The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz



Not very complicated plot, lots of info about rescue dogs

I have not read a Koontz book for over five years but a relative passed this one off to me in an informal family book exchange.

What did I think?

Having just added a rescue dog to our family the week I started reading this book I had some interest in one of the over-arching theme of the book: the tragedy of wasting the lives that fills our world, especially those of our pets.

Koontz hits his other basic themes such as good vs. evil and the good cannot flee evil - they must confront it.

 But, was it a good book?

Yes and no.

 I read it quickly - Koontz's writing style remains breezy and easy to digest. But, the evil sociopaths were so over the top that I felt that they weren't even interesting. Their prisoner is so saintly that she is equally over the top.


Dean Koontz
The extended lecture on the need for adopting dogs gets old after a bit. Maybe it's a preaching to the choir thing, but I was already converted to this concept before I picked up the book.

The most interesting character by far is a post-modern hitman who names himself after a series of postmodern characters and writers (Billy Pilgrim, Tyrone Slothrop and others).

So, in sum, same old themes, one really interesting character and a lot of info on dog adoptions.

I rate this book 3 stars out of 5. It can be found on Amazon.com here: The Darkest Evening of the Year. 

 Reviewed June 29, 2009.

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