This was so compelling of a read back in High School. My first novel ever read, very special to me. The characters depth and despair could be felt through the pages, I have not read nothing similar once, and I had basic English back then, it's definitely impressive. Mostly because with just 2 characters Robb White manage to captivate the minds of the audience. In a mystery/suspense ride that not only became a classic but went on to become a movie. My life goal to become a writer was inspired by this novel. Seriously it's sad that this gem is under-rated. It's a short story that is bound to give you a good time. Plus the ending will keep you thoughtful for days. I am looking forward to reading more material from this author, just simply excellent overall. ( )

Originally published in 1972 and now considered a classic of it’s genre, the YA novel, Deathwatch is first and foremost a survival story. When a wealthy man hires, Ben, a local college student as his hunting guide, he expect his young guide to look the other way when he doesn’t follow the rules, but when he mistakenly shoots a person instead of the Rocky Mountain Sheep he swore he saw, he really shows his true colors as he refuses to allow Ben to report the death. He strips Ben of his clothes, weapons, food and water and keeping a watch from a distance waits for the extreme conditions to take Ben’s life as well.

The story is short and fairly simple as Ben uses his knowledge of the desert to outsmart the villain and survive. Although a little far-fetched I thought this story was very well done and I can certainly see that young people would be glued to the pages. I enjoyed the descriptions of the desert and the survival techniques that Ben used. This book is often compared to Hatchet by Gary Paulsen but the additional aspect of man-against-man as well as man-against-nature gives Deathwatch an exciting edge. ( )

Good survivalist murder novel for young readers (7th grade?). If you're a liberal helicopter parent worried about exposing your pansy "boy" to dark themes that involve guns, murder and survival in the wild, don't read this. If you're not a sissy and your kid likes life-or-death adventure survival stories, this is for you. ( )

I greatly enjoyed this book. It hit the spot, metaphorically. I wanted to read a book that was relatively simple, quick, and entertaining. Yes, a beach read, which is where I finished this one.

The story is nice and straightforward. Two men enter the desert and an "accident" occurs, leaving them to battle one another. Ben, our lead character, is hunted by the cunning Madec. Ben grew up in the desert regions and knows it well. Madec knows how to hunt and has survived the cutthroat world of big business. Who does what to whom? Well, you need to read that for yourself.

The book was written in 1974 but holds up perfectly. ( )

I wasn't expecting much from Deathwatch. First of all it is teen fiction which, forgive me, is so often just so much schlock. Second, well, it is teen fiction. I was pleased to find it to be a well-crafted work of survival and suspense. The craftsmanship along with the riveting plot make it an excellent choice for teachers of middle schoolers, even older students in the right context. My biggest problem with the book is that I have serious spatial issues when reading. There were sections in which Ben was plotting his next move that were heavy in spatial descriptions which had me reading with my tongue stuck out and a smidge of drool forming. My usual look of pained concentration. Rather inelegant. If I wasn't going to teach the book, I would have said "Yeah, yeah, yeah" and skipped these bits." There was nothing wrong with them, just not compatible with my rightbraininess. In other words, "It's not you, baby. It's me." Obviously, I will have similarly challenged students, so I will need to think of ways to mitigate the problems these sections will cause them. Otherwise, it is a well-written, ripping yarn of cat and mouse desert survival as Ben, a young college student tries to outwit Madec, the wealthy man who has hired him to take him hunting for big horn sheep in the Mojave Desert. Their partnership had been uncomfortable from the start, but when Madec accidentally shots an old prospector things get ugly. Ben refuses to be party to Madec's cover up scheme. Madec's solution? Ben becomes his quarry. I know my twelve year old girls are going to relish the bit where Ben drinks from a murky, guano-mired puddle and chows down on raw quail, their blood dripping from his mouth. That alone is worth the price of admission to me. Too bad there aren't more snakes. They so loved the snakes in True Grit! ( )

I wasn't expecting much from Deathwatch. First of all it is teen fiction which, forgive me, is so often just so much schlock. Second, well, it is teen fiction. I was pleased to find it to be a well-crafted work of survival and suspense. The craftsmanship along with the riveting plot make it an excellent choice for teachers of middle schoolers, even older students in the right context. My biggest problem with the book is that I have serious spatial issues when reading. There were sections in which Ben was plotting his next move that were heavy in spatial descriptions which had me reading with my tongue stuck out and a smidge of drool forming. My usual look of pained concentration. Rather inelegant. If I wasn't going to teach the book, I would have said "Yeah, yeah, yeah" and skipped these bits." There was nothing wrong with them, just not compatible with my rightbraininess. In other words, "It's not you, baby. It's me." Obviously, I will have similarly challenged students, so I will need to think of ways to mitigate the problems these sections will cause them. Otherwise, it is a well-written, ripping yarn of cat and mouse desert survival as Ben, a young college student tries to outwit Madec, the wealthy man who has hired him to take him hunting for big horn sheep in the Mojave Desert. Their partnership had been uncomfortable from the start, but when Madec accidentally shots an old prospector things get ugly. Ben refuses to be party to Madec's cover up scheme. Madec's solution? Ben becomes his quarry. I know my twelve year old girls are going to relish the bit where Ben drinks from a murky, guano-mired puddle and chows down on raw quail, their blood dripping from his mouth. That alone is worth the price of admission to me. Too bad there aren't more snakes. They so loved the snakes in True Grit! ( )

I wasn't expecting much from Deathwatch. First of all it is teen fiction which, forgive me, is so often just so much schlock. Second, well, it is teen fiction. I was pleased to find it to be a well-crafted work of survival and suspense. The craftsmanship along with the riveting plot make it an excellent choice for teachers of middle schoolers, even older students in the right context. My biggest problem with the book is that I have serious spatial issues when reading. There were sections in which Ben was plotting his next move that were heavy in spatial descriptions which had me reading with my tongue stuck out and a smidge of drool forming. My usual look of pained concentration. Rather inelegant. If I wasn't going to teach the book, I would have said "Yeah, yeah, yeah" and skipped these bits." There was nothing wrong with them, just not compatible with my rightbraininess. In other words, "It's not you, baby. It's me." Obviously, I will have similarly challenged students, so I will need to think of ways to mitigate the problems these sections will cause them. Otherwise, it is a well-written, ripping yarn of cat and mouse desert survival as Ben, a young college student tries to outwit Madec, the wealthy man who has hired him to take him hunting for big horn sheep in the Mojave Desert. Their partnership had been uncomfortable from the start, but when Madec accidentally shots an old prospector things get ugly. Ben refuses to be party to Madec's cover up scheme. Madec's solution? Ben becomes his quarry. I know my twelve year old girls are going to relish the bit where Ben drinks from a murky, guano-mired puddle and chows down on raw quail, their blood dripping from his mouth. That alone is worth the price of admission to me. Too bad there aren't more snakes. They so loved the snakes in True Grit! ( )

The simplistic style that White used made this read fun and simple. Although the end of the book was not a very good one, I would rate this book 4/5. I would recommend this book to almost anyone. ( )

When I was young I read and really enjoyed several of Robb White's books. "The Survivor" was a special favorite that I read when I was about 14, but I also enjoyed stories such as "Up Periscope." I happened upon "Deathwatch" a couple months ago and excitedly picked it up at the used shop, even though the subject matter on the back cover didn't sound like something I would like very much.

Well, it turned out I was right about the subject matter. I really did not enjoy a story about a relentlessly evil man changing his hunting _target from bighorn sheep to the young college kid who was his guide in the desert. The story was pretty well written and I read this because I wanted to see how it played out. I would never read this again though. The ending was a little unexpected. ( )

I hated the way this book ended when I finished reading it, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was the perfect ending. Surviving in nature an escaping bad guys was always a fantasy of my childhood, so this was a great read once I got over the ending. ( )

Excellent story for teen boys to read ( )

Even though it's been years since I've read this book I always keep coming back to it whenever I'm asked for a good read. It's suspenseful and horribly exciting and I love that it actually teaches good morals. Ben had a choice between doing what he knew was right and saving his own skin. It was literally a life or death decision and it was great to see that he made the right decision. Of course if he hadn't there would be no book to read.

This is one of my all-time favorites. A student acts as a game hunting guide to raise money for school. His client shoots an old prospector. When the guide wants to report the crime to the authorities, the client decides it would be more sporting to hunt the guide. Great suspense. What an evil villain! ( )

This book was really good. I didn't wan't to put it down ( )

I thought Deathwatch was a twisted novel with many suspense parts. The story takes place ina desert where two oppposite cahracters, Ben, a college student who is brave, determined and honest, takes a hunter named Madec who is disrespectful, dishonest and a liar, to search for big horn sheep. Madec accendentaly shoots a old man, who seemed lost in the desert, claiming that he thought it was a big horned sheep. After Madec finished hearing the answer "no" from his pleads to keep both their mouths quiet, Madec mkaes Ben strip to his boxers and leaves him in the desert with no food, water or clothes. It's a life and death situation for Ben. The watch ticks his life away as he attemps to save his own life. - Paige D. ( )

22-year-old Ben is hired by a sadistic and cold-blooded but brilliant businessman as a guide to hunt long-horns in the desert. When the man accidentally shots a homeless man and tries to talk Ben into keeping quiet, Ben refuses, and is forced by the man to try to survive in the harsh desert conditions without food, water, or clothes. Some graphic violence and extreme tension. Ages 14+.

This college student Ben takes this man Madec to go hunting for big horn sheep and the man accidentally shoots a old man...
Its a very quick read ( )

Deathwatch is an extremely good book. It is a little bit slow in the beggining but it speeds up quite rapidly. And if you enjoy survival stories with a murder trying to hunt you down while you have no clothes, food, or water in the desert you will love this book. ( )

DeathWatch is about a kid named Ben. And he is trying to get money for another year of college by being a huting guide for a man named Medec.Little does he know that he could lose his life.Ben trys to survive in the Desert in modern times without any food or water. ( )

I thought Deathwatch was excited to read. Deathwatch takes place during current time, in the dry western desert. Madec and Ben are the main characters. Madec is evil, a liar, mean, and heartless. Ben on the other hand is brave, honest, and determined. Madec paid Ben to take him hunting for big horn. Madec accidentally commits a crime. Ben wants to confess to the police, but Madec does not what to go to jail. Madec makes Ben strip only to his boxers and leaves him in the desert. The only thing is that Madec makes it almost impossible for Ben to survive. Ben is my favorite character because he tries to be optimistic. He is also very determined. I would absolutely recommend this book to another person. The person I would recommend this book to is anyone in seventh grade that likes adventure books. ( )

I think that Deathwatch was a very good book. It makes your want to keep reading untle its done. Its action packed and has a great story to tell. You will want to read to the end. ( )

I thought this book was a good book. it's about a man that leaves a boy in the desert without clothes. ( )

This is one of the best thrillers I've read....and it's meant for pre-teens. ( )

I read this book in the 7th grade and was intrigued by hunt and descriptions of the desert, and pure survivor instincts. ( )

READ THIS BOOK IF NAILBITING,DESPERATE SURVIVAL STORIES EXCITE YOU. SEE IF BEN,WITHOUT FOOOD AND CLOTHING,CAN SURVIVE BEING HUNTED BY MADEC. THIS IS "A DRAMATIC STRUGGLE BETWEEN MIGHTY OPPOSITES." ( )