Book Reviews of Dead Watch

As a die-hard John Sandford fan (I've read most of the Prey series and all the Kidd series plus a couple of stand alones). I bought this and finished it in a day, and it was indeed a page-turner.

Yet, it fell short of the Prey and Kidd series.

I think the thing that makes certain political thrillers work and others fail is character construction, and for me, there were a few too many characters to keep track of, and it's a fairly convoluted plot as well.

I think the main character, Jake Winter, has a lot of potential, he's consided a
"forensic bureaucrat". It's a unique approach for a protagonist and one that could open up a new avenue for Sandford.

All in all I give it 4 stars; it kept me interested, and was a quick and easy read, but at times was a bit hard to follow, like the conversation on a where references are made to people, events and places with which you're unfamiliar.

I look forward to the return of Kidd or Lucas, but I would read another Jake Winter novel.

Former Virginia senator Lincoln Bowe is missing. His wife, Madison, believes his bitter political rival, Governor Arlo Goodman, is behind it. Critics scoff until she reveals a security tape showing two men loosely affiliated with Goodman threatening her in her home. Bowe's disappearance is a political time bomb. The presidential conventions are just over the horizon, and both parties fear the consequences if it detonates. The president, through his chief of staff, hires Jake Winter to investigate. Bowe's body is found soon after Winter initiates his investigation. Bowe was not a saint: his sexual dalliances, with both men and women, were numerous, and his obsession with destroying Goodman's political career may have driven him to contemplate political blackmail. Winter has plenty of suspects to choose from, and he knows the answer can be found somewhere in Washington's backrooms, where third-string campaign dirty tricksters change allegiances like other people change socks. Sandford, the best-selling author of the Prey series, displays an insider's knowledge of political infighting and couples it with his skill at creating memorable characters working through the maze of a diabolical plot. (Readers of a certain age will be reminded of Ross Thomas, grand master of the D.C. thriller from an earlier era.) The real Washington is awash with its own scandals and political time bombs, so expect readers to flock to this funhouse-mirror reflection of the real thing.

I've read every John Sandford book and I really liked these new characters! Great read.

My first John Sandford book. Good story. A bit slow at times. Great characters.

A FAST read with turns at every corner. Political at the national and state level. Jack Winter is an excellent main character who takes the reader along for a fast ride.

ONE OF HIS BEST EVER !

Not his best book, never could get into it, very slow going. One of my fave authors so it was a little disappointing.

Great suspense with a political twist. Good read.

Could not put the book down. Another great read from John Sanford.

not anything like his others. Boring, some what slow.

Very different from his usual fair. Took a while to get into.

My husband has read all of the Prey books and then read this one. He enjoyed it as well as the others.

I haven't read a book yet in the Detective Davenport series that I didn't like. This one did not disappoint!

When a high-profile politician goes missing, Sandford's thriller takes off! Jake Winter is a political "fixer" who gets assigned to the case. Winter's character is breezy, competent and wise to the insincere ways of Washington. A quick read...great for the summer.

Always hard to break in a new hero, but I'm liking what I'm reading about Jake Winter! Very engrossing, political thriller!

Found this to be very hard to follow and very hard to keep up with all the characters, way too many characters to keep track of, finally it just boring. I'm about done with the Sandford books they just don't seem to get any better anymore

Excellent read.

Excellent! Follows in the great character development and plot twists that make Sandford great. Doesn't dwell overmuch on the bloody violence that have slowed my enjoyment of the "Prey" series.

Another good book by Sandford, with a new hero, Jake Winter (he seems to have a penchant for the name or word Winter). While the mystery was engaging, I usually find politics a little off-putting and had to read this in stops and starts. For those who like the twists and turns of the political thriller, this is a great read. Personally I prefer the Lucas Davenport books, but Jake is in himself a fascinating character that I would not mind reading more of. I just have to be in the right mood. It starts off with Jake, who is ex-Army Intelligence, being asked to look into the disappearance of a US Republican Senator by the Democratic president. The senator's wife believes that the Democratic Virginia governor and his pseudo-army of "Watchmen" are responsible and is making trouble for the Democrats about it. Through pretzel-like twists and turns, Jake burrows deeper into danger as his investigation slowly uncovers the truth.

Love Sandford and all the Prey books -- this is a new type of thriller -- politics and investigation -- very enjoyable.

I'm a HUGE fan of Sanfords "Prey" books. This one was totally different. A political thriller that's driven by some interesting Washington insider action.