After the Last Race

by Dean Koontz

After the Last Race

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Crime

297 pages, Hardover

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Acknowledged 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

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the Last Race is one of the novels Koontz wrote early in the 1970s when he was making a conscious effort to escape the "science fiction ghetto." It's a pretty good heist novel with a group of somewhat unlikable characters trying to rip off a horse racing track on sweepstakes day. There's no element of paranormal hijinks or supernatural flumfluxery, but it's a fun and fast-paced caper novel, though now obviously somewhat dated. For fans of Dick Francis rather than Stephen King this time around. (Spoiler--- the last line is "It's bullshit." How much more hard core could you get?)

[MikeR · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Koontz early work, which he doesn't acknowledge in his future novels, as it isn't his typical type of novel. It is still a good "heist" novel following his Mike Tucker series written as Brian Coffey.

A group of 7, lead by Edgar Garrison and his girlfriend, Annie Sherred, along with jockey-like Willie Denver, movie-nut Lou Velinski, a wounded war veteran helicopter pilot Dominick Savestio, psychopath Pat Jessup and Vince Greenfield attempt to hold up Century Oaks Racetrack on Sweepstakes Day where millions of dollars are available for the taking. Very reminescent of "Ocean's Eleven".



Running parallel to the main story are a few sub-plots, Jack Killigan, the general manager of Century Oaks with his alcohol and drug abuse; Henry Cooper, the lead detective of Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau, trying to identify a forger who is stealing thousands by presenting altered winning tickets; a terminally ill man Ely Grimes who is trying to make a bundle of cash to leave to his wife; a horse groom Danny Foxen who is also a pyromaniac. All these sub-plots intersect with the main story line in a typical Koontz style finale.

Though not Koontz's typical work it is still an enjoyable read as Koontz shows very early in his career that he is a masterful storyteller. His characterizations are likeable, the plot twists are excellent, and the thrills are there leading to tense finale. A must read for Koontz fans!

[Jim C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of Koontz's earlier works that you don't even find inside the book cover where it states what books he has written. This is not his typical work either. There is no supernatural element or good vs. evil happenings going on. This is about a group of thieves attempting to rob a horsetrack on its busiest day. This was a decent book. There were parts that were not refined and since it was written many years ago, there are parts that are outdated. But for an early work for an author, this is a good thriller read and I would recommend this if you are a Koontz fan. It was nice to read a different type of book from this author.

[hotsake (André Troesch) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent heist story filled with flawed, unlikable characters.

[Nigel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading Koontz early catalogue is always a leap into the unknown. Prior to starting to read his novels from the beginning I had only really known him as a horror writer (Phantoms, Night Chills etc.) but now I find out he writes across a wide range of genres in addition to horror. This time out it is a crime thriller and focusses on the planned robbery of a race track on what is expected to be one of the busiest days on the calendar. There some minor sub plots going in parallel, including trying to trap a forger who is 'making' their own winning tickets, the problems the boss is having running the track and the plans an arsonist has.
Koontz manages to pull the threads together into a cohesive narrative that has you pulling for the 'bad guys'. In many ways it is nothing more than a slightly above average heist novel, but it is an enjoyable read never the less

[Chelsea]

Audio quality tanked about 1/4 of the way in and couldn’t finish.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

Damn. I should've tried to rob a racetrack back in the 1970s. Security was so much crappier then than now. Of course, I was born in 1969 and so robbing a cookie jar was about as grand as my plans for theft went. However, I wonder how much money I could've gotten away with say if I was six and packed an Uzi.



But ultimately this was not boring but a sloppy book that left many questions about the characters unanswered. Like just what happened to the fucked-up relationship between the track manager and the alcoholic actress? And why was that relationship given so much prominence in the book when it really didn't add much of anything to the novel overall? Was it just an excuse for sex and drug-taking scenes?



And why if you knock over a racetrack you blow the money on buying a racehorse farm right after you are dirt poor? Isn't that kind of a DEAD GIVEAWAY that YOU are the thief? How did these guys NOT get caught?

[Robert Beveridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dean Koontz, After the Last Race (Fawcett Crest, 1974)

Well, if you're going to write genre novels, you might as well cover every genre. This is Koontz' first, and really only, attempt at a straight hardboiled-style thriller. A loose-knit gang of would-be thieves have a plan to hold up a racetrack on a day when there will be at least two million dollars on the premises. Simple, easy to understand, with some nice plot twists and excellent characterization. Koontz takes a jaundiced look at the excesses of the seventies and the excesses of thriller writers like Spillane all in one gulp.

This is one of the longest novels Koontz wrote before becoming a superstar, and one gets the feeling he was testing his expansiveness legs, as it were. Unfortunately, it doesn't work quite as well here as it does in much longer books (e.g. Whispers or The House of Thunder); the first fifty pages, especially, are slow as molasses. Once it picks up, though, it picks up fast.

This may well be the hardest Dean Koontz novel on the planet to find. It's worth searching out, but the prices will probably scare you more than most of his later novels. ***

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. It's nothing too deep, but was captivating nonetheless. I thought the characters were intriguing and likable; and I enjoyed the unexpected softness that came through at the end of the book.

[Lindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really slow. The last 10 or so chapters makes it worth the long wait.

[Neal Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was alright. A bit dated now. But believable characters.

[Rosanne Bartlett]

Too much of a slow reader until the last 5 chapters

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

300 pages of skim worthy, rambling, hate filled nonsense. I had such high hopes, but it's probably the worst book I've read this year.