False Memory
by Dean Koontz
published
November 28th 2000
(first published 2008)
by Bantam
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binding
Mass Market Paperback, 784 pages
isbn
0553580221
(isbn13: 9780553580228)
description
Martie Rhodes is a young wife (happily married to Dustin for three years), a video game designer, and a compassionate woman who takes her agoraphobic ...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 2713)
Read in June, 2004
recommends it for:
anyone
It's hard to describe the plot/premise of "False Memory" without spoilers, so I won't try. Both are excellent.
Like most of Koontz's books, this one features a likable young couple, a goofy brother, and a few other colorful supporting characters, each fleshed out in wonderfully quirky detail. There's even a golden retriever.
However, the most memorable aspect of this work is the villain, an egotistical genius whose passions include mind control, murder, games, and sweets. ...more
Like most of Koontz's books, this one features a likable young couple, a goofy brother, and a few other colorful supporting characters, each fleshed out in wonderfully quirky detail. There's even a golden retriever.
However, the most memorable aspect of this work is the villain, an egotistical genius whose passions include mind control, murder, games, and sweets. ...more
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Read in May, 2005
I'm a big fan of Stephen King, and often heard that I should try out Dean Koontz 'cause he writes similar books. One of the first two books I got via BC was a Koontz, but it still took me 1 1/2 more years ro finally read it. Maybe I should have picked it up earlier, 'cause this was a hell of a thriller!!
The female protagonist suffers from autophobia, she is afraid of herself, her mirror image, afraid she might hurt or even kill herself or her beloved husband. Her best friend suffers from ago...more
The female protagonist suffers from autophobia, she is afraid of herself, her mirror image, afraid she might hurt or even kill herself or her beloved husband. Her best friend suffers from ago...more
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Read in May, 2007
I love Dean Koontz, but this one took me a year to read; not because it was bad but because of the content.
The story is about fear. Fear that is implanted into the subconscious mind by an unscrupulous Pshycologist/Doctor who is protected by a government agency due to his research in behavior control.
In exchange for implanting thoughts and unquestioned obedience in chosen persons, the Doctor is allowed to play his "games". The Doctor enjoys implanting a small fear, increasin...more
The story is about fear. Fear that is implanted into the subconscious mind by an unscrupulous Pshycologist/Doctor who is protected by a government agency due to his research in behavior control.
In exchange for implanting thoughts and unquestioned obedience in chosen persons, the Doctor is allowed to play his "games". The Doctor enjoys implanting a small fear, increasin...more
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Read in May, 2004
recommends it for:
No one
Yes, Koontz has come up with a really cool idea. This is a serious psychological thriller. A woman has a friend who has a bad case of agoraphobia. Wait, now she has a crazy phobia. And now her husband too!
Koontz delves into phobias and how they might affect a person. The character's journeys are intense and seemingly real. The antagonist is horrible and evil. The writing is really interesting...
Until the end. Koontz couldn't write himself out of a paper bag. As good as the chara...more
Koontz delves into phobias and how they might affect a person. The character's journeys are intense and seemingly real. The antagonist is horrible and evil. The writing is really interesting...
Until the end. Koontz couldn't write himself out of a paper bag. As good as the chara...more
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Hmmm.... I tried Dean Koontz for awhile, but his books always seem to be made by a recipe. The characters are all pretty much the same: pretty, spunky woman; strong, sensitive man. The plots were all about the same as well, yet I kept on trying hopeing that he would write something that was interesting. This one is it. Notice I only gave it two stars.... it wasnt that interesting.
What I did like: The plot wasnt centered around some sort of crazy technology like the rest of his stories seem to ...more
What I did like: The plot wasnt centered around some sort of crazy technology like the rest of his stories seem to ...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in March, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in June, 2008
recommended to Jenny by:
myselfrecommends it for: Koontz fans & thriller seekers
This was my first Koontz book and wow. So amazing. It was the scaredest I'd ever been in my life. Yes, scardest. I couldn't read this book at night or it would give me nightmares. When i would read it, I would completely lose track of time and swallow 100 pages or so. It was hopeless, even at the 3/4 mark, I was like, this is never going to end! But it does and the ending is unpredictable, but I've seen more unpredictable endings before. Anyway, I am going to start the Odd Thomas serious next b/...more
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Read in November, 2006
recommends it for:
REALLY mentally sound individuals
I never finished reading this book. It was too intense for me (at the time at least... I'm sure I'll reattempt it at some point.)
Before you start thinking I am too much of a pansy... let me explain... this book brings the phrase "psychological thriller" to a whole new level.
There is some REALLY demented stuff in here... and even 3/4 of the way into the book (which is where I ambandoned it) there is no hope in sight for the protagonists.
Without trying to give away to...more
Before you start thinking I am too much of a pansy... let me explain... this book brings the phrase "psychological thriller" to a whole new level.
There is some REALLY demented stuff in here... and even 3/4 of the way into the book (which is where I ambandoned it) there is no hope in sight for the protagonists.
Without trying to give away to...more
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AMAZING!!! To be honest I almost stopped reading because the first almost 100 pages was the same thing over and over. There was a point to the over and over again parts, but it was almost too much. KEEP READING though!!! Clues start to be released and the suspense is real. Also, in many books like this, almost a thriller, the characters are dumb and can not figure things out before they have death upon them. In this book the characters are nothing like that. Koontz did a great job allowing them ...more
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Whoa! I'll start by saying the bad guy is a super-sociopath. The book is about what it says in the title: false memory. The main characters have lapses in their memory and start coming down with weird psychoses. The plot and events that happen in the book are a little frustrating, that's probably why it takes some people months to years to read it. But when you're at the middle to the end of the book, you can't put it down because you so badly want to see the bad guy go down.
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Read in September, 2008
I can't say much about this book because I didn't finish it. I managed to make it to chapter 50, about half-way through the book, but stopped there and returned it to the library.
The story started well. It held my interest and I read several chapters the first night. The plot began to slow down, however, enough so that I had trouble focusing on it. I think that the plot itself is probably a good one and could be a gripping story. The author just took too long to tell it.
This is the firs...more
The story started well. It held my interest and I read several chapters the first night. The plot began to slow down, however, enough so that I had trouble focusing on it. I think that the plot itself is probably a good one and could be a gripping story. The author just took too long to tell it.
This is the firs...more
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Read in July, 2001
My first Dean Koontz book, and probably the best. I'm not sure if it's because of the novelty or because it was just that good. (I read a ton of his books that summer, and, while they were good, they got a bit predictable by the fifth or sixth. I probably read a few dozen.)
It's definitely suspenseful and action packed. I didn't want to put it down, and even risked reading it while a passenger in a moving vehicle (an activity that normally makes me ill for the next few hours) just to find out...more
It's definitely suspenseful and action packed. I didn't want to put it down, and even risked reading it while a passenger in a moving vehicle (an activity that normally makes me ill for the next few hours) just to find out...more
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Read in May, 2008
I've never read Dean Koontz before so I really didn't know what to expect. The book was interesting. I loved the characters, however there were so many unnecessary details that bored me until I found myself skimming through paragraphs to get to the next scene. It was also really really gruesome which I should have expected since Dean Koontz is often referred to by Stephen King fans. Learning about the phobias was awesome. It was well researched and played out.
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Dean Koontz does it again, he is honestly the only author I can read and know I'll never be bored because I'm too busy stressing to figure out what's going on and what's going to happen next and when will the characters finally know- and, you know the drill.
This book is more psychological than many of his others, particularly because it deals with the manipulation of said field, but it is as thrilling as the rest, and like always, never a dull moment!
This book is more psychological than many of his others, particularly because it deals with the manipulation of said field, but it is as thrilling as the rest, and like always, never a dull moment!
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This book definitely messed with your brain. It was pretty intense, but it was pretty hard to understand what was going on...kind of scary.
The culprit in this book is pretty sick. For people who care, there was a lot of inappropriate stuff in here, especially sexually...I don't know if I wanted to read about that. Pretty gross and sad.
If you're looking for a thriller though and the craziest plot ever...this is the book for you.
The culprit in this book is pretty sick. For people who care, there was a lot of inappropriate stuff in here, especially sexually...I don't know if I wanted to read about that. Pretty gross and sad.
If you're looking for a thriller though and the craziest plot ever...this is the book for you.
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Read in May, 2003
recommends it for:
anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers
I enjoyed this book...i loved the psychological aspects of the book and how he based everything around false memory.
False Memories have been an age old debate in the mental health field...whether the person's recollection of the event is real or subliminally placed there by the Therapist, Psychologist or Psychiatrist.
Felt Dean Koontz did a good job of playing this out in the book.
False Memories have been an age old debate in the mental health field...whether the person's recollection of the event is real or subliminally placed there by the Therapist, Psychologist or Psychiatrist.
Felt Dean Koontz did a good job of playing this out in the book.
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This book has an incredible plot but an EXTREMELY lack-luster finish... First 500 pages: Pure magnetic suspense.. next 250 pages: Total let down
Thats even with-out mentioning the annoying "filler" of Koontz's writting style. The book could've easily been 300 pages. This book missed the editing phase. The flowery speach makes you question whether finishing it is important to you.
Thats even with-out mentioning the annoying "filler" of Koontz's writting style. The book could've easily been 300 pages. This book missed the editing phase. The flowery speach makes you question whether finishing it is important to you.
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This is the very first book I read by this author and I was hooked. I love it when a book pulls you in so much that you read it a line at a time because you just need one more bit of info. Read this one on vacation and my husband was waiting on me alot needless to say. I would stay up until 3 in the morning reading, take it out to eat, and walk around the island reading it.
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False memory is an incredible book. If you are a fan of Koontz you will LOVE this. Koontz is the master of suspense. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. More than once I said to myself 'this book is insane.' I loved it, couldn't wait to get back to it every time I put it down. Martie and Dusty and several of the supporting characters, including Valet, are very likable.
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Read in September, 2006
Ok so it's been like a year and half and I have still not managed to get even half way through this book. But so far so good. I actually think everytime I start to read it I start over because it's been so long and I can't remember what it was about in the first place...
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.75 (2258 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 3.71 (2192 ratings) number of reviews: 158
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