The Vision
Published: 1977
Author: Dean Koontz
Genre: American, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literature, Mystery, Murder, Psychic, Serial Killer, Suspense, Thriller
Check the summary of this book here:
The Review
Dean Koontz's novel The Vision is a horror mystery. Suspense, anticipation, intrigue, and mystique are all synonyms for suspense. Dean Koontz is at his most creative. His works are usually simple to read and keep you turning the pages, and this one is no exception. It was rather nice for such an early effort. You can see where later efforts that were far more sophisticated came from. I hope Mr. Koontz will return to the early subjects that drew me in as a reader. It appealed to me. What I enjoyed best was that I thought I knew how it would end and that it was predictable but nice... only to discover that it wasn't that predictable and was better than expected... and wonderfully written.
I just find Koontz to be an entertaining read in general. The Vision is still a lot of fun and distinctly Dean Koontz. It begins slowly and builds to a thrilling finale in the second half.
Koontz's writing keeps you on the edge of your seat, and he always ties up the ends without leaving you with a million questions.
Even while there is an epic surprise in the novel that will make you think about life in a different manner, it was one you could see coming from miles away and I genuinely felt it nearly from the start. There were just too many red herrings in the book to mention. They were there the moment you read them. The only reason I'm not labeling this as a major blunder is because of this amazing twist, which some readers may miss, making it an epic twist for them.
Except for the obviousness of who the killer is, the plot is how it should be and is the greatest portion of the book here. I'm not going to give too much away because of the surprise, but just know that this is the finest tale he's written so far. The storytelling of Dean Koontz's writing career was already strong at the time, but it improved over the years.
You can tell this is one of Koontz's earlier works since it's a little predictable, bordering on clichéd at moments. Despite this, I absolutely loved the book. It's short for a Koontz novel and pretty fast-paced, making it a quick read.
I was very confident I figured out whodunit inside the first 100 pages, but the (why) was considerably more difficult. Overall, I believe this novel has enough twists and turns to keep most readers entertained.
I am a fan of almost anything written, even murder mysteries with class that are well written, and this one, in my view, is a fantastic mystery that includes both class and writing.
For the most part, I adore Koontz's novels. For me, this one was a touch too predictable. But it had me guessing on the evil guy a number of times. If you were unfamiliar with Koontz's writings, I believe you would have enjoyed it more and it would not have been as predictable.
Also, the thing I generally adore about his novels, which is his amazing ability to develop his characters, was mildly absent in this one and the reason for this is that I read a lot and sometimes forget that I am trying to keep my standards very high, which is not good for a new author.
When readers start to keep very high standards and very high hopes, we forget we need to give chance and keep our expectations at a level so we can actually enjoy the books and help the authors by encouraging them.
However, I believe it is more true of his older novels. The Vision was an easy read. And a generally nice plot. It just doesn't have the same depth as his latest work, which is my fave. But still it's well worth reading.
The problem with this book is that it gradually reveals to the reader who the primary villain is, but in cryptic ways, and if you read a lot of books, you will discover who it is. In murder stories, there are basically two styles: one in which the reader knows who the culprit is from the start, and one in which it is completely hidden until the last few pages...but this book is neither of the two because it never tells us who it is and instead gives us hints and we can guess who it is, which is why many readers disliked it.
Yes, it appears that a new author wrote this novel and it worked out well, but when you learn that the author is Dean Koontz, you may be disappointed, but keep in mind that it was one of his early works and it is not as horrible as you believe or hear about it.
I truly loved this novel in both the book and audio version, and if you give it a chance, I am confident you will appreciate it as well. Aside from that, it's a fantastic mystery and thriller novel! It's also a short and simple read.
Final Thoughts
You turn the pages, anticipating the conclusion, which is once again concealed in a different chapter. Koontz is a true master. He understands how to interact with his readers. It's not his finest novel, but when it comes to best books, everyone has an opinion.
The Vision kept me engaged for a long time. A necessity for Dean Koontz's admirers - a method for strangers to see what this man is capable of doing to your evenings.
With her tremendous ESP talents and fearless nature, I fell in love with Mary immediately. Max is the ideal match for her, with his powerful arms and even deeper feelings for her.
The narrative unfolds quickly and provides a terrific trip. It was nearly difficult to put it down to sleep. This is a must-read for every mystery/thriller aficionado. Congratulations, Mr. Koontz for writing this amazing story.
When the storyline slowed down, the characters maintained my attention. I enjoyed the concepts offered and loved the talks that brought the heroine's problems forward.
The Vision is a typical Koontz novel, and that is what I appreciate most about his work. He keeps the reader guessing until the very end when he discloses the true perpetrator, who is not at all who the reader (not myself) suspects.
The Vision, like many of his stories, has a happy conclusion. I would strongly suggest this book to anyone who likes Dean Koontz's work.
Synopsis
"In this terrifying novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz reveals the darkness in a woman's mind—and the killer lurking there...
Mary Bergen aids the police in solving crimes, those that have happened and those that are about to. Now this gifted clairvoyant is using her psychic gift to help track a serial killer. But something terrible from Mary's past has been invading her dreams and she is haunted by the sound of leathery wings. The killer knows secrets even she has locked away. Knows about the torture she was administered at the hands of a psycho when she was a little girl. And he is coming for her next."
Useful Search Related Words & Keywords
Bad Guy, Edge Of Your Seat, Even Though, Good Read, Koontz At His Best, Koontz Books, Koontz Earlier, Love Dean, Mary Bergen, Serial Killer, Twists And Turns
Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.
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