This is an atmospheric and chilling fantasy novel with gothic overtones. The location has a strong sense of place in Lausanne, Switzerland. With a character all of its own is the majestic Lausanne Cathedral, and it plays a major part in the story. We are set to enter a world in which the forces of evil are runnning amok in a battle that has its roots in the beginning of time. The young limping Marc Rochat is a bellringer and Le Guet, the watcher of the Cathedral. Jay Harper is an amnesiac detective from London who finds himself in Lausanne, working for the IOC, trying to locate evidence of a formula from Alexander Yuriev. Katherine is a beautiful American call girl who services the desires of rich and famous men. She is based in Lausanne to avoid the IRS.

The story takes a little time to get going, but the purpose for that is to lay the groundwork for the action that comes later and to give insight into the main characters including Lausanne Cathedral. It becomes clear that there are many layers to Marc and Harper and that the roles they occupy have a much higher purpose. Yuriev turns up murdered and horrifically tortured in a burnt car. Katherine gets more than she bargained for in her encounter with the evil Kormarovsky and the 200 club. She is offered sanctuary in the Cathedral by the courageous, engaging and enthralling Marc. Harper is made aware of the missing Book of Enoch and the dead black potion. Further horrendous and supernatural murders take place. Marc, Katherine and Harper become connected. All roads lead to the Cathedral. There is an almighty and thrilling conflagration for the very soul of mankind that takes place in the Cathedral. Will Harper, Marc and Katherine survive?

Elements of the story could be viewed as a biblical allegory. What I do know is that this is a cracking story that will hold the attention of the reader. A lot of meticulous research has gone in to the book. It is a well constructed and epic story with characters that you desperately come to care for, especially the wonder that is Marc. This is the first of a trilogy and I am planning to read the others. Brilliant read. Cannot recommend the book enough. Thanks to Penguin Blue Rider Press and Plume for an ARC.


fantasy horror-fiction mystery ...more76 s Myckyee43 5

I have a short list of books that I love and always keep a copy of. It includes The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, Drood and The Black Hills, both written by Dan Simmons, and The Lord of the Rings. These books are characterized by great story-telling abilities by the author. They are not the kind of books (that shall remain nameless, the worst written by an author also with the first name of Dan) that have a cliff hanger at the end of a two page chapter. They are the sort that weave a story so cleverly and rich with story that it takes the reader into another world that is not soon forgotten, long after the characters names can’t be recalled. The Watchers by Jon Steele is now on my list.

I loved this book from the first beautifully written and haunting chapter to the last heart-pounding one. Its exotic locale (Lausanne, Switzerland), its clever plot twists and turns and the revelation about two-thirds of the way in of what exactly is going on. Though it’s a relatively large book at more than 570 pages, I devoured it in just a few days.

I was besotted with Jay Harper, one of the main characters. I think it was his sense of humor (that gets me every time) and his sure-fire way of seeing through to the heart of any matter. His relentless pursuit of the bad guys didn’t hurt either. Another main character, Marc Rochat, tugged at my heart and I cheered for him the whole book through. This book isn’t for the faint-at-heart, however. There are a few scenes that are difficult to read so if you don’t to read anything violent, I suggest you skim those few short paragraphs and keep reading – it’s worth it!

It was a happy surprise to discover that The Watchers is just the first book in a new trilogy. It’s definitely a must-read for the literary thriller crowd and just about anyone who enjoys great writing and a fabulous story. 18 s drey833 62

A bell ringer, an amnesiac detective, and a high-priced call girl walk into a bar…

Oh, wait. That’s not how it goes; the bell ringer wouldn’t walk into a bar… Let’s start over, shall we?

The Watchers tells the story of fallen angels, both good and bad, fighting a war on earth. Or, in this case, in Lausanne, Switzerland. The bell ringer, Marc, has a limp and has flashbacks. The amnesiac detective’s gut tells him things are not as they appear to be, but he’s so busy getting hauled around that some days he can barely tell which way is up. And the call girl is beautiful, but not much more.

It took me a long time to finish reading The Watchers. Part of the problem was that I had other books I had to get in first due to commitments. And part of the problem was the sheer size of The Watchers, though I have inhaled G.R.R. Martin’s books nobody’s business. I guess the biggest problem was getting through the set up – I was 250 pages in before things started happening.

Once they did, though, boy did things start to fly.

I loved Marc’s character, the predictability of his actions, the good that resonated in him. I loved his talking to the bells, too, it gave them such personality (and these are bells, people!)… Jay Harper is a confused mess, which while most ly is intentional, confuses the reader as well. “Is he good? Is he nuts? Is he…? What is he, exactly?” all ran through my mind while reading Jay’s scenes. He’s this mouse in a maze trying to find the cheese, but the cheese is in a whole other box entirely. So how is it that he’s a detective?

And don’t get me started on Katherine. She’s gorgeous, and that’s it. She loves the life of ease and luxury she lives, not knowing she’s good and caught in someone else’s snare. Not exactly the kind of female character I enjoy reading, that’s for sure. If there’s anything redeeming about Katherine’s character, it’s that she appreciates Marc for his goodness – but it takes a lot for her to get there, that’s for sure.

All in all, The Watchers is a fabulous story that could easily have been told in about 2/3 the pages.

drey’s rating: Pick it up!2012-reads17 s Tarynwanderer74 29

These are the hardest for me to write (other than the where I absolutely loved a book and just want to gush about it without any critical thoughts): when a book's ideas were interesting, but the execution left something to be desired. This is the situation I find myself in with The Watchers, by Jon Steele. The idea of fallen angels roaming the Earth (who were the watchers the title alludes to) is a cool one, and a lot could have been done with the biblical Nephilim. However, The Watchers fell flat for me for several big reasons: the pacing, the characters, and the story-telling.

I'll start with the good. Many of the twists were unexpected, and there were several mysteries whose resolutions I wasn't able to guess. Once the plot kicks in, you will probably want to finish the story, even if just to figure out who Harper is, who the "bad shadows" are and what they're after, etc. Also, the scenes with Katherine after she is kidnapped are genuinely scary. The novel was unafraid of getting dark, that's for sure, which I appreciated. And I said, the biblical lore is interesting enough to stand on its own.

Now for the bad and the ugly:

The first 200 to 300 pages are excruciatingly slow, as we are introduced to our main characters of Harper, Katherine, and Marc through largely-unconnected vignettes. As the plot finally begins to unfold, the pace then switches back and forth between "frenetic" and "glacial." It was...disconcerting. Each time I began a new chapter, I would wonder if I could skim it or if this would suddenly be the paragraph where a twist or plot point was unveiled. I think if those first few hundred pages had been pared down, the actual plot would have been given some more urgency, as well as space to expand. As it stands, the pacing is just too disjointed to allow the thriller this book wants to be take hold.

As for the characters: Katherine was completely useless, there to be a pawn/damsel-in-distress/excuse to write in sex scenes/allegory for Mary Magdelene. She is meant to undergo a sort of transformation as the book proceeds, from a selfish, silly young woman to someone more thoughtful and mature. The problem was, I didn't really believe it, or her as a character. Whatever characterization she is given is about as deep as a puddle. Harper was...eh. Technically our hero, but surprisingly low on the heroics and instead more consistent on a) getting beaten within an inch of his life, b) lagging a step behind the major good/evil forces, and c) cursing at people who can help him/have more knowledge than he does. Amnesiac detectives can be written well, but I felt as little connection with him as I did with Katherine.

Read the rest of my review over at Bookwanderer!arc what-i-read-in-20129 s Marc BoldaAuthor 6 books8

In this age of instant gratification that drives the two page chapter and all the other "improvements" we have seen in the development of the novel over the past twenty years or so, it is refreshing to see that one author is not afraid of long, drawn out character building and the slow, yet tension filled ascent to what you know will be a stunning climax when you reach the top of the mountain--and it is! Richly atmospheric and suprisingly tender amid all the gathering gloom, this is a beautifully written book to savour and enjoy, especially when all of the action finally does get going. The portral of Marc Rochat and his adorable cat Monsieur Booty is in particular evocative and memorable (I cats).

This is the first book of a trilogy and it will be interesting to see if the second book picks up on the main characters introduced so far, or delves off into other directions. I for one want to know what finally becomes of Katherine, the high class call girl with a heart of gold, after all she has been put through by the story's end. I would highly recommend this to anyone who s a detective story or mystery with a flash of the supernatural added in for good measure...6 s Jeanne745 4

Went into this thinking, "Didn't Victor Hugo write some little thing this?" Shame on me for, one, never actually having read Hugo's tome and, two, almost passing up this book. Crippled (sorry, so not PC) bell-ringer, prostitute, guy that saves the day. Sure, been there, seen the Disney version and Mandy Patinkin, too. But not quite.

I dare you not to fall in love with Marc Rochat. Even Harper gets to you. Kat didn't do so much for me (one more "gosh aren't you cute?" and I was ready to poke her in the eye). Which is probably unfortunate, since I'm sure we'll be seeing her again. Maybe Mr. Steele will give us more to about her next time. She seems to be growing up a bit.

Marc's job is to call the hour from the bell tower of the Lausanne Cathedral. Why from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., I don't know. It's his duty. He's a little slow about some things (an "accident" at his birth, he explains), but he knows what he's about.

Harper, on the other hand, doesn't seem to have a clue. He doesn't even know who he is, but he's been set a task and he's trying awfully hard to solve a mystery when everything seems to be working against him, even the people who are supposed to be helping.

And then there's Katherine who's so self-absorbed she doesn't see the danger around her until she's in way over her head.

The book had me wondering what the heck was going to happen pretty much from the beginning. There are a few sections of exposition that made me think, "Wow, author did some research here," but I don't think it could be avoided. There's a LOT of information he has to get across and he uses Harper's general lack of knowledge to bring us up to speed . . . until he jumps into warp and drags the reader along for the trip.

Good read. Long book. Please, don't let your younger kids read this. Definitely not PG-13.sci-fi thriller5 s Lynda21

Every once in a while you pick up a book solely because you are intrigued by the cover, or the synopsis on the inner sleeve and you have no expectations other than to see if it is worth reading beyond the first chapter. And then, IT happens. You fall into a world so exquisitely imagined that it lingers in your mind long after you've closed the pages, trying to fall asleep while pondering how all of these intricately drawn story lines are going to weave themselves together. Characters are so vividly described and their internal landscapes so exposed to the reader that you cannot help but understand them, even if you don't necessarily them. And in this book, add the steady beat of a mystery that increases its rhythm with each turn of the page some distant marching band pulsing its way right onto your front step. That is what this book was for me--an unexpected pleasure, a rewarding read, an introduction into a series that now has me completely within its grasp. From the first few moments you are introduced to Marc Rochat you will fall in love with him--beforetimes, nowtimes and forever times. Jon Steele has created a masterful story that does not let you go--gratefully I was able to pick up Angel City within a few days of finishing The Watchers and found that book picked up the thread of this one flawlessly.
For those who found fault with the use of French, I can only say that I don't know more than 15 words of the language and it was not an impediment to my enjoyment of the story, at all. I loved the sound of the words as they rolled through my mind, and found that it enhanced the feeling of being told a story as opposed to reading one. Highly recommend this book--and Angel City--and can not wait until the next book in the Angelus series is released in 2014!5 s Cora Tea Party Princess1,323 857

I'm gonna have to DNF, I just can't get into this as much as I would have d. I've been reading it since the beginning of January and getting nowhere.

But I also really badly want to know what happens. It piqued my interest enough for me to want to keep reading but the pace just meant that I couldn't. It was too slow for me and a little too heavy-going.

I WILL give this another go in the future. And I'll probably finish it too.5 s Amy Rosenkoetter199 10

** spoiler alert ** Hard to follow from the beginning, but eventually I was able to make sense of the convoluted interconnectedness of character and plot.

One thing I don't care for generally is twisted theology, even in a fictional world. There's so much hopelessness. This didn't quite go that far, but it was definitely dark and even morbid to some degree.

The three main characters were written very sympathetically, for the most part, and I enjoyed engaging with each of them.

I didn't care for the horrific treatment of the female protagonist in the middle of the book because I'm not a fan of graphic sex or violence. I think the end result could have been achieved without that, but it certainly cemented my understanding of the evil involved.

In any event, once I figured out the connections, I found the story to be well written and the characters very well developed. A good read, and nicely self-contained,even if I didn't realize it was a trilogy until today. 2019 angels-demons apocalyptic ...more4 s Mariann701 119

Otsustasin, et Jon Steele'i "Vahimehed" aitab mind väljakutse punktiga: raamat, mille kaas on sinu lemmikvärvi. Mul ei ole kindlat lemmikut, aga selline tume sinakas-roheline on ilus ning see pilt läheb pealegi veel sisuga suurepäraselt kokku. Ootasin kirjelduse põhjal pigem rohkem müstikat, aga sain lisaks veel kamaluga ulmet.

Marc Rochat on Lausanne'i katedraali kentsakas lonkurist kellamees. Katherine Taylor on ilus ameeriklanna, kes töötab Šveitsis kõrgklassi prostituudina. Jay Michael Harper on mälukaotusega Londoni eradetektiiv, kes ärkab ühel hommikul Lausanne'is ning hakkab olümpiakomitee palvel taga ajama kummalise dopingumikstuuri jälgi, tegutsedes põhiliselt kõhutunde järgi. Kolm väga erinevat inimest on tihedalt seotud, nii omavahel kui ka iidse saladusega. Politsei leiab järjest jälke laipu ning sündmused võtavad üleloomuliku pöörde, sest võitlus, millesse tegelased kistakse on kestnud aegade algusest saadik. Kõik niidiotsad juhatavad katedraali poole.
Romaani sisu on väga raske edasi anda, sest see oli keeruline ning vajas täit keskendumist, et kõiki pöördeid mõista. Lugesin raamatut ka koolis vahetundide ajal ning ikka keegi küsis, millega tegu ja pidin iga kord vastama, et ei saa veel täpselt ise ka aru. Kogu aeg toimus midagi, aga seletamisest, millega täpselt tegu jäi vajaka. Võib-olla aitaks siinkohal parem piibli tundmine. Siiski hoidis teadmatus mind lugemas, tahtsin teada, mis ikkagi toimub ja alles kuskil kahe kolmandiku peal hakkaski koitma, kuhu lugu tüürib ning siis oli juba eriti raske raamatut käest panna. Tegevus läks lausa nii põnevaks, et ei suutnud loengut kuulata, vaid raamat pidi laua all lahti olema.

Mu suur lemmik oli Marc oma teistsuguse maailmapildiga. Ta kohtles kõigi hästi, rändas vahel mõtetes minevikku ning rääkis oma hoolealuste kelladega, nagu need oleks inimesed. Tema otsatu headus pani kogu romaani särama ning teistest ulmeteoste seast välja paistma. Selliseid tegelasi ning üldse inimesi võiks maailmas rohkem olla. Teised karakterid mulle nii väga ei meeldinud. Veel võlus mind sündmustiku toimumispaik Lausanne Šveitsis, kuhu mul muidugi tekkis vastupandamatu kihk kohe reisida. Hetkel pidin muidugi piirduma vaid googles piltide imetlemisega.
Lõpp oli romaanil terviklik, kuid goodreadsis hinnangut andes avastasin, et see on vaid esimene osa triloogiast. Eks tulevik näitab, kas loen, mis armsaks saanud tegelastest edasi saab.

Igaühele "Vahimehed" kindlasti ei meeldi, kuna alguses on raske aru saada, mis toimub. Lisaks on võikaid kirjeldusi laipadest ning rõvedaid vägivaldseid stseene. Soovitan ulmesõpradele, kes peale esimest 100 lehekülge vastamata küsimusi raamatut pooleli jätta ei taha. Kuigi ta on segane, siis lugu on tegelikult huvitav ning lõpetamist väärt. Viimasel ajal pole ükski raamat mind oma süžeepööretega nii üllatanud, kui "Vahimehed"2016-lugemise-väljakutse armastan-kaanepilti fantaasia-paranormaalne ...more4 s Nicky4,138 1,064

Finally got round to finishing this. I received permission to read it free from NetGalley, just so you know.

I got quite mesmerised by it to begin with: there's something about the slow deliberate pace at the beginning of the book that can draw you in. The mystery is slow to get kick-started, though, and I almost didn't have the patience to wait around for things to happen. The pacing is really just... not quite right.

The choice of protagonists is interesting: it's good to see a protagonist with disabilities, for example. But somehow the characters didn't stand out to me as much as I could wish. I hear this book is the first of a series, but I don't think the sequels are for me. There's some good writing, but the book as a whole got in the way of itself for me. (It doesn't help that I had to read it with tiny, tiny font thanks to the only format NetGalley would let me download it in.)mystery netgalley4 s Esther629 111

Got a copy of this book via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, so at first; This book could have been 50% shorter. The first 70% of the book nothing really is happening. You get to know the characters and the story develops a little bit, but to my taste this part could have been much shorter. I've thought about not finishing the book a coulpe of times..

I'm glad that I kept reading! The last 30% of the book is action paced and actually grips you, I've read that part within a day.

Marc Rochat is above all my favorite character. Maybe one of my favorite characters of all time. He is so kind and able and the parts where he talks to Miss Taylor are lovely to read!!

Another good part about the book is the way it's written. It's describing the whole scene in a beautiful way, the writing style makes me think of poems.

The ending left me kinda sad, but also a bit curious about the next part...netgalley3 s Paul723 67

Beneath Lausanne cathedral, in Switzerland, there is a secret buried before time began. Something unknown to angels and men. Until now…

Marc Rochat watches over the city at night from the belfry of the cathedral. He lives in a world of shadows and beforetimes and imaginary begins.

Katherine Taylor, call girl and dreamer, is about to discover that her real-life fairy tale is too good to be true.

Jay Harper, private detective, wakes in a crummy hotel room with no memory. When the telephone rings and he’s offered a job, he knows there is no choice but to accept.

Three lives, one purpose. Save what’s left of paradise before all hell breaks loose…

The Watchers is the debut novel by Jon Steele. It explores the nature of good and evil, and how these forces affect everyone. Three residents of the historic town of Lausanne are caught up in a mystery surrounding the whereabouts of an Olympic official. As with all the best thrillers, there is more to this than initially meets the eye.

Mark Rochat, Katherine Taylor and Jay Harper make for a genuinely intriguing group of characters. Steele takes great pains to flesh them out and make them all feel as real as possible.

Katherine is a strong, independent woman who believes she is living the good life in Switzerland. She makes her living as a high-class call girl with an exclusive escort agency. During one of her ‘appointments’ she is involved in a situation that can best be described as both horrific and life-changing.

Jay Harper starts off as a bit of an enigma. He is suffering from amnesia and remembers nothing of his life before arriving in town. He is a bit bolshie and has a mouth that is way too smart for it’s own good. I warmed to him immediately as his character injects some darkly humorous moments throughout. I also particularly enjoyed the treat of an unhurried reveal of his origins as the novel continued.

I am sure however that it will be the third member of the trio, Mark Rochat, that is destined to be a fan favourite. He has a unique world view that is based on a lifetime of looking after the bells in the towers of Lausanne Cathedral. a modern day Quasimodo, he watches the streets from high above. He has a quirky, child innocence that shines through and makes him incredibly able. He is loyal, and his dedication to uncovering the nature of the ‘mysterious mysteries’ make him a real hero.

The vivid descriptions of Lausanne give this novel a truly evocative setting. Stieg Larrson and John Ajvide Lindqvist are well known for bringing the Swedish countryside to life in their novels. I think that Jon Steele has the same keen eye for detail when it comes to Switzerland. While reading it was very easy to imagine the locations Steele describes, he obviously knows the town extremely well, and this knowledge leaps from the page. I remember after I first read The Age of Misrule by Mark Chadbourn I was so taken with the writing it prompted me to follow the character’s footsteps and journey to St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall. Reading The Watchers has made me feel the same, it will only matter of time before I make a similar journey to Lausanne.

In some respects, The Watchers is a quite difficult novel to classify. It is all expertly done but there is a lot going on here – one part thriller, one part murder mystery with additional supernatural components thrown in for good measure. I was impressed by the way all these disparate elements were brought together seamlessly. There are some great unexpected twists and turns that will keep any reader on their toes.

I was drawn in by the strong characterization and the utterly engrossing story. I think it is fair to say that things do start at quite a slow pace but personally I enjoyed this gradual ramping up of the tension. Conversely, the final hundred pages rattle by at a cracking pace. The novel’s finale features a dramatic battle and a quizzical epilogue which hints that there is more to come. I for one, welcome it.

The Watchers is published on the 9th June by Bantam Press.3 s Stephanie1,824 79

I found this novel in my local supermarket, while bored to death. The tiny blurb on the back intrigued me, but I almost put it back three times... I am SO glad I didn't, and took it home! What an atmospheric work of art, for a novel. Jon Steele is my new favorite author.


In a market flooded with novels dealing with supernatural themes, “The Watchers” stands out for strength of its characters, the originality of the plot and Jon Steele’s remarkable ability to make magic visible in the familiar.


In this age of instant gratification that drives the two page chapter, it is refreshing to see that one author is not afraid of long, drawn out character building and the slow, tension filled ascent to what you know will be a stunning end of the novel. Richly atmospheric and surprisingly tender amid all the gathering gloom, this is a beautifully written book to savior and enjoy, especially when all of the action finally does get going. I have NO problem with waiting for 100 pages for the characters to develop, figure out what the HECK is going on in this novel, or find out what happens next. And quite frankly, I don't understand why others do. If you want instant gratification, go read some short stories!! (And quite frankly, 500+ pages gets me hot. More? I'm there!! I had no problem being hooked from the second chapter.)

Steele created three solid characters in Jay Harper, Marc Rochat and Katherine Taylor. You will find yourself cheering for Marc (who reminded me of Quasimodo), as le guet of the Lausanne Cathedral as he helps Taylor find redemption. Steele keeps you wondering about Harper until far into the story. Each of them is imperfect. Each of them sees a different Lausanne. Each of them has a distinctive voice. Together they light up this book. The portrayal of Marc Rochat and his adorable cat Monsieur Booty is in particular evocative and memorable. I was never quite sure if that cat understood what was being said or not... and that's ok, too.

The plot and the world that it imagines, puts a twist on ancient legends that is original, plausible and intriguing. Jon Steele is brave enough to slow the pace of the storytelling so that comprehension dawns slowly but is all the more deeply felt for that. Be ready for twists and turns, as Steele weaves a masterful story around you. There are four parts to the story, and people have to actually follow the threads of the story. I was never sure where this ride was going, and I enjoyed every minute of this feeling.

Angels in a mystery novel is new to me, but they fit perfectly. But don't expect wings or halos. Do expect a murder mystery, a supernatural thriller, and beautiful writing.

In a story of good versus evil Jon Steele takes the time to show how blurred the boundaries are between the two, nor does he shy away from depicting the cruel violence that evil produces. He doesn't glorify it but he doesn't look away either. He uses it to cast the shadows that emphasizes the light. (Some sexual situations, if you don't that, don't read this novel. They are integral to the plot.)

This is Jon’s Steele’s first novel. As Marc Rochat might say, I am very sure it should not be his last. This novel was difficult to put down, and rejoin everyday life. I can barely wait until the 2nd part of the series is out, in June. And I am telling everyone I know that they HAVE to read this book. I loved that I had to constantly guess where the book was going, and that rarely happens, anymore... not after reading SO many books in my lifetime. :D
2013 2018 all-time-favorites ...more3 s RobertAuthor 3 books26

I was fortunate to receive this as an ARC from NetGalley. The premise looked right up my alley and I had some high hopes for this book. Unfortunately, they were NOT met. I found the story to be a combination of The DaVinci Code (which I enjoyed) and a book about Angels which I have not had much experience with. Katherine, the main female was a horribly written, depth of a Frisbee character and I had no affection for her at all. She was apparently sold into sex slavery and usually that would get to me on some level but she was such a bitch I frankly could have cared less. I felt this was a weird retelling of The Hunchback of Notre Dame because of the bellfrey in the tower. The setting was great because it was France and Europe so the descriptions were nice but that was about it.

The length of this story was such that I got through 75% of it (and I had to force myself to get that far honestly)before I had to give up. I do not giving up on books but this one was an exception to the rule. I was not impressed by the writing style or the fact that it was so long. The author could have made his point in FAR less pages than he did and I felt that the whole thing started to run in more circles than someone doing donuts in a parking lot.

To make a long story very short as I do not want to keep repeating myself. I was not happy with this book and I did not the style or the way the story panned out. Not one of the best ones from this year that I have read. To the author, this is my personal opinion but I wanted to be honest. To NetGalley, thank you again for allowing me to preview this work and give my honest opinion.3 s Michelle Morrell1,057 101 Read

I couldn't get into this novel. Which was unfortunate, as I usually stories that involve angels and hints of the supernatural dwelling under the mundanity of the "real world." The premise was interesting, and the characters were nuanced, but there were two specific reasons I couldn't finish this novel, and both were in the writing style.

First, the author left off the subjects of most of the action sentences. For example, instead of writing, "He went down the steps," he would write, "Went down the steps." Which is fine, when a sentence happens in a fast-moving paragraph, but this was his rule and not his exception. This jolted me out of the immersion every time. "Went down the steps. Saw the girl. Wearing a red dress this time. Looked hot."

The second reason was he peppered French sentences in there a lot. Now, I've taken French, and as an English speaker, I can puzzle the sentence out, usually. But it happened so frequently I, again, would be taken out of the flow of the story. Coupled with the choppy sentence structure, I found it to be excruciating even reading through the 50-some-odd pages I managed.

Too many books, too little time. And that's why I didn't finish this book.unfinished3 s Debbie1,751 101

Recommended to me by John at Murder By The Book. I'm not really into books dealing with religion but this book didn't bring that out until I was already captivated by the characters. It was a little slow at first, but the further I read the faster it went. Very good book that I truly recommend.signed-by-author3 s Cathy Cole2,099 60

First Line: At first sight, fifty yards off, he couldn't tell who it was walking through the rain, only that the slow-moving form emerging from the shattered village of Neuville-Vitasse was a British soldier.

Just before Christmas in the town of Lausanne, Switzerland, three people will meet in the ancient cathedral beneath which a secret was buried before time began.

Marc Rochat is the young man who calls the hour from the belfry of Lausanne Cathedral each night. He will tell you that he's "strong from the legs up"-- if he's not talking with the cathedral bells, responding to the mews of Monsieur Booty, his cat, or running away from the bad shadows that are gathering.

The young American, Katherine Taylor, is living the tax-free, designer label dream in Switzerland. An extremely beautiful (and extremely high-priced) prostitute, she's just about to find out that her life is indeed too good to be true.

The third person is private investigator Jay Harper, who wakes up in a hotel room with no memory, a love of watching the History Channel, and a job in Lausanne that he has no choice but to accept.

Three very different people who eventually learn that they have one objective: save what little is left of paradise before all hell breaks loose.

If you're in the mood for something in the wham, bam, thank you ma'am genre, do not pick up this book. You won't it. However, if you're in the mood for an atmospheric work of art in which each of the hundreds of layers is painstakingly applied until you find yourself lost in the canvas and the close intimate friend of its inhabitants Marc, Katherine and Jay... well, you've picked up the right book.

Steele sets his stage meticulously, so there's not much action until the 250 page mark, but I didn't care because he was bringing the town of Lausanne, its citizens, the cathedral, and those three main characters to living, breathing life. As Harper himself says, "Bloody hell, just keeps getting better."

Steele acknowledges in his book that he wrote the first draft of The Watchers in the belfry loge of Lausanne Cathedral. His writing shows a deep love and appreciation of the ancient timbers and bells. I didn't find it odd that the character of Marc listened and spoke to them. Things that old are going to have stories to tell, and someone needs to listen.

All three characters are beautifully realized, and it's difficult for me to choose a favorite between them. The book has a strong foundation consisting of historic fact, an ancient Jewish text, and the literary classic The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The only thing that didn't win me over completely was the ending. I was ready for something that would knock my socks off, and it fell a bit short-- probably so there would be enough pieces left for the sequels that are to follow!

If you want to pick up a book and lose all track of time, The Watchers is for you.2 s Carrie Mansfield 392 18

This is probably the book I've enjoyed the most this year, second only to Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore.

And why?

Characters, characters, characters.

This book proves that it does not matter if your characters are tropes: if you make us love the people whose story you are telling, the audience will follow gladly follow anywhere you lead.

There are three main characters here: Marc Rochat, a simple, kind hearted man with a limp. He is, in essence, a modern day Quasimodo and has a vibe that I think is what the animators in Disney's version of the Hunchback of Notre Dame could have done with him. Quasimodo, he speaks to the bells and the inanimate objects of the cathedral. Un Quasi, we know that they are one-way conversations and we only hear him report back what he thinks he heard.Even though he is slow, he has a tremendous imagination and a flourish for art. He is the kind soul that we are lucky to ever meet in our lives if we are even lucky enough to realize we have met such a person. The author's trick here is that he never gets coy or cloying. He somehow walks that thin line oh-so-well.

Next up is Katherine Taylor. She's a early 20-something California girl, who turned a Playmate spread into a gig as a super-high end call girl. She meets Rochat when things go awry. She is not a hooker with a heart of gold and she will be the first to admit it. But as the story goes on she goes from wanting to just bolt, to considering robbing him of all his cash, and then not wanting to leave him. She realizes that he is someone special, and yet she never loses the core of herself. She just begins to mature.

And finally we have the English "detectiveman" as Rochat s to call him. so many others, he awakens with no sense of who he is and a part of the story is him discovering that. He is as able as the others. You can see that there isn't anything truly original here, but it doesn't really matter, it just works.

There is a hint of the supernatural added in the last 1/3 of the book but when it is introduced, it doesn't feel it was shoe-horned in because you realize that the author has laid the framework for it quite well throughout the title. And when it does happen it's fun to guess who one particular character will end up being.

All in all this was a very enjoyable book and I definitely recommend you check it out.mystery2 s Libby290 47

A brain damaged boy, an expensive call girl and an amnesiac security expert cross paths in Lausanne Cathedral. Their story winds the Book of Enoch, the Olympic Games, The History Channel, stained glass and cathedral bells onto an amazing spindle of a narrative. Marc is crippled, with a twisted foot and leg. He is gifted with an awesome imagination, but has poor math and reading skills. He is La Guet, the watchman, of Lausanne Cathedral. Harper is a security expert for the IOC, but he has no memory of his life before traveling to Lausanne. Kay is beautiful and hedonistic, living on the magnetic effect of her looks and sexual attraction. Totally una, they are drawn together, but none of them know why. They find they are pitted against utterly ruthless and wicked enemies with little idea of how to resist, much less defeat their opponents. The answers seem to reside deep in history and religion, perhaps embodied in the Cathedral; perhaps in the "imaginations" living in Marc's head, perhaps involving Kay's wealthy and pampered clients. The author spins his atmospheric tale in the fog and wind from Lac Leman and the warm glow of the sun through medieval glass. His characters are beautifully drawn, especially the unique Marc.
History lovers, fans of suspense and lovers of beautiful prose will all enjoy this stirring tale. I, for one, will never forget it.cities favorites2 s EstherAuthor 3 books43

Many years ago, I’ve seen Jon Steele during a conference in Lausanne and really d his attitude. Since then, War Junkie is on my to-read list, but I haven’t yet gotten around to reading it.
Later, I stumbled a bit by chance on this trilogy and, believing it would be more my husband’s taste than mine, offered it to him for Christmas one year. He loved it so much that it ended up on my to-read list eventually, though I was not convinced it would be the kind of story I would enjoy.

But then it convinced me practically from the first chapter!
Living in Lausanne, it certainly felt funny to find your city in a book and recognize all the places.
But that alone cannot explain why I got drawn into these pages immediately and dreamt of Marc Rochat and the angel and the detectiveman and everything that happens to them for all the nights during the week it took me to read the story.

A great imagination, an enthralling story and storytelling, surprising plots and developments, a bit of love and a bit more action, some fantasy and some conspiracy: Jon Steele found the perfect formula for a great read.
Very much enjoyed it and cannot wait to read the 2nd and 3rd book of this trilogy !
ch-literatur2 s Jaime614 8

Marc is the keeper of the Belfry in a Cathedral. Katherine is a hooker with a heart of gold. And Jay is a detective with a touch of amnesia trying to solve mystery within a mystery. All in the quaint town of Lausanne, Switzerland.

This book has a very slow start. The initial “case” that brings our characters together is completely irrelevant and we spend wasted time invested in that mystery. Also the character’s were a little bit to derived from the Hunch Back of Notre Dame. It was jokingly pointed out the Marc was Quasimodo in the book. But it was clear that Katherine was Esmerelda, Jay was Phoebus, and there was even a Claude/Pierrat Torterue character.

Why the book was so long is beyond be. The story is separated into four books, but really should have been split into three. It’s 592 pages could easily be cut down to 300, making it a much more enjoyable and faster read. After I trudged through book one I did begin to get into the story. If you have the patience to get through the beginning of The Watchers, and you are a big fan of books Angelology and The DaVinci Code than you will this.2 s Romance Readers Retreat2,346 220

As soon as I read the blurb for The Watchers by Jon Steele I was intrigued to read more, it sounded right up my street, suspense, murder, mystery, nephlims and fallen angels.

The Watchers is set in Lausanne Switzerland, after reading this book Switzerland is on my places to visit!!!

Marc Rochat a bell ringer who watches over the city at night from the cathedral was my favourite character out of all the three main characters, I was instantly drawn to his character.

Katherine is a high class and also high paid American call girl.

Jay is a British private detective who has suffered from memory loss and can't remember how he came to have this job, but all three have one job and that is to protect the fallen angels of Lausanne, there will be fights and death beween good and evil.

I did enjoy this book but the downside was the sheer length of the book and how slow building it was until we get to the exciting and interesting parts but this could also be seen as a good point to someone who enjoys a slow building book.

The good parts are interesting plot, good characters and good writing by the author, I will be reading book two to find out what happens next.2 s Albert107 15

Slow moving for 2/3 of the book but beautifully written with great characters and a fascinating setting and story. Great job for an author's first work of fiction, and I hope the next two in the trilogy are as moving and interesting. I found that the author has a very nice writing style, easy to visualize what the author was describing and at times I felt I was actually there.
favorites thriller1 Albert1,435 35

A detective will little to no memory. A overpriced call girl jaded to the world around her. A modern day Quasimodo. Angels and fallen angels and the war for the world for all time. A strong first novel.2 s Enrique Alvarez16 6

I couldn't get into the book at first. Picked up another one to read after two pages reading the new book I put it down and pick up The Watchers and couldn't put down. It was a movie in my mines eye. Absolutely fabulous reading.1 Triinu1,224 49

Tutvustuse leiab blogist https://triinuraamatud.wordpress.com/...2017-loetud1 Ricki Treleaven479 11

This week I read The Watchers by Jon Steele: a very unique suspense thriller. The antagonists are fallen angels and Nephilim, while the main protagonist is the Archangel Michael. Un Cassandra Clare's Nephilim in the Mortal Instruments series, these Nephilim are not heroes protecting humanity from demons; these Nephilim are soul-eaters. The Nephilim are mentioned in the Book of Enoch, a book believed to be only a myth until the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947. It is quoted along with the Bible in this novel. Only a couple of Christian sects recognize this apocryphal book as sacred although Enoch is mentioned in the Bible several times.

Lausanne, Switzerland is the setting for The Watchers. Three people have been drawn to Lausanne...three people with nothing in common, yet they share the same destiny. First, there is an English private detective named Jay Harper. Jay wakes up one morning with absolutely no memory. A telephone call offering him a job in Lausanne is an offer Jay can't refuse because he has nothing else to do with his time, or at least he can't remember any plans he made previously. Katherine Taylor is a former Playboy College Edition playmate from UCLA and high class call girl. An exclusive club of the world's elite called the 200 Club recruits Katherine to work in Lausanne. A young man named Marc Rochat is sent to Lausanne from Canada when he is ten after his mother's death. He becomes le guet of the Lausanne Cathedral. Le guet is the nightwatchman who calls the hour from 10:00 PM until 2:00 AM each night. It is a custom that is centuries old. Marc is a sweet, perceptive man with cerebral palsy and a slight gait. He is plagued with visions from "beforetimes" or things that happened in the past, and visions of the future. According to the good angels, our world was intended to be a paradise, but the bad shadows (as Marc calls them) are intent on completely destroying it. These three characters' lives intersect at the cathedral, and the fate of the world is in their hands, for they discover an ancient secret hiding below the cathedral: a secret forgotten by angels that could provide insight into creation.

There is violence, adult language, and very scary scenes in this book. Steele is a fantastic writer, and I can tell he is a journalist because he does not waste words in spite of the more than 500 pages in this book. I enjoyed reading about the cathedral, and I would to visit Lausanne one day just to visit it. I would even enjoy staying up late to hear le guet call the midnight hour:

"C'est le guet; il a sonné l'heure!"
"This is the nightwatchman. The hour has struck!"
1 Viviane Crystal851 28

Marc Rochat is a disabled young man who takes care of the bells in Lausanne Cathedral. His mother who died long ago, told him he would save an angel of God. His only conversations are with the bells, the statues, and the dead in the Cathedral's crypt. Yes, he is a strange man with some obvious simple and harmless idiosyncrasies, hardly one who could save anyone. Yet there is something endearing about this pathetic, innocent creature who is dedicated to his job or mission as he sees it. Then his dreams and conversations begin to change as he becomes more of an observer of what is happening outside the Cathedral!

He sees two other characters in the story, Katherine Taylor and a man who looks a spy. Katherine is oblivious to all, reveling in the life of a high paid "companion" and never realizing she is a slave subject to the whims of others. Her life will turn into a dramatic, spine-tingling horror, leaving her in an inhuman state one could never imagine.

Jay Harper is an International Olympic Committee employee, a simple man who loves the History Channel on TV but who also has uncanny private investigator skills that can be used by his employers. It seems that there is a secondary plot about a murdered Russian gentleman who was trying to contact Jay Harper to give him something of tremendous importance, which never happens.

All of a sudden the plot turns horrifically violent. Several characters die at the hands of an obviously sick, twisted killer. Up to here, everything makes sense and holds the reader. But then the hints connect to quotes from the banned Biblical Book of Enoch, references to the ancient Nephilim (giants briefly mentioned in the Genesis and Book of Enoch), and everything seems to flip into a speedy end where some will die, some will be left still unknowing, and one will have to be placed in protective custody.

The plot in The Watchers is credible to a point. The even pace of the first half of the novel turns frenetic in the second, with enough repetition to sink a ship and random thoughts as well as clues interspersed. It gets downright choppy. This story is good but loses steam because of the above problems, leaving the reader thrilled yet annoyed at the irrelevant twists and turns and lack of transition and smooth connection into this religious and/or evil development. Fascinating in some respects, not so in far too many other parts that need editing.1 Dee162

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