Phantoms - Dean Koontz

Firstly, I have to say that if you like horror/thriller books then read on because this is one book you won't want to miss!

Secondly, if you have never read a Koontz book before then this would be an ideal read - it'll show you his writing style at its best, and you'll be left wanting to read his other books!

I have read quite a few Koontz books over the years and actually prefer his writing style to that of Stephen ...
...to get my attention 100%, and I find myself totally absorbed by the plot - I cannot put his books down! Stephen King is more well known, especially as a lot of his books have been made into films, but this does not make his books more enjoyable. They are enjoyable in a different way - I like reading them so I can compare them to the films, I like reading them because they have a good solid plot, but I do find that one of Stephen King's downfalls ... more

Firstly, I have to say that if you like horror/thriller books then read on because this is one book you won't want to miss!

Secondly, if you have never read a Koontz book before then this would be an ideal read - it'll show you his writing style at its best, and you'll be left wanting to read his other books!

I have read quite a few Koontz books over the years and actually prefer his writing style to that of Stephen King. Why? For the simple reason that his books seem to get my attention 100%, and I find myself totally absorbed by the plot - I cannot put his books down! Stephen King is more well known, especially as a lot of his books have been made into films, but this does not make his books more enjoyable. They are enjoyable in a different way - I like reading them so I can compare them to the films, I like reading them because they have a good solid plot, but I do find that one of Stephen King's downfalls is his overuse of description at times. I have found some of his books to contain chunks of boring unnecessary description that detracts from the thrill of the plot.

Koontz books seem to really grip me - I become totally involved in the book, and 'have to finish it'. So now that I have introduced the author by telling you why I prefer him to King, let me tell you about this book.

I came across it in a shop on Friday - a shop that sells antique furniture and old books. It was a bargain at £1.00 - who was I to complain! I started reading it on the train on my way home...the fun starts right from the beginning! This book has such a thrilling plot that you will find yourself getting through it at an amazing pace! I finished it last night and it is fantastic.

The story centres around a small town called Snowville up in the mountains of California. Jenny, the local doctor, has just been to pick up her younger sister Lisa. It is time they get to know each other - their father had died years ago and their mother quite recently. Jenny has never really known her sister - she has been so involved in her career over the years that she hardly had time to go back home and visit. Now she realises that she is all that Lisa has left, so she arranges for her to stay with her in the mountains for a while.

As they drive into the town they both realise that it is looking very quiet. It's a Sunday evening and normally there are people walking around, driving their cars - the normal things. But there is no one to be seen. Jenny and Lisa joke that there must be some wicked program on the TV, and they think nothing more about it. When they pull up outside the house they take all the suitcases inside and shout for the housekeeper. She doesn't answer. They go into the kitchen where they find her dead on the floor. Except she looks terrible. Her skin is so badly bruised and her body bloated, and yet she is still warm. She must have died very recently. With no sign of foul play and no explanation of the bruising - Jenny begins to wonder if this has something to do with the entire town being so silent.

The telephone doesn't work so she goes next door to use theirs. But no one is home next door. She cannot find anyone anywhere! And as they search the town they find other bodies, and things that they could never have even imagined.

Something has 'captured' this small town in the mountains - it appears at first to be some kind of plague or biological weapon, but all is not as it seems.

Need I say more?
This is one book that you won't be able to put down. It grips you right at the start and doesn't let you go until you turn the final page.

Enjoy.

 

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