THE BIG DARK SKY

5 stars out of 5

"When people think their lives are without meaning, they'll seek meaning even from the creepiest of charlatans." Truer words may never have been spoken, whether it's in real life or in a work of fiction like this engaging book that reeled me in fast and kept me on the hook all the way to the last page. 

While I'm in accolade mode, I'll add this: Dean Koontz is among very few writers - the other two who come to mind are J.K. Rowling and Stephen King - who never fail to make me wonder how in blazes he (or she) could even conjure up such intricate plots, much less write them down in such cohesive, delicious detail and (no small feat) make the supernatural seem, well, plausible.

This story centers around Rustling Willows Ranch in Montana, where Joanna Chase lived as a child until both her mother and father died, both thought to be accidental. Years later and living on her own as a writer, she experiences a series of strange events, the most troubling a phone message from an unknown female caller begging Joanna - in her former life nicknamed Jojo - to come help her. It takes a while and a few more bizarre experiences, but finally Joanna gets that the unknown caller wants her to return to her Montana home.

But maybe, just maybe, someone (or something) has a sinister reason to draw her to the ranch. And as readers soon learn, she's not the only one being targeted; and elsewhere, a couple of others are being "saved" by the intervention of a strange man dressed in white, while still others, shall I say, aren't quite so fortunate. Lurking out there, just waiting for a chance to get his jollies by mayhem, torture and horrific murder, is a man with a manifesto that claims human extinction is the only way to salvation. He welcomes the sight of a "big dark sky," and he'll do everything he can to make that happen.

Joanna, the man in white and the handful of characters (including a private investigator, a white hat hacker and a disfigured, nonverbal young man once befriended by Joanna) who escape his grasp are coming together as fast as they can grasp what's happening. But can they get the answers they need before the madman gets them? Well of course, I'll never say another word, except that that their trials and tribulations make for one heck of a tale. You'll have to read it for yourself to learn the details of their journey - and I highly recommend that you do (if you do, watch for the sneaky little references to a heroine in one of the author's popular series along the way). As for me, I'll just thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the privilege of reading a pre-release copy.

The Big Dark Sky by Dean Koontz (Thomas & Mercer, July 2022); 380 pp.

QUICKSILVER

4 stars out of 5

I have to say this one is a smidge too "science-fictiony" for my usual taste in books, but I've also have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it anyway. Want proof? I kept my nose in the book much of the time that my never-miss Olympics were on TV, so for sure it's got something good going for it.

Standing front and center is a young man named Quinn Quicksilver, who as an infant was abandoned on a roadway and found by three men who took him to safety. Growing up amid Catholic nuns, Quinn wanted to be - and became - a writer. After experiencing an episode of "strange magnetism," he inexplicably drives off into the desert, finds an unusual coin for which a local dealer pays a bundle and runs into a couple of really bad guys - a run-in that results in his meeting a girl about his age named Bridget Rainking and her grandfather Sparky. They are on the run from the Internal Security Agency (ISA), the current version of the FBI; when Quinn describes his magnetic episode, neither is surprised. And when they learn he's trying to find the men who found him all those years ago, they agree to tag along for the ride.

And what a ride it is! Adventures that follow, for instance, include Quinn's introduction to otherworldly creatures called Nihilim, or "screamers" from another universe. Eventually, they decide to head toward Peptoe, the place near Phoenix where Quinn was born. That, in turn, takes them to the cult-like complex of an uber-rich dude - a scenario that provides even more nail-biting action.

Of course, the devil is in the details, none of which I will reveal except to say there are plenty of them for me to love, from one-liners that elicited chuckles to scenes that echo current goings-on like human trafficking. To that end, if I have anything close to criticism, it is that I couldn't shake the feeling that at least parts of the story were written to fit around those things rather than the other way around. 

A few loose ends suggest the possibility of a series, which from my perspective isn't a bad idea. All in all, good job!

Quicksilver by Dean Koontz (Thomas & Mercer, January 2022); 365 pp.

DEVOTED

5 stars out of 5

Enchanting. Tear-jerking. Edge-of-seat scary. All this and more await readers of this exquisitely written book. If I had to describe it in a single word, it would be mesmerizing.

At the heart of the  activity is a telepathic dog named Kipp; Woody, a high-functioning autistic boy who hasn't spoken a word for all of his 11 years; and a diabolic plan to increase human longevity that goes horribly wrong. It's sort of a The Art of Racing in the Rain meets The Shining. Seriously, how can you top that?

Woody's dad was killed three years ago, leaving his mom, Megan, as a single parent who loves her son unconditionally. Woody returns her love even though he's unable to express it; what she doesn't know is that he's convinced that his dad's death was murder, not an accident. Elsewhere, an elderly lady named Dorothy has watched over her beloved Kipp for years, understanding his human-like abilities that include membership in the "Mysterium," a group of 86 golden retrievers and Labs who communicate with each other on the "Wire." 

And in Utah, a man who was an executive at that research laboratory working on longevity is on the run. Lee Shacket, who escaped a major disaster there with a ton of money, briefly dated Megan before she got married and knows she's now a widow. On the spur of the moment, he decides that she would be the perfect companion as he flees to another country to spend the rest of his life in luxury. But when he calls her to ask, she rebuffs him - triggering an intensive desire for revenge that grows stronger and more dangerous by the page.

Meanwhile, Kipp begins to intercept messages on the Wire from someone he believes may be a young boy - certainly a first among the heretofore all-doggie system. Kipp doesn't understand why the boy is intent on proving that his father was murdered, but he knows he needs help and sets off to find him. All that sets in motion the events that follow - events that kept me glued to the book almost nonstop till the end. My emotions pretty much ran wild, with the extremes tempered by a bit of humor here and there (my favorite laugh-out-loud line came when one character was described as having "the attention span of a Chihuahua with ADHD"). 

Seriously, this is one of the best books I've read this year. And for the record, I'd love to read more about the adventures of Kipp and his buddies (hint, hint). How about it, Mr. Koontz?

Devoted by Dean Koontz (Thomas & Mercer, March 2020); 381 pp.

THE NIGHT WINDOW

5 stars out of 5

Finishing this book brought back feelings similar to those I had after reading the last book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series: I didn't want the journey to end, but I wanted the journey to end. I'm not sure this is the last we'll see of rogue FBI agent Jane Hawk, actually, but if it really does mark the end of this series, it brings a bang-up ending to her battle against mind-controlling powers-that-be who killed her beloved husband and threatened the very existence of society as we know it.

It's been a heck of a ride - this is the fifth book in the series - each and every one a winner in my book (in order, The Silent Corner, The Whispering Room, The Crooked Staircase and The Forbidden Door). I will say, though, that while the books do stand alone, each builds on its predecessors, so I strongly recommend starting at the beginning if you're new to the series and want to maximize enjoyment thereof.

At the heart of the adventures is a secret but ever-expanding group called the Arcadians, who use implanted nanotechnology to infiltrate the minds of their victims and control their words and actions (and I won't even get into all the things they do to torture people). By this time, a large number of humans all over the country have been "adjusted," as the process is called - and it's been next to impossible to determine who's been infected (and thus, who can be trusted). Jane is determined to bring the group down, but in the process she's had to go to monumental lengths to avoid capture and hide her precious young son in the hope of keeping him safe. She's had a rough time of it in the preceding books, but so far both she and Travis - he with more than a little help from her friends - have eluded capture.

But it's getting much harder; at every twist, turn and corner are cameras loaded with face-recognition software that renders disguises like wigs and make-up virtually useless. Behind every stranger lurks the possibility of an Arcadian or a person whose mind is being controlled by them. As this story begins, Jane is researching mega-billionaire Warwick Hollister, who may be at the top of the ringleader chain. Meanwhile, oblivious to Jane's investigation, the egomaniacal Hollister is entertaining his twisted side by playing catch-and-don't-release in the snow with a terrified victim.

A few chases and near-misses later, Jane hooks up with FBI guy Vikram Rangnekar, a computer nerd with a larger-than-life crush on Jane. Young Travis, too, is facing unforeseen danger; it seems someone with an eye on a big payday has stumbled upon the boy and his identity. Jane's Spidey senses tell her he's in danger - but can she find a way to save him without losing them both (literally and figuratively)?

Don't expect me to answer; you'll just have to read it for yourself. At this point, there's nothing left for me to say except thank you to the author for an exciting series and the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy. Over and out!

The Night Window by Dean Koontz (Bantam, May 2019); 432 pp.

THE FORBIDDEN DOOR

5 stars out of 5


If it's possible to have a love-hate relationship with a book, this is it. On the one hand, the writing is almost exquisite, virtually ensuring my reluctance to put it down. Conversely, wading through page after page hoping that yet another important character won't bite the dust - probably in a most horrific way - is borderline unbearable. Characters I adore; other characters so loathesome that I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemies.

Oh, what a happy conundrum!

This is the fourth book in the series featuring former FBI agent now-fugitive Jane Hawk; the other three are excellent as well. And for the record, although each of the books can stand alone, I daresay I've derived much greater understanding and enjoyment by having read them in order from the beginning (and I recommend this to anyone who's new to this series).

At this point, Jane has been indicted for espionage, treason and seven counts of murder - many of the charges trumped up because she's fighting a nasty group called the Techno Arcadians, who are intent on changing society by injecting select humans (including Jane's late husband) with mind-control drugs. These "adjusted" folks, whose numbers are growing day by day, then can be programmed to do the bidding of the Arcadians - with the possibilities ranging from sweeping floors to murder to committing suicide. All of the above are fast zeroing in on Jane, her young son Travis and her in-laws Clare and Ancel Hawk; torturing or killing the latter three would, in their opinion, bring Jane to her knees. In the previous book, the couple Jane entrusted with hiding Travis were found and dealt with, so he's now living with a slightly autistic but sweet recluse named Cornell. Scared and lonesome, Travis calls his mother, who promises she'll come to get him.

At least that's her intent - but we all know what happens to best-laid plans. Most of us, happily, won't run into fake FBI and Homeland Security officers with murder on their minds nor mind-controlled folks who have been  ordered to be on the lookout for us - but Jane isn't so fortunate. And since the brain-altered folks look and act just like they did in their previous everyday lives, who can Jane trust?

The answer is almost no one, thus complicating her attempts to get to Travis and keep both of them out of the hands that would do them wrong. There are several narrow misses (involving some pretty grisly scenes and salty language, for those who may be bothered by that stuff}. And just when you think Jane, Travis and their trusted friends may make it, the nanotechnology begins to go awry; one by one, the recently injected people begin to psychologically regress - euphemistically falling through "the forbidden door" and turning into insatiable killing machines.

I'd love to say there's a happily-ever-after ending, but that's just not the case (well, except that Jane lives to see another day, which one would expect of any character without whom there wouldn't be a series). It's certainly a wild ride, though, and once again I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy. Another winner that has me chomping at the bit for the next installment (The Night Window). Bring it on, please!

The Forbidden Door by Dean Koontz (Bantam, September 2018); 480 pp.

THE CROOKED STAIRCASE

5 stars out of 5

I have three things to say about the books in this series, of which this is the third: First, I loved every single minute of reading them all. Second, they're good enough to keep you looking forward to the next one - but even more so because the endings aren't quite endings at all. And third, if you want to get the most out of them, start at the beginning (with The Silent Corner and The Whispering Room.

That doesn't mean the books can't stand on their own, because they do. But I also know that I enjoyed Books 2 and 3 a lot more because I read what came before (and I'd say that's more true of this one; had I not read the second, I'd have felt a bit lost throughout the first several chapters). 

The series features Jane Hawk, a disgraced standout FBI agent who's now on the Bureau's Most Wanted list and on the lam. She's certain her husband Nick's suicide (in a previous book) was murder - committed by an ultra-dangerous and secretive group of powers-that-be called the Arcadians who use nanotechnology to infiltrate the minds of their victims and control their words and actions. Those victims, it seems, are chosen based on a computer model that identifies people who are most likely to get in the way of the group's idealogy - and that certainly included her highly principled husband. While trying to stay out of the group's crosshairs, Jane is now searching for an especially violent member who has threatened her young son, Travis - forcing her to stash the boy with friends at a place where he won't be found (or so she fervently hopes). 

Also featured prominently here are fraternal twins and writers Tanujat and Sanjay, who apparently have landed a place on that hit list. Chapters switch from what's happening in their world as they slowly realize somebody's out to get them to what's happening in Jane's - ditto, except in her case, there's nothing slow about the realization.

Her chase is, as might be expected, fraught with identity changes, close calls and dead bodies, but eventually she gets what she wanted (or thought she did). That, in turn, leads her to a frightening encounter with - you guessed it - a crooked staircase that, no matter whether she's going up or down, is filled with almost unimaginable horrors. Put another way, there's never a dull moment in this book; and once again, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance review copy.

Oh yes, about that non-ending: What follows it is a preview of the next book, The Forbidden Door. When authors do this, I never - but never - bother to read them. But something - maybe the totally abrupt stop of this one - made me take the plunge, and I urge you to do the same. Even though it too ends with a cliffhanger, it eases the pain of the first one a bit and is a little less in-your-face.

The Crooked Staircase by Dean Koontz (Bantam, May 2018); 512 pp.

THE WHISPERING ROOM

5 stars out of 5

When I finished The Silent Corner, the first book in this series featuring FBI agent Jane Hawk, I loved it so much that in my review I urged the author to hurry up and finish the next one sooner than scheduled. He must have heard me, since he beat that original date by a couple of months. And oh boy, am I glad he did!

This one can stand alone, although I'm sure I enjoyed it more for having read the first. That one had plenty of action, but here it's almost nonstop, meaning I was "forced" to put other chores on the back burner so I could keep reading (honestly, I think it's even better than the first, and I gave that one a 5-star rating). The prose is pure Koontz, with each turn of the phrase artfully crafted. The focus of the plot - really, really bad guys and gals who are using nanotechnology to turn human beings they don't like into well-controlled automatons - may be a bit "out there," but on the other hand, as one of my favorite comedians, Judy Tenuta, used to say, "It could happen."

In the first book, Jane's husband Nick reportedly committed suicide - but Jane knew better and vowed to get to the truth. That in turn put her at odds with the FBI and even higher-up powers, forcing her to go on the run and put her young son Travis in hiding. Early on, she seeks help from a respected journalist - hoping he's someone she can trust (it's nearly impossible to discern who's had the technology implants, making Jane's quest to take down the instigators all that much harder). At the same time, a much-loved Minnesota school teacher inexplicably commits mass murder by driving her homemade bomb-laden car into a crowd (killing herself as well). When Jane learns of the incident, she immediately suspects that the woman was "guided" by an outside force.

At the same time, local Sheriff Luther Tillman has suspicions all his own; wanting to find out why the normally sweet teacher would commit such a horrible act, he visits her home and retrieves a few items. Shortly thereafter, her home goes up in flames, adding fuel to Luther's belief that something is rotten in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Jane and Luther lead separate investigations for a while, but as might be expected, their trails eventually come together. From that point on, there's no going back - and they must cling to the hope that the way forward won't end with either or both of their deaths. 

Mysterious and spooky and all together ooky, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves thrillers spiked with a tablespoon of science fiction. Love it - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Whispering Room by Dean Koontz (Bantam, November 2017); 528 pp.

THE SILENT CORNER

5 stars out of 5


"Ground Control to Major Tom
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on..."

--David Bowie

When I open a new Dean Koontz book, it's always with great enthusiasm. Whether or not I'll love it isn't an issue - the only question is what he will come up with to keep me engrossed this time. As expected, there's no "oops" here - he's done it again with this, the first of a series featuring FBI agent Jane Hawk. If I had to describe the book in just a few words, it would be Sarah Connor meets Jason Bourne in a fight to protect the future of the world (and yes, it would make a great movie, hint, hint).

A  recent and still grieving widow, Jane has taken a leave of absence from the FBI to deal with her husband's suicide - which she doesn't believe for a nanosecond really happened. Setting out to find the truth, she begins with a visit to another recent military widow whose death also was deemed a suicide because she suspects the same person or persons are responsible. Further digging turns up several similar incidents - both of military and non-military people - but no apparent connection.

As she pursues her research, she soon realizes "They" are out to get her (spy drones following her is an almost-dead giveaway). After managing to escape them, she pays a quick visit to her young son, whom she wisely stashed away with friends at the start of her investigation to make sure he's safe. It matters not to the story, but for the record, I was delighted to learn that his new guardians, like me, are George Winston/Windham Hill fans. 

As she begins to make some headway, though, Jane realizes there's no one she can trust - not in the government, not among friends and relatives and most certainly not among the ranks of the FBI. Almost from the start, she's forced to go off the grid, using disguises, fake names, burner phones and switched license plates to escape what she's sure will be capture and suspects will be much worse. Because she manages to get online and, in some instances, contact others, she's considered to be in the "silent corner" (aha, such is the stuff from which a title is born).

Needless to say, her online forays mean it's hard to miss day-to-day news - not all of which, shall we say, is positive. From that springs one of my favorite quotes in the book - one with which I wholeheartedly (or more accurately, disheartedly) concur: "If you let the news spoil your appetite, there wouldn't be a day you could eat."

What Jane finds is a frightening conspiracy based on mind control. It's a concept that's a bit far afield, but given the pace of technology development these days, certainly not unthinkable. Jane's race is on, then,  determine the why, how and who - and possibly destroy the latter before "They" destroy her.

Pretty scary stuff, actually, with nary a dull moment in the action. The only downside? It's the first in a series, so expect an up-in-the-air ending. That, I assume, will be rectified with the Jan. 9, 2018, publication of the next installment, The Whispering Room, and of course it's on my calendar. That said, please, Mr. Koontz, could you hurry it up just a little?

And th-th-th-that's all folks, she writes, lest she give away too many secrets Except, that is, to say that as a long-time fan of this author, I was beyond thrilled at the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this terrific book. Many, many thanks to the publisher (via NetGalley)!

The Silent Corner by Dean Koontz (Bantam, June 2017); 464 pp.

ASHLEY BELL

5 stars out of 5

A mind is a terrible thing to waste, or so it's been said. And for sure, prolific writer Bibi Blair - grown daughter of perpetual Hippie parents Nancy and Mitch - is making the most of hers. Bibi's amazing story begins when she's diagnosed with a rare, incurable cancer - told by her doctors that she has no more than a year to live.

Not gonna happen, Bibi insists - and proceeds to make a remarkable full recovery unheard of in the medical community. But then, her life takes a different turn: From a soothsayer recommended by her surfer-dude father, Bibi learns that escaping death comes with a catch; she was spared only so she can save the life of someone named Ashley Bell.

From that point on, the story gets crazy - with chapters weaving in and out from the present to events of Bibi's somewhat offbeat childhood. Each chapter peels back clues as to what's going on, most of which fall into the realm of fantasy (well, maybe, but then again, maybe not). A big reveal somewhere around the 60% mark hits like a ton of bricks, and from then on, the story takes a turn toward the even more bizarre. The ending, which in many ways is unsatisfying, brings up a whole new dimension in and of itself that kept me wondering for several days after I finished the book.

The drawbacks? Maybe too many words; no matter how well crafted they are, some of the chapters seemed to drag on a bit. And if you don't like fantasy mixed in with reality - and perhaps not being able to discern which is which - this probably isn't the book for you. 

Ashley Bell by Dean Koontz (Random House LLC, December 2015); 578 pp.

THE CITY: A NOVEL

5 stars out of 5

If for no other reason than writing that is eloquent, even exquisite, this book deserves to be read. It is, IMHO, story-telling at its absolute best (and if I could give it 10 stars, I would). Basically, it's a tale of lifelong friends,  Jonah Kirk and Malcolm Pomeranz, that takes place in New York City and begins in the 1950s and ends when Jonah, who relates most of the story as a recollection of life-altering events, is 57. 

Actually, it begins with The Neighborhood, a short story and prequel to this book (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/989028284). It was very good - I gave it 5 stars as well - so it's definitely worth reading. But although it provides a foundation for this book - and I recommend reading it if you can get your hands on a copy - I don't think it's absolutely necessary to read it before tackling The City.

Both Jonah and Malcolm are musical prodigies - Jonah a piano man and Malcolm a saxophonist. Jonah is black and Malcolm is white, and both come from interesting, if different families. Jonah's mostly-absent father has a history of breaking his mother's heart; Malcolm's parents, who live in the same house, are equally absent from each other, forcing Malcolm and his older sister, Amalia, to do all the household chores. When the story begins, Amalia has earned a scholarship to a prestigious university and soon will be leaving Malcolm, who is somewhere around 12 years old, behind.

A few years earlier, Jonah a mysterious woman he calls Pearl - a woman who changes his life forever by somehow arranging for a piano to appear in the community center Jonah frequents; that leads to piano lessons and a path toward becoming a professional musician like Jonah's mother - a lunch counter waitress by day and singer by night.

As Jonah relates the events of his past, readers learn of the endearing and contentious relationships with his mother, his grandfather, his errant father, another mysterious woman named Fiona Cassidy who appears to Jonah in a dream (dead, I might add) and a couple of other notable characters. Jonah's tale is one of love, intrigue and yes, suspense - but don't expect in-your-face, edge-of-your-seat horror. More than anything else, this is a touching story about love, courage, the end of innocence in the whole of a city that's bigger than the sum of its parts. Or, to quote a line from the book, "Time teaches us that the musical score of life oscillates between that of 'Psycho' and 'The Sound of Music'..."

The City: A Novel by Dean Koontz (Bantam, July 2014); 418 pp.

INNOCENCE: A NOVEL

5 stars out of 5

Eloquent. Thought-provoking. Simple. Complex.

How do I love thee? Those are just some of the ways. Without doubt, this is one of the best, most beautifully written books I've ever read. I couldn't wait for it to end, yet I kept clinging to the hope that it wouldn't.

To be sure, it's a story of good versus evil; it's full of fantasy, mysticism, hope and love interspersed with plenty of thrills and chills. It's Romeo and Juliet against the world, though not necessarily the world as we know it (but then again, it's exactly the world as we know it. It is narrated by Addison Goodheart (an allegorical name if ever there was one), who was born with a countenance so abhorrent to the "real" world that a mere look at him brings out an instant killer instinct. He lives in the shadows of society - the very bowels of the city, in fact - venturing forth only in darkness with his adopted father who shares his disfigurement. Then on one fateful night he meets Gwyneth, a young woman who herself is a fugitive from normal life. Totally unlike him yet totally like him, she, too, tries to make her way through a world that would destroy her if given half a chance.

Throughout, the writing is nothing short of exquisite. Every word is a treasure, creating sentences and pages that almost dazzled my mind. Mr. Koontz, I've always enjoyed your books. But for the life of me, I don't know how in the hell you're ever gonna top this one.

Innocence: A Novel by Dean Koontz (Bantam, December 2013); 352 pp.