Someone’s Watching Me by Zoe Rosi

Becky leads a near-perfect life. She has a loving boyfriend, a great job and good friends. But when a strange man moves in next door, things start to change. Becky’s tyres get slashed, she gets trolled on social media, bad luck seems to be following her, and she feels like she’s being watched. Is Becky’s new neighbour out to get her? Or is it all in her mind?

Zoe Rosi recently spent some time with The Big Thrill discussing her latest thriller, SOMEONE’S WATCHING ME:

What do you hope readers will take away from this book?

I hope they will find the novel to be tense, mysterious, and gripping. I hope readers will be entertained.

Zoe Rosi

What attracts you to this book’s genre?

I’ve always loved the suspense and intrigue of thrillers. I wrote six romantic comedy novels before I began writing thrillers. I love writing darker books and feel like I’ve come home as an author.

How does this book make a contribution to the genre?

It deals with contemporary themes such as missing women in London, which I believe are particularly pertinent in the wake of cases such as Sarah Everard. It also explores the long-term impacts of domestic abuse and sibling estrangement.

Without spoilers, are there any genre conventions you wanted to upend or challenge with this book?

Not really. I set out to write a gripping psychological thriller, and I hope I’ve achieved that!

What authors or books have influenced your career as a writer, and why?

I’m a big fan of Lisa Jewell for her plotting and pacing skills and the way she builds intrigue and tension. I loved First Date by Sue Watson and was very inspired by Watson’s instantly engaging and accessible writing style when writing SOMEONE’S WATCHING ME. I am also inspired by L.S. Hilton, the author of the Maestra trilogy. I admire her writing style and prowess, as well as her ability to create characters that are traditionally ‘unlikeable’ and yet hugely compelling. I also appreciate her daring nature in writing edgy sex scenes in mainstream fiction. I’ve always been a huge fan of Bret Easton Ellis. American Psycho is one of my favourite books. I like how it’s a dark and exciting novel, yet also provides social commentary on the rampant materialism of the 1980s and Wall Street culture. It’s an experimental and bold novel in which Easton Ellis is not afraid to shock or offend—a quality I admire in authors/artists.

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Zoe Rosi has a background in journalism and copywriting. She worked as a reporter for local and national newspapers before moving into the fashion industry as a copywriter. Zoe had four romantic comedies published before writing her debut thriller. It was while working as a fashion copywriter that Zoe had the idea for her first thriller, which she describes as ‘The Devil Wears Prada meets American Psycho.’ SOMEONE’S WATCHING ME is Zoe’s second thriller.