The Silent Watcher

The book is well written, and does a good job of letting the reader "learn" the characters. For the most part it held my interest to the end.

A judge, a detective, a guardian - all supporting the laws. Well, maybe. The Silent Watcher is an interesting beginning of a series that will be worth following. It introduces a judge who knows things, a detective that does things and a lawyer who is a guardian of those that need one. Interesting facts about each of them tease throughout this story of a truly depraved individual who literally creeps into people's lives and terminates them. Mr. Methos knows how to weave a plot and tease out information about the characters. Definitely recommend this first Vegas Shadows Book. Enjoy.

Well written, but disturbing. The killer was described in such detail, it could cause night-terrors. He was hideous. Our hero’s were great characters. I’ll buy the next book by Methos.

Story doesn't grab you at first kinda boring but then it keeps you reading. Slow reading at first. I like it.

I didnt see the ending coming. The book was suspenseful and well worth the read. I believe I am hooked on this author, now.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat and several times had me read “only one more chapter” that turned into 3 or 4 more chapters. I really enjoyed and could picture the characters. I am excited to download the next book in the series!!

Great read….decent thriller that kept me engaged. The lead characters were well developed. I’ll definitely plan on reading the next book in the series.

Pretty good book like most from this author. Story picked up steam after a slow start. Odd ending. Sequel coming.

This book ended too soon. It was a great read for anyone who likes mysteries and police involved stories. As I said, it went by too fast.

Quite a rollercoaster ride of a story. Very vivid descriptions of violence. The required tortured cop, his sidekick, the questionable judge and the religious GAD. Wonder what comes next for Lazarus.

The book centers around a conflicted police officer fighting demons and fighting crime. He has few redeeming factors but the women in his life trust him. He’s tracking a little monster and battling a heartless lawyer while working with a smart innocent partner. They have been thrown together by a brilliant judge pulling the strings making her own form of justice

I really liked this book, it wasn’t boring at all. From the start, it pulled me in with an intriguing plot that made me doubt almost every character. The story kept me guessing, and I found myself completely invested in what would happen next. The ending was so tragic and intense that I just couldn’t put the book down. It’s a gripping and emotional read that I definitely recommend if you enjoy legal thrillers with suspense and strong character development.

The Silent Watcher is an intense, shocking crime thriller with varied characters who are gritty and real. The three protagonists are Piper Danes, a Guardian ad litem who is in charge of the lone survivor of a hideous double murder of the sixteen-year’s family, Larazus Holloway, a detective, and Judge Hope Dawson, a formidable, no holds barred kind of judge, who work together to see that the perpetrator serves time for his crimes.This was a gripping page-turner that kept me holding my breath at the horrific details of this crime and the horrible person who was responsible for them. Piper must do all she can to assist in putting this man behind bars where he belongs to prevent him from harming anyone else. The lawyer who is the prosecutor on the case is not experienced or doesn’t seem to care enough about the sole survivor who he is supposed to be protecting. Piper finds herself putting her two cents in constantly during the proceedings in order to protect this teen from harm if this man gets out of jail if the case is lost.This is the first book in this series which is an unforgettable beginning and opening to these believable characters. I look forward to the next book in the series.

More like 3-1/2 stars.For a free book from Amazon Prime, I thought it was good (so, somewhat, I'm grading it up because it was offered for free; I've had less luck with other free books). The story and characters were generally engaging. I thought the writing was "competent" -- meaning the flow was good, the mystery was interesting, and my interest was maintained til the end (almost). The end was unsatisfying for me for several reasons. 1) book endings often are too "pat" or predictable; so I'm hard to please on the subject. 2) This ending wasn't predictable, although it felt like it was going in that direction for a while. But it also wasn't so original beyond shooting high n its attempt to avoid predictability. 3) (Spoiler alert-ish) -- The reasons the detective did what he did were not clear to me (unpredictable? yes. Jarring? yes. Satisfying? NO). 4) One of the main questions (why did the bad guy let the girl victim live?) was not answered; so the question was a 'tease' and, with no answer, was a let-down.There was one (several, actually) gaping grammatical faux pas in this book! Not occurring during quoted dialog, where I might assume that people actually talk that way. My prime example (the only one I actually made note of) -- "Though smaller, he was so much stronger than her." UGH!

The beginning felt almost exactly like the prologue scene from Evil Dead Rise, reimagined as a crime story. The beginning was the littlest bit slow, but the story picked up and ran before long.Legal thrillers aren't usually my thing, male authors writing female characters even less so, but these characters felt believable, fully fleshed out and interesting.Judge Dawson is mysterious, closed off, but clearly passionate about right and wrong--not necessarily above-board legal justice. She feels like the guiding hand just when the story seems like it's about to stall.Piper is earnest, caring, and just a little unsure of herself at times. She's a survivor, though, and uses her tragic past as a means to connect with the kids she works with.Lazarus is a jaded, miserable detective that finds more comfort in pain or misery than any shred of happiness. That makes him sound unlikeable, but he's the harsh point of view the story needed to give authenticity to the dark and gritty underbelly of the law. Here's hoping that his name is a hint that he will find himself reborn in peace, though. I felt his pain through every page.The twist at the end made me gasp. No spoilers because I think it needs to be experienced raw.I LOVED this book. I'll be reading more from Victor Methos for sure.

Another good one by Victor Methos; he doesn't disappoint. The setting, the prose, the dialogue everything rang true in this one. The Silent Watcher is a real haunting legal thriller that will make you question your own safety; in the place you're supposed to be the safest.... your own home. Sophie (a minor) is the sole survivor of the brutal murder of her family. While detective Holloway is a good guy to have on her case (he's haunted by a previous case and driven to close this one), her biggest supporter is her guardian ad litem, Piper Danes. Piper uses her unique upbringing and experience to become a fierce advocate for her charges, undaunted by the detectives or any law enforcement she has to work with; Sophie's wellbeing is her focus, and she goes to great lengths to protect her. The eccentric nature of the villain Owen Whittaker, and his ability to live an "invisible" life added an unexpected layer to this novel. Owen's upbringing may garner some sympathy, but there is no mistaking the evil that lurks within him. The book is a great first in what promises to be an exciting series. I wasn't too thrilled about the ending, but I guess it sets up the opening for the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Book Review: The Silent Watcher, Vegas Shadows #1, by Victor MethosFeatured in Amazon First Reads, November 2024Published by Thomas & Mercer, December 1, 2024★★★★★ (5.0 Stars!)// "Guardian ad litem (GAL)".A person appointed by a court to look after and protect the interests of someone who is unable to take care of themselves, typically a minor or someone who is determined to be legally incompetent. Guardians ad litem are quite common in family law cases, particularly when there are significant disputes, making them a fairly prevalent part of the legal system in most jurisdictions. //"GAL" legal advocacy for minors is highlighted in Victor Methos' new novel "The Silent Watcher".-----What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas! As with his recent bestselling 3-book "Desert Plains" series (2020-21), the author keeps his latest novel staged under the neon glitz and glamor of "The Strip", with a brief detour to the lesser known Vegas tunnels, the abode of the so-called "mole people".// "The Silent Watcher", Vegas Shadows #1, by Victor Methos (2024) //The Creeper.A Las Vegas area serial killer lives in the shadows and "...exhibits almost supernatural patience, and would stake out homes, hiding within walls or basements, before emerging with malevolent intent..." The "Creeper" is eventually apprehended.The Minor.Fifteen-year-old Sophie Grace is the sole survivor of a home invasion massacre. Under the aegis of a juvenile court judge, Hope Dawson, a "Juvenile Grant" provides the traumatized teen with support and protection. Two detectives team up with a "Victims' Rights Act section 11" GAL (Guardian ad litem).The GAL.Enter Piper Danes, GAL, along with LVPD Detectives Lazarus and Riley. Danes had quit her job at a top law firm to do what would tantamount to pro-bono work as a shielding shepherd.The Defense.Equally formidable, enter Clark County Public Defenders Office director Russo Bianchi, defense attorney, designated public defender of the "Creeper", now identified as Owen Whittaker.Escape!Just then the "Creep", with his body greased, snakes his way out of a custody cell, through, wait for it — the air vent in his jail cell.What ensues is pure chaos, ...as Danes finds her own life, and those of her loved ones, upended!-----// "Every legal novel I've written is based on a case I actually had." - Victor Methos //Victor Methos enthralls - educates too!Methos' unique writing style and deep legal experience seamlessly blend to cut incisively to the bone with precise applications of federal and state statutes, nomenclatura included; portray realistic plots broadly based on case files, with intricacies forged over courtroom battles over a lifetime's experience as a criminal and civil rights defense attorney, as well as a prosecutor earlier in his career.A must-read!Review based on an advanced reading copy courtesy of Thomas & Mercer, Amazon First Reads, and NetGalley.

Ave Mitchell, her brother, and his girlfriend are enjoying some time in an isolated family cabin on a lake shore. Ave goes into the cabin to take a shower. She checks on her brother's girlfriend. She is not moving. Ave is worried that she may have taken too many anxiety pills because she believes that the cabin is haunted. The girlfriend rolls over and tries to talk, but half of her neck is missing. Ave runs out of the cabin with the intruder just missing her. Soon, the girlfriend runs out also. Ave and her brother try to stop the bleeding. The brother decides to drive the truck to get help. When he doesn’t return, Ave goes looking for him. She finds him near the garage, dead with most of his throat missing. She takes off running for the nearest campground two miles away. It’s empty. The next one has some tents, but no one is around. He hides in one of the tents. Someone approaches that tent.This novel has two threads. The first is the investigation of the murder of Emily Grace and her son. Her daughter, Sophie, survived the attack. Ave’s murder is added to this investigation. A local influential juvenile judge has obtained grant funding to have a Guardian Ad Litem join an investigation to protect a juvenile victim of a crime. The judge persuades the Robbery/Homicide Captain to transfer the murder investigation to the Juvenile Crimes. This introduces an aspect of the novel where the two main characters do not have the same goal. When the suspect is arrested at 60% point of the novel, I knew another main thread was starting. This thread begins with the defendant’s competency hearing. The first main character is the juvenile officer, Detective Lazarus Holloway, who was the detective for the Ave Mitchell murders. Soon after, he transfers to Juvenile Crimes. The second main character is the assigned Guardian Ad Litem, Piper Danes. From Holloway’s perspective, he did work with her, but she would not let him question Sophie Grace, the only eyewitness. This duo needs to overcome many difficulties in addition to their cross purposes. Danes insists that she participates in most of Holloway’s interviews. Holloway, at the start, doesn’t often tell Danes what he is doing. Despite the inefficiencies, progress is made, and a partnership is built. Tension is maintained because if Sophie regains her memory, she could identify the killer. Plenty of twists, turns, and rabbit holes helped keep my interest to the novel's end.As the first novel in the series, the background of the two main characters is extensive. As this is the first interaction between these characters, much is revealed naturally as they work the case, drive to interviews, and relax while eating or winding down. At the start, Detective Holloway is a little more secretive. Another source for Piper Dane’s character is her conversations and actions with her grandmother, with whom she lives. Deep into the novel, Holloway's surprise friendship reveals much deeper details about his character—an interesting revelation in his past. Overall, the background enhanced my reading enjoyment of this novel.Except for using one mildly rude word, this novel is remarkable in its lack of vulgar and rude words. There are no intimate scenes. Only violence manages to have a presence in this novel. At first, the descriptions of the violence that was inflicted upon the victims can be disturbing. Then, in the latter part of the novel, the violence is described as it is occurring. It was not excessive for me and should not be for most readers. Also, as the first novel in the series, the reader will not have to worry about what occurred in the previous novel.The competency hearing was my least favorite part of the novel. Dr. Brown’s lengthy testimony was a little high-level for me. The only saving grace of this section was the defense attorney, as she tried to disqualify Dr. Brown as an expert witness. A minor irritant for me was the ending. Most readers probably will not have a problem with it, as it hints into the next novel. This novel provided me with my first glimpse of a guardian ad litem. I have not had any experience in life with one, nor have I seen them as a character on TV, in movies, or books. I also enjoyed Dane’s examinations of witnesses.Overall, I could not stop reading this novel, my seventh, and I have purchased five others. He is a Must-Read Author for me. I look forward to the next novel in this series because of Judge Dawson’s remark at the end. If this genre interests you, I strongly recommend reading it. As I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, I rate this novel with five stars.

Once the perp is caught. Up until that point I was really enjoying. I even thought for a while ( after he was caught) that it was going to be someone elseOne reason is bc twice, in a short span of time, Piper said that the two young female victims, Ava and the other young girl, forgot her name, looked liked her. So, I thought they were all gonna be related. It really doesn't make sense to drop that info and not do anything with it.I also thought the female judge didn't make too much sense. And it really didn't explain why she brought them together, at least not satisfactory( Lazarus and Piper ).Also, the author doesn't explain why the perp had the reaction the way he did with seeing the young victim in court ( and that at the house on the night of the attack he told her to run).Also left hanging is why the victim spent so much on the alarm system. And why the perp chose that house?I'm glad I read it, but a lot if things felt out of place or not settled.

With “The Silent Watcher” author Victor Methos has given us an absorbing murder mystery that fully lives up to its promotional materials. The characters are well-drawn and compelling. The Las Vegas setting focuses much more on the grittier aspects of the city than on its tourist-magnet glitz and glamour. The opening chapter is “heart-pounding.” The plot, which centers on the search for and trial of the killer, is well-paced and contains surprises. The prose and dialogue are simple, natural, and believable, making the novel a pleasure, and easy, to read. Mr. Methos’s research into the topics he chooses to write about (e.g., guardians ad litem, parental neglect/abuse, psychiatry/mental health, cannibalism, criminal law and procedure, etc.) is very good and adds much to the story’s credibility. Fans of John Grisham, Scott Turow, and also Michael Connelly should find much to enjoy here.