The Eyes of Darkness Review

The Eyes of Darkness

Published: 10, May 1981

Author: Dean Koontz (Written as Leigh Nichols)

Genre: Fiction, Horror, Literature, Mystery, Psychological, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:

The Eyes of Darkness Summary

The Review

Dean Koontz's suspense thriller novel The Eyes of Darkness follows a woman on a mission to discover whether her son actually died one year ago, or whether he is still alive. An engaging, exciting, suspenseful tale first published under the alias Leigh Nichols in which 'evil' is vanquished by a mother's love.

I appreciate pure thrillers, suspense, and crime, as well as light read romances, literary classics or otherwise, works that deal with life in general and how people live it, with its challenges, choices, ethical concerns, and so on.

As a result, reading this was ideal for me. It has exactly the right amount of suspense to get my heart racing, but not to the point where my blood pressure rises, which isn't good for anybody. It contains only a smidgeon of romance, and the paranormal element works for me as well.

The story discusses a bioweapon known as Gorki-400 after the Soviet city of Gorki, where it was developed. Because of the Cold War's conclusion, the provenance of the bioweapon was shifted to the Chinese city of Wuhan, and it was dubbed Wuhan-400 for the 1989 edition, forward generating conjecture from some in early 2020 that Koontz had somehow foreseen coronavirus outbreak in 2019 known as COVID-19. 

And when I heard about Wuhan and the emergence of a virus called COVID-19, I recalled this book and the virus called Wuhan-400, and then I remembered my own words about some of these great authors, that they must be time travelers or have knowledge of the future.

I kind of read it again because of the allusion to the current pandemic in Wuhan, China, but it isn't quite what social media portrays it to be. I'm happy I read that instead of fretting about Covid-19 since I really loved it. 

I identified with the mother's character. The fact that the narrative is about a woman and her child appeals to me. In addition, I like debating conspiracy theories.

As a writer, I aspire to write blockbusters like this one day, if not Little Women or To Kill a Mockingbird.

But, first and foremost, do not expect too much association with the Wuhan Covid virus, or you will be disappointed. Aside from that, the story is jam-packed with tension, a humorous premise, and intriguing paranormal activity. 

I liked how the youngster communicated, even though it was a little strange at times. Whereas Tina and Eliott's relationships appeared to be a fad, they hardly had time to be together as a couple since they were partners in the kid's rescue.

The Eyes of Darkness is a reworked version of Koontz's earlier novel. I had never heard of the novel, Leigh Nichols, or Dean Koontz because I was still a child. I came upon Watchers and tried to locate anything else he'd written. Like many others, I became a fan. This is the fifth book he has reprinted under the Nichols name that has been revised and somewhat altered to be more relevant in the twenty-first century, according to him.

It's a real delight. While there were a few stumbling blocks, the plot, heroes, villains, minor characters, locales, and conversation were all engaging without being unduly wordy. 

This was the Koontz I knew from the beginning. Not the present fashion of publishing two novels every year. I discovered paragraphs ranging in length from two phrases to a full-page, describing anything from chilly, short winter days to the odors of a small-town restaurant to the evergreens on a snow-capped peak. You feel as though you may have entered the universe that his imagination had constructed for you. You could sense the mother's distress, befuddlement, and eventual rage: she was the Ripley from Aliens before there was an Aliens Ripley.

The Eyes of Darkness is a decent science fiction/thriller novel. It takes place in modern-day Nevada. The language used is contemporary conversational English. It is modest in length. 

The second time around, I listened to an audiobook instead of reading the book. I was able to follow much of it; however, I had to re-listen to places when there is a lot of description of the landscape. The narrative is of high quality.

I've read practically all of Dean Koontz's novels, but the most recent ones I've read or listened to are Funhouse, Whispers, The Voice Of The Night, and now The Eyes of Darkness. I liked the first two novels, but they were different in that they contained more brutal crime and abysmal despair. This story is more of a science fiction/thriller novel, and while it is gloomy at points, there are also bright moments and some romance, but they are all fantastic as novels of different genres.

From the first page of The Eyes of Darkness, I was hooked. I was not let down. My only hope is that there was a method to transfer this author's novels from paper to screen while keeping his storylines intact and faithful to his objectives.

According to author Dean Koontz in the afterword of a 2008 paperback edition, television producer Lee Rich bought the rights to the book, as well as The Face of Fear, Darkfall, and a fourth unidentified novel, for a television series based on Koontz's writings. 

Ann Powell and Rose Schacht, co-writers of Drug Wars: The Camarena Story, were supposed to write The Eyes of Darkness, but they were never able to provide a satisfactory script. Finally, The Face of Fear is the only one of the four books that has been adapted into a television film.

Final Thoughts

Excellent read - extremely frightening that this was published in 1981 and foreshadowed what is occurring now!

I should clarify that this work was brought to my notice at this time since it mentioned a virus and a specific city, Wuhan, in China. That, I discovered, is only an incremental part of the tale, and while it is a fascinating, and even fantastic, coincidence, it is not really what the story is about. I despise writing anything that may ruin someone else's reading experience. I just mention this in case someone wants to read this article right now for that reason.

This is by far my favorite so far. I can see his growth as an author. Except for the purposes of comparison and contrast, I think the last two books I've read are not on this level even though they are already great masterpieces.

This is a book I strongly recommend. It's a classic Koontz thriller that won't let you down.

Synopsis

“A mother’s greatest wish—or darkest nightmare—comes true in this chilling thriller from the Master of Suspense, Dean Koontz.

“Koontz puts his readers through the emotional wringer.” –The Associated Press

In the year since her son Danny’s tragic death, Tina Evans has suffered incredible heartache. But now, with her Vegas show about to premiere, Tina might be ready to put her grief behind her and start over.

Until a shocking message appears on the chalkboard in Danny's room: NOT DEAD. Those two words send her on a terrifying journey from the bright lights of Las Vegas to the cold shadows of the High Sierras, where she uncovers a terrible secret.”

Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Conspiracy Theories, Good Book, Good Read, Koontz At His Best, Koontz Books, Las Vegas, Leigh Nichols, Odd Thomas, Son Danny, Tina Evans

Rating: 85/100

Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

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The Voice of the Night Review

The Voice Of The Night

Published: 1980

Author: Dean Koontz (Written as Brian Coffey)

Genre: Coming Of Age, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Mystery, Psychological, Suspense, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:

The Voice Of The Night Summary

The Review

Dean Koontz's work The Voice of the Night was published under the pen name Brian Coffey. Mr. Koontz is an entertainer's entertainer. I suppose I've read almost all of his writings. I must have liked them since I kept returning. However, after 5 to 7 works by Koontz, you begin to discover a pattern. There's usually a heroic hero, a lovely heroine, and a dog. You are always welcome, and while it may appear repetitive, it is not, and you must read to comprehend the power of words. This novel and its companion short story deviated from the norm while preserving the author's great writing style. That is very enjoyable.

I was never a fan of books with children as the main protagonists, even as a child, since I believed some of the things they did were impossible until I started reading Stephen King and Dean Koontz, simply read IT by Stephen King or Firestarter, and this one was still really excellent. 

Because there is so much dialogue in this story, it only took a few days to read. Koontz, as always, does an excellent job of explaining everything from the vital aspects to the fundamental surroundings. He clearly puts thought into almost everything he says. 

There does appear to be one common flaw in many of his writings, and that is his fondness for mature and occasionally perverted themes and scenarios. This is vital to the tale to some extent, although it appears to be uncontrolled with Koontz. It's as though he feels compelled to include anything in order for the novel to mature at some time. It was just this narrative that I could grasp since it is used to portray a character's morals, yet it is not in some cases. 

But when I think about it with an open mind, it becomes clear that he sometimes does it to prove to the readers that a character is pure evil and in some cases, the extent of love two characters have for each other, but again, using adult content can be a double-edged sword and many readers may not like it, but on the other hand, many readers like it in any form possible, so it all comes down to the readers' preference. 

That, along with the fact that he seldom manages to create a narrative without some form of romance, gives the impression that he is making an attempt to include something for every type of reader. 

There are better Koontz books out there, but this one is still worth reading. Just be ready for some depravity. After saying that, I must reiterate that I adore this method of attempting to write something that will appeal to every reader's taste, but it still creates a problem of choice, since some may enjoy or despise the style. But I'm satisfied, and I know a lot of folks who adore Dean Koontz's work.

Dean Koontz's works are always genuinely rewarding and pleasant. This was an older book, and I had heard that it was a simple book with a simple tale, so I wanted to see it for myself. 

What I discovered was a gently developing tension that culminated in an unexpected ending. I stayed up all night reading the book because it is stunning. 

I've previously read all of Koontz's works since the beginning of his writing career, so as I wait for his latest, I've been reading some of the earlier books and revisiting the current ones. 

Mr. Koontz has brought me so much delight, suspense, and insight throughout the years! In addition to the narrative, which has brought hours of entertainment, I generally uncover a deeper meaning. 

Fortunately, I'm constantly reading the latest books by great authors and sometimes not-so-great authors, and I'm hoping he'll have written another before I complete the current ones I'm reading. I honestly don't know how people live without loving Dean Koontz's writings!!!

This novel and its companion short tale broke the usual pattern while maintaining the superb writing style. Very entertaining. Yes, the style was distinct. It didn't always read like Dean Koontz. And any novel that begins, "Have you murdered anything?" with two adolescent lads makes you uncomfortable. You initially wonder, "Do I even want to read it?" But you should read it if you're like me and many other readers who love Dean Koontz and Stephen King for their insane ideas and stories with twists that will blow your mind. But I still encourage you to take a chance. It's worthwhile.

Final Thoughts

I almost quit reading this novel because I felt it was taking me somewhere I didn't want to go, and I was planning to read it ten pages a day, but then I thought, let's read a bit more, and it turned out to be a perfect decision! 

As I read further, I understood that the author was narrating an age-old narrative, and I thoroughly loved it! Great narrative, well-crafted, and the sad aspect is that it reveals mankind's actual character!

Overall, this is a terrific novel with intriguing characters and enough narrative to keep you engaged from beginning to end. The nicest aspect is how simple I found it to identify to the characters and scenario since it could happen to anybody. 

I found myself seriously despising Colin's mother. It's simple to see where she's coming from, but I practically wanted to step into the book and urge her to quit speaking and listen for a change. 

She may be the lesser of two evils in Colin's situation, but she is just as awful a parent as Colin's father. 

Roy was excellent as the "evil guy." As several of my reader friends have pointed out, it's easy to despise him while yet feeling sorry for him. Except for the murderous aspect, he reminds me of a lot of youngsters I've known throughout the years. 

The "accident back story" might be difficult to read as a parent, but it is essential to the storyline progression. 

My only criticism of this book is its finale. I understand why Koontz chose that ending, but it leaves the reader hanging. It would be fascinating to hear how the other characters are resolved, such as the Colin-Mother problem, where Colin and Heather go from there, and, of course, what happens to Roy. 

We'll never know because this novel was written a long time ago with no sequel. But don't worry, it's a full plot; you simply have to use your imagination to fill in the blanks for the minor characters, just like any movie or book with a straightforward finale.

This book reminds me of some of Stephen King's early works. We are aware of the presence of evil greater than that which we have confronted. 

The short tale "Silence" adds significantly to the worth of this story and was a welcome addition. This is a highly recommended read!

Synopsis

This cult favorite coming-of-age suspense includes a BONUS short story “Silence,” on Kindle!

“A fearsome tour of an adolescent's psyche. Terrifying, knee-knocking suspense.” - Chicago Sun-Times

“Hair-raising from cover to cover.” - Houston Chronicle

#1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz gives new meaning to blood brothers in this chilling audiobook of friendship gone awry.

No one could understand why Colin and Roy were best friends. Colin was so shy; Roy was so popular. Colin was fascinated by Roy - and Roy was fascinated by death. Then one day, Roy asked his timid friend: “You ever killed anything?”

From that moment on, the two were bound together in a game too terrifying to imagine - and too irresistible to stop.

NOW WITH BONUS SHORT STORY “SILENCE”

30 years later...the story continues with the spine-tingling follow-up “Silence.”

Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Blood Brothers, Easy To Read, Edge Of Your Seat, Killed Anything, Koontz Books, Main Characters, Page Turner, Santa Leona, Year Old, Years Ago

Rating: 85/100

Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

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Whispers Review

Whispers

Published: April 1980

Author: Dean Koontz

Genre: Adult, American, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literature, Mystery, Parenting, psychological, Serial Killer, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:

Whispers Summary

The Review

Dean Koontz's novel Whispers is a suspense thriller. It was the first of Koontz's novels to reach the New York Times Best Seller list, and it is largely regarded as the book that launched his career as a best-selling novelist. The novel was also turned into a film of the same name in 1990. The film was bizarre. Unlike the book. I like the book, but it terrified me. The film was simply bizarre. The acting was mediocre. It lacked belief, emotion, and realism. They could have done so much better than the finished outcome. Still, the film was passable. Unfortunately, the youngster in the film performed poorly. But then, so were the grownups, and even the bugs were bad actors. 

Despite being scheduled for a theatrical release, the picture was released direct to video in the United States via Live Home Video. In 2012, the film was re-released on DVD under the label Scorpion. I've included a link to the movie at the conclusion of the review, but it may not be available in all countries, so double-check the information on the website you'll arrive at after clicking the link.

Unfortunately, I cannot suggest it to young readers since numerous extended adult paragraphs, scenes, and explanatory passages, particularly in the second half, make for difficult reading.

Though if like me, you enjoy being a witness to the development of a good writer into a great one, and you enjoy the intimacy of that experience, even if it is shared with millions of other readers, you should read "Whispers." The narrative is fascinating intellectually, but the clumsy language makes it less pleasant than many other Koontz stories.

It's not a good introduction for anyone who hasn’t yet learned to enjoy the fantastic rides that his later works provide. I'd want to see a revised and re-edited edition of the book. 

The narrative line is highly intriguing, and the two major protagonists were beautifully done. However, the conversation and explicit scenes had me practically shouting to myself as to why Koontz was writing such ridiculous dialect and too detailed adult material that was characterized as a cheap paperback one would buy in an adult book store. 

Regardless of how original and intriguing the narrative was, these two factors seriously undermined the work. Perhaps the author was doing it for the purpose of the plot, as an experiment, or simply to attract new readers to his novels. I'm not sure, but I believe it hurts more when someone is unable to publicly discuss a book, even if it was excellent, but, it contained adult content.

However, even after saying these things, I must state that they are solely meant for novice readers and/or non-fans; otherwise, it was a fantastic work for fans and readers who enjoy reading large volumes.

Hilary struck me as a fairly strong character. She understands what she wants and how to care for herself, but this is also her weakness.

Minor imperfections were there, but they did not detract from the action. The ancient mansion was situated on a somewhat inaccessible position, so how did they transport workers and goods up there? 

Regardless of Katherine's intricate narrative, in a small town, there would always be one or two nosy neighbors with suspicions, and there would have to be some chatter. 

I'm also not certain that an experienced detective would have allowed himself and two civilians to stroll into a potentially violent scenario or enter a property where there was possible evidence in a live crime investigation, even only to air it out.

Nonetheless, these did not distract from the story's overall suspense. It was a suspense novel, not a study of police procedures or actual crime.

It was amusing, if readers viewed the movie first, the novel will fill up many gaps. and many aspects from the film that brought the tale together.

It's not as fantastic as some of Koontz's later works like my favorites The Key To Midnight and Intensity, but it's still highly fascinating, twisted, dark, strange, and intriguing.

Dean Koontz has us on the edge of our seats, chewing our nails yet again. The suspense builds until I can't take it anymore. Nonetheless, he manages to construct a villain who is so shattered that I end up feeling sad for him.

The first third of the book moved slowly and took me a few days to finish. When it finally began moving, it accelerated. The narrative was fairly predictable, and I recognized how everything was going to play out around the time the speed picked up. 

Even though it was predictable, it kept my attention to the conclusion. There was too much explicit content for my tastes, but that's just my opinion. I don't like romance in thrillers, but this was far too graphic for me, and if I wanted that, I'd read a corny romance novel. As previously stated, I still recommend this book.

Final Thoughts

Only a few authors, like Dean Koontz, can make you sympathize with a nasty serial murderer. Everyone has a history, and for many people, child abuse had a role in shaping who they are. A variation on the divided personality.

Only around three pages into the narrative did it start to get very interesting! Needless to say, this was not your typical stalker tale!!! It began with a more spooky and sci-fi vibe and quickly took off! This one's storyline was right up there with the greatest! This was fantastic and, after all, classic Koontz! It did take a couple of chapters for things to pick up, which is NOT usual of Koontz! 

He usually has you hooked inside the first two pages! "What's going on here?" I kept asking myself throughout the story. What is he up to? 

He was creating an odd, bizarre, and captivating plot. This one is both innovative and intriguing. This is classic Koontz, who, as his admirers know, is extraordinary!!!! 

So, what can I say about this book that is appropriate? To begin with, it boasts one of the finest villains I've ever read about. He's not just psychotic and nasty, but in the end, you understand he's also a victim. You genuinely feel bad for him.

The other characters are equally excellent. They're all of them. It's unusual not to dislike a single character in a novel.

The narrative follows. Simply said, it's a fantastic narrative. Very nicely told and written. Add in a fantastic cast of characters, and you have one heck of a novel.

I've read practically everything Koontz has written, and this is by far one of his greatest. The others, Shattered and Watchers, were not awful; in fact, they were pretty good as well, but not on the same level as this magnificent work. Simply said, this is a must-read.

Synopsis

“#1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz “pulls out all the stops” (Publishers Weekly) in this haunting psychological thriller...

For thirty-five years, Bruno Frye has lived in the shadow of the adopted mother who made his heart beat with constant fear. And even though she died five years ago, the whispers still haunt him in the dark...enough to make him kill—and kill again.

Hilary Thomas is one of his intended victims. And she’s about to learn that even death can’t keep a bad man down...”

Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Bruno Frye, Don Carmody, Douglas Jackson, Edge Of My Seat, Even Though, Ever Read, Filmrise, Great Book, Hilary Thomas, Jean Leclerc, John Dunning, Koontz Books, Main Characters, Second Time, Victoria Tennant, Well Written, Years Ago

Rating: 90/100

Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

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Whispers (1990) (R)

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