By: Dean Koontz Publisher: Berkley Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Berkley Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 448 Publication Date: July 06, 2004 Release Date: July 06, 2004
Product Description: Frank Pollard is afraid to fall asleep. Every morning when he awakes, he discovers something strange--like blood on his hands--a bizarre mystery that tortures his soul. Two investigators have been hired to follow the haunted man. But only one person--a young man with Down's Syndrome--can imagine where their journeys might end. That terrible place from which no one ever returns.
Thanks for a new Bug that will haunt my nightmares!!! I have to say that I can't really think of many things worse than waking up in an alley, not remembering how I got there, who I am, where I've come from, or where I'm going. Well, maybe one thing could be worse, waking up in that alley with the amnesia thing happening, but add the element that you are being hunted and that someone or something wants to kill you. That is exactly what happens at the beginnng of "The Bad Place" to a man whose only hope for survival is a private detective firm out to discover who he is and why he wakes up feeling exhausted, sometimes covered in blood or with loads of cash...or worse clutching one gigantic and nasty cockroach! Koontz creates a great little mystery in "The Bad Place", and we are introduced to several great new characters include Bobby & Julie Dakota. I really enjoyed the Dakota detectives, and would love to see Koontz develop a series around this pair in a way Odd Thomas has become a franchise. Another great character that Koontz introduces is Julie's brother Thomas who lives with Downs Syndrome. I really liked the Koontz made Thomas a genuine character and not just the object of pity, or simply used as an excuse to develop other characters in the novel. To top it off, Koontz introduces us to Candy Pollard, a genuinely frightening psychopath, whose intensity is terrifying. This is a great story and well worth discovering, or re-reading if you are Koontz fan. I don't see "The Bad Place" mentioned often when folks are talking about Koontz novels, but this story deserves it's place right up there with "Watchers" & "Phantoms".
One of DK's best The Bad Place is one of my favorite books by DK...but then again, most of his books are my favorites! I was creeped out by Candy & his twin sisters...made me think of the X-Files episode entitled "Home."
Another Koontz Success I thought I had read all of Dean Koontz's books but I somehow missed The Bad Place, and I'm glad I finally read it. It totally held my interest and I did not want to put it down until finished.
Don't bother This book isn't worth the read. The first half the book really sucks you in - Koontz is an amazing writer, and he develops his characters to the point that you empathize with them and really are involved with the story. The last half the book, however, was a complete let-down. It was utterly predictable, with the only twist being the uber-sexual nature of why the villain became a villain. I was so excited to see what wonders Koontz would work in that last half his book, but actually had to force myself to read it. So again, don't even bother picking this one up unless you like "witnessing" violent murders of children, rampages of sexual mutants, and have too much time on your hands to boot - it's a great author who's run out of material, and so just threw a ridiculous plot together to flesh out what was (originally) a pretty decent idea.
Not bad This story starts w/ a bang, but then it became relatively slow. The last 100 pages or so it really picks up momentum & keeps you flipping through the pages. The descriptions and development of the characters are superb & you feel like you know each of them. Overall I enjoyed this book.
My main problem w/ this bk. is I just did not like the hero's. To be more specific Mrs. Julie Dakota. She was a bit to macho & after awhile I REALLY wanted her to be killed off. IMO Thomas, her handicapped brother, was the most interesting character & the true hero. Another thing about this bk. that bothered me is the red diamond planet (???) which threw in sci-fi out of nowhere. It didn't seem to flow for me & left me confused.
I might give this 4 stars if I hadn't read other Koontz bks..
Anything Goes Trivia
Last Kiss
Megaton Man
Trevor
