Velocity Review

 

Velocity

Published: 2005

Author: Dean Koontz

Genre: Fiction, Horror, Literature, Murder, Psychological, Serial Killer, Serial Killer, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller 

 

Check the summary of this book here:

Velocity Summary

 

 

The Review

Dean Koontz's novel Velocity is set in Napa County, California, and is about a guy in his 30s who takes the law into his own hands after being intimidated by an unknown enemy. The "words of wisdom" that pepper the narrative are straight quotes from T. S. Eliot's writings.

 

Dean Koontz said in February 2014 that his future work Secret Forest will be a spinoff of this novel. The narrative will center on Ivy Elgin, a Velocity supporting character about whom Koontz has gotten a lot of fan mail. I have no recollection of this spinoff novel at the time of writing this review.

 

Some years back, I became a diehard Dean Koontz fan who couldn't get enough of his stuff. Strangers, Watchers, Phantoms, Twilight Eyes, and Whispers were the best thrillers I've ever read. I read "Velocity" after a little break since I was preoccupied with other matters in my life. This is a classic Koontz novel. The protagonist is a regular Joe like you and me who finds himself in a position over which he has no control or understanding. Billy Wiles is a regular person who has been thrown a few curveballs in his life.

 

Dean Koontz has yet to write a bad story. He combines mystery and the bizarre, with a dash of the supernatural thrown in for good measure. This story had no supernatural elements, but it did have a healthy dose of bizarreness. The suspense was palpable. At times, I had to pause and take a few deep breaths.

 

Another recurring theme in Koontz's writings is that the protagonist is always the most ordinary, humble person you can imagine. And they are thrust into extremely difficult life-or-death situations in which decisions about what is right and wrong must be made quickly and in extremely hazy conditions. This book was no different.

 

It's difficult to understand how Koontz's mind operates and how he comes up with the storylines for his books. This is another page-turner with characters that are so well-developed that you feel like you've known them for years. What a privilege to be a part of his amazing gift.

 

Velocity is an apt title for a mystery suspense novel. Koontz writes in a crisp style that gives even the most mundane detail color and significance, so the reader must stay alert.

 

This narrative begins with relatively regular folks, one in particular who rises to the occasion of a life-or-death crisis in an astonishing way. It was simple to become immersed in this tale, which paid off in the end.

 

Dean Koontz is the only author I know that keeps me wondering as I eagerly read on to find out what occurs. And it shows the danger and ridiculousness of ethical relativism and other foolish beliefs in real-life settings.

 

This book took me three days to finish. That's how fantastic it was. I couldn't wait to see what happened next. It wasn't a big deal because generally, I complete a book like this in two days or less, but three days meant I was occupied with other novels or other things.

 

I had a connection with the main character. He was a nice man trying to do his best in a horrible position. You believed he was defeated most of the time, but he wasn't.

 

Another reason for the points I gave is the writing itself. When Koontz portrayed a place or a landscape, he utilized descriptive words that transported you there. His color descriptions and feelings provide you with all you needed to feel as though you were there.

 

Billy, who is loyal to his comatose fiancée and a silent friend to all in his profession as a bartender, gradually finds himself trapped in a web of murder that he did not conduct but has power over due to how he is being controlled by an unknown person he refers to as the "freak."

Koontz does an excellent job of peeling back the layers of Billy's character while yet keeping him likable and sympathetic. Nobody does this sort of character like Koontz.

 

Though Koontz is classified as a horror writer like Stephen King, I believe that the most of his writings belong more to the thriller genre. This one is no exception, and I couldn't put it down since it was so exciting. "What type of book have I plunged myself into?" I thought as the first chapter began in a barroom including some fairly foolish discussion. The stupidity, however, ends and the thrills begin. I thought the main character, Billy Wiles, and the plot were both extremely clever. I won't give anything away, but I believe most suspense and thriller readers, particularly Dean Koontz fans, would enjoy this book.

 

 

Final Thoughts

Dean Koontz has written yet another fantastic novel! I couldn't put it down as the pages kept turning! I couldn't wait to see what Billy would do next. And how he was going to deal with each plot surprise.

 

At the conclusion of the book, there are various quotations from the book that are attributed to TS Eliot. I, too, adore TS Eliot and recognized several of the phrases.

 

In a nutshell, here is my opinion on the novel... What will you do if a crazy killer drags you into his plot and people's lives are suddenly totally dependent on your decision? What an unusual notion, I thought, and I immediately snatched the book, and boy, am I happy I did! You can't go wrong with Dean Koontz, but "Velocity" demonstrates why he's one of my favorite authors. The narrative was so dynamic and complex that I couldn't put my grey matter around it at moments. It was like being on a roller coaster, full of energy and emotions. By the end, I realized why it was called "Velocity," WOW! You won't be sorry if you read it.

 

It's a good psychological thriller that didn't let me down. A few friends did not appreciate the finale, but I liked it. It was resolved, with no cliffhangers and the most believable finale.

 

I suggest this book because I enjoyed it. Koontz never disappoints. If you like stories about desperate individuals in terrible situations, "Velocity" will pique your curiosity and imagination. There are several clever narrative twists and histories that keep this excellent novel going to a satisfying conclusion.

Strongly recommended!

 

 

 

Synopsis

“NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • This ebook edition contains a special preview of Dean Koontz’s The Silent Corner.

If you don’t take this note to the police . . . I will kill a lovely blond schoolteacher. . . . If you do . . . I will instead kill an elderly woman active in charity work. You have six hours to decide. The choice is yours.

The typewritten note under his windshield seems like just a sick joke. But in less than twenty-four hours, Billy Wiles, an ordinary, hardworking guy, is about to see his life take on the speed of a nightmare. Because a young blond schoolteacher is murdered—and now Billy has another note. And another deadline. This time he knows it’s no joke. He’s racing a killer faster than evil itself. And Billy must accept his terrifying challenge: The choice is yours.

Think fast. Fear never slows down. . . .”

 

Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Active In Charity, Billy Wiles, Edge Of Your Seat, Elderly Woman, Fast Paced, Koontz Books, Note To The Police, Odd Thomas, Page Turner, Six Hours, Stephen King, Take This Note 

 

Rating: 90/100

Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

https://rebrand.ly/Velocity-Kindle

Free With Free Audible Trial

https://rebrand.ly/Velocity-Audible

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The Servants Of Twilight (1991) (R)

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