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Night #2
The Night Watcher
From bestselling author John Lutz comes a lightning-paced thriller of a city gripped by a killer's savage reign of terror. . .
Someone is killing wealthy Manhattanites. One by one, the victims are discovered in luxurious high-rise apartments. Bound, gagged--brutally murdered in the "safety" of their own homes, by someone whose modus operandi is as horrifying as anything NYPD Detectives Ben Stack and Rica Lopez have ever seen.
As Stack and Lopez investigate the cruel deaths, they have no idea that they are being watched from the shadows--observed by a cunning murderer picking up all the clues necessary to stay one step ahead of the police while perfecting a deadly craft. And when a pattern slowly emerges, the detectives realize that the killings aren't the random acts of a maniac, but the personal campaign of someone bent on retribution. . .someone who's been watching closely and knows their case too well.
Someone whose vengeance will burn forever.
Someone is killing wealthy Manhattanites. One by one, the victims are discovered in luxurious high-rise apartments. Bound, gagged--brutally murdered in the "safety" of their own homes, by someone whose modus operandi is as horrifying as anything NYPD Detectives Ben Stack and Rica Lopez have ever seen.
As Stack and Lopez investigate the cruel deaths, they have no idea that they are being watched from the shadows--observed by a cunning murderer picking up all the clues necessary to stay one step ahead of the police while perfecting a deadly craft. And when a pattern slowly emerges, the detectives realize that the killings aren't the random acts of a maniac, but the personal campaign of someone bent on retribution. . .someone who's been watching closely and knows their case too well.
Someone whose vengeance will burn forever.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 2002
20 people are currently reading
328 people want to read
About the author
John Lutz
234 books300 followersLibrarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
John Lutz has captivated suspense enthusiasts for over four decades. He has been one of the premier voices in contemporary hard-boiled fiction. His work includes political suspense, private eye novels, urban suspense, humor, occult, crime caper, police procedural, espionage, historical, futuristic, amateur detective, thriller; virtually every mystery sub-genre. John Lutz published his first short story in 1966 in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine and has been publishing regularly ever since. He is the author of more than fifty novels and 250 short stories and articles.
His novels and short fiction have been translated into virtually every language and adapted for almost every medium. He is a past president of both Mystery Writers of America and Private Eye Writers of America. Among his awards are the MWA Edgar, the PWA Shamus, The Trophee 813 Award for best mystery short story collection translated into the French language, the PWA Life Achievement Award, and the Short Mystery Fiction Society's Golden Derringer Lifetime Achievement Award.
He is the author of two private eye series, the Nudger series, set in his home town of St. Louis, and the Carver series, set in Florida, as well as many non-series suspense novels. His SWF SEEKS SAME was made into the hit movie SINGLE WHITE FEMALE, starring Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh, and his novel THE EX was made into the HBO original movie of the same title, for which he co-authored the screenplay.
Lutz and his wife, Barbara, split their time between St. Louis and Sarasota, Florida.
John Lutz has captivated suspense enthusiasts for over four decades. He has been one of the premier voices in contemporary hard-boiled fiction. His work includes political suspense, private eye novels, urban suspense, humor, occult, crime caper, police procedural, espionage, historical, futuristic, amateur detective, thriller; virtually every mystery sub-genre. John Lutz published his first short story in 1966 in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine and has been publishing regularly ever since. He is the author of more than fifty novels and 250 short stories and articles.
His novels and short fiction have been translated into virtually every language and adapted for almost every medium. He is a past president of both Mystery Writers of America and Private Eye Writers of America. Among his awards are the MWA Edgar, the PWA Shamus, The Trophee 813 Award for best mystery short story collection translated into the French language, the PWA Life Achievement Award, and the Short Mystery Fiction Society's Golden Derringer Lifetime Achievement Award.
He is the author of two private eye series, the Nudger series, set in his home town of St. Louis, and the Carver series, set in Florida, as well as many non-series suspense novels. His SWF SEEKS SAME was made into the hit movie SINGLE WHITE FEMALE, starring Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh, and his novel THE EX was made into the HBO original movie of the same title, for which he co-authored the screenplay.
Lutz and his wife, Barbara, split their time between St. Louis and Sarasota, Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 4, 2022
This book couldn’t seem to get out of the way of itself. Too many characters, time spent on horrific details, and plot lines that jump around with no consistent flow, a couple of which aren’t even tied up in the end. Found myself skimming along to the predictable ending.
January 16, 2012
Great book, I love a mystery with twists & turns & a little romance. This fit that perfectly.
February 12, 2017
I can't even finish this book the story is freakin terrible...
January 10, 2022
Someone is killing wealthy Manhattanites. One by one, the victims are discovered in luxurious high-rise apartments. Bound, gagged--brutally murdered in the "safety" of their own homes, by someone whose modus operandi is as horrifying as anything NYPD Detectives Ben Stack and Rica Lopez have ever seen.
As Stack and Lopez investigate the cruel deaths, they have no idea that they are being watched from the shadows--observed by a cunning murderer picking up all the clues necessary to stay one step ahead of the police while perfecting a deadly craft. And when a pattern slowly emerges, the detectives realize that the killings aren't the random acts of a maniac, but the personal campaign of someone bent on retribution. . .someone who's been watching closely and knows their case too well.
As Stack and Lopez investigate the cruel deaths, they have no idea that they are being watched from the shadows--observed by a cunning murderer picking up all the clues necessary to stay one step ahead of the police while perfecting a deadly craft. And when a pattern slowly emerges, the detectives realize that the killings aren't the random acts of a maniac, but the personal campaign of someone bent on retribution. . .someone who's been watching closely and knows their case too well.
October 18, 2020
Your basic crime fiction. I found the character of Rica annoying, there is a difference between a strong female character who is comfortable with her sexuality and just being trashy. They tried to have a twist with the villain, but most people can guess it about half way through.
July 1, 2023
I really didn't care for the 2 detectives in that one, it was a bit of a struggle to finish, I wish we had continued to follow Cooper from the first book. The plot was ok but not extremely compelling
July 29, 2024
The allegedly "sexy" female detective is an embarrassment I would think to all professional women. Her interplay with her male WORK partner is repulsive. Yuck.
November 1, 2024
I liked this one better than the first one.
March 26, 2025
If you are into Serial Killer genera, this novel contained the perfect mix. Twists, suspense, gore, an unexpected outcome and likeable characters.
October 14, 2020
A fast paced mystery that jumps right into the action. There are several suspects to keep you guessing. And I wasn’t sure who it was until the end.
November 5, 2022
This book wasn’t awful… I mean I did finish it, but I didn’t love it. There were too many characters and back stories being introduced that weren’t completely relevant to the story other than to, what I’m assuming, bring the reader in emotionally.
I figured out who the killer was about half way through the book, but it wasn’t addressed until the last couple chapters. The ending was extremely rushed as if Lutz was coming up on his deadline and just needed to finish it.
Overall, not bad. Just wish it focused more on the main story and characters.
I figured out who the killer was about half way through the book, but it wasn’t addressed until the last couple chapters. The ending was extremely rushed as if Lutz was coming up on his deadline and just needed to finish it.
Overall, not bad. Just wish it focused more on the main story and characters.
May 27, 2014
I pulled this off the shelf in the house my family & I were renting for vacation. The synopsis sounded interesting, so I gave it a shot.
The crime story - an arsonist lighting people on fire in their fancy Manhattan apartments - was fascinating and well-written. The twists and turns were great. I think the resolution was cut a bit short. I read the book over the course of a couple of days while on vacation, and couldn't put it down (and not just because I needed to return it to the shelf before vacation was over).
The thing that makes this a three-star review instead of a four-star review is that I HATED the interactions of the two detectives on the case. At the beginning of the book, it's clear that female cop Rica has a crush on her soon-to-be-divorced male partner Stack. That dynamic could have been fine, could have been well-written and interesting. Unfortunately, it turned Rica into an unprofessional and at times desperate person. It was completely unnecessary to the story - the cops being in sync in their thoughts and processes didn't have to be because of a love affair, that does just happen with cops who aren't sleeping together. Instead of being a story of a powerful woman cop who rivals the skills of her well-respected male partner, it turned every scene with them into a game of just waiting for the cringe-worthy moment where Rica was no longer a skilled female cop, but a single woman desperate enough to sleep with her partner that she'll say inappropriate things at crime scenes, in the office, etc. It was incredibly frustrating and had a huge negative impact on my final thoughts on the book.
The crime story - an arsonist lighting people on fire in their fancy Manhattan apartments - was fascinating and well-written. The twists and turns were great. I think the resolution was cut a bit short. I read the book over the course of a couple of days while on vacation, and couldn't put it down (and not just because I needed to return it to the shelf before vacation was over).
The thing that makes this a three-star review instead of a four-star review is that I HATED the interactions of the two detectives on the case. At the beginning of the book, it's clear that female cop Rica has a crush on her soon-to-be-divorced male partner Stack. That dynamic could have been fine, could have been well-written and interesting. Unfortunately, it turned Rica into an unprofessional and at times desperate person. It was completely unnecessary to the story - the cops being in sync in their thoughts and processes didn't have to be because of a love affair, that does just happen with cops who aren't sleeping together. Instead of being a story of a powerful woman cop who rivals the skills of her well-respected male partner, it turned every scene with them into a game of just waiting for the cringe-worthy moment where Rica was no longer a skilled female cop, but a single woman desperate enough to sleep with her partner that she'll say inappropriate things at crime scenes, in the office, etc. It was incredibly frustrating and had a huge negative impact on my final thoughts on the book.
December 22, 2007
I gave this book a 3 because it did manage to keep me turning the pages, but I thought it was sloppily done. I could never shake the feeling that there was some poor research at work here, though it was only a suspicion, not something I bothered to confirm. Aside from that, other things really bugged me. The serial killer was dubbed "The Torture" by the press, and unless I was always hearing it wrong (it was an audiobook, so forgive my mixing of metaphors) and it really was "The Torturer," I couldn't wrap my head around why a person would get an appellation more appropriate for an event rather than a person committing an act. The author also seemed to glorify smalltime police abuse, and the main character, who had such an insight into human nature, seemed consistently dense and alarmingly inconsistent when it came to making people live up to his moral code. Namely, if you are a cop or a cop's family, anything goes; if you are outside that circle, anything can be done to you. And yet he's not a dirty cop, he's the pillar of the force and strangely desirable in his backwards, genteelly chauvinistic ways to the tough, independent women on the force. Maybe more men like this book; it seems to fit the stereotype of their interests - action, machismo, not too much sex but plenty of lusting over the male hero who is impossible tough, impossibly massive, and impossible charismatic. Give me more likable characters and fewer lose ends whose purpose may or may not have been to serve as red herrings since it was awfully difficult to tell.
February 10, 2017
Pretty good. I did like it, but I wasn't surprised by who did it.
May 14, 2008
I picked up Night Watcher while on vacation in Germany and since I also have a book out about a serial murderer, wanted to check it out.
I liked the book and the story, which revolves around a serial killer who burns vicims alive. It read smoothly with plenty of action to keep me engaged. I won't spoil the end and say who the killer is but it might surprise you.
What I didn't care for is the female detective. Maybe it's a girl thing but she focused too much on being sexy and came off as really unprofessional. Overall, this book was worth the time I spent on it.
I liked the book and the story, which revolves around a serial killer who burns vicims alive. It read smoothly with plenty of action to keep me engaged. I won't spoil the end and say who the killer is but it might surprise you.
What I didn't care for is the female detective. Maybe it's a girl thing but she focused too much on being sexy and came off as really unprofessional. Overall, this book was worth the time I spent on it.
February 23, 2012
Book #51 read in 2007
I really enjoyed the mystery in this book. I had it figured out pretty early on, but it was great to see it play out. I'm not sure I really liked the main characters, though. Lutz wrote his female protagonist, Rica, in a way that was unbelievable. The ending for the characters also wrapped up too neatly. I will definitely read more in the series if only for the crime!
I really enjoyed the mystery in this book. I had it figured out pretty early on, but it was great to see it play out. I'm not sure I really liked the main characters, though. Lutz wrote his female protagonist, Rica, in a way that was unbelievable. The ending for the characters also wrapped up too neatly. I will definitely read more in the series if only for the crime!
April 21, 2009
I checked this out because I like the reader, Scott Brick, and it wasn't disappointing. He has a great voice. This was a good mystery. Clues were laid out, but I didn't figure it out under the investigators did.
July 23, 2014
I always enjoy John Lutz. This one was a little more difficult to follow as it went back and forth in years and there were lots of characters to keep straight. That being said I still really enjoyed this book.
January 26, 2015
Great Stack and Rica mysteery. I always like these characters. Lutz has given them personalities that come through the pages.
There are gruesome murders going on in the city. A terrible serial killer who burns his victims alive towards the end there is a surprise too.
There are gruesome murders going on in the city. A terrible serial killer who burns his victims alive towards the end there is a surprise too.
September 19, 2007
Kutz, John-NIGHT WATCHER, THE-G-
Killing by fire, saw the killer coming, too long
Killing by fire, saw the killer coming, too long
June 9, 2009
As always, a thoroughly enjoyable book by Lutz. I find his characters thrilling and the plots always have twists in them.
September 5, 2010
Wonderful book by Lutz and one of the few I've read that didn't have a retired cop as the main character. It kept me guessing till almost the end on the guilty party!
March 5, 2011
Not one of my favorite Lutz books. Never really had a connection with the main characters. It did keep me guessing, but I felt there were too many side stories going on as well.
July 5, 2011
I love this guy's work, but this one was a little under par.....
September 9, 2012
It was ok, liked the chemistry between the two detectives but the Frank Quinn series is much better.
June 12, 2012
It was an exciting read but the ending seemed a bit abrupt for me.Otherwise it was a good suspenseful story. The story is about a serial killer, who likes to burn their victims alive.
May 28, 2013
This was probably the first Lutz book I've read which did not keep my attention. Too many characters, too many sub plots and a little confusing at times. Not one of his best works. Sorry, John.
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January 20, 2015Good book.. Like all John Lutz books.
Read
October 5, 2008i will never live in high-rise anything
April 23, 2017
John Lutz Doesn't disappoint.
After reading and enjoying all the Quinn novels, I came upon Ben Stack and Rice. If you are into Serial Killer genera, this novel contained the perfect mix. Twists, suspense, gore, an unexpected outcome and likeable characters. This the 10th book by Lutz I've read and it didn't disappoint.
After reading and enjoying all the Quinn novels, I came upon Ben Stack and Rice. If you are into Serial Killer genera, this novel contained the perfect mix. Twists, suspense, gore, an unexpected outcome and likeable characters. This the 10th book by Lutz I've read and it didn't disappoint.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews