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Albert Camus

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Unmasking a master predator - The Watcher by Eli Carros

"From the start of the book, the author grabs your attention and engages you with his excellent style of writing and suspenseful – well-written plot. The literary standard is in high quality, which happens to be very important, in writing a thriller. The paragraphs are well connected, and the chapters move along at a pace that keeps your mind thinking. " - Happy Booker, Goodreads

Description:

Published: June 2017

One man must stop a psychopath in his tracks…

Chief Inspector Jack Grayson is hunting a serial killer terrorizing London, a stalker who watches his prey carefully and displays the bodies of his young female victims brazenly. But Grayson has a problem – only one lead and scant evidence – and the body count is rising. 

He discovers that an unsolved 18-year-old murder case bears all the hallmarks of the current killings, but he still can’t seem to find a single, obvious suspect, and he is so far unable to outthink a master predator. 

Grayson must catch a hunter who knows how to outwit the police – a showman intent on completing his macabre collection. But he’s missing a vital clue, a critical piece of the puzzle. When he finally discovers the killer's identity, he's completely unprepared for the fallout…

GUEST POST
Unmasking a master predator

Secrets are something we’re all fascinated by but sometimes what is concealed can be deadly. That’s the premise of my just launched crime thriller The Watcher, the story of a master predator’s deadly sexual obsession which results in extreme, fatal violence.

It’s up to one man to stop the serial killer terrorizing London’s streets, a man who preys on his young female victims ruthlessly. But what to do when you’re hunting a man who leaves no trace, no evidence?

My lead protagonist, Detective Inspector Jack Grayson knows he must find out who’s responsible for the dead bodies that kept turning up, all artfully arranged, posed, as if the killer is taunting the police.

But when he delves deeper, opening up a 17 year old murder case with links to the current killings, he only becomes more confused, why is there not a single trace of the man he’s tracking?

Before writing The Watcher, I made a study of several serial killers and noted that a common thread running between many of the hardest to catch, was the innate ability to blend, to remain unseen. In some cases, such as the deviant psychopath Ted Bundy, this even involved assuming another identity. Bundy did this on December 30,1977 when he escaped out of a courthouse window in Aspen, Colorado, , throwing several police forces into panic and embarking on a bloody crime spree.

I drew heavily from this particular character trait, the ability to shed ones skin, when I came to make my own fictional portrayal of a psychopath. As I wrote The Watcher, I infused my antagonist with the characteristics that many of the world’s most prolific serial killers have embodied. But I also gave him his own unique personal story, background, and past skeletons, all of which the harried Jack Grayson and his talented partner, Detective Gita Naseem must uncover, if they hope to catch him.

The Watcher is clever, a predator who stalks his victims silently from the shadows but as with nearly everyone, though it might not be obvious at first, he does have a past. When Grayson discovers the secret that masks The Watcher’s identity, he’s knocked sideways, as it’s not something he had considered as a possibility at all.

Secrets and surprises are interwoven throughout The Watcher’s narrative, and are a central part of the novels plot. Major and minor discoveries are revealed as the story unwinds, with the final big secret, the most shocking surprise, coming right at the books climax. I’d be surprised myself if you see this one coming!

If you’re a fan of dark, psychological crime thrillers with lots of plot twists and surprises that keep you on your toes, then I wrote The Watcher for you, and I hope from the bottom of my heart that you enjoy reading it.

About the author:
Eli Carros is a crime fiction and thriller author from London, England. His debut novel, The Watcher, was inspired by the London landscape, and by what can happen when sexual obsession, abuse, and madness collide. Eli loves reading crime, fantasy, and mystery suspense, and is an ardent admirer of authors Steven King, Mark Billingham, Harlan Coben, and Patricia Cornwell. 
A trained journalist with experience as an assistant court reporter, Eli interned at The Daily Mirror and the BBC before he became a novelist. A strong supporter of causes that promote equality for all, in his spare time he loves sailing, camping, hiking, and sketching, and detests getting up in the morning without several cups of strong percolated coffee.
Readers who want to stay updated on the Watcher as well as new releases from Eli Carros can visit Eli’s author website at

Author's Giveaway

4 comments:

Stephanie LaPlante said...

This book sounds super awesome.

Linda Romer said...

The Watcher sounds like an exciting read. Thank you

CindyWindy2003 said...

The watcher sounds like an exciting scary thriller, go detective grayson! I like the name by the way.

Jan Lee said...

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