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Always Watching
Always Watching
Always Watching
Audiobook4 hours

Always Watching

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

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About this audiobook

This daughter of a rock star has it all—until murder crashes her world.The exciting and suspenseful Rayne Tour series features sixteen-year-old Shaley O’Connor, on tour with her mother’s popular band. Shaley lives in a whirlwind of backstage secrets, hotels, and limos. With beauty and fame of her own, Shaley wants for nothing … except the one thing she can’t have. During a concert, sixteen-year-old Shaley O’Connor stumbles upon the body of a friend backstage. Is Tom Hutchens’ death connected to her?Frightening messages arrive. Paparazzi stalk Shaley. Her private nightmare is displayed for all to see. Where is God at a time like this? As the clock runs out, Shaley must find Tom’s killer—before he strikes again.
LanguageEnglish
PublisherZondervan
Release dateJul 5, 2011
ISBN9780310874461
Author

Brandilyn Collins

Brandilyn Collins, known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense™, is the bestselling author of Violet Dawn, Coral Moon, Crimson Eve, Eyes of Elisha, and other novels. She and her family live in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Visit her website at www.brandilyncollins.com and her blog at www.forensicsandfaith.blogspot.com

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Reviews for Always Watching

Rating: 3.5306122163265306 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

49 ratings27 reviews

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Chevy Stevens is one of my favorite novelists. She has a clever and crafty way of writing that gets into your head and pulls you deep into the story. Though this book is so very different from the other two books I have read, this story is just as creepy and scary. The scare quality is on a different field though. The first two books had a sicko that taunted and terrorized, while this one has a head sicko of a cult. That's what commune means to me anyway.... One guy manipulates others, creating a gruesome chain of events that the other members turn a blind eye to. Intrigue and mystery play a key part in this story too. The predictability of events is so much harder to guess. You think you've got it all figured out and the you see you were only half-right or completely off-base.Another hit!!! A wickedly wonderful story that I highly recommend!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I guess I am a little more charitable than most reviewers so far. This is the story of Dr. Nadine Lavoie who dredges up deeply hidden memories of her youth when a suicidal patient comes in that was a member of a commune that Dr. Lavoie was in as a child. There is not a single happy thing about this book. Almost all the characters are either abusers or abused. So, I wouldn't read this one in a fragile psychological state. It was absorbing and I did want to see how things would pan out in the end . So my advice is - gird your loins and go for it.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    One thing I don't like about mysteries is the building of suspense and layering of mystery over mystery and dragging it all out until the end of the book only to have everything unfold at the same time... that's what happened in this book. Yes, some of the twists were worth it but I felt as though too much of this one was predictable.Chevy Stevens prior books are written from the victims point of view and told in alternating voices between the said victim and their therapist, Nadine Lavoie. This book picks up where Nadine left off in Never Knowing after being attacked outside her office, left to die. We learn a lot about Nadine and her past and how she lived at a commune for a little while growing up and the events that happened there that caused her to block chunks of her memory, including the reason for her claustrophobia and how she is able to cope with the emotions that over take her.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Another 5 star book from Chevy Stevens! The story was interesting from the first paragraph and didn’t let up till the last word. I loved the twists and turns, it kept surprising me time after time. I loved the passion Nadine felt for not only her daughter, but for her patients as well. Stevens has a vivid imagination that makes reading one of her books an emotional event. Her characters are so “real” that you can’t help but have strong feelings them, good or bad.I’ve read all of Chevy’s books, and I’ve never been disappointed!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I was literally unable to set down Always Watching by Chevy Stevens and I anxiously await her next book. For those who enjoy a well-written psychological thriller I highly recommend Always Watching.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    After reading the first book by Chevy Stevens, which I really liked, I was prepared for another "edge of your seat" suspense novel. The premise interested me: a cult, psychiatric hospitalization, etc. In addition, many of my favorite authors had given this book rave reviews. I was prepared for a really good read; alas, I kept reading, waiting for the really good part, and, well, it never came. It held my interest mildly enough to read to the end, but it seemed like a bit of a chore. I was not eager to pick up and continue reading as I was with "Still Missing". I am being generous with a 3 star review. It had all the ingredients of a great thriller, and all the wonderful reviews from almost all of my favorite authors, which made it doubly disappointing. I will not give up on Chevy Chase however, and I look forward to reading her next book, from the library. I almost purchased this one and I am very glad I did not.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    As is the usual preamble, I received this book for free via the courtesy of a GoodReads giveaway. Despite that kind consideration, I will proceed to be abundantly honest about it.The story is told from the viewpoint of a respected psychiatrist who didn't have such great luck with raising her daughter. Early in life our protagonist barely escaped the influence of a vicious spiritual cult and now must struggle to bring the leaders of that cult to justice while balancing the needs of her drug-addicted and exceedingly remote daughter.First and foremost with any book is to attempt to categorize it into a handy bin so that readers know whether they have any interest in the concepts at all. In general, suspense novels fall into two major categories. The first is the forensic bin, all about blood splatters and footprints. The second is more emotional, in which we hear in detail how the characters feel and react to situations. This book is a subtle blending of the two, but the forensic side, rather than being focused on the physics of the crime scene, delves into the psychology and motivations of the characters involved. While many thrillers are "ripped from the headlines", this novel is "ripped from the DSM" (DSM = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders for those among the uninitiated.)Steven's characters, and her protagonist especially, are vivid and touching. One can easily imagine a mother, a thousand mothers, going through the same heart-breaking disconnect that her main character does as she tries to balance her professional life, her search for justice and her love for her daughter all at once. All in all it's a brilliantly rendered episode in this character's life.The only remotely negative thing I would say is that it does tend to go on a bit. About three quarters of the way through I found my mind wandering. The real power of the novel peters out after a while and only the hope for a conclusion can bring the reader back around. On the whole though this is a rather weak complaint and one that I make only in the attempt at SOME sort of balance between positive and negative.In summary, "Always watching" is ... well, I'll dispense with the usual cliched terms. It grabs your attention well and keeps it quite thoroughly. The author obviously did her homework and it shows in this well-written and true-to-life novel of life in a oppressive spiritual cult and one woman's quest to stop the abuse. Top notch!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Well written story that still somehow failed to pull me in. It did improve about 3/4 of the way in so I'll bump it up to 3.5 stars.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is Chevy Stevens' third book featuring psychologist Nadine Lavoie. The first two books, Still Missing and Never Knowing, are told by survivors as they talk with Nadine. This book is about Nadine herself, as she explores an old issue buried deep in her memory but brought to the surface by current events.The first two books are far more suspenseful than Always Watching. This book was slow and fairly predictable. It was not a page-turner for me, the way the first two books were. But I did prefer the more traditional narrative style of this book to the first two.Disclosure: I received a pre-release copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This was one of those books that started stronger than it finished. A psychologist encounters a patient who keeps speaking about a commune-the very same commune the psychologist was a part of as a child. Could it be something at the commune that caused the psychologist's intense claustrophobia and the patient's suicide attempts?I'm always intrigued by a mystery surrounding secrets from the past, and when you add in a mysterious leader who may have turned his commune into a cult, that's a book I have to read.But Stevens just added too much else, and too many other characters. There's her brother who was also a commune member, his former best friend, the homeless daughter with secrets of her own who may or may not be back on drugs, the stepson photographer who pops in and out, all the members of the commune past and present, the psychologist's other patients, her co-workers, and the cops.All these characters bring their own subplots, and too many subplots take away from the main plot. This book has a lot of potential, but could stand from some editing. There are some really well-done surprising reveals, but they unfortunately get overwhelmed by all that is going on around them.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Disappointing. Missing the psychological tension of previous Chevy Stevens novels.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A very good psychological thriller. Not as "edge of your seat" as Still Missing, but still satisfying.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Dr. Nadine Lavoie’s job is to help people. She is a psychiatrist who ministers to the depressed, psychotic, demented, and lost people who arrive at the hospital despite being unable to help her own child who has taken to the streets to feed a drug habit. But when Heather Simeon is admitted after a failed suicide, Nadine is uneasy. Heather and her husband have been members of a spiritual group calling themselves River of Life, and as Heather begins to talk, Nadine is reminded of a dark time in her own childhood. Nadine’s memory is foggy of that time, there are gaps she can’t fill in and a fear of close spaces. And then Heather mentions the leader of the group – a man named Aaron Quinn – and Nadine’s blood runs cold. This is the same cult where she and her brother and mother spent time when Nadine was only a teenager. Compelled to uncover the truths behind the seemingly benign face of the group, Nadine begins to search for answers to what exactly happened to her as a child. Her quest will reveal her own dark secrets and help her reconnect with her wayward daughter – but will it be in time?Always Watching is Chevy Steven’s third book featuring Dr. Nadine Lavoie. Penned in the first person, the novel is Nadine’s personal journey through despair, lost memory and dark secrets. While at times I felt the plot line to be a bit contrived, the tension in the story was well developed and it kept me reading. Several of the characters are not what they appear, and this aspect of the book allows for some twists and turns.Nadine is a complicated character and not entirely sympathetic. She has made mistakes as a parent, spent more time helping her patients then being attentive to her daughter, and so she is humanized in the book as a woman who strives for excellence, but always seems to fall short. The unearthing of her childhood helps the reader to understand the psychological workings of a character who previously has felt a bit detached.Chevy Stevens catapulted onto the literary scene with her first novel, Still Missing, and followed up in 2011 with Never Knowing. All three books include the character of Nadine, but only in Always Watching do we get to be inside this character’s head. It is not necessary to read the books in order.Readers who enjoy dark, psychological thrillers may want to pick up a copy of Always Watching.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    In Always Watching, Chevy Stevens third novel, Dr Nadine Lavoie is forced to confront the demons of her past after one of her psychiatric patients reveals a connection to the commune in which Nadine spent part of her childhood.Those familiar with Chevy Stevens’ novel, Never Knowing, will recognise Nadine’s name as the psychiatrist Sara Gallagher was consulting. Nadine, in her mid fifties, is a widow, the mother of a runaway drug addicted daughter, Lisa, and stepmother to Garret. She has recently moved into Victoria from its outskirts, leaving her private practice behind to work at St Adrian’s Hospital.Nadine’s childhood was characterised by an abusive father and manic depressive mother. When Nadine was about twelve, her mother took Nadine and her brother to live on a commune. Nadine has few memories of her time there but feels her claustrophobia is linked to some associated stressful event.When a suicidal patient presents at St Adrian’s, Nadine learns of her connection to The River of Life center led by Aaron Quinn, which evolved from the commune Nadine had lived with. Concerned by the information her patient provides about the Center’s operations, and still puzzled by the vagueness of her own memories, Nadine begins to ask questions about the cult. But her investigation has Aaron on the defensive and he has secrets he doesn’t want anybody to know.While Never Knowing had me turning the pages, breathless with anxiety and anticipation, Always Watching lacks the same tension and urgent pace. It probably isn’t fair to make the comparison but I was expecting a fast paced psychological thriller from the marketing and I just don’t think Stevens achieved that here. Apart from a burst of frantic speed near the end of the novel when Nadine confronts Aaron, I didn’t feel there was any suspense to speak of.Neither is there anything particularly original in terms of plotting. Given Nadine’s repressed memories it is obvious something nasty happened to her and what she experiences is really no surprise given that cults target vulnerable members of society, use shocking methods to control its disciples and sexual abuse is rife.The sub plot involving Nadine’s daughter Lisa, a drug addict living in the streets is more interesting, though neither was I really surprised by her revelations.With some degree of regret, I can’t say Always Watching was really anything more than an okay read for me.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    She helps people put their demons to rest.But she has a few of her own…In the lockdown ward of a psychiatric hospital, Dr. Nadine Lavoie is in her element. She has the tools to help people, and she has the desire—healing broken families is what she lives for. But Nadine doesn’t want to look too closely at her own past because there are whole chunks of her life that are black holes. It takes all her willpower to tamp down her recurrent claustrophobia, and her daughter, Lisa, is a runaway who has been on the streets for seven years.When a distraught woman, Heather Simeon, is brought into the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit after a suicide attempt, Nadine gently coaxes her story out of her—and learns of some troubling parallels with her own life. Digging deeper, Nadine is forced to confront her traumatic childhood, and the damage that began when she and her brother were brought by their mother to a remote commune on Vancouver Island. What happened to Nadine? Why was their family destroyed? And why does the name Aaron Quinn, the group’s leader, bring complex feelings of terror to Nadine even today?And then, the unthinkable happens, and Nadine realizes that danger is closer to home than she ever imagined. She has no choice but to face what terrifies her the most…and fight back.Sometimes you can leave the past, but you can never escape. I did enjoy the book, but I have to say it was a bit of a slow read for me. I really would not consider this one as a medical thriller like the first two Chevy Stevens books Still Missing and Never Knowing. The story in this one tends to more slowly evolve than the others. It is however definitely worth a read. It is set to go on sale on 6-18-13, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Psychiatrist Dr. Nadine Levoie is treating Heather Simeon, a young woman who has just lost a baby and has recently left a commune. During therapy sessions, Dr. Levoie realizes that the woman's husband has ambivilent feelings about the couple's departure from the commmune, but it seemed that something had been causing Heather to be afraid to stay there. Aaron, the head of the commune, seemed to have much more control of his followers than they would have liked. When Dr. Levoie realizes that this commune of which her patient is speaking is the exact one in which she was traumatized as a youngster, the psychiatrist wonders whether she should ethically continue to treat Heather. This situation is only the prologue to a much deeper, more involved and frightening story. It deals with family relationships and individuals being subjected to forces which they do not like and seem powerless to prevent. There are few things that seemed a little farfetched in this story. One was the brute force of Dr. Levoie. Maybe fear can actully make a person that strong. I guessed the very ending of the story, but some twists along the way made getting to the grand finale well worth it. For such a good novel, this young author is definitely an author to follow. I'll be looking for more of her books. I began this book by listening to the CD version, but I had to pick up the hard copy to finish it faster. It's just that kind of a story.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Chevy Stevens really delivers in this thriller.Dr. Nadine Lavoie is back trying to help a patient dealing with the psychological aftermath of of a miscarriage. Nadine quickly realizes the patient has left a cult. A cult that is tied to Nadine's past. In working with her patient, she is forced to confront memories from her past. And some of these memories could be dangerous.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Thanks to St. Martin's Press for a copy for review.

    As I read through the pages of this book, I felt myself being sucked into the story, experiencing everything the characters experienced. I felt myself ripped raw at some of the events that occurred. I think I most connected with Heather, and then with Lisa and Nadine later on. I know what the emotional rollercoaster of being a survivor when others did not feels like and how that can pull you into a very strange, uncomfortable place.

    This is one of those novels that you cannot walk away from without being changed. I dare anyone to read through Always Watching and tell me that they do not feel differently after reading it.

    The characters are well developed, the situations vivid and believable. I didn't find a single editing flaw anywhere, and my regular readers will know that I look for those things. But, based on my emotional response to this book, I felt I had no choice but to rate it a 5. I feel different after reading it, like I am more connected somehow to everything around me and that everything has a greater purpose. That may sound sappy and wishy-washy, but it is the truth for this reader.

    I had never read anything by this author before, and I now am sitting here wondering how I could have not I will be on the hunt for the remainder of her novels and will be now and forever a fan.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I was a little disappointed as this was neither thrilling nor chilling... there were no surprises. This is the story of psychologist Dr. Nadine Lavoie a who is treating a very depressed patient that has had some bad experiences being in a cult on a commune that her and her husband left and ever since horrible things have been happening to her. As Nadine is treating her she realizes she has memories of her own past flooding in that she has been repressing for years all having to do with the same evil man her patient is talking about named Aaron Quinn. It seems long ago when her mother left her abusive father she took her and her brother to live on that very same commune. As the story unfolds she must find out what happened to her patient and herself when she was a child, why does she have crippling claustrophobia, how is her family involved and maybe even the people who were also in the commune and still living in the same town were involved but have been afraid to tell all these years later what happened and what it all has to do with her trauma as a young girl. Maybe I was expecting to much from the B.B.B. (back book blurb) or the reviews anyway…..I didread and enjoy some parts of it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I've read all of Chevy Stevens' books and have always enjoyed them. The same is true for 'Always Watching' which I recommend if you've read and liked her other novels. She is always able to draw me in at the beginning and then I find I can't put it down!In 'Always Watching,' Ms. Stevens once again comes up with a thriller this is chilling, tense, and suspenseful. Her protagonist is Dr. Nadine Lavoie, a psychiatrist, who was featured as a minor character in her earlier novels. Dr. Lavoie encounters a patient who triggers traumatic memories involving a commune/cult from her childhood. As she tries to help her patient, Dr. Lavoie needs and wants to find out what may still be going on at the commune. She has flashbacks that make her realize she had forgotten large chunks of her life. The more she investigates, the more danger she is in.There are some twists I didn't see coming which help to move the story along. Some of the minor characters are well-developed and strong and add a lot to this novel.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is the story of Nadine, a psychiatrist who is treating a patient for an attempted suicide. The patient has been living in a commune where Nadine grew up and left when she was a little girl. I love all of Chevy Steven's books because they are so real. It's one thing to read a thriller and think "Nah, that could never happen" and then another to read Chevy Stevens. Couldn't put this one down - read it in one day. She is quickly becoming one of my "must-read, day it comes out gotta buy it" author.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A very compelling story! I think the author captured the spirit of the '60s communes. I definitely recommend this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    “Always Watching” by Chevy Stevens“Heart-pounding,” (Lisa Jackson) “Harrowing,” (Linwood Barclay) and “Chilling” (William Landay) are just a few of the words others have used to describe Stevens’ newest book “Always Watching.” They are all true. Add one other: “Spellbinding” (Starr Gardinier Reina). That’s what I thought. This was one tough book to put down.Psychiatrist Nadine Lavoie meets a patient who brings to surface Nadine’s own terrifying past, one her psyche protected her from. But now that she’s remembering, she has to face her past. Her mother, tired of the abuse by the hands of her father, brings Nadine and Robbie, her brother to live in a commune when they were thirteen and sixteen, respectively. Aaron, the ‘leader,’ preached about living life purely and demanded his ‘residents’ follow his every rule. When they didn’t…well, they were punished. Finally, Nadine’s father comes and takes them out, away from the horror of the commune.Nadine, in her adult years, suffers from claustrophobia and hasn’t been able to find the root of the fear. But as she digs deeper into what the commune is up to now, she finds out more than she can handle.A violent rage bubbles just below the surface when Aaron and his brother Joseph are threatened by Nadine’s quest to bring to light the ugly side of Aaron and his ‘lifestyle.’ Torment can describe what Nadine goes through as she recalls what happened to her as a little girl and anguish when she discovers her own missing daughter is now calling the commune home.As I said, “spellbinding” is a great descriptor of Stevens’ story. There aren’t many other words to do this book justice. Highly recommended.Reviewed by Starr Gardinier Reina, author of “The Other Side: Melinda’s Story”
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Today the concept of living in a commune is considered to be both bizarre and abnormal. It is a lifestyle that is outside the standard way of living and often frowned upon by the average citizen. Communal living is associated with hippies of the past and religious outcasts. It is not something that a person seeks, but something that a person avoids. Those that grow up in a commune are often pitied for their lifestyle and some have suffered mistreatment due to parental neglect. This book is about a person named Dr. Nadine Lavoie and her experiences growing up in a commune. It is a story within another story that tells the tales of more than one person’s tragic tale of abuse. It is a book that describes a woman’s failure as a mother due to her inability to overcome her childhood trauma. By overcoming her trauma she saves both herself and many others. I found this book to be a bit slow at first. It got better for me after the first seventy five pages. I enjoyed the main character, but really hated the relationship between the mother and daughter. I found that to be absolutely unrealistic, no matter how the situation portrayed itself. I enjoyed watching the main character grown and get a back bone by the end of the book, but found the end of the book to be too brief. It seems a little incomplete to me. Once again the mother/daughter conversation was just too unrealistic too me and seemed rushed. I liked the history in the book and thought the author did a great job with the details. Overall the story was very good and the back ground was set up nicely. I think this book is an excellent read, but not my favorite due to the subject of the book and the mother/daughter relationship. I do recommend this book and it is a great read for this coming fall season.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I was actually impressed. This one took me by surprise from the beginning with immediately seeing into the killers eyes. Then we switch to Shaley and her rock star mom Rayne. The length of the plot is three days but by the end I feel like Shaley and that it was more like a few months but in a good way. We follow through the lives of Shaley and her mom as they deal with the murder of a close friend. From there everything begins to be not what they thought and people not who they thought. Even up until the end I was shocked to figure out who the killer was. The writers did a great job of keeping you guessing and turning pages as fast as you could to get to the next one. I literally didn���������t want to put it down. I just had to know what the killer was going to do next and try to get some clue as to who it might be. The writing only switched between Shaley���������s perspective and the killers ��������� a fact to which I was very grateful. The transitions were smooth and easy to get. I liked how it ended and from the preview I got of the next in line it literally picks up where this one leaves off. I think this is a great beginning of a great mystery series. The Christian influence is actually barely there which is a nice backdrop for Christian fiction. It���������s not in your face or shoved down any characters throat it���������s just simple reminders that someone is watching out for you ��������� someone good.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I was actually impressed. This one took me by surprise from the beginning with immediately seeing into the killers eyes. Then we switch to Shaley and her rock star mom Rayne. The length of the plot is three days but by the end I feel like Shaley and that it was more like a few months but in a good way. We follow through the lives of Shaley and her mom as they deal with the murder of a close friend. From there everything begins to be not what they thought and people not who they thought. Even up until the end I was shocked to figure out who the killer was. The writers did a great job of keeping you guessing and turning pages as fast as you could to get to the next one. I literally didn���t want to put it down. I just had to know what the killer was going to do next and try to get some clue as to who it might be. The writing only switched between Shaley���s perspective and the killers ��� a fact to which I was very grateful. The transitions were smooth and easy to get. I liked how it ended and from the preview I got of the next in line it literally picks up where this one leaves off. I think this is a great beginning of a great mystery series. The Christian influence is actually barely there which is a nice backdrop for Christian fiction. It���s not in your face or shoved down any characters throat it���s just simple reminders that someone is watching out for you ��� someone good.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Bestselling author Brandilyn Collins teams up with her daughter to produce this suspenseful whodunit series. Written in first person narrative from the perspective of Shaley, a sixteen-year-old, this teen story keeps the readers interest. The killer's thoughts, written in third person and interspersed throughout the story, have a chilling effect.A typical teen, Shaley's BFF, Brittany, has an intuitive ability to know the future. Unfortunately, this reader does not have that ability. The novel is well written. The characters are believable, but the story stops just in time for the next book to begin. I understand that this is a series, but I feel gipped when left with a cliff-hanger.