With each of his #1 New York Times bestsellers, Dean Koontz has displayed an unparalleled ability to entertain and enlighten readers with no...
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Dec 04, 2007
Melissa
rated it: 
This is only the second Dean Koontz book that I have read, and I gave it three stars only because it was compelling, despite its flaws.
I believe it is often the case that the flaws with a book are as much a result of my own expectations being overinflated as it is flaws with the actual book itself. I think this book is one of those types of books. Based on the reviews, I thought the book had both a compelling title and premise--a brave woman rescues Golden retrievers for her life's w More...
I believe it is often the case that the flaws with a book are as much a result of my own expectations being overinflated as it is flaws with the actual book itself. I think this book is one of those types of books. Based on the reviews, I thought the book had both a compelling title and premise--a brave woman rescues Golden retrievers for her life's w More...
Feb 08, 2008
Gwenette
rated it: 
So far, I love this book. The writing is so lyrical, so tight. It's exactly how I want my writing to sound.
Well, I finished the book, and I feel cheated by several things.
First, I read sometime ago that Dean Koontz doesn't consider himself to be a horror writer. I've read some of his other stuff, and it's sci-fi creepy, but not horror. This book contains some of the most gruesome things I've ever read. (Okay, I don't read lots of horror, so maybe I don't even know what g More...
Well, I finished the book, and I feel cheated by several things.
First, I read sometime ago that Dean Koontz doesn't consider himself to be a horror writer. I've read some of his other stuff, and it's sci-fi creepy, but not horror. This book contains some of the most gruesome things I've ever read. (Okay, I don't read lots of horror, so maybe I don't even know what g More...
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Dec 31, 2007
Jami
rated it: 
This book made me wonder why Dean Koontz is a bestselling author. The language is elementary and his overuse of metaphors (I am talking about 1-2 in a paragraph) made me feel insulted that I was reading a book that a 10 year old could understand. It just shows the general intelligence of the American people isn't at an all-time high.
I bought this book because the subject of dogs and animal shelters played a big role in the plot. This subject interests me intensly, but even with that More...
I bought this book because the subject of dogs and animal shelters played a big role in the plot. This subject interests me intensly, but even with that More...
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Jan 29, 2008
Donald
rated it:
I like Koontz's style, but I wouldn't call him a horror writer. Not any more. The only links to horror are his allusions and similes. Like when he writes about the lighthouse cutting through the fog like the scythe of death.
The title of the book doesn't lend anything to the story that I could see. The story seems well conceived and thought out until the last chapter, which felt thrown together for the sake of a deadline. Perhaps after this novel, he can get past putting a G More...
The title of the book doesn't lend anything to the story that I could see. The story seems well conceived and thought out until the last chapter, which felt thrown together for the sake of a deadline. Perhaps after this novel, he can get past putting a G More...
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Jan 15, 2008
Kim
rated it:
This was a quick read. The author extols the virtues of golden retrievers and a dog's ability to help heal broken people. He also tries to raise awareness of the cruelty of puppy mills. Amy, the main character of the story, has a secret past and spends her days rescuing golden retrievers from unfit homes. Add a love interest, some eeriness, and a few really evil people out to get them and that pretty much sums up the story.
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Jul 12, 2010
Buggy
rated it:
I read THE DARKEST EVENING OF THE YEAR for a book club challenge although admittedly it had been sitting on my TBR shelf for a couple of years. I was happy to finally find a reason to stop passing it over (in favour of vampire romance and testosterone filled Navy Seals) and get into a good horror novel. Unfortunately I now wished I’d left it sitting on the shelf because this was not in any way an enjoyable read and ultimately a real struggle to finish.
To start with I didn’t enjoy Koo More...
To start with I didn’t enjoy Koo More...
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(4 people liked it)
Apr 02, 2008
Sherrie
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Feb 21, 2008
MerBear
rated it:
This is not a good book. It has all of the elements that D. Koontz is famous for: creepy villains, supernatural events, metaphorical sentences, and of course dogs. However, it never really found its groove with me. I think he spends too much time describing the lives surrounding several intertwining hitmen who ultimately bring very little to the story. Not to mention that each of them has several different names and aliases - which adds to the confusion. I think he intended to write a story
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Jan 04, 2008
Elizabeth
rated it: 
I love all of Dean Koontz's books. But I especially love the ones with dogs in them. "Watchers" remains my favorite of all his books, and Einstein is the reason we got a golden retriever.
"The Darkest Evening of the Year" involves a woman who rescues goldens and rehabilitates them, then finds new homes for them. She has a dark secret in her past that she doesn't want to let into the light of day, not even to her closest friend and lover. He has secrets of his own to More...
"The Darkest Evening of the Year" involves a woman who rescues goldens and rehabilitates them, then finds new homes for them. She has a dark secret in her past that she doesn't want to let into the light of day, not even to her closest friend and lover. He has secrets of his own to More...
Jan 04, 2008
Elizabeth
rated it: 
I love Dean Koontz because you can read a book of his in a day or two. His elements of fantasy and the supernatural are always intriguing. As much as I was down on the good vs. evil theme in 'Cosmic Christmas' I love it in Dean Koontz's books because good inevitably wins. (I've only read one other Dean Koontz book so I might be totally generalizing but maybe not!) In this story, there is some small reference to why the evil people are the way they are but the characters are broadly painted--ei
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Dec 10, 2007
Annie
rated it:
A fast-paced and emotionally devastating suspense novel from the master storyteller. Amy Redwing's risk-taking on behalf of desperate dogs is legendary. With money she inherited from a source she will never discuss, she founded and runs a group that rescues abandoned or abused golden retrievers. Is it this reckless devotion to her work that prevents her making a commitment to the love of her life, Brian McCarthy? It seems so when a particularly thrilling and bizarre rescue brings Nickie into her
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Feb 21, 2008
Gabrielle
rated it:
I've read every Dean Koontz book published (which is a LOT). I love Dean Koontz. He's certainly "easy reading," and his main characters always sort of seem to be the same character, just with different names. But his stories are imaginative, and he always includes very, very moral and conservative (but not in-your-face) themes.
I also usually end up finishing his books with a new appreciation of my dog. Dean Koontz books often have a dog that plays a key role. I won't revie More...
I also usually end up finishing his books with a new appreciation of my dog. Dean Koontz books often have a dog that plays a key role. I won't revie More...
May 04, 2008
Jennifer
rated it:
I really loved this title, much more so than Mr. Koontz's last two releases, THE GOOD GUY and THE HUSBAND. Although this title follows in the same vein as regards to time (it only covers roughly 48-hours), it has characters who are easier to relate to and a chilling, supernatural-based storyline.
As the other reviewer mentions, it's a kind of memorial to Mr. Koontz's own Golden Retreiver, Trixie, who has passed away. In the book, a dog named Nickie is at the center of the story, along More...
As the other reviewer mentions, it's a kind of memorial to Mr. Koontz's own Golden Retreiver, Trixie, who has passed away. In the book, a dog named Nickie is at the center of the story, along More...
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Dec 11, 2007
Evelyn
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Two unlikely couples share a past secret that brings them together with disastrous results. Amy Redwing and her boyfriend Brian rescue golden retrievers, while Vanessa and Harrow lead a dark existence that includes the abuse of Vanessa's mentally challenged daughter. When Amy rescues a golden named Nickie, the same name as her dead child, strange events propell the two couples to meet. Is it just a coincidence that dog is god spelled backwards? This story is not your usual Koontz horror story,
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Apr 20, 2008
Donna
rated it:
This is a great book from Koontz, with the usual uber-crazy villains. And just like in his novel, Watchers, Koontz' love for golden retrievers really shows thru. The plot flows quickly enough, but you do have to wait until near the end to find out the "traumatic event" of one of the main characters. I'm glad Koontz got out of his cynical, what's the point in living phase, because I find his stories much more enjoyable now. His villains are, of course, chillingly cold & remor
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Mar 26, 2008
Jessica
rated it:
I enjoyed this Book, but let's be realistic this novel is an ode to Mr. Koontz's love for his Golden retriever. I have found myself lately a little too aware of Mr. Koontz's well written witty reparte. It's so well written that it's like he's waving a flag in our faces "Look how great I am at witty conversations that seem to go nowhere" I think The mark of great book is that I forget it's a book and get lost in the story. The last couple of Koontz books I have felt this. Also he t
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Feb 20, 2008
Michelle
rated it:
As a long-time Dean Koontz fan, I was very eager to read this book. Combine that with the fact that it was also about dogs (one of my favorite subjects), and I was pretty sure it would be a no-brainer favorite.
The story is, ultimately, a thriller. Full of the suspense you'd expect, and with a good back-story that makes you empathize with the good characters (and equally despise the bad ones). It is also a story about faith... not necessarily the religious kind, but faith in genera More...
The story is, ultimately, a thriller. Full of the suspense you'd expect, and with a good back-story that makes you empathize with the good characters (and equally despise the bad ones). It is also a story about faith... not necessarily the religious kind, but faith in genera More...
Mar 28, 2008
Deanna
rated it:
Loved it!! Wow! I skimmed a bunch of reviews for this book before writing this, just to see how others felt about this book and I was surprised! Many people gave it only 1 or 2 stars. Shocking! I can't think of anything I didn't like about this book! Typical Koontz style. Just the right amount of details, some humor, some mystery, some suspense, a touch of supernatural... I just loved it!
Dean Koontz is by far my favourite author on the planet and with this book he did NOT dis More...
Dean Koontz is by far my favourite author on the planet and with this book he did NOT dis More...
Aug 06, 2011
This does not even come close to being in his repertoire of best works, but still worth a read.
The story is interesting and the reader anticipates the next step the characters are going to take throughout the book. Maybe the fact that I'm a huge dog lover made me slightly bias in my rating of this book; however, I feel that this is still a true Dean Koontz style reading experience and is pulled off very well considering that this clichéd concept done by anyone else would most probably have sp More...
The story is interesting and the reader anticipates the next step the characters are going to take throughout the book. Maybe the fact that I'm a huge dog lover made me slightly bias in my rating of this book; however, I feel that this is still a true Dean Koontz style reading experience and is pulled off very well considering that this clichéd concept done by anyone else would most probably have sp More...
Feb 12, 2009
Toni
rated it:
Dean Koontz has put a Golden retriever as his canine heroine at the center of this novel. Nickie is a rescued dog with seemingly supernatural abilities to save children from harms way.
The basic premise of the story involves Amy Redwing a professional dog rescuer and her architect boyfriend Brian McCarthy. Both are troubled by past demons, Brian has "visions" that come out through drawings and Amy focuses on saving dogs in danger. Nickie seems to be the reincarnated spirit o More...
The basic premise of the story involves Amy Redwing a professional dog rescuer and her architect boyfriend Brian McCarthy. Both are troubled by past demons, Brian has "visions" that come out through drawings and Amy focuses on saving dogs in danger. Nickie seems to be the reincarnated spirit o More...
Nov 19, 2008
Cameron
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jan 16, 2008
Brandy
rated it:
Ok, so I really like Dean Koontz. Last month, I decided to try out some of Dean's writing, and I am hooked!
This book is alot different from his normal books in that it is more of a 'feel good' book than the others.
By the end of the book, I found myself wanting to get a Golden Retriever when I am home and able to take care of a pet! This book took you through all the emotions that a GOOD book should. I was infuriated, sad, and at times tickled by the story line. I give it a thumbs
This book is alot different from his normal books in that it is more of a 'feel good' book than the others.
By the end of the book, I found myself wanting to get a Golden Retriever when I am home and able to take care of a pet! This book took you through all the emotions that a GOOD book should. I was infuriated, sad, and at times tickled by the story line. I give it a thumbs
Nov 14, 2011
Veronika
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Nov 02, 2011
Christopher
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Mar 13, 2011
Omar
rated it:
I have read numerous books from Dean Koontz himself and I gotta say I loved all of them. This book is no excuse either. I loved it alot, because I am generally a fan of reading books that has mysterious forces at play like the special golden retriever in the book named Nickie who most likely was the spirit of Amy's now deceased daughter. However I did kinda expected some vital person must have died in Amy's life so I wasn't surprised when Amy reveals that her daughter was violently murdered but
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Feb 17, 2011
Stunatra
rated it:
I thought I had read the worst Dean Koontz novel already -- Your Heart Belongs To Me -- but I didn't, not until this one. I read half of it and then decided that I didn't care anymore--and after checking reviews on Amazon.com, found that the ending is a huge Deus ex machina, isn't quite worth reading the next hundred pages or so to get to--it didn't intrigue me enough and quit. I love Dean Koontz but something is happening to him lately; not sure what it is. His prose has not improved for the be
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Apr 05, 2009
Christy
rated it:
Amy Redwing, former victim of an abusive relationship, devotes her life to running a rescue organization for golden retrievers, where she searches for the perfect forever home for the abandoned ones and seeks treatment and rehabilitation for the abused and neglected ones. When Amy and her boyfriend, architect Brian McCarthy attempt to rescue a golden named Nickie, they find themselves in the middle of a domestic dispute. Amy senses a connection to Nickie and decides to keep her, unknowing that
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Jun 28, 2008
Craig
rated it:
Koontz is always dependable; he delivers very highly polished prose with strong, character-driven stories. In this one he explores his favorite theme of dogs and their relationships with people, and along the way we find quirky good people with horrific pasts, truly evil bad guys who try to thwart them at every turn, and despite the realization that it's all a little over-the-top you can't help but get drawn in and really care about how it all turns out. It's a good, quick, fun read.
Mar 14, 2010
Maciek
rated it:
HORRIBLE.
This is an example of a writer writing simply to meet the deadline. A mish-mash of various things done previously bakes into a cake of laughable, eye rolling nonsense. The characters are paper thin, the story reaches the level of low mediocrity at best, all of this is decorated in pseudo profundity and revealed truths coming both from good and bad characters - dogs are better than people/existence has no meaning etc etc etc.
Dogs in this novel...let's just say that the More...
This is an example of a writer writing simply to meet the deadline. A mish-mash of various things done previously bakes into a cake of laughable, eye rolling nonsense. The characters are paper thin, the story reaches the level of low mediocrity at best, all of this is decorated in pseudo profundity and revealed truths coming both from good and bad characters - dogs are better than people/existence has no meaning etc etc etc.
Dogs in this novel...let's just say that the More...
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Dec 12, 2008
Jooniper
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I can't think of any book I've ever been more annoyed and disappointed with. I bought it because I haven't read anything by Mr. Koontz, and since our last names are similar I figured I should get an informed opinion. The only reason I finished the book is because I kept thinking "surely it's going to get better... there must be some reason people buy these books!" But alas, I finished it last night and... it was crappy up to the very last page.
I knew the book would be a struggle More...
I knew the book would be a struggle More...
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