Deathwatch (Paperback)

~ (Author) "THERE HE IS!" Madec whispered..." (more)
Key Phrases: Les Stanton, Denny O'Neil, Sergeant Hamilton

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Needing money for school, a college boy accepts a job as guide on a desert hunting trip and nearly loses his life as he becomes the hunted.

From the Publisher

"An exciting novel of suspense, based on a fight to the finish between an honest and courageous young man and a cynical business tycoon who believes that anything can be had for a price."--Horn Book. An ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults, Edgar Allan Poe Mystery Writers Award, A New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year, New York Public Library--Books for the Teen Age.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf; 33rd THUS edition (October 15, 1973)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440917409
• ISBN-13: 978-0440917403
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (127 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,372 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brandon's Deathwatch Review, November 21, 1999

By A Customer

Deathwatch is an extremely exciting, riveting book. The main character Ben, is hired by a man named Madec as a hunting guide. Madec is hunting for big horn sheep in the Southwest. Ben doesn't like Madec, and isn't looking forward to the trip. However Madec pays well and Ben needs the money for his next year of college. Something goes wrong during the hunt and Ben ends up in a fight for survival against Madec. It usually takes me about a week to finish a book this length, but I finished this book in one weekend. The author uses vivid detail and makes you feel like you're right there in the book. He also creates a lot of suspense. You can't wait to find out what happens next. I highly suggest this book. It was very enjoyable and exciting. This is one of the best books I've ever read. It would be a good book for teachers to make required reading. It has challenging vocabulary and a good plot. Deathwatch is a great book.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Survival is easy for DeathWatch, in this killer thriller!, December 29, 1999

By	Amy Danielle (Illinois) - See all my reviews

Ben is a college student who desperately needs money to go to college and get a good education. To get the money he needs he has to assist a cold hearted man named Madec in shooting bighorn sheep in the harsh desert. Ben tries to remain calm and keep his cool through Madec's temper and rage. All seems to be going pretty well, except when Madec causes an accident that never should have happened . Ben is blamed for the accident(which you will find out later, I don't want to ruin the book), and is caught in playing a deadly game in which he has to survive and fight to live. Wondering if Ben would survive kept me reading and turning the pages,wondering what would happen next. The details are very well written and the two characters are very different and have their own personalities which makes the book very interesting. The suspense will keep you reading this book, and if you like survival books, like the Hatchet by Gary Paulsen(which I also recommend) I would recommend this book. It certainly kept me on my toes to the very last page.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Still entertaining after 20 years, March 18, 2005

By	Beechaka (Cranberry Township, PA United States) - See all my reviews

I first read this book many years ago, as an assignment for English class in middle school. I remember at the time being shocked by the content of the book, and surprised that I was being assigned to read a book that was somewhat modern, startlingly graphic, and engrossing at the same time. It fascinated me and opened my eyes to a style of writing of which at that point I had not yet been exposed. Graphic subject matter aside, it remained one of my favorite reading assignments of the time.

I bought this book last year after 20 years have gone by, and was just as interested when reading it today as I was back then. While the subject matter is mature, it is not over the top. Unlike what some reviewers here have said, there certainly are people in this world who are as cruel as Madec; just read the news headlines. The overriding theme of justice prevailing, and moral decisions triumphing over lies and deceipt, makes it an enjoyable weekend read that leaves you satisfied with the conclusion. The fact that this book does not sugar-coat the harsh realities of life makes it that much more of a believable story.

My vote -- worth reading.