Nameless: Season One

Nameless: Season One #1-6

by Dean Koontz

If our memories make us who we are, who is a man without any? Nameless has only a gun, missions from a shadowy agency, and one dead aim: dispense justice when the law fails. As he moves from town to town, driven by splintered visions of the past and future, he's headed toward the ultimate confrontation in this propulsive series of short thrillers by number one New York Times best-selling author Dean Koontz.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Audiobook, Crime, Fiction, Suspense, Short Stories

347 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2019

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

[Raine McLeod · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick listen that I found repetitive but fine. They feel like chapters rather than stories, but there are no reveals or any development. Like, vignettes, but with no beginning, a sort of middle, and not really an end.

[MJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nameless: Season 1 - 2 stars - 8/29/23
Nameless: Season 2 - 2 stars - 9/17/23

[Jay Clement · Rating 4 out of 5]

70-2022. Solid set of vigilante justice sorts of novellas. Our guy Nameless goes around the country and rights some serious wrongs. Some mayhem, but the bad guys get what’s coming to them.

[Mike Marsbergen · Rating 4 out of 5]

NAMELESS: SEASON ONE was Dean Koontz's first plunge into the Amazon Original Stories program. It was 2019, and he'd just moved from his longtime traditional publisher to the industry disruptor, Amazon Publishing—a real shock, and a huge win for Amazon. Securing Dean among their stable of authors added a sense of legitimacy to their publishing division.

NAMELESS follows an amnesiac character by the same non-name. Employed by a shadowy yet altruistic agency, each story in this six-part collection sees him travelling the country with a new mission and a new target, guided by fractured visions of the future and the past. When the law fails, Nameless brings justice.

The stories are almost entirely standalone pieces, best enjoyed individually, with enough time to digest what you've read in between. I listened to the audiobook version, often while doing the dishes or other random tasks. Dean's knack for characterization, and the narrative voice he uses in this latter period of his writing life, shine through with every carefully crafted sentence and inventive simile. Many times I had to pause after listening to a chapter and say to myself, "Damn, can this dude write!"

I didn't get totally consumed by every story in here, but I did really enjoy most of them. The ending was compelling, so I'm excited to see what revelations Nameless has in season two.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

[PizzaVenkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was feeling nostalgic for Koontz because I, like many other 90’s kids, grew up reading Goosebumps. The best analogy of Koontz books I’ve ever heard is “Adult Goosebumps.” I was feeling nostalgic for his Frankenstein and Odd Thomas books. Having a well written series in the supernatural or horror genre always draws me. Seeing the Good Reads reviews were fairly positive, I decided that with how easily consumed the stories could be, I’d at least give the series a chance. I’m happy I did. I know Koontz writing can be formulaic, but it’s still very well done and he writes great stories when you’re in the mood for this formula.

I am disappointed there’s not a physical copy that collects each “season,” but being that my Prime subscription nets me these “free” high quality stories, I don’t have much to complain about. The stories remind me very much of the Apple TV+ show, Sugar. Sugar is a slow burn with a sci-fi twist. The private investigator and preternatural seasoning are very interesting in both and I don’t want to go on, less I turn my review into a comparison of the two. Definitely recommend checking these out if you are in need of something with a thriller/preternatural flavor.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of six shorter works from DK. I’ve not been a huge fan of his writing for the last ~15 years, so this is a welcome surprise.

The novella format suits Koontz. If he was given a page count or word limit—it worked. Succinct and impactful, yet unmistakably DK.

Our MC, known to us only as Nameless, is an outside-the-law arm of justice. He helps those who have fallen through the cracks of our legal and political systems.

Weakest: Tough call, actually, but it’s gotta be Preying Mantis Bride. The titular character could use a bit more than she gets.

Strongest: The Mercy of Snakes. Best use of POV switches. Villains are accessible and relatable (read: not archetypal). Pace and flow are essentially pitch perfect. Among his most balanced novellas ever.

[Tanya Patrice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read each short story indiviaually back to back, but this makes it very repetitive. The stories themselves are simple, formulaic, as is the reminder in every story that Nameless doesn't remember his prior to the last 2 years, and suspects he wants it like that; that he's dealing out justice (or retribution) on behalf of an organization he knows nothing about. The story follows the formula of tracking down the bad guys and then ending them. Each one stands alone and is quick and interesting for what it is - not too much back story, and for once the bad guys get ended and we don't have to wonder if it will happen. But, this does make each story a bit blunt, and again, formulaic.

[Pat Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lazy effort n’y an otherwise good author. Covers his specialization of clear good and evil, but without nuance or even much interesting to grab onto. I enjoy Koontz, but he really oversimplifies here. He could have boomed the books into a paragraph: you can’t trust the governmental justice system because the rich can buy their way out of it. So, a.benevolent rich guy should take matters into his own hands. A star chamber without the normal nuance of meting out justice then finding you screwed up. Read Odd Thomas instead

[Paul Friesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a ride. This is the first 6 stories of man named Nameless. A vigilante for truth. Very much worth the read. As stand alone stories, some stories are better than others. As a whole story. Very enjoyable ride.

[Jean-Sebastien -B- · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good... but nothing more then good a true rating should be 3.5/5. The writings was really good. But the stories was missing something. . Was not a bad read either so I recomand this book.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm very happy this is becoming a TV series.

[Mary Tarro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Formula with slight variations in “episodes” and repetitive in explanation of lead character’s backstory.

[Bruce S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting, suspenseful and just a good read. Dean Koontz is a great writer. I thoroughly enjoyed the 6 book series and wish it had been a 12 book series.

[SpookySoto · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Lisa Gusewelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

These were fun, satisfying, and quick reads with mystery, supernatural, action, and adventure. Overall, these are very wholesome.

[Rumfuddle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very enjoyable, the D.R.K that I've ben reading since childhood.

[Brittany McPherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read

[Tonya Bryner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed these short stories written like a TV show with different shorter plots but the same characters throughout. I was glad we got to find out about his past in book 6.

[Çağrı Çağlar · Rating 3 out of 5]

One shot boring stories.

Don't know why I keep trying but Dean Koontz is not for me.

His way of writing feels very boring and lackluster for me.