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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Much more bizarre than I was expecting, but an interesting read nonetheless. The last 50-100 pages especially had me reluctant to put it down.
I'm touch and go when it comes to the writing of Dean Koontz. This one didn't age well. It was full of rape talk and sexual references that are far outdated and fairly disgusting. Yeah, I know it's about a rapist - but he's not even the most objectionable character. I couldn't get halfway through before I just felt bad about myself. Leave this one to the 1980's.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking
Chilling thriller that only on surface deals with standard stalker/victim issue but as the story unfolds it sharply focuses on scars of childhood and how it takes a lifetime for them to heal (or, in some cases, they don't heal at all). Both stalker and the victim here are adults imprisoned in their nightmares, while along the lines Koontz also deals with love, friendships, understanding, new beginnings and loneliness.
What I really enjoy about Koontz is how he psychologically describes his characters, even though it would have been easier to just go on with the action - he needs reader to understand why such a beautiful and successful woman as Hilary Thomas is unable to relax and enjoy her life or how detective Tony Clemenza is acutely aware of emptiness of his life ("He realized that he was building the kind of life that, when complete, might well be a hollow temple of loneliness.") Sentences like these startle me, because they come unexpected and I savour them, surprised with depth, poignancy and understanding how the human psyche works. You don't find these things in Stephen King novels that, gripping as they are, hardly ever probe into layers behind people's minds. (Talking about King, Koontz actually affectionately mentions him here: "He did a little filing, then just sat and listened to the radio for a while, then did a bit more filing, then read a few chapters of a really good Stephen King novel about vampires on the loose in New England.") "Whispers" is a gripping read that gradually rises to a fever pitch and there are some genuinely frightening, gruesome passages so be warned, this is not for squeamish readers.
Personally, I enjoyed description of how understanding eventually develops between two policemen who are forced to work together against their initial reserve. Clemenza and his colleague Frank Howard couldn't be more different but as work colleagues often do, they come to mutual understanding and gradually even warm up to each other. On the other hand, grouchy and curmudgeonly attorney Joshua Rhinehart is a delight, someone I would feel kinship in a real life. I have just discovered Koontz recently and carried away with enthusiasm read three of his novels in a row, but despite curiosity, at this point I feel that it would be wise to take a break before I start finding faults and similarities between his books.
What I really enjoy about Koontz is how he psychologically describes his characters, even though it would have been easier to just go on with the action - he needs reader to understand why such a beautiful and successful woman as Hilary Thomas is unable to relax and enjoy her life or how detective Tony Clemenza is acutely aware of emptiness of his life ("He realized that he was building the kind of life that, when complete, might well be a hollow temple of loneliness.") Sentences like these startle me, because they come unexpected and I savour them, surprised with depth, poignancy and understanding how the human psyche works. You don't find these things in Stephen King novels that, gripping as they are, hardly ever probe into layers behind people's minds. (Talking about King, Koontz actually affectionately mentions him here: "He did a little filing, then just sat and listened to the radio for a while, then did a bit more filing, then read a few chapters of a really good Stephen King novel about vampires on the loose in New England.") "Whispers" is a gripping read that gradually rises to a fever pitch and there are some genuinely frightening, gruesome passages so be warned, this is not for squeamish readers.
Personally, I enjoyed description of how understanding eventually develops between two policemen who are forced to work together against their initial reserve. Clemenza and his colleague Frank Howard couldn't be more different but as work colleagues often do, they come to mutual understanding and gradually even warm up to each other. On the other hand, grouchy and curmudgeonly attorney Joshua Rhinehart is a delight, someone I would feel kinship in a real life. I have just discovered Koontz recently and carried away with enthusiasm read three of his novels in a row, but despite curiosity, at this point I feel that it would be wise to take a break before I start finding faults and similarities between his books.
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.
A solid four from Mr. Koontz. Here's why: This book may have been split into two sections, but to me it felt like more of a three-parter: the inciting incidents, the aftermath, and the climax. These three parts worked well together, but considered apart, their weaknesses become apparent.
Part One: five stars, right off the bat. Fantastic dialogue and characterization. Incredibly realistic action. Lovable people. Terrifying and mysterious villain. By the time Frank and Tony reconciled and Hilary had come to terms with her assailant, I was poised to enjoy this book all the way through and give a glowing review afterwards.
Part Two: four stars. Shaky dialogue but intriguing plot twists and action. Lots of drawn-out sex scenes. A little repetition but not so you'd notice. Still great writing, very emotional as well. Still admirable.
Part Three: three stars, barely. Rushed conclusion. Too much data-dumping in one place. Unbelievable dialogue. Weird, overcomplicated plot twists. Annoying and anticlimactic ending. Strange.
Averaging 5, 4, and 3 stars, this book is a 4. Not fantastic, but fun to read. An understandably admired early Koontz novel with a remarkable buildup to a lackluster conclusion. Good, but probably wouldn't read again. Next.
Part One: five stars, right off the bat. Fantastic dialogue and characterization. Incredibly realistic action. Lovable people. Terrifying and mysterious villain. By the time Frank and Tony reconciled and Hilary had come to terms with her assailant, I was poised to enjoy this book all the way through and give a glowing review afterwards.
Part Two: four stars. Shaky dialogue but intriguing plot twists and action. Lots of drawn-out sex scenes. A little repetition but not so you'd notice. Still great writing, very emotional as well. Still admirable.
Part Three: three stars, barely. Rushed conclusion. Too much data-dumping in one place. Unbelievable dialogue. Weird, overcomplicated plot twists. Annoying and anticlimactic ending. Strange.
Averaging 5, 4, and 3 stars, this book is a 4. Not fantastic, but fun to read. An understandably admired early Koontz novel with a remarkable buildup to a lackluster conclusion. Good, but probably wouldn't read again. Next.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don't get it... why can't I find a good... at least semi-clean book?
Don't they write them any more?
Don't they write them any more?
I could feel the tension rising and the anticipation of what was going to happens nagging at every turn. I knew what was happening long, long before the characters put it together. But I truly enjoyed the way they build it up, not just because I liked the way Koontz relished describing things and very secondary characters and their lives, but mainly because of the way he build up the psychology of the main characters, including the villain.
I like the idea of how he came to be (we as readers know who he is, but how he became this, was very interesting to me).
I love gothic novels, and seeing how the house by the cliff in this novel became so close to a haunted house was great. It became an entity in its own, and I wonder what other stories can be made with this setting already established… I’m sure this house would be haunted for everyone in that village.
I like the idea of how he came to be (we as readers know who he is, but how he became this, was very interesting to me).
I love gothic novels, and seeing how the house by the cliff in this novel became so close to a haunted house was great. It became an entity in its own, and I wonder what other stories can be made with this setting already established… I’m sure this house would be haunted for everyone in that village.