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47th out of 63 books
—
515 voters
The Key to Midnight
by
Leigh Nichols ,
Dean Koontz
Joanna Rand left the U.S. ten years ago to sing in a Japanese nightclub. Ever since, she's been plagued with nightmares of terror. There is only one man can help her -- Alex Hunter. Ten years ago he saw her picture in the papers -- as a senator's daughter who had disappeared. Now he has to bring her memories back to her, memories of a past more terrifying than they dreamed...more
Mass Market Paperback, 419 pages
Published
June 1st 1995
by Berkley
(first published 1979)
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This is a re-release, first written under the pseudonym Leigh Nichols. Wow! Talk about stepping out of your comfort zone! Never have I encountered a Koontz novel with so much romance. Did I say 'romance'? Oh, yeah. Romance.
While the book was a good read it was not one of Koontz's better efforts. I would never have guessed this was a Koontz novel. It was not only strange territory, but the writing was what I can only call 'cookie-cutter'. Usually Koontz has his own unique way of writing and you c...more
While the book was a good read it was not one of Koontz's better efforts. I would never have guessed this was a Koontz novel. It was not only strange territory, but the writing was what I can only call 'cookie-cutter'. Usually Koontz has his own unique way of writing and you c...more
Oh, curse you, Dean Koontz! *shakes fist*
For years, every time I pick up a Dean Koontz novel, I swear I'm not going to get obsessed with it. Every time, I end up reading it in a night or two.
"The Key to Midnight" was originally published in 1979 under the pseudonym, Leigh Nichols. In the Afterword, Koontz describes how he went back in 1995, with the intention of just giving it a little polish, when he ended up excising a great deal of it, then adding yet more. Then, he pretty much rewrote the wh...more
For years, every time I pick up a Dean Koontz novel, I swear I'm not going to get obsessed with it. Every time, I end up reading it in a night or two.
"The Key to Midnight" was originally published in 1979 under the pseudonym, Leigh Nichols. In the Afterword, Koontz describes how he went back in 1995, with the intention of just giving it a little polish, when he ended up excising a great deal of it, then adding yet more. Then, he pretty much rewrote the wh...more
The book is cringe worthy.Seriously, there were passages when I was genuinely embarrassed for Koontz.The characters are as deep as a puddle of rain water left in the wake of a light early autumn rain, and as one dimensional as a drawing on a piece of baking paper made by a bored housewife while waiting for her pie to finish baking,this is of course in the spirit of "Koontzian adjectivism" which should be new genre in literature.
Behold ladies and gentlemen, the following quotes may cause intensiv...more
Behold ladies and gentlemen, the following quotes may cause intensiv...more
Sep 22, 2012
Jane Stewart
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
romantic-mystery-suspense
Weak 3 stars. It kept my interest, but it wasn’t as enjoyable as I had hoped.
STORY BRIEF:
Joanna left England twelve years ago and now owns and sings in a Japanese nightclub. She has nightmares about being strapped to a bed, injected with substances, and being violated by a man with a metal hand. Alex owns a private investigating firm in the U.S. He was hired twelve years ago to find a missing woman. He sees Joanna while on vacation in Japan and believes Joanna might be that woman.
REVIEWER’S OPIN...more
STORY BRIEF:
Joanna left England twelve years ago and now owns and sings in a Japanese nightclub. She has nightmares about being strapped to a bed, injected with substances, and being violated by a man with a metal hand. Alex owns a private investigating firm in the U.S. He was hired twelve years ago to find a missing woman. He sees Joanna while on vacation in Japan and believes Joanna might be that woman.
REVIEWER’S OPIN...more
The Key to Midnight is an early Leigh Nichols book, written in 1979, rewritten and updated in 1995. The genre is what one might call a romantic suspense spy thriller, reminiscent of Koontz's earlier Nichols book, House of Thunder. The point of view goes back and forth between the female and male protagonists, as a romance develops between them. Joanna Rand is the owner and star performer in a swing music and dance club in Kyoto, Japan. Alex Hunter is a wealthy security business owner on vacation...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Wow ... Dean Koontz sure can describe things! And describe them again and again and again and again and again and again in exactly the same way over and over and over and over and over and over again. And just when the main characters finally, *finally*, hook up ... fade to black. What! The! Froof?! Seriously, I had to read about the description of a silver gilded midnight blue mirror twelve times (and I still don't understand how it can be reflective) but I don't even get a little onamonapia wh...more
This was the first Dean Koontz novel I have read (at least that is what my memory is telling me) and this book was very disturbing. I think what really tossed it over the edge for me was the author's "Afterword" at the end of the book and I quote:
"It's a simple tale, not a substantive one, that just wants to be liked and to give you a little fun. There's nothing wrong with a book like that; no writer must try to be Dostoyevsky every time he picks up a pen. Most people would agree that writing su...more
"It's a simple tale, not a substantive one, that just wants to be liked and to give you a little fun. There's nothing wrong with a book like that; no writer must try to be Dostoyevsky every time he picks up a pen. Most people would agree that writing su...more
One of Koontz's best because it is so straight-forward--no weird animals or bizarre skills that the protagonist possesses. Just a nice, neat detective, action-thriller. This one takes place primarily in Japan and Koontz knows the culture and people well and recreates the place in such a way that you feel you'd like to visit if you don't feel you are there already. Main character Joanne Rand owns a bar in Japan and is having an extremely bad repeating dream--or is it a dream? Private investigator...more
Joanna has been living on Japan for ten years. She has no family and remembers little of her past. She doesn't let anyone become close to her. And then one night, when she's singing at her club, a man comes in who is scrutinizing her a little too carefully. He knows who she is- the missing daughter of a US senator. But Joanna doesn't remember anything about her former life. Her only terrifying previous memory is of a man with a hypodermic needle and a metal hand, taunting her. What is Joanna's s...more
Just read it for the tenth time this year for Christmas because it's so bloody good! I finally bought it. I think the librarians were getting annoyed I kept putting myself on the waiting list after checking it out all the time. ;]
1 like · like · see review
'The Key to Midnight' foi um de quatro romances que Dean Koontz escreveu sob o pseudónimo Leigh Nichols, dos quais eu li (e não gostei muito) 'The House of Thunder'. Embora lidando com temas semelhantes, gostei mais da abordagem feita neste pois assume logo de início do que se trata. Em 'The House of Thunder' eram avançadas várias hipóteses, sempre (ou quase sempre) no domínio do sobrenatural e do fantástico, quando tudo não passava de-- É melhor não contar mais.
Em 'The Key to Midnight' há surpr...more
Em 'The Key to Midnight' há surpr...more
This version is the rewrite version under his own name rather than the pseudonym Leigh Nichols. Regrettably, I cannot compare the two, for I did not read the original release.
Mr. Koontz has this to say: “The Key to Midnight was the first novel…under the pen name Leigh Nichols, which I no longer use.” “[The Key to Midnight:] was meant to be my stab at an action-suspense-romance novel with a background of international intrigue…”
My vote says he succeeded.
Another reason I read Dean Koontz, beside...more
Mr. Koontz has this to say: “The Key to Midnight was the first novel…under the pen name Leigh Nichols, which I no longer use.” “[The Key to Midnight:] was meant to be my stab at an action-suspense-romance novel with a background of international intrigue…”
My vote says he succeeded.
Another reason I read Dean Koontz, beside...more
This is the first Dean Koontz book that I have read and I have to say, I am not impressed. While I liked it in the beginning, I started to get impatient with it. He is extremely descriptive...too, too, too descriptive. About halfway through the book, I started skipping whole paragraphs, if not pages of him describing the food they ate, rooms they were in, etc. I'm all for some description, especially if it adds to the plot/pace of the book, but come on, leave a little to the imagination. I mean,...more
The subject matter was definitely a new route for Koontz, as mentioned in the Afterword, and the story contained some of the typical Koontz attributes, so it was very well written and thought out. As a horror fan I focused more on the horror aspect which was minimal for a Koontz novel, but still creepy with characters like the ingenius Dr. Zombie and his brilliant, yet warped methods regarding the human mind. Joanna Rand, successful nighclub owner and singer, is living comfortably in Japan until...more
I'm torn between three and four stars. This is an early Koontz title (originally written back in 1979 - this is a partial rewrite from 1996). It's your TV movie of the week that you loved as a kid - a woman with a shadowy past meets an attractive male investigator, and together they try to find the key to midnight - to understand her dreams, where the man with steel fingers fills a hypodermic syringe...
It's a nice, short book with several little twists and typical Koontz characters. I enjoyed th...more
It's a nice, short book with several little twists and typical Koontz characters. I enjoyed th...more
*contains spoilers*
A solid action/romance/spy novel with a surprising ending. It is a rewrite/update of one of the author's early attempts from 1979 which makes the plot less plausible. For instance, the fact that the Cold War ended is conveniently handled by Mr. Koontz by saying that the "Cold War never ends". Also, even if we believe that such brain-washing is possible, how do we account for Joanna being even a relatively cheerful person who's singing each night in a crowded jazz bar in Kyoto?...more
A solid action/romance/spy novel with a surprising ending. It is a rewrite/update of one of the author's early attempts from 1979 which makes the plot less plausible. For instance, the fact that the Cold War ended is conveniently handled by Mr. Koontz by saying that the "Cold War never ends". Also, even if we believe that such brain-washing is possible, how do we account for Joanna being even a relatively cheerful person who's singing each night in a crowded jazz bar in Kyoto?...more
A haunting nightmare is the key to one woman's mysterious past in the spine-tingling novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz.
Dean Koontz was born in Everett, Pennsylvania, and grew up in nearby Bedford. He won an Atlantic Monthly fiction competition when he was twenty and has been writing ever since. Mr. Koontz's books are published in 38 languages. Worldwide sales total more than 175 million copies, a figure that currently increases at a rate of more than 3
...more
Although The Key to Midnight was not one of my favorite Koontz books, I did find it interesting because of my own curiosity about the mind. It's always intrigued, as well as scared me, that our minds can so easily be twisted into something we can't comprehend and our thoughts can be shoved away and replaced with programmed information.
Koontz did surprise me towards the end with the twist on the father and the surprise with Alex. I thought it was worth the read, although a bit tedious. I wanted...more
Koontz did surprise me towards the end with the twist on the father and the surprise with Alex. I thought it was worth the read, although a bit tedious. I wanted...more
So far it's Ok. But it;s the first book in a while where I've actually thought about skipping to the end. It starts out really slow. There is a lot of detail about Japan as the story takes place there. It's a quick and dirty read, and a pretty flimsy story. But it's keeping me engaged--which is nice.
And now its finished. Nice and quick denoument in the final two chapters. Definitely one of hiw earlier writings--as I saw some of the same elements I just read in Lightning.
Pretty lame excuse for...more
And now its finished. Nice and quick denoument in the final two chapters. Definitely one of hiw earlier writings--as I saw some of the same elements I just read in Lightning.
Pretty lame excuse for...more
This is a novel first released in 1979 under the Leigh Nichols pseudonym, and then updated and re-released in 1995. Koontz wanted to try espionage and international intrigue, which was not the genre for which his fans knew him. To a large extent, I believe he succeeded here.
Joanna Rand is a singer and club owner in Kyoto. Things are okay for her, except that every night, she has an awful nightmare about a man with a metal hand. She also is susceptible to terrible panic attacks and depressions,...more
Joanna Rand is a singer and club owner in Kyoto. Things are okay for her, except that every night, she has an awful nightmare about a man with a metal hand. She also is susceptible to terrible panic attacks and depressions,...more
The descriptions of Japan from this novel made me want to travel there and immerse myself in the culture, the people, and the food. Especially the food!
Joanna was right - she could be cold. That she tried to push Alex away, when he knew that he was doing what was best in trying to help her, confirmed that thought. And Alex, bless his little heart, was just stubborn and curious enough to keep pushing back, and was finally able to succeed where every other man in Joanna's life had failed - he was...more
Joanna was right - she could be cold. That she tried to push Alex away, when he knew that he was doing what was best in trying to help her, confirmed that thought. And Alex, bless his little heart, was just stubborn and curious enough to keep pushing back, and was finally able to succeed where every other man in Joanna's life had failed - he was...more
This is the first book by Dean Koontz I have had the opportunity to read. His narration style is fascinating. He builds the story from an obscure town in Japan where an investigator meets the main female character. Then through several episodes like anti brain washing techniques the author guides us through a post cold war conspiracy which actually had its origins in the cold war era. Somewhat difficult to believe - this is what fiction is all about!
I must say I enjoyed the novel very much!
I must say I enjoyed the novel very much!
I'm not sure how so many people seemed to love this book. I found it dated, irritating, and it left me just not caring at many points. In 1979, I'm sure all the brainwashing was viewed the "scary future" for government intrigue and sabotage. Now, there are far scarier things people are finding ways to do to each other.
I do, however, feel like I learned things about Japan & Japanese culture I never would have known otherwise. I hope those items are at least real so I dont' feel like it was a...more
I do, however, feel like I learned things about Japan & Japanese culture I never would have known otherwise. I hope those items are at least real so I dont' feel like it was a...more
This book was written by Dean Koontz, originally under the pen name of Leigh Nichols. He said he meant this book to be "my stab at an action-suspense-romance novel with a background of international intrigue". He has since revised it and published it under his own name. This information is contained in the afterword, which is actually more fun to read than the book itself.
The story here concerns brainwashing and reprogramming, which were pretty big and popular topics in the late 70's and early 8...more
I love Dean Koontz and I particularly love his older books, which this is one of the books that he wrote under his womanly pen name Leigh Nichols. This story takes place mostly in Kyoto, Japan which in itself was a greay setting, totally different than the norm. It was nice to read about Japanese customs, food and the overall Japanese atmosphere. Koontz captured it well even though he had never been at the time he wrote this novel. It's a really great story about a woman who had her past stolen...more
This is pretty good, I like his newer stuff better ... just goes to show ... practice makes perfect! It was still a good read, but I wasn't buying into the romance very easily. The plot was pretty good, but could have used a bit more fleshing out ... maybe a few more complications ... but I still read it through in pretty good style ... it kept me in the book.
There are very few letdowns when it comes to the novels of Dean Koontz, in my own personal opinion.And this isn't among that very small group of books.This is a very thrilling and fast read for those that need to take a break and read just for the shear enjoyment of reading.I'm not for sure but I think I've read it more than once.It's that good.
I wasn't sure if I would like this book or not. I was pleasantly surprised. The more recent Dean Koontz books sometimes seem to go so far toward the paranormal that I just don't care for them. This one was pleasantly weird without being completely off the wall and involving aliens, and things like that. This was a good read.
As with nearly all Koontz books these days, I don't have much to say. I remember as a teen being very "into" his work, but most of it falls into this middle-of-the-road area for me lately.
While this was a departure from his usual formula and entertaining (as all his books are), it was enjoyable but not overwhelmingly so.
While this was a departure from his usual formula and entertaining (as all his books are), it was enjoyable but not overwhelmingly so.
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| Koontzland - Dean...: The Key to Midnight | 77 | 39 | Feb 02, 2012 06:16pm |
Leigh Nichols is a pen name of Dean R. Koontz.
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“He is different, and there will be many people you love who will be unhappy with you. You don’t want them to feel you’ve dishonored them. Yes, I know how it is. But life is short. A chance for great happiness doesn’t come along all that often.”
—
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Apr 08, 2013 08:09pm