The Watcher

Author: Sara Davidson
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Release Date: April 21, 2021

Someone or something is watching Kathryn Ellison.​

Kathryn thought she had buried memories of That Night for good—until Nick Lawson returns, reigniting her long-suppressed feelings for him. Seeing Nick has always reminded her too much of the horrible night that changed her life. As much as she wants to be with him, she wants even more to forget. When Nick unexpectedly shows up at her family ranch, Kathryn knows it is finally time to let go of the traumatic past that has held her captive for so long.

David Henley is a captive too—of the dark secret involving Kathryn, a secret he’s kept even from his wife. Now the truth is about to be revealed. And when it is, he could be stripped of everything in his life that matters to him.

A storm is brewing in the spiritual realm, and its effects reverberate through the natural world, summoning otherworldly Beings to the ranch. While Kathryn confronts the memories of That Night and struggles to let them go, she is not as alone in her home as she thinks.

As spiritual and temporal forces collide, Kathryn—and everyone she loves—is about to be caught in the crossfire.

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Reviewer: Beverly Laude

"The light always overcomes the darkness somehow."

This is a story of grace, forgiveness, hope, and faith.  Kathryn Ellison is mistaken for another woman, kidnapped and brutally attacked by two men.  Only God's presence was able to save her.  Twenty years later, her daughter, Tory, wants answers about her father, and Kathryn has to decide how to tell Tory the truth.  "Sometimes telling the truth seems like it will do nothing but cause pain to the ones we love."

David Henley, one of the men who attacked Kathryn, has also had his share of coming to terms with God.  After being raised in the church by his preacher father, David has rebelled and become ensnared in a life of crime.  But, God seems to have other plans for him.  "It's not what you've done-it's who you are.  You are mine, and I will never let you go."

Kathryn feels an attraction for a local man who has a strange connection to "that night." But, before she can consider a relationship with Nick, she has to deal with her past.  As the story progresses, the reader begins to sense that things will come horrifically come to a head.

This book deals with a horrible event in sensitively without graphic descriptions of Kathryn's ordeal.  But, readers should be aware that some of the things that happen could be a trigger for them.  Also, the book has the unique perspective of telling part of the story from the viewpoint of the attacker and his dealing with what he has done.

The main theme of the book (in my opinion) is, "If you're feeling compelled to do something, even if it doesn't make sense and even if it's difficult, that sounds like something God's putting on your heart to do."  Can anyone truly forgive someone who has irreparably changed their life in the way that Kathryn's was changed?  Can someone who has done horrible things truly change and turn their life around? Only through grace. "Where sin abounded, grace increased."

I have to admit that it took me a long time to really get involved in this book.  The author has used an "Entity" as a narrator, and I found this device to be distracting at times. Along with the constant jumps from past to present, it was often hard to follow the story.  It was a unique way to tell the story, but I found it a little overdone at times.  The narrator talks a lot about other Entities and describes their actions and effects on the characters in the book.  To me, this often broke the action of the story instead of helping it alone.  But, that is just my opinion, and the book still had a wonderful message.

This book was provided courtesy of Mountain Brook Ink through Interviews & Reviews.

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Reviewer: Kandace Perry

The Watcher by Sara Davison is an intriguing and suspenseful novel.  The depth of tragedy and pain draws you in and holds you captive until broken spirits are restored and the freedom through forgiveness is discovered.

It is not until you have turned the last page do you realize that you had been holding your breath and can breathe easily again. The Watcher is a must read for anyone that is drawn to tragedy and heartache while yearning for the restoration of a broken spirit and the renewal of a love from long ago. A love you never dared dream possible.

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Reviewer: Anna Bottoms

The Watcher definitely caused me to look deep inside myself and answer the question of whether or not I could extend grace and forgiveness if I found myself in the same position as Kathryn. 

Kathryn is in the wrong place at the wrong time when she’s abducted and held hostage by two desperate men. When she faces death, the presence of God is so powerful each person’s life is changed.

Kathryn struggles for years with the after effects of her experience. Her kidnappers, David and Kevin, also must make choices that set the direction of the rest of their lives. 

Nick’s sister was the actual target of the kidnapping and when he sees Kathryn at David’s hearing he is inexplicably drawn to her, but will there ever be a time to explore those feelings. There are several time shifts and the thoughts of the watcher which to me was a bit distracting, yet having said this I will add that the story itself needs to be read.

If you’ve struggled with what grace and true forgiveness looks like, or what it’s like to faithfully wait on the Lord, I recommend this book.

This book was provided courtesy of Mountain Brook Ink through Interviews & Reviews.

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Reviewer: Debra Webster

This is my first book by Sara Davison but it will not be my last. The Watcher tells the story of Kathryn’s abduction and rape by two men and moves forward twenty years. Kathryn loves God, but this event shook her faith and filled her with questions. The event's trauma continues for many years and keeps her from love with Nick. She has many milestones along the way from forgiving her rapists to letting go of the pain. The Watcher tells us the story of Kathryn allowing God to work in her to bring an end to this event’s shadow over her life.
 
I wondered who the Watcher was. I was sure it was hope, but then hope showed up in the Watcher’s narrative. So, I waited till the end of the book to meet the Watcher.
 
Kathryn has to face the pain to overcome it. This happens in many surprising ways. The author weaves flashbacks, with present circumstances, skillfully to bring redemption to the irredeemable.

This book may make you cry, it may make you chuckle, but one thing it will do is help you process your own responses to difficult circumstances. You will also meet the God who is always with us.

This book was provided courtesy of the Mountain Brook Ink, through Interviews & Reviews.

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