Released: 14th October 2021
Genre: Horror
Number of Pages: 310
Specialising in naturalistic horror, The Watchers is A.M Shine’s best known story to date. While it does rely on familiar tropes and materials, this compact tale still packs a visceral punch when it comes to characters and atmosphere.
In modern day Ireland, Mina leaves Galway to deliver a yellow pet parrot to Connemara. This simple delivery job turns sinister as she finds herself stranded in a foreboding forest with no car, no communications and only a few fellow survivors for company. Mina, along with veteran survivor Madeline, the frightened Ciara and timid Daniel are surrounded by ravenous monsters with the ability to shapeshift and mimic other humans. As they struggle to get by on scraps of food and bunker down in their meagre shelter, Shire puts us into each of their perspectives throughout the chapters. We swap between them organically, bearing witness to their inner thoughts and fears. The tensions within the group all unfold without dampening the oppressive, isolated setting.
With its short length, The Watchers can be split into two main parts; the forest and civilization. While all of it is capably written, the first stays within familiar territory. An atmospheric forest filled with monsters has been used many times in horror media, making the book more appealing and engaging for genre newcomers. It’s the follow-up section and conclusion that end up feeling more novel. Similar stories often hold grim conclusions or hopeful resolutions, but A.M Shire’s book falls somewhere in the middle. We take some time to linger with the characters as they attempt to pick up the pieces and press on with their lives, making more damning discoveries along the way. It successfully blends normality with the after effects of a traumatic event.
Recommended?
MAYBE: While the dark forest and ferocious creatures are standard fare for the genre, The Watchers still makes an impression thanks to strong characters and the aftermath section which goes further than most contemporaries. If you’re well-versed in horror fiction, the book may not be as memorable and engaging, but you’ll still buy into the characters and their claustrophobic plight.
(The Watchers is due to be adapted into a feature film in June 2024 starring Dakota Fanning and Georgina Campbell)
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