They're Watching

I enjoy (and respect) people's reviews, and appreciate that listeners take the time to share. I read a LOT of your reviews, and I purchase a lot of recommendations (thank you). I'll even go back and follow a book to see how readers experienced it long after I've finished listening. With THEY'RE WATCHING, I have to say, I shared the same experience as the lower-star reviewers (and I don't think a low star review is a mean review!) Over and over in my head while I listened, was this nagging question, "Whaaaat the...?!" on so many levels. This whole ordeal could have been avoided! ...Never have bigger guns been hauled out to hunt a mosquito.

The little mosquito's life is in utter shambles; his wife is cheating, he's been fired, he's out of money, he's losing his dream home, he's a lousy screenwriter, his students don't like him, YET, Omnipotent Global Secret Powers are after this little mosquito. But, like one of Aesop's own mighty little heroes... well, I don't want to ruin it for any future readers.

Suppose I could suspend sanity; enjoy superfluous twists and turns and silly goose chases that go on twice as long as necessary; not question why there are no red flags when people all over the LA socio/economical scale are dropping like flies; believe a little winged mosquito as ballsy as Hurwitz has created here could even buzz off the ground;--the bigger problem with this book is how Hurwitz has no connect with emotion (and you thought I was going to say reality!). He throws in a compulsatory line: I love my wife so much, the poor little boy that will have to grow up without a mother, the abused neighbor aimessly washing dishes over and over, a silent tear rolling down the face of a man patting a dying whale on the back...talk about disconnect! How is it even possible for a writer to fail to elicite compassion for beached whales, slowly dying, with bleeding ears? And narrator Scott Brick (whom I usually enjoy very much) seems to take on the burden of making these characters human, and the plot believable, by delivering an overwrought performance that irritated me almost as much as a mosquito buzzing around my head.

The consensus is that people like Hurwitz as an author, I've read that many of his fans prefer his other books to this one, so I'll try it again. But this one was just one long ridiculous rat maze for poor Patrick (the mosquito) and for the listener.

I was prepared for a wonderful listen after reading the rave reviews. But it just wasn't there. I know the author has a terrific following, so I'll try another book. But this one wasn't it. It was implausible, improbable and it droned on WAY too long.

While browsing the Audible site I often came across this book; but for whatever reason, it never jumped out at me as a selection I cared to get. After reading however that this novel was Scott Brick's selection as his favorite book - out of all the novels he's narrated - I grudging downloaded it; Mr. Brick has so many books under his belt that I felt the recommendation was worth noting.

I have always enjoyed thrillers; but this author deserves a category of his own. Mr. Hurwitz has raised the genre to a whole new level, and I couldn't be happier.

Given the enjoyment that can be found in discovering the twists and turns of this excellent story as it unfolds, I would be doing a disservice to reference any of it here in the review. I can only say that I was constantly kept guessing, creating and discarding different theories, until the end.

This is my top pick in the thriller category.

This sort of book is not my usual cup of tea. However, recently I listened to "You're Next" and it had me on the edge of my seat. When I started this one, I could not even believe it was the same reader. I like Scott Brick. But in this book he sounds so whiney.

What's nice is that it all the details get sorted out. It's just too unbelievable for my taste.
For me it was a trial to get through it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book it kept me on the edge of my seat. I finished it in two days. I want more from Gregg Hurwitz and of course Scott Brick.

Every time I thought I could let out my breath and relax, the plot took a twist and I was back on the ride! To detractors that say it was "over written" I say that the descriptions and details are what put you in the middle of the action and hold you captive. This is my favorite genre and Gregg Hurwitz does it proud. Then there is Scott Brick. What can you say about him other than he makes every book he reads come to life. Loved this one and if you like action thrillers you will too.

The story, characters and narrator is a synergy that really works. This is one of my favorites.

always love Scott Brick but after reading some of the reviews thought I might not like this book. I loved it...couldn't stop listening...and while I'm quite good at figuring out "who dunnit" this one kept me guessing. I definitely recommend it.

Hurwittz no.Brick yes.

I listened up to to chapter 10 and couldn't take the overblown romantic sentiment any longer.. This book is dripping with exagerated sentiment in an attempt to be dramatic.

I know Hurwitz can write a good story, I loved the first one I listened to by him, and he writes good dialog and the characters are good. The problem with this story is that nobody, even someone from CA could be as stupid as this wannabe screenwriter. The whole time you are listening to this story you are yelling," just call the cops!" The actions of the main character are just to self absorbed and at some point in the story insted of worrying about his fate you start thinking that he is really better off dead and his wife a widow and back on the market as she seems to have something going for her. I will try another book by Hurwitz in the hopes that the first one he wrote was not just a fluke but if this had been the first one I had listened to by him I would not have gone any further with this author.