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Witness
She couldn't let him kill. He wouldn't let her die.
— John Book, Detective: onto the biggest drug-ring murder in the history of Philadelphia crime.
— Rachel Lapp, beautiful young widow: Amish, religious, pacifist. And, by a brutal fluke, crucial to Book's investigation.
— Their world were a century apart. Their love was happening now. They could only be saved together.
Based on the movie of the same title.
— John Book, Detective: onto the biggest drug-ring murder in the history of Philadelphia crime.
— Rachel Lapp, beautiful young widow: Amish, religious, pacifist. And, by a brutal fluke, crucial to Book's investigation.
— Their world were a century apart. Their love was happening now. They could only be saved together.
Based on the movie of the same title.
188 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 21, 2019
I absolutely adore Harrison Ford—he seems like a good person, and he’s a really underrated actor. Don’t get me wrong, he’s an awesome action star—but he’s an incredible dramatic actor, as you can see in his Oscar-nominate role in Witness.
A few months ago, I decided to buy all the novelizations from Harrison Ford’s movies that I could on ThriftBooks (if you haven’t heard of ThriftBooks, get thee to the website immediately!). When I saw there was a novelization for Witness, my heart went a-flutter. It’s one of my favourite movies—not just of his, but of all time.
And reader, I was not disappointed.
Witness is an absolutely beautiful film. If Peter Weir himself gave me the opportunity to change anything, I would turn him down. Everything about it is perfectly executed, and I could watch it again and again.
That being said, the book enhanced the film so much. You learn so much about John Book’s and Rachel Lapp’s backstories, which really explains their motivations and actions throughout the film. Also, the book has only further convinced me of my firm belief that Rachel should have left to be with John (don’t @ me).
The book was a compelling read—it’s become one of my favourite books and I can’t wait to read it again. It’s taken me a while to get through it, mainly because a bunch of library books I borrowed were automatically checked out to me at once. The next time I read it, I want to consume it without being interrupted by other books to get the full effect.
However, if you don’t like the movie or haven’t seen it, you won’t really like it as much. This book is really more of a “special features” edition of the movie—if you’re a fan, you’ll appreciate every last detail.
A few months ago, I decided to buy all the novelizations from Harrison Ford’s movies that I could on ThriftBooks (if you haven’t heard of ThriftBooks, get thee to the website immediately!). When I saw there was a novelization for Witness, my heart went a-flutter. It’s one of my favourite movies—not just of his, but of all time.
And reader, I was not disappointed.
Witness is an absolutely beautiful film. If Peter Weir himself gave me the opportunity to change anything, I would turn him down. Everything about it is perfectly executed, and I could watch it again and again.
That being said, the book enhanced the film so much. You learn so much about John Book’s and Rachel Lapp’s backstories, which really explains their motivations and actions throughout the film. Also, the book has only further convinced me of my firm belief that Rachel should have left to be with John (don’t @ me).
The book was a compelling read—it’s become one of my favourite books and I can’t wait to read it again. It’s taken me a while to get through it, mainly because a bunch of library books I borrowed were automatically checked out to me at once. The next time I read it, I want to consume it without being interrupted by other books to get the full effect.
However, if you don’t like the movie or haven’t seen it, you won’t really like it as much. This book is really more of a “special features” edition of the movie—if you’re a fan, you’ll appreciate every last detail.
January 2, 2024
This is a review for the Audible Original Podcast Witness, based on this movie (that was made into a book after the movie) The podcast was made in 2023 by Paramount pictures and has a full cast and sound effects.
There wasn’t anything else for me to mark for this so I had to choose this. Ays Podcast but same as any dramatized audiobook.
I wish there was more because this was so good I didn’t want it to end! Better than a movie or book. The actors are phenomenal and I loved the little boy.
I’ve been in a slump not finding a lot to keep my attention but I couldn’t turn this off! The story kept me wanting to know what would happen next. Felt like the characters were real people and I was watching their story unfold.
Loved all the characters and story line. The editing and sound were great. This one was so well done, perfectly. .
I didn’t want it to end!
There wasn’t anything else for me to mark for this so I had to choose this. Ays Podcast but same as any dramatized audiobook.
I wish there was more because this was so good I didn’t want it to end! Better than a movie or book. The actors are phenomenal and I loved the little boy.
I’ve been in a slump not finding a lot to keep my attention but I couldn’t turn this off! The story kept me wanting to know what would happen next. Felt like the characters were real people and I was watching their story unfold.
Loved all the characters and story line. The editing and sound were great. This one was so well done, perfectly. .
I didn’t want it to end!
May 23, 2019
One of my habitual favourites that I re-read on at least an annual basis!
It might have taken me over 20 years to discover this film but when I saw it, I loved it. Harrison Ford has always been of my favourite actors and he brings his usual commitment to the role of Detective John Book, a Philadelphia Police Inspector who is investigating the murder of one of his informants. Things are complicated as Book is an Internal Investigations officer - generally detested by his colleagues as he reviews and investigates for corruption. This case is a wide ranging one - Book strong suspects his immediate commander and long time friend is involved in a city wide drug ring. The only witness to the murder of his only reliable informant is Samuel Lapp, a 10 year old Amish boy, on route with his mother to see her sister. His mother, Rachel, is recently widowed and wants nothing to do with the outside world, but she and Book are drawn to each other despite their differences and beliefs, or in Book's case, lack of.
As the investigation progresses, Book finds that the murderers will have no problem taking out Samuel, Rachel and Book himself to protect themselves. Fleeing the city for the Amish community where the Lapps live, Book finds himself hiding in very plain sight while trying to work out the details of the case. The emotionally charged scenes between Rachel and Book are riveting.
Found this copy years ago, can't remember where, but back on my to keep shelves!
It might have taken me over 20 years to discover this film but when I saw it, I loved it. Harrison Ford has always been of my favourite actors and he brings his usual commitment to the role of Detective John Book, a Philadelphia Police Inspector who is investigating the murder of one of his informants. Things are complicated as Book is an Internal Investigations officer - generally detested by his colleagues as he reviews and investigates for corruption. This case is a wide ranging one - Book strong suspects his immediate commander and long time friend is involved in a city wide drug ring. The only witness to the murder of his only reliable informant is Samuel Lapp, a 10 year old Amish boy, on route with his mother to see her sister. His mother, Rachel, is recently widowed and wants nothing to do with the outside world, but she and Book are drawn to each other despite their differences and beliefs, or in Book's case, lack of.
As the investigation progresses, Book finds that the murderers will have no problem taking out Samuel, Rachel and Book himself to protect themselves. Fleeing the city for the Amish community where the Lapps live, Book finds himself hiding in very plain sight while trying to work out the details of the case. The emotionally charged scenes between Rachel and Book are riveting.
Found this copy years ago, can't remember where, but back on my to keep shelves!
February 17, 2016
Evidently these guys were much better at writing a screenplay than writing a book. While the story was still compelling and the characters interesting, the writing itself was lacking in the book version of this tale. The scenes of the Amish interacting with each other were well realized, but in contrast it just seemed like the authors were trying too hard to set the "English" (city folk) apart by forcing not only the amount of swearing, but the very cadence of speech and turns of phrase uttered by John Book and his police friends (and foes). The threats in particular felt hollow and unrealistic. The attempts at entering the characters heads as "omniscient author" also failed for the most part, and were even confusing at times as far as character motivation goes (if he thinks [this], why does he [do that]?). In short, it was a decent read, but mainly just because of how much I already loved the movie.
February 21, 2017
La novela en la que se basa la película homónima, protagonizada por Harrison Ford (mmmmm...) y Kelly Mc Gillis no se separa un milímetro apenas de la película. Y digo apenas porque yo, que he debido de ver la peli unas ocho o nueve veces, sólo le he encontrado la diferencia en que la canción que bailan John y Rachel no es "Wonderful world" de Sam Cooke sino "California Dreamin'" de The Mamas and the Papas. El libro es cortísimo, se lee en un suspiro, no te deja levantar la cabeza de la lectura, te imaginas a John-Harrison perfectamente, y te vienen a la cabeza escenas de la película (cómo levantan el granero los amish, cómo cae el cereal en el silo) que te hacen más vívida la lectura.
El libro tiene un añadido con respecto a la película: te hace ver más claramente lo opresivo de la vida de una mujer amish, la falta de libertad, el ser tratada como una niña.
El libro tiene un añadido con respecto a la película: te hace ver más claramente lo opresivo de la vida de una mujer amish, la falta de libertad, el ser tratada como una niña.
July 28, 2025
Every now and then I enjoy a good novelization of a good classic movie. Why? Because novelizations add or fill in fun details that you don't get in the original movie.
Witness by William Kelley is a perfect example of this. The original movie with Harrison Ford holds a special place in my heart, but in book format you can get inside the characters' heads and see a more fleshed-out perspective that's just impossible to get in a purely visual/audio form.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoyed seeing the movie.
Witness by William Kelley is a perfect example of this. The original movie with Harrison Ford holds a special place in my heart, but in book format you can get inside the characters' heads and see a more fleshed-out perspective that's just impossible to get in a purely visual/audio form.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoyed seeing the movie.
April 26, 2023
This book rendition differs a bit from the movie version which I really enjoyed. The book, though, gives much incite into the inner workings of the characters and more background. It’s still a great story, book or movie.
July 11, 2024
Great book. If you love the movie you'll love this one
April 18, 2024
Listened to this story on Audible, after watching this movie in the 80’s. I forgot how great a story it was to hear about the peaceful life in Amish country.
July 11, 2013
Nowhere near as good at the movie.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews