Wednesday, August 15, 2012

The Watchers

The Watchers

By John Steele
Blue Rider Press, 2012. 574 pgs. Mystery
‘The Watchers’ begins feeling a bit like ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’. A young man with a twisted foot cares for the bells of his beloved cathedral. Then, across town, a beautiful young woman employed by an exclusive escort service prepares for an evening with a new client. And finally, there is Jay Harper who awakens to a dreary apartment, no memory of life beyond yesterday, but a strange understanding that he is a detective and he is on a mission of discovery. These three people will be drawn together as they realize that their stories are a part of an epic battle of good and evil with universal consequences.

This hefty tome is a first novel and the first in a series, so be prepared for a lot of ‘set up’. The world Steele is bringing to life is complex and shrouded in mystery. As one question is answered, a dozen more seem to spring up in its place. If you are looking for a quick read and even a small amount of closure, look elsewhere. In ‘The Watchers’ you will find a witty and ambitious thriller steeped in mythology telling of the fabled battle between angels and demons. In a word, it’s huge.   CZ

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