When No One is Watching, by Alyssa Cole

I had this book on my radar for a long time. Since last Halloween, in fact. It took me this long to get a copy from the library because it's so popular, that's for sure. But that's okay. I can see why.

Summary

Sydney was born and raised in Brooklyn, a historically black neighborhood. Her community is tightly woven: people know each other, help each other, and throw block parties together. But lately, she's been watching her community change before her eyes. There are new condos everywhere, houses she didn't know were for sale are being occupied overnight by white people delighted to have been able to buy in this desirable neighborhood, and her neighbors are disappearing without even saying goodbye.

Sydney, frustrated and a little scared, then focuses on creating a guided tour to at least educate people about the history of her neighborhood and community. Theo, one of the whites who has just moved into the neighborhood, offers to help her. In the course of their research, they discover to their horror that history is repeating itself, that their missing neighbors didn't really move away, and that some people are willing to go to great lengths to "revitalize" the neighborhood.

Impressions

I thought I was going to read a good old fashioned thriller like the others, but I didn't expect to be scared for real. I didn't expect a chilling reminder that racism is not behind us, and how dangerous it is.

I think it was the first time I read a novel in which I, a white person, saw through the eyes of a black narrator who was a victim of racism. I could see the world closing in around me and I felt that helplessness that you must feel when you understand that the police won't help you and the neighbors want you dead. It's horrifying.

I really enjoyed my reading. Sydney and Theo are endearing and you really want them to be with each other. The bad guys are execrable and you really want them to get punished. There are some gross scenes, and while I don't trifle with the horror, it's still what I would expect in a suspense book. I was really scared, and went to bed at unreasonable hours this week because I wanted to know what was going to happen. And there's even a good bonus sex scene.

I'm really bad at novels like this, I'm never able to predict what's going to happen, so I can't tell you how well done the plot was. But I certainly didn't see it coming.

In short, in my humble opinion, this book has no flaws. It has both good suspense and good awareness. A good book to put in your list for Halloween (but don't delay too long).