About the Author

Dean Koontz is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 120 novels, which have been published in 38 languages and sold over 500 million copies to date. He lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna.

Reviews

“An extraordinary piece of fiction with unforgettable characters. It will be a classic.”—UPI

“Solid, satisfying, hair-raising...Koontz barely lets the reader come up for air between terrors.”—The Washington Post

“Gripping.”—Los Angeles Times

“A unique spellbinding novel with depth, sensitivity, and personality.”—Boston Herald

More Praise for Dean Koontz

“Dean Koontz is a prose stylist whose lyricism heightens malevolence and tension. [He creates] characters of unusual richness and depth.”—The Seattle Times

“Tumbling, hallucinogenic prose....‘Serious’ writers...might do well to examine his technique.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Lyrical writing and compelling characters...Koontz stands alone.”—Associated Press

“In every industry there exist ‘artists’ that are not only unforgettable, but know their craft better than the rest. Dean Koontz...is among these artisans.”—Suspense Magazine

“[Koontz] has always had near-Dickensian powers of description, and an ability to yank us from one page to the next that few novelists can match.”—Los Angeles Times

“Perhaps more than any other author, Koontz writes fiction perfectly suited to the mood of America...novels that acknowledge the reality and tenacity of evil but also the power of good...[and that] entertain vastly as they uplift.”—Publishers Weekly

Koontz ( The Bad Place ) leads us a nice chase for about two-thirds of his latest thriller, after which he sinks into soap opera. Responding to an inexplicable compulsion, ex-schoolteacher Jim Ironheart flies from Southern California to Portland, Ore., where he averts, at the last minute, the accidental death of a schoolboy. Local reporter Holly Thorne, taken with Jim's piercing gaze, sets up a computer search for data on similar rescues. She finds a dozen such cases across the U.S.; every news item mentions a mysterious ``Jim'' with penetrating eyes. As she follows the story of a lifetime, Holly realizes Jim is being guided by some strange Power. Confronting him, she finds he has no idea of the source of the Power. Now in love with Jim, Holly starts sharing his nightmares and abandons the story to help him. Their initially exciting adventures then yield to rather tepid encounters with ``The Friend,'' who may be: an alien on earth for 10,000 years; ``The Enemy'' in disguise; a projection of Jim's hyperkinetic personality; or all of the above. Suspense succumbs to psychobabble, ushering in a predictable ending. Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club main selections; Mystery Guild featured alternate. (Jan.)

"An extraordinary piece of fiction with unforgettable characters. It will be a classic."-UPI

"Solid, satisfying, hair-raising...Koontz barely lets the reader come up for air between terrors."-The Washington Post

"Gripping."-Los Angeles Times

"A unique spellbinding novel with depth, sensitivity, and personality."-Boston Herald

More Praise for Dean Koontz

"Dean Koontz is a prose stylist whose lyricism heightens malevolence and tension. [He creates] characters of unusual richness and depth."-The Seattle Times

"Tumbling, hallucinogenic prose....'Serious' writers...might do well to examine his technique."-The New York Times Book Review

"Lyrical writing and compelling characters...Koontz stands alone."-Associated Press

"In every industry there exist 'artists' that are not only unforgettable, but know their craft better than the rest. Dean Koontz...is among these artisans."-Suspense Magazine

"[Koontz] has always had near-Dickensian powers of description, and an ability to yank us from one page to the next that few novelists can match."-Los Angeles Times

"Perhaps more than any other author, Koontz writes fiction perfectly suited to the mood of America...novels that acknowledge the reality and tenacity of evil but also the power of good...[and that] entertain vastly as they uplift."-Publishers Weekly