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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Still one of my favorites. Will read this again and again. I want a dog like Einstein!!
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Four stars based on my memory of it. I loved it when I was first getting in to scary books as a kid.
Originally published in 1987, Watchers was re-released by Audible Audio last year, with a special afterward voiced by the author, himself. The narration in this edition was most excellently done by Edoardo Ballerini, and has received at least one award for the narration.
I've read a lot of Dean Koontz's work, but had yet to read this one. If you listen to the afterward, it becomes apparent that this is the author's favorite of all of his work.
In watchers, we follow the adventures of a man and his dog. That's a bit over-simplified. Travis Cornell is hiking in the Santa Ana foothills when a dog rushes out of the bushes toward him. The dog is friendly, and takes an instant liking to Travis. But when Travis tries to continue down a path into the darkness of the woods, the dog block his path, to the point of snarling at him when he insists on continuing.
At some point, it becomes obvious that something is down there. Something horrendous. It is chasing the dog, and, subsequently, Travis, as well. They both manage to get back to Travis's truck and escape. Travis has no intention of keeping the dog, but that soon changes, as it becomes obvious that there is something "special" about this dog. He names the dog "Einstein."
In Watchers, Koontz tackles government tinkering with DNA in secret projects. The NSA becomes involved in the case, as they search for both the escaped dog and the other thing, the thing that was chasing the dog, which is simply known as The Outsider.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I had previously read both of Koontz's Christopher Snow novels, Fear Nothing, and Seize the Night, in which "special" animals are also featured. These were written in the late nineties. There are, I think, similarities in the stories, and I'm fine with this.
I like that Koontz did not write the NSA officer as a "bad guy." He was hunting the two animals (if you can call The Outsider an animal) that escaped from the lab that was doing the research. He was doing his job. But when he finally encounters Travis and Nora (the woman Einstein manages to hook him up with), he is not harsh with them, but is, rather, quite pleasant. In fact, throughout the story, he becomes more and more tired of the work he is doing and decides he is quitting after this case.
Koontz also does a great job of developing the characters of Nora and Travis, as well as others that are involved in the story. I became personally invested in both of them, as well as the fate of Einstein the dog (a golden retriever . . . if you know anything about Dean Koontz, you know he loves goldens). But then, I have always thought that Dean Koontz was a wonderful story teller.
Watchers is classic Dean Koontz and well worth the read if you have not. This particular edition, from Audible, was published by Brilliance Audio, and is a fantastic listen.
I've read a lot of Dean Koontz's work, but had yet to read this one. If you listen to the afterward, it becomes apparent that this is the author's favorite of all of his work.
In watchers, we follow the adventures of a man and his dog. That's a bit over-simplified. Travis Cornell is hiking in the Santa Ana foothills when a dog rushes out of the bushes toward him. The dog is friendly, and takes an instant liking to Travis. But when Travis tries to continue down a path into the darkness of the woods, the dog block his path, to the point of snarling at him when he insists on continuing.
At some point, it becomes obvious that something is down there. Something horrendous. It is chasing the dog, and, subsequently, Travis, as well. They both manage to get back to Travis's truck and escape. Travis has no intention of keeping the dog, but that soon changes, as it becomes obvious that there is something "special" about this dog. He names the dog "Einstein."
In Watchers, Koontz tackles government tinkering with DNA in secret projects. The NSA becomes involved in the case, as they search for both the escaped dog and the other thing, the thing that was chasing the dog, which is simply known as The Outsider.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I had previously read both of Koontz's Christopher Snow novels, Fear Nothing, and Seize the Night, in which "special" animals are also featured. These were written in the late nineties. There are, I think, similarities in the stories, and I'm fine with this.
I like that Koontz did not write the NSA officer as a "bad guy." He was hunting the two animals (if you can call The Outsider an animal) that escaped from the lab that was doing the research. He was doing his job. But when he finally encounters Travis and Nora (the woman Einstein manages to hook him up with), he is not harsh with them, but is, rather, quite pleasant. In fact, throughout the story, he becomes more and more tired of the work he is doing and decides he is quitting after this case.
Koontz also does a great job of developing the characters of Nora and Travis, as well as others that are involved in the story. I became personally invested in both of them, as well as the fate of Einstein the dog (a golden retriever . . . if you know anything about Dean Koontz, you know he loves goldens). But then, I have always thought that Dean Koontz was a wonderful story teller.
Watchers is classic Dean Koontz and well worth the read if you have not. This particular edition, from Audible, was published by Brilliance Audio, and is a fantastic listen.
My first koontz book! I was not disappointed. I love thrillers and this one had so much heart in it too. The main characters, Nora, Travis, Einstein and the outsider are developed very well. Einstein is completely adorable and steals you heart as he reveals his genius to his new owners. He teaches you the true meaning of freedom and how cruel it is to lock something so beautiful away. The outsider is a killing machine who leaves you on the edge of your seat. My biggest question was would the outsider have been as bad if he wasn’t intelligent enough to see how hated he was by others. I mean he ripped out his victims eyes because he could see their fear and disgust at his appearance. The hitman was an interesting character but his ending was very anticlimactic. Overall I enjoy a book that gives me a lump in my throat and one that leaves me dwelling on the message long after.
This book has a golden retriever as one of the main characters, so I was fairly certain I would like it, and it did not disappoint. Action, suspense, and character development were a part of this book. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like if you could talk to your dog and have them respond back to you, chances are you would enjoy this one.
In the afterword, Dean Koontz himself feels that this is his best work! I'd agree! Other reviews can sum up the book better and more articulate than me but it's a cracking story of family, love, mans inhumanity and a retriever called Einstein!
I won’t spoil the plot but what I will say is... Read it you! You will enjoy it, brilliantly written, this on one of my Favs this year and will remember it forever!!
I first read this book a long time ago, so long ago that I had forgotten everything about it except that I loved the dog. I thoroughly enjoyed my re-read of this heartwarming tale, and yes, I still love the dog!!