Keeping WatchLaurie R KingPsychological thriller isn't usually my genre but Keeping Watch is one of the most brilliantly written books I've read in a long while. Laurie King writes with the acuity of the master, never tripping throughout this exquisitely appalling tale.Jamie is a thirteen year old boy whose father is a con man extraordinaire and who has an unusual and terrifying occupation. Allen, a Vietnam vet, is a man dealing with the psychological fallout of his year fighting the Vietcong. The atrocities he witnesses and is forced to participate in lead to a mental state that can only be assuaged by assisting those with no voice of their own. Jamie is one such voiceless.Keeping Watch drops us squarely into the middle of the Vietnam war offering a vicarious but chillingly real view of the realities of that war. If you've never understood why Vietnam vets suffered when they were returned to 'normal' society, then Keeping Watch will provide the insight you need.If you enjoy the machinations of a highly intelligent mind turned towards evil, then this book will not allow you to put it down and the characters will stay with you for days after the book is finished.In its genre, Keeping Watch is an absolute standout. Highly recommended.
The vibrant, sometimes disturbing tale of Allen Carmichael, a fifty-something Vietnam vet cum Underground Railroad conductor who helps abused women and children disappear and start new lives.The author's vivid account of Allen's tour of duty in Vietnam, his subsequent post-traumatic stress disorder, and struggle to rebuild his life goes beyond the familiar war-is-hell cliche and into a compelling, sometimes horrifying (sur)realism. Allen's last case: Jamie, a smart, scrawny pre-teen attempting to escape his manipulative, secretive father -- a case study in the intimate, too-often cyclical psychodynamics of abuser and abused. The secrets of Allen's past unfold and weave together with the present-day secrets that lead to Jamie's rescue/kidnapping, and the fallout it creates for all involved. The subject matter is difficult, but handled sensitively -- never gratuitous. Non-linear narrative with unreliable narrator(s). An excellent standalone novel by Ms. King!
What do You think about Keeping Watch (2004)?
Laurie King is, without a doubt, one of the most gifted and versatile contemporary fiction writers of the current day. I am a mystery fan who started with the Kate Martinelli series, progressed to the Mary Russell series, the Harris Stuyvesant series, and have now branched out to her other novels. In both Folly and Keeping Watch King takes on complex human topics, and she excels, able to convey with ease her characters' thoughts and feelings around great moral and psychological issues. I am astounded at how well I liked Keeping Watch, despite the difficult subject matter. Laurie, keep putting out books, and I will keep making a place for them on my bookshelf!
—Renee
Right. I listened to this - well, half of it. Notwithstanding that, I know when I finish it I'll still give it a 5* rating. Well written, well researched, all that was fine. I soldiered through the gory bits in Viet Nam. I liked the characters. BUT - I just found myself getting more and more anxious as I continued to listen. Like hearing the Jaws music in the background and knowing this will not be a pretty picture. And I'm just not good for that, so I stopped. Maybe another time.That said, if other people have a stronger stomach than mine - and mine is not so tough any more - then I recommend it wholeheartedly!!!
—Patricia
This is a story primarily about one mans means of atonement and one boys struggle with abuse from a loved one. Allen Carmichael is not the same when he returns from Vietnam after serving under a particularly deviant Lieutenant. Jamie O’Connell is a boy whose father’s abuse is unnerving (to say the least). These two are brought together because Allen now works for an underground service rescuing the abused from their abusers. This authors powerful writing style and amazing storytelling abilities bring the emotionally charged circumstances of Allen and Jamie’s lives into full focus.
—WK
