The Watcher
Charles McLean’s novel The Watcher is one of the best novels I’ve read in a long time, and is well worth a look if you’re in the mood for something weird, gruesome and compelling. It’s the story of an everyday schmoe who commits a random act of horrific violence with no apparant motivation and his subsequent attempts to understand why he did it.
What’s impressive about The Watcher is that it maintains a wholly amiguous stance throughout. While most writers would opt for a definitive conclusion, Maclean maintains several equally convincing realities at once. The book is, I believe, currently out of print, but can be picked up dirt cheap on Amazon.co.uk.
I definitely agree. I bought the book about 20 years ago and re-read it last week. It keeps your attention until the very end and longer.. because one tries to find out which version of the story might be true… I always thought this would make a great movie; pity no producer has discovered that, yet…
Comment by Gerd — September 7, 2007 @ 7:58 pm
I too read the watcher about twenty or so years ago, and I’m re-visiting it now. Definitely one of my landmark reads.
Try and grab The Silence, a very gripping and clever thriller, also by Charles MacLean.
Comment by canero — November 7, 2007 @ 3:15 pm