The Silent Watcher

The Silent Watcher is the first book in a new series set in Las Vegas. The story centres around Piper Danes, a lawyer who is hired as a guardian ad litem (GAL) whose job is to support and protect victims of crime as they go through the legal system. Piper is assigned to 15-year-old Sophie Grace who is the only survivor of a vicious attack in her home.

Piper joins forces with broody, rule breaker Detective Lazarus Holloway and powerful yet enigmatic Judge Hope Dawson for a winning combination that gives readers police procedural with a hearty dose of courtroom drama.

With multiple POVs and short chapters, the pacing is strong but I was surprised that the killer was caught so early in the book. It's at this point where the courtroom drama takes over and the tension is more from verbal jousting between lawyers (one of which was a hapless prosecutor) and this courtroom drama was the strength of the book.

Based on the gruesome turn the story takes I was expecting a dark and tense Jeffrey Deaver or Chris Carter kind of thriller. But squeamish readers don't have to worry since that aspect (surprisingly) isn't a big part of the main story. 

Overall, this was a good read and my main takeaway was learning about the guardian ad litem role in the legal system. Will I read more in the series? Possibly. The character trio have me interested in learning more about their backstories.  

Disclaimer: Sincere thanks to the Amazon First Reads program for the complimentary digital copy of this book which was given in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Author: Victor Methos

Genre: Suspense

Series: 1st in Vegas Shadows

Type and Source: ebook from Amazon First Reads program

Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

First Published: December 1, 2024

Read: Nov 9 - 11, 2024

Book Description from GoodReads: The bestselling author of A Killer’s Wife delivers a haunting legal thriller, plunging the reader headlong into the search for a deadly stalker—and a quest to bring a young victim peace.

Far from the neon glare of the Vegas strip, attorney Piper Danes walks away from a hotshot law firm to work as a guardian ad litem (GAL). Piper was once a vulnerable youth herself, and a GAL gave her hope when she needed it most. Now she’s committed to paying it forward.

Her first case is unlike any fifteen-year-old Sophie Grace is the sole survivor of a gruesome family murder. Teaming up with the formidable Judge Hope Dawson and enigmatic Detective Lazarus Holloway, Piper delves into a world more sinister than she could have imagined.

Their hunt for the truth leads to a serial killer known only as “The Creeper,” a predator who hides in the shadows. But as the team inches closer to unveiling the murderer, they find themselves in the crosshairs. Trapped in a web of lies, Piper will do anything to protect Sophie and stop the killer…before she becomes his next victim.