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The Searcher
Joaquin Bridger is a former soldier who settles in the town of Redwood, becomes a police officer, marries, and has a daughter. He and his family live there peacefully for ten years, and then tragedy strikes.
His wife and daughter are killed in a confrontation with bank robbers, and he blames himself. He quits the police force and begins a wandering, aimless life around town, walking wherever he goes—silent, brooding, filthy. He exists like this for five years.
The majority of people in town see him as a man who is mentally disabled. Few people dare bother him.
Then one day, John Slaughter, the man who was responsible for the death of Joaquin’s family, comes back to this town. After robbing the bank with his fellow criminals, he kidnaps a young girl as he gets away. Joaquin recognizes the man, and gives chase. Thus, the tale begins.
His wife and daughter are killed in a confrontation with bank robbers, and he blames himself. He quits the police force and begins a wandering, aimless life around town, walking wherever he goes—silent, brooding, filthy. He exists like this for five years.
The majority of people in town see him as a man who is mentally disabled. Few people dare bother him.
Then one day, John Slaughter, the man who was responsible for the death of Joaquin’s family, comes back to this town. After robbing the bank with his fellow criminals, he kidnaps a young girl as he gets away. Joaquin recognizes the man, and gives chase. Thus, the tale begins.
262 pages, Paperback
First published October 4, 2012
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1859 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
May 14, 2013
It is a long time since I picked up a book and gone wow after the first couple of pages, but this book made me do exactly that.
The authors descriptive writing of both the characters and their surroundings draw the reader in and you actually envisage yourself being there alongside them.
You follow our hero on a trail of excitement and dogged determination in his quest. After being haunted by the killing if his family our hero begins a life of homelessness and wandering. When the man who is responsible of the killing of the heroes family robs the local bank and kidnaps a young girl our hero sets off to find and return the girl.
The writer will touch the hearts of every parent and release their worst nightmare their child being snatched and taken by a stranger.
The methods and survival techniques used by Joaquim (our hero) in tracking the kidnappers is expertly described and the emotions he is feeling make you believe you are travelling alongside him .
The writer also spends a lot of time on the villain of the piece and you get a feeling and the understanding of his motives, which makes you want him to be caught and receive justice.
The reason that I really love this book is the authors use of language and descriptive terms which enhance the characters bringing each and everyone of them to life .This author has a unique style of writing which will appeal greatly to any reader and I strongly recommend him.
This book carries a really strong message of hope and faith when you believe you have nothing left to live for. Something comes along which shows that God made you for a reason and you have to survive to find your true path and learn to live again.
The authors descriptive writing of both the characters and their surroundings draw the reader in and you actually envisage yourself being there alongside them.
You follow our hero on a trail of excitement and dogged determination in his quest. After being haunted by the killing if his family our hero begins a life of homelessness and wandering. When the man who is responsible of the killing of the heroes family robs the local bank and kidnaps a young girl our hero sets off to find and return the girl.
The writer will touch the hearts of every parent and release their worst nightmare their child being snatched and taken by a stranger.
The methods and survival techniques used by Joaquim (our hero) in tracking the kidnappers is expertly described and the emotions he is feeling make you believe you are travelling alongside him .
The writer also spends a lot of time on the villain of the piece and you get a feeling and the understanding of his motives, which makes you want him to be caught and receive justice.
The reason that I really love this book is the authors use of language and descriptive terms which enhance the characters bringing each and everyone of them to life .This author has a unique style of writing which will appeal greatly to any reader and I strongly recommend him.
This book carries a really strong message of hope and faith when you believe you have nothing left to live for. Something comes along which shows that God made you for a reason and you have to survive to find your true path and learn to live again.
April 30, 2013
Brilliant! I would give it six stars if I could. Yes, it is a difficult book to get into initially, but you will be rewarded if you persist. This author is a lover of words. He uses many words to describe Nature, but if you listen, you can see it, and smell it, and taste it. It requires some patience, and persistence. I found the characters stirred deep emotions as I grew with them. The little girl kidnapped into the cult of an evil Hitler-esque monster villain, hater of life and faith. Joaquin, the destroyed man who has lost everything, and wanders the streets destitute, longing for death...or something to bring him back to life...a reason to live. And he finds his reason in the search for the taken child.
He learns much in his journey to find her. How to be one with Nature. To read her clues. He finds how damaging revengeful thinking can be to the soul. How a hardened heart can crush the yearning for life. He learns about God. He learns about forgiveness.
Yes, there are inconsistencies. This man who becomes one with Nature in a righteous cause uses state of the art computer tracking equipment, cell phones, listening devices, and hiking gear. But he also wears animal skins, breaths in the earth that surrounds him, and uses age old tracking techniques requiring skills few would know of in our tech driven world. He is a tragic figure, but a hero. This is, after all is said and done, a story of the triumph of the good and just over evil and destruction.
This is an epic tale, misunderstood, I believe, by many reviewers who didn't give it a chance. Once I got into it, I couldn't put it down, as I had to know if he triumphed or was destroyed in and by his quest. I consider this book to be an overlooked "sleeper".
Bravo!
I was given this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to the author.
He learns much in his journey to find her. How to be one with Nature. To read her clues. He finds how damaging revengeful thinking can be to the soul. How a hardened heart can crush the yearning for life. He learns about God. He learns about forgiveness.
Yes, there are inconsistencies. This man who becomes one with Nature in a righteous cause uses state of the art computer tracking equipment, cell phones, listening devices, and hiking gear. But he also wears animal skins, breaths in the earth that surrounds him, and uses age old tracking techniques requiring skills few would know of in our tech driven world. He is a tragic figure, but a hero. This is, after all is said and done, a story of the triumph of the good and just over evil and destruction.
This is an epic tale, misunderstood, I believe, by many reviewers who didn't give it a chance. Once I got into it, I couldn't put it down, as I had to know if he triumphed or was destroyed in and by his quest. I consider this book to be an overlooked "sleeper".
Bravo!
I was given this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to the author.
March 2, 2018
A tale of unmitigated evil unrelentingly pursued by a lone lawman, who never gives up on the promise made to save a little girl from the madman who kidnapped her. The tale is deep, with lessons to be learned in a straightforward, painless fashion. The beauty of nature is extolled, perhaps in more detail than need to make the point, but the book is well worth the read and will bring you to tears.
August 23, 2015
I won this book through the goodreads giveaway programme. It was my first time winning a book so I was very excited to read it. This an honest review based on my overall impression of Ray Dacolias' work.
"The Searcher" is about a man named Juaquin whose personal tragedy turns him into the local madman wandering the streets, repulsing the passers-by and showing hostility towards anyone who dares to approach him. Blaming himself for his loss he turns himself into a living corpse. One day, however, it all changes as a girl is kidnapped in front of his eyes by the criminal responsible for his misfortunes. And so Juaquin decides to find the missing girl, devoting himself completely to this mission in order to seek redemption and justice.
It was very interesting to follow Juaquin's character change throughout the pages. It develops immensely from the start till the end of the book. In the beginning he is engulfed in hate and vengeance, ready to accomplish his goal even if the price is losing his true self. However, he gladually realises that instead of killing everyone on his way, he should give people a second chance to become better and atone for their mistakes. Another thing I liked, was the chasing and tracking, which kept me in suspense till the very end.
What I didn't quite fancy in the book, were the long descriptions of the surroundings. Just when something great is about to happen, my enthusiasm dampens, as I stumble upon a flood of unnecessary details about the trees, the birds, the deers, the sky, the bushes, the soil etc.
Overall, I did enjoy the book. It contains a valuable lesson that despite the unfairness of life, we should never cease believing that there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
"The Searcher" is about a man named Juaquin whose personal tragedy turns him into the local madman wandering the streets, repulsing the passers-by and showing hostility towards anyone who dares to approach him. Blaming himself for his loss he turns himself into a living corpse. One day, however, it all changes as a girl is kidnapped in front of his eyes by the criminal responsible for his misfortunes. And so Juaquin decides to find the missing girl, devoting himself completely to this mission in order to seek redemption and justice.
It was very interesting to follow Juaquin's character change throughout the pages. It develops immensely from the start till the end of the book. In the beginning he is engulfed in hate and vengeance, ready to accomplish his goal even if the price is losing his true self. However, he gladually realises that instead of killing everyone on his way, he should give people a second chance to become better and atone for their mistakes. Another thing I liked, was the chasing and tracking, which kept me in suspense till the very end.
What I didn't quite fancy in the book, were the long descriptions of the surroundings. Just when something great is about to happen, my enthusiasm dampens, as I stumble upon a flood of unnecessary details about the trees, the birds, the deers, the sky, the bushes, the soil etc.
Overall, I did enjoy the book. It contains a valuable lesson that despite the unfairness of life, we should never cease believing that there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
September 29, 2013
First I want to thanks to Ray Dacolias about this amazing experience. I must admit that this book is not exactly in the style I normally read. And maybe that was the reason why I liked it so much. Everything from the story to the characters was so different and somehow real.
Stars - 4,5
1. Cover - For me, the cover has always been an important part of the book. Together with the summary it give us an idea what's going on in the book. And I like this cover. The cover of the book is simple but at the same time brings some kind of peace.
2. Style - I really like writing style of the author. The simple way to describe what was happening to the main character made ¿¿me hold my breath and look forward to what will happen next. I felt part of the adventures of main character, as if looking through his eyes. I like descriptive way of writing of both - the characters and their surroundings. But there is little dialogue and maybe in a few places I wanted to have more.
3. Main characters - Well. I love Joaquin Bridger. There's just something about him that in the beginning made ¿¿me like him. Life is never easy, but sometimes life is particularly cruel for some people. And Joaquin Bridger is a homeless man who is tormented by his past. And although the plot in this book can be read in different ways, it is an original way to tell the story of self-discovery. Joaquin sets out to find the kidnapped child and this seems to be the beginning of his way. During the search he was not only looking for the child, but also for answers, salvation, forgiveness.
Other characters were good. But none of them caught my attention successfully.
Stars - 4,5
1. Cover - For me, the cover has always been an important part of the book. Together with the summary it give us an idea what's going on in the book. And I like this cover. The cover of the book is simple but at the same time brings some kind of peace.
2. Style - I really like writing style of the author. The simple way to describe what was happening to the main character made ¿¿me hold my breath and look forward to what will happen next. I felt part of the adventures of main character, as if looking through his eyes. I like descriptive way of writing of both - the characters and their surroundings. But there is little dialogue and maybe in a few places I wanted to have more.
3. Main characters - Well. I love Joaquin Bridger. There's just something about him that in the beginning made ¿¿me like him. Life is never easy, but sometimes life is particularly cruel for some people. And Joaquin Bridger is a homeless man who is tormented by his past. And although the plot in this book can be read in different ways, it is an original way to tell the story of self-discovery. Joaquin sets out to find the kidnapped child and this seems to be the beginning of his way. During the search he was not only looking for the child, but also for answers, salvation, forgiveness.
Other characters were good. But none of them caught my attention successfully.
January 18, 2016
After finishing chapter one, I instantly knew it would would be a book that made a lasting impression. This is the second book I've read by Ray Dacolias. I really enjoyed reading The Tragedy of Woman and it was the reason I was so excited to read The Searcher.
I would describe this book as being descriptive and wordy, but for the most part, it wasn't too bad. He really knows how to describe things in a way without being excessive or redundant. There were some times where I came across a description surroundings, that would go on for a few pages, but I thought that it was fastidiously intended.
There is a great amount of back story with each of the characters, including the villains. The reader will fall in love with the heroes, and anticipate the downfall of the villains. Everyone is so adequately described, there's no sense of confusion on who the characters are, or what their purpose is to the plot.
Along side the plot, there are plenty of controversial topics and philosophical questions, which made this a book I spread over a few days as I found myself pondering quite often. I got a sense that the author might be considerably religious.
Overall, I would categorize this book as a mystery, but since there is so philosophy and other musings, I found I was initially torn by which direction I wanted the book wanted to go in, but ended up just going for the fusion the author intended.
The Searcher will infiltrate your mind with philosophical thoughts and vivid imagery, definitely worth a 5/5!
I would describe this book as being descriptive and wordy, but for the most part, it wasn't too bad. He really knows how to describe things in a way without being excessive or redundant. There were some times where I came across a description surroundings, that would go on for a few pages, but I thought that it was fastidiously intended.
There is a great amount of back story with each of the characters, including the villains. The reader will fall in love with the heroes, and anticipate the downfall of the villains. Everyone is so adequately described, there's no sense of confusion on who the characters are, or what their purpose is to the plot.
Along side the plot, there are plenty of controversial topics and philosophical questions, which made this a book I spread over a few days as I found myself pondering quite often. I got a sense that the author might be considerably religious.
Overall, I would categorize this book as a mystery, but since there is so philosophy and other musings, I found I was initially torn by which direction I wanted the book wanted to go in, but ended up just going for the fusion the author intended.
The Searcher will infiltrate your mind with philosophical thoughts and vivid imagery, definitely worth a 5/5!
March 25, 2013
I enjoyed reading this book even though I had some problems with it. The writing is beautiful, very eloquent, full of figures of speech and adjectivations. However, I didn’t particularly enjoy the plot. The book starts of pretty well, but then, it gets too focused on the spiritual journey that the protagonist experiments as he chases the assassin, and while he cohabits with the Giant.
Also, the continuous use of euphemism when trying to describe a chase, or while looking to give some suspense to the narrative isn’t a very good choice, because the impact of the events on the reader decreases dramatically.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I think that there’s room for improvement.
I received this book through GoodReads First Reads.
Also, the continuous use of euphemism when trying to describe a chase, or while looking to give some suspense to the narrative isn’t a very good choice, because the impact of the events on the reader decreases dramatically.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I think that there’s room for improvement.
I received this book through GoodReads First Reads.
July 23, 2013
As before, after I had read this book, I checked out the reviews that had already been written, to get a sense of others feelings on this very intense product. This is definitely for the more advanced reader of literature, as it covers multiple disciplines and areas of thought provoking intellect. For those that want to explore both sides of the equation, in regards to psychological disfunction of the pursuers and the pursue'e, this is definitely your book. Intense, graphic, with wonderful descriptions of intense scenic and biological processes, this creation grips you until the last page. I give it a 4.5 on my scale of 1 to 5 as the only minus is that it sometimes gets a little off track with the religious aspect intensity. Definitely a must have for any library
April 16, 2013
The Searcher by Ray Dacolias stars Joaquin Bridger- a homeless man who is tormented by his past. The story starts off in Redwood, California, where we meet Joaquin as he wanders the same path he has taken for the last 5 years. He prays for agony and punishment. He wishes to die, but would consider that more of a blessing than he deserves. The villagers have nicknamed him 'El Buscar' or 'The Searcher', because he wanders with his head down, never looking up, as though he's looking for something.
But what caused this man to break? What thrust him down the dark hole to his never-ending torture? His general story is this. Joaquin was part of the 110th Infantry Division. Then 15 years ago he settled in Redwood, becoming a police officer. One of the best. 5 years ago, an event occurred that turned him into the shell of a man he is today. There was a bank robbery. Two people were taken hostage as the robbers were escaping. Their car crashed and the police caught up to them. The car had flipped and the leader of the bandits had the hostages with him in the front. The police quickly surrounded the area and set up Joaquin for a shot at the leader (as Joaquin is an ace shot). The leader had completely covered himself and the two hostages with his coat, and threatened to kill both hostages if his demands weren't met. Joaquin had to take the shot, but before he could the leader shot one of the hostages. Joaquin quickly took a shot of his own, but as he fired the car slipped in the muddy ground and moved enough for his shot to go wide and hit the other hostage instead. Joaquin ran to the car, the leader threw out his gun and surrendered, but it was then that Joaquin discovered who the hostages were. His wife and daughter. The leader had killed his wife and he had killed his own daughter. It may have been an accident, he may not have been at fault, but the guilt and the grief broke him and turned him into the agonised man he now is.
Now 5 years later, events seem to be repeating. He happens to be standing outside the bank. Juanita Chavez (an old friend of his that offers him food whenever they happen to meet) is in town with her 4 children. She visits the bank and is on her way to her car when her youngest daughter, 9 year old Sylvia, realizes she's dropped her toy on the way and runs back to find it. Juanita runs to her as three men run out of the bank and grab her child. Another robbery is in progress and another hostage is taken as they make their escape. Joaquin briefly glimpses one of the men as they barge past him, and recognises the man who killed his family. Shock paralyses him and allows them enough time to get away with the child. Joaquin makes it his life mission to track down the man and bring back the child. He gives his word to Juanita. Her faith in him makes brief appearances throughout the book, as she and her family struggle to deal with the loss.
Along the way, Joaquin is helped by two men. Captain Ricardo Montoya, the chief of police in Redwood- who is an old friend of Joaquin and Supervisory Deputy United States Marshal Jacob Shipper, who is part of the investigation as the kidnapper is believed to be a fugitive. Joaquin's name has travelled far, but his story has not. Once Shipper hears it, he does all he can to help the broken man, even making him a Marshal in order to help him track down the kidnapper.
Thus begins a journey that spans nearly three years, across several states, including Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and many others. Through harsh environments and extreme situations, both mental and physical. We learn more about the tracker and his prey, John Slaughter.
If evil could have a physical form, it would be John Slaughter. He is a man who detests man-kind. So much so, that he wants to eradicate it and form a super-army, with himself at the lead. He travels with a convoy and has many safe-houses, all of which are well 'off the beaten track'. He always has young girls with him. He wants to 'educate' them to be the perfect 'ants'. To him, women are simply big children. A genetic mutation. He wants soldiers with no emotion and little 'ants' to tend to their needs. The girls will become the perfect women- 'ants' devoted to the colony, utterly devoid of self-preservation or being. All in his presence must call him 'The Master", for that is what he believes himself to be and what he wants to become.
Sylvia is brought to the convoy two weeks after her kidnapping. It's a harsh life, constantly marching, constant physical exertion in Slaughter's very own 'survival of the fittest' world. The weakest are 'thinned from the herd'. He occasionally gives the girls tests. Whoever fails is left behind. All the girls are given ankle bracelets upon their arrival, which contain a tracking device, meaning the girls can't run or get away. If they try to remove it, it sends out a signal and they are found out instantly. She meets many other girls along the way, as Slaughter constantly leaves girls (whether at one of his safe-houses or alone in the wild) and brings others in. When the girls turn thirteen, they are left at a safe-house for further education.
Joaquin is angry and desperate for revenge. He is willing to kill all who get in his way without a second thought. During one of his attacks, he finds himself taken down too. Saved by a massive man he calls 'the Giant', he spends a lot of time with the man as he recovers. 'The Giant' no longer remembers his name, but his story is seared into his mind and he tries to reason with Joaquin to leave his anger behind and accept forgiveness. This odd prophet delivers a pathway to inner peace for Joaquin. His story resonates so deeply and is so similar to Joaquin's own, that the man feels he has found a kindred spirit in this huge hermit.
Joaquin tries to understand, tries to accept, but his mission and hate are so strong and burn so bright inside him that it is an impossible task.
This is one of the few stories I've read, where you feel like you've been on the long journey with them. The weariness and tension experienced by so many of the characters, begins to take its toll on the reader as well. Joaquin's non-stop determination towards his goal. His extreme lows- where he becomes just a being, a creature and forgets everything except that he's tracking a monster and can never stop- are hard for the reader to bear too. Not as hard as it is for the characters, obviously, but enough to make the journey feel the length it actually is. This is a story that spans years and miles and the author does a great job making the reader not only believe that, but experience it to the greatest extent they can.
There is very little dialogue in this book, and what is there feels very old-fashioned. The way they talk, the words they use, all add together to give the impression of an long ago story, though this is a book set in very modern times. There's technology and all the other marvels of the modern world, so the result is a world that feels a little juxtaposed with the people in it. Not necessarily a bad thing. Some people may find it a little distracting, but I found it more intriguing.
Another thing that may be an issue for some readers is the changes in Point of View. It doesn't happen incredibly often, but the problem lies more in the manor of the changes. Every time the POV switches, the story returns back to the last moment we saw that character in, even if that means returning to the start of the book. It can be a little confusing in places at first, but once you get used to it, I don't think it's a problem.
The characters are hard to describe. Everything is said through their actions and presence, with very little spoken between any of the characters. They come alive when they interact with each other, but when they're alone, they somehow become less of a person and more of a character. Maybe that's the problem, they're more characters than people. It's not that they're unrealistic, it's more that so many of them are so obscure or unusual that's it hard to relate to them. I fully believe that anyone can become any of these characters given the right circumstances. However, that doesn't make it any easier to understand them. I can understand their motives and the reasoning behind what they do, but actually understanding them is a different story. They interact so strongly together, that the reader is almost kept out of the loop. This means that while the characters are interesting and work well together, there's no real sense of loss when one is left behind or lost, because they're more important to each other than to the reader.
As I mentioned earlier, there is an amazingly small amount of dialogue. Instead we get beautiful descriptive writing, that flows flawlessly and paints stunning landscapes and brings the characters and places to life. It fits very well with the strong 'back to nature' feel I got from this book. I'm interested in knowing whether I was the only one who got that vibe. The story is very big on leaving behind the cold, technological world in favour of the bounties of nature. This theme can be a little overshadowed by another sometimes. I know a lot of people got annoyed with this second theme- religion. There is a lot of forgiveness and God talk, but I personally didn't find it an issue. I know a lot of books with religion in them can seem preachy, but this wasn't a book about religion to me. It was just a book with religion in it. And the characters are preaching, but to one another, not the reader. Yes, some people might consider those two the same thing, but it's not. I live by the 'to each his own' motto, and am perfectly happy for people believe whatever they want to. Why should it matter to me? The only time I get irritated by it, is if someone tries to force their beliefs on others or if they use their beliefs as an excuse to do bad things. That's not how religion should work. Some people may say, but aren't the characters in this book forcing their beliefs on others? To an extent, maybe, but mostly they're just trying to offer comfort and support the best way they know how, which just happens to be in the form of religion some of the time.
Mainly, this is a story of forgiveness and hope in their purest forms. One man finding peace within himself and accepting redemption.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It's not what I'd call a mainstream book. I have a hard time categorising it. From the description I would call it a thriller, but it's so very atypical of your general thriller that it doesn't quite fit in the genre. For this reason, some people may dislike it, but if you're a fan of unconventional stories, that have more of an 'indie feel', or are a fan of adventure-thrillers, why not take a look?
Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the author. This is not a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% my own.
But what caused this man to break? What thrust him down the dark hole to his never-ending torture? His general story is this. Joaquin was part of the 110th Infantry Division. Then 15 years ago he settled in Redwood, becoming a police officer. One of the best. 5 years ago, an event occurred that turned him into the shell of a man he is today. There was a bank robbery. Two people were taken hostage as the robbers were escaping. Their car crashed and the police caught up to them. The car had flipped and the leader of the bandits had the hostages with him in the front. The police quickly surrounded the area and set up Joaquin for a shot at the leader (as Joaquin is an ace shot). The leader had completely covered himself and the two hostages with his coat, and threatened to kill both hostages if his demands weren't met. Joaquin had to take the shot, but before he could the leader shot one of the hostages. Joaquin quickly took a shot of his own, but as he fired the car slipped in the muddy ground and moved enough for his shot to go wide and hit the other hostage instead. Joaquin ran to the car, the leader threw out his gun and surrendered, but it was then that Joaquin discovered who the hostages were. His wife and daughter. The leader had killed his wife and he had killed his own daughter. It may have been an accident, he may not have been at fault, but the guilt and the grief broke him and turned him into the agonised man he now is.
Now 5 years later, events seem to be repeating. He happens to be standing outside the bank. Juanita Chavez (an old friend of his that offers him food whenever they happen to meet) is in town with her 4 children. She visits the bank and is on her way to her car when her youngest daughter, 9 year old Sylvia, realizes she's dropped her toy on the way and runs back to find it. Juanita runs to her as three men run out of the bank and grab her child. Another robbery is in progress and another hostage is taken as they make their escape. Joaquin briefly glimpses one of the men as they barge past him, and recognises the man who killed his family. Shock paralyses him and allows them enough time to get away with the child. Joaquin makes it his life mission to track down the man and bring back the child. He gives his word to Juanita. Her faith in him makes brief appearances throughout the book, as she and her family struggle to deal with the loss.
Along the way, Joaquin is helped by two men. Captain Ricardo Montoya, the chief of police in Redwood- who is an old friend of Joaquin and Supervisory Deputy United States Marshal Jacob Shipper, who is part of the investigation as the kidnapper is believed to be a fugitive. Joaquin's name has travelled far, but his story has not. Once Shipper hears it, he does all he can to help the broken man, even making him a Marshal in order to help him track down the kidnapper.
Thus begins a journey that spans nearly three years, across several states, including Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and many others. Through harsh environments and extreme situations, both mental and physical. We learn more about the tracker and his prey, John Slaughter.
If evil could have a physical form, it would be John Slaughter. He is a man who detests man-kind. So much so, that he wants to eradicate it and form a super-army, with himself at the lead. He travels with a convoy and has many safe-houses, all of which are well 'off the beaten track'. He always has young girls with him. He wants to 'educate' them to be the perfect 'ants'. To him, women are simply big children. A genetic mutation. He wants soldiers with no emotion and little 'ants' to tend to their needs. The girls will become the perfect women- 'ants' devoted to the colony, utterly devoid of self-preservation or being. All in his presence must call him 'The Master", for that is what he believes himself to be and what he wants to become.
Sylvia is brought to the convoy two weeks after her kidnapping. It's a harsh life, constantly marching, constant physical exertion in Slaughter's very own 'survival of the fittest' world. The weakest are 'thinned from the herd'. He occasionally gives the girls tests. Whoever fails is left behind. All the girls are given ankle bracelets upon their arrival, which contain a tracking device, meaning the girls can't run or get away. If they try to remove it, it sends out a signal and they are found out instantly. She meets many other girls along the way, as Slaughter constantly leaves girls (whether at one of his safe-houses or alone in the wild) and brings others in. When the girls turn thirteen, they are left at a safe-house for further education.
Joaquin is angry and desperate for revenge. He is willing to kill all who get in his way without a second thought. During one of his attacks, he finds himself taken down too. Saved by a massive man he calls 'the Giant', he spends a lot of time with the man as he recovers. 'The Giant' no longer remembers his name, but his story is seared into his mind and he tries to reason with Joaquin to leave his anger behind and accept forgiveness. This odd prophet delivers a pathway to inner peace for Joaquin. His story resonates so deeply and is so similar to Joaquin's own, that the man feels he has found a kindred spirit in this huge hermit.
Joaquin tries to understand, tries to accept, but his mission and hate are so strong and burn so bright inside him that it is an impossible task.
This is one of the few stories I've read, where you feel like you've been on the long journey with them. The weariness and tension experienced by so many of the characters, begins to take its toll on the reader as well. Joaquin's non-stop determination towards his goal. His extreme lows- where he becomes just a being, a creature and forgets everything except that he's tracking a monster and can never stop- are hard for the reader to bear too. Not as hard as it is for the characters, obviously, but enough to make the journey feel the length it actually is. This is a story that spans years and miles and the author does a great job making the reader not only believe that, but experience it to the greatest extent they can.
There is very little dialogue in this book, and what is there feels very old-fashioned. The way they talk, the words they use, all add together to give the impression of an long ago story, though this is a book set in very modern times. There's technology and all the other marvels of the modern world, so the result is a world that feels a little juxtaposed with the people in it. Not necessarily a bad thing. Some people may find it a little distracting, but I found it more intriguing.
Another thing that may be an issue for some readers is the changes in Point of View. It doesn't happen incredibly often, but the problem lies more in the manor of the changes. Every time the POV switches, the story returns back to the last moment we saw that character in, even if that means returning to the start of the book. It can be a little confusing in places at first, but once you get used to it, I don't think it's a problem.
The characters are hard to describe. Everything is said through their actions and presence, with very little spoken between any of the characters. They come alive when they interact with each other, but when they're alone, they somehow become less of a person and more of a character. Maybe that's the problem, they're more characters than people. It's not that they're unrealistic, it's more that so many of them are so obscure or unusual that's it hard to relate to them. I fully believe that anyone can become any of these characters given the right circumstances. However, that doesn't make it any easier to understand them. I can understand their motives and the reasoning behind what they do, but actually understanding them is a different story. They interact so strongly together, that the reader is almost kept out of the loop. This means that while the characters are interesting and work well together, there's no real sense of loss when one is left behind or lost, because they're more important to each other than to the reader.
As I mentioned earlier, there is an amazingly small amount of dialogue. Instead we get beautiful descriptive writing, that flows flawlessly and paints stunning landscapes and brings the characters and places to life. It fits very well with the strong 'back to nature' feel I got from this book. I'm interested in knowing whether I was the only one who got that vibe. The story is very big on leaving behind the cold, technological world in favour of the bounties of nature. This theme can be a little overshadowed by another sometimes. I know a lot of people got annoyed with this second theme- religion. There is a lot of forgiveness and God talk, but I personally didn't find it an issue. I know a lot of books with religion in them can seem preachy, but this wasn't a book about religion to me. It was just a book with religion in it. And the characters are preaching, but to one another, not the reader. Yes, some people might consider those two the same thing, but it's not. I live by the 'to each his own' motto, and am perfectly happy for people believe whatever they want to. Why should it matter to me? The only time I get irritated by it, is if someone tries to force their beliefs on others or if they use their beliefs as an excuse to do bad things. That's not how religion should work. Some people may say, but aren't the characters in this book forcing their beliefs on others? To an extent, maybe, but mostly they're just trying to offer comfort and support the best way they know how, which just happens to be in the form of religion some of the time.
Mainly, this is a story of forgiveness and hope in their purest forms. One man finding peace within himself and accepting redemption.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It's not what I'd call a mainstream book. I have a hard time categorising it. From the description I would call it a thriller, but it's so very atypical of your general thriller that it doesn't quite fit in the genre. For this reason, some people may dislike it, but if you're a fan of unconventional stories, that have more of an 'indie feel', or are a fan of adventure-thrillers, why not take a look?
Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the author. This is not a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% my own.
September 14, 2021
Former soldier Joaquin Bridger moves in Redwood, becomes a police officer, marries, and has a daughter. For ten years, he and his family live there pleasantly, until catastrophe strikes. In a fight with bank thieves, his wife and daughter are slain, and he blames himself. He quits the police force and begins a wandering, aimless life about town, going silently, broodingly, filthily wherever he goes. He has been this way for five years. The bulk of the people in town regard him as a mentally challenged man. Few people have the audacity to annoy him. Then, one day, John Slaughter, the guy responsible for Joaquin's family's death, returns to this town.
He kidnaps a young girl as he flees after robbing a bank with his fellow crooks. Joaquin recognizes the man and pursues him. So the story begins. Slaughter is not your average crime. He has bases of operations throughout the country and engages in nefarious activities with both foreign and domestic criminals. He never stays too long in one area, making it incredibly difficult for Joaquin to trace him throughout the wide countryside. Sylvia, the girl stolen by Slaughter, is nearly nine years old when the story begins, and as she encounters other girls kidnapped by Slaughter, she learns how to survive while waiting for rescue.
Back in Redwood, Sylvia's mother, Juanita, attempts everything she can to find her daughter. She also knows Joaquin is looking for Sylvia, which gives her some comfort. From the start of the quest, Joaquin has been assisted by two men who believe in him: a U.S. Marshal and a Redwood police officer. Joaquin travels across numerous Western states in quest of the youngster. As he pursues Slaughter, he is also dealing with the loss of his wife and children, as well as the failure of his life over the last five years. Along the journey, as he reclaims his forefathers' rich frontier legacy by learning to coexist peacefully with Nature, he meets a large man known as the Giant. The Giant teaches Joaquin how to live in peace and harmony with himself; the Giant just teaches Joaquin how to live.
He kidnaps a young girl as he flees after robbing a bank with his fellow crooks. Joaquin recognizes the man and pursues him. So the story begins. Slaughter is not your average crime. He has bases of operations throughout the country and engages in nefarious activities with both foreign and domestic criminals. He never stays too long in one area, making it incredibly difficult for Joaquin to trace him throughout the wide countryside. Sylvia, the girl stolen by Slaughter, is nearly nine years old when the story begins, and as she encounters other girls kidnapped by Slaughter, she learns how to survive while waiting for rescue.
Back in Redwood, Sylvia's mother, Juanita, attempts everything she can to find her daughter. She also knows Joaquin is looking for Sylvia, which gives her some comfort. From the start of the quest, Joaquin has been assisted by two men who believe in him: a U.S. Marshal and a Redwood police officer. Joaquin travels across numerous Western states in quest of the youngster. As he pursues Slaughter, he is also dealing with the loss of his wife and children, as well as the failure of his life over the last five years. Along the journey, as he reclaims his forefathers' rich frontier legacy by learning to coexist peacefully with Nature, he meets a large man known as the Giant. The Giant teaches Joaquin how to live in peace and harmony with himself; the Giant just teaches Joaquin how to live.
February 21, 2018
I received this ebook through a Goodreads giveaway.
The basic story intrigued me and I guess I read to the end just to see what would happen, though I always felt I knew. A family man, a hero and police officer is victim of an horrific act during a police action. He is devastated and becomes a hermit until another horrific act befalls a different family by the same criminal. This is a story for those who are devout. All along the way prayer, God's forgiveness, and belief in doing the right thing is woven into the story. Love all living things and forgive those who hurt you is the theme here. Our hero is an accomplished tracker and starts off to find a kidnapped child, but also for revenge. He meets others along the way and gets guidance from them to continue his mission without losing his own soul. Too much like preaching for me.
The basic story intrigued me and I guess I read to the end just to see what would happen, though I always felt I knew. A family man, a hero and police officer is victim of an horrific act during a police action. He is devastated and becomes a hermit until another horrific act befalls a different family by the same criminal. This is a story for those who are devout. All along the way prayer, God's forgiveness, and belief in doing the right thing is woven into the story. Love all living things and forgive those who hurt you is the theme here. Our hero is an accomplished tracker and starts off to find a kidnapped child, but also for revenge. He meets others along the way and gets guidance from them to continue his mission without losing his own soul. Too much like preaching for me.
June 28, 2019
This author paints beautiful pictures with words. His words are like poetry- elegant, flowing, descriptive, and occasionally difficult to understand. This story itself was very promising, but there were a few major problems for me. #1- NOBODY talks like the characters in this book. Dialogue was on par with Shakespeare, even going so far as to use "thee" more than once. I actually wondered if this wasn't occurring in the past until some fairly advanced tech was mentioned (tech that the authorities didn't have access to, on a laptop that apparently never needed to be charged and still ran for 3 years 😑). It was a bit preachy, and the timeline was sometimes a bit difficult to follow. The passage of time was only clearly marked by characters mentioning it (she's been lost for two years!).
February 6, 2018
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I have to say that I liked the story and was definitely intrigued to continue and find out what happened to the characters. The writing was intensely descriptive and, while it took you to the setting as if you were right there, there were some passages I just had to skim. I felt like saying "I get it already." Again, I don't want to end on a negative as I was engrossed in the story.
February 21, 2018
A good book, sad and so hard for him to deal with. Liked the story.
February 27, 2018
I thought that it was good
April 1, 2018
This book was not for me. It started off strong, but then it started skipping full years. I lost interest.
July 3, 2018
Didn't finish it, gave up after 70 pages. Story premise attracted me but really disliked the writing style.
October 28, 2014
I received this book for free through a Goodreads First Read Giveaway.
The first time I attempted to read this book, I only managed to make it about 50 pages into the book before I decided to give up strictly because of the over explaining and the unnecessarily rich writing. The second attempt was a lot more successful (I actually managed to finish it).
The overall plot of the book is about an ex-cop and professional tracker, Joaquin Bridger, that experiences the tragedy of losing his wife and daughter. He becomes an empty vessel of a human being that wanders the streets until one day he witnesses a bank robbery and the kidnapping of a girl of a family he knows and suspects the criminal behind it all is the same that murdered his family. Joaquin embarks on a long, and treacherous journey in order to bring the girl back to her family and capture the man that has torn apart his own life. Along the way he meets an interesting man whom he refers to as The Giant who has experienced his own loss of loved ones and teaches Joaquin about forgiveness and being more attuned with nature. The lessons Joaquin learns from The Giant stay with him throughout his journey through the passage of safe houses, discovering bodies of other little girls that were abducted as well as some of the bodies of the criminal's assailants. Eventually Joaquin is able to catch up to the self-righteous criminal and his remaining crew and engage in an all-out battle to rescue the little girl.
If you manage to take out some of the unnecessary descriptions of nature as well as the complicated language, you have an entertaining novel. The actual plot is interesting and engaging but it's a lot of the filler that can really dissuade the reader from finishing the book.
The author wanted to incorporate a philosophical aspect to the novel, however it can confuse the reader and have them forget what they were actually reading. A lot of the more in-depth parts involve man vs. nature or making comparisons between a life in a capitalistic society versus that of being truly at one with nature, as well as Joaquin battling internal demons and being able to reconcile his past with his present. All very profound topics, but written in a confusing manner.
I must give the author kudos for developing a truly detestable villain to counter balance the justice seeking tracker Joaquin. John Slaughter kidnaps little girls, educates and raises them until they are of a mature age after which he sells them off to rich men for whatever purposes they see fit. Apart from his role in the trafficking of young girls, he possesses a completely elitist perspective as well as a narcissistic personality that has the reader waiting for his capture and pending demise.
As far as free books go, it was engaging enough. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who has little patience with boring parts of a book (because there's a few) but then again, there's always the option of skimming if the main plot catches your fancy.
The first time I attempted to read this book, I only managed to make it about 50 pages into the book before I decided to give up strictly because of the over explaining and the unnecessarily rich writing. The second attempt was a lot more successful (I actually managed to finish it).
The overall plot of the book is about an ex-cop and professional tracker, Joaquin Bridger, that experiences the tragedy of losing his wife and daughter. He becomes an empty vessel of a human being that wanders the streets until one day he witnesses a bank robbery and the kidnapping of a girl of a family he knows and suspects the criminal behind it all is the same that murdered his family. Joaquin embarks on a long, and treacherous journey in order to bring the girl back to her family and capture the man that has torn apart his own life. Along the way he meets an interesting man whom he refers to as The Giant who has experienced his own loss of loved ones and teaches Joaquin about forgiveness and being more attuned with nature. The lessons Joaquin learns from The Giant stay with him throughout his journey through the passage of safe houses, discovering bodies of other little girls that were abducted as well as some of the bodies of the criminal's assailants. Eventually Joaquin is able to catch up to the self-righteous criminal and his remaining crew and engage in an all-out battle to rescue the little girl.
If you manage to take out some of the unnecessary descriptions of nature as well as the complicated language, you have an entertaining novel. The actual plot is interesting and engaging but it's a lot of the filler that can really dissuade the reader from finishing the book.
The author wanted to incorporate a philosophical aspect to the novel, however it can confuse the reader and have them forget what they were actually reading. A lot of the more in-depth parts involve man vs. nature or making comparisons between a life in a capitalistic society versus that of being truly at one with nature, as well as Joaquin battling internal demons and being able to reconcile his past with his present. All very profound topics, but written in a confusing manner.
I must give the author kudos for developing a truly detestable villain to counter balance the justice seeking tracker Joaquin. John Slaughter kidnaps little girls, educates and raises them until they are of a mature age after which he sells them off to rich men for whatever purposes they see fit. Apart from his role in the trafficking of young girls, he possesses a completely elitist perspective as well as a narcissistic personality that has the reader waiting for his capture and pending demise.
As far as free books go, it was engaging enough. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who has little patience with boring parts of a book (because there's a few) but then again, there's always the option of skimming if the main plot catches your fancy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2013
I have had a hard time trying to think of how to write this review. First off, it is a first reads good reads giveaway.
Ok, though it is absolutely nothing like The Shack, it felt the same in it's finish. It is a story about redemption and forgiveness, but also includes rescue and completion. As I said, the story is nothing like The Shack - but it has some of the underlying elements.
Girl is kidnapped, man goes after her to save her. He has lived a live of absolute personal punishment for a past wrong - dirty and homeless - refusing himself any type of comfort. When the girl is kidnapped, he sees the opportunity to right the wrong he thinks he has committed in the past. Luckily, he happens to be a past law-enforcement man in addition to a military marksman, woodsman, etc.
The opening sentence was an immediate draw in. The sentences and the chapters are an odd combination of short and choppy, and then almost poetic in their fluidity and descriptive grace.
It isn't simple. He spends years finding the girl. It is an interesting combination of old-world woodsman skills and modern technology. He completely sinks himself into the rescue effort. The girl has been kidnapped by a meglomaniac sadist. He is truly evil. Though not as much of the story, it is also the girl's story as she survives her situation and remains true to herself and her beliefs.
Along the way, the searcher learns about revenge and forgiveness. He learns about seeking justice without becoming the evil he is seeking through hatred and revenge. For a little while, I was worried that somehow it was going to come to a point that the evil man couldn't be stopped because the searcher would have to decide between taking a life and not living a life of hatred or that somehow stopping the evil character would be tied up with becoming evil, and in a way it was, but it does eventually resolve into a reasonable conclusion.
There are some long and slow parts. There are some odd and obscure parts that read like something that your high school teacher has put in front of you and you will never read again after you finish the test. However, overall it is a moving story, and though heart breaking, also filled with hope.
Much of it comes down to the issues we all face (in a much less tragic and smaller way) about how to forgive, but not allow someone to continue to hurt us or others; how to pursue justice while keeping hatred and vengeance from our hearts. Also, recognizing that we have to leave sorrow. No matter what we have done or what has happened to us, we have to choose to leave sorrow, to forgive ourselves as well as others, and to accept (my interpretation - it is not stated in these words) the sacrifice of the savior instead of rejecting it. Accept His forgiveness of us instead of thinking we know better than Him and continuing to punish ourselves. Let Him be the judge.
Ok, though it is absolutely nothing like The Shack, it felt the same in it's finish. It is a story about redemption and forgiveness, but also includes rescue and completion. As I said, the story is nothing like The Shack - but it has some of the underlying elements.
Girl is kidnapped, man goes after her to save her. He has lived a live of absolute personal punishment for a past wrong - dirty and homeless - refusing himself any type of comfort. When the girl is kidnapped, he sees the opportunity to right the wrong he thinks he has committed in the past. Luckily, he happens to be a past law-enforcement man in addition to a military marksman, woodsman, etc.
The opening sentence was an immediate draw in. The sentences and the chapters are an odd combination of short and choppy, and then almost poetic in their fluidity and descriptive grace.
It isn't simple. He spends years finding the girl. It is an interesting combination of old-world woodsman skills and modern technology. He completely sinks himself into the rescue effort. The girl has been kidnapped by a meglomaniac sadist. He is truly evil. Though not as much of the story, it is also the girl's story as she survives her situation and remains true to herself and her beliefs.
Along the way, the searcher learns about revenge and forgiveness. He learns about seeking justice without becoming the evil he is seeking through hatred and revenge. For a little while, I was worried that somehow it was going to come to a point that the evil man couldn't be stopped because the searcher would have to decide between taking a life and not living a life of hatred or that somehow stopping the evil character would be tied up with becoming evil, and in a way it was, but it does eventually resolve into a reasonable conclusion.
There are some long and slow parts. There are some odd and obscure parts that read like something that your high school teacher has put in front of you and you will never read again after you finish the test. However, overall it is a moving story, and though heart breaking, also filled with hope.
Much of it comes down to the issues we all face (in a much less tragic and smaller way) about how to forgive, but not allow someone to continue to hurt us or others; how to pursue justice while keeping hatred and vengeance from our hearts. Also, recognizing that we have to leave sorrow. No matter what we have done or what has happened to us, we have to choose to leave sorrow, to forgive ourselves as well as others, and to accept (my interpretation - it is not stated in these words) the sacrifice of the savior instead of rejecting it. Accept His forgiveness of us instead of thinking we know better than Him and continuing to punish ourselves. Let Him be the judge.
July 27, 2013
I can only imagine the sheer pain and torment a person goes through when they watch a loved one be butchered in front of their eyes. A piece of their spirit is killed along with their other half and something is permanently broken for all time. This story is about a person that was broken five years ago one dreaded day. His name is Joaquin Bridger. A cop that specializes in hunting down humanity's trash and cleaning the streets of its filth. On one typical day Joaquin gets called in to take down a deranged conman that has taken a woman and her child hostage. Not knowing who the hostages are Joaquin prepares to kill his prey. Once he reaches his destination he realizes that it is his wife and daughter that are the hostages and it is his task to get them away from the killer. What happens is a sad piece of history that forever scares Joaquin. While firing his shot he strikes his daughter and the conman kills his wife. In the chaos surrounding the shooting, the human garbage escapes in to the wilderness. Knowing that he killed his own daughter and prevented his wife's death, he turns toward madness for comfort. His guilt eats him alive and transforms him into a broken man that is looked at as a member of the walking dead.
One day while Joaquin is making his typical rounds of self pity throughout town he stumbles up on a familiar scene. A scene where a woman and a daughter are held captive by a deranged lunatic. In the chaos that surrounds the scene the bank robber makes off with the child while the mother is left in tears. While witnessing the kidnapping Joaquin recognizes the human trash that killed his wife and a spark of life begins to reignite in him. The guilt that has been festering in his soul turns into rage and he promises the mother and the police he will hunt the animal down and return the daughter. The story then follows the minds of several twisted souls and shows how a broken man can slowly put himself back together again. This book was a very interesting piece of literature. On one hand I was a little taken back by the descriptive monologues that took place throughout the book, but I also respected the author's depth in his beliefs. This book was very difficult to read at times since it had a tendency to run on and on. However, I did enjoy the story and appreciated the author's language, emotions, and passion for his character. I must thank both Goodreads and the author for allowing me to review this book. It was very enjoyable and it was something new for me.
One day while Joaquin is making his typical rounds of self pity throughout town he stumbles up on a familiar scene. A scene where a woman and a daughter are held captive by a deranged lunatic. In the chaos that surrounds the scene the bank robber makes off with the child while the mother is left in tears. While witnessing the kidnapping Joaquin recognizes the human trash that killed his wife and a spark of life begins to reignite in him. The guilt that has been festering in his soul turns into rage and he promises the mother and the police he will hunt the animal down and return the daughter. The story then follows the minds of several twisted souls and shows how a broken man can slowly put himself back together again. This book was a very interesting piece of literature. On one hand I was a little taken back by the descriptive monologues that took place throughout the book, but I also respected the author's depth in his beliefs. This book was very difficult to read at times since it had a tendency to run on and on. However, I did enjoy the story and appreciated the author's language, emotions, and passion for his character. I must thank both Goodreads and the author for allowing me to review this book. It was very enjoyable and it was something new for me.
April 15, 2013
When we believe in a cause, we fight and fight for it until we win. Only a few of us, however, have enough resolve to keep holding on until the very end. Ray Dacolias presents similar ideas in his action-packed novel The Searcher, which follows the journey of a man in search of a captive young girl. So much can be learned from this novel, including headstrong dedication, emotional closure, and many other internal conflicts the protagonist, Joaquin, faces.
What I can praise about this novel is, first and foremost, its language. The prose is so powerful, varying its diction with each sentence, that it flows very smoothly. Reminiscent of that of the classics, the language employs symbols and keeps names to a minimum, allowing readers to see more of a big picture than specific details in the plot. Dacolias also uses other literary devices, particularly biblical allusions, both explicitly and subtly, which adds even more depth to the story. All in all, the central themes in this book leave readers thinking, challenging them to realize there is more to familial love than we make it. Also, I particularly find interesting the rising tension in the story. As somewhat of a thriller, this novel keeps readers entranced by a solid conflict whose intensity grows as the tale progresses.
Though the ideas in this book are moving, I must note that, at some points, the dialogue and narration do get a little too dramatic that it starts to feel unnatural. While this may be part of the intention to provide strong themes, it tends to distract the reader from the progressing plot. Moreover, I do find that the journey that Joaquin makes can be somewhat unrealistic, as a good number of his feats can be considered inhuman. Though this behavior adds to the characterization of his undying resolve, some parts force readers to suspend belief in order to enjoy the story. These points, however, are insignificant setbacks that don't take much away from the positive aspects of this work.
Having received this book from a Goodreads giveaway, I did enjoy The Searcher regardless of a minor hindrance or two. Readers who would like to check this novel out should appreciate what it does well and that is tell a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
What I can praise about this novel is, first and foremost, its language. The prose is so powerful, varying its diction with each sentence, that it flows very smoothly. Reminiscent of that of the classics, the language employs symbols and keeps names to a minimum, allowing readers to see more of a big picture than specific details in the plot. Dacolias also uses other literary devices, particularly biblical allusions, both explicitly and subtly, which adds even more depth to the story. All in all, the central themes in this book leave readers thinking, challenging them to realize there is more to familial love than we make it. Also, I particularly find interesting the rising tension in the story. As somewhat of a thriller, this novel keeps readers entranced by a solid conflict whose intensity grows as the tale progresses.
Though the ideas in this book are moving, I must note that, at some points, the dialogue and narration do get a little too dramatic that it starts to feel unnatural. While this may be part of the intention to provide strong themes, it tends to distract the reader from the progressing plot. Moreover, I do find that the journey that Joaquin makes can be somewhat unrealistic, as a good number of his feats can be considered inhuman. Though this behavior adds to the characterization of his undying resolve, some parts force readers to suspend belief in order to enjoy the story. These points, however, are insignificant setbacks that don't take much away from the positive aspects of this work.
Having received this book from a Goodreads giveaway, I did enjoy The Searcher regardless of a minor hindrance or two. Readers who would like to check this novel out should appreciate what it does well and that is tell a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
July 4, 2013
I received The Searcher from the author through the LibraryThing Member Giveaway scheme.
The plot is fairly straightforward - a cop makes a mistake resulting in the death of his wife and child at the hands of an uber criminal. The cop is so full of remorse and self loathing that he takes to living on the streets and soaks up the deprivation and abuse as a self inflicted punishment, until the day he witnesses a bank robbery and recognises his nemesis grab a child hostage and flee. This is not a spoiler, it is merely the starting gate for the story in which he vows to track down the criminal, free the child and gain redemption.
And that really is the plot from thereonin, for which the reader is require to suspend belief which is not uncommon with more outrageous action books, or scripts, there will be many eye rolling moments but that should not spoil the overall enjoyment of a book well written and a story which fairly cracks along.
The author weaves a number of competing or complimentary threads around the simple plot and the book has themes of adventure, survivalism, spirituality, action thriller, fantasy, motivational, and classic good versus evil, and there is a danger that any one of these themes when accompanied by some scarcely believable, or more likely unbelievable, happenings will alienate a reader.
I'm not easily taken in by Coelhoesque mind manipulation but can appreciate his stories and enjoy his writing if I forget about the supposed life changing and preachy qualities embued therein, and I found The Searcher to be similar in stripping out the sentimentality I could enjoy the descriptive quality of his writing. Dacolias is especially adept at imparting sensory experiences such as a passage where he describes the weary tracker accepting fate and being consumed into the earth as the autumnal leaves surrounding him. Of course there is renewal and hope and the story continues and that is really how the book rolls.
So a simple cliched plot, much ado about spirituality, motivation, and the power of good versus evil, but ultimately The Searcher is just a ripping good yarn.
The plot is fairly straightforward - a cop makes a mistake resulting in the death of his wife and child at the hands of an uber criminal. The cop is so full of remorse and self loathing that he takes to living on the streets and soaks up the deprivation and abuse as a self inflicted punishment, until the day he witnesses a bank robbery and recognises his nemesis grab a child hostage and flee. This is not a spoiler, it is merely the starting gate for the story in which he vows to track down the criminal, free the child and gain redemption.
And that really is the plot from thereonin, for which the reader is require to suspend belief which is not uncommon with more outrageous action books, or scripts, there will be many eye rolling moments but that should not spoil the overall enjoyment of a book well written and a story which fairly cracks along.
The author weaves a number of competing or complimentary threads around the simple plot and the book has themes of adventure, survivalism, spirituality, action thriller, fantasy, motivational, and classic good versus evil, and there is a danger that any one of these themes when accompanied by some scarcely believable, or more likely unbelievable, happenings will alienate a reader.
I'm not easily taken in by Coelhoesque mind manipulation but can appreciate his stories and enjoy his writing if I forget about the supposed life changing and preachy qualities embued therein, and I found The Searcher to be similar in stripping out the sentimentality I could enjoy the descriptive quality of his writing. Dacolias is especially adept at imparting sensory experiences such as a passage where he describes the weary tracker accepting fate and being consumed into the earth as the autumnal leaves surrounding him. Of course there is renewal and hope and the story continues and that is really how the book rolls.
So a simple cliched plot, much ado about spirituality, motivation, and the power of good versus evil, but ultimately The Searcher is just a ripping good yarn.
August 24, 2013
Joaquin, a police officer 5 years previous to the story, killed his daughter while trying to stop a kidnapper from abducting his child and wife. His wife was killed by the kidnapper. Joaquin was totally destroyed, left the force and lived as a beggar, walking the streets of his town, mentally and physically punishing himself every day for, in his mind, killing his wife and daughter. He was close to insanity when a similar bank robbery took place right in front of him. They shot the mother, leaving her on the street, and grabbed her daughter. The situation was so similar to what happened those 5 years past that it brought Joaquin out of his stupor. He went to the woman on the ground and told her to live and promised her he would return her daughter. The search began.
Juanita had strong faith. She believed in Joaquin for he was not a mere man. She regained her health healing from the bullet wound and prayed faithfully for the return of her daughter. Her other children gave up hope for her return. Even after 3 years of waiting she never gave up.
Sylvia, the young girl who was kidnapped learned to adapt to her situation and remain alive. She lived in the forest going from different secret hide away cabins located in several different states. She had learned from her mother about prayer and faith, so she prayed for herself, for the other girls and for the kidnappers, never giving up that she would be rescued. She knew Joaquin was searching for her and knew he wouldn’t give up the search until he found her.
The writer’s use of words is extraordinary. Joaquin searched for Sylvia but through the process he searched and found himself. The writer weaves a story with his words that places the reader at the scene, feeling what Joaquin feels, smelling what he smells and seeing what he sees. Much of the story is centered in rugged terrain pursuing the kidnapper, the very man who had taken his own wife and daughter. Joaquin’s search became very personable – revenge on his mind. Joaquin, through this journey changes from a man tormented to one at peace. The searching is his journey to that end. I highly recommend reading this book.
Juanita had strong faith. She believed in Joaquin for he was not a mere man. She regained her health healing from the bullet wound and prayed faithfully for the return of her daughter. Her other children gave up hope for her return. Even after 3 years of waiting she never gave up.
Sylvia, the young girl who was kidnapped learned to adapt to her situation and remain alive. She lived in the forest going from different secret hide away cabins located in several different states. She had learned from her mother about prayer and faith, so she prayed for herself, for the other girls and for the kidnappers, never giving up that she would be rescued. She knew Joaquin was searching for her and knew he wouldn’t give up the search until he found her.
The writer’s use of words is extraordinary. Joaquin searched for Sylvia but through the process he searched and found himself. The writer weaves a story with his words that places the reader at the scene, feeling what Joaquin feels, smelling what he smells and seeing what he sees. Much of the story is centered in rugged terrain pursuing the kidnapper, the very man who had taken his own wife and daughter. Joaquin’s search became very personable – revenge on his mind. Joaquin, through this journey changes from a man tormented to one at peace. The searching is his journey to that end. I highly recommend reading this book.
August 11, 2013
This book is about an extremely damaged ex-policeman who has suffered a double tragedy and become a homeless roamer. Locals know him as "the searcher". He witnesses a kidnapping and instantly becomes obsessed with returning the young victim to her widowed mother. The kidnappers aren't ordinary though; rather, they are part of a network of a madman named John Slaughter and have been impossible for anyone else to track down.
What I found interesting was the unexpected narrative of the kidnapper and his bizarre camps of kidnapped girls all across the country. I never quite understood what his plans for them were, but it seemed to be sorting out the strongest and making some sort of militia. Even more interesting to me were the tracking methods that Joaquin uses to look for young Sylvia.
What lost me were the long passages of a sort of philosophical dissertation about man's relationship with nature and mankind, along with concepts of forgiveness and trust found in most religions. Sometimes it was difficult to tell who was talking to whom, and the philosophy didn't melt well with the action at times. For example, Joaquin witnesses his mentor's murder. He is forced to watch the man die and the author describes this in detail, but it's also mixed with lessons in forgiveness.
I think this book would have been better had it stuck to an intriguing action/tracking story through frozen landscapes, or stuck strictly to philosophy. The mashup doesn't work for me. If you didn't like works like <>Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, you may not care for this. However, it's a good story of a man who gives up what little he has to keep a promise and the action sequences are interesting.
Some of the formatting and extremely long paragraphs made this book hard to read. Characters exchange dialogue all within a single long paragraph. Fortunately, not the entire book suffers from this.
What I found interesting was the unexpected narrative of the kidnapper and his bizarre camps of kidnapped girls all across the country. I never quite understood what his plans for them were, but it seemed to be sorting out the strongest and making some sort of militia. Even more interesting to me were the tracking methods that Joaquin uses to look for young Sylvia.
What lost me were the long passages of a sort of philosophical dissertation about man's relationship with nature and mankind, along with concepts of forgiveness and trust found in most religions. Sometimes it was difficult to tell who was talking to whom, and the philosophy didn't melt well with the action at times. For example, Joaquin witnesses his mentor's murder. He is forced to watch the man die and the author describes this in detail, but it's also mixed with lessons in forgiveness.
I think this book would have been better had it stuck to an intriguing action/tracking story through frozen landscapes, or stuck strictly to philosophy. The mashup doesn't work for me. If you didn't like works like <>Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, you may not care for this. However, it's a good story of a man who gives up what little he has to keep a promise and the action sequences are interesting.
Some of the formatting and extremely long paragraphs made this book hard to read. Characters exchange dialogue all within a single long paragraph. Fortunately, not the entire book suffers from this.
August 10, 2014
This book was given to me by a GoodReads giveaway. This is the first giveaway I have won, and I am so thankful to be a winner. But, at the same time, I have to give this book a scathing review, because it was unbearable to read through. I didn't finish it, and I hate to leave a book unfinished. It was impossible to continue reading through this disappointing book. As you read the description on the back cover, you may believe that this book is a thriller or crime mystery. It isn't. It's written in the overemotional and crowded style of those romance books you find in the bargain bin. Instead of introducing you to the characters or building up a little back story, the author instead just throws lots of overly sad and emotional descriptions and happenings in. It's exactly like those PETA commercials where they use pictures of slaughtered animals and then use big, bold slogans to grab your attention, but there is no skill, intelligence, or facts involved. The author constantly throws heavy and overbearing prose at you, and it's so cheesy and horrible that I physically cringed and then laughed aloud. Also, the story is just ridiculous and improbable. This homeless man decides that he's going to track a kidnapper who owns a car and a boat by foot. Yes, seriously, he's following a car and a boat on foot. I stopped reading at this point. Then I told my friends about it and they laughed too. I plan on giving this book to my weepy grandmother, who loves bargain books.
June 25, 2013
This book is the story of one man’s search—for himself, for redemption, for answers. Whatever you want, you can put that into the story’s main theme. The reader meets Joaquin Bridger, a homeless man who is tormented by his past until one day, he watches a child kidnaped and begins a search for the kidnaper and the stolen child. This search, which really is a search for himself and meaning in his life, takes Joaquin through many different places, encountering many different persons and situations. I found this book unlike any other I have read. It has little dialogue. The reader gets to know the characters through their interactions and their roles in the plot. The author has produced a well written, very descriptive book, and the reader will quickly feel a part of the story. One interesting thing is the way he has presented society. It is as if you are in a different era, yet modern conveniences still exist. The book relies on the reader’s ability to involve himself/herself in the story of Joaquin, and is not like many of today’s “who done it” mysteries. Some reviewers have found deeper meanings in the story and the characters, even the significance of the names. The author may have meant it as an allegory, but I took it as a simple story of one man’s search for meaning in himself and in life and how events can impact one in ways one might not understand or be able to foresee. I received this book from Library Thing to read and review.
April 20, 2013
4 out of 5 stars for "The Searcher" by Ray Dacolias
Joaquin Bridger is a former soldier who settles in the town of Redwood, becomes a police officer, marries, and has a daughter. He and his family live there peacefully for ten years, and then tragedy strikes. His wife and daughter are killed in a confrontation with bank robbers, and he blames himself. He quits the police force and begins a wandering, aimless life around town, walking wherever he goes—silent, brooding, filthy. He exists like this for five years.
The majority of people in town see him as a man who is mentally disabled. Few people dare bother him. Then one day, John Slaughter, the man who was responsible for the death of Joaquin’s family, comes back to this town. After robbing the bank with his fellow criminals, he kidnaps a young girl as he gets away. Joaquin recognizes the man, and gives chase. Thus, the tale begins.
Dear Readers: I think the title of the book is very appropriate, as Joaquin was searching for more than Sylvia! But there is an amazingly small amount of spoken dialogue. Instead "The Searcher" has a lot of descriptive writing that flows flawlessly and paints stunning landscapes, etc. This is one of the few stories I've read, where the weariness and tension experienced by so many of the characters, begins to take its toll on the reader as well.
Joaquin Bridger is a former soldier who settles in the town of Redwood, becomes a police officer, marries, and has a daughter. He and his family live there peacefully for ten years, and then tragedy strikes. His wife and daughter are killed in a confrontation with bank robbers, and he blames himself. He quits the police force and begins a wandering, aimless life around town, walking wherever he goes—silent, brooding, filthy. He exists like this for five years.
The majority of people in town see him as a man who is mentally disabled. Few people dare bother him. Then one day, John Slaughter, the man who was responsible for the death of Joaquin’s family, comes back to this town. After robbing the bank with his fellow criminals, he kidnaps a young girl as he gets away. Joaquin recognizes the man, and gives chase. Thus, the tale begins.
Dear Readers: I think the title of the book is very appropriate, as Joaquin was searching for more than Sylvia! But there is an amazingly small amount of spoken dialogue. Instead "The Searcher" has a lot of descriptive writing that flows flawlessly and paints stunning landscapes, etc. This is one of the few stories I've read, where the weariness and tension experienced by so many of the characters, begins to take its toll on the reader as well.
March 18, 2013
I received this book for free from the "giveaway" page here at goodreads.
Very wordy in a classical sense. Very "preachy" in a religious sense. Very detailed in its narrative style. Very good. I enjoyed this book greatly in part because I enjoy this type of book. It contains heartbreak, failure, danger and redemption. There were times when the language may have slowed me down just a bit but that in no way lessened my enjoyment of the book. By language I don't mean swear words because this book had none and that was a great relief. I mean that people where I live don't talk that high and lofty so I did have to think a little harder when I read this book but that was a good thing. This was not a mindless read. I almost feel like I have been tricked into learning something of the great outdoors and the Lord by reading this book. If I could compare this book to another one of my favorites it would be "Last of the Breed" by Louis Lamour. They are not the same story told two different ways yet they still have a close kinship in their feel, if that makes sense. When I got the book the author enclosed a sliver of paper (insert "homemade bookmark" here) with a personal note for me to enjoy and then he signed it. If he reads this I want him to know that I did enjoy and will mention this book to those I think will enjoy it.
Very wordy in a classical sense. Very "preachy" in a religious sense. Very detailed in its narrative style. Very good. I enjoyed this book greatly in part because I enjoy this type of book. It contains heartbreak, failure, danger and redemption. There were times when the language may have slowed me down just a bit but that in no way lessened my enjoyment of the book. By language I don't mean swear words because this book had none and that was a great relief. I mean that people where I live don't talk that high and lofty so I did have to think a little harder when I read this book but that was a good thing. This was not a mindless read. I almost feel like I have been tricked into learning something of the great outdoors and the Lord by reading this book. If I could compare this book to another one of my favorites it would be "Last of the Breed" by Louis Lamour. They are not the same story told two different ways yet they still have a close kinship in their feel, if that makes sense. When I got the book the author enclosed a sliver of paper (insert "homemade bookmark" here) with a personal note for me to enjoy and then he signed it. If he reads this I want him to know that I did enjoy and will mention this book to those I think will enjoy it.
April 4, 2013
This was an amazing read! From the first chapter on I could not put it down for long. The characters were so real like and natural I easily found myself loving Joaquin and Juanita and hating John Slaughter.. and waiting with Sylvia in childlike hope..The journey Joaquin takes grabs you by the hand you and you find yourself feeling what he felt, seeing what he felt and searching with your own mind and heart. This was superbly written without any fault that I could find. The story plot was unique and emotional. The introduction to nature and how it can influence who we are was a added bonus. I simply loved the descriptions that blended into the story. The writer gave you the ability through description to be there and experience it all. The descriptions remind me of the older classics and the treasured ability to place you in that room or scene. The book reminded me of the older T.V. Show Grizzley Adams. Joaquin has that deep emotional caring feeling inside of him but most of the town is unaware.
I was given this book via goodreads and certainly enjoyed each word. It was a wonderful change from the simple bland wording of some books today. The writer introduced the reader not only to the story but the people, and the environment around them.
I was given this book via goodreads and certainly enjoyed each word. It was a wonderful change from the simple bland wording of some books today. The writer introduced the reader not only to the story but the people, and the environment around them.
November 22, 2013
fter a tragic accident a cop can't forgive himself and becomes the town recluse. He witnesses a bank robbery and his instincts kick in. He attempts to foil their escape and they take a hostage . . . his niece. He promises to rescue her and becomes one with nature while he looks for the girl.
Sounds like a five star plot right? It might have been if it were not for the author's penchant for describing every thing in excruciating detail. To be honest it reminded me of the old MASH episode where Radar decides to become an author. Sentences seemed to go on for ever. I counted 257 words in one sentence. It detracted from the plot in my opinion.
Having said that descriptions were breathtakingly beautiful. It was very easy to visualize the scenes the author was describing. The problem I had was that there were too many of them.
So we have a good book, a talented author with the ability to paint beautiful word pictures, but that skill is what made the book very tedious to read. It was easy to lose the plot in the descriptions.
I received this book for free in exchange for this honest review.
Sounds like a five star plot right? It might have been if it were not for the author's penchant for describing every thing in excruciating detail. To be honest it reminded me of the old MASH episode where Radar decides to become an author. Sentences seemed to go on for ever. I counted 257 words in one sentence. It detracted from the plot in my opinion.
Having said that descriptions were breathtakingly beautiful. It was very easy to visualize the scenes the author was describing. The problem I had was that there were too many of them.
So we have a good book, a talented author with the ability to paint beautiful word pictures, but that skill is what made the book very tedious to read. It was easy to lose the plot in the descriptions.
I received this book for free in exchange for this honest review.
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