Shadowfires
Published: 1987
Author: Dean Koontz (Written as Leigh Nichols)
Genre: Fiction, Genetic Engineering, Horror, Literary, Literature, Suspense, Thriller, Zombie
Check the summary of this book here:
The Review
Dean Koontz wrote the novel Shadowfires. It was Koontz's effort at a conventional horror novel, initially released as Shadow Fires under the pseudonym Leigh Nichols, and recounts the story of a young lady who becomes a widow following a traffic accident while in the process of divorcing her husband of seven years. However, her husband's body quickly vanishes from the mortuary, and more victims are discovered, horrifically murdered. Rachael and her significant other, Ben Shadway, discover a secret too horrific for anybody to accept, pursued by forces out to silence and destroy them.
The concept is fantastic. What if someone discovered the key to immortality, but it came at a horrible cost? Imagine that individual is hell-bent on murdering you. Because this person cannot die, I may say that a Terminator is pursuing you.
With such an intriguing idea, it's difficult to believe Koontz couldn't hit a home run. Fortunately, he did, and it was, in my judgment, a huge success.
A modern-day Frankenstein with a few modifications: No graveyards had to be disturbed because Dr. Frankenstein and Frankenstein were the same person.
The novel started slowly, but once it got going, it was nonstop till the conclusion. It's a horror story, but it's more fun than disturbing. Because it was a fiction, some of the blood and gore had less of an impression on me.
This is another fantastic novel by Koontz. He has a talent for constructing a gripping story with a remarkable command of terminology that transports me into the action.
I look forward to the Afterword as much as I enjoy reading the narrative. The Afterword is like a nice dessert or a superb brandy after the adrenaline ride of the book. Dean Koontz is not only a talented mystery writer; he is also a tremendously humorous man, and the Afterword always makes me laugh! I am eagerly anticipating the next stop on my adventure!
If you read it after playing the Resident Evil games, you'll get an idea of how I felt or thought while reading it, and in some cases, I was thinking of Terminators T-800 and T-1000, despite the fact that this book has nothing to do with the movies or the game, and no, this guy isn't a zombie, but I included it in the zombie genre because of the style and reanimation of the main villain. I mentioned Resident Evil because of the transformations or mutations the villain has to go through.
This was a fantastic novel, as is typical of Dean Koontz, the sort that keeps you up at night turning the pages. I enjoy the mix of genres, which includes science fiction, mystery, suspense, horror, and a touch of romance.
This author has a gift for creating intense suspense through interesting character interactions. You are given a front-row ticket to Eric's universe, where you are pushed and tugged. At first, he is everything you want in a villain, but as the game unfolds and you discover more about his past, understanding gives way to conflicted emotions. Dean Koontz is an exceptional storyteller. Absolutely amazing.
The point of view switched back and forth a lot without any gap or other signal, but given the writing style – even that wasn't off-putting.
As I finish the last of Shadowfires, Mr. Koontz is adding to my anxiety-induced sleeplessness once more. It's always a delight to start a Dean Koontz horror story, and I fret over the fates of the characters throughout the few time it takes me to finish even the longest novel. His excellent narrative has kept me a fan for decades. Thank you so much, Mr. Koontz; please keep them coming. I'm not sure how I missed this.
Near the end of Shadowfires, I became so engaged in the novel that I was not able to sleep all night because I couldn't put it down. It's a frightening, but not excessively graphic, book that captures your attention and won't let go!
Dean Koontz is one of my favorite authors; I've read and appreciated nearly all of his books. He is the only author who has kept me up all night reading because I couldn't get enough of the narrative until it was finished.
I've suggested all of his books to countless friends and family members, including my niece and my nephew, who is a huge admirer of Stephen King. He has now become a huge fan of Koontz's work also.
Dean Koontz is outstanding. I like how he begins with reality as it is, then moves on to places where reality shifts into something new. He makes me think, which is why I keep coming to his stories.
I'm sure readers will be on the lookout for something to use as a weapon! Some of it featured Koontz's run-on descriptions, but what really stood out was his amazing ability to build pictures with words. Sometimes he's horrifying, but let's face it, that's why we read him!!!
This is a well-crafted investigation of the margins of reality that we believe we understand...but do we? As he weaves this yarn, one is reminded that this seemingly strange scenario may well be the reality after all...the genetic twists and turns only help to heighten the readers' expectations...a satisfying read for sure.
Final Thoughts
The narrative was intriguing, and I could tell it was from his earlier work. The characters were engaging, albeit some were less developed than others, and the ending was a little sudden.
I thoroughly loved this book and found it difficult to put down. I now have a new rule that I only start a Dean Koontz novel on a Friday night so that I can finish it without interfering with work from too many late nights.
Dean Koontz is one of the only authors whose novels frequently keep me awake rather than assisting my mind to "turn off" from work as an assistance to sleeping.
This one kept my interest from start to finish over numerous late nights in 2 and 3 hour chunks. It's well worth reading.
The plot appeared to be a little artificial at first. The tale and each character grew complex as it progressed, and you're fascinated.
As with many of his previous works, this one becomes quicker and faster as it progresses. It doesn't take long to become emotionally engaged.
I would strongly suggest this book to everyone who enjoys a narrative of man's arrogance and astonishing capacity to screw things up because he doesn't see the implications of his experimenting clearly and just does it because he can, regardless of whether he should or not.
Synopsis
“A haunting hair-raiser resurrected with a NEW recording and NEW narrator.
“His prose mesmerizes…Koontz consistently hits the bull’s-eye.” –Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Rachel's request for a quick and clean divorce enraged her husband. She’d never seen Eric so angry, so consumed by pure and terrifying hatred. Then, in the heat of the moment, Eric was killed in a traffic accident. Shocked and relieved, Rachel had nothing left to fear. Until Eric's body disappeared from the morgue—and suddenly, Rachel is being stalked by someone who looks just like her dead husband.
©1987 Nkui, Inc. (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.”
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Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.
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