The Watchers: A Novel

"The Watchers: A Novel" by A. E. W. Mason is a historical fiction novel written in the late 19th century. The story is set in the 18th century, particularly during July 1758, and revolves around a young lad named Dick Parmiter who arrives in London with important news that he wishes to share in private. The characters include Lieutenant Clutterbuck, who appears to be entangled in both drinking merriment and deeper reflections, and Cullen Mayle, whose past misdeeds cast a shadow on the lives of those in the story. At the start of the novel, the atmosphere is lively, with Clutterbuck's apartment depicting a chaotic scene of revelry. As the party unfolds, Dick Parmiter unexpectedly enters to deliver news about the death of Adam Mayle, which is met with cynicism and hostility from the partygoers, especially Clutterbuck. Dick reveals he has come with a purpose, wishing to speak with Clutterbuck alone, reflecting his serious intent amid the frivolity around him. However, the relationships and tensions between the characters, especially surrounding the enigmatic Cullen Mayle, hint at darker undertones that suggest trouble ahead, setting the stage for a complex narrative unraveling as events unfold. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Alfred Edward Woodley Mason was an English author and Liberal Party Member of Parliament. He is best remembered for his 1902 novel of courage and cowardice in wartime, The Four Feathers, and is also known as the creator of Inspector Hanaud, a French detective who was an early template for Agatha Christie's famous Hercule Poirot.