April's tale begins in Norwood, Virginia, but she quickly informs the reader that this will soon change: "The world as we knew it ended for us on a Tuesday afternoon in May." Due to her father's need to hide from a hitman linked to the drug trade, her entire family enters a government witness protection program. They are forced to relocate and change not only their home but also their identities. Assuming new names, they take refuge in a small town in Florida. April despises everything about this new life—from her new name, Valerie, to the awful, cramped, hot house. Her younger brother, however, delights in the house's "secret passages" that lead from the closets to the attic, where he and his friends hold "meetings." The only aspect of the house that April finds appealing is the lush vegetation surrounding it. Located far from the road at the end of a narrow, winding drive, the rundown building serves as an ideal hiding spot.

Similar to Lois Duncan's other thrillers, Don't Look Behind You is filled with intricate details. These not only engage readers on the hunt for clues but also create a genuine connection to the unfolding plot. Duncan's meticulous focus on minor details mirrors the concerns faced by the Corrigan family. For instance, Bram's two different colored eyes shift from being a curiosity to a potential crisis, Liz's reputation as a writer becomes a burden, and the everyday things April once overlooked are brought into sharp focus through Duncan's use of comparison and contrast.

Since the narrative is presented through April's perspective, we witness a teenager's life thrown into chaos. The frustration felt for each family member stems from Duncan's skillful plot crafting. Her characters are well-developed, allowing us to empathize with them, yet she avoids excessive characterization, keeping in mind that this is a suspenseful tale. The story's momentum builds consistently toward an exhilarating climax, encouraging readers to devour the final chapters in one go.

This book offers plenty for suspense enthusiasts without causing any unease. Violence is included, but it complements the element of danger rather than being excessive. An incident involving an attack on April's grandmother is described indirectly, avoiding excessive detail. The inevitable physical confrontation between April and the murderer at the book's conclusion is skillfully portrayed. While readers might later ponder how a seventeen-year-old deals with the reality of having killed someone, even if they were malevolent, it doesn't significantly affect the narrative.

In contrast to Don't Look Behind You, where the protagonist faces danger from a real-life "bad guy," most of Duncan's books focus on psychic phenomena. Summer of Fear (1976) also revolves around a frightened family; however, the threat in this earlier novel is rooted in witchcraft.

Chevalier, Tracy, ed. Twentieth Century Children's Writers. Chicago: St. James Press, 1989. This book provides a comprehensive list of Duncan's publications, along with critiques of selected works and a summary of her life and perspectives.

Commire, Anne, ed. Something about the Author. Vol. 36. Detroit: Gale, 1984. This volume features an extensive narrative by Duncan, where she shares her personal background and reflections on her writing career.