I Am Watching You

As a psychological thriller, I Am Watching You aligns with modern thriller conventions, focusing on the psychological depth of its characters and the suspense driven by their hidden fears and desires. The novel derives its thrills as much from the tortuous psyche of its characters as it does from its twist-filled plot. The narrative pays close attention to the internal monologue of characters such as Ella, Henry, Sarah, and Matthew, exploring what powers their actions. For instance, the narrative grounds Sarah’s refusal to leave the club with Anna in her complex past and her compulsions, such as Sarah’s desire to fit in with the larger world. Similarly, Henry’s secretiveness is revealed to be the consequence of his struggle to balance his identities as a father, farmer, and a man committing infidelity. Another feature of the psychological thriller genre that the novel exhibits is a focus on the pathologies of its antagonists. The novel pays close attention to Tim’s disordered thinking in first-person interludes, where he admits to loving the power that he feels over the people he stalks.

The novel also pays attention to the heightened emotions of its characters, including fear, grief, guilt, and paranoia. Propelled by these exaggerated emotions, characters often carry out extreme actions, such as when an overwhelmed Henry contemplates shooting himself. The motif of watching adds to the ominous, claustrophobic atmosphere of the narrative, intensifying the feeling of paranoia. This is especially apparent in Ella’s point-of-view chapters, where she wants to lose herself in her floristry but is jolted into fear by Tim’s silent stalking. Thus, the external threat of violence mirrors the psychological terror and turmoil of the characters, a critical feature of the psychological thriller genre.