Kill Me Instead

“The Good Guy” by Dean Koontz
Publisher: Bantam
ISBN: 978-0-553-80481-2

As a writer, Koontz is improving. I found that this novel had very little rambling about his characters and scenes. His development of characters was amazing. I found that even though I despised the evil character, Krait, I was just as attached to him as I was the main characters, Tim and Linda.

This novel had a very interesting and scary plot. What made this Novel so intensely frightening was that it was a plausible situation. It is a plot that could very well be happening or could happen to anyone that unknowingly was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Krait had received payment by his “people” numerous times previously to kill. This time, the payment was for Linda. In a strange mix-up, Tim was given the money to perform the hit on Linda and refused to give it to the killer, Krait. Instead, Tim took it upon himself to save Linda from the determined killer. A cat-mouse chase ensues where Tim and Linda are unable to escape Krait and eventually they must face him.

I do not think the reader is totally surprised by the ending, but what is surprising is what we learn about the characters and why the mission to kill Linda took place. Anyone that enjoys crime novels, mystery, and suspense will find this a very entertaining read.

Book Review: "Darkfall" by Dean Koontz

One of Koontz’s earliest novels that was originally titled “The Pit” by his persona Owen West, has been retitled “Darkfall” and is now published along with other Koontz titles. I picked up this paperback after reading and enjoying Koontz’s “Odd Thomas” series. The writing of “Darkfall” is just as dark and evil as I had expected.

Koontz’s use of imagery throughout the novel is outstanding. I was able to (unwillingly) step into the novel and be part of the action. I truly felt as if I was traveling with the characters throughout the story.

The demonic characters where slowly revealed to us as the gates of hell were opened through a glowing pit dug by the evil character Lavelle. Lavelle practices voodoo, but other than a few references to his rituals, I found that there was much research lacking by Koontz.

The characters Jack and Rebecca were well developed and I felt a strong connection to them, even to the evil forces of Lavelle. There was a strong story line of good vs evil that was carried through the entire book. A lesser love storyline was also present and I found myself enjoying the character development through this route.

Having a 12 year old child, I found one character, Penny, who is 11 years old to be unbelievable. See seemed to present the maturity and dialogue of a much older teen. This was especially evident at the end of the novel.

Overall, this was a fun read, which you should probably not read before bedtime.

Book Review: “The Paper Doorway” Poetry by Dean Koontz

I recently gave my 12 year old son the assignment to reflect on poetry that he had recently read. His response was that he could not do the assignment, as he did not like poetry and had never really read any poetry.

My response to him went something like this “but you love poetry, and you recently were telling me about all the great little ‘stories’ you were reading in your Dean Koontz book.”

His response “That’s not poetry, I liked that book. It was full of funny little stories.”

We had a long discussion after about how poetry takes on many forms and brings many different emotions. The emotions that were felt with Koontz’s poetry made my son feel happy. All poetry is not like that and my son did later admit he enjoys poetry, especially Koontz’s poetry.

“The Paper Doorway” is filled with humorous, whimsical poetry for children of all ages. There are wonderful illustrations on nearly each page and each illustration contains a mouse for your child to find.

This is a must have book for all young readers which will expose them to the joys of poetry.

Brother Odd by Dean Koontz

Preview Brother Odd now!

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Brother Odd (Chapters 1-3); New hardcover; 11/28/06 pub date

Even if you've never read a novel by Dean Koontz, chances are good you've heard of him. As one of the most prominent authors in the world, his books have been published in 38 languages and regularly top the New York Times' bestseller list. And if you think Dean Koontz writes horror or science fiction books, trust us, he doesn't. Suspenseful, yes. Provocative, absolutely. All blood and gore? No way.

So what kind of a writer is he?

More than anything, Koontz is all about creating unforgettable characters. He writes smart thrillers with thoughtful underlying themes. And the three Odd Thomas books are no exception. In addition to being a fan favorite, Odd is an author favorite, too. In fact, before creating Odd Thomas, Koontz had never written three books focusing on the same character. But as Koontz says, "I find Oddie's innocence refreshing and his humility endearing. I cannot turn away from his story." So what is his story? And what is it about Odd Thomas that makes him so ... oddly compelling?

Odd is a short-order cook from a small California town. And, well there is something that makes him a little bit different: He can see the lingering dead; they come to him for justice. He didn't ask for this ability, but he can't ignore it either. And as the unofficial ambassador between our world and theirs, he feels a duty to do the right thing.

Far from a superhero or a hotshot detective with swaggering bravado, Odd just wants to fit in. It's a little bit harder when you're Odd. And it's this push-and-pull between normal and extraordinary that makes Odd Thomas so fascinating and utterly relatable.

Brother Odd takes Odd Thomas to St. Bartholomew's Abbey, a haven for abandoned children and the eccentric monks and nuns who care for them. Here he hopes to find a little solitude in which to rest and recover. (From what, we can't say—we wouldn't want to give anything away.) But trouble has a way of finding Odd. And this time it's in the form of an enemy who eclipses any he has yet encountered.

By the way, it's okay if you haven't read the first two Odd Thomas books. They each stand on their own, so go ahead and jump into Brother Odd. We're guessing that you'll want to go back and see what came before. In fact, we predict you'll find yourself entering serious fan territory after previewing Brother Odd. Want to know more about Oddie? Visit OddThomas.tv. If you're looking for more info about Koontz and all his previous books, check out DeanKoontz.com to read his reader-posed Q&A; hear his podcast, where he shares stories about the writing life, his Odd Thomas character, his Hollywood experiences and more; and meet Trixie Koontz (his dog).