The Watchers: a spine-chilling Gothic horror novel

Now a MAJOR MOTION PICTURE produced by M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN and starring DAKOTA FANNING.

You can't see them. But they can see you.


This forest isn't charted on any map. Every car breaks down at its treeline. Mina's is no different. Left stranded, she is forced into the dark woodland only to find a woman shouting, urging Mina to run to a concrete bunker. As the door slams behind her, the building is besieged by screams.

Mina finds herself in a room with a wall of glass, and an electric light that activates at nightfall, when the Watchers come above ground. These creatures emerge to observe their captive humans and terrible things happen to anyone who doesn't reach the bunker in time.

Afraid and trapped among strangers, Mina is desperate for answers. Who are the Watchers, and why are they keeping the humans imprisoned, keen to watch their every move?

The nightmare is only just beginning… A spine-chilling debut horror adventure set in the remote and sinister forests of Ireland, from critically acclaimed Irish writer A.M. Shine.

'A dark, claustrophobic read' T. Kingfisher
'Readers get an intimate glimpse into the fraying edges of each character's psyches, the constant hunger, the paranoia, the loss of hope, and far worse... The Watchers will appeal to fans of Kealan Patrick Burke, Josh Malerman, and Scott Smith' A.E. Siraki, Booklist

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Published Sep 1, 2022

320 pages

Average rating: 7.2

119 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Summer1108
Jan 22, 2025
6/10 stars
I liked the overall concept and story.
BookWorm94
Nov 02, 2024
6/10 stars
I really enjoyed this book, it has great twists and turns throughout the book but I did have an idea about the ending around half way in. There could have been less build up and more detail put into the end of the book which would have caused more mystery.
Enjoyed the book & looking forward to watching the film when it comes out later this year to see how it’s portrayed as have a feeling this could be a better film than book which is rare for me!
Priscilla Love
Oct 11, 2024
9/10 stars
I floored!!! To put the book down like this was impossible and super fitting for an October spooky read! If you read A.M Shine’s series you can’t blink (zone out) while reading these or you will lose yourself and interest. Pay close attention 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 the details are too gothic to miss out on! I can not wait to see the film and continue to dive into Mina’s world 🤯 How in the world does one see what she can not unsee and carry a secret- risking her life- taking a promise to the grave???!!!! I AM SHOOK
Codeliusthe2nd
Sep 04, 2024
8/10 stars
“The Watchers” is an extremely fast paced and exhilarating creature feature that I honestly had a lot of fun reading. In the moment that I thought the novel was slowing down, it was brought back up to a 10, tension practically oozing out of every sentence. While I thought the ending was a bit predictable, the rest of the novel was anything but, making for a read that was honestly really fun.
JJ315
Aug 13, 2024
5/10 stars
This book reminded me a lot of A Quiet Place, Bird Box, and From all wrapped up into one. I thought the premise was interesting, but poorly executed. Honesty, it probably would have worked better as a novella. The story seemed to drag, and I stopped caring about the characters after a while. The author, though, did a fantastic job at creating a creepy, claustrophobic ambience throughout. Overall, it was an okay book. I just wasn't completely blown away by it.

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