The Face of Fear
Published: 1977
Author: Dean Koontz (Written as Brian Coffey)
Genre: American, Contemporary, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Murder, Psychic, Serial Killer, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller
Check the summary of this book here:
The Review
Dean Koontz's The Face of Fear is a suspense horror book. It was first released under the alias Brian Coffey. As a fan, I expected horror, but this narrative shocked me. It appeals to me and I would recommend it to others as well. I think his writing style is fantastic, and if you've never read Dean Koontz, you should start now. I'm not sure when he started including moral beliefs in his writings, but I like it.
If the primary characters in Koontz's recent works are a couple, they are appealing and smart, and the banter between them is enjoyable. The couple in this novel is like that—perhaps this is when Koontz began writing his characters in this manner. The novel moves quickly since there is a lot of action.
The title of this novel tells you exactly what to expect: terror, suspense, raging emotions, and surprising storyline twists and turns. Add to that the fact that the novel was written by Dean Koontz, a well-known thriller author, and you will not be disappointed from the first page.
In any event, the narrative is as credible as it can be in this genre, conveyed with compelling clarity of detail.
In this novel, Koontz outlines the novel's psychological and philosophical notion, around which the plot evolves: the mistaken sense of superiority, which motivates some to commit the most heinous crime - murder, resorting to physical and psychological punishment.
Narcissism and an overinflated ego are well-known psychological phenomena. Many people, far more than the ordinary mind would guess, endure the weight for the rest of their lives.
However, the vast majority of them are not criminals. Only when paired with an insatiable need for illusory fame and a deeply buried inferiority mentality does this tendency turn them into monsters.
To mention a few, consider the assassinations of Martin Luther King, John Lennon, and John F. Kennedy, as well as the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan.
However, many people have been killed indiscriminately for no other purpose than to make a statement. Torture and humiliation of their victims serve as more evidence of their power and superiority. This is a thriller about them.
I really like this book, and I'm bringing it out there right now. But there was one component of the novel that really bothered me. It got going quickly, and the tempo was fantastic. Then, when the action did take up and the killer was hunting Graham, the novel just turned sluggish.
Fair warning, it slowed down a lot, but it was on purpose by the author, in my view, to generate tension and dread, but others may not feel the same way as me, and when I said it impacted me, it was for the same reason; otherwise, I enjoyed that slow portion.
There is one aspect of the book's slowness that isn't as unpleasant because it aids in figuring out the ending. What appeared to be a side character turned out to be the one who figured out what was going on.
In the vein of Ducky from NCIS, he worked as a medical examiner. The goal of the scene is to start the audience wondering about what may be going on for the rest of the book.
Everything Koontz did in terms of explanation. He went into great detail, which regrettably delayed everything down. Now, sure, that is the book's ugliness, but it is also its finest feature. Because not everyone is a mountain climber, it was only natural for him to explain everything that was going on. Nobody would have known what he was saying if he hadn't explained it. That is why it was significant and seemed a little sluggish.
All this book did was make me want to go mountain climbing someday. I like this book a lot, possibly more than most people would.
As usual, it drew me in from the first page. It went off as a nice narrative. On the stairs, there are far too many cat and mouse situations as well as climbing. Sometimes I had to go back a page or two to make sure I was on the appropriate page, but this was due to my own lack of attention.
Graham and Connie's plight deepens with each page. We follow them through a vast, gloomy office building, where we discover them rappelling down vertical walls from the forty-first story and solving seemingly insurmountable problems.
A blend of sophisticated psychological analysis, philosophical themes, and nail-biting suspense distinguishes this work and places it among the finest modern thrillers. I wish I could give it full marks, but I know some readers may object due to the sluggish speed, even if it was necessary and had to be employed for various explanatory purposes.
The narrative was turned into a two-hour television film of the same name, which was broadcast on CBS on September 30, 1990. Lee Horsley played Graham Harris, Pam Dawber played Connie Weaver, Kevin Conroy (voice of Batman) played the Butcher, Bob Balaban and William Sadler. Farhad Mann directed it, while Dean Koontz and Alan Jay Glueckman wrote the teleplay. I was unable to locate a safe and reliable source for this film; if I do, I will post it on this page.
Final Thoughts
Even decades later, this is a fantastic story. Our hero must confront this sick individual with his wits and conquer his anxiety as he and his girlfriend are trailed in a desolate office building. There was no electricity, no phone, just his climbing abilities and luck, and one pretty cruel madman with a pistol who refused to give up.
I just had to stay up late to see what happened. Interesting climbing method explanation and a good feeling of location, New York City in a snowstorm.
Some of the characterizations were lackluster, but the ending twist gives some spice. You'll be flicking through the pages, hanging on the same imaginary ledge as the hero, hoping for a happy conclusion.
This is one of Dean Koontz's early works, and it's startlingly clean, clear, and plain for him. While it is true that it lacks the twists and turns and tremendous depth of his imagination shown in his recent works, I believe he is being too harsh on it.
This was far superior to 99 percent of the generic garbage written nowadays. It just falls far short of his more recent masterpieces. I genuinely loved it, but not to the extent that his new material would have you up all night reading page after page.
To be fair, I appreciate the frequent paranormal/mystical elements. This book is light on paranormal elements but heavy on heart-pounding suspense. It is wonderfully written, and I would enthusiastically suggest it to others.
Synopsis
“For one man, facing his own murder is not as terrifying as surviving it in this blistering novel of suspense from #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz.
A brutal killer known as “The Butcher” is stalking women in New York City. When the police enlist the help of clairvoyant Graham Harris, the horrifying images of the Butcher’s crimes replay in Harris’s mind—sometimes even at the moment they are happening. Then he sees the most terrifying vision of all—that of his own murder.
Harris and his girlfriend soon find themselves trapped on the fortieth floor of a deserted office building. The guards have been killed, the elevators shut down, and the stairways blocked. The only way out is to climb down the sheer face of the building. Otherwise they'll become the Butcher’s next victims.”
Useful Search Related Words & Keywords
Alan Jay Glueckman, Bob Balaban, CBS, Connie Weaver, Edge Of My Seat, High Rise, Lee Horsley, Main Characters, Mountain Climber, New York, Office Building, Pam Dawber, Serial Killer, The Butcher, Twists And Turns, William Sadler, Years Ago, York City
Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.
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