They're Watching You

by Chelsea Ichaso

Overview

When a secret society has you in their sights, it can lead to power, privilege… or death.

It's been two weeks since Polly St. James went missing. The police, the headmistress of Torrey-Wells Academy, and even her parents have ruled her a runaway. But not Maren, her best friend and roommate. She knows Polly had a secret that she was about to share with Maren before she disappeared— something to do with the elite, ultra-rich crowd at Torrey-Wells.

Then Maren finds an envelope hidden among Polly's things: an invitation to the Gamemaster's Society. Do not tell anyone, it says. Maren is certain her classmates in the Society know the truth about what happened to Polly, though it's no easy feat to join. Once Maren's made it through the treacherous initiation, she discovers a world she never knew existed within her school, where Society members compete in high-stakes games for unheard-of rewards—Ivy League connections, privileges, favors.

But Maren's been drawn into a different game: for every win, she'll receive a clue about Polly. And as Maren keeps winning, she begins to see just how powerful the Society's game is—bigger and deadlier than she ever imagined. They see, they know, they control. And they kill.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781728251066
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	01/03/2023
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	101,329
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Chelsea Ichaso writes twisty thrillers for young adults. A former high school English teacher, she currently resides in southern California with her husband and children. When she’s not reading or writing, Chelsea can be found on the soccer field.

Editorial Reviews

12/05/2022

A high schooler endeavors to suss out what happened to her missing best friend in this eerie prep school–set thriller by Ichaso (Little Creeping Things). High school junior Maren Montgomery is attending private, affluent New England Torrey-Wells Academy as a scholarship student when her best friend, Polly St. James, goes missing after receiving an invitation to join the academy’s most enigmatic club, the Gamemaster’s Society. Desperate to find Polly, Maren launches an investigation into the society’s membership and eventually crosses paths with privileged Gamemaster Annabelle Westerly; beating her at a card game nets Maren a society invitation. Alongside fellow society initiate and longtime crush Remington Cruz, Maren ventures into the catacombs beneath an abandoned on-campus cathedral, where Annabelle challenges them to various games and rituals that range from innocuous to life-threatening. As the stakes increase, Maren must decide if the truth is worth her life. Via a quick-witted and fiercely likable heroine, Ichaso examines themes of privilege and trust against a familiar high-society backdrop. Frightening crypts, deadly schemes, devastating betrayals, and pulse-pounding chases through dark tunnels abound in this twisty read. Most characters are assumed white; Remington is described as having brown skin. Ages 14–up. Agent: Uwe Stender, Triada US. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

"If you love boarding school mysteries and capers, this one was twisty-turny, romantic, and voyeuristic... a good read alike suggestion for teens who liked the Truly Devious series by Maureen Johnson or anything by Karen M. McManus." — Youth Services Book Review

"Readers are... in for a thrilling time as Maren delves into a world of betrayals and blackmail and plays risky games against the clock" — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Via a quick-witted and fiercely likable heroine, Ichaso examines themes of privilege and trust against a familiar high-society backdrop. Frightening crypts, deadly schemes, devastating betrayals, and pulse-pounding chases through dark tunnels abound in this twisty read." — Publishers Weekly

"The characters and mystery are well-developed and will keep the reader interested... Ichaso has created an engaging mystery that must be solved." — School Library Connection

From the Publisher

01/01/2023

Gr 9 Up—Maren Montgomery's best friend, Poppy St. James, has gone missing. While everyone around her seems to accept that she ran away, Maren isn't buying it. In fact, she's certain the Torrey-Wells Academy's exclusive and mysterious Gamemaster's Society is behind her disappearance. After months of dead ends, Maren finally accepts that the only way to find out what happened is to join the society and uncover their secrets from the inside. What ensues are a series of increasingly high-stakes games, pranks, and tricks. Does life and death hang in the balance? Or is just a game? Maren's indecisiveness and inability to trust those closest to her creates a satisfying air of suspense. Readers be warned: once you descend into the catacombs underneath the school, you won't want to resurface until the game is done. All characters default to white except for Maren's love interest Remington Cruz and friend Jordan Park. VERDICT A quick, immersive read. Give to fans of Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé's Ace of Spades or Maureen Johnson's "Truly Devious" series.—Katie Patterson

School Library Journal

2022-10-27
High school junior Maren Montgomery suspects something is awry when Polly St. James, her best friend and roommate, disappears from elite Torrey-Wells Academy.

The police and Polly’s parents believe the note she left behind and consider her a runaway. However, when Maren finds an invitation from the Gamemaster’s Society in Polly’s belongings, she concludes her friend may be in danger. Maren has heard rumors about a secret club, and this evidence prompts her to seek out members to help her find her missing friend. Acting on a tip from lab partner and potential love interest Gavin Holt, she challenges social queen Annabelle Westerly to a card game: Winning scores her an invite to a society initiation. Fellow initiate Remington Cruz (who is cued Latine in an otherwise default-White main cast) captures Maren’s romantic interest as together they face the life-threatening, sinister rituals the society performs in the pursuit of personal power and prestige. Multiple twists leave Maren’s head spinning, not knowing what or whom to believe. The cat-and-mouse game intensifies Maren’s race against the Gamemaster’s clock to find Polly, with the trials exploiting the initiates’ worst fears along the way. This plot-driven thriller has excellent pacing that escalates along with the action. The love triangle seems a bit forced, but it propels readers to question which characters are trustworthy. Greek mythology references will entice genre crossover readers.

Dungeons, catacombs, and crypts, oh my: Readers will be glued to the edges of their seats. (Thriller. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews