This book was really good. I am a big Dean Koontz fan, and was wicked excited to see this book. However, this book has it's flaws: one major flaw is that it tells WAY too much stuff about his novels, i.e. secrets that you learn in the climax of the suspense are told throughout the book. What's more, it was made in 1994, it has missed a lot of newer books since then, including Dark Rivers of the Heart, Intensity, TickTock, Sole Survivor, Fear Nothing, Seize the Night, and False Memory. It should be revised every time Koontz comes out with a new book. There is plenty more I need to know about Koontz than is told here, therefore it could stand some improvements. Oh, well. All in all it was good.

Anyone who enjoys Mr Koontz's work should get a real kick out of this book. You come to know the forces that shaped him into the writer we have all come to love. If you're curious about what impact the grep had in his life, this book will tell you the answers (actually, it wont tell you anything...you have to read it...unless you get the book on audio cassette, then it will tell you) Seriously, this is a book I would highly recommend to anyone who would like to read a story of one mans struggle to recieve a paycheck for something he loves (an what a paycheck it must be!!) And he must be a hell-of-a-guy for his wife to do what she did for him. PLEASE BUY THIS BOOK AND ENJOY.

If you are a Dean Koontz reader, you must be curious where he got his unique imagination and peculiar style. This is a funny and creative explanation of his life and work. It is not just a chronological biography, but a creative touch of this and that. FULL OF HUMOR!

I liked 'Chase.' It was read quite well by the narrator and you do start to feel much empathy for Ben Chase, who is a young, struggling Vietnam hero who is feeling anything but heroic. As Ben drinks whiskey and eats apples in the solitary of his apartment day by day, the reader is right there with him, sipping along, staring at the bare, white walls of his drab one-room studio apartment. He is miserably content in his solitude, only venturing out to see his psychiatrist. But then he witnesses the murder of a young man, and his protective shell begins to be chipped away -- and not always by the right people and circumstances. The true identity of the stalker/murderer is hidden well throughout the book; I did not begin to figure it out until toward the end. Another plus to this book is that Ben Chase is a modern, Shakespearan tragic hero with an evolving tragic flaw that the reader discovers as the book goes along.

On a negative note for 'Chase,' I felt Ben's love interest needed more character development; it's like she's just thrown in there suddenly. The book goes rather slow at times, and I found myself wondering if an abridged version might have been better. Also, this might just be a personal thing, but I had different expectations for what type of person the killer would be, so it was a strange ending and resolution at the end for me. But perhaps that adds to the mystique of the book, and you yourself might like that.

Now, as for the short story, "Down in the Darkness," I loved it so much that I listened to it twice so I, the second time around, could hear those subtley wound clues a virgin listen may have missed. The story from the very beginning grabs your attention and holds on tight until the end. Just what is the story behind the disappearing cellar in this new house? And what is down there? These are the questions you'll be urgently asking yourself as you explore the cellar with 'Jes.' The sights, smells and anxious but curious horror that Jes feels truly come to life. And the end will lead you on a path of self-introspection that makes you question your own motives and feelings at times. This short story is a concise work of art -- not too long, not too short -- your daily dose of Koontz at his best. Needless to say, I highly recommend it, and while I give 'Chase' a 4, I give this short story a 5++!

Dean Koontz is the best writer on earth, I have all his books and I read them over and over

The audio version of Chase is done in a gripping and mysterious style fitting with the content. The story is one to sympathize with as the listener feels he is living out the adventure with the main character, a misunderstood Vietnam vet who wants only to be left alone in his misery. His struggle towards heroism in the context of Koontz's expert thriller content is an enchanting mix. The extra content added to this book only adds to its value in the same vein. The "Down in the Darkness" story is similarly a story of struggle of a man against his baser instincts and against his more natural and unnatural inclinations. Highly recommended.

I actually own the Audible.com copy of these books, and purchased it because I had heard the Audio Book of Lucky Day and wanted to hear it again and share it with others.

Lucky Day and Trapped are among the best of the 5 stories, as they are fairly short and keep you very interested the whole time. The longer features are also good however they are read by males with lower voices and were harder to hear because I was on an Airplane, so I did not listen to them as much.

Lucky Day has a very great climax and you will be shocked and amused as the narrator dramtically reveals the last few paragraphs.

Trapped is a less known Dean R. Koontz story, however it is a very good one, and is quite believable!

I share these treasures with my friends in my car, and long plane trips seem much shorter with this book! If you don't buy it, find someone who did because there is hours of entertainment you shouldn't miss!

This cassette is worth it just to hear "Lucky Day" by Mary Higgins Clark and "Trapped" by Dean Koontz. In fact, this cassette hooked me on Mary Higgins Clark. Both stories are full of suspense. You will be sitting on the seat of your chair trying to figure out in "Lucky Day" who killed the old man, why, and why the woman's husband is suddenly acting so strange. At the end, you experience the same shock the characters do and rethink your own relationship with the one you love and trust the most. In "Trapped," super intelligent lab rats escape and take on the task of of trapping the humans that created them before they themselves become trapped. When the rats blow up a farmhouse on their own accord, you begin to wonder if the rats have actually won.

I gave this book 4 stars, but the truth is I really didn't enjoy it all that much. It's beautifully written and the plot is clever and holds together well. The problem for me is that I just don't enjoy the supernatural. I had previously read "Icebound" by Koontz and really liked it (nothing supernatural there). I then picked up "The Bad Place" assuming it was a mystery/thriller. The first few chapters blew me away - I just couldn't wait to understand what was going on with this strange character Frank: unexplained disappearances superimposed on long-term amnesia, showing up with gobs of money and priceless jewels, etc. But when it became obvious that the explanation was supernatural I just felt so deflated - again, just not my kind of book.
For those of you who do enjoy the supernatural then I think this would be a great book. For anyone looking for a suspensful story without the supernatural stuff you might want to try my book, "The Other Part Of Me."

Greetings, all. I'm going to assume whoever's reading this is a Koontz fan like me, so I'll make my review short and sweet-if this is a title you haven't read yet-STOP WASTING TIME AND GO TO YOUR BOOKSTORE! This is undoubtedly the pinnacle of koontz's work...this novel is entertaining just out of sheer audacity alone. the ending is a real kicker! the only reason I didn't rate the book a 10 is because some aspects of it are derivitive of (who else?) Stephen King's The Shining (use of phrases the bad place and the bad thing, and of course Thomas's psychic powers).

The Bad Place is a wonderful novel which combines suspense, mystery and horror into a thrilling book that will keep you on the edge of your seat from cover to cover. This book definetly deserves five stars because of its spectacular descriptions of the characters and their emotions, and the plot which leaves you in a whirlwind of excitement. You haven't read anything until you have read The Bad Place by Dean Koontz.

Now here's a story that will keep you reading. Koontz creates a tale that is, in some ways, predictable, but in the end leaves the reader marveling over the characters.

A young woman is attacked in her home by a previous, yet brief acquaintance. The attacker escapes conviction, but returns to finish the job. However, a prepared young lady manages to finish him. All seems well for a brief time until the attacker mysteriously returns from the dead to attempt to finish the job he started! Although dear reader can probably guess how and why this could possibly happen, the trick is to know WHY the characters behave as they do. Koontz concocts a mysterious past for his characters that is fairly believable and both reader and characters find themselves horrified, yet sympathetic to the attacker(s).

I found that I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would recommend it to those who are considering it for entertainment. If you read this review and think that I seem to have given away the mysteries of the storyline, think again! Things are not as they must seem in both my review and... "Whispers."

I must say I've only read two Dean Koontz novels in my life. The first was Intensity, the second was Whispers. And it's like the same thing happened with both. I started to read the book but for some reason I found it somehow difficult to keep reading, like the book was too heavy, gave many turns and didn't push the plot forward. I stopped reading Intensity and later on I started it all over again and enjoyed it at the end. I had left Whispers behind and I decided to give it another try. I read it in four days, the last of which I stayed up till 2am. It was a great book. Not a horror novel but a very good psychological thriller which kept me guessing all the way. Koontz has created one of the most memorable villains. The reason why this one is so special is because it's not the typical EVIL character. You really get to symphatize with him more than once (something that did not happen with the character of Tony Clemenza which I didn't like and reason why I dont give the novel a higher rating). On the other hand is the victim, Hilary, a woman who has fought all her way up to the top and is scared that everything she has accomplished so far may crumble down any second. Despite the avalanche of words it IS possible to be caught inside a book like this. The final chapter is by far the best and keeps the suspense at its peak literaly until the last page (the novel does not have an epilogue). Things I didn't like, well, Clemenza's character and his relation with his partner Frank which has a dramatic change in just 2 days. Still a great read which stays with you long after closing the book. Me I'm about to read Fear Nothing and look forward to read other Koontz's.

I'm pretty sure I've read this book before when I was a teenager. Parts of the novel, including the ending were too familiar for it to be fresh. Either that or this novel was too much like some of his other work, which is possible. My only complaint about Koontz is his tendency to be predictable. The heroes win and the evil is destroyed. In "Whispers", this is again the case. On the flipside, I love Koontz for his great characters and relationships between these characters. I feel more attached to Koontz's character then I do with other similar authors. In "Whispers", Koontz builds two great characters - Hillary the screenwriter, sweetheart and victim, Tony the cop and super nice guy.

The plot is clever and has some nice twists. The protagonist is suitably evil and scary. This is not my favorite novel by Koontz (actually "Watchers" is my current favorite) but this is still a very good read.

Mr. Murder was a well-written piece of literature. Dean Koontz has written many impressive novels. This is what I have come to expect from him.

All the characters in the novel have great depth. Each person has a different personality. Koontz joins these in with the plot to make the book hard to put down. When Marty Stillwater and his family are running away from his super -human clone, you really get to know the characters well. You feel as if you are part of the story line.

The plot starts very simply and then thickens throughout the book. Marty Stillwater and his family are living a peaceful life until a super-human clone of Marty chases tham and acuses them of stealing his life. It builds and builds until the last confrontation between the good and the evil. Then at the very end, the detailed and intricate plot takes one last twist and leaves the reader stunned. As always Koontz somehow finds a way to pull the characters into the plot leaving the reader in amazement.

Koontz also does a good job of switching from one character's point of view to another in each chapter. I like to see what the protagonist is thinking while at the same time knowing what the antagonist has in store for the rest of the characters.

Sole Survivor, which is another book written by Dean Koontz, has the same great qualities as Mr. Murder. He takes people from totally different backgrounds and ties them in with each other in the slightest way to make a big difference in the outcome of the book. He has a quality of writing that makes the reader always want to read more but keeps them guessing as to what will happen next.

The extraordinary plots in these books made them hard to put down. I couldn't go a day without reading a chapter or two from each of these books.

Koontz always writes perfectly and is knowledgeable about all the different things he writes about. Whether the book is about the medical field or weaponry, Koontz describes the area without a mistake. He has no faults when he writes a book.

Mr. Murder could be considered a science fiction novel or a horror. Most of his books include both of these types of literature. They are all very exciting and could be considered edge of your seat thrillers.

I think that Dean Koontz has written many books that could be labeled as classics. Mr. Murder is one of them. He will be remembered as one of the greatest writers of all time.

Had a hard time getting into this one at first but was hooked by the end. Aside from the sticky sweet parenting to two clueless, spoiled, me-me-me girls and a villain whose origins were murky for a large part of the novel, the end more than made up for the long read.

I need...I need...? I need...What was it? Another Dean Koontz book to read. I've read all of them. In this thriller Koontz "leads us to Stillwater", a pretty normal guy it turns out--for a change, Dean! Great interplay with his family. He winds another "can't put it down story", a very nice audio experience if you are working on the house or driving somewhere, I might add. Again, the villain is incredibly ghastly. Again the detail is a little TOO graphic. These conditions make you scream encouragement to the Stillwaters, "Go Marty, Go!". You are really scared of the villain. I wish I could write stories like this. The work and talent that went into this one must have blown out a few gobstoppers.

Despite the corny aspects (a protagonist named Ironheart? Give me a break!), I found this to be one of Koontz's better novels -- right up to the ending, which has to be the most ludicrous and anticlimactic endings I've read in a Koontz story. I was so disappointed I threw the book across the room. What makes it so annoying is that the first 2/3 of the book is great fun, and leads you to believe that something truly amazing is afoot, but the resolution is trite and lacking in imagination. The way events were building, I expected the book to build to a stunning climax -- but instead it was disappointingly clichéd and a real letdown. It's not a waste of time, but it's not up there with Dean Koontz's best work, in my opinion.

From the very start this book rip-roared right into the action, with Ironheart stammering the words, "Life Line," while grocery shopping, which, of course, is the signal for a rescue. Throughout, we get to see clear into the past and present lives of Ironheart and his admiring journalist Holly Thorne. We get an understanding of why his life has suddenly been driven to it's current string of events -that have ultimately changed his life forever.

While surely not one of Koontz best books, the novel breathes much fire. It's filled with suspense that keeps you turning the pages with haste, and then, reluctantly putting the book down, which helps to make this book a fast read.

Rightfully the book delivers, and is clearly worth the price. This, despite the somewhat stale ending which seems to discredit everything else that happened.

This was the first time I was introduced to Dean R. Koontz. Although it is not the book that hooked me (see Watchers) it is a wonderful suspense novel. This has what has always intrigued me about his work, a mystery so complex that you will not get it until the end, no matter how hard you try. The characters are very interesting, although not as developed as his later characters are. The story line is extremely well thought out and the psychological aspect of the thriller is very interesting. Definitely a great page turner and you will love every minute of your time with this book.

Joe Carpenter is a man paralyzed by grief and anger. On the one year anniversary of the plane crash that killed his beloved wife and daughters he visits their cemetery and spots a woman taking pictures of their grave marker. He approaches her and sets off a series of events that make him question if the death of his family and 300 others was the intentional work of officials attempting to cover up something that could possibly change mankind for all time. As he digs for the truth he witnesses and discovers strange, terrifying, incomprehensible events, and finds evidence that is impossible for him to ignore. He finds a purpose for living once he realizes he may be the only person left alive to expose the truth.

Dean Koontz usually writes so much more than an eerie, suspense filled page-turner and SOLE SURVIVOR is no exception. He creates characters who are human, people you care about and anguish with, everyday people stuck in extraordinary situations. He's outdone himself with the character of Joe. Poor, tortured Joe. His grief is expressed so vividly I felt his sorrow and my heart broke about a million times as he's reminded of his wife and girls in nearly every thing he does.

Any book that can keep me on edge like this one did and make me care so much about a character gets my recommendation. There were a few parts that dragged a little bit but overall it was an interesting, emotional and nail-biting read.

Koontz writes an thrilling story and he continually surprises me but it's his talent for characterization that keeps him on the top of my favorite author list.

Annotation: Joe carpenter's family was lost in a plane crash. Now a year later, a woman appeared to Joe claming she had information regarding that horrible night. This book takes the reader along with Joe as he investigates and discovers the truth about the plane crash that striped his family from him.

Author Bio: Dean R. Koontz was born in Everett Pennsylvania in 1945. He published his first story in 1966 while working as a high school teacher, and continued to be published while teaching. Koontz has gone on to write many New York Times best sellers. He has also had stories made into movies.

Evaluation: I would rate this book a four out of five. It was it was a fast read, and exciting because most of the timeline is within a few days. The idea behind the science fiction in the final outcome of the story is interesting but almost a little too far out there to believe as possible. The book is hard to set down, because it always leaves you on the edge wondering where Joe was headed next. Koontz gives detailed description and paints a colorful picture through his words without putting in boring unneeded details. Parts of the book really made me wonder what the government and other organizations have out there and are keeping from us right now. I would highly recommend reading this book.

I love Sole Survivor for the simple reason that it's well-written and displays the human spirit at its best! Joe Carpenter has lost is wife and two little girls in a catastrophic plane crash. No one survived. Or so he believes, until he's visiting his family's gravesite one day and encounters the 'sole survivor'! Rose Tucker is that person. Petite, with an ethereal beauty, you wouldn't expect her to possess the strength of will she demonstrates in this story. The mystery is set, the chase begins, and Joe is racing toward a denouement that will blow his mind, AND the readers'minds as well. Koontz at his best. By the way, I saw the FOX network miniseries. It was good. Intensity is still my favorite miniseries, but that didn't take anything away from my enjoyment of Sole Survivor. Now I'm hoping that Mr. Koontz will do Lightning as a theatrical release. Years ago, when I read Lightning, it was my opinion that Rutger Hauer would make a wonderful Stefan, the anti-hero in Lightning. Now, I'm thinking Russell Crowe...An idea worth putting out there!

I loved this book! For once Koontz comes up with some really original characters and he actually has a sense of humor! Plus, unlike his usual stuff, this actually moves along fast with no wasted words. My one big complaint is the obnoxious and unnecessary author's note he tags on at the end explaining how he came to write the book, blah, blah, blah. One thing in that author's note that really insulted my intelligence in particular was Koontz saying he worked and worked on the book, but it didn't come together till he made Tommy a Vietnamese immigrant. A huge part of the plot and the development of many of the characters hinges on the fact that Tommy is Vietnamese. I find it impossible to believe that this was a last minute touch; he would have had to re-write the book from scratch. The little "rat-quick" monster wouldn't have existed without the Vietnamese element and he was the star of the show! I don't understand Koontz's motive in claiming the Vietnamese part was a sudden inspiration that pulled the book together. Oh, well, I guess most authors are a little strange.

I love this book because it doesn't take itself seriously. It reads like a B horror movie (which I love). The story is over the top, and very comical. This book is meant to be taken light heartedly. I've read lots of reviews on this book , and most people write reviews like it is to be compared to Koontz's other books. If you are looking for great escapism, this is definitely the book for you. If you want Koontz books with more content try Fear nothing, seize the night, false memory, Sole survivor, Dark Rivers of the Heart, The Watchers, and etc. But if you are looking for a great fun read, Ticktock is what you are looking for. I recommend this book. Buy it now and enjoy!!!

A short, fast paced novel with a true sense of terror and one helluva funny bone? Who could possibly conceive of such a notion? Why, Dean Koontz of course!

For young novelist Tommy Phan terror comes in the form of a rag doll. A rag doll with a secret inside. A secret with reptillian eyes and murderous intellect. A creature that starts out small and keeps on getting bigger...

As always with Dean Koontz the entertainment level is high, the action intense, the characters so damn loveable (I want a Scootie, dammit!) Koontz's writing seldom fails to entertain and with TickTock he hits his desired mark ( The B movie offspring of a screwball comedy and a Horror novel). I must admit that my suspension of disbelief was thoroughly taxed, especially at the end. But if you're not willing to do that in the first place why read fiction?

I read this in two sittings (stopping only to go to work) and enjoyed it immensely. A fun read that someday (hopefully) will be available in hardcover. TickTock is something you have to read to believe. I recommend it highly to those who read for fun.

Dragon Tears will keep you up until the middle of the morning reading and reading some more. You have your classic main characters. Male and female cop partners that you find in alot of Koontz's novels. These two go together and Koontz does a great job creating thier personalities. There are parts that are a little slow that is why I only gave it 4 stars. But don't worry if you read this book you won't find many of those parts. Amazing, captivating, hair raising, hell of a good time. Read it. You'll be glad you did.

I wanted to read this book for months before I got the chance to buy it and it was totally worth the wait! 'Dragon Tears' is the first and only book I've ever read that tells things from the dog's point of view and Woofer is just sooooo cute! Connie and Harry are the perfect couple (sort of:) )and the very end of the book is sweet.:)And Bryan is kind of different from most other literary psychos 'cause he doesn't even have the maturity of a three-year-old! But he finally gets what he deserves, even though it only takes approximately two seconds. I only have 2 problems w/'Dragon Tears' (and when it comes to DK books, 2 is a very high # for problems). 1st of all, that girl at the rave when Ticktock freezes time again: ouch! (read the book and see what I mean). Then, through the whole book Koontz is building up to a big confrontation w/Ticktock and the end is just a little disappointing 'cause there ain't no confrontation (pardon my southern vocab--smile--) Oh well. The book is still AWESOME!

"Ticktock. Ticktock. You'll be dead by dawn." Want to make a long commute, easy? Listen to a riveting book like Dean Koontz' _Dragon Tears_. My work commute is two and a half hours round trip. I like to make this lengthy ride easier by listening to a good book. I can't read anything that I need to move slowly through, reflecting on passages - quick, action-packed stories are the best recipe. Detective Harry Lions and his police partner Connie Gulliver fight the battle against evil, supernatural powers, and keep the reader (or in this case, the listener) gripping the car steering wheel. Especially innovative is the 'pause in time.' It is like being in a nightmare that you can't wake up from. The only negative on this suspenseful thriller is the ending. Koontz takes the reader through minuscule details for almost every confrontation but the final one. In contrast, it is a quick, almost abrupt resolution. Even with this shortcoming, there are plenty of scenes to keep the reader entertained for 13 hours of drive time.