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The Face
The Face. As Hollywood's most dazzling star, he has the love of millions - but the hatred of one deeply twisted soul. Just before Christmas, the star has received six messages promising a very nasty surprise.
The Face's security chief is Ethan Truman, an ex-cop with a troubled past. He's found the messenger but not the source of the threat, and he's worried. But not half as worried as he would be if he knew that Fric, The Face's ten-year-old son, was home alone and getting calls from "Moloch, devourer of children." The terrified boy is planning to go into hiding in his father's vast mansion - putting himself beyond Ethan's protection.
And Ethan may be all that stands between Fric and an almost unimaginable evil...
The Face's security chief is Ethan Truman, an ex-cop with a troubled past. He's found the messenger but not the source of the threat, and he's worried. But not half as worried as he would be if he knew that Fric, The Face's ten-year-old son, was home alone and getting calls from "Moloch, devourer of children." The terrified boy is planning to go into hiding in his father's vast mansion - putting himself beyond Ethan's protection.
And Ethan may be all that stands between Fric and an almost unimaginable evil...
688 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
1385 people are currently reading
7920 people want to read
About the author
Dean Koontz
988 books39.4k followersAcknowledged 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, the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna.
Facebook: Facebook.com/DeanKoontzOfficial
Twitter: @DeanKoontz
Website: DeanKoontz.com
Dean, the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna.
Facebook: Facebook.com/DeanKoontzOfficial
Twitter: @DeanKoontz
Website: DeanKoontz.com
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 898 reviews
August 29, 2023
This is totally phoned-in. And waaaaay too long.
Bizarre title that has nothing to do with the story. The Face dude appears for, like, four seconds.
Fric is an incredibly irritating child. Giving him his own POV is a Charlie Foxtrot.
Of course Ethan has a perfect, dead wife.
The cartoonish villains and the guardian angels sink this book like the Titanic.
Inane and predictable ending.
Bizarre title that has nothing to do with the story. The Face dude appears for, like, four seconds.
Fric is an incredibly irritating child. Giving him his own POV is a Charlie Foxtrot.
Of course Ethan has a perfect, dead wife.
The cartoonish villains and the guardian angels sink this book like the Titanic.
Inane and predictable ending.
December 26, 2022
Despite the supernatural elements, I found myself enthralled. It is a bit of a slow burn, but I've never been completely disappointed by Koontz, and I've been reading him since the late 70s early 80s. That is not to say that I LOVE every one of his novels, but I at least LIKE most of them. This was no different. There were some really good scares cast within a suspenseful story. As always, he also gives you believable characters that resonate, even after you turn the final page. This one is about an ex-cop charged with the protection of a Hollywood leading man, who finds himself trying to protect the leading man’s son instead. Things get complicated by the fact that this ex-cop is starting to see visions of his impending death, as well. I know Koontz does not consider himself a horror writer, but there is supernatural horror here. Sure, there is a thrill kill aspect to this novel, but there is so much more with the nifty characterization thrown in for $#!+$ and giggles. Not a horror writer, OK. Is a supernatural killer horror? Uh-huh! So I respectfully disagree.
February 19, 2010
"The Face" is one of Koontz's very best books. Channing Manheim known as "The Face" is one of most desired movie stars - and he has one great enemy.
Former detective Ethan Truman, who now works as a security chef for the Manheim estate senses great danger that lurks for the actor and his son - Fric.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has stron, and what's more believeable characters (a welcome change from all the cardboards). The plot is griping mixture of suspense and supernatural. Plus there's no forced romance, because there's no female character. It all ties up into one great novel. The lenght of it might scare you - don't be fooled. It's a great book, pages turn themselves almost on their own.
"The Face" is severly underrated. A true book with a heart - read, read, read.
Former detective Ethan Truman, who now works as a security chef for the Manheim estate senses great danger that lurks for the actor and his son - Fric.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has stron, and what's more believeable characters (a welcome change from all the cardboards). The plot is griping mixture of suspense and supernatural. Plus there's no forced romance, because there's no female character. It all ties up into one great novel. The lenght of it might scare you - don't be fooled. It's a great book, pages turn themselves almost on their own.
"The Face" is severly underrated. A true book with a heart - read, read, read.
January 24, 2022
When I first read this in 2020 it was a 4 star read and I've been meaning to reread it for along while. Unfortunately it wasn't as exciting the second time around but still an enjoyable read. 3.5 stars
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I really do enjoy reading some Dean Koontz from time to time, while this isn't a favorite of mine it got everything I want from his novels, compelling and some insane characters, a good plot, edge of your seat action and the complete and utter need to find out what happens. My only complaint is that I wasn't in love with the ending.
___
I really do enjoy reading some Dean Koontz from time to time, while this isn't a favorite of mine it got everything I want from his novels, compelling and some insane characters, a good plot, edge of your seat action and the complete and utter need to find out what happens. My only complaint is that I wasn't in love with the ending.
November 21, 2024
Suspenseful Paranormal Thriller.
Ethan Truman, an ex cop still suffering from the death and loss of his wife changes jobs to a live in, Chief security guard for the presently most charismatic Hollywood movie star in the world, Channing "The Face" Manheim. The face has a not so magnetic son who falls under the tutelage and protection of Truman during an attempted plot to destroy Manheim. Along the way, there are a lot of unexplainable strange and mysterious occurrences happening. And evil and anarchy are looming.
3-4 stars
Ethan Truman, an ex cop still suffering from the death and loss of his wife changes jobs to a live in, Chief security guard for the presently most charismatic Hollywood movie star in the world, Channing "The Face" Manheim. The face has a not so magnetic son who falls under the tutelage and protection of Truman during an attempted plot to destroy Manheim. Along the way, there are a lot of unexplainable strange and mysterious occurrences happening. And evil and anarchy are looming.
3-4 stars
July 19, 2018
This freaking book was over 600 pages! I don't even remember a lot of it since I started to skim. I have this in paperback and started to read it and started to skim in self defense. Not a lot of it makes any sense and then we get to what I think Koontz thinks is a killer ending and I maybe booed aloud for a full minute.
"The Face" is about Channing Manheim who is known as "The Face." Manheim is a movie star with a lot of fans. His security chief, Ethan Truman, is an ex detective who is now hoping to hunt down who is after Manheim's 10 year old son Aelfric (otherwise known as Fric) (I misread that name as Eric like ten times when I first started this book) who is getting mysterious phone calls.
I cannot with the bad guy in this one. Nothing he did made sense and I just didn't care. I swear that Koontz has some lackluster villains for most of his newest books. This guy is no It, Outsider, Randall Flag, Crimson King, etc.
Ethan is not interesting enough to hold this book together. He has a sad story (like most of Koontz's heroes in his books, he is a widower) but I just didn't care. He is trying to figure out the clues that are left behind in 6 black boxes (nope, still serious) and you barely get any movement on things. Just a lot of overly descriptive things you will not care about that make you want to scream.
We hear about Ethan's dead wife Hannah a lot and apparently she was perfect (as the dead wife's or alive heroines are in Koontz's books). She also weirdly started to remind me of Odd Thomas's girlfriend Stormy. Probably because there is an allusion to other things to come after death that sounds like her.
The writing for this one was tough to shift through. Too many off the wall things happen in this one (i.e. a mob guy named Dunny with ties to Ethan dies and becomes a guardian angel....no I am not drunk that did happen). This book needed trimmed. The flow was awful too. I still say that Koontz cannot write a child to save his life. Fric was not great and I hated his name too (I already said that, but going to bring it up again.)
The ending was dancing towards absurdity. I guessed what was going on with Dunny and Typhon and I just rolled my eyes a thousand times.
"The Face" is about Channing Manheim who is known as "The Face." Manheim is a movie star with a lot of fans. His security chief, Ethan Truman, is an ex detective who is now hoping to hunt down who is after Manheim's 10 year old son Aelfric (otherwise known as Fric) (I misread that name as Eric like ten times when I first started this book) who is getting mysterious phone calls.
I cannot with the bad guy in this one. Nothing he did made sense and I just didn't care. I swear that Koontz has some lackluster villains for most of his newest books. This guy is no It, Outsider, Randall Flag, Crimson King, etc.
Ethan is not interesting enough to hold this book together. He has a sad story (like most of Koontz's heroes in his books, he is a widower) but I just didn't care. He is trying to figure out the clues that are left behind in 6 black boxes (nope, still serious) and you barely get any movement on things. Just a lot of overly descriptive things you will not care about that make you want to scream.
We hear about Ethan's dead wife Hannah a lot and apparently she was perfect (as the dead wife's or alive heroines are in Koontz's books). She also weirdly started to remind me of Odd Thomas's girlfriend Stormy. Probably because there is an allusion to other things to come after death that sounds like her.
The writing for this one was tough to shift through. Too many off the wall things happen in this one (i.e. a mob guy named Dunny with ties to Ethan dies and becomes a guardian angel....no I am not drunk that did happen). This book needed trimmed. The flow was awful too. I still say that Koontz cannot write a child to save his life. Fric was not great and I hated his name too (I already said that, but going to bring it up again.)
The ending was dancing towards absurdity. I guessed what was going on with Dunny and Typhon and I just rolled my eyes a thousand times.
January 25, 2009
I actually wound up reading this book because I got snowed in one day and needed something to do, and it was one of the only books on the premises I hadn't read. Since the story sounded intriguing, I gave it a go, and spent the next couple of weeks on the edge of my seat.
If there's one thing Dean Koontz is good at, in my mind, it's psychological writing. Odd Thomas being his only other book I can recall reading, I guess I'd also have to add supernatural to that, as both books have elements of it. This time, our tale revolves around an actor, the Face, his son, often left to his own devices, and the head of security of the estate, whose childhood best friend has recently died.
As Fric, the Face's son, begins getting calls from a man he dubs "Mystery Caller," to a number where *69 only results in animal breathing, and Ethan, the head of security, stumbles through mind-blowing experiences (I don't want to ruin it for you), you can't help but be dragged in.
I don't recommend this for reading before bedtime, as it can lead to some very strange dreams, but if you like fast-paced psychological thrillers, this is definitely one to look into. With twists at every turn, you'll be left hoping and wishing but not knowing how the heroes will survive the day.
If there's one thing Dean Koontz is good at, in my mind, it's psychological writing. Odd Thomas being his only other book I can recall reading, I guess I'd also have to add supernatural to that, as both books have elements of it. This time, our tale revolves around an actor, the Face, his son, often left to his own devices, and the head of security of the estate, whose childhood best friend has recently died.
As Fric, the Face's son, begins getting calls from a man he dubs "Mystery Caller," to a number where *69 only results in animal breathing, and Ethan, the head of security, stumbles through mind-blowing experiences (I don't want to ruin it for you), you can't help but be dragged in.
I don't recommend this for reading before bedtime, as it can lead to some very strange dreams, but if you like fast-paced psychological thrillers, this is definitely one to look into. With twists at every turn, you'll be left hoping and wishing but not knowing how the heroes will survive the day.
May 30, 2022
The Face isn't one of Koontz's best known or best regarded novels, but it's certainly an entertaining and suspenseful story. It has a varied cast of revolving viewpoint characters and the story centers on the planned kidnapping of a young boy who thankfully is being looked over by a guardian angel. Koontz makes some pithy and interesting observations about California celebrity lifestyles and how perception helps to shape individual reality... he may tend to go on a bit too long at times for some readers' patience, but I enjoy his playful prose. Not his best, but an enjoyable read.
February 17, 2015
A friend of mine lent this book to me last year. I had heard a lot about Dean Koontz and I wanted to give his books a try. However, on reading around 40 pages or so, I realized that I should have spent my time doing something better instead- such as watching paint dry. Yes, it was that boring. I gave up on this book until I picked it up a month later. I never leave books half-read (even if that book is total crap).
I finally completed it two weeks later, so in my opinion, it's not a page turner (or maybe it is, since you keep on turning the pages to see how much more you have to endure). Here is what I think about it:
As far as the writing is concerned, I liked the way the author describes the various scenarios. I believe the author is pretty good at descriptive writing. The situations made sense and at times, I could feel the words come to life around me (not in a creepy Inkheart kind of way, of course). Dean Koontz is pretty imaginative too, I'll have to give him that. A few of the dialogues stayed with me after I had completed the novel. This is the only reason why I'm giving it 3 stars against my better judgement. You can see this for yourself:
or
Now moving on to the characterization, there were TOO many characters . It was very hard for the readers to keep track of all the characters. A few characters who had great potential were killed off after playing a minor role in the novel. But of course, I can excuse that because the same thing happens in real life. Coming back to the point though, I liked the way our antagonist: Corky Laputa was portrayed. He was an anarchist and his actions clearly reflected his philosophies.
I expected him to look like that:
Good looking on the surface but evil underneath.
I liked Ethan Truman's character as well. He was indeed a True man-true to his philosophies (no pun intended). The Face's son Fric was smart as well as adorable. His part had been wonderfully written. He was one of the most likable characters in the book. The other characters such as the had been vaguely described. It seemed as if a few of them were written merely in order to increase the length of the book.
Let's get to the most important part now- the plot. I loved the secret messages idea although it has probably been used a gazillion times before (I know, I exaggerate things sometimes). However, it's always fun to decipher secret messages. It's good when the author leaves clues for the readers to solve. However, in this book, the reader could possibly never have solved the mystery. Even the protagonist couldn't do it until he .
It basically centered around Fric though, The Face's son whose life was in danger. It had very few twists. The helicopter flying machine part in the last hundred or so pages was rather unbelievable.
I won't spend much time describing the plot of the book because it is supposed to be a thriller. Find out for yourself!
All in all, the book left me with a mixed feeling. It could have been much better. The supernatural elements introduced in the book were not plausibly explained. I'd give it 2 stars if not for Fric and the writing.
Will I recommend it to you? Yes, if you are a fan of Dean Koontz.
No, if you do not wish to waste your time reading 600 pages of nothing.
I finally completed it two weeks later, so in my opinion, it's not a page turner (or maybe it is, since you keep on turning the pages to see how much more you have to endure). Here is what I think about it:
As far as the writing is concerned, I liked the way the author describes the various scenarios. I believe the author is pretty good at descriptive writing. The situations made sense and at times, I could feel the words come to life around me (not in a creepy Inkheart kind of way, of course). Dean Koontz is pretty imaginative too, I'll have to give him that. A few of the dialogues stayed with me after I had completed the novel. This is the only reason why I'm giving it 3 stars against my better judgement. You can see this for yourself:
“.......She said you need to eat well, say prayers without fail each morning and night, and avoid drinking strong spirits."
"One problem. Drinking strong spirits is how I pray.”
or
... and she had worn bitterness as though it were a crown.
Now moving on to the characterization, there were TOO many characters . It was very hard for the readers to keep track of all the characters. A few characters who had great potential were killed off after playing a minor role in the novel. But of course, I can excuse that because the same thing happens in real life. Coming back to the point though, I liked the way our antagonist: Corky Laputa was portrayed. He was an anarchist and his actions clearly reflected his philosophies.
I expected him to look like that:
Good looking on the surface but evil underneath.
I liked Ethan Truman's character as well. He was indeed a True man-true to his philosophies (no pun intended). The Face's son Fric was smart as well as adorable. His part had been wonderfully written. He was one of the most likable characters in the book. The other characters such as the had been vaguely described. It seemed as if a few of them were written merely in order to increase the length of the book.
Let's get to the most important part now- the plot. I loved the secret messages idea although it has probably been used a gazillion times before (I know, I exaggerate things sometimes). However, it's always fun to decipher secret messages. It's good when the author leaves clues for the readers to solve. However, in this book, the reader could possibly never have solved the mystery. Even the protagonist couldn't do it until he .
It basically centered around Fric though, The Face's son whose life was in danger. It had very few twists. The
I won't spend much time describing the plot of the book because it is supposed to be a thriller. Find out for yourself!
All in all, the book left me with a mixed feeling. It could have been much better. The supernatural elements introduced in the book were not plausibly explained. I'd give it 2 stars if not for Fric and the writing.
Will I recommend it to you? Yes, if you are a fan of Dean Koontz.
No, if you do not wish to waste your time reading 600 pages of nothing.
August 21, 2018
Ένα νερόβραστο θρίλερ, στο οποίο ο Τζόκερ (του Dark Knight) από τα Λιντλ κερνάει σε παιδάκια καραμέλες με LSD, βουλώνει δημόσιες τουαλέτες και προσπαθεί να απαγάγει τον γιο του Τομ Κρουζ. Όλα αυτά για να κάνει το δυτικό πολιτισμό να καταρρεύσει.
Στο ενδιάμεσο ένας κακομοίρης σωματοφύλλακας του μικρού προσπαθεί να τον σταματήσει ενώ συμβαίνουν διάφορα περίεργα, γιατί
Προσπεράστε...
Στο ενδιάμεσο ένας κακομοίρης σωματοφύλλακας του μικρού προσπαθεί να τον σταματήσει ενώ συμβαίνουν διάφορα περίεργα, γιατί
Προσπεράστε...
May 20, 2013
What's not to like? I won't get into the story itself, it can be read elsewhere, but come on!! The descriptions, the plotlines, the characters, the riddles, everything. This has to be The Masterpiece of Dean Koontz's career thus far. This is a perfect story, almost as perfect as they come, it even outdoes my faves such as 'Whispers', 'Intensity', 'Sole Survivor' and 'From the Corner of His Eye'. To those of you who didn't even get through half of the book: Give it another chance!! This is perfection.
What's not to understand? True, the lead character, Ethan Truman, gets killed off in chapter two and is back in chapter three, but if you guys'n'gals just hang in there, by the end it will make perfectly sense, and if you don't get touched and aren't filled with hope and joy when the last page is turned, then I dare say that your heart is made of stone. And yes, there is a large cast, but not as large as in, say, 'Strangers' or 'From the Corner of His Eye'.
This is a darn good novel; it has everything, love, horror, terror, hope, redemption...and in spite of the 600+ pages it is a fast read, immensely gripping, and not easily forgotten (but I'm also one of those guys who found that 'Mulholland Drive' has lots of meaning, and who never have found a movie going by so quickly).
Highly, highly, highly recommended.
What's not to understand? True, the lead character, Ethan Truman, gets killed off in chapter two and is back in chapter three, but if you guys'n'gals just hang in there, by the end it will make perfectly sense, and if you don't get touched and aren't filled with hope and joy when the last page is turned, then I dare say that your heart is made of stone. And yes, there is a large cast, but not as large as in, say, 'Strangers' or 'From the Corner of His Eye'.
This is a darn good novel; it has everything, love, horror, terror, hope, redemption...and in spite of the 600+ pages it is a fast read, immensely gripping, and not easily forgotten (but I'm also one of those guys who found that 'Mulholland Drive' has lots of meaning, and who never have found a movie going by so quickly).
Highly, highly, highly recommended.
May 2, 2019
** Second Read Febrary 1, 2016 - KoontzLand group **
The 6 black boxes found and mentioned in the plot contain: Corky's ladybugs, snails, foreskins, scrabble tiles, guide dog book and Fric's "the eye in the apple".** First Read September 1, 2015 **
The theme is a boy, "Fric" Manheim (10) being chased/haunted by a sick killer/kidnapper, Vladimir "Corky" Laputa, with Ethan Truman (x-cop) & Hazard Yancy (homicide) protecting "Fric" in his Bel-Air home. (I was surprised to Fric's rich dad, Channing was the book's title "The Face"?). Fric gets phone calls with no one on the phone line & when he dials *69, only hears breathing. Ethan gets 6 black boxes with messages from a "ghost" (Ethan's dead childhood mobster friend "Dunny" Eugene Whistler) that will be hard for you to figure out. Corky is a major character chasing Fric, staving a professor who has clues & killing others. The destiny of "Dunny" as a ghost, elevator & heaven is nice. The end with Hazard & "Corky" is not a surprise. The book will keep you interested with mystery of black boxes, the phone calls and then Corky's crazy mind.
May 31, 2016
This is one of my favorite Koontz books and I'm glad I took the time to squeeze it in right now. It's also one of the ones that is an example of how often his books are misshelved! He hardly ever writes horror these days and his books are more often a blend of the fantasy/mystery that he writes in this one.
We have a series of mysterious happenings in this one, from Ethan experiencing his own death, to somebody who pulls himself out of mirrors, to a body that goes missing at the morgue. But beneath, around, above, and all through are the usual comfort moods I get from Koontz: Hope, love, mystery, and wonder. In this one we also have a 10 year old boy that's very lonely. I love the way that Koontz writes kids anyway, and the lonely ones are some of the best. He's a special boy and Koontz treats him with a slightly indulgent affection that is especially charming.
This was my fifth or sixth read and first listen. The narrator did an excellent job.
We have a series of mysterious happenings in this one, from Ethan experiencing his own death, to somebody who pulls himself out of mirrors, to a body that goes missing at the morgue. But beneath, around, above, and all through are the usual comfort moods I get from Koontz: Hope, love, mystery, and wonder. In this one we also have a 10 year old boy that's very lonely. I love the way that Koontz writes kids anyway, and the lonely ones are some of the best. He's a special boy and Koontz treats him with a slightly indulgent affection that is especially charming.
This was my fifth or sixth read and first listen. The narrator did an excellent job.
April 4, 2009
I am a Dean Koontz fan who has enjoyed some great books but this book did nothing for me. A 2-star "it was ok" is all I can give this book. It has some entertaining parts which is why I gave it more than one star. I enjoyed the last 40 pages the most as the story came to a powerful close which many Koontz books do. You can call this book a "mock-thriller" or a voyage of half-baked characters but I just call this book kind of boring. I am still a Koontz fan and I have a lot of his catalog to read but I think I will take a break from his books for a little while after this one.
October 12, 2019
I thought this book was good
May 7, 2017
This book is a long and boring saga of an unbelievable villain trying to kidnap a stupid and irritating child for no reason and a guardian angel who is pulled into the picture, again for no reason, and a security guard who tries to save the situation. in addition to the lack of plot motivation or anything else, this book is very badly researched and shows a false depiction of life and politics.
For a start, anarchism. Really Koontz, it takes five minutes to look it up on Wikipedia. It is many things in the political sense but what it most emphatically is not is people actually trying to spread chaos by distributing drugs to children, fostering fights between neighbours or kidnapping people and creating panic by means of torture. Nor is it advocacy of rape, murder, adultery or whatever. There is a name for these activities – terrorism. Five minutes, Koontz. That’s all it takes! The ‘anarchist’ villain bent on spreading chaos and murder and mayhem in the world also has a network of contacts and wealthy millionaires willing to spend money and time on covering his tracks because – anarchy! This is the most uneducated depiction of any political ideology I have read in a long time, especially unbelievable in what is supposed to be a thriller novel!
Then we come to the sly racism stuff that got inserted in while no one was looking. Quoting: Indeed he didn’t know anyone who entertained racist sentiments. People existed, however, who believed that closet racists were everywhere around them. they needed to believe this in order to have purpose and meaning in their lives, and to have someone to hate. Bravo, Koontz! Racism isn’t real, it’s imaginary and thought up by people who don’t have purpose and meaning. Isn’t that soothing now?
I don’t want to take up any more space of this review talking about what kind of nasty bigotry has made it into the novel, so let’s proceed to the actual story, which was basically 700 pages of absolutely NOTHING. There are far too many characters with too many storylines going all over the place. There is zero character development and I really don’t care what happens to whom. The story picks up once in a while and just when you think it’s going to be interesting, it fizzles off again. I would sort of get interested in something but the scene would end quickly and shift to some other boring thing. There are pages and pages and pages of absolutely nothing interesting happening. The entire book could have been cut down one third its length.
The book is composed of very small chapters and with each chapter shifts to a different viewpoint. My pet peeve makes it into this book as well - it is full of repetitions. Personality traits were hammered into your head by mentioning them again and again in every chapter dealing with that character. It was intensely annoying. Another annoying thing about the writing was that it was fluffed up with unnecessary sentences, paragraphs on random and irrelevant thoughts. Pages and pages of people thinking this and that and in the end, no actual result. Completely meaningless and infuriating when all you are reading over three chapters is a boy taking sandwiches from the kitchen to his hiding place. Seriously, how long can that possibly take?
The villain was unbelievable. He could have been exciting and interesting as a psychopath who worked for himself but as a member of an ‘anarchist’ movement, he completely failed. The entire elaborate scheme for kidnapping a child and performing multiple murders just to get his hands on one single boy for no purpose is senseless. There was no reason to kidnap this particular child if the purpose was just to torture or publicity. Anyone would have done. Instead, the villain indulged in a long winded plan with all sorts of people sponsoring and abetting him and then kills a lot of people to cover his tracks. AND ALL FOR NOTHING! The purported victim was annoying. Somebody just put the kid in school already! The security manager, Ethan, was perhaps the only slightly interesting character but his story was boring. Dunny, the angel, gets a good start but fades away.
I can’t believe I sat through seven hundred pages of this snooze fest when I could actually have been watching paint dry or something.
PS: If I ever read the word ‘chaos’ again, I will scream. Loudly.
For a start, anarchism. Really Koontz, it takes five minutes to look it up on Wikipedia. It is many things in the political sense but what it most emphatically is not is people actually trying to spread chaos by distributing drugs to children, fostering fights between neighbours or kidnapping people and creating panic by means of torture. Nor is it advocacy of rape, murder, adultery or whatever. There is a name for these activities – terrorism. Five minutes, Koontz. That’s all it takes! The ‘anarchist’ villain bent on spreading chaos and murder and mayhem in the world also has a network of contacts and wealthy millionaires willing to spend money and time on covering his tracks because – anarchy! This is the most uneducated depiction of any political ideology I have read in a long time, especially unbelievable in what is supposed to be a thriller novel!
Then we come to the sly racism stuff that got inserted in while no one was looking. Quoting: Indeed he didn’t know anyone who entertained racist sentiments. People existed, however, who believed that closet racists were everywhere around them. they needed to believe this in order to have purpose and meaning in their lives, and to have someone to hate. Bravo, Koontz! Racism isn’t real, it’s imaginary and thought up by people who don’t have purpose and meaning. Isn’t that soothing now?
I don’t want to take up any more space of this review talking about what kind of nasty bigotry has made it into the novel, so let’s proceed to the actual story, which was basically 700 pages of absolutely NOTHING. There are far too many characters with too many storylines going all over the place. There is zero character development and I really don’t care what happens to whom. The story picks up once in a while and just when you think it’s going to be interesting, it fizzles off again. I would sort of get interested in something but the scene would end quickly and shift to some other boring thing. There are pages and pages and pages of absolutely nothing interesting happening. The entire book could have been cut down one third its length.
The book is composed of very small chapters and with each chapter shifts to a different viewpoint. My pet peeve makes it into this book as well - it is full of repetitions. Personality traits were hammered into your head by mentioning them again and again in every chapter dealing with that character. It was intensely annoying. Another annoying thing about the writing was that it was fluffed up with unnecessary sentences, paragraphs on random and irrelevant thoughts. Pages and pages of people thinking this and that and in the end, no actual result. Completely meaningless and infuriating when all you are reading over three chapters is a boy taking sandwiches from the kitchen to his hiding place. Seriously, how long can that possibly take?
The villain was unbelievable. He could have been exciting and interesting as a psychopath who worked for himself but as a member of an ‘anarchist’ movement, he completely failed. The entire elaborate scheme for kidnapping a child and performing multiple murders just to get his hands on one single boy for no purpose is senseless. There was no reason to kidnap this particular child if the purpose was just to torture or publicity. Anyone would have done. Instead, the villain indulged in a long winded plan with all sorts of people sponsoring and abetting him and then kills a lot of people to cover his tracks. AND ALL FOR NOTHING! The purported victim was annoying. Somebody just put the kid in school already! The security manager, Ethan, was perhaps the only slightly interesting character but his story was boring. Dunny, the angel, gets a good start but fades away.
I can’t believe I sat through seven hundred pages of this snooze fest when I could actually have been watching paint dry or something.
PS: If I ever read the word ‘chaos’ again, I will scream. Loudly.
October 21, 2018
Dean Koontz-Yüz
Uzun zamandır Dean Koontz okumuyordum. Açıkçası Dean Koontz’u King kadar sevmesemde ve çoğunlukla ders veren didaktik yönünü ve mutlu sonlarını sevmesemde hakkını vermeliyim ki kitapları oldukça sürükleyici, gerilimi çok iyi verebilen ve orijinal konularıyla okumaktan vazgeçemediğim bir yazar. Bu kitabı da nispeten iyi diyebileceğim kitaplarından biri. Gizem-gerilim-macera türünde bir kitap. 566 sayfa değil de 400 sayfa olsaymış ve sonundaki çatışma sahneleri daha ayrıntılı ve güzel işlenebilseymiş herkese rahatlıkla önerebilirdim. Bu haliyle ise meraklılarına öneriyorum sadece.
Uzun zamandır Dean Koontz okumuyordum. Açıkçası Dean Koontz’u King kadar sevmesemde ve çoğunlukla ders veren didaktik yönünü ve mutlu sonlarını sevmesemde hakkını vermeliyim ki kitapları oldukça sürükleyici, gerilimi çok iyi verebilen ve orijinal konularıyla okumaktan vazgeçemediğim bir yazar. Bu kitabı da nispeten iyi diyebileceğim kitaplarından biri. Gizem-gerilim-macera türünde bir kitap. 566 sayfa değil de 400 sayfa olsaymış ve sonundaki çatışma sahneleri daha ayrıntılı ve güzel işlenebilseymiş herkese rahatlıkla önerebilirdim. Bu haliyle ise meraklılarına öneriyorum sadece.
February 19, 2011
Oh man, this was SO good! So well written, so intense, and it had a bit of supernaturality that i thought was great. I didn't think I would like this, but I got wrapped into it quickly. This is a book that could be a bit confusing if you aren't really paying attention to what you are reading, and it's a bit long (it's 650 pages!) but it's totally worth reading. The last couple hundred pages are extremely good, I read through 2 classes, I was so wrapped into it. The plot is very well thought out. Dean Koontz is a very excellent writer, and he creates very intense books. The characters were very well thought out. I enjoyed Corky, even though he was the bad guy, but he was an extremely smart guy. And Ethan and Fric were pretty awesome too. even though Fric was the son of Manheim, Fric should have been Ethan's son. Ethan could have been such a cool dad. It would have been better for him. Hazard Yancy seems like a pretty fun guys to go hang out with, if you ever wanted to go hang out with a big, burly cop. :)
This is a great mystery book, if anyone is looking for a mystery book to read for the Great 20 Challenge.
This is a great mystery book, if anyone is looking for a mystery book to read for the Great 20 Challenge.
October 15, 2022
Not really thrilling but refreshingly suspenseful. This is one of the best Koontz novels I've read in quite some time.
July 20, 2022
Nu am citi multe romane ale lui Dean Koontz, dar pot spune cu certitudine că acesta se numără printre cele mai bune cărți citite de mine în ultimul timp, printre cele mai enigmatice și labirintice volume scrise vreodată. Koontz a re un talent fenomenal de a transforma orice obiect banal într-un simbol, într-un detaliu capital ce poate schimba definitiv cursul poveștii. Dar, de fapt, cred că cel mai mare talent al său este modul în care creează personaje și situații extraordinare, cum ar fi o cale de comunicare între lumea viilor și cea a morților, în care îngerii păzitori nu vin chiar din rai, iar acțiunile lor nu sunt tocmai rodul învoielii cu Dumnezeu.
În romanul de față, oglinda are un rol esențial. Orice suprafață strălucitoare, un glob de crăciun, un geam, o baltă, un colier etc, poate deveni o oglindă, o poartă spre dincolo, o cale spre necunoscutul lumii spiritelor. Mi se pare de-a dreptul impresionant cum leagă o miză polițistă de una aproape horror. Elementele mitologice, religioase și culturale se împletesc într-o pânză de păianjen plină de referințe și trimiteri ucigătoare, ceea ce transformă cartea de față într-o poveste inteligentă, plină de capcane în care poate cădea cititorul naiv. Nimic nu e ceea ce pare, nicio lume nu e stabilă și toate structurile cândva stabile se destramă. Totul devine un caleidoscop în care nu există o imagine corectă sau greșită.
Am dat peste câteva personaje memorabile, care au preschimbat cartea într-o capodoperă, însă dacă aș spune ceva despre ele, ar însemna să vă dau un spoiler imens. Pot spune doar că protagonistul nu se numără printre ele. El e un om simplu, cât se poate de neinteresant, cu un trecut care-l bântuie și un prezent plin de fantome, la propriu. Au fost și câteva momente în care am vrut să renunț la carte, în special pentru ritm lent al acțiunii și insistența asupra detaliilor ce păreau nesemnificative. Dar am învățat că la Koontz nimic nu e degeaba și întâmplător, nici măcar îngerașii din brad sau un palmier în ghiveci. Una peste alta mă bucur că nu am renunțat la lectură, și, chiar dacă este o carte mai veche și probabil mulți ați citit-o deja, eu o recomand din tot sufletul ca pe o provocare.
În romanul de față, oglinda are un rol esențial. Orice suprafață strălucitoare, un glob de crăciun, un geam, o baltă, un colier etc, poate deveni o oglindă, o poartă spre dincolo, o cale spre necunoscutul lumii spiritelor. Mi se pare de-a dreptul impresionant cum leagă o miză polițistă de una aproape horror. Elementele mitologice, religioase și culturale se împletesc într-o pânză de păianjen plină de referințe și trimiteri ucigătoare, ceea ce transformă cartea de față într-o poveste inteligentă, plină de capcane în care poate cădea cititorul naiv. Nimic nu e ceea ce pare, nicio lume nu e stabilă și toate structurile cândva stabile se destramă. Totul devine un caleidoscop în care nu există o imagine corectă sau greșită.
Am dat peste câteva personaje memorabile, care au preschimbat cartea într-o capodoperă, însă dacă aș spune ceva despre ele, ar însemna să vă dau un spoiler imens. Pot spune doar că protagonistul nu se numără printre ele. El e un om simplu, cât se poate de neinteresant, cu un trecut care-l bântuie și un prezent plin de fantome, la propriu. Au fost și câteva momente în care am vrut să renunț la carte, în special pentru ritm lent al acțiunii și insistența asupra detaliilor ce păreau nesemnificative. Dar am învățat că la Koontz nimic nu e degeaba și întâmplător, nici măcar îngerașii din brad sau un palmier în ghiveci. Una peste alta mă bucur că nu am renunțat la lectură, și, chiar dacă este o carte mai veche și probabil mulți ați citit-o deja, eu o recomand din tot sufletul ca pe o provocare.
December 13, 2009
This is a page-turner of a novel that I would be somewhat embarrassed to recommend to my friends, and considering some of the books that I recommend, that's saying something. But I have to admit that I did enjoy it. I was drawn to some of the vividly-portrayed characters, particularly the son of the famous actor whose life is in jeopardy, and the author managed to have me breezing through chapters to discover their fates.
On the negative side, I had to breeze through chapters too rapidly to make this a satisfying read. The book is bloated with excessive descriptive passages that didn't enhance the story for me, so I did a lot of skimming. Also, the anarchist villain didn't seem all that scary, though some of his actions were heinous.
It has been a long time since I read a Dean Koontz novel, but the themes of this one were instantly-recognizable: the virtues of faith over disbelief, the evil of philosophies not of the religious variety, the moral degeneracy of academics. Koontz seems to have had a chip glued onto his shoulder long ago by some despised English professor with a distaste for religion. What shines in his novels, however, is the humanity of his protagonists, not anything particularly attributable to belief in that for which there is little evidence. The novel would be stronger if he stripped it of the more overt moralizing and let the characters actions speak for themselves.
On the negative side, I had to breeze through chapters too rapidly to make this a satisfying read. The book is bloated with excessive descriptive passages that didn't enhance the story for me, so I did a lot of skimming. Also, the anarchist villain didn't seem all that scary, though some of his actions were heinous.
It has been a long time since I read a Dean Koontz novel, but the themes of this one were instantly-recognizable: the virtues of faith over disbelief, the evil of philosophies not of the religious variety, the moral degeneracy of academics. Koontz seems to have had a chip glued onto his shoulder long ago by some despised English professor with a distaste for religion. What shines in his novels, however, is the humanity of his protagonists, not anything particularly attributable to belief in that for which there is little evidence. The novel would be stronger if he stripped it of the more overt moralizing and let the characters actions speak for themselves.
April 9, 2016
This be magic. If there be no blink, you will have great adventures. If there be no tear shed, you will have a long and happy life. If there be no sleeping of it, you will grow up to be the man you want to be.
This book is filled with riddles. I will admit THE FACE has never been one of my favorites, yet I am intrigued by the mysteriousness of it all. For a similar themed book, try Dean Koontz's What the Night Knows. I will again admit lot liking What the Night Knows on initial reading - but it's growing on me.
My favorite Dean Koontz books? You might ask :-) Here they are (subject to change at anytime):
Life Expectancy
From the Corner of His Eye
By the Light of the Moon
Cold Fire
Relentless
This book is filled with riddles. I will admit THE FACE has never been one of my favorites, yet I am intrigued by the mysteriousness of it all. For a similar themed book, try Dean Koontz's What the Night Knows. I will again admit lot liking What the Night Knows on initial reading - but it's growing on me.
My favorite Dean Koontz books? You might ask :-) Here they are (subject to change at anytime):
Life Expectancy
From the Corner of His Eye
By the Light of the Moon
Cold Fire
Relentless
September 12, 2015
This book took ages to get going, but once it did, it was totally worth the wait.
This is a horror thriller type story with a supernatural plot line, except the supernaturalness is not what is to be feared. That is far more mortal.
It's scary to think that people like Corky exist. I don't understand why someone would be like that, ignoring the big things like murder etc it was the little things that creeped me out the most, that someone would try and ruin things for other people for no good reason.
I loved Ethan and Fric, great characters. I would have liked to have seen how Fric interacted with his father though, Dunny was also a great character. I like his scenes.
The chase was pretty exciting and the ending wasn't have bad considering endings are not Koontz strong points.
This is a horror thriller type story with a supernatural plot line, except the supernaturalness is not what is to be feared. That is far more mortal.
It's scary to think that people like Corky exist. I don't understand why someone would be like that, ignoring the big things like murder etc it was the little things that creeped me out the most, that someone would try and ruin things for other people for no good reason.
I loved Ethan and Fric, great characters. I would have liked to have seen how Fric interacted with his father though, Dunny was also a great character. I like his scenes.
The chase was pretty exciting and the ending wasn't have bad considering endings are not Koontz strong points.
February 18, 2010
I like what has been called "the new" Koontz and this is a good read. (unfortunately a few books lately haven't really been up to Mr. Koontz's other works...I suppose it can happen to anyone). This is an enjoyable read and only misses my "favorites" list by a tiny margine. After all, they can't all be the "favorite".
Fric is a lonely young man "imprisoned" in extreme comfort, given practically any and everything he wants...so far as "things" are concerned, by his father's fame. Fric's father "The Face" an incredibly good looking celebrity has no idea how bad things are getting on the "super-natural" front.
Good novel.
Fric is a lonely young man "imprisoned" in extreme comfort, given practically any and everything he wants...so far as "things" are concerned, by his father's fame. Fric's father "The Face" an incredibly good looking celebrity has no idea how bad things are getting on the "super-natural" front.
Good novel.
May 28, 2018
This is the worst Koontz book I have ever read. I think it's not going anywhere and I feel like I have read the same thing over and over. This is a terrible book. Three years in the making. I am not going to finish it. It's that bad.
September 19, 2008
Listened to this- 16 CD's! But this is a good one! - and no Golden Retrievers! (well, just a cameo with a dog from another book)
May 23, 2012
This was the first Koontz novel I ever read and I still hold it as one of my favorites! What a crazy tale! You gotta love the supernatural!
Read
October 4, 2016Will finish it later
February 14, 2010
The Face is Hollywood’s biggest star, and as such it isn’t unusual for fans to send him gifts- and death threats- in the mail. Ethan Truman, The Face’s Chief-of-security and burned out ex-cop, is worried. The Face has been sent a series of strange riddles (the latest of which is gruesomely physical, a doll’s eye inserted into a hollowed out apple) and Ethan knows whoever is behind them isn’t the average admirer. He has his work cut out for him as Fric, The Face’s 10-year-old son, begins receiving eerie phone calls from “Moloch, the devourer of children.” He tells Fric that must find a hiding place in his father’s mansion- somewhere that no one will ever find him- because the ‘beast in yellow’ is coming.
Unlike most thrillers, the antagonist in The Face is not at all mysterious. Koontz introduces Corky Laputa, the ‘beast in yellow’ that Fric is warned about, early on in the novel and explains his motivations and actions. Fascinatingly, Corky is a lethal combination of cheerfulness, pessimism, and insanity. He is a strangely amusing character who is dedicated to causing chaos and destruction; the first time we meet Corky he is wearing a bright yellow raincoat, singing “Singin in the Rain”, and spreading poison amongst a neighbourhood’s flowerbeds.
The heart of the novel is the growing relationship between Ethan and Fric. Both are on the point of loneliness and despair; Ethan is mourning the death of his wife, while Fric has spent his entire life being ignored by his actor father (‘Ghost Dad’), and his supermodel mother (‘Nominal Mom’). Ethan and Fric’s relationship is a realistic portrayal of a man and boy who are both in pain and need love and affection, without becoming cheesy or lovey-dovey. What greatly aids this is the realistic characterisation of the main characters, especially that of Fric. He could easily have come across as annoying or spoiled, but instead he is funny, precocious, and incredibly vulnerable.
The structure and story beats of The Face are pure thriller, yet the strong psychological horror and supernatural streaks are initially surprising. Although it starts slowly, the tension is built up until it is nearly unbearable and the pace picks up in the second half, racing towards the startling conclusion. Dean Koontz is repeatedly referred to on the covers of his novels as ‘the master of our darkest dreams.’ With The Face he certainly lives up to the title.
Unlike most thrillers, the antagonist in The Face is not at all mysterious. Koontz introduces Corky Laputa, the ‘beast in yellow’ that Fric is warned about, early on in the novel and explains his motivations and actions. Fascinatingly, Corky is a lethal combination of cheerfulness, pessimism, and insanity. He is a strangely amusing character who is dedicated to causing chaos and destruction; the first time we meet Corky he is wearing a bright yellow raincoat, singing “Singin in the Rain”, and spreading poison amongst a neighbourhood’s flowerbeds.
The heart of the novel is the growing relationship between Ethan and Fric. Both are on the point of loneliness and despair; Ethan is mourning the death of his wife, while Fric has spent his entire life being ignored by his actor father (‘Ghost Dad’), and his supermodel mother (‘Nominal Mom’). Ethan and Fric’s relationship is a realistic portrayal of a man and boy who are both in pain and need love and affection, without becoming cheesy or lovey-dovey. What greatly aids this is the realistic characterisation of the main characters, especially that of Fric. He could easily have come across as annoying or spoiled, but instead he is funny, precocious, and incredibly vulnerable.
The structure and story beats of The Face are pure thriller, yet the strong psychological horror and supernatural streaks are initially surprising. Although it starts slowly, the tension is built up until it is nearly unbearable and the pace picks up in the second half, racing towards the startling conclusion. Dean Koontz is repeatedly referred to on the covers of his novels as ‘the master of our darkest dreams.’ With The Face he certainly lives up to the title.
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