By: Dean Koontz Publisher: Berkley Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Berkley Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 432 Publication Date: July 05, 2005
Product Description: He was clinically dead after the accident--but was miraculously revived. Now Hatch Harrison and his wife approach each day with a new appreciation for life.
But something has come back with Hatch from the other side. A terrible presence that links his mind to a psychotic's, so that a force of murderous rage courses through him.
Slow building but reaches an intense climax This Koontz thriller progressed slower than some of his other page-turners. It built a solid foundation on its 4 main characters, one of which represents the most evil of natures. The two protagonists, a husband and wife develop and endear themselves to the reader as they seek to understand and then vanquish the evil presence that has attached itself to their lives following the husband's deadly experience. The climax of this book makes it a suspenseful, worthwhile read.
Everyone's a critic.... I've had HIDEAWAY sitting around the house for years. It's been on my stack of "eventual reads" and decided to get it out of the way (as in reading so it could be put). I haven't read anything by Mr. Koontz in ages...and ages. I got exactly half way through and realized that, although I had no difficulty turning pages, his style of writing was completely lacking in soul. Has his writing always been stilted? And he is WAY TOO wordy! Now don't get me wrong, Mr. K must be doing something right. His efforts have afforded him what is, undoubtedly, an ultra comfortable living and lifestyle. At one time, early in my reading career, I rather enjoyed him. But I can't recommend this one.
Entertaining ride I have, at times, been pretty critical of Dean Koontz. Many of his novels have been heavy handed and preachy ("about as subtle as a hand grenade" I've said) and he has a tendency to `overwrite' (I've referred to the author as "Dean `He Never Met an Adverb He Didn't Like' Koontz"). I often find his killers pretentious (tediously so) and his reverence for man's best friend a little tiresome.
For me, Koontz has always been hit or miss. For every Odd Thomas (a good one) Koontz delivers The Taking (one of the worst novels ever written). Therefore, it is with some trepidation that I embark on any Koontz novel (I actually took The Darkest Evening of the Year out of the library, but have since decided not to read it - based in large part on reviews posted on Amazon, and the fact that nobility of dogs is clearly central to the plot).
But I quite enjoyed Hideaway. Yes, there are glimmers of the peachiness that will overshadow many of Koontz's later novels, and he still uses more adverbs and adjectives than are warranted, but Koontz builds suspense well and I found some of the characters, particularly 10 year old Regina, to be quite engaging. (And this surprised me. A precocious child is not something that I would normally think of as a `good thing' in a novel, but Koontz makes this character very likable, quite charming, and remarkably funny).
The killer (sigh) is as pretentious as always. I'm not a hardcore Dean Koontz fan, but I've read enough of his novels to know that this killer could be switched with the killer from one of his other novels, and no one would notice the difference.
Hideaway starts off strong, sets up an intriguing premise, builds suspense effectively and provides some engaging characters. All in all, a very entertaining read. It bears similarities to other Koontz novels but it's a solid thriller, worth reading.
Dean Koontz For Wife My wife loves reading Dean Koontz. She read Hideaway aready but it has been a while. So she asked for the book again and is loving it. She has read just about everything he has written at least once.
Hideaway was great This Book kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved every minute of it. If you like this, you may like Keith Ablow's Psychopath.
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