** spoiler alert ** I am torn, and I think, if I could, I would probably give this book 3 1/2 stars. Maybe. Mainly because Koontz is a writer that is able to draw you into his stories well, and I recognize the great talent in that. There were sentences that made me laugh out loud as well, so I appreciated his jokes along the way. The kicker for me, was that were long stretches where I was just so DONE with what he was describing. I didn't care about the silly coyotes, I knew he was going to get away from them because of how much of the book was left, so just enough with it already. Coyotes had no bearing on the story, and to me it was just more filler that was preventing me from getting to the "good stuff." That sort of thing. I also felt like there was such a grand buildup... so much of the book I was in anticipation of what was going to happen. But the anticipation dragged on for so long, that by the time anything happened I felt relieved to be almost done with it, and not in a good way. Like the climax didn't do the foreplay justice. Which for me actually turned out to be a good thing, because I personally don't like gore. It isn't my cup of tea. But I am pretty sensitive, and reading about breasts in freezers and men who look at child porn aren't things I seek out. However, because of the buildup, I was surprised that the killers didn't get farther in their dirty work. If that makes sense. I don't think I will be reading the next books in the series, and it will probably be a while before I read another Koontz, if ever. That said, I do agree he has talent for those that like his style. Just not for me.