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Book Review of When No One is Watching

When No One is Watching
VolunteerVal avatar reviewed on + 645 more book reviews


Alyssa Cole is a talented romance author, so I was intrigued to see her write a thriller. This was 'entertaining' and thought-provoking.

As an urban dweller, I've considered gentrification a good thing - revitalizes the area, raises property values, etc. Shamefully, I seldom considered the impact on the people and businesses that previously called the area home. Where do they go? How do they manage? Can they maintain decades-long relationships?

This novel is all about contrasts: community vs progress, history vs future, Black vs White, good vs evil. It is so timely as our nation finally begins to reckon with racial injustices. It has a slow start, an intriguing middle as the circumstances slowly come into focus, and the ending is rushed and unbelievable, literally. But I'll never see an urban construction site through my old lens.