~Book Review - I'll Be Watching You by Charles de Lint~

Rachel Sorenson feared she would never escape her ex-husband's abuse. Then a passing stranger came to her rescue - a stranger who had watched her from afar.

He was a photographer, and Rachel was his perfect subject. He lived only to make her happy - and eliminate those who didn't.

Now he wants more than her beauty. She owes him her life - and he means to collect. ~Back Cover

Artist Rachel Sorenson's ex-husband Frank is an abuser. They are divorced, and Rachel keeps moving from apartment to apartment to try to escape Frank's wrath. Frank keeps finding her no matter where she moves. He has caused her to be frightened all of the time, and not to trust anyone. He is her living nightmare.

Psycho Harry Landon lives in an apartment building that is directly across from Rachels. He keeps a telescope trained on Rachel's apartment at all times, so that he may watch her, study her, waiting for the perfect opportunity to introduce himself to her. He must have her - she is the perfect woman. When he catches sight of Frank planning to harm Rachel, Harry steps in.

Frank ambushes Rachel outside of her workplace and Harry is there. He kills Frank, then disappears. Rachel only gets a glimpse of her "hero", and she paints a picture of him, naming him as her "guardian angel". In order for Harry to get closer to Rachel, he decides to make friends with one of her friends, a gay man named Rob Carter. He does this by dressing incognito and posing as different people. He completely changes himself with wigs and colored contact lenses. He becomes "Peter Orlick" a "gay" man who introduces himself to Rob. Rob introduces Rachel to Peter. Peter will become a man that Rachel begins to trust. She lets her guard down, and begins to trust him...a mistake that she will forever regret.

I'll Be Watching You keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the story. You never know what Harry is going to try next, just to get closer to Rachel. There is a surprise ending to this novel...I never saw it coming. This is a fast-paced read. Highly recommended.

Four Stars

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Orb Books (March 1, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 076530435X
ISBN-13: 978-0765304353