The Key To Midnight Review

The Key to Midnight

Published: 1979

Author: Dean Koontz (Written as Leigh Nichols)

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Suspense, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:

The Key to Midnight Summary

The Review

Dean Koontz's suspense-horror thriller The Key to Midnight was published under the pen name Leigh Nichols. It is regarded as Koontz's first commercial triumph. This is one of Koontz's early works; however, he has lately significantly updated it. And that was a lot of fun. I loved the characters, enjoyed the twists, and finished the book.

I read this book in three days! So many twists. Never a disappointment from this author. Dean Koontz at his finest. The Key to Midnight is one of those works that was published a long time ago yet has been rewritten multiple times. I believe I read both the most recent and the earlier versions. However, I don't believe it altered my thinking about anything.

Koontz's imaginative writing evokes vivid imagery and keeps you on the edge of your seat. He never fails to astonish me. This narrative grabs your interest from the first page and doesn't let go until the very last.

While this was unusual for Mr. Koontz, which makes sense given that it is one of his earliest works, it is certainly worth reading. It has it all: suspense, intrigue, romance, yeasts, and turns. 

If you're searching for the supernatural, look elsewhere; he didn't need it. This novel pulls you from the first page and keeps you wondering throughout.

I adore Dean Koontz's works, and The Key to Midnight is no exception! The government, the conspiracy, and spies, and how readily they may penetrate our lives. The city descriptions make you want to visit Kyoto, and I truly wish I could try the food!!

The Japanese setting is fantastic, the tempo and pitch are ideal, and the afterword informs us that this is an upgraded/edited edition. I've read practically all of this author's books at least twice, and now I'll be reading them three times since I'm reviewing them all. 

Many of the Forewords in the volumes describe his early struggles with genre mixing and convincing publishing houses to let him trust his instincts and allow his writing style to emerge naturally without a lot of rule-following. I enjoy this author since his novels cover a wide range of topics. Congratulations, Mr. Koontz for another great novel!

There were various instances in the novel where Dean Koontz just went off on a tangent on cuisine, settings, and so on. Yes, the description is good, but leave some room for the imagination. For some readers, all he actually did was detract from the primary tale, but I believe that done right, this is not a terrible thing. 

One notable novelist who writes in this style is Stephen King. Clive Cussler uses this a lot, and it makes me angry at times while I'm reading his works, but I can't stop reading even if I don't like the usage of phrases like; what was served or what was on the table, and what was the recipe for that soup. Some of these authors get away with it because the main book and tale are excellent, and we, the readers, read without stopping.

Mr. Koontz didn't create any supporting characters, except from the distractions in the descriptions. They were more present, but they had little bearing on the overall tale. The plot revolved entirely around Alex and Joanna. This work suffers from a severe absence of supporting characters. Again, I must remind readers that I have read numerous books with only a few characters that were excellent, therefore it does not matter if a plot lacks supporting characters.

There was a point in the narrative where it became clear that there was a massive conspiracy at work. As I already stated, I believe I read one of the later editions of the book and an older version as well. That, I feel, aided the overall tale. I'm not sure how this conspiracy worked in the first edition. The twists and turns were quite beneficial.

I enjoyed the characters, how they grew and became genuine, how the present Russian situation gives credibility to the narrative, and how the storyline always surprised me along the way. I'll recommend it to my book group and encourage others to read it.

Final Thoughts

I've stated it several times in this review, and it's true: you'll read it straight through and won't put it down until the conclusion, so make sure you have enough time to complete it. 

I usually read ten or so books at a time to avoid boredom and to be able to read a lot of books in a short period of time, but every now and then a book comes along that I can't put down and I just keep reading it until it's finished, and during that time I ignore all other books that I'm reading, and this is truly one of those nonstop read books.

Sometimes it felt like he made it up as he went along rather than having a storyline before he started, but this is due to the spontaneity of the action and the fast-paced incidents. 

I like this method and use it while writing my own works; I have a concept and a plot outline in mind, but everything happens on the spot and in the flow. I occasionally have to rewrite a few lines or a portion of the narrative, but I enjoy the overall result. I wish I could disclose my pen names so that readers may get a sense of what I write, but I can't because it is a copywrite concern and a private issue that I do not want to modify because I am a very private person. Maybe eventually I'll open up about who I really am, but for now, I'm content with my solitude.

Dean Koontz normally works in a distinct genre. Things that go bump in the night will turn into monsters, and the golden retriever will be an intelligent ally in addressing the matter. Where was that dog in this book? 

In this fantastic work, the main characters face actual peril and relentless action. They live by using their wits and inherent intellect. The finale came as a complete surprise. Do not read this late at night, as you should with all of his works!

This novel kept me up and later engaged, believing I knew where the author was leading me only to be taken aback by another fantastic story twist. An intriguing and enjoyable book! He is the master at setting the scene, making you feel as though you are part of the action, and leaving you wanting more.

Synopsis

“Joanna Rand left the U.S. ten years ago to sing in a Japanese nightclub. Ever since, she’s been haunted by the same horrifying nightmare. Each time she awakens, she feels violated, used, and scared. The only man who can help her is Alex Hunter. Ten years ago, he saw her picture in the papers as a senator’s daughter who’d disappeared. Now he has to bring her memories back to her—memories of a past more terrifying than they dreamed possible…”

Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Alex Hunter, Bad Guys, Edge Of Your Seat, Great Read, Joanna Rand, Koontz Books, Leigh Nichols, Odd Thomas, Page Turner, Twists And Turns, Years Ago

Rating: 85/100

Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

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The Face of Fear Review

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 Face of Fear Summary

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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Intensity Review

Intensity

Published: Nov 1995 (UK) - Jan 1996 (US)

Author: Dean Koontz

Genre: American, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literature, Mystery, Psychological, Serial Killer, Suspense, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:

Intensity Summary

The Review

Dean Koontz's novel Intensity is a best-selling work. According to Koontz, he created the novel to challenge the popularly accepted belief that thrillers must have intervals of low action to keep the pace moving, instead deciding to maintain the tension high throughout the novel and continuing from crisis to conflict without moments of relieved stress.

The title "Intensity" is accurate, and this novel is Intense from start to finish. Chyna Shepherd is one of my favorite female heroines, second only to Lillith from Octavia Butler's "Lillith's Brood" series, which I also suggest if you enjoy a strong female lead and science fiction. 

I've probably read it twice, once in audio and once in print. It's the type of book you can read once a year and appreciate it just as much each time. If you're a fan of Koontz, you won't be disappointed. You will not be disappointed if you appreciate suspense. If you like thrillers, you won't... well, you get the idea. I seriously encourage you to read the first 25 pages of this book, after which you will be unable to put it down.

The adversary is a result of existential nihilism whose life ambition is fulfilling his "reptilian" cravings, whereas the protagonist is a classic moralist who sees a world of human responsibility, hope, and meaning. 

I could go on about symbolism and irony, but I don't want to give anything away. I try not to include these connotations or my ideas, such as talking about Mary Shelley's Frankenstein's Monster and stating that he is a victim rather than a monster or a villain, but I find that I start talking or typing and my hands just keep typing, much like one of my favorite authors Stephen King. I understand that some people find it uninteresting, but others enjoy it and want to learn more and compare their own opinions and judgments on a book and its content.

This has to be one of the scariest, most terrifying, most evil books I've ever read. If I could, I'd give it 1000 points or stars! The plot captivated me from the start, and I remained in Koontz's grasp until the shocking conclusion!

My only qualm was Chyna's inability to keep her distance. I wanted to grab her shoulders and shake her on several instances! Some of her decisions were just absurd. But I doubt we'd have had such an exciting narrative without them, would we?

I'm sick of the stubborn heroine who believes no one else can fix problems and puts herself and others in jeopardy. There were a few possibilities she passed up. I get it; if she'd been completely reasonable, there wouldn't have been much of a tale left. I simply hope that our trusted authors would steer clear of this sort of heroin but as I mention before an author has to introduce characters like that or the story will die and not move even one page.

Aside from that, it's still a 1000 star, as you'd expect from Dean Koontz. It can't be anything less than well-thought-out, well-written, and unrelenting. Even though the novels are unrelated, this reminds me of Velocity. If you haven't read Velocity, you should since I like it better.

This book has a very good rating in my opinion. I went into this book with extremely high expectations, which were fulfilled and exceeded. I was promised a terrifying, gut-wrenching, emotional read, and I got it. 

This novel does an excellent job of conveying the emotions of the characters and frequently shifts perspectives. You spend two-thirds of the book with Chyna and the other third with Vess, for example. 

This explains why the decisions of the characters are so accurate since I can understand their mental processes. Some books fail to achieve this by having characters make spontaneous judgments that I am expected to accept as a reader. This novel does not allow for a ridiculous narrative and never leaves you wondering why a character would do something. 

Although this is one of the finest novels I've ever read, I have a few minor quibbles. To begin with, the author can go into these extensive description sessions with our characters at various moments in the narrative. For example, Chyna enters an automobile that appears only once in the whole novel. The author then describes the automobile for three to five minutes of reading time. 

Don't get me wrong, I love descriptive writing, but this book pushed it to a whole new level several times. This, along with a few other minor problems, is all I have to say about this book. This is a must-read for me, and one of the greatest books by this author I've read.

I strongly advise everybody who can get their hands on it to read it. It will captivate you for hours on end and make you fearfully check behind your back. I recommend this book to everyone who is looking for a scary and suspenseful journey. This book is not for the faint of heart and is intended for a more adult audience. Overall, this is one of the finest books I've ever read, and the intensity is real.

In 1997, Intensity was converted into a two-part TV movie that was broadcast on the Fox Network in the United States. Molly Parker, John C. McGinley, and Tori Paul appeared in it.

Several moviegoers pointed out strong parallels between the plots of High Tension and Intensity. When asked about the parallels at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004, director Alexandre Aja said that he had read the novel and was aware of them. 

According to his website, Koontz was aware of the parallel but would not sue "because he regarded the picture so puerile, repulsive, and intellectually bankrupt that he didn't want the association with it that would certainly arise if he filed a case against the filmmaker." 

I was unable to obtain a decent and trustworthy source for paid movie downloads or online sales, but as soon as I do, I will include the links on this page. If anyone has a source, please share it with me.

Final Thoughts

I had a great time reading about Vess. He was the maniacal serial murderer who was torturing Chyna. His character was one of the most intriguing aspects of the novel for me, and he kept the book in my hands.

The topic in the book isn't precisely realistic, but it depicted the thoughts and sentiments I would have if I were in the same circumstance.

 I feel like the main character in a lot of stories makes terrible judgments that I would never make, but Chyna is a really good decision-maker in this narrative. The characters are also fairly trustworthy. She had a difficult background, and that upbringing might sometimes hold her back in adulthood. This may be incredibly relatable to someone who has had a similar childhood.

It's neither the best nor worst narrative I've ever read and it depends on who is reading, but it's interesting and gets the message through.

One of the most captivating novels I've ever read! It keeps you on the edge of your seat all the way to the finish. The writing is fantastic, the characters are wonderfully developed, and the action will take your breath away. The author does an excellent job of providing the reader with a realistic and often horrifying image of events.

This narrative will take you by the soul and twist and pull at your basic beliefs till you want to scream.... or stop the adventure... but you can't. Then the trek downhill begins again..... And this time it will terrify the heck out of you.

This is how I would characterize the book in a nutshell; it was really nicely written. Suspenseful and heavy. Captivating main characters—you won't be able to put it down, even if your stomach is tightened and you need to take a break from the book to breathe. Simply awesome!

Synopsis

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

Past midnight, Chyna Shepard, twenty-six, gazes out a moonlit window, unable to sleep on her first night in the Napa Valley home of her best friend’s family. Instinct proves reliable. A murderous sociopath, Edgler Foreman Vess, has entered the house, intent on killing everyone inside. A self-proclaimed “homicidal adventurer,” Vess lives only to satisfy all appetites as they arise, to immerse himself in sensation, to live without fear, remorse, or limits, to live with intensity. Chyna is trapped in his deadly orbit.

Chyna is a survivor, toughened by a lifelong struggle for safety and self-respect. Now she will be tested as never before. At first her sole aim is to get out alive—until, by chance, she learns the identity of Vess’s next intended victim, a faraway innocent only she can save. Driven by a newly discovered thirst for meaning beyond mere self-preservation, Chyna musters every inner resource she has to save an endangered girl . . . as moment by moment, the terrifying threat of Edgler Foreman Vess intensifies.

Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Alexandre Aja, Bad Guy, Chyna Shepard, Chyna Shepherd, Edge Of Your Seat, Edgler Foreman, Edgler Vess, Ever Read, Fast Paced, Fox Network, Hard To Put, John C. McGinley, Koontz Books, Molly Parker, Page Turner, Serial Killer, Tori Paul, Years Ago

Rating: 90/100

Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

https://rebrand.ly/Intensity-Kindle

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