The Face
Published: 2003
Author: Dean Koontz
Genre: Espionage, Fiction, Literature, Psychological, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller
Check the summary of this book here:
The Review
The Face is a novel by Dean Koontz that is another mixed-genre entry from him. It is essentially an espionage story with a lot of twists, as is typical of this author. Dean Koontz is an expert in his field. This novel is no different. You get invested in the characters' lives and fear for them. The plot teases you with Typhoon's real identity while also misdirecting you, which is what is expected in a genre like this, and I call it marvelous.
It got off to a sluggish start for me. If it does the same for you, keep reading!! After the first seven to ten percent of the story, the action picks up. Once it gets started, it's a nonstop roller-coaster ride all the way to the end! Great character development, story, and surprises to keep you reading. Mr. Koontz hits yet another home run!
The storytelling is outstanding, the personalities are well evolved, and the supernatural component is very convincing. Another one of my favorite Koontz books so far and I've read almost all of them except for the ones I may not have found or that have not yet been published.
Adults who appreciate supernatural crime dramas should check it out. Laputa is a villain you can cheer for and loath, and there are numerous characters you can't help but root for, notably Fric!
This novel has a lot of surprising twists and turns that had me reading beyond my bedtime. It has some supernatural elements to scare you, but it trails behind "Watchers," "Cold Fire," and "Fear Nothing" in terms of plot.
As a result, The Face appears to be too long. One hundred pages less will undoubtedly make it a much better read for someone who does not enjoy reading as much as avid readers who will enjoy it as much as I did and wish for more at the end.
However, Koontz's intensely developed characters more than compensate for the plot. The two protagonists, Ethan and Fric, are enthralling.
Fric's sorrow as his family loves itself more, and Ethan's melancholy after his wife's death, are both beautifully shown. They have an authenticity and sensitivity about them that keeps me anchored to their narrative and destiny. And then there's Corky, who is evil incarnate. The ending is heartwarming, and I'm glad Ethan and Fric have each other to live for.
I was browsing remarks about Mr. Koontz's recent works. Not very nice, and I'm always surprised as to why these individuals post these phony evaluations as if they read a different book than I did.
This is outstanding! You don't want to put it down. These aren't just characters; they're individuals you feel strongly about as if they really were your close friend. From start to finish. You wouldn't want it to end. It's a shame they won't be continued in future books.
Instead of fussing about Odd Thomas or author's political ideas, why not try reading this one or Intensity, both of which were fantastic.
I know why Stephen King and Dean Koontz get these fake reviews, and it's because of their political views and the open way they talk about it in their novels, which is actually a good thing because it shows the reality of things, and we must stop living like slaves and be free of the false freedom, but we must first free our minds and begin thinking with an open mind... Okay, let’s get back to the review...
As an ardent reader, I can assure you that The Face is fantastic. This is a true thriller with supernatural elements, but the plot is compelling. The clues left by the would-be murderer become clear only after the plot begins to unfold.
The narrative's lead character for me is a young boy. His antics keep the reader entertained while the security chief attempts to track down the killer using strange clues. It was an enjoyable read. As with many outstanding novels of a good size, I read it in a matter of days. Once again, a page-turner.
The Face contains substantially less graphic violence than many of Koontz's other novels. There is some "fantasy," but the novel is mostly a "who did this?" mystery. I started liking the true relationship grow.
Fans of Koontz will enjoy this, but those who have been put off by some of his previous explicit crime-related stories should give it a shot.
Final Thoughts
Mr. Koontz, you are a great writer who manages to craft stories that keep me up throughout the night wondering what would happen next. I'm referring to being caught up in something as if it were real life. I always enjoy the ride, so thank you for taking me on another exciting adventure.
As always, keep doing what you're doing because you're an incredible writer who comes close to Stephen King's level but in your own style, so there's no comparison and a reader actually needs to read a lot and understand both of you and what you write to appreciate every word and sentence you two write.
This novel captures your attention from the beginning and never lets you go. I've never been a fan of the overused term "page-turner," but this one fits the bill well. Almost every chapter would have something happen that would draw you in, making you want to know what was going on.
The worst part about reading this is that it caused me to stay up much later than usual because I lost track of time.
Moreover, unlike other works in this genre, Koontz provides excellent descriptive descriptions of every person, location, and item.
There is also a lack of the typical stock characters that appear in many of today's books, movies, and television shows. There is no tough girl with a terrible attitude, no side character with an unfathomable desire to see the hero fail, and so on.
The only thing that might put some readers off is the book's paranormal elements. It is unlike your average criminal narrative in that some of it is supernatural in nature. But that is one of the reasons why the book is so good, and you bought it knowing it was written by Dean Koontz, but if you don't know who he is, try to finish it and you might become a new fan of the author and this crazy mixed genre.
Synopsis
“Acknowledged as “America’s most popular suspense novelist”(Rolling Stone ) and as one of today’s most celebrated and successful writers, Dean Koontz has earned the devotion of millions of readers around the world and the praise of critics everywhere for tales of character, mystery, and adventure that strike to the core of what it means to be human. Now he delivers the page-turner of the season, an unforgettable journey to the heart of darkness and to the pinnacle of grace, at once chilling and wickedly funny, a brilliantly observed chronicle of good and evil in our time, of illusion and everlasting truth.
He’s Hollywood’s most dazzling star, whose flawless countenance inspires the worship of millions and fires the hatred of one twisted soul. His perfectly ordered existence is under siege as a series of terrifying, enigmatic “messages” breaches the exquisitely calibrated security systems of his legendary Bel Air estate.
The boxes arrive mysteriously, one by one, at Channing Manheim’s fortified compound. The threat implicit in their bizarre, disturbing contents seems to escalate with each new delivery. Manheim’s security chief, ex-cop Ethan Truman, is used to looking beneath the surface of things. But until he entered the orbit of a Hollywood icon, he had no idea just how slippery reality could be. Now this good man is all that stands in the way of an insidious killer
—and forces that eclipse the most fevered fantasies of a city where dreams and nightmares are the stuff of daily life. As a seemingly endless and ominous rain falls over southern California, Ethan will test the limits of perception and endurance in a world where the truth is as thin as celluloid and answers can be found only in the illusory intersection of shadow and light.
Enter a world of marvelous invention, enchantment, and implacable intent, populated by murderous actors and the walking dead, hit men and heroes, long-buried dreams and never-dying hope.
Here a magnificent mansion is presided over by a Scottish force of nature known as Mrs. McBee, before whom all men tremble. A mad French chef concocts feasts for the mighty and the malicious. Ming du Lac, spiritual adviser to the stars, has a direct line to the dead. An aptly named cop called Hazard will become Ethan’s ally, an anarchist will sow discord and despair, and a young boy named Fric, imprisoned by celebrity and loneliness, will hear a voice telling him of the approach of something unimaginably evil. Traversing this extraordinary landscape, Ethan will face the secrets of his own tragic past and the unmistakable premonition of his impending violent death as he races against time to solve the macabre riddles of a modern-day beast.
A riveting tour de force of suspense, mystery, and miraculous revelation, The Face is that rare novel that entertains, provokes, and uplifts at the same time. It will make you laugh. It will give you chills. It will fill you with hope.
BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Dean Koontz's The City.”
Useful Search Related Words & Keywords
Bad Guy, Channing Manheim, Corky Laputa, Corner Of His Eye, Ethan Truman, Head Of Security, Koontz At His Best, Koontz Books, Page Turner, Year Old
Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.
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