📖 Overview
Simon is an attorney in Chicago who develops an obsession with watching his neighbors through high-powered binoculars from his upscale high-rise apartment. His voyeuristic habits lead him to witness something disturbing that pulls him into a complex web of secrets and lies.
The story alternates between multiple perspectives and timelines, following different characters whose lives intersect in unexpected ways. What begins as voyeurism evolves into a maze of deception, hidden identities, and mounting danger.
As Simon becomes more entangled in the mystery, he must confront questions about trust, perception, and the dark impulses that drive human behavior. The narrative explores themes of surveillance, privacy, and how well we can truly know the people around us - even those closest to us.
👀 Reviews
Readers describe Look Closer as a twisty thriller with multiple perspective shifts and timeline changes. Many highlight the complex plot structure that comes together in the final act.
Readers appreciated:
- Unpredictable reveals and misdirections
- The methodical way clues unfold
- Short chapters that maintain momentum
- Character interactions and dialogue
Common criticisms:
- First third feels slow before picking up pace
- Some plot points require suspension of disbelief
- Timeline jumps can be confusing to follow
- A few readers found the ending rushed
Ratings:
Goodreads: 4.02/5 (21,000+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.3/5 (11,000+ ratings)
LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (300+ ratings)
Review quotes:
"Like solving a puzzle where the pieces keep changing shape" - Goodreads reviewer
"The timeline shifts lost me at points but the payoff was worth it" - Amazon reviewer
"Smart but not too clever for its own good" - LibraryThing reviewer
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The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave A woman searches for answers about her missing husband while protecting her teenage stepdaughter, revealing layers of secrets and deception within a family.
The It Girl by Ruth Ware Ten years after testifying against her friend's killer, a woman faces new evidence that suggests she identified the wrong man, forcing her to question her memories and confront past trauma.
56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard Two strangers decide to quarantine together during the pandemic lockdown, setting off a chain of events that leads to a death and questions about their true identities.
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🤔 Interesting facts
🔍 David Ellis is not only an author but also serves as a Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court and previously worked as the House Prosecutor who impeached former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich
📚 "Look Closer" employs multiple timelines and narrators, a technique Ellis has refined through his experience writing legal thrillers and co-authoring with James Patterson
💰 The novel delves into the world of financial fraud and wire transfers, reflecting real-world schemes where criminals use romantic relationships to manipulate victims
🏛️ The Chicago setting draws from Ellis's extensive legal experience in Illinois, incorporating authentic details about the city's legal system and financial district
🎭 The book's complex identity deceptions mirror actual cases of long-term identity fraud, where perpetrators maintain false personas for years to gain trust and access to victims' assets