The Night Watcher [Paperback]

John Lutz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2002

From bestselling author John Lutz comes a lightning-paced thriller of a city gripped by a killer's savage reign of terror. . .

Someone is killing wealthy Manhattanites. One by one, the victims are discovered in luxurious high-rise apartments. Bound, gagged—brutally murdered in the "safety" of their own homes, by someone whose modus operandi is as horrifying as anything NYPD Detectives Ben Stack and Rica Lopez have ever seen.

As Stack and Lopez investigate the cruel deaths, they have no idea that they are being watched from the shadows—observed by a cunning murderer picking up all the clues necessary to stay one step ahead of the police while perfecting a deadly craft. And when a pattern slowly emerges, the detectives realize that the killings aren't the random acts of a maniac, but the personal campaign of someone bent on retribution. . .someone who's been watching closely and knows their case too well.

Someone whose vengeance will burn forever.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set in post 9/11 Manhattan, Lutz's (The Night Caller) gritty psychological thriller finds NYPD homicide detectives Rica Lopez and Ben Stack on the hunt for a vengeful serial killer whose modus operandi includes binding and burning his prey in their high-rise co-ops. The only clue they have to go on is that the Torcher has an apparent penchant for wealthy victims, so they start at square one and investigate all of the known arsonists in the city. In the end, Rica and Stack prove to be no match for the Torcher, who manages to stay several steps ahead of them until the very end, but their lack of leads doesn't make this book any less compelling. Lutz's details concerning police procedure, fire-fighting techniques and FDNY policy ring true, and his clever use of flashbacks draws the reader deep into the killer's troubled psyche. The novel's primary weaknesses include the tenuous romantic link between Ben and Rica, frequent point-of-view shifts and an overwhelming parade of possible suspects ranging from an avaricious real-estate magnate and her aging male escort to a lesbian mayoral campaign manager. Unlike many authors in the genre, however, Lutz manages to present a fully realized villain who simultaneously inspires the reader's sympathy and revulsion.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Pinnacle; First edition (November 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786015152
• ISBN-13: 978-0786015153
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #754,235 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Strictly routine, December 3, 2002

By 

mrliteral - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Night Watcher (Paperback)

The Night Watcher by John Lutz is a nothing-out-of-the-ordinary serial killer thriller about the Torcher, a killer whose victims are tied up and set on fire. As someone who has read hundreds of mysteries including a number of serial killer stories, I found this one to offer almost nothing new.

This is not an awful book, but it is also not good. Most of the characters are not well-developed and in fact, seem rather cliched. The two detectives are not very intriguing, and the romantic tension between the two of them is strictly standard. Their supervisor is the same antagonistic bureaucrat we've all seen a dozen times before.

Another flaw is that despite over forty people dying in the course of the story, it often seems like there are only the two detectives working the case; only rarely do we get the feel that anyone else (beyond the standard forensics people) are really involved. Compare this with one of John Sanford's Davenport novels (also about serial killers): in those books, you can tell Davenport is heading a team, not working by himself.

This is not the first book I've read by Lutz. I've enjoyed his other books and know he's a good writer; not necessarily the best in the genre, but at least a good entertainer. Even here, he is skilled enough to keep this book from being unreadable, but he is definitely better than this novel would indicate.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Torcher Scorcher, March 24, 2003

By 

sweetmolly (RICHMOND, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Night Watcher (Paperback)

Well written Edgar nominated (Best Original Paperback) "Night Watcher" is brisk, yet moody; well paced and quirky. This is not your standard serial killer outing.

Ben Stack, legendary homicide detective and his assistant Rita Lopez are assigned a grisly case. A man while bound has been torched in his own New York high-rise apartment. The crime took place in the kitchen and apparent safeguards have been taken to keep the fire from spreading. The victim was a bachelor with no apparent enemies and well fixed financially. There are virtually no clues. Another almost identical killing takes place. The tension racks up not only for the police, but also for the fire department who fear that if these fires get out of control, it could be a catastrophe. It is impossible to effectively fight a fire over the 10th story level. The net widens to take in more suspects, but the killer seems invincible. The climax is a nail-biter; their main suspect could also be the next victim on the list.

Mr. Lutz tells his story in a crafty manner with effective flashbacks, foreshadowing and glimpses into the killer's thought processes. The characterizations are sharp, though Lt. Ben is a little wooden. Assistant Rita never misses a trick to force her way into Ben's affections. No retiring flower here!

Contrary to previous reviews, I believe the story is well told and in a convincing manner. The information on high-rise fires is not only interesting, but also instructive. There are bits of humor in the interactions of the various characters, slyly placed and well presented. There are a few loose ends (how did the killer gain entry?), but they are minor. "Night Watcher" is well worth your time.
-sweetmolly-Amazon Reviewer

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The Night Watcher, July 6, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Night Watcher (Paperback)

The book is not up to the high standard set by Lutz's earlier novels.