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alstonetx's review against another edition
3.0
There are Koontz books that I love and re-read.....and there are those that I just find ok or am just not into. This one falls right in the middle between ok and not into.
I liked the beginning, even with its slow, plodding story line; didn't enjoy how quickly characters got offed (especially after spending pages building them up) or the addition of unnecessary ones.
The end was too fast for my liking but that seems to be the trend in most of the books I've read recently.....then again, dragging this story out would not have done it any good. Plus it leaves it part of the story unfinished/open for continuation. (Probably why it has the Pendleton, #1, listing here).
May go ahead and read the #.5 novella that is tied to this but I doubt I would continue reading any books that would still deal with the Pendleton story line.
I liked the beginning, even with its slow, plodding story line; didn't enjoy how quickly characters got offed (especially after spending pages building them up) or the addition of unnecessary ones.
The end was too fast for my liking but that seems to be the trend in most of the books I've read recently.....then again, dragging this story out would not have done it any good. Plus it leaves it part of the story unfinished/open for continuation. (Probably why it has the Pendleton, #1, listing here).
May go ahead and read the #.5 novella that is tied to this but I doubt I would continue reading any books that would still deal with the Pendleton story line.
kvonkvonkvon's review against another edition
2.75
I liked some parts, interesting characters. But I was confused a lot
rayquinn91's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
origamioblivion's review against another edition
2.0
Having liked the novella "Moonlit Mind", I decided to read this book, also set in the same world (but largely unrelated except in geography and a proximity to a spooky hill), which just came out last week.
The book was a bit uneven for me. (For Koontz fans, I'd bump up my rating to 3 stars instead of 2). I loved the premise of haunted house story but set in a modern apartment complex, the weirdness affecting various apartment dwellers and staff. I was hoping for something like Hitchcock's film noir classic "Rear Window" but with a horror twist, however for most of the first half of the book, there is not much interaction between each of the main inhabitants in their various apartment rooms, which led to a slow build up. I found myself wishing things would move a long a bit in terms of pacing.
Things do move a long more swiftly in the 2nd half of the book, as the horrors reveal themselves to more tangible than simply transient apparitions and the distraught tenets deciding to band together to try to fend off the evil power and also tryto solve the mystery surrounding the building.
There is a bit of unexpected science-fiction twist to everything, that I quite enjoyed. Without going into detail, it gave a plausible explanation, something not often down well in horror books, for the basis of the horrors.
It felt like a scaled-down version of Stephen King's post-apocalytpic magnum opus, "The Stand", which I actually think is a neat twist, however I felt I didn't connect with the characters. They were decently drawn, but I think Koontz shorter story, "Moonlit Mind", had more interesting flesh-out characters.
In the end, despite my misgivings, I do have to say this was more original than I expected, as last I read Koontz back in the 90s, a lot of his books often followed the same formulaic plot. I'm glad to see that he does have some fresh ideas. I'll be looking forward to his next book.
I have to also note, that this book would make for a great video game, like a surival horror game like the "Resident Evil" series. The book (I read it on a Kindle) comes with maps of the Pendleton apartment complex, which was nice as you can imagine the characters traversing each room throughout the story.
Update - There is a multimedia flash site at www.77shadowstreet.com that will let you explore some of the rooms of the Pendleton Mansion/Apartment complex. Kind of creepy but cool and it did add to the overall experience. Searching the rooms may though provide some mild spoilers.
The book was a bit uneven for me. (For Koontz fans, I'd bump up my rating to 3 stars instead of 2). I loved the premise of haunted house story but set in a modern apartment complex, the weirdness affecting various apartment dwellers and staff. I was hoping for something like Hitchcock's film noir classic "Rear Window" but with a horror twist, however for most of the first half of the book, there is not much interaction between each of the main inhabitants in their various apartment rooms, which led to a slow build up. I found myself wishing things would move a long a bit in terms of pacing.
Things do move a long more swiftly in the 2nd half of the book, as the horrors reveal themselves to more tangible than simply transient apparitions and the distraught tenets deciding to band together to try to fend off the evil power and also tryto solve the mystery surrounding the building.
There is a bit of unexpected science-fiction twist to everything, that I quite enjoyed. Without going into detail, it gave a plausible explanation, something not often down well in horror books, for the basis of the horrors.
It felt like a scaled-down version of Stephen King's post-apocalytpic magnum opus, "The Stand", which I actually think is a neat twist, however I felt I didn't connect with the characters. They were decently drawn, but I think Koontz shorter story, "Moonlit Mind", had more interesting flesh-out characters.
In the end, despite my misgivings, I do have to say this was more original than I expected, as last I read Koontz back in the 90s, a lot of his books often followed the same formulaic plot. I'm glad to see that he does have some fresh ideas. I'll be looking forward to his next book.
I have to also note, that this book would make for a great video game, like a surival horror game like the "Resident Evil" series. The book (I read it on a Kindle) comes with maps of the Pendleton apartment complex, which was nice as you can imagine the characters traversing each room throughout the story.
Update - There is a multimedia flash site at www.77shadowstreet.com that will let you explore some of the rooms of the Pendleton Mansion/Apartment complex. Kind of creepy but cool and it did add to the overall experience. Searching the rooms may though provide some mild spoilers.
redheadd2's review against another edition
5.0
I had heard mixed reviews on this book, but I'm glad I didn't let that affect my perception of it. My biggest concern was what I had heard about all the different story lines, and how hard they were to follow and keep a hold on. I'll admit, I stumbled at finding my rhythm at first, but once I settled in comfortably it was a breeze. Being a fan of multiple story lines and such shows as American Horror Story, perhaps suited me well. Wonderfully vivid, as are all of Koontz's books, this is another book that I am more than happy to own and I'm sure I will read it many times over. In order to write a review without spoilers I will refrain from details, but I will say... it's a subject that has always tickled at the corners of my mind with a hint of fear. Men trying to be gods is never a good thing. Even the purest of things will be defiled by the evil minds that embrace the evil motives. And that's all I will say about that. :)
fairybadattitude's review against another edition
2.0
Normally, I can whip through a Dean Koontz book at two or three days, tops. But this one plods along. Things don't really pick up until about 200 pages in, but even then it's a slog. Only the last 50 or so pages feel like an actual Dean Koontz book.
One problem is that there is no one to really root for. I felt ambivalent about all the characters (of which there are many, another problem). The only ones really worth of rooting for are Iris and Winny, but that's because they're kids. I also felt there were too many different elements; the plot felt like multiple plots, rather than a main plot and sub-plots. The elements finally came together in the end, but really I couldn't decide if I was reading about time travel, the seeing of ghosts, science beyond my understanding, or what.
Koontz's novels tend to get my heart pumping and leave me longing for the next chapter, but "77 Shadow Street" just doesn't fit the bill. I kept reading because I hate the idea of leaving a book unfinished. It was a relief to reach the end.
I'll keep reading Koontz's work, of course. This book is (thankfully) a rare miss in a library of hits. I am especially excited that another Odd Thomas novel is due out this summer.
Visit my blog at Bums & Bellybuttons.
One problem is that there is no one to really root for. I felt ambivalent about all the characters (of which there are many, another problem). The only ones really worth of rooting for are Iris and Winny, but that's because they're kids. I also felt there were too many different elements; the plot felt like multiple plots, rather than a main plot and sub-plots. The elements finally came together in the end, but really I couldn't decide if I was reading about time travel, the seeing of ghosts, science beyond my understanding, or what.
Koontz's novels tend to get my heart pumping and leave me longing for the next chapter, but "77 Shadow Street" just doesn't fit the bill. I kept reading because I hate the idea of leaving a book unfinished. It was a relief to reach the end.
I'll keep reading Koontz's work, of course. This book is (thankfully) a rare miss in a library of hits. I am especially excited that another Odd Thomas novel is due out this summer.
Visit my blog at Bums & Bellybuttons.
nickjonesreadsbooks's review against another edition
I wanted to like this but I just can't finish it. I couldn't believe the characters. They all seemed like stock characters to me. The internal monologues are too much. Koontz keeps saying too much up front. He even explains the evil in he house way too early. Skip it.
markcheathem's review against another edition
1.0
Couldn't finish it. Koontz needs to stick to his Odd novels.