Review: The Silent Watcher (Vegas Shadows #1) by Victor Methos

     

Print Length:  363 pages

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (December 1, 2024)

From Goodreads.com: 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.

                                                         *******************

My Rating: 2 stars out of 5

I feel like this story had a lot of potential that it just didn't live up to. 

To begin with, there was a whole supposed cannibal element to this case which never came into play. Yes, I am thankful that I didn't have to read scenes like that, however it leads me to wonder just why it was included to begin with except as a way to send them on one wild goose chase after another first looking for a man with tattoos that indicated he was into that sort of thing, and then to the identity of someone on a secret forum about the subject (which reminds me, we never did hear what they found on the confiscated hard driver that was removed at one of the homes). There were also added details that I felt weren't needed. We don't need to know what color suit Piper choses to wear each day, nor the color of the clothing that Judge Dawson wears, or how often Detective Holloway either stops by the bar to have a drink (sometimes in the middle of the day), or takes a hit off his vape (when he claims to not be much of a smoker). 

Then there was a scene in the courtroom during which was supposed to be a competency hearing for their suspect, and yet for some reason the defense attorney demands that the fifteen-year old sole survivor of an attack on her family give testimony because her client has a "right to hear the evidence against him." When Piper in her role as guardian and lawyer for the child in question objects to this, it is argued that what is the point in having a trial if they girl won't testify. I'm sorry, this isn't a trial. This isn't even a pre-trial. This is doctors giving testimony as to whether or not the person being accused of a crime is competent to stand trial or not. Therefore, this is absolutely no reason to have made Sophie get on that stand and testify to the events that happened that night. 

I also never felt like there was any real character development. Heck, we barely even got to know any of the main characters beyond surface level. We are told that Detective Holloway was "asked" to leave the homicide department, but not why. He claims it was because he couldn't let go of a particular case, but then all good detectives have a case like that. Honestly, I felt like I knew more about "the Creeper" than I did about any of the main characters, and while yes, they were an admittedly interesting character, I don't feel like they should have outshone the ones who are meant to be carrying the series. 

The final complaint I have about this novel is the ending. I wish I could say what had happened was out of character, but then as I said, I never really felt as though I knew who any of these characters were so I can't say for certain if that is true or not. However, I do think someone as skilled as they are purported to be would have done a better job at covering up the truth. 

The second book in this series releases in September of 2025, and I might check it out. Only time will tell.