The Bad Place
Published: 1990
Author: Dean Koontz
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Mystery, Psychic, Suspense, Thriller
Check the summary of this book here:
The Review
Dean Koontz's horror book The Bad Place contains elements of horror, suspense, and mystery and is portrayed in part as a spin on the private eye narrative. Leave it to Dean Koontz to come up with new and unusual settings for his stories. This is one of those quick and simple readings. Koontz keeps his half of the agreement by always keeping the reader intrigued and wanting to know more. Mini mysteries and questions keep springing up, and you want to know the solutions. He introduces characters that you want to get to know and identify with. Both personally and socially.
In this story, the Dakotas are pitted against the Pollards. Koontz gets to touch on an aspect of biology that I have rarely seen in other stories with the Pollards. But I'm not going to say anything about it here.
The Dakotas symbolize the poor American family attempting to live a relatively normal existence, particularly for Julie's brother, who also has his own biological condition, Down's syndrome.
Within the numerous interwoven riddles brought on by brother Frank Pollard, the individuals all become entangled. Frank awakens in an alley, unsure of how he got there or who he is.
This is a fun book to read. Mr. Koontz, in my opinion, has surpassed many other authors as the finest horror, science fiction, and thriller writer living today. I admire Mr. Koontz's efforts to both educate and frighten his audience. Many times while reading his works, he inspires a frisson of enthusiasm. Some of his writings are on par with ancient literature. "The Taking" is my favorite of his books among many others. But I enjoy all of his work and have a library full of his Hardback, Paperback, Audiobook, and Kindle or digital copies. What a delight he provides to the reader who seeks an escape from the stresses of the world.
I'm a huge Dean Koontz fan who enjoys novels about vampires and other supernatural creatures. In my perspective, the true hero of this book is a young man with Down's syndrome.
The primary protagonists are a married couple who are saving money for their "dream." The wicked man is absolutely terrifying; as is his ill, horrible, sick family (their mother is to blame). I'm an animal lover, and I didn't enjoy the cats being used as psychological demons.
If you're the queasy kind, skip this story. This was a roller coaster trip that was both unsettling and horrifying at points. Similar to a Stephen King book. I really enjoyed this book but I am basically immune to being queasy.
I really enjoy this one, especially the superbly created, super creepy twin girls. I'm curious if the primary characters, husband, and wife private investigators Bobby and Julie, were named after Bobby Troup and Julie London.
There is never a dull minute in this novel. I believe that would make an excellent film. It contains nice guys and an enticing, yet terrifying, the tiny family of evil guys who are more than dysfunctional. There's action, love, mystery, sci-fi, and horror... so you never go overboard. It did come to an end soon, but I doubt I would have appreciated it any other way.
Warner Bros. obtained film rights to The Bad Place in 1990, according to Koontz in the Afterword of a 2004 paperback release. Don Johnson and his wife Melanie Griffith sought for the roles of Bobby and Julie Dakota. The screenplay was written by Koontz, and it generated a lot of talk within the studio until the then-studio boss judged it unclear, but the studio refused to sell the script back to Koontz.
Chuck Russell was hired to helm the picture in 1991, while Richard Jefferies wrote the screenplay. Lee Rich Productions would have produced the movie. However, Jefferies quit the project after three drafts, claiming "burnout." Andrew Wolk was hired as a writer after he left. This variant was likewise never realized.
It was written and took place in the early 1990s, and so much has changed since then that the reader is occasionally jarred by the thought "use your mobile phone!!" But Mr. Koontz is such a fantastic writer that he just takes you on great trips with his equally amazing and captivating characters, who keep you going because you have to know what happens to them. If you like Dean Koontz, you should read this book since it's a bizarre yet interesting novel.
Final Thoughts
This is one of those rare books that you hope never ends. It is quite tough to put down. From start to finish, it was thrilling.
I've yet to read a Dean Koontz novel that I didn't appreciate. It's the unsettling twist of strangeness that keeps you guessing how things will end out. There is never a dull page in this book, which is packed with captivating, loveable, and disgusting characters. But that is how practically all of this author's works are meant to be.
Do you need a good retreat as well as a moderate challenge? Pick up this book. It is remarkable in that the notion is so realistic, but could this happen? Thank you, Dean, for another amazing experience.
It's basically a classic Dean Koontz novel. He writes a fantastic tale that combines suspense, science fiction, horror, and a touch of romance. From start to finish, action. I've read nearly all of his works, and this is up there with Watchers, Lightning, Phantoms, and Strangers as one of his greatest. It's a little more than 400 pages long, but I couldn't put it down. I finished it in three days since I was reading many other novels at the same time, but I dedicated the majority of the third day and night to it. It is most definitely worth your and my time to read this book.
I love a good Dean Koontz novel. I find his writing style to be riveting and nail-biting, while yet being simple to read with few dull passages. This novel has a few unexpected twists and turns; you hardly know what to anticipate or where the characters would probably finish. I suggest it to everyone who likes scary literature as well as fast-paced tales.
It contains a lot of violence and sexual perversity, thus it's not appropriate for younger readers. But, in any case, it was an excellent read for me. If you can withstand the brutality, I strongly suggest this book.
Synopsis
“#1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz delivers terrifying thrills in this novel about a man caught in a never-ending nightmare.
Frank Pollard is afraid to fall asleep. Every morning 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...”
Useful Search Related Words & Keywords
Bad Place, Bobby And Julie, Downs Syndrome, Ever Read, Frank Pollard, Great Book, Julie Dakota, Koontz Books, Roller Coaster, Years Ago
Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.
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