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Whispers
#1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz “pulls out all the stops� ( Publishers Weekly ) in this haunting psychological thriller...
For thirty-five years, Bruno Frye has lived in the shadow of the adopted mother who made his heart beat with constant fear. And even though she died five years ago, the whispers still haunt him in the dark...enough to make him kill—and kill again.
Hilary Thomas is one of his intended victims. And she’s about to learn that even death can’t keep a bad man down...
For thirty-five years, Bruno Frye has lived in the shadow of the adopted mother who made his heart beat with constant fear. And even though she died five years ago, the whispers still haunt him in the dark...enough to make him kill—and kill again.
Hilary Thomas is one of his intended victims. And she’s about to learn that even death can’t keep a bad man down...
464 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1980
494 people are currently reading
15k people want to read
About the author
Dean Koontz
888books38.5kfollowersAcknowledged as "America's most popular suspense novelist" (Rolling Stone) and as one of today's most celebrated and successful writers, Dean Ray Koontz has earned the devotion of millions of readers around the world and the praise of critics everywhere for tales of character, mystery, and adventure that strike to the core of what it means to be human.
Dean, the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna.
Facebook:
Twitter: @DeanKoontz
Website: DeanKoontz.com
Dean, the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna.
Facebook:
Twitter: @DeanKoontz
Website: DeanKoontz.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 787 reviews
September 28, 2022
I have read Koontz since I started middle school in the late 70s, about the same time I started reading King. Once I found out that he was writing stuff that I found really creepy, I asked my local librarian to hold everything Koontz and King I had not read. Whispers was one of those books that was published in 1980 when I was going to the library every Wednesday with my siblings. It was one of the only nights that we were allowed to stay out until dark. The librarian, Winnifred Paladino, would hold books for me she thought I would enjoy, and Whispers was a brand-new book. (I had a huge crush on Mrs. Paladino.) In any case, this book is a real horror story that will have you questioning the cruelty of humanity, while simultaneously recognizing that spiritual connection is truly possible between two distinct individuals. I gave my caveats, and it will not surprise you that I cannot be objective about this book. Bruno Frye has haunted my nightmares for many years. This is one of Koontz's horrific best.
June 5, 2020
I liked it a lot when I first read it. It was one of my very first Koontz book and it is what got me into him.
March 6, 2025
In the eighties, like in last century, I did discover Stephen King and Dean Koontz. Somehow I did not continue reading Koontz and I have no clue why Koontz fell along the roadside. I recently found a few secondhand books by Koontz so hence my reading a book from 1980 when I was a wee lad.
The book starts with psycho Bob, with the name Bruno, who wants to kill his mother who apperently has the ability to switch bodies. This time hé has targeted a lady who fights back. After their first encounter the leading lady called Hilary meets a policeman who kinda fancies her. However Bruno tries to stop this blooming romance by killing her which goes differently than planned.
It is from that moment onwards that Koontz masterfull writing does drag you along in a story that changes direction a few times and keeps you guessing about the ending.
An absolute blast from the past, and brilliant story from mr. Koontz.
The book starts with psycho Bob, with the name Bruno, who wants to kill his mother who apperently has the ability to switch bodies. This time hé has targeted a lady who fights back. After their first encounter the leading lady called Hilary meets a policeman who kinda fancies her. However Bruno tries to stop this blooming romance by killing her which goes differently than planned.
It is from that moment onwards that Koontz masterfull writing does drag you along in a story that changes direction a few times and keeps you guessing about the ending.
An absolute blast from the past, and brilliant story from mr. Koontz.
January 15, 2015
This book started out so intense it made me wanna put it down for a breather, but also made me wanna keep reading because I could barely tear my eyes away. I love the intense adrenalin laced stories, So eh, call me a thrill seeker.
Koontz did a great job with his characters, I learned a lot about them accept for Bruno. You really don't get to know too much about him at the beginning of the story. I felt like I kinda had to throw pieces together to make it all work together. I would have liked to know a little more at the beginning, but then again it also built the anticipation up the closer I got to the real deal.
The story kinda a stalled a little bit for me. It lost that intensity that I was really enjoying throughout the whole story. But it takes the reader to a deep dark side where they get immersed into the tale of Katherine and Bruno and the sick story that lies within. What really happened to this big happy family. It was quite enjoyable watching their separate story unfold. Like a story within a story. You could feel Bruno's nightmare right along with his mothers to the point where it is almost unbearable to imagine it.
Koontz wraps up the story with a great ending I think. It kinda left me feeling like I did not know how to feel about Bruno or his mother. Even though I knew they are raving psychotic lunatics, they weren't born that way, they were introduced to it, forced to live it. Koontz was able to make me feel all kinds of emotions while reading this one and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Whispers...
Koontz did a great job with his characters, I learned a lot about them accept for Bruno. You really don't get to know too much about him at the beginning of the story. I felt like I kinda had to throw pieces together to make it all work together. I would have liked to know a little more at the beginning, but then again it also built the anticipation up the closer I got to the real deal.
The story kinda a stalled a little bit for me. It lost that intensity that I was really enjoying throughout the whole story. But it takes the reader to a deep dark side where they get immersed into the tale of Katherine and Bruno and the sick story that lies within. What really happened to this big happy family. It was quite enjoyable watching their separate story unfold. Like a story within a story. You could feel Bruno's nightmare right along with his mothers to the point where it is almost unbearable to imagine it.
Koontz wraps up the story with a great ending I think. It kinda left me feeling like I did not know how to feel about Bruno or his mother. Even though I knew they are raving psychotic lunatics, they weren't born that way, they were introduced to it, forced to live it. Koontz was able to make me feel all kinds of emotions while reading this one and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Whispers...
June 27, 2022
Whispers was the first novel that was published under his own name in which he was successful in mixing elements from several different genres to produce a mainstream thriller. The story involves a woman who is repeatedly attacked by a madman who seems to have an airtight alibi. It unfolds as a mystery with horrific overtones and a strong romantic content. A mistreated woman who does not get sympathetic treatment from authority is a theme that Koontz was to revisit frequently. The villain is quite creepy, and the two protagonists are likable if unremarkable. There are no amazing dogs or children, but it can be seen as Koontz's breakout novel, and was the first of his to be a bestseller. It's a very compelling read, though I'm sure it's a bit dated now.
May 24, 2011
There's not a lot I know about rugby, or Apartheid. I watched a Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon movie though, where Morgan Freeman is portraying Nelson Mandela, and while touring the prison where he was held captive, or while talking to Matt Damon about how important winning a sporting event is for a country's sense of validity, he mentions a poem he had memorized. A few lines of a poem, or a whole poem, I don't remember. Apparently it was profound enough and simple enough that repetition and monotony never decreased its relevance to Mandela's fate. I think that, true or not, is a good little story.
Whispers is a long, obscene, vulgar and predictable swim through a mile of shit. I spent a day and a half reading it, and felt so cheated at the end, walking out my door and seeing a beautiful sunset and calm, quiet evening. I congratulate the commercial and economic success of Dean Koontz, but it is the literary equivalent to a banquet of Big Macs. Being served by Playboy bunnies. In the 80s.
Whispers is a long, obscene, vulgar and predictable swim through a mile of shit. I spent a day and a half reading it, and felt so cheated at the end, walking out my door and seeing a beautiful sunset and calm, quiet evening. I congratulate the commercial and economic success of Dean Koontz, but it is the literary equivalent to a banquet of Big Macs. Being served by Playboy bunnies. In the 80s.
July 14, 2020
Dean Koontz is one of my favorite authors, but I often forget that. Maybe because he’s so hit or miss, or maybe because it’s just been a while since I’ve read one of his books I really didn’t to put down, I dunno, but I’d kinda forgotten how fun the experience of reading Koontz can be.
Whispers was the last book Koontz wrote in obscurity—however, because it was written after being a published author for nearly fifteen years, this novel shows a deft hand and skill. This 1980 horror-mystery would go on to be a paperback bestseller, and the rest is history.
This novel feels different from many Koontz books because of the sheer depth of character development: this book is not constant action action action, which is nice. The characters feel fully rounded and wholly sympathetic—hell, even this book’s villain is more sympathetic than usual, for Koontz—and I loved spending time with them.
This book isn’t usually included amongst Koontz’s “horror� works, but I don’t know why. It features many successful horror set-pieces—a scene in a morgue immediately springs to mind—and because Koontz takes his time developing the narrative and situations, the sense of dread is also successfully wrought.
(I also think this novel’s “mystery�, as simple as it is, totally works. I didn’t see the twist(s) coming, and I had plenty of guesses.)
Often overshadowed by later Koontz books, Whispers is a self-assured and downright fun horror novel I couldn’t stop reading, nor did I want to. Books like this prove he isn’t simply a “poor man’s Stephen King�.
Whispers was the last book Koontz wrote in obscurity—however, because it was written after being a published author for nearly fifteen years, this novel shows a deft hand and skill. This 1980 horror-mystery would go on to be a paperback bestseller, and the rest is history.
This novel feels different from many Koontz books because of the sheer depth of character development: this book is not constant action action action, which is nice. The characters feel fully rounded and wholly sympathetic—hell, even this book’s villain is more sympathetic than usual, for Koontz—and I loved spending time with them.
This book isn’t usually included amongst Koontz’s “horror� works, but I don’t know why. It features many successful horror set-pieces—a scene in a morgue immediately springs to mind—and because Koontz takes his time developing the narrative and situations, the sense of dread is also successfully wrought.
(I also think this novel’s “mystery�, as simple as it is, totally works. I didn’t see the twist(s) coming, and I had plenty of guesses.)
Often overshadowed by later Koontz books, Whispers is a self-assured and downright fun horror novel I couldn’t stop reading, nor did I want to. Books like this prove he isn’t simply a “poor man’s Stephen King�.
December 4, 2020
Koontzland Group Read - March 2018
My Sept 2015 read
Read Whispers and/or Winter Moon in March Vote
A nice scene is with the bartender, Otto showing all violent customers with his beer glass biting stunt to keep them quiet (e.g. Bobby). Detective Partners Lieutenant Tony Clemenza and Lieutenant Frank Howard cannot believe it....
My Sept 2015 read
An easy read with not many characters and simple plot. Hilary Thomas - L.A. movie screen writer says she was assaulted and raped by Bruno Frye, someone she knew, (Or a spirit?).
Detective Partners Lieutenant Tony Clemenza (grows attraction with great Hillary/Tony love/sex scenes.
Det. Lieutenant Frank Howard (initially accuses her of purjury) investigate the case.
Re: Hillary is not believed as Napa County Sheriff Peter Laurenski says Bruno Frye was in his Napa County winnery home at the same time of the rape, 400 miles away. Dr. Nicholas Rudge, psychologist, has many sessions with Bruno but why don't they help. Bruno's mother Katherine is a key lead character to watch. Bruno is killed, how can Hillary, Frank & Tony prove he's still alive to kill - His regeneration? His demon?
Read Whispers and/or Winter Moon in March Vote
April 1, 2018
The forces that affect our lives, the influences that mold and shape us, are often like whispers in a distant room, teasingly indistinct, apprehended only with difficulty.
-Charles Dickens
I enjoyed this one much more than I expected. I guess I put off reading it because it was an older Koontz book and one with more pages than the typical books I read of 300-400 pages. I listened to the audiobook of Whispers in 2013, while I was painting my new condo :-)
I read the book for the second time in 2016. Interestingly enough, I started the book on June 15th, both in 2013 and 2016, I finished the book on about the same date as well, and painted my condo while listening to the audiobook. There are no coincidences. Everything is connected.
I experienced the book for the third time in 2018.
Elements of the story remind of me of other Dean Koontz novels including: Shadowfires, Mr. Murder and The Bad Place. It seems that all Koontz books interconnect in some way in what we Koontz addicts call The Koontz Universe. I could do without the overabundant sex scenes, but they are easy enough to skip over quickly. Overall, a good story. One of the few readily available Dean Koontz books I had not yet read. I love the worms and cockroaches :-)
Includes an entertaining Afterword.
Some favorite passages from the book:
"Have you ever done it?"
"What?" Bitten off someone's nose? Nah. Just the threat's enough to make them behave."
______
Every scene - every seascape, every landscape, every street, every building, every room in every building, every person, every thing - had it's own special patterns.
______
"He's a big healthy son of a bitch"
______
How could you tell when you were losing your grip on reality? How did madness begin? Did it creep up on you, or did it seize you in an instant, without warning? She had to consider the possibility that she was losing her mind because, after all, there was a history of insanity in her family.
______
He was going to be damned thorough when he disposed of the corpse, far more thorough than he had been when he'd disposed of the many other women whose bodies she'd inhabited. Cut out her heart. Pound a wooden stake through it. Cut off her head. Fill her mouth with garlic. He also intended to take the head and the heart with him when he left the house; he would bury the pair of grisly trophies in separate and secret graves, in the hallowed ground of two different churchyards, and far away from wherever the body itself might be interred.
______
The bitch! The rotten bitch!
______
Tony listened willingly and attentively to all sorts of people because, as a painter fascinated by hidden patterns, he was seeking the overall pattern of human existence and meaning. Even now, as he listened to Frank, he thought of a quote from Emerson that he had read a long time ago: The Sphinx must solve her own riddle. If the whole of history is in one man, it all to be explained from individual experience. All men and women and children were fascinating puzzles, great mysteries, and Tony was seldom bored by their stories.
-Charles Dickens
I enjoyed this one much more than I expected. I guess I put off reading it because it was an older Koontz book and one with more pages than the typical books I read of 300-400 pages. I listened to the audiobook of Whispers in 2013, while I was painting my new condo :-)
I read the book for the second time in 2016. Interestingly enough, I started the book on June 15th, both in 2013 and 2016, I finished the book on about the same date as well, and painted my condo while listening to the audiobook. There are no coincidences. Everything is connected.
I experienced the book for the third time in 2018.
Elements of the story remind of me of other Dean Koontz novels including: Shadowfires, Mr. Murder and The Bad Place. It seems that all Koontz books interconnect in some way in what we Koontz addicts call The Koontz Universe. I could do without the overabundant sex scenes, but they are easy enough to skip over quickly. Overall, a good story. One of the few readily available Dean Koontz books I had not yet read. I love the worms and cockroaches :-)
Includes an entertaining Afterword.
Some favorite passages from the book:
"Have you ever done it?"
"What?" Bitten off someone's nose? Nah. Just the threat's enough to make them behave."
______
Every scene - every seascape, every landscape, every street, every building, every room in every building, every person, every thing - had it's own special patterns.
______
"He's a big healthy son of a bitch"
______
How could you tell when you were losing your grip on reality? How did madness begin? Did it creep up on you, or did it seize you in an instant, without warning? She had to consider the possibility that she was losing her mind because, after all, there was a history of insanity in her family.
______
He was going to be damned thorough when he disposed of the corpse, far more thorough than he had been when he'd disposed of the many other women whose bodies she'd inhabited. Cut out her heart. Pound a wooden stake through it. Cut off her head. Fill her mouth with garlic. He also intended to take the head and the heart with him when he left the house; he would bury the pair of grisly trophies in separate and secret graves, in the hallowed ground of two different churchyards, and far away from wherever the body itself might be interred.
______
The bitch! The rotten bitch!
______
Tony listened willingly and attentively to all sorts of people because, as a painter fascinated by hidden patterns, he was seeking the overall pattern of human existence and meaning. Even now, as he listened to Frank, he thought of a quote from Emerson that he had read a long time ago: The Sphinx must solve her own riddle. If the whole of history is in one man, it all to be explained from individual experience. All men and women and children were fascinating puzzles, great mysteries, and Tony was seldom bored by their stories.
August 14, 2010
"Whispers" (1980) was the book that launched Koontz onto the bestseller lists, and it's a wonder why.
What to say about this book? Not much. Bruno Frye is stalking Hilary whatsername, a young, wealthy, beautiful and succesful (hey, it's Koontz) screenwriter. Enter a brave cop, Tony Clemenza, who's going to save our damsel from all distresses, on all three thousands pages that follow.
Whispers is way too long, way to cliched, and way to boring - the climax is something V.C. Andrews readers might employ, but in Koontz's case it comes far to late to save the completely pointless intersection. Not recommended; some antics are better left undisturbed.
What to say about this book? Not much. Bruno Frye is stalking Hilary whatsername, a young, wealthy, beautiful and succesful (hey, it's Koontz) screenwriter. Enter a brave cop, Tony Clemenza, who's going to save our damsel from all distresses, on all three thousands pages that follow.
Whispers is way too long, way to cliched, and way to boring - the climax is something V.C. Andrews readers might employ, but in Koontz's case it comes far to late to save the completely pointless intersection. Not recommended; some antics are better left undisturbed.
March 20, 2018
I read this book when it first came out and there was one part I didn't care for but I decided to reread it again this month as a Koontzland read and boy am I glad I did.
This book was exciting from the beginning to the end. The part that bothered me still bothered me but not as much and didn't keep me from enjoying the book. Koontz at his finest here.
This book was exciting from the beginning to the end. The part that bothered me still bothered me but not as much and didn't keep me from enjoying the book. Koontz at his finest here.
March 27, 2014
Early Dean Koontz, I am shocked you got anywhere with a book like this. Why did I trudge along and finish it? Well, listening instead of actually being the reader helped a bit. I did want to know how it ended, and for part of the book, the ultimate mystery was a little intriguing. What was the problem? Sooo much.
The misogyny. The whole concept of a woman brutally attacked and almost raped with the cops not believing her was disgusting and uncomfortable to read. One cop outright persecutes her while the other, obviously attracted to her, apologetically explains exactly why she isn't taken seriously. When it happens again, she easily forgives the cops and agrees to go on a date. Right. Also, this main character Heroine is always described and admired as so strong...yet all she does is whine.
The conjecture. Most of the plot occurs in long dialogue scenes where the characters debate what might be happening. It's like the author basically thinks to himself, "Here, let me prove that I thought this thing through from all sides so that you cannot roll your eyes about how implausible this is." There are tons of "This doesn't sound possible" moments followed by lots and lots of discussion between characters deciding that it is possible and then conveniently explaining why. A pattern developed where we would cut to the H/H, having a debate with the woman all scared and whining. Cut to the bad guy, slowly revealing how crazy unhinged he is, although he had his wits about him just fine at first. New chapter, with more of the same discussion but taking place in a new location.
Just really annoying and by the time anything was actually "revealed" it was such old news that you wanted things to get on already.
The misogyny. The whole concept of a woman brutally attacked and almost raped with the cops not believing her was disgusting and uncomfortable to read. One cop outright persecutes her while the other, obviously attracted to her, apologetically explains exactly why she isn't taken seriously. When it happens again, she easily forgives the cops and agrees to go on a date. Right. Also, this main character Heroine is always described and admired as so strong...yet all she does is whine.
The conjecture. Most of the plot occurs in long dialogue scenes where the characters debate what might be happening. It's like the author basically thinks to himself, "Here, let me prove that I thought this thing through from all sides so that you cannot roll your eyes about how implausible this is." There are tons of "This doesn't sound possible" moments followed by lots and lots of discussion between characters deciding that it is possible and then conveniently explaining why. A pattern developed where we would cut to the H/H, having a debate with the woman all scared and whining. Cut to the bad guy, slowly revealing how crazy unhinged he is, although he had his wits about him just fine at first. New chapter, with more of the same discussion but taking place in a new location.
Just really annoying and by the time anything was actually "revealed" it was such old news that you wanted things to get on already.
April 27, 2009
Another crazy mother who mentally destroys her children, so that, in their adulthood, they're homicidal and unbalanced, yet still walking free in society like everyone else.
Hilary survives an attack by an assailant she recognizes, and finds that her plea to the police is met by doubt, as the attacker has an alibi. The second attack on Hilary becomes bloody for the attacker, and the police are finally able to verify Hilary's need to call for help.
The surprise in this story wasn't Hilary, or her strength standing up to an attacker on two different occasions. It wasn't Tony, and his attraction to Hilary, or their growing relationship.
It was Bruno. Not just Bruno, but Bruno's history. I mean, sheesh! Crazy grandfather begat crazy mother begat crazy Bruno! It really shouldn't have been a surprise that Bruno turned out to be all that crazy, given how he grew up. But when the reader gets a glimpse into Bruno's childhood, you're amazed that he was able to function in polite society!
Hilary survives an attack by an assailant she recognizes, and finds that her plea to the police is met by doubt, as the attacker has an alibi. The second attack on Hilary becomes bloody for the attacker, and the police are finally able to verify Hilary's need to call for help.
The surprise in this story wasn't Hilary, or her strength standing up to an attacker on two different occasions. It wasn't Tony, and his attraction to Hilary, or their growing relationship.
It was Bruno. Not just Bruno, but Bruno's history. I mean, sheesh! Crazy grandfather begat crazy mother begat crazy Bruno! It really shouldn't have been a surprise that Bruno turned out to be all that crazy, given how he grew up. But when the reader gets a glimpse into Bruno's childhood, you're amazed that he was able to function in polite society!
February 11, 2014
The first time I read this book I was in high school. I found it to be one of the scariest books ever! I've since read it again on several different occasions, that's how good I found this book to be. Makes the hair on your neck stand on end!
November 7, 2015
I finished the book about a week ago, but I held back with writing my review for the simple fact of needing time to think about it. 'Whispers' was my fourth Dean Koontz novel and like the case with all them before; I finished reading and was sitting on the proverbial fence. I'm more familiar with his more recent works, 'Innocence', '77 Shadow Street'. After reading them and being left disappointed, a friend of mine - another book buddy who's a fan of Koontz suggested I try some of his earlier novels. And being the type of reader who will try anything once, I thought, why not? That is how 'Whispers' come into the game. Why I choose it out of the numerous other options offered up by Koontz, I have no idea. It was voted in as a group read in my book club, so that's the main reason I read it.
It's more a psychological thriller mystery combo than a horror novel. Though I will say there are a few pages near the end of the story where bugs are very much up front and center. Talk about giving a person a case of the heebie-jeebies.
This book isn't the most terrible book out there. The characters were blah, the writing just mediocre, but the suspense was there. Hey, I managed to finish, so it can't be that bad. Besides, I'm on a mission. I haven't given up on Mr. Koontz yet. I will keep trying until I find that one DK book that truly impresses me.
It's more a psychological thriller mystery combo than a horror novel. Though I will say there are a few pages near the end of the story where bugs are very much up front and center. Talk about giving a person a case of the heebie-jeebies.
This book isn't the most terrible book out there. The characters were blah, the writing just mediocre, but the suspense was there. Hey, I managed to finish, so it can't be that bad. Besides, I'm on a mission. I haven't given up on Mr. Koontz yet. I will keep trying until I find that one DK book that truly impresses me.
September 21, 2015
As a horror-starved teenager I got wind of Koontz first for and then for . Following these two (Swedish publishing order), it was this book. Not quite what I was prepared for or expecting, but a good read nonetheless. More psychological thriller than the horror I expected at the time, but some very effective chills and way before Koontz strangely enough became that truly annoying word-spewer of cliches and incredibly annoying characters.
February 7, 2017
Εξαιρετικό βιβλίο γεμάτο ένταση, αγωνία, φόβο. Παρ όλο που καταλαβαίνεις σχετικά νωρίς τι γίνεται, θέλεις να συνεχίσεις την ανάγνωση. Ωραίες περιγραφές και διάλογοι. Και υπάρχουν και κάποιες στιγμές που πραγματικά θες να φας τα νύχια σου. Απο τις παλιές καλές εποχές του Κουντζ. Είναι εξαντλημένο, αλλά με λίγη τύχη μπορεί και να το πετύχεται.
November 12, 2018
The overall story is good but the entire novel seems to be packed with opinions the author wants to share with the world. Opinions I don’t agree with. Opinions I despise.
Also there is a toad that croaks on cue and some of the author’s word choices are a bit jarring. Coquette. Perspicacity. Penitent. Really?
Also there is a toad that croaks on cue and some of the author’s word choices are a bit jarring. Coquette. Perspicacity. Penitent. Really?
December 16, 2017
The dialogue is horrible. The sex scenes are unreadable. Take all that away and you got a pretty creepy story. And since the last few books of Koontz that I read were lousy I was pleasantly surprised that this one kept my interest despite all it's flaws.
Oh and there's no dog in this one.
Oh and there's no dog in this one.
April 19, 2015
60% into this book and not worth the time. I'm so disappointed. Such a waste of my reading time.
January 19, 2022
Huge fan of Dean Koontz� this book did not disappoint. The ending was a little weak for me, but overall it was pretty good!
September 4, 2024
Kompletnie nie moja bajka. Przegadana do granic możliwości.
July 9, 2013
I suppose I could make a shelf called "Horror, sort of" for this but you get the idea.
I read this some time ago but had forgotten about it. The plot isn't one that's terrifically original but it's handled very well and the plot holds together in the face of evidence in the story that "kind of" misleads. It's supposed to, and it's done very well. So all in all I think this is a good book and while I can't bring myself to go above 3 stars that only means that I have trouble deciding "how good" it is. I don't think it's as good as 4 but it's definitely better than a 2...so, what 3.4????
Oh well.
This is a book with lots "identifying with the players". The scene where she's dealing with the police officer who's got his own baggage and has already made up his mind drove me up the wall and I could imagine the frustration of trying to convince someone who'd already decided you were lying...even though you weren't.
So lot's of violence a pretty good set up and Koontz's trademark "broken villain". His ability to make you wonder if there's a supernatural element or not is also on display here and done well. I like it.
So, while I can't list this as one of Koontz's best it's still a good one and I'd recommend you give it a try and see what you think.
Scary at times...a bit of a gross-out at other times dealing with unpleasant subjects but not the worst I've run on by any means. Koontz does deal with unpleasant subjects often so you know that going in...be ready and I don't think it'll surprise. Not for the squeamish but as I said, not bad.
I read this some time ago but had forgotten about it. The plot isn't one that's terrifically original but it's handled very well and the plot holds together in the face of evidence in the story that "kind of" misleads. It's supposed to, and it's done very well. So all in all I think this is a good book and while I can't bring myself to go above 3 stars that only means that I have trouble deciding "how good" it is. I don't think it's as good as 4 but it's definitely better than a 2...so, what 3.4????
Oh well.
This is a book with lots "identifying with the players". The scene where she's dealing with the police officer who's got his own baggage and has already made up his mind drove me up the wall and I could imagine the frustration of trying to convince someone who'd already decided you were lying...even though you weren't.
So lot's of violence a pretty good set up and Koontz's trademark "broken villain". His ability to make you wonder if there's a supernatural element or not is also on display here and done well. I like it.
So, while I can't list this as one of Koontz's best it's still a good one and I'd recommend you give it a try and see what you think.
Scary at times...a bit of a gross-out at other times dealing with unpleasant subjects but not the worst I've run on by any means. Koontz does deal with unpleasant subjects often so you know that going in...be ready and I don't think it'll surprise. Not for the squeamish but as I said, not bad.
September 17, 2015
I disliked this book almost immediately after starting it due to it's choppy writing in the beginning and the rushed-into rape scene. It's cliched romance and an unrelatable main character (Hilary) also made this kind of a painful read. I never cared about what happened to Hilary throughout this whole book, she just seemed too much of a damsel in distress to care.
Which brings me to the annoying romance that occurs. Hilary and Tony know each other for one week - ONE WEEK!! - and they already say "I love you" and "I'd be nothing without you" (vomit). I'm all for a GOOD romance, but geeze, this is like the crappy Romance novels you pick up at the super market during vacation because you either forgot to bring a book or you already finished (several times) the one you brought.
That aside, the serial rapist/murderer was kind of interesting. Koontz definitely threw in some twists with Frye's character and made him very unique. I found myself being much more interested in his story than in Hilary's. If this novel had been focused on him instead of Hilary, it would have been significantly more capturing.
Which brings me to the annoying romance that occurs. Hilary and Tony know each other for one week - ONE WEEK!! - and they already say "I love you" and "I'd be nothing without you" (vomit). I'm all for a GOOD romance, but geeze, this is like the crappy Romance novels you pick up at the super market during vacation because you either forgot to bring a book or you already finished (several times) the one you brought.
That aside, the serial rapist/murderer was kind of interesting. Koontz definitely threw in some twists with Frye's character and made him very unique. I found myself being much more interested in his story than in Hilary's. If this novel had been focused on him instead of Hilary, it would have been significantly more capturing.
January 31, 2014
This book was recommended by a friend, and I'm glad. It was a fun and easy read, that kept me at the edge of my seat.
I was attracted to it because I share the same name (and some features) of the victim, Hilary Thomas. It was fun (in a weird way) to put myself in the story. I loved the twists and turns Dean took me through. I love trying to solve the crime before the authorities, with this book, I couldn't! Too many twists!
The last hundred pages, or so, was a whirlwind of intense emotions. You learn so much in such a short time, and holy cow! The book was great if you like thrill, suspense, and a little sexiness. Tony and Hilary had a (somewhat) cliched romance that you couldn't help but admire and adore.
Good read, Dean. Good read.
I was attracted to it because I share the same name (and some features) of the victim, Hilary Thomas. It was fun (in a weird way) to put myself in the story. I loved the twists and turns Dean took me through. I love trying to solve the crime before the authorities, with this book, I couldn't! Too many twists!
The last hundred pages, or so, was a whirlwind of intense emotions. You learn so much in such a short time, and holy cow! The book was great if you like thrill, suspense, and a little sexiness. Tony and Hilary had a (somewhat) cliched romance that you couldn't help but admire and adore.
Good read, Dean. Good read.
February 28, 2013
Started reading this, so far this book is crap. Woman gets attacked, attempted rape at her own home, shoots the guy, then lets him walk out. Then shes questioned by the cops and they blame her. The dialog is unbelievable. At one point, a cop who is interviewing her thinks to himself, I wanna bang her. Just too unbelievable.
November 30, 2018
Definitivamente este género no es lo mío, no puedo decir que este libro sea malo, porque de hecho no lo es, pero me costo muchisimo trabajo terminarlo.
Tengo que ser honesta y creo que yo no estaba del mejor humor para leer este libro, trataré de ser lo mas objetiva posible.
La narración es muy buena, sin embargo, me perdieron mucho las descripciones, soy anti descripciones innecesarias y largas, pero eso es un tema demasiado personal, por otro lado, para mí gusto fue completamente previsible, desde la mitad del libro ya sabía hacía donde iba, ahora eso no le quitó mérito en absoluto, sin embargo, tengo que decir que este libro no me pareció en absoluto un libro de Terror, sería en todo caso un Thriller, pero no mas allá.
Conozco mucha gente que es fanatica de este escritor y del género, que además me habían recomendado leer este libro, pero creo que el problema es que no es lo mío, no es lo que me gusta y por lo tanto no lo disfruto.
Tengo que decir que Koontz escribe muy bien, tiene un estilo narrativo que ayuda mucho a que sea fácil de leer a pesar de ser tan descriptivo.
En fin, supongo que para quienes adoran el género del terror y sobre todo son fanáticos de Koontz, estarán por quererme ahorcar del palo mas alto.
Tengo que ser honesta y creo que yo no estaba del mejor humor para leer este libro, trataré de ser lo mas objetiva posible.
La narración es muy buena, sin embargo, me perdieron mucho las descripciones, soy anti descripciones innecesarias y largas, pero eso es un tema demasiado personal, por otro lado, para mí gusto fue completamente previsible, desde la mitad del libro ya sabía hacía donde iba, ahora eso no le quitó mérito en absoluto, sin embargo, tengo que decir que este libro no me pareció en absoluto un libro de Terror, sería en todo caso un Thriller, pero no mas allá.
Conozco mucha gente que es fanatica de este escritor y del género, que además me habían recomendado leer este libro, pero creo que el problema es que no es lo mío, no es lo que me gusta y por lo tanto no lo disfruto.
Tengo que decir que Koontz escribe muy bien, tiene un estilo narrativo que ayuda mucho a que sea fácil de leer a pesar de ser tan descriptivo.
En fin, supongo que para quienes adoran el género del terror y sobre todo son fanáticos de Koontz, estarán por quererme ahorcar del palo mas alto.
May 20, 2022
I kind of swore off reading thrillers and horror books because I got so sick of stories that went nowhere or had ridiculous endings. I think this book does a good job walking the line between really out-there subject matter and true human fears and evils. The exploration of generational trauma, while not the most subtle, is really compelling and dark. This book definitely isn't perfect. The pacing is a bit strange with large chunks of the book being filled with mostly irrelevant events and the end feeling a bit rushed. Koontz does that thing where he has a character spell out the exact psychological problems going on at the end to make sure all the readers are caught up. Still, I really didn't mind it especially since the psychological problems were really fascinating. Additionally, Koontz does a really great job fleshing out the characters and their relationships with each other. I wish that he spent more time exploring Bruno's childhood because that was definitely the most interesting part, in my opinion. I don't want to spoil it but there is a piece of imagery at the very end (with Bruno in the cellar) that is heartbreaking, I'd honestly say those few sentences are the part of this book that I'll remember the most.
October 5, 2011
It is early Dean Koontz and you can see a lot of what he had to overcome to be the writer he is today. The prose is top heavy, he explains often when he should just describe and it stops the action. The book is heavy with explaination, his villian isn't as chilling as the deranged killer from Hideaway, the twisted doctor from False Memory, or the demented sherieff from Intensity. One misses these pillars of the community turned cold bloodied pyschos, although he is one of their brethern. The Koontz villian typically is proudly a loner who uses murder and/or brutality as a subsitute for imtimacy. His monsters use the shields of their outward forms to better become predators. The killer here doesn't. It also suffers from the obviousness of the killer's idenity. It will occur to you long before it will those who are 'investigating' it. You can see why this would be a device he would rarely use again. This book had obvious flaws, but it also possessed the raw sense of terror, of having your space invaded and then being attacked by a true other, someone who may seem human, but really isn't. I liked it for that reason.
June 4, 2020
A solid four star read from the early days of Koontz. This novel had a few flaws, that were in the end overshadowed by some intense thrills and pretty creative mystery elements.
First off the negatives. The protagonists in this one were pretty cardboard and I struggled to get invested in them. Even more so the relationship that developed between them. It just came across as a bit ridiculous. I was at one point thinking this is going to be lucky to scrape a three star. But then....
The villain in this one is awesome. He's so compelling and the chapters centering around him are what you pay your money for. This seems to be a common theme in Koontz novels and he does this exceptionally�. Once this novel gets going it's really intense and the mystery elements and reveals are done really well. Toward the end I couldn't put it down.
So all in all, stick with this one. The pay off is definitely worth it. Particularly if you like gory violence and serial killers. Which I do. Next up from Koontz for me is the Voice of the Night, which I've heard great things about. Bring it on.
First off the negatives. The protagonists in this one were pretty cardboard and I struggled to get invested in them. Even more so the relationship that developed between them. It just came across as a bit ridiculous. I was at one point thinking this is going to be lucky to scrape a three star. But then....
The villain in this one is awesome. He's so compelling and the chapters centering around him are what you pay your money for. This seems to be a common theme in Koontz novels and he does this exceptionally�. Once this novel gets going it's really intense and the mystery elements and reveals are done really well. Toward the end I couldn't put it down.
So all in all, stick with this one. The pay off is definitely worth it. Particularly if you like gory violence and serial killers. Which I do. Next up from Koontz for me is the Voice of the Night, which I've heard great things about. Bring it on.
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