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Intensity

4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 · rating details · 35,845 ratings · 1,318 reviews

Past midnight, Chyna Shepherd, twenty-six, gazes out a moonlit window, unable to sleep on her first night in the Napa Valley home of her best friend. Instinct proves reliable. A murderous sociopath, Edgar Foreman Vess, has entered the house, intent on killing everyone inside. A self-proclaimed "homicidal adventurer", Vess lives only to satisfy all appetites as they arise,...more

Hardcover, 436 pages

Published October 31st 2000 by Turtleback Books (first published December 12th 1991)

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May 08, 2013 AmnesiaLab rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I hate Dean Koontz, but I go through books quickly and have to have something to read at work, and when it comes down to it, I'll read anything you put in front of me even if it's bad just for something to do. Allegedly, this was one of his better books. The best book I've read of his, I would give two stars. Don't even remember what it was called. It pains me that this man is the second best selling author in the US. Seriously.

Why? Well, where to begin? Let's start with characters. Dean Koontz...more I hate Dean Koontz, but I go through books quickly and have to have something to read at work, and when it comes down to it, I'll read anything you put in front of me even if it's bad just for something to do. Allegedly, this was one of his better books. The best book I've read of his, I would give two stars. Don't even remember what it was called. It pains me that this man is the second best selling author in the US. Seriously.

Why? Well, where to begin? Let's start with characters. Dean Koontz doesn't create characters; he just creates caricatures. The main characters stories of childhood trauma aren't remotely believable. If her mother didn't give a shit about her and was constantly moving around, why would she even bother to bring her for 16 years? Everything is so extreme in her character that there's never any remotely realistic motivation for any of it. The villain is concerned only with intensity, mostly written in italics, because italics are apparently intense. His philosophy is that any intense experience is worthwhile. Basically, he should be on the X-Games doing flips on motorcycles and appearing in Mountain Dew commercials. The way Koontz beats the shit out of the intensity motif, I find it hard to believe more people aren't rolling their eyes and saying, "Gimme a break."

How about his craft? Clunky, uninspired, repetitious prose with awful dialogue. I don't remotely understand why people buy this guy's books. There is nothing compelling about his craft. For a guy they call "The Master of Suspense", he lacks all sense of subtlety. He constantly holds the reader's hand unnecessarily as if afraid they won't get it any time he uses some kind of symbolism. Not that it's common with Koontz. He's always saying more than is necessary and it gets a little insulting over time, as if he thinks his readers are so stupid they can't possibly pick up on the things he's writing without help.

So, his plots must be super-awesome to make up for it all, right? Let's face it; with most pulp, people don't give a shit how it's written. They only care about the story. This story is about some chick who goes to a friend's for the weekend, only to have the entire friend's family killed and end up the sole survivor riding along with the killer, trying to come up with a way to take him down and save some girl she's never met that the killer has locked in his basement. The upside of this story is most of it leaves the heroine alone, so you're not subjected to the cringe-worthy dialogue that the book opens with. It also means that Dean Koontz has to find some way to create his particular breed of melodrama through sometimes very slow events, so he prattles on for pages about a cramp in the heroine's ass, or she freaks out talking about how she will surely sustain a grievous spinal injury by slamming the chair she's chained to into the stone fireplace wall by backing into it. Every time she takes a whack at it, "OHHHHHHH GOD THE PAIN IT HURTS SOOOOOOO BAAAAAAAD!" Gimme a fucking break. It's make of PINE. Fuck you, Dean, it's not dramatic that you have no grasp of physics whatsoever. Half of this book is her considering a fairly simple action and then contemplating the multitude of ways it could go horribly wrong and leave her critically injured. There's no real drama and nothing to care about, so Dean Koontz tries to manufacture some by telling you how you should feel about what she's doing.

I can't even begin to convey how inane this book truly is. Hopefully I've given you some idea.(less)

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Aug 21, 2007 hilary lay rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of horror and suspense

dude, yeah, i know. dean koontz? me?!?
yes, i am serious. this is one of THE scariest books i have ever read. i finished it in one night while i was living alone, and i had mascara-stained tears running down my cheeks by the end, i was so terrified.
to clarify, dean koontz is not a "great" writer. in fact, some of his descriptive passages are so bad they nearly threw me off course.
howEVER. the scenario he has laid out in "intensity" feeds off of every human being's worst fears: being trapped, b...more

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Mar 19, 2008 Josh rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: (Not for Natalie)

Recommended to Josh by: Tim

I decided that I would write a little about the books that I finish for now on. This was a very scary story! I have to say that it actually scared me sometimes and that is pretty hard to do. "Intensity" is a very appropriate title for this book, I couldn't stay away from it. Definately a plesant surprise after reading Dean Koontz's "Life Expectancy". This book never let up on it's suspense from beginning to end. If anyone is looking for a good horror, "Intensity" fits the bill. Be warned though,...more

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Nov 30, 2007 Naomi rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: lovers of blood and gore and scariness

This book is well written, I'm sure. From the moment I started reading it I felt sick to my stomach from the overly detailed homicidal and torturous events, but also I could not stop reading it because the author held a small hope of the heroine doing some lasting good by helping the 16-year-old girl who was locked in this crazy bastard's basement. And of course getting herself out of this situation in which the reader found her.

I am glad I finished it. But I'm not going to hurry to read another...more

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Feb 12, 2008 Briana Patterson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: horror

This is thriller suspense at its best. Dean Koontz knocked my socks off with this one, and as soon as I started reading, I could not get through it fast enough. Pages burned and I might have had to stomp my book out a few times.

In a way, this is not entirely typical for Dean Koontz. Don't expect anything supernatural or overly bizarre. It's about a killer and a survivor.

The title holds true to its pace. This book does not slow down once it kicks into high gear. It'll freak you out, and there's...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Al rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Past midnight, Chyna Shepard, twenty-six, gazes out a moonlit window, unable to sleep on her first night in the Napa Valley home of her best friend’s family. Instinct proves reliable. A murderous sociopath, Edgler Foreman Vess, has entered the house, intent on killing everyone inside. A self-proclaimed “homicidal adventurer,” Vess lives only to satisfy all appetites as they arise, to immerse himself in sensation, to live without fear, remorse or limits, to live with intensity. Chyna is trapped i...more

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Nov 04, 2011 Sorcha added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2007

When Chyna's friend Laura is abducted, Chyna's instinct is to follow her attacker. Not knowing Laura is already dead, Chyna risks her life to save her friend. When Chyna herself becomes trapped, her first instinct is to get out alive, until she learns the identity of the killer's next victim.[return][return]I've successfully avoided Koontz books before, and I dont think I will be rushing out to buy the next one.[return][return]I wasnt in the right mindset for this one, obviously, as I rapidly go...more

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Feb 20, 2013 Nidah (SleepDreamWrite) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I first saw the film then thought why not read the book. Glad I did. The first book I read by Dean Koontz.
While a friend and I were talking about scary movies. She asked if I heard of the film or book Intensity. I wasn't sure but I did remember faintly a film that I saw on TV when I was little of a woman who wore a red sweater, and she was in chains tied up in front of a table and then later she and a girl were on the roof escaping from a man. We then looked up the film and turns out it was Inte...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Renée rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Dean Koontz fans

So I just finished reading "Intensity" by Dean Koontz, can't say I'm a fan, more like an impartial reader. This story pulled me in two polar opposites, on one extreme I thought parts of the plot defied imagination, left any type of plausibility behind and therefore I could not follow the writer where he wished to take me, on the other end, he really hit the proverbial nail on the head with some of his writing. I guess I might have been able to connect a bit more with the story if I understood wh...more

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Oct 19, 2012 Patrick rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A truly compelling and horrifying monster; a trite essay on the irrelevance of modern psychology to trauma survivors; inexplicably magical woodland creatures. This story reads more like a scrapbook of discarded ideas than a proper novel, and the fit is deeply flawed.

Most tragically, its protagonist and antagonist - both interesting on their own merits - are each reduced to meaninglessness by the other. They simply belong to different literary worlds: Chyna's hardened survivor mentality and storm...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Jane Stewart rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: suspense-thriller, 5-star-other

Fabulous. Scary. Incredible heroine.

Readers who liked The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo should like this. The two heroines (Lisbeth in Dragon Tattoo and Chyna in Intensity) were similar in their actions. Chyna chose to fight what seemed impossible. Instead of running and trying to get away (like normal people) she went after him with the barest of weapons. She was resilient, resourceful, brave. She called it reckless caring. In the beginning of the story, Chyna is trying to get away from Edgler a...more Fabulous. Scary. Incredible heroine.

Readers who liked The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo should like this. The two heroines (Lisbeth in Dragon Tattoo and Chyna in Intensity) were similar in their actions. Chyna chose to fight what seemed impossible. Instead of running and trying to get away (like normal people) she went after him with the barest of weapons. She was resilient, resourceful, brave. She called it reckless caring. In the beginning of the story, Chyna is trying to get away from Edgler a serial killer. But when she hears that he has kept a sixteen year old girl prisoner in his basement for a year, Chyna decides to follow him, go to his home, and free the girl. A theme I liked is Lisbeth and Chyna refusing to be victims. In Dragon Tattoo I was scared at times. In Intensity I was scared almost all the time.

About a third of the way in I was so scared that I considered stopping unless I had assurance that there would be a good ending. So I jumped to the end and read the last half hour. It was great! The author tied things up well including the aftermath. Then I went back and read the rest of the book. It was still terribly frightening, but I was able to survive because I knew the ending would be good. Reading the end early in no way hurt the story for me. It made it better.

Just because I liked this does not mean it’s my preferred genre. I do not want a daily diet of constant scariness and intensity.

Edgler enjoyed destroying beauty. He would torture victims with knives and tools. The author does not show the torture/killing scenes in detail. Instead they are told or referred to and the reader sees the bodies after. I was fine with that. But I also would have been ok with more details and gore.

A few times Chyna recalls life with her mother Ann. Ann lived a nomadic life with different boyfriends, drinking, and drugs. One boyfriend killed people in Chyna’s presence. Ann enjoyed watching murder. Chyna growing up with Ann was a story of hiding, self protection, and not being cared for. In contrast, I loved the way Chyna treated and cared for Ariel.

I love that Koontz does not use tired cliches. He creates his own. They please me. Here are a few examples:
She was in an old testament mood, unwilling to turn the other cheek just now.
She was baking and nourishing a loaf of panic, plump and yeasty.
The car will tumble ass over tea kettle if it goes over the edge.

The narrator Kate Burton was fabulous. She used a style so appropriate for the intense sentences with pauses. She enhanced the experience.

DATA:
Narrative mode: third person. Unabridged audiobook reading time: 11 hrs and 35 mins. Swearing language: (rarely used) strong including religious swear words. Sexual content: one scene vaguely described, no details. Setting: current day California and Oregon. Book copyright: 1995. Genre: suspense thriller. Ending: good guys win.(less)

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Jun 21, 2012 Sally Wolf rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In this book Chyna is a 26-year-old graduate student still coming to terms with her abusive past. She is staying at her friend’s house for the weekend when Edgler Foreman Vess enters the home. When a scream pierces the night, Chyna hides under the bed. Edgler comes in and searches her room but finds no one. Driven by a weird sense of duty, Chyna ventures out to find that he has killed everyone. Frightened and alone she does not give up but hides away in his motor home. This act leads her to lea...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Azn rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Intensity was intense at times, but there wasn't a lot going on the novel which spanned almost 450 pages, so most of the writing was about the character's thought processes, which completely pulled me out of the story and very boring, it seems as if Mr. Koontz tried to persuade the readers into thinking a certain way or having a certain feeling rather than telling the story and letting the readers interpret it.

Most of the novel consists of Chyna (the protagonist) going on and on about her past,...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Brian H rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Finished it quickly enough (2 days) to say it kept me on edge and wanting more. I liked the plot and pacing of the story but Koontz has a way of over-explaining things that don't need it. He uses analogies that seem like a reach too often. Too many flashbacks to the main character's past at way too convenient times! It made the story feel forced instead of naturally unfolding. (The beetle, the Key West scene, etc.) While I see the connection made between her past and her current situation as a c...more

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May 24, 2012 Nathan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Intensity opens in the vineyards on Napa Valley. This book went well on my recent wine vacation. The story is about 25 year-old Chyna Shepherd (it was written in the 90's) as she joins her friend's family for a weekend getaway. That night a man breaks into the house and kills everyone except Chyna, who is able to hide and was not expected to be there. What follows is a psychological thriller as Chyna does her best to get out of the situation alive.

The reader is forewarned that Chyna is in a mast...more

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Apr 25, 2012 U.n. Owen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: pleasure-reading, extraordinary-books

At first I was a little sketched about reading a Dean Koontz book because I'm a die hard Stephen King fan, so I just thought I should stay loyal to him. But I have had it setting on my shelf for awhile so I decided to read it and...

I'm seriously in love with Vess. I know that's completely wrong, he murdered and tortured people! But I guess that woman part about me was like "oh yummy bad boy that I can change". But he was truly a wonderful character, so full of intelligence, life and charisma. It...more

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Feb 24, 2012 Monique J. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: edge-of-your-seat, afraid-of-the-dark

I like scary books. Stephen King is amazing. Peter Straub easily induces chills. I read Red Dragon—where Hanibal Lecter is first introduced—when I was probably too young and without my parent’s permission. But books don’t scare me. At least not until the night I started reading Intensity by Dean Koontz.

The main character, Chyna Shepherd, has come to Napa Valley with a friend, Laura Templeton, to visit Laura’s family farm. Like me, Chyna finds it difficult to fall asleep in a strange place. So s...more

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Jul 25, 2011 Wendy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This truly intense psychological thriller takes you on a wicked journey between the minds of one killer and one survivor.
Chyna Shepard's best friend invites her to Napa Valley to visit her parents. That night, unable to sleep, Chyna hears sounds and soon discovers that everyone has been murdered, that she alone has survived . . . and the killer is still in the house.

Chyna, at 26, is still re-creating herself after a miserable childhood full of fear and mental anguish. This former straitlaced gir...more

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Dec 05, 2010 Janet Miller rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Chyna Shepherd is a twenty-six-year-old woman whose deeply troubled childhood taught her the hard rules of survival, and whose adult life has been an unrelenting struggle for self-respect and safety. Now rare trust has blossomed for Chyna into friendship with the woman whose family home she is visiting for the weekend: a farm in the Napa Valley surrounded by vineyards and hills, which Chyna can see from the guest-room window where she sits at one o'clock in the morning, fully dressed, unable to...more Chyna Shepherd is a twenty-six-year-old woman whose deeply troubled childhood taught her the hard rules of survival, and whose adult life has been an unrelenting struggle for self-respect and safety. Now rare trust has blossomed for Chyna into friendship with the woman whose family home she is visiting for the weekend: a farm in the Napa Valley surrounded by vineyards and hills, which Chyna can see from the guest-room window where she sits at one o'clock in the morning, fully dressed, unable to sleep. Suspicions she learned in childhood still make her uneasy in unfamiliar houses—even this one, where her closest friend is sound asleep down the hall. And in this case her most disturbing instincts prove reliable. A man has entered the house, a man who lives for one purpose: to satisfy all appetites as they arise, to immerse himself in sensation, to live without fear, remorse, or limits—to live with intensity.

His name is Edgler Foreman Vess. He likes to make words with the letters from his name—GOD, DEMON, SAVE, RAGE, ANGER, FEAR, FOREVER, are just a few of them—and then makes sentences with the words. One of his favorites, GOD FEARS ME, is sometimes the last thing he whispers to his victims. Edgler Vess is a self-proclaimed "homicidal adventurer": On this night, his adventure—murdering everyone in the house—becomes Chyna's long nightmare.

Trapped in Vess's deadly orbit, Chyna thinks only of getting out alive. But when she inadvertently learns the identity of Vess's intended next victim, waiting for him far from Napa Valley, Chyna is gripped with concern for this other person, who is as innocent as Chyna, and as endangered. Driven now by a sense of responsibility for another, by a purpose and meaning beyond mere self-preservation, Chyna rises to unexpected heights of courage and daring—her only hope as the threat of Edgler Foreman Vess closes in and grows more horrifying moment by moment.

Intensity unfolds over the course of just twenty-four hours, but within that brief time frame, Dean Koontz gives us what is perhaps his most inventive, emotionally intricate, and terrifyingly suspenseful novel yet.(less)

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Nov 20, 2010 Kimmay rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Disappointed, I couldn't finish this book. It just wasn't my thing.

I am starting to think maybe I shouldn't have bought a whole BAG of Dean Koontz books at the library book sale after liking one of his books I gotthis crazy idea I would like them all, silly on my part. So far the only one that has REALLY appealed to me have been the first Odd Thomas book, and even then looking back that could have been a phase I was going through. Now I have a TON of Dean Koontz books and am finding out it is n...more

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Nov 19, 2010 Johnny rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. From beginning to finish, "Intensity" is like a slow rollercoaster ride; you keep going up and up but you can’t see the rails so you don’t know when the plunge is going to come. You’re tense all the way, expecting the worst every second.

When Chyna Shepherd is invited to her friend’s home and family, she couldn’t have picked a worse moment: a killer has targeted the Templetons as his next victims. Unaware of Chyna’s existence, however, he passes her by unknowingly. In a race to survive, Chyna tri...more From beginning to finish, "Intensity" is like a slow rollercoaster ride; you keep going up and up but you can’t see the rails so you don’t know when the plunge is going to come. You’re tense all the way, expecting the worst every second.

When Chyna Shepherd is invited to her friend’s home and family, she couldn’t have picked a worse moment: a killer has targeted the Templetons as his next victims. Unaware of Chyna’s existence, however, he passes her by unknowingly. In a race to survive, Chyna tries to stay out of his clutches, until she learns something about him that makes her set on entering the lion’s den.

There are so many things that elevate this novel above other Koontz books. The story basically takes place in a 24-hour window. The main character is a 26-year old woman, this time without a typical knight in shining armor to assist her. The villain is a 33-year old psychopath with enough weird ideas to keep you entertained for a lifetime, and he’s probably the most popular villain of all Koontz books, the one with the most thoroughly worked out philosophy to motivate his actions. At one time I felt like I completely understood Vess. He’s such a presence, the wrong kind of charismatic even. I can certainly imagine a lesser mind wanting to follow him. And if a fictional character can do that, then the writer did one heck of a job.

“Intensity” was made into a TV movie, but because inner dialogue doesn’t translate to the screen, many viewers were irritated by the heroine’s choices. A few extras here and there notwithstanding, the book only deals with two characters, which makes spoken dialogue a rarity in the novel. The spoken dialogue that does appear, is very crisp and clean. To compensate, there’s almost no page without some kind of inner dialogue. We really get into the heads of these characters, which is necessary to allow us to fully understand their actions.

The opening chapter starts with an introduction of the as yet nameless villain, in the present tense. The scene then switches to the two friends driving home, in the past tense, and their dialogue is a testament of their comfortable relationship. Then when things start to go wrong, it happens so suddenly and unexpected I had to do a double take to make sure that what I was reading was really happening. Switching the tenses is perfectly done and happens so naturally it’s almost unnoticeable. Edgler Vess’s final paragraph is also put in the past tense, but feels a bit overdone and doesn’t really add anything, as if it’s only there for stylistic purposes.

Chyna’s train of thought might become a bit longwinded after a while, constantly weighing the pros and cons of her decisions. The reason I call it a “slow” rollercoaster, is because the action is interrupted by the inner dialogue and the flashbacks. That’s certainly not the same as calling it boring. Those long sections when nothing actually happens outside Chyna’s head heighten the tension because you just want her to keep moving. When it comes to tension, slow is actually better than fast, because it gives you longer to imagine what might come next.

But she definitely is the toughest female character in a Koontz books; the way she frees herself from her shackles is simply amazing, although the detailed description of the scene somewhat dampens the action. Reading about Chyna escaping reminded me of that part in “Odd Hours” where Odd is hiding below the pier, climbing the framework and everything. I lost track of his bearings completely and was relieved when he moved on from there. I felt the same way here, in that I couldn’t actually visualize Chyna’s predicament. When you’re confused about what you’re reading, it completely pulls you out of the story.

“Intensity” is seasoned with religious undertones, and one turn of events (the appearance of the elk) is completely left unexplained, giving a subtle yet obvious suggestion of divine intervention. They give Chyna hope and at the same time unbalance Vess. The beauty is that they don’t DO anything, they’re just THERE, which is exactly what faith is. The amazing thing is that Koontz totally gets away with it in this book. Everything feel natural, real, human; nothing’s forced.
(less)

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Aug 12, 2010 Ricky rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: horror

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 22, 2011 Lisa (Harmonybites) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Those Looking for a Good Thriller

Shelves: contemporary, horror, suspense, popular-fiction, fiction, novels

When I was younger, I devoured Koontz's novels, reading close to a dozen, although it has been over a decade since I had last read his books. I remember the plot and characters of very few of them. Two stand out to me. One is my favorite, Watchers, whose most memorable character is a golden retriever. The other is Intensity, with one of Koontz's most sinister villains in Edgler Vess and most courageous heroine in Chyna Shepherd.

What's so striking about this suspense novel (and boy does it deser...more When I was younger, I devoured Koontz's novels, reading close to a dozen, although it has been over a decade since I had last read his books. I remember the plot and characters of very few of them. Two stand out to me. One is my favorite, Watchers, whose most memorable character is a golden retriever. The other is Intensity, with one of Koontz's most sinister villains in Edgler Vess and most courageous heroine in Chyna Shepherd.

What's so striking about this suspense novel (and boy does it deserve that name) is that this is structured as a duel between these two characters whose perspective we share, both at different times stalking the other. And they're interesting in their differences and similarities. Both feel they make their own fate, Chyna believes that you choose whether or not to be a victim. Vess's philosophy is reminiscent of Skinner; he believes humans are "motivated and formed solely of sensory stimuli." He craves intensity and cares little if it's pain or pleasure he experiences. Chyna, having escaped the chaotic and violent childhood her psychotic mother gave her, craves safety--her fervent prayer is to be "untouched and alive." But events in the novel push her beyond fighting for only personal survival.

Reading this made me think about why I can enjoy Koontz, and yet found I have no taste for noir. I think it's that for all the horrific elements in Koontz's novels, he's not cynical. He's not afraid to create heroes--sympathetic characters willing to take risks for others. Somehow Koontz misses impressing me the way, say, Stephen King does. There's something a bit formulaic about his plots and flat about his characterizations--he's very black and white--but the part of me that craves heroes in fiction is satisfied by his novels.

While this is no literary classic, Koontz is definitely a cut above the usual thriller writer. I never feel like reading him is an insult to my intelligence. His prose often has a lyrical quality and this is one of the rare novels where I needed to frequently consult a dictionary: tenebrous, pule, cornichons, lagniappe, carabiner. If you're looking for a gripping read, a tautly written intelligent thriller, this novel shouldn't disappoint.(less)

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Oct 13, 2012 Linda Pohl rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My husband and I listened to this book on a CD while driving for two days to visit our daughter. I was so frightened by the mere thought of this evil man that I don't think I would have continued listening had I been alone. The descriptions were brutally depicted. When we arrived at the hotel to spend the night, I triple checked to be sure the door was definitely locked. Chyna had the strength and courage that I doubt many people have. Her relentless pursuit of her friend's family's killer took...more

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Aug 03, 2012 Luka Novak rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: horror

To be honest I don't see the quality of writing so many people say exists. Plot is interesting enough. Chyna, a young student, is staying with her friend's family. During the night family is murdered, Chyna tries to help her friend only to find out she is dead as well. Chyna then hides in murderer's RV, hoping to kill or capture him, only to find out he is keeping another girl captive. Of course then Chyna has to try to rescue her.

Pretty straightforward and interesting, however it seems Koontz d...more

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Jan 30, 2011 Lucy Morton-smith rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was actually the only book that, to the best of my knowledge at this monent, has ever made me cry. And that goes after reading the end of Odd Thomas, which made both my father-in-law and mother-in-law teary. I do not cry easily in books, however the ending to this was so emotionally powerful that I was moved to tears. And so was my sister. That being said, lets move onto a review actually about most of the book..

The book starts off amazing, and that is how it continues and finishes. I...more This book was actually the only book that, to the best of my knowledge at this monent, has ever made me cry. And that goes after reading the end of Odd Thomas, which made both my father-in-law and mother-in-law teary. I do not cry easily in books, however the ending to this was so emotionally powerful that I was moved to tears. And so was my sister. That being said, lets move onto a review actually about most of the book..

The book starts off amazing, and that is how it continues and finishes. I couldnt put this book down, I'd read before going to bed and the first thing I'd do when I woke up was pick up that same damn book again, eager to find out what happened next. The plot is fast paced, INTENSE and emotional. The main character, no matter how damaged by her horrifying future or dark past, always has hope and determination. The book is told from two prespectives: the heroines and the villains, which helps to understand the mentality of both and fills in spaces that would have otherwise been gaps if just left to one perspecive, such as when one is hiding somewhere, what is the other one doing? Have they realised they're not alone, or are they just going about their business? This is another great book if you want something that leaves you with your face practically burried in the pages with your hands white from gripping the book, and a headache from shouting 'RUN!! GET OUT OF THERE!!' repeatedly in your head. It also has a likable villain, which I dont find as often as Id like. What can I say, the man amuses me :) For a book that doesnt have many plot twists and is straight forward, it is extremely well written and addictive. I like a lot of twists in books, but this one has made up for the lack of twists with emotion and intensity, bringing it right up there with my other favourite books.

Best points:
+ Fast paced
+ Powerfully evokes emotions
+ Likable villain

Worst points:
- lack of plot twists (if you REALLY like that sort of thing, however it really does make up for it with the entire plot itself. I didn't even notice the lack of twists until I'd finished it, and I LOVE plot twists :) )(less)

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Jun 19, 2009 Bookscmc rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was first introduced to this story after watching the movie version on television/cable. When I learned it was based upon the novel, of course I happened to find it.

This was the beginning of a great frienship with Koontz for me.
Of course the book was exactly as the movie, as they stayed right with the book when they made the movie. I was very impressed. The book was a joy to read -and I was a bit surprised that I still enjoyed it so much even though I knew what happened in the movie, though...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had never read one of Dean Koontz' books before a coworker loaned this to me. I think the title of the book accurately describes the nightmarish events that take place during this story. Chyna is the heroine in the book and sets out to rescue a young girl who is being held captive by an insane serial killer after her friend's family is murdered. The entire book takes place in roughly 24-36 hours and is told from the point of view of both Chyna and Edgler Vess, the serial killer.

While I found t...more

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Jul 16, 2011 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: abandoned, book-club, suspense

This is the first Dean Koontz novel I've read. And I didn't really 'read' it, like I'd hoped. Similar to other folks in my book club, I skimmed a lot. I read the first sentence, got the gist and sped over the lengthy descriptions.

He creates vivid pictures and I agreed with one of the group's favorite scenes when Mr. Vess, arms and fingers outstretched is seducing a spider so he can taste and experience its essence and soul. But every scene was treated that way with a lot of description so the re...more

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Jan 11, 2011 Phil rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

From the letters of his name Edgler Forman Vess spells "God Fears Me"

Edgler Forman Vess is your next door neighbor. He is you co-worker. He is your friend.
Edgler Forman Vess is a man who lives life intensely. He is a man who cherishes every experience. Pain and pleasure are both to be embraced equally.

Edgler Forman Vess is a psychopath, He is not a supernatural villain he is for real. He enjoys inflicting pain. He enjoys driving his victims to the edge of madness.

Chyna Shepherd is a young woman...more

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About Dean Koontz

Acknowledged 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 R. Koontz has also published under the na...more

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“There are no explanations for human evil. Only excuses.” — 112 people liked it

“Hunches [are] just messages from the subconscious, which [is] thinking furiously all the time and processing information we have not consciously noted.” — 36 people liked it

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