This is the first book I've read by Victor Methos, but it certainly won't be my last. The Silent Watcher was a quick paced legal thriller that was easy to read and kept me reading to see what was going to happen next. Piper Danes is a guardian ad litem (GAL) and her newest client is Sophie Grace, a 15 year old who came home to find her mother and brother gruesomely murdered and escapes from the killer that was still in the house. The way they were murdered was very similar to a murder from years prior that the killer was never found in. Piper is selected by Judge Hope Dawson to work with Detective Lazarus Holloway on a hunt for the truth, leading to a serial killer known as “The Creeper.” Piper's job is to protect Sophie in the investigation and to make sure that Sophie's best interests are represented since Sophie has nobody else there for her. There were plenty of twists and turns that kept me hooked until the last twist at the end, especially with a bit of a cliffhanger that will certainly lead into the upcoming 2nd book in the series.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for allowing me to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion provided above!

The premise was promising. However, there were many plot holes. If it is a legal thriller, it definitely should have more legislation, and guardian ad litem (GAL) plots but the author has skimmed through it. So many missed opportunities to develop any character.

I enjoy Victor Methos’ books. His plots are well-developed and the characters are interesting and varied. All this can be said for The Silent Watcher. Mr Methos has penned a dark and creepy story about a mysterious killer with a peculiar fetish. The first part of the book consists of the hunt for the killer and also introduces the reader to the two main characters who are both flawed – a detective in the juvenile crimes division and an attorney who acts as guardian ad litem in the juvenile justice system.

There were portions of the book that seemed to have too much extraneous information that detailed even the smallest activity(she waited by the elevators. There was a line. She took the stairs… And so on). And, at the same time, some key elements were introduced but then never fully developed and/or pursued.

The later part of the book concentrates on a subsequent trial which Mr Methos is particularly adept at. Even though I really like courtroom scenes and dramas, I found the shift from the investigation to the courtroom to be a bit jarring. That portion of the book was somewhat lengthy and mired in more detail than necessary (i.e. the expert witness segment).

Overall, the writing was sometimes choppy and often too simplistic. I don’t recall this occurring in other books by this author. Nevertheless, The Silent Watcher was a good read even though it felt uneven. I would definitely recommend this author and continue to read his books. NetGalley provided an advance reader copy.

This was a really interesting thriller. It was very dark, starting off with a gruesome murder of three young teens in the woods by a potential cannibal. The police procedural followed a detective who is cynical and a Guardian Ad Litem who is anything but. I thought the pairing of those two was a nice juxtaposition. Piper Danes, the GAL is there to protect the only witness to another brutal murder by The Creeper.

This book was really dark, and I could see where Methos is setting this up as a series. I look forward to continuing to read this series.

I am trying to get into this story but it just isn't holding my attention right now. I made it 34%/Chapter 18 and I am going to set it to the side and perhaps revisit it in the future. It is not a DNF but a pause for now. There are other books I want to read rather than push through this one that I am not feeling.

The Silent Watcher by Victor Methos is a gripping and suspenseful thriller that follows a detective investigating a series of chilling murders. As the case unfolds, the detective must confront disturbing secrets while trying to catch a relentless killer. Methos’ writing is fast-paced and intense, with a tightly constructed plot and complex characters. The Silent Watcher is a compelling read for fans of crime thrillers and psychological suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Title: The Silent Watcher
By: Victor Methos
Pub. Date: December 1, 2024

Genre:
Fiction, Police Thriller, Dark, Cannibalism, Suspense, Mystery

Trigger Warnings:
Murder, Gun Violence, Breaking and Entering,
*This novel is dark and some of the scenes are disturbing and unsettling, hence my rating heavy for my preference.*

Summary/Review:
Piper Danes traumatic childhood is the reason she leaves her job at the prestigious law firm and becomes a guardian ad litem, viewing it as her way of giving back. However, her first case is with a fifteen year old girl, Sophie and the case turns out to be more dark and sinister than she ever imagined. Now she is trying to protect Sophie from “the creeper” and hopes they make it out alive.

This is my first novel by Victor Methos and he knows how to draw in a reader, build suspense, and masterfully weave his plot, to ensure the reader has a desire to continue the series. However, I did feel parts of the novel were lacking depth and maybe those are the parts that will be developed into the series. For that reason, and the overall darkness of the novel, I am knocking a couple stars. If you have read this author before and know his writing, you will likely enjoy this novel. For me, the thrill was a little too much.

I did listen to the narration of this book by Saskia Maarleveld. It was excellently done, with great intonation, and voices which were discernible by characters. She built the appropriate suspense and pulled me into the novel.

Thank you to Victor Methos, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#TheSilentWatcher
#VictorMethos
#BrillianceAudio
#reluctantreaderreads
#advancedreadercopies
#NetGalley

Piper Dane, a guardian ad litem, has been chosen by a distinguished Judge for a new assignment.
She’ll be teamed up with two detectives, Lazarus and Riley, in the juvenile crimes division. Though questioning why she’s joined their team, they soon realize she may be the perfect fit.

Their first case together involves fifteen year old Sophie who walked in on the murder of her mother and brother. She escaped by jumping out of her bedroom window or the killer would’ve made her his next victim.
As harrowing as that sounds, there is another eerily similar crime that occurred not so long ago that left three young adults murdered at a family cabin.
Lazarus has been haunted by the initial murder and feels that these separate killings are linked.

But can the team find the murderer before there are more victims?

A bit police procedural combined with intense courtroom action mixed in. (Best of both worlds) Short chapters and strong character development keep the storyline moving along at a quick pace.

This is book one of a new series and I’m looking forward to the next installment.

I truly enjoyed my time with this one! I loved the GAL premise- it was unique and made for a fresh perspective. The case was fast paced and the twists were shocking. I was fully immersed in this one and couldn’t put it down! I’m hopeful this is the beginning of a new series.

The Silent Watcher is my first book by Victor Methos, and it has certainly left me eager to dive into more of his work. From the very first page, I found myself thoroughly invested in the story. The book introduces a fascinating perspective within the justice system—through the eyes of a guardian ad litem, a role that was both unique and thought-provoking. It’s not often we see this particular player in legal thrillers, and Methos does an excellent job of exploring their crucial role in cases involving children.

The plot is filled with unexpected twists and wild aspects (cannibalism?! 😵‍💫) There were a few shockers that had me audibly gasp throughout. While there were a few instances of awkward dialogue, unnecessary details, and I’m still not entirely sure how to feel about Lazarus, the book as a whole was incredibly compelling.

Overall, The Silent Watcher is a gripping read that blends legal drama, suspense, and intricate character dynamics. I’m definitely a fan of Victor Methos now, and I’ll be impatiently awaiting the next book in the series.

A big thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy!

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)

Two weeks later, and my heart is still racing after The Silent Watcher. Victor Methos delivers a gripping legal thriller with a dark, gritty Las Vegas backdrop that pulls you in. The tension is palpable and propulsive, which kept me flipping the pages well into the late night. I loved the dynamic between the strong female lead and the morally grey detective—it felt real and complex. The plot is fast-paced and the ending is absolutely no holds barred—refreshing in its refusal to offer a complete neat, happy conclusion.

Can’t wait for book 2 in the series! Until then, I plan on reading some of Victor Methos’ backlist. I’ve gotten my sister and dad hooked on him as well.

Follows the search for a serial killer - the Creeper - while trying to save Sophie, the long survivor of a family murder. This was good for those who like true crime novels. I'm rating it higher because it was good for that, but I feel I just wasn't in the mood for this type of book when I read it.

If you are looking for a dark and twisty thriller, and are not faint of heart, then this one is for you! Piper is a guardian ad litem and is hired to protect a teen that walks into her home only to find her family murdered. As Piper looks out for Sophie, she uncovers a pattern of similar murders. The hunt for the killer is on and pipe must find the killer before she becomes a victim herself. Thanks to NetGalley for this thrill ride!

The Silent Watcher by Victor Methos
Vegas Shadows #1

Immersive, impactful, intriguing story that grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go ~ Can’t wait for book two!

What I liked:
* Piper Danes: lawyer, difficult backstory, Guardian ad Litem, raised by grandmother, puts her clients first, bright, caring, intriguing, someone I want to learn more about
* Sophie Grace: teenager, survivor of serial killer attack, lost her mother and brother to the killer, central to the story
* Lazarus Holloway: detective, protective, has his own moral compass, has interesting backstory, sleep issues including sleep paralysis,may have hidden depths that I look forward to hearing about
* Detective Riley: SWAT, Robbery detective, married with children, quiet, big, a man I’d like in my corner.
* Lake Danes: Piper’s grandmother, RN retired, arthritic, kind, caring, took on raising Piper
* Judge Hope Dawson: wealthy, beautiful, donated money for a trust to research the impact of a “team” stepping in to work together for/with child victims/survivors
* The police procedural aspects of the story
* The tight intricate plot, perfect pacing, setting in Las Vegas, descriptive and engaging writing
* The character development and how invested I became in the characters
* Getting in on book one of a new series by an author I admire
* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to
* The Creeper: the serial killer that was not only a creeper but also very creepy and scary
* The loss of so many innocent lives
* Thinking about the lawyer who was willing to defend a murderer just for the thrill of the game – almost fear she will show up in future books

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

The Silent Watcher by Victor Methos is mesmerizing. This book has the total package.

Will they find the culprit and justice for the innocent?

The Mystery
The story is like a train wreck—you can't look away. The troubled, fascinating, and realistic characters are genius. Setting the story in Las Vegas is also genius. I loved the mix of legal, procedural, mystery, and thrills. There is also a little medical element. I truly enjoyed getting to know each character and seeing how they reacted to the things thrown at them.

Piper Danes
As the guardian ad litem for children, Piper stands up for her wards. She tries hard to keep their best interests up front in the courtroom and in the real world. However, Piper also knows what these children whose parents are gone or absent are going through, as her mother's rights were taken away. Her grandmother raised her.

I like Piper. Her vulnerability is there, but her strength and fierceness are more prevalent.

Hope Dawson
Hope is a juvenile court judge. However, numerous rumors about the esteemed judge and her personal life are floating. I enjoyed getting to know her, but we haven't truly tapped into her character.

Lazarus Holloway
Lazarus is a detective with the LVPD who has recently been assigned to the newly established juvenile grant project, which Judge Dawson funds. Detective Holloway has quite a reputation. He ends up tracking down leads other detectives wouldn't have bothered with.

Five Stars
My rating for The Silent Watcher by Victor Methos is five stars. The story is wonderfully written, pulling some things from current events and adding the details that make it impossible to look away from. I was thoroughly entertained, and if you like thrillers, you will be too.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Silent Watcher by Victor Methos.

Until the next time,
~Jen

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

This was a cool start to a hot new series. I read Victor Methos's previous Shepard & Gray series earlier this year and enjoyed it quite a bit -- however, I wasn't aware it was set in Utah, as I've only seen Methos billed as a Vegas author. This one is is (hence the name of the series), and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Part crime story, part legal thriller, this had a decent amount of tension and a good amount of vibe. Both Piper's career and the Vegas setting was new to me. So many cities and professions have felt played to death, but this felt like an angle not yet explored. With Vegas being such a fast-growing economy, not to mention it's dark past, it's fun to finally see a crime series focus on it. The characters are good, but I think there's absolutely room to grow. I know there's a second book coming in 2025 and I'm interested to read that one too. It'll determine if this was a good one off, or the start of something special.

This medium-paced story kept me captivated from beginning to end. The author masterfully builds suspense that culminates in a dramatic conclusion, enriched by shocking scenes that intensify both the investigation and the trial.

This gritty thriller provides a compelling yet unsettling introduction to the series. The author’s experience as a lawyer adds an authentic touch to the courtroom scenes. While some moments can be quite disturbing, they are balanced by the thoughtful interactions between Piper and her grandmother, as well as the emotional exchanges with Sophie.

Although the book is a gripping page-turner, I did have some reservations about the ending, especially concerning a few unresolved plot threads. Overall, this thriller is intense, suspenseful, and tragic. I'm looking forward to the next installment. It’s definitely a must-read for fans of legal and crime thrillers with a dark twist.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars!! This story follows Piper, who previously was a lawyer and now works as a guardian ad litem. Her first role as a guardian is for Sophie, a 15-year old whose mother and younger brother were gruesomely killed and she is the only survivor. Piper’s job is to make sure that Sophie is protected and looked after.

Piper works closely with Lazarus, the detective on the case who works in Juvenile Crime. Lazarus originally worked in homicide and worked a case similar to this one, which made him more intrigued with this case. They work closely trying to find who did this to Sophie’s family and why.


This story touched on so much more than this case. We learned about each of the main characters and their backstory along with other characters that made it interesting. If you like fast-paced thrillers with short chapters, and some very descriptive horrific scenes, you will enjoy this book and I highly recommend it.

5⭐️'s for me on this one. It had the complete creep factor I look for in a book. It is hard to imagine something like what happened in this book but knowing that this has happened in real life and I have seen crime shows cover it made it more surreal to read about in fiction. I actually liked all the characters in this book, their stories were done well. The ending had a great twist, you could kind of guess it but such a great ending.

Piper Danes, a lawyer working as a Guardian Ad Litem, has always had a soft spot for kids in tough positions because of her own challenging childhood, but when she's introduced to a fifteen-year-old who is the sole survivor of her family's murder at the hands of a very creepy killer, she's launched into a dark world she never expected.

As a fan of the original CSI series, I was really, really excited to see Victor Methos set this story against the backdrop of seedy side of Las Vegas. As always, Methos really sets the scene, and you feel like you're seeing the city through the eyes of longtime residents as opposed to the touristy side you so often see in stories set there. I liked Piper Danes as a main characters and Judge Dawson and Lazarus both add unique perspectives as well. I loved the contrast between the way the police stations and courthouses and described as modern steel and glass monstrosities, the humble home Piper shares with her grandmother, Lazarus' pretty pathetic office, Judge Dawson's extravagant home..... it just really did a good job of showing all the different sides of such a unique city.

The case was also an interesting, though definitely an extremely slow burn which I didn't expect from a case involving these topics. I expected a little bit more of a deep dive into the lifestyle and the types of crimes people commit surrounding it before jumping to the prosecution of the case, but overall, I thought it was a really solid story. Just as I'd hoped, this one will be a huge hit with fans of the original CSI TV series.