I haven't read Dean Koontz since my early twenties, and I remember him as being a contemporary of Stephen King at the time - terror and horror. This novel seems to be more mystery/thriller-ish.

It was a complete impulse purchase while waiting for a haircut yesterday. I've already started it and it has me hooked. Will journal again when read.

I really enjoyed this novel. It was my first foray into Koontz in more than 15 years. It was definitely a more thriller novel than a horror novel although parts of it were horrifying.

Billy, a bartender who killed his parents as a teenager, is being stalked by a killer who is taunting him and playing games with him - forcing him to make horrible choices that lead to the death of innocent people. Billy is determined to confront the killer and save himself from suspicion.

I enjoyed it right up until the last few chapters, then I felt the link between Billy and "the killer" were tenuous at best and seemed to be fabricated to make the story end neatly and not at all "real". Maybe I was expecting more from the build up throughout the novel and it seemed anti-climactic. I will definitely give Koontz's newer stuff a second look though.

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