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Josh Mendoza is an award-winning filmmaker known for his post-apocalyptic feature film, What Still Remains. He received a BA in English and creative writing from Stanford University and earned an MFA in Film and Television Production from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. He has since split his time between the City of Angels and the deserts of Arizona with his wife and two children. Shadow of the Eternal Watcher is his first novel.
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Shadow of the Eternal Watcher by Josh Mendoza is a gritty, mind-bending sci-fi noir following Duster Raines, a former soldier turned PI haunted by demons, both real and imagined. Tormented by combat memories and disturbing alternate reality visions, Raines is thrust into a missing persons case that soon spirals into a government conspiracy. Framed and hunted, he discovers he possesses the power to manipulate space and time. With these newfound abilities, he sees a chance to build the life he’s always wanted, but first, he must face a darker, alternate version of himself. This genre-blending tale combines crime, sci-fi, and psychological suspense into a compelling read.
Author Josh Mendoza has heaps of style on display in this skillful blend of detective fiction with speculative sci-fi, creating a gritty, atmospheric story. I loved Duster Raines right from the start, and his internal struggles with guilt, trauma, and self-doubt make him a compelling and layered character that you want to see succeed, even when he's not making the best decisions. For a story that is quite conceptually complex, the narrative structure is tight and unfolds the plot without overcomplicating it. The alternate realities and time-space manipulation add a captivating twist to the events and keep the clues coming from unexpected angles. Even in individual scenes, there's a relentless tension that holds you, with a confident skill that I can't wait to see more of in future books. Overall, Shadow of the Eternal Watcher is a fantastic read that I highly recommend for both noir and sci-fi fans looking for an accomplished mystery.
