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The Watchers
1977
The Havens, Wales
My Name is Robert Wilding.
Since childhood I have been running from my parents' deaths. From my grandfather Randall Llewellyn Pritchard - his fanatical omens about fires in the sky. From what happened at Broad Haven.
But now my memories have returned to haunt me.
In the ministry of Defence Room 800 I met the man who keeps the nation's secrets - who wants me to investigate the sightings at Broad Haven: the ghostly figures, the lights from another world.
In know its is my duty to expose the truth behind 'the happenings', even if it will be dangerous. Even though I may not live to tell the tale.
I know it is my duty, but still I am afraid. I know the Watchers will be waiting for me there.
The Havens, Wales
My Name is Robert Wilding.
Since childhood I have been running from my parents' deaths. From my grandfather Randall Llewellyn Pritchard - his fanatical omens about fires in the sky. From what happened at Broad Haven.
But now my memories have returned to haunt me.
In the ministry of Defence Room 800 I met the man who keeps the nation's secrets - who wants me to investigate the sightings at Broad Haven: the ghostly figures, the lights from another world.
In know its is my duty to expose the truth behind 'the happenings', even if it will be dangerous. Even though I may not live to tell the tale.
I know it is my duty, but still I am afraid. I know the Watchers will be waiting for me there.
496 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2015
60 people are currently reading
938 people want to read
About the author
Neil Spring
6 books357 followersNeil Spring is the author of several novels, many of which are inspired by real events.
His debut novel, The Ghost Hunters, was adapted into a critically acclaimed television drama for ITV starring Rafe Spall.
The Haunted Shore is his fifth novel and is out 15 Oct 2020. Preorder: https://amzn.to/2CCMxv9
Originally from South Wales, Neil lives in London and can be contacted via his website, www.neilspring.com, or followed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Neilspring.a..., and on Twitter as @neilspring.
Neil is represented by the literary agency, Curtis Brown.
His debut novel, The Ghost Hunters, was adapted into a critically acclaimed television drama for ITV starring Rafe Spall.
The Haunted Shore is his fifth novel and is out 15 Oct 2020. Preorder: https://amzn.to/2CCMxv9
Originally from South Wales, Neil lives in London and can be contacted via his website, www.neilspring.com, or followed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Neilspring.a..., and on Twitter as @neilspring.
Neil is represented by the literary agency, Curtis Brown.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
September 27, 2016
The main character in this novel is Robert Wilding, who works in 1979, when we first meet him, for the MP, Paul Bestford. He is due to attend a Defence Select Committee meeting, where he hopes to get answers about what happened to his mother some years ago, after she protested at American bases in the UK. However, what begins as a normal day, if personally important to Robert, ends in violence and upheaval.
Before Robert is really aware of what is happening, he finds himself back in the place he has spent his life trying to escape - the Havens in St Brides Bay, West Wales. As a young boy, his parents dead, he was taken to live with his grandfather at Ravenstone Farm. He recalls his father as an obsessive, religious man, who taught Robert to fear and has left him with compulsive, obsessive disorders. Robert was always told to stay away from Stack Rocks Island in the bay; a place he was drawn to. With bars on the windows, visitors were unwelcome and his grandfather told him giants lived near the cliffs.
Robert has been sent, by his mentor, Admiral Hill Bartlett, to investigate the plague of strange phenomena that has broken out in the small community of the Havens. There are odd lights, possible sightings of UFO’s, lights which switch off and on and more. Those who have witnessed these events are becoming ill and it is obvious that something is very wrong. As Robert makes contact with his local reporter, Frank Frobisher, Dr Caxton (whose later book, “The Mind Possessed, a Personal Investigation into the Broad Haven Triangle,” we read snippets off throughout the novel), his grandfather and the owner of the local hotel, Araceli Romero, he attempts to discover what is happening in this small town and what evil the locals are under the spell off.
This is a creepy and atmospheric read, with a fast moving storyline and a good plot. It was original to have a main, male character, who was not the super action hero of so many books. Robert Wilding is a damaged, unsure, unwilling, paranoid man – who is often afraid and yet all the more brave for that. I applaud the author for giving us realistic characters, who are not black and white, but many shades of grey. I enjoyed, “The Ghost Hunters,” by Neil Spring, and I was impressed by this, second novel. I look forward to reading more by him in the future.
Before Robert is really aware of what is happening, he finds himself back in the place he has spent his life trying to escape - the Havens in St Brides Bay, West Wales. As a young boy, his parents dead, he was taken to live with his grandfather at Ravenstone Farm. He recalls his father as an obsessive, religious man, who taught Robert to fear and has left him with compulsive, obsessive disorders. Robert was always told to stay away from Stack Rocks Island in the bay; a place he was drawn to. With bars on the windows, visitors were unwelcome and his grandfather told him giants lived near the cliffs.
Robert has been sent, by his mentor, Admiral Hill Bartlett, to investigate the plague of strange phenomena that has broken out in the small community of the Havens. There are odd lights, possible sightings of UFO’s, lights which switch off and on and more. Those who have witnessed these events are becoming ill and it is obvious that something is very wrong. As Robert makes contact with his local reporter, Frank Frobisher, Dr Caxton (whose later book, “The Mind Possessed, a Personal Investigation into the Broad Haven Triangle,” we read snippets off throughout the novel), his grandfather and the owner of the local hotel, Araceli Romero, he attempts to discover what is happening in this small town and what evil the locals are under the spell off.
This is a creepy and atmospheric read, with a fast moving storyline and a good plot. It was original to have a main, male character, who was not the super action hero of so many books. Robert Wilding is a damaged, unsure, unwilling, paranoid man – who is often afraid and yet all the more brave for that. I applaud the author for giving us realistic characters, who are not black and white, but many shades of grey. I enjoyed, “The Ghost Hunters,” by Neil Spring, and I was impressed by this, second novel. I look forward to reading more by him in the future.
January 18, 2021
Popsugar Challenge 2021 - A Book with a Black and White Cover
This novel was inspired by the wave of UFO sightings in Wales, UK in 1977. I hadn't heard of these sightings so this lead to an interesting Google search. This book however is a work of fiction and is very loosely based on those true events.
I'm left feeling a bit meh over this book. I think the premise is a great idea however it wasn't atmospheric enough to give me any spooky / paranormal vibes. So while this is well written it didn't give me any feels.
Character wise I didn't like any of this cast however I think the point was that they wouldn't be likeable.
To sum up, a decent plot inspired by interesting real life events, it just didn't have me jumping at my own shadow which is what I'd hoped for.
This novel was inspired by the wave of UFO sightings in Wales, UK in 1977. I hadn't heard of these sightings so this lead to an interesting Google search. This book however is a work of fiction and is very loosely based on those true events.
I'm left feeling a bit meh over this book. I think the premise is a great idea however it wasn't atmospheric enough to give me any spooky / paranormal vibes. So while this is well written it didn't give me any feels.
Character wise I didn't like any of this cast however I think the point was that they wouldn't be likeable.
To sum up, a decent plot inspired by interesting real life events, it just didn't have me jumping at my own shadow which is what I'd hoped for.
January 14, 2018
This story has everything - UFO's, giant aliens, mass hypnosis of schoolchildren and an entire village community, mass hysteria, nuclear weapons, government and military conspiracies, strange "futuristic" silver cars, experimental aircraft, ancient legends, druids, vicious mutilations and murders, torture and slaughter of animals, a haunted hotel, secret tunnels, men in black (!) AND a top secret military intelligence base located hundreds of feet below the streets of Central London. There's also lots and lots of screaming and shouting, satanic rituals involving members of the local Rotary Club and much, much more! What it lacks - and really needs - is a decent editor who could have trimmed about 150 pages of deranged dialogue and repetitive descriptions and it would have been a decent sci-fi/horror thriller.
By the end, I loathed the main character Robert Wilding and his weird and wacky grandfather, Randall Llewellyn Pritchard, religious freak and keeper of secrets, including the facts about the death of Wilding's parents's during The Great Flood in the Welsh coastal village of Broad Haven.
The story is set in the 1970's and is partly based on fact. At that time, local schoolkids made alleged UFO sightings and the area was nicknamed "the Broad Haven Triangle" by a British tabloid newspaper.
It is believed a UFO landed in a field next to Broadhaven Primary School on February 4th 1977. Almost a fortnight later, the same craft was claimed to have been seen by some teachers at the school and by domestic staff (school dinner ladies), one of whom saw a creature make its way onto the craft. In April of that year, the owner of the Haven Fort Hotel in Little Haven claimed to have seen an 'upside-down saucer' on 19 April 1977 in a neighbouring field along with two humanoid creatures.
Neil Spring uses this and various other "facts" to conjure up a stew containing all the ingredients I mentioned in the 1st paragraph of this review.
Reading this book was exhausting. All the character kept secrets from one another at various times in the story and scores of pages involve the half dozen or so main characters arguing and shouting with each other. One of them is a priest, who may or may not be a Soviet spy, or a satanist - or both!
By the final chapter, I really didn't care what happened; I just wanted my ordeal to be over. At times, I lost the will to live but battled on to the bitter end. Wilding says it was his duty to expose the truth behind "The Happenings". I wish he hadn't bothered!
As a result, I've given this book one of the few 1 star reviews I've ever given on goodreads.
By the end, I loathed the main character Robert Wilding and his weird and wacky grandfather, Randall Llewellyn Pritchard, religious freak and keeper of secrets, including the facts about the death of Wilding's parents's during The Great Flood in the Welsh coastal village of Broad Haven.
The story is set in the 1970's and is partly based on fact. At that time, local schoolkids made alleged UFO sightings and the area was nicknamed "the Broad Haven Triangle" by a British tabloid newspaper.
It is believed a UFO landed in a field next to Broadhaven Primary School on February 4th 1977. Almost a fortnight later, the same craft was claimed to have been seen by some teachers at the school and by domestic staff (school dinner ladies), one of whom saw a creature make its way onto the craft. In April of that year, the owner of the Haven Fort Hotel in Little Haven claimed to have seen an 'upside-down saucer' on 19 April 1977 in a neighbouring field along with two humanoid creatures.
Neil Spring uses this and various other "facts" to conjure up a stew containing all the ingredients I mentioned in the 1st paragraph of this review.
Reading this book was exhausting. All the character kept secrets from one another at various times in the story and scores of pages involve the half dozen or so main characters arguing and shouting with each other. One of them is a priest, who may or may not be a Soviet spy, or a satanist - or both!
By the final chapter, I really didn't care what happened; I just wanted my ordeal to be over. At times, I lost the will to live but battled on to the bitter end. Wilding says it was his duty to expose the truth behind "The Happenings". I wish he hadn't bothered!
As a result, I've given this book one of the few 1 star reviews I've ever given on goodreads.
September 26, 2015
The Watchers is an utterly gripping, brilliantly imaginative and often rock on scary tale of weird and wonderful (?) happenings in Wales.
Set around actual events that took place in the 70’s, Neil Spring constructs an eerie and atmospheric tale of lights in the sky, nervous inhabitants of a small community, all seen through the eyes of Robert Wilding – a character on the edge who may not necessarily be relied upon.
It’s an interesting twist on the genre, bringing in a touch of folklore to proceedings and all told with a very spooky underlying feel, the prose is tight and compelling with a nerve wracking edge to it that really speaks to the darker fears that lie in all of us. Very clever, very readable and very intense.
A beautifully layered tale, you have your conspiracy stuff and your usual government shenanigans, a hotchpotch of characters all filtered through Robert’s eyes – this makes for some intriguing moments, as you try to work out what is actually going on. Superbly atmospheric, The Watchers had me sleeping with the lights on.
A really really great book with hints of horror, mystery and a definitive sprinkling of suspense, the author having a real eye for his subject matter in an authentic case that obviously captured his imagination. It certainly captured mine and with the absolute genius storytelling on display here, this is a novel that will stay with me and certainly encourages speculation and more than a few shivers in the soul.
Excellent stuff. Highly Recommended.
Set around actual events that took place in the 70’s, Neil Spring constructs an eerie and atmospheric tale of lights in the sky, nervous inhabitants of a small community, all seen through the eyes of Robert Wilding – a character on the edge who may not necessarily be relied upon.
It’s an interesting twist on the genre, bringing in a touch of folklore to proceedings and all told with a very spooky underlying feel, the prose is tight and compelling with a nerve wracking edge to it that really speaks to the darker fears that lie in all of us. Very clever, very readable and very intense.
A beautifully layered tale, you have your conspiracy stuff and your usual government shenanigans, a hotchpotch of characters all filtered through Robert’s eyes – this makes for some intriguing moments, as you try to work out what is actually going on. Superbly atmospheric, The Watchers had me sleeping with the lights on.
A really really great book with hints of horror, mystery and a definitive sprinkling of suspense, the author having a real eye for his subject matter in an authentic case that obviously captured his imagination. It certainly captured mine and with the absolute genius storytelling on display here, this is a novel that will stay with me and certainly encourages speculation and more than a few shivers in the soul.
Excellent stuff. Highly Recommended.
August 21, 2017
THE WATCHERS, is the second book I've read by Neil Spring, and unfortunately, I just did not enjoy this one anywhere near as much as I did his previous novel.
Aside from the first couple of introductory chapters, the first 250 pages or so is more of a political/Cold War/government conspiracy novel--nothing at all what I was expecting. This wouldn't have necessarily have been a bad thing, but it seemed overly repetitious, and yet I NEVER got a real feel for Robert Wilding (the main character), as a person (including his physical looks). The parts that were mentioned, were done so nearly every other page: his dislike for his grandfather, his parents fighting, etc... After that, I felt it was "starting" to get a little better.
At around 300 pages, the action shifted to Robert's childhood town of Broad Haven. Sent to unearth how it is that his Grandfather knows in advance about the "happenings" there, he reluctantly goes, his mental conversations with himself complaining about the same things all the while.
If I read the comment, "he/she was hiding something" over 100 times, I doubt that would be an exaggeration.
For a while, the events do seem to have more "focus" and cohesion to them, but then 100 or so pages later, everything starts getting thrown in together into one big mix-up (as though the author wasn't sure which direction he wanted the novel to take). The ending, was disappointing, especially in consideration that it "could" have ended on a better note.
Overall, this book was just not f0r me, but as I've seen many positive reviews for it as well, your mileage may vary.
Aside from the first couple of introductory chapters, the first 250 pages or so is more of a political/Cold War/government conspiracy novel--nothing at all what I was expecting. This wouldn't have necessarily have been a bad thing, but it seemed overly repetitious, and yet I NEVER got a real feel for Robert Wilding (the main character), as a person (including his physical looks). The parts that were mentioned, were done so nearly every other page: his dislike for his grandfather, his parents fighting, etc... After that, I felt it was "starting" to get a little better.
At around 300 pages, the action shifted to Robert's childhood town of Broad Haven. Sent to unearth how it is that his Grandfather knows in advance about the "happenings" there, he reluctantly goes, his mental conversations with himself complaining about the same things all the while.
If I read the comment, "he/she was hiding something" over 100 times, I doubt that would be an exaggeration.
For a while, the events do seem to have more "focus" and cohesion to them, but then 100 or so pages later, everything starts getting thrown in together into one big mix-up (as though the author wasn't sure which direction he wanted the novel to take). The ending, was disappointing, especially in consideration that it "could" have ended on a better note.
Overall, this book was just not f0r me, but as I've seen many positive reviews for it as well, your mileage may vary.
April 8, 2016
I really enjoyed the start of this book. I don't very often read stories based on UFOs and conspiracies and the like, which is what drew me to this book. The story built up nicely, with just about the right amount of intrigue and suspense. I really liked the setting and it was described well, and the characters were interesting.
However, at the point where it became less about UFOs and more about the occult and the supernatural, it began to lose its credibility. The change seemed very sudden, and with it the story became incredibly convoluted, and I almost didn't get through the last hundred pages. One theme after another was thrown at the story, and sadly this spoilt it for me.
However, at the point where it became less about UFOs and more about the occult and the supernatural, it began to lose its credibility. The change seemed very sudden, and with it the story became incredibly convoluted, and I almost didn't get through the last hundred pages. One theme after another was thrown at the story, and sadly this spoilt it for me.
August 9, 2017
The Watchers
I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook and I was really sorry when I had got to the end of the story.
I fell asleep one night when I was listening to it and boy did I dream that night.
Brilliant tale that I immensely enjoyed.
Recommended.
I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook and I was really sorry when I had got to the end of the story.
I fell asleep one night when I was listening to it and boy did I dream that night.
Brilliant tale that I immensely enjoyed.
Recommended.
August 4, 2020
Final rating: 4.5 stars!
I’m not sure entirely what I was expecting from this but I absolutely loved it! The first chapter had me hooked and held me throughout.
I love fiction based on true events, it makes everything that little more exciting!
Full review to come!
I’m not sure entirely what I was expecting from this but I absolutely loved it! The first chapter had me hooked and held me throughout.
I love fiction based on true events, it makes everything that little more exciting!
Full review to come!
February 21, 2016
Excellent! as a local I could see it (if you know what I mean) if you like the xfiles/ paranormal you'll be engrossed, fab passed on to friends who all enjoyed it! well done Neil
May 20, 2016
Well then. This book is suitable Halloween reading what with the creepiness and everything! I read this in one go, I couldn't tear myself away, I kept reading wanting to know what would happen next, what was really going on and so on. The book is even more fascinating when it's revealed that the book is based on real events that happened in that exact area at the exact time the book is set. Creepy to the max.
The book really builds up to the finale and the big reveal. The introduction is creepy with young Robert and his Grandfather and then before that the meeting with the Prime Minister. From there it's a gripping read, with the tension being ramped up, not to mention the feeling of unease. The writing is compelling and atmospheric. Giving you not only a feel for the place, but the general vibe as all of the events where taking place. It's got a very heavy atmosphere that sucks you in.
It's all very intense, and in between Robert doing his investigating you have the little sections that really hit you with the creepiness and wrongness of events. You can tell something's going to happen, and these add to that feeling, giving you a sense of foreboding as you're reading. At points I was hearing Twilight Zone music! These little bits are extracts from a book by another character, written after everything went down. Then there's extracts from interviews with witnesses closer to the time, letters and so on. Each adding pieces of information and ramping up the tension and unease as the book speeds towards the climax and epic finale.
There are many layers to the book, and it's fun trying to untangle everything. Robert clearly has some suppressed memories and he keeps getting flashes of his younger self and events that he was involved in, so you're trying to work out what happened to him and his parents. Then you have all the UFO's and other strange sightings that he's trying to rationalise until he just can't anymore. There's plenty of conspiracy stuff going on along with general government fuss. The ending of the book....well...that was chilling to be honest. Really chilling. I wouldn't put it past that particular prime minister either, if I'm honest.
There's plenty of seemingly suspicious characters for you to scrutinise and decide whether or not they're involved in something. I will admit I was completely blind sided by the big reveal, the person behind it all and everything. Looking back I realise there was a clue or two but clearly I was too wrapped up in the whole UFO business to pick up on it!
The plot was just fantastic, I mean there's mystery, there's strange goings on, suspense and even bits of horror. The plot was full of different threads and you're trying to work out how they all weave together as you're reading and being surprised left, right and centre. The book is not only atmospheric, but it has an entirely authentic feel to it, and the authors note adds some excellent information to get you thinking.
Spring has a talent for storytelling and this is clearly something that caught his interest and sparked his imagination...not only did he decide to tell us about it in his own imaginative way, but he did so in such a way that he sparked my interest and imagination as well, and hopefully all of you lots as well!
The book really builds up to the finale and the big reveal. The introduction is creepy with young Robert and his Grandfather and then before that the meeting with the Prime Minister. From there it's a gripping read, with the tension being ramped up, not to mention the feeling of unease. The writing is compelling and atmospheric. Giving you not only a feel for the place, but the general vibe as all of the events where taking place. It's got a very heavy atmosphere that sucks you in.
It's all very intense, and in between Robert doing his investigating you have the little sections that really hit you with the creepiness and wrongness of events. You can tell something's going to happen, and these add to that feeling, giving you a sense of foreboding as you're reading. At points I was hearing Twilight Zone music! These little bits are extracts from a book by another character, written after everything went down. Then there's extracts from interviews with witnesses closer to the time, letters and so on. Each adding pieces of information and ramping up the tension and unease as the book speeds towards the climax and epic finale.
There are many layers to the book, and it's fun trying to untangle everything. Robert clearly has some suppressed memories and he keeps getting flashes of his younger self and events that he was involved in, so you're trying to work out what happened to him and his parents. Then you have all the UFO's and other strange sightings that he's trying to rationalise until he just can't anymore. There's plenty of conspiracy stuff going on along with general government fuss. The ending of the book....well...that was chilling to be honest. Really chilling. I wouldn't put it past that particular prime minister either, if I'm honest.
There's plenty of seemingly suspicious characters for you to scrutinise and decide whether or not they're involved in something. I will admit I was completely blind sided by the big reveal, the person behind it all and everything. Looking back I realise there was a clue or two but clearly I was too wrapped up in the whole UFO business to pick up on it!
The plot was just fantastic, I mean there's mystery, there's strange goings on, suspense and even bits of horror. The plot was full of different threads and you're trying to work out how they all weave together as you're reading and being surprised left, right and centre. The book is not only atmospheric, but it has an entirely authentic feel to it, and the authors note adds some excellent information to get you thinking.
Spring has a talent for storytelling and this is clearly something that caught his interest and sparked his imagination...not only did he decide to tell us about it in his own imaginative way, but he did so in such a way that he sparked my interest and imagination as well, and hopefully all of you lots as well!
February 17, 2017
Visit the real life locations featured in link: The Watchers
There’s something about a mystery which is on the supernatural and ghostly side which really fascinates many people – me included. The story of Broad Haven and the UFO sightings is well known but since this is the 40 year anniversary of that day when children of a small Welsh village claimed to have seen something’ otherworldly’ I dug out my copy of The Watchers and reread it.
What a fascinating story and I can only hope this becomes a TV programme like the author’s early book of Harry Price and Borley Rectory did as I would lap it up as I’m sure many others would. The story is fascinating on every level – the small boy who remembers his grandfather warning him of ‘ dangers’ and then his return many years later when working for the British Goverment amidst claims of their cover up along with the US airforce of strange happenings, strange figures watching over a small triangle of Welsh coast.
I’ve been to Roswell in New Mexico where in the mid-1947, a United States Air Force balloon crashed at a ranch near prompting claims that the crash was of an extraterrestrial spaceship. I shiver as I remember my time there and also when I read this book as ….what if it’s true? Or at least some of it?Are we really alone? What did those children see?
A fascinating book and a really good way of visiting a remote part of Wales – I was there with the wind hitting my face (as opposed to something else which drops from the sky!) and walking along with the Stack’s Rocks in the background. What ever you think of this extraterrestrial subject, you can’t say this book isn’t fascinating. And just maybe it will make you think differently
If I was brave enough I might head down to Broad Haven but I’m only just getting over Roswell! Neil Spring is an excellent guide to both the area and the subject which still haunts in every sense of the word.
There’s something about a mystery which is on the supernatural and ghostly side which really fascinates many people – me included. The story of Broad Haven and the UFO sightings is well known but since this is the 40 year anniversary of that day when children of a small Welsh village claimed to have seen something’ otherworldly’ I dug out my copy of The Watchers and reread it.
What a fascinating story and I can only hope this becomes a TV programme like the author’s early book of Harry Price and Borley Rectory did as I would lap it up as I’m sure many others would. The story is fascinating on every level – the small boy who remembers his grandfather warning him of ‘ dangers’ and then his return many years later when working for the British Goverment amidst claims of their cover up along with the US airforce of strange happenings, strange figures watching over a small triangle of Welsh coast.
I’ve been to Roswell in New Mexico where in the mid-1947, a United States Air Force balloon crashed at a ranch near prompting claims that the crash was of an extraterrestrial spaceship. I shiver as I remember my time there and also when I read this book as ….what if it’s true? Or at least some of it?Are we really alone? What did those children see?
A fascinating book and a really good way of visiting a remote part of Wales – I was there with the wind hitting my face (as opposed to something else which drops from the sky!) and walking along with the Stack’s Rocks in the background. What ever you think of this extraterrestrial subject, you can’t say this book isn’t fascinating. And just maybe it will make you think differently
If I was brave enough I might head down to Broad Haven but I’m only just getting over Roswell! Neil Spring is an excellent guide to both the area and the subject which still haunts in every sense of the word.
October 12, 2016
I thought this book started quite well, with disturbing unexplained events on a fairly remote part of the Welsh coast and some decidedly odd characters, but went downhill later once the author started trying to explain them. (There were reports of UFO sightings in Wales, which was the author's trigger for writing the book.) Is it all the fault of the CIA, the Soviets, aliens, a secret cult, the 'military', the Devil, mind-altering substances, radiation or mass hallucinations? Is it supernatural or deliberate? There are figures in space-suits, figures in black, a mysterious headmaster, an equally mysterious RC priest ensconced in the parish church (why an RC priest?), a grandfather spouting old testament apocalyptic damnation in a remote farmhouse, an even more mysterious woman in a remote hotel with mysterious parentage of both herself and her daughter, a mysterious fort on some rocks offshore, children who speak unknown languages and have strange powers, a suspicious Rotary Club (the Rotary Club!), a murdered couple or perhaps two and some mutilated animals in the Welsh village. Then there are more mysterious things going on in London, with shadowy UK and US military figures, a secret underground base, a dodgy MP (not so mysterious, that one) and secret dossiers flying about.
It is possible that the author has chucked them all in as some sort of literary joke which doesn't come off, an overdose of conspiracy theories to poke fun at conspiracy theorists; instead, it seems as if he is having trouble deciding which cliche to pick. The book becomes farcical, which is a pity, as farce and suspense do not blend well.
One bonus star for making the UK's first female Prime Minister a satanist wannabe.
It is possible that the author has chucked them all in as some sort of literary joke which doesn't come off, an overdose of conspiracy theories to poke fun at conspiracy theorists; instead, it seems as if he is having trouble deciding which cliche to pick. The book becomes farcical, which is a pity, as farce and suspense do not blend well.
One bonus star for making the UK's first female Prime Minister a satanist wannabe.
March 3, 2016
Hmm. I really hate the deflated feeling you get after reading a disappointing second novel, after the authors debut book knocked your socks off. Maybe my hopes were too high, or maybe this just wasn't as good as the first, but either way I didn't really enjoy it.
I felt it very difficult to connect to any of the characters, in fact Robert internal ramblings and interactions really got on my nerves 90% of the time! :/. The dialogue and time set also felt at best dated, and at worst cheesy.
The direction of the book felt a little confused to me, it was a bit of a mismatch that seemed very odd by the the time I (finally) reached the end.
The only things that kept me invested were the fact that is based in lovely West Wales, a very pretty area not far from where I live, and the UFO sightings based on true eye witness accounts.
All in all, it was a little too slow and meandering for me. I wanted to love it as much as The Ghost Hunters, but it just didn't have the same gripping atmosphere as his first novel.
I felt it very difficult to connect to any of the characters, in fact Robert internal ramblings and interactions really got on my nerves 90% of the time! :/. The dialogue and time set also felt at best dated, and at worst cheesy.
The direction of the book felt a little confused to me, it was a bit of a mismatch that seemed very odd by the the time I (finally) reached the end.
The only things that kept me invested were the fact that is based in lovely West Wales, a very pretty area not far from where I live, and the UFO sightings based on true eye witness accounts.
All in all, it was a little too slow and meandering for me. I wanted to love it as much as The Ghost Hunters, but it just didn't have the same gripping atmosphere as his first novel.
April 15, 2019
Woah....... read this a couple of years ago, transfixed as from pembrokeshire could visualise everything the only let down was the end it seemed rushed and a little farfetched as everything else was perfect☺☺☺☺👍
October 7, 2015
Enjoyed this book even more than his first book, The Ghost Hunters. The tale is based around events that happened in Wales during the 70's. If you're interested in the Paranormal this is a definite. It's also a spooky tale that unsettled me when I read it before bed. You know you're enjoying a book when you're exhausted but set your alarm early to finish it.
October 17, 2019
One might say that this book contains a whole lot of nonsense but for me the author pushed all the right buttons since "The Watchers" has it all: mysterious UFO sightings that are based on actual "events" ("Broad Haven UFO sightings"), conspiracies, a possible nuclear war, a dangerous cult, ancient myths, a terror attack and much much more that at first seems completely ridiculous when it's all put into one and the same book but somehow Neil Spring actually makes it work.
I was fascinated by the story right away and enjoyed the narration as well as the great atmosphere which was very eerie and menacing and had me hooked throughout the whole book. I loved the settings (the parliament in London and a small coastal village in Wales) that were well described and were also the perfect choice for a story like this, giving all these mysteries a very fitting background.
There is a lot of foreshadowing in this book and I guess that a lot of readers will probably hate this but what can I say, I'm just a sucker for secrets, especially when it comes to alien conspiracies and bizarre things like that. In the end "The Watchers" came with an interesting twist and even though I would rather have wanted the story to take a different direction I consider the conclusion to be satisfying enough.
"The Watchers" might not be a masterpiece of fiction, but if you're into stories about UFO sightings and conspiracies of any kind then this is a book you definitely shouldn't miss.
Gimme more of this, please.
I was fascinated by the story right away and enjoyed the narration as well as the great atmosphere which was very eerie and menacing and had me hooked throughout the whole book. I loved the settings (the parliament in London and a small coastal village in Wales) that were well described and were also the perfect choice for a story like this, giving all these mysteries a very fitting background.
There is a lot of foreshadowing in this book and I guess that a lot of readers will probably hate this but what can I say, I'm just a sucker for secrets, especially when it comes to alien conspiracies and bizarre things like that. In the end "The Watchers" came with an interesting twist and even though I would rather have wanted the story to take a different direction I consider the conclusion to be satisfying enough.
"The Watchers" might not be a masterpiece of fiction, but if you're into stories about UFO sightings and conspiracies of any kind then this is a book you definitely shouldn't miss.
Gimme more of this, please.
September 24, 2015
When we think of aliens or UFOs, we often find ourselves thinking about those strange and unusual space explorers we hear about in science fiction. Little green men from mars and creatures from beyond our understanding are a popular trope in fiction to explain the vastness of the universe and humanity’s small place in it.
In many of these stories, the mysterious aliens are in fact visitors, curious about us and wanting to understand. In others, though, instead of being benign entities, these creatures have a darker intent and look down on mankind not with curiosity but with malevolence.
This is this unsettling premise of The Watchers, which succeeds in chilling the spine and inflaming the imagination, as Neil Spring takes us on a journey to our darkest and deepest fear of the unknown.
Read my full review on http://vadamagazine.com/24/09/2015/ar...
In many of these stories, the mysterious aliens are in fact visitors, curious about us and wanting to understand. In others, though, instead of being benign entities, these creatures have a darker intent and look down on mankind not with curiosity but with malevolence.
This is this unsettling premise of The Watchers, which succeeds in chilling the spine and inflaming the imagination, as Neil Spring takes us on a journey to our darkest and deepest fear of the unknown.
Read my full review on http://vadamagazine.com/24/09/2015/ar...
March 30, 2018
Deliberated between 3 and 4 stars for this. Mainly the ending disappointed me, but the majority of the book was so intriguing and really invoked genuine fear in me that I ended up not being able to read it at night! :P
I’ve always been fascinated by the stories of what might have gone on in Broad Haven back then. I would recommend the book ‘The Uninvited’ for anyone else interested in these events. Still fiction but more focused on the true events.
I’ve always been fascinated by the stories of what might have gone on in Broad Haven back then. I would recommend the book ‘The Uninvited’ for anyone else interested in these events. Still fiction but more focused on the true events.
February 1, 2022
Another cracker from Neil Spring, based loosely on true events that happened on the Welsh coast in the late 70s against the backdrop of the cold war when the UK was perhaps at its most paranoid. There's lots going on, UFO's, strange beings in silver suits, strange men in black suits, cults, devil worship, animal mutilation, mass psychosis, there's even an appearance from Thatcher. It's mad as a box of frogs and I loved it.
January 15, 2020
As a whole I enjoyed the story, it was compelling. I do, however, agree with other reviews that this could have been a shorter book. At least a 100 pages could have been taken and the story not effected in anyway. Not my favourite out of Neil Spring's books.
dnf
November 21, 2020I really wanted to like this - I'm familiar with the areas in West Wales where much of it is set - but I struggled to reach almost halfway and had to give up. Sometimes, a writing style simply doesn't resonate and this, sadly, was one of those times.
August 21, 2023
3.5 🌟
This book started off so good for me, I was hooked and intrigued. Then it started to fall flat. The constant cliff hanger endings of chapters got very trite, I mean they literally said “the story he told me changed me forever” then the next chapter went on to be a retelling of an experience that mirrored literally everything else already presented and observed by the protagonist. I ended up rolling my eyes all at the chapter endings towards the end of the book
This book started off so good for me, I was hooked and intrigued. Then it started to fall flat. The constant cliff hanger endings of chapters got very trite, I mean they literally said “the story he told me changed me forever” then the next chapter went on to be a retelling of an experience that mirrored literally everything else already presented and observed by the protagonist. I ended up rolling my eyes all at the chapter endings towards the end of the book
November 16, 2021
DNF. It went from UFOs to something different I didn't want to get into. So what a bummer. I had like 140 pages left.
January 2, 2017
I enjoyed the first three quarters of this book which I listened to whilst decorating. It is based around a true story, set in the mid seventies and follows a man who works for government at the start of an enquiry into mysterious happenings near a military base. We learn about his childhood, the fact he was raised by a strict and somewhat odd grandfather at the same time as following the progress of the enquiry. The man is then sent back to the place of his childhood to investigate. At this point I found it to be an intriguing thriller. The man is sceptical of lights in the sky, UFO reports and unexplained illnesses. Set in the time of the Cold War threat and nuclear defences, I felt the book would reveal a logical explanation for everything at the end. However the last quarter of the book turned into utter rubbish (for me) and suddenly the characters were not recognisable and behaved completely differently. The plot took a weird sci fi /cult turn and I just didn't enjoy it anymore. The ending was daft and left me unsatisfied. The overall tone of the book is tell (not show) as explanations & thoughts are detailed. I felt this suited the 'based around true story' vibe in the first 3/4 of the book. Read the first part as it really is 4 stars but quit when it switches (you'll know when) as it doesn't improve after that.
October 11, 2015
I discovered Neil Spring quite by chance when I was shelving at work and I am so glad that I did. I read the Ghost Hunters and loved it so when I heard about the release of this novel I was eager to purchase it.
The Watchers gripped me from beginning to end. It was what reading is all about, a book to escape into and be so full of mystery and excitement, a book with a decent ending where things are concluded satisfactorily.
Robert Wilding has been running from Broad Haven, from the Grandfather he loathes but now is the time to go back. Unexplained happenings in the skies, tales of UFO’s are nothing compared to the reality.
This is a book for winter nights; this is a book for getting lost in the narrative, for pulling the covers around your ears and reading long into the night. I don’t give five stars only if a book is an exceptional reading experience, The Watchers is just that. So many books these days are rated highly and amount to nothing, Neil Spring is my kind of author, an author I will rave about. He has assured my place as a fan and future reader, loved the whole experience.
The Watchers gripped me from beginning to end. It was what reading is all about, a book to escape into and be so full of mystery and excitement, a book with a decent ending where things are concluded satisfactorily.
Robert Wilding has been running from Broad Haven, from the Grandfather he loathes but now is the time to go back. Unexplained happenings in the skies, tales of UFO’s are nothing compared to the reality.
This is a book for winter nights; this is a book for getting lost in the narrative, for pulling the covers around your ears and reading long into the night. I don’t give five stars only if a book is an exceptional reading experience, The Watchers is just that. So many books these days are rated highly and amount to nothing, Neil Spring is my kind of author, an author I will rave about. He has assured my place as a fan and future reader, loved the whole experience.
October 17, 2016
I couldn't even finish this book!! The Watchers was inspired by UFO sightings that were reported in The Havens, Wales, in 1977. I thought this was a great idea and would be a perfectly eerie book. It just wasn't though, I mean it started out pretty fast paced and creepy, but then it just became so dull and confusing. The characters were not well written or very developed - there was a grandfather who kept spouting on about the devil and 'giants in the ground', but who never showed his only grandchild, who had come into his care, any ounce of affection or consideration. There was a headmaster and Priest who too kept spouting nonsense and didn't seem to have any redeeming traits. I like my characters to have more substance than that. Then the main character Robert Wilding searches for an explanation for these sightings , and that's where I lost complete interest. It was so riddled with either conspiracy theories blaming various nations for the bright light sightings, or blaming supernatural forces, and none of these were really looked into until he discovered another possible theory, more far fetched than the first. By this point I'd had enough and gave up!
February 6, 2016
Sadly, I struggled through this one; if I hadn’t been reading it for review, I would have given up long before the end. The characters are uniformly dislikeable, interchangeable and badly drawn. The story is confused and somewhat ludicrous – which didn’t bother me excessively, I can thoroughly enjoy a far-fetched yarn when it’s well told, but this was not well told. The writing style is clunky and over-egged with long descriptive digressions that chuck bricks in the narrative road and stop the story ever gaining any momentum. The prose does not flow; it felt dreadfully old-fashioned - it reminded me of Alistair MacLean, who also tells a cracking good yarn but in a similarly stilted and corny style that has never worked for me.
October 15, 2019
Robert Wilding has a career in parliament but even so he has always been running from his past and his childhood, brought up by an eccentric grandfather on a lonely farm in Wales after his parents mysterious deaths.
He has never felt he fully knew the circumstances and has tried his best to live with doubts as to what happened.
Now his higher ups have ordered him to go back and investigate supposed UFO sightings in the Havens where he grew up.
Robert is terrified, but not actually of the alien invasion he is afraid of encountering the truth of all that happened many years ago.
Aliens, the supernatural and occult practices seamlessly mesh this inventive story of how fear and paranoia can totally take over a whole village of people.
Skilfully written.
He has never felt he fully knew the circumstances and has tried his best to live with doubts as to what happened.
Now his higher ups have ordered him to go back and investigate supposed UFO sightings in the Havens where he grew up.
Robert is terrified, but not actually of the alien invasion he is afraid of encountering the truth of all that happened many years ago.
Aliens, the supernatural and occult practices seamlessly mesh this inventive story of how fear and paranoia can totally take over a whole village of people.
Skilfully written.
January 10, 2016
Initially, this book blew me away. A Fantastic story situated In South West Wales exploring the world of conspiracy, government cover-ups, UFO sightings, cults etc..., it did deliver as an exceptional supernatural thriller.
Very well written and the research was extremely extensive.
My only problem was the length of the book. At 496 pages, this novel just didn't need as many pointless chapters. I found that mid-way through the chapters became repetitive and didn't add much value to the story, besides what I already knew.
Overall it's a good book and a great story, but it didn't quite cut it for me. A shame, as it had so much potential.
Very well written and the research was extremely extensive.
My only problem was the length of the book. At 496 pages, this novel just didn't need as many pointless chapters. I found that mid-way through the chapters became repetitive and didn't add much value to the story, besides what I already knew.
Overall it's a good book and a great story, but it didn't quite cut it for me. A shame, as it had so much potential.
March 5, 2016
I was really looking forward to reading this and while I did enjoy the story I was a little disappointed by the style as I found it over-described and longer than it needed to be. The story itself is gripping and I did find myself thoroughly engrossed from the beginning but my attention did fluctuate as some parts seemed to repeat themselves or just seemed to go around in circles a bit. I did like the nods to real people and events which added a certain realism to the story and the other characters but this did get lost in places as Spring allowed his prose to run away with him. Overall though this was a good read with a finale that I just demolished, once I got past the slower bits.
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