Book Extract: I Was Watching You by Chris Westlake

Please join me in welcoming Chris Westlake to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his book, I Was Watching You.

I WAS WATCHING YOU is a fast-paced psychological suspense thriller that will have you turning the pages well into the night.

When city girls Faye, Zara and Heidi book a weekend away at a remote cottage in rural Wales, it is intended to be the perfect detox from their hectic lives. But they let a stranger into the cottage…and they return home with a dark secret they don’t want exposed.

Five months later and their lives have returned to normal. They think they have gotten away with it. And then a hand-delivered photograph drops through each of their letterboxes.

They were watched.

But who watched them?

What do they want?

And how far are the friends prepared to go to keep their secret?

Chris has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy.

*****beginning of extract*****

This is the second scene in the novel. The POV is deliberately anonymous, and as the story unfolds, the reader is challenged to work out the source of the danger.

The gate swung open. Tilting her head back, she gazed at the cloudless sky before uttering the words again and again. “Matthew 6:14-15. For if you forgive other people when they sin against you your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Sucking in a mouthful of air, she pushed open the door. Stepping inside, the sprinkling of light vanished. There was no going back now.

Taking a final glance at the high ceiling, she pulled the green curtain to one side. Her heels clicked on the marble floor as she stepped inside the wooden compartment. Lowering herself onto the bench, she crouched forward, wrapping her arms across her thighs. Light seeped through the latticed opening. None of this was new to her. She had been here so many times that it felt like a second home. This time was different, though. This time it had the potential to change everything.

To destroy everything.

She tapped her forehead, breastbone, left and right shoulders. “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” Her buttocks shuffled on the hard bench. “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It’s been twenty-one days since my last confession.”

Maybe she was doing this for selfish reasons? Maybe it was for her own sanity? After all, she couldn’t live with herself any longer. She had to be held accountable for her sins. She had to cleanse her soul and repair her relationship with Christ.

 “What sin would you like to confess today?” The voice from the other side was warm and syrupy and reassuring. Still, blood drained from her fingers. She squeezed her knees.

“Forgive me, Father, for I have been a coward…” Her words trailed away.

The priest hummed. “Sometimes we are aware of what we believe to be right, and yet we struggle to do the right thing. Instead, we do what is easy, rather than what’s right. This does not make you a coward. Often, it’s a sign that you’re a human, with human flaws. Tell me more about why you think you have been a coward…”

“I know I should have acted, and yet I just watched. I did nothing. I’m an accomplice to the sin. I havesinned, Father.”

“What is it you’ve seen?”

She swallowed. “I have allowed evil to fester and grow, and now it’s a monster. The devil itself.”

A few seconds passed. “What do you think will happen if you don’t take action?”

The woman cleared her throat. Her words quivered. “I have no idea where it will end. But I am certain of one thing…”

“Yes?”

 “Someone will end up dead, Father,” she said. “And I just hope that someone isn’t me.

*****end of extract*****

About Chris Westlake –

Chris Westlake is a psychological suspense thriller writer from Wales. I WAS WATCHING YOU is his 6^th novel. I DID IT FOR US will be published in early 2027.

Say hello to Chris via his website and Instagram.

I Was Watching You was released in September 2026. Click to buy on Amazon UK and Amazon US. 

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.