As the Wicked Watch

The First Jordan Manning Novel

By: Tamron Hall

Narrated by: Susan Dalian

Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

The first in a thrilling new series from Emmy Award-winning TV host and journalist Tamron Hall, As The Wicked Watch follows a reporter as she unravels the disturbing mystery around the deaths of two young Black women, the work of a serial killer terrorizing Chicago.

When crime reporter Jordan Manning leaves her hometown in Texas to take a job at a television station in Chicago, she’s one step closer to her dream: a coveted anchor chair on a national network.

Jordan is smart and aggressive, with unabashed star-power, and often the only woman of color in the newsroom. Her signature? Arriving first on the scene—in impractical designer stilettos. Armed with a master’s degree in forensic science and impeccable instincts, Jordan has been able to balance her dueling motivations: breaking every big story—and giving a voice to the voiceless.

From her time in Texas, she’s covered the vilest of human behaviors but nothing has prepared her for Chicago. Jordan is that rare breed of a journalist who can navigate a crime scene as well as she can a newsroom—often noticing what others tend to miss. Again and again, she is called to cover the murders of Black women, many of them sexually assaulted, most brutalized, and all of them quickly forgotten.

All until Masey James—the story that Jordan just can’t shake, despite all efforts. A 15-year-old girl whose body was found in an abandoned lot, Masey has come to represent for Jordan all of the frustration and anger that her job often forces her to repress. Putting the rest of her work and her fraying personal life aside, Jordan does everything she can to give the story the coverage it desperately requires, and that a missing Black child would so rarely get.

There’s a serial killer on the loose, Jordan believes, and he’s hiding in plain sight.

©2021 Tamron Hall (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

As The Wicked Watch is a Thrilla!

From start to finish this was a nonstop truth telling thrilla! Can’t wait for the next Jordan Manning adventure

Enjoyed It - Love Tamron Hall

I really like Tamron Hall and was looking forward to this book!

I love how the journalism was the focus and how it was interwoven.
I could see how some might not appreciate so much of the detail of reporting, however I enjoyed it.
The forensics was my favorite part and how this gave more credibility to the character and to the mystery.
Looking forward to another Jordan Manning story…

Love love love it!

Where to start?? I felt like I could see this novel play out like a movie in my head. The author gives Jordan so much life, and the narrator gives her so much soul. Jordan felt really fleshed out to me, like someone who was a friend. The plot was well written and some of the characters, that I really really really hope show up in the next of the series, were well developed. As soon as book 2 is available for pre-order I will be doing that immediately.

Lots of stories in one

Enjoyed this long, slow read. There was a lot of sub, sub, sub-text about black girls, black women, black community, etc. The ending was predictable, but the journey to get there was enjoyable. Congrats to Tam’ron on her first book!

Great Debut Novel

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Crime mysteries are my favorite, and this one has great twists and turns. I will recommend it to family and friends.

Outstanding Introduction to a fantastic new series.

This was a great read and I’m so looking forward to Jordan Manning #2
“Watch Where They Hide”

as the wicked watch

good intrigue and who done it story factor. Nice Chicago references. Can't wait to start the next book.

Loved it!

I loved this book from start to finish. I didn’t know Tamaron was author. It wasn’t until I was watching her show I found out about this book. Happy to have read it and will also support the next one. Good job & congratulations Tamaron. Bless you!❤️

Well-Written from a Unique Perspective!

I always liked contemporary detective novels growing up, but in the last several years found myself less-interested as the characters (nearly always CIS white men) rather boring and predictable.

This story, in contrast, is written from the perspective of a young, driven, smart and powerful black woman. Because of this, the solid “whodunnit” narrative arc has the opportunity to develop in ways it never could in a typical detective novel, and the author takes full-advantage of these opportunities to build an emotional-connection between the reader and the characters (especially the protagonist) with observations, tools, access and skills unique to her as a savvy black female reporter. (And, given the author’s profession is that of a reporter, it’s cool to think you are getting a bit of a fictionalization but realistic insider-perspective around how things actually work in a newsroom.)

The story itself is solid and timely, carefully weaving in contemporary issues around race, policing, and social responsibility of both communities and the media.

I also thought the narration was EXCELLENT… I don’t believe I’ve listened to this voice actor before, but absolutely plan to seek out more of her work.

Can’t wait for #2

The story pulled me in from start to finish. Looking forward to more! Love you Tamron!