The Watchers

In a market flooded with novels dealing with supernatural themes, “The Watchers” stands out for strength of its characters, the originality of the plot and Jon Steele’s remarkable ability to make magic visible in the familiar.

“The Watchers” is set in the part of Switzerland that I know very well. The locations Jon Steele describes: the ancient wooden steps of the Escaliers du Marché, the Lausanne Palace Hotel, the building that Marc Rochat lives in in Ouchy, the orange warning lights on Lac Leman and of course Lausanne Cathedral, are all places that I recognise. Jon Steele not only brings them to life, he evokes their inner magic, lighting them up in my imagination so that I see them afresh and know them for the first show more time.

The three main characters in this book strongly engaged my emotions: the American who sells her beauty for the use of rich men, who loves to watch herself in the mirror but cannot push aside the glamour she casts to see what she has become; the Brit detective who cannot sleep but is not yet truly awake; the Québécoise cripple with with a damaged mind, brilliant imagination and the heart of a lion. Each of them is imperfect. Each of them sees a different Lausanne. Each of them has a distinctive voice. Together they light up this book.

The plot and the world that it imagines, puts a twist on ancient legends that is original, plausible and intriguing. Jon Steele is brave enough to slow the pace of the storytelling so that comprehension dawns slowly but is all the more deeply felt for that.

In a story of good versus evil Jon Steele takes the time to show how blurred the boundaries are between the two, nor does he shy away from depicting the cruel violence that evil produces. He doesn’t glorify it but he doesn’t look away either. He uses it to cast the shadows that emphasises the light.

This is Jon’s Steele’s first novel. As Marc Rochat might say, I am very sure it should not be his last. show less

I found this novel in my local supermarket, while bored to death. The tiny blurb on the back intrigued me, but I almost put it back three times... I am SO glad I didn't, and took it home! What an atmospheric work of art, for a novel. Jon Steele is my new favorite author.


In a market flooded with novels dealing with supernatural themes, “The Watchers” stands out for strength of its characters, the originality of the plot and Jon Steele’s remarkable ability to make magic visible in the familiar.


In this age of instant gratification that drives the two page chapter, it is refreshing to see that one author is not afraid of long, drawn out character building and the slow, tension filled ascent to what you know will be a stunning end of show more the novel. Richly atmospheric and surprisingly tender amid all the gathering gloom, this is a beautifully written book to savior and enjoy, especially when all of the action finally does get going. I have NO problem with waiting for 100 pages for the characters to develop, figure out what the HECK is going on in this novel, or find out what happens next. And quite frankly, I don't understand why others do. If you want instant gratification, go read some short stories!! (And quite frankly, 500 pages gets me hot. More? I'm there!! I had no problem being hooked from the second chapter.)

Steele created three solid characters in Jay Harper, Marc Rochat and Katherine Taylor. You will find yourself cheering for Marc (who reminded me of Quasimodo), as le guet of the Lausanne Cathedral as he helps Taylor find redemption. Steele keeps you wondering about Harper until far into the story. Each of them is imperfect. Each of them sees a different Lausanne. Each of them has a distinctive voice. Together they light up this book. The portrayal of Marc Rochat and his adorable cat Monsieur Booty is in particular evocative and memorable. I was never quite sure if that cat understood what was being said or not... and that's ok, too.

The plot and the world that it imagines, puts a twist on ancient legends that is original, plausible and intriguing. Jon Steele is brave enough to slow the pace of the storytelling so that comprehension dawns slowly but is all the more deeply felt for that. Be ready for twists and turns, as Steele weaves a masterful story around you. There are four parts to the story, and people have to actually follow the threads of the story. I was never sure where this ride was going, and I enjoyed every minute of this feeling.

Angels in a mystery novel is new to me, but they fit perfectly. But don't expect wings or halos. Do expect a murder mystery, a supernatural thriller, and beautiful writing.

In a story of good versus evil Jon Steele takes the time to show how blurred the boundaries are between the two, nor does he shy away from depicting the cruel violence that evil produces. He doesn't glorify it but he doesn't look away either. He uses it to cast the shadows that emphasizes the light. (Some sexual situations, if you don't like that, don't read this novel. They are integral to the plot.)

This is Jon’s Steele’s first novel. As Marc Rochat might say, I am very sure it should not be his last. This novel was difficult to put down, and rejoin everyday life. I can barely wait until the 2nd part of the series is out, in June. And I am telling everyone I know that they HAVE to read this book. I loved that I had to constantly guess where the book was going, and that rarely happens, anymore... not after reading SO many books in my lifetime. :D show less

This one surprised me, in a good way. Another addition to the "supernatural beings walk among us" genre, drawing on the Book of Enoch for its inspiration. But Jon Steele's characters are extremely well-drawn, and he weaves the web of his plot at a nice leisurely pace; this book would be great for a lazy weekend day when you can just find a comfy chair and settle down to lose yourself in a good story.

Our main characters here are Marc Rochat, a disabled young man who cares for the bells atop Lausanne Cathedral; Katherine Taylor, a high-priced call girl; and Jay Michael Harper, a security consultant with very little memory. Their lives converge in surprising and unexpected ways as the forces of good and evil duke it out in search of a show more long-held secret.

I suspect some people will say that the first parts of the book moved too slowly, but I rather liked the pace throughout. While there were some elements that I wish Steele had explained a bit more (particularly in the final portion of the book), overall I thought Steele did a fine job. Additional volumes are rumored to be in the works, and that's just fine with me. show less

I have a short list of books that I love and always keep a copy of. It includes The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, Drood and The Black Hills, both written by Dan Simmons, and The Lord of the Rings. These books are characterized by great story-telling abilities by the author. They are not the kind of books (that shall remain nameless, the worst written by an author also with the first name of Dan) that have a cliff hanger at the end of a two page chapter. They are the sort that weave a story so cleverly and rich with story that it takes the reader into another world that is not soon forgotten, long after the characters names can’t be recalled. The Watchers by Jon Steele is now on my list.

I loved this book from the first beautifully show more written and haunting chapter to the last heart-pounding one. Its exotic locale (Lausanne, Switzerland), its clever plot twists and turns and the revelation about two-thirds of the way in of what exactly is going on. Though it’s a relatively large book at more than 570 pages, I devoured it in just a few days.

I was besotted with Jay Harper, one of the main characters. I think it was his sense of humor (that gets me every time) and his sure-fire way of seeing through to the heart of any matter. His relentless pursuit of the bad guys didn’t hurt either. Another main character, Marc Rochat, tugged at my heart and I cheered for him the whole book through. This book isn’t for the faint-at-heart, however. There are a few scenes that are difficult to read so if you don’t like to read anything violent, I suggest you skim those few short paragraphs and keep reading – it’s worth it!

It was a happy surprise to discover that The Watchers is just the first book in a new trilogy. It’s definitely a must-read for the literary thriller crowd and just about anyone who enjoys great writing and a fabulous story. show less

First Line: At first sight, fifty yards off, he couldn't tell who it was walking through the rain, only that the slow-moving form emerging from the shattered village of Neuville-Vitasse was a British soldier.

Just before Christmas in the town of Lausanne, Switzerland, three people will meet in the ancient cathedral beneath which a secret was buried before time began.

Marc Rochat is the young man who calls the hour from the belfry of Lausanne Cathedral each night. He will tell you that he's "strong from the legs up"-- if he's not talking with the cathedral bells, responding to the mews of Monsieur Booty, his cat, or running away from the bad shadows that are gathering.

The young American, Katherine Taylor, is living the tax-free, designer show more label dream in Switzerland. An extremely beautiful (and extremely high-priced) prostitute, she's just about to find out that her life is indeed too good to be true.

The third person is private investigator Jay Harper, who wakes up in a hotel room with no memory, a love of watching the History Channel, and a job in Lausanne that he has no choice but to accept.

Three very different people who eventually learn that they have one objective: save what little is left of paradise before all hell breaks loose.

If you're in the mood for something in the wham, bam, thank you ma'am genre, do not pick up this book. You won't like it. However, if you're in the mood for an atmospheric work of art in which each of the hundreds of layers is painstakingly applied until you find yourself lost in the canvas and the close intimate friend of its inhabitants Marc, Katherine and Jay... well, you've picked up the right book.

Steele sets his stage meticulously, so there's not much action until the 250 page mark, but I didn't care because he was bringing the town of Lausanne, its citizens, the cathedral, and those three main characters to living, breathing life. As Harper himself says, "Bloody hell, just keeps getting better."

Steele acknowledges in his book that he wrote the first draft of The Watchers in the belfry loge of Lausanne Cathedral. His writing shows a deep love and appreciation of the ancient timbers and bells. I didn't find it odd that the character of Marc listened and spoke to them. Things that old are going to have stories to tell, and someone needs to listen.

All three characters are beautifully realized, and it's difficult for me to choose a favorite between them. The book has a strong foundation consisting of historic fact, an ancient Jewish text, and the literary classic The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The only thing that didn't win me over completely was the ending. I was ready for something that would knock my socks off, and it fell a bit short-- probably so there would be enough pieces left for the sequels that are to follow!

If you want to pick up a book and lose all track of time, The Watchers is for you. show less

The Watchers by Jon Steele – ask not for whom the bell tolls

This unusual thriller by Jon Steele is set in Lausanne, Switzerland; the action centres around Lausanne cathedral, or more specifically, around the belfry of Lausanne cathedral.

Marc Rochat is “the guet” – the watcher of the bells; he spends his nights in the belfry marking the hours. Marc came to Switzerland from Canada as a 10 year old boy, after his mother died; he is not quite normal (“there was an accident at my birth”) – he talks to the bells, and to his cat, Mr Booty, - but he understands he has an important job to do; his mother told him so before she died.

Katherine Taylor is a high class prostitute, earning tens of thousands of Swiss Francs a night, and show more hiding in Switzerland from the US IRS. She enjoys the high life – luxurious flat, expensive jewellery & clothes – but does it never occur to her to wonder where her good fortune comes from and whether there might be a price to pay?

Lastly, meet Jay Harper, private detective. Harper knows a great deal about cathedrals, recognises references from ancient texts and speaks many languages – but he can’t remember the number of his London flat; indeed he has no memories at all beyond the last few days.

When Harper is tasked with finding Alexander Yuriev, a Russian athlete gone bad, these three people come together in a desperate fight against the forces of evil.

What can I tell you about this book? I am struggling to review it, because I have never read anything quite like it! Well for a start, it’s long. What’s more, it’s complicated and it jumps about from person to person. And it has a significant fantastical element (celestial goodies & baddies, and a time warp). So if any of this is going to irritate you, then don’t even get started!

On the good side, it is a compelling read. It took me over a week (which is quite a long time for me), but I always looked forward to picking it up again and never found myself other things to do instead of reading. The three main characters are decidedly odd, but they do come real on the page, and I always cared about what was happening to them. The plot has various twists and turns, and has you trying to figure out whether the people on Harper’s side really are on his side and what the baddies are up to (as a good thriller should). It also builds up to an exciting finish (even if I didn’t quite understand all of the plot twists!).

Overall, this makes a different and very interesting read; one that I will be recommending to my friends. show less

In a market flooded with novels dealing with supernatural themes, “The Watchers” stands out for strength of its characters, the originality of the plot and Jon Steele’s remarkable ability to make magic visible in the familiar.

“The Watchers” is set in the part of Switzerland that I know very well. The locations Jon Steele describes: the ancient wooden steps of the Escaliers du Marché, the Lausanne Palace Hotel, the building that Marc Rochat lives in in Ouchy, the orange warning lights on Lac Leman and of course Lausanne Cathedral, are all places that I recognise. Jon Steele not only brings them to life, he evokes their inner magic, lighting them up in my imagination so that I see them afresh and know them for the first show more time.

The three main characters in this book strongly engaged my emotions: the American who sells her beauty for the use of rich men, who loves to watch herself in the mirror but cannot push aside the glamour she casts to see what she has become; the Brit detective who cannot sleep but is not yet truly awake; the Québécoise cripple with with a damaged mind, brilliant imagination and the heart of a lion. Each of them is imperfect. Each of them sees a different Lausanne. Each of them has a distinctive voice. Together they light up this book.

The plot and the world that it imagines, puts a twist on ancient legends that is original, plausible and intriguing. Jon Steele is brave enough to slow the pace of the storytelling so that comprehension dawns slowly but is all the more deeply felt for that.

In a story of good versus evil Jon Steele takes the time to show how blurred the boundaries are between the two, nor does he shy away from depicting the cruel violence that evil produces. He doesn’t glorify it but he doesn’t look away either. He uses it to cast the shadows that emphasises the light.

This is Jon’s Steele’s first novel. As Marc Rochat might say, I am very sure it should not be his last. show less