When outcast Addison catches sight of Gwyneth in a library after hours being pursued by a man, his entire existence shifts as he finally has a friend. Addison has always believed he is hideously disfigured in such a manor that it induces people to react in disgust and violence. Lead by Gwyneth they go on a mission, the implications of which he cannot possibly understand, until the very end.
I thought this horror mystery/suspense thriller was very cleverly told but the narrative was hard to get into for the first third of the book. What initially seems like a simple case of vengeance and overcoming greed morphs into a much more meaningful mission and the supernatural elements were satisfyingly tied up and explained, but a strong belief in monotheism, if not Catholicism, would probably be required for the underlying message to hit home.
I would say this probably is far from the best of Dean Koontz but still an engaging read.
Links To Book:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Goodreads
Having read (and reviewed) this novel, I’d say you pegged it perfectly. Don’t know about the Catholicism bit, but agree that spirituality is involved in the end. ~nan
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Thank you, it was the strong references to original sin that triggered my perception of strong underlying Catholic principles.
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I think H.P. Lovecraft already did this in his classic short story, “The Outsider.”
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And no doubt he did it better. I must start reading more classic books.
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Don’t forget that classic Stephen King knockoff, “Lifeblood.”
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I have Lifeblood sitting on my bedside table. I’m torn between reading it soon or saving it for Halloween. I’m not sure I can wait for Halloween.
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If you get really scared by it, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
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I approach the horror genre at the peril of my peace of mind. The scarier the better.
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