spy story, after all — and it is elegantly told.”
Booklist (Starred Review) on A Prince on Paper
an international cast of complex, multicultural characters...
Book Riot
Alyssa Cole’s upcoming social thriller When No One Is Watching is so freaking good... it’s the kind of intense and suspenseful read that you can’t put down, and when you do put it down you can’t stop thinking about it.
Booklist (starred review)
an international cast of complex, multicultural characters...
Roxane Gay
This book was a lot of fun, sexy, with a compelling story. I really enjoyed the romance... Lots of erotic tension and a deeply satisfying ending. Definitely dive into this one.
OCTOBER 2020 - AudioFile
Susan Dalian’s and Jay Aaseng’s skilled vocal ranges complement witty prose and a plot that cleverly dramatizes racial injustices. Sydney creates a walking tour to retain her Brooklyn neighborhood’s history during an unsettlingly fast gentrification. When new neighbor Theo joins the effort, and the pair uncover horrors that are more than historical, they’re catapulted into a state of fear. Dalian seamlessly switches between opposing personalities: the entitled new residents and the salt-of-the-earth characters who have lived in the neighborhood for decades. In one scene, newly settled Kim screeches her threat to call the cops when longtime resident Sydney calmly asserts her place in a bodega line. The other narrator, Aaseng, cheerily shouts, “I’ve got beer!” to diffuse a confrontation, delivers a Caribbean accent, and voices female characters realistically. Listeners will be gripped by the performance and the story. A.L.C. 2021 Audies Winner © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
