Book Review: Watchers by Dean Koontz

Many of Dean Koontz books are heavily weighted toward action and adventure, with at least a hint of science-fiction. While Watchers does have those elements, I felt this book is about characters. As a reader, I became much more engaged in the growth and development of the characters in this story than I was in other Koontz books.

Who were the characters in Watchers?

Travis Cornell is a former member of the Army’s Delta Force team. After retirement, he found his life had become a bit hum-drum. To get out of his rut, he decided he needed to change his perspective on life. He set out to explore nature with a walk through a near-by canyon. On his walk, he encountered people who put the excitement back into his life.

Nora Devon is a 30-year-old recluse who, since the was two years old, had lived with an aunt. Due to her aunt treating Nora badly, Nora had lost any sense of self-worth. She is barely able to go outside of her house. For years, she had longed to get out of the shadow of her aunt and live a normal life.

Einstein is a genetically altered golden retriever, created in a top-secret government lab, that has acquired a level of intelligence rivaling that of some human beings.

The Outsider is another genetically engineered life-form created by the same lab that created Einstein. Rather than a kind, lovable dog, The Outsider is a monster, in both appearance and behavior. The Outsider has two driving motives in his life – a hatred of humans and Einstein, the dog. It wants to kill them.

Vince Nasco is an assassin who believes that he absorbs the souls of those he kills, and that if he absorbs enough souls, he will eventually become invincible.

Arthur Streck is a predatory stalker who has become sexually attracted to Nora.

The story, Watchers, involves how Travis, Nora and Einstein find each other and are brought together in their drive to stand-up to, and to defeat the evil entities who are working to kill them -- Vince, Arthur and The Outsider. As mentioned above, the story is interesting because of how the characters grew and came to trust each other. There is a level of Koontzian action and suspense, but it was the characters that drew me into the story.

by W. Kercher