Reviews

Keeping Watch by Laurie R. King

jwoodsum's review against another edition

4.0

This book is a companion to Folly which I read about 8 years ago. This book is very different from any of King's other books. It is sort of a mystery, sort of suspense and sort of a meditation on the effect of war on young men. In this case, Allen Carmichael who served in Viet Nam. The scenes set in Viet Nam are incredibly vivid as are the scenes when Allen returns to the US with a serious case of PTSD. Once he is able to get his act together, Allen becomes a rescuer of abused children. I loved the book (although scenes of child abuse are hard to take).

jeaninesmith1962's review against another edition

5.0

Just when I think Laurie King can't do any better, she does! This book kept me guessing almost to the end, the way a good mystery should.

lunasea0526's review against another edition

5.0

Laurie King is on my list of favorite authors. I started with the spectacular The Beekeeper's Apprentice and proceeded to read everything I could get my hands on. When I read Folly, the book proceeding this one, I was a bit apprehensive at the beginning, as this seemed to be a very different kind of story from the Mary Russell/Sherlock tales that I had become accustomed to reading. I was right - it was different but no less compelling a read and that carries on to this book.

Keeping Watch is a gripping story that deals with some really difficult topics in a way that makes you feel as though you are part of the action without going so far as to make it impossible to sleep at night. The two main characters are completely damaged by their experiences but are also completely sympathetic, despite their actions. Child abuse, PTSD, the Vietnam War and the atrocities committed by both sides, homelessness and mental health are all woven into a story that grabs you from the beginning and just won't let you go. There's also a wonderful thread of doubt surrounding the characters that winds throughout the story. Until the end, you aren't sure about motivations or how things have really happened - did events occur the way they're presented or is it all a set up?

Highly recommended~

vireogirl's review against another edition

4.0

Very raw, with language. A creative angle on a grim subject, alternating between tense and heartbreaking. The Vietnam sections were graphic and disturbing, but necessary for the rest of the story.

dctigue's review against another edition

4.0

This was a hard book to start and I almost gave up on it. I am glad I did not. I actually enjoyed it. The Vietnam War part was hard to get through. I will have to read Folly now.

lian_tanner's review against another edition

5.0

Such a powerful and painful book. I love King's Mary Russell books, but I think these stand-alone novels are actually more powerful. Maybe she's freer because there's not the whole Sherlock Holmes history/character behind her, and she can do what she wants to. Whatever the reason, 'Keeping Watch' is chilling and tense, even when I've read it before. Now I think I'll have to reread 'Folly'.

heather_g's review against another edition

5.0

Fascinating! Loved this one!

sdc46250's review against another edition

5.0

Laurie King's writing is always tight and eloquent; this book does not disappoint! The twists and turns are beautifully done. Masterfully done. The Vietnam war plays a major role in this tale, through flashbacks. Although I've read many narratives of that period, this is one of the most vivid and compelling that I've ever experienced. The characters are well-developed, complex and quite believable and the plot is absolutely wonderful. Dialogue is true. Awesome book!

nocto's review against another edition

4.0

I bought this blindly because I love King's books and then discovered that the UK publishers weren't printing it here because the story has a lot to do with Vietnam and they thought that a UK audience wouldn't be interested. This kind of put me off reading it myself.

I'm very glad I have eventually got around to reading it because it's an excellent story about a man who is totally damaged by his experiences in Vietnam but most of the story is about his later life in which he rescues abused women and children and the plot zooms in on his very last rescue. I'm glad to say that even the parts of the book set in Vietnam are captivating. A great read.

nanettels's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed this one - lots of suspense, damaged characters and interesting twists.