Life Expectancy

By: Dean Koontz

Narrated by: John Bedford Lloyd

Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

With his bestselling blend of nail-biting intensity, daring artistry, and storytelling magic, Dean Koontz returns with an emotional roller coaster of a tale filled with enough twists, turns, shocks, and surprises for ten ordinary novels. Here is the story of five days in the life of an ordinary man born to an extraordinary legacy—a story that will challenge the way you look at good and evil, life and death, and everything in between.

Jimmy Tock comes into the world on the very night his grandfather leaves it. As a violent storm rages outside the hospital, Rudy Tock spends long hours walking the corridors between the expectant fathers' waiting room and his dying father's bedside. It's a strange vigil made all the stranger when, at the very height of the storm's fury, Josef Tock suddenly sits up in bed and speaks coherently for the frist and last time since his stroke.

What he says before he dies is that there will be five dark days in the life of his grandson—five dates whose terrible events Jimmy will have to prepare himself to face. The first is to occur in his twentieth year; the second in his twent-third year; the third in his twenty-eighth; the fourth in his twenty-ninth; the fifth in his thirtieth.

Rudy is all too ready to discount his father's last words as a dying man's delusional rambling. But then he discovers that Josef also predicted the time of his grandson's birth to the minute, as well as his exact height and weight, and the fact that Jimmy would be born with syndactyly—the unexplained anomal of fused digits—on his left foot. Suddenly the old man's predictions take on a chilling significance.

What terrifying events await Jimmy on these five dark days? What nightmares will he face? What challenges must he survive? As the novel unfolds, picking up Jimmy's story at each of these crisis points, the path he must follow will defy every expectation. And with each crisis he faces, he will move closer to a fate he could never have imagined. For who Jimmy Tock is and what he must accomplish on the five days when his world turns is a mystery as dangerous as it is wondrous—a struggle against an evil so dark and pervasive, only the most extraordinary of human spirits can shine through.

©2004 Dean Koontz (P)2004 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Emotionally powerful and thought-provoking."—Booklist

"A master storyteller and a daring writer... he gives readers bright hope in a dark world.... Life Expectancy pits good versus evil and carries a persuasive message, about the power of love and family and the miracle of existence... Koontz is a true original and this novel, one of his most unusual yet, will leave readers aglow."—Publishers Weekly, starred review.

"Mr. Koontz is a skillful storyteller....His new Life Expectancy offers a clear illustration of what he does right."—The New York Times

A GREAT STORY AND AS ALWAYS WELL WRITTEN

Another excellently written story full of imagination and with all twists which marks Dean Koontz as one of the premier writers of his time. I am currently working through all his books I might have missed through the past few years. As with reading all of Kings books, I find both authers to be the best ones I've read during mine and their lifetimes as we are all the same age.

Could not stop listening

I found this book engrossing, entertaining and very much worth my time. I like the character development. The people seemed real. I also enjoyed the humor.

The narrator is top notch. I want to find other books he has narrated. He handles female voices very well, which is important for a well rounded listen.

Love the tongue-in-cheek style

What did you love best about Life Expectancy?

The somewhat amusing way the main characters accepted things in their lives. Also the various twists with the family tree was great.

What did you like best about this story?

the entire premise of predicting "5 bad days"

Have you listened to any of John Bedford Lloyd’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, and like to listen to his voice

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"life can be funny sometimes but clowns...not so much"

I love this book.

Would you listen to Life Expectancy again? Why?

Yes. I love this book, I've been reading it over and over for years. This is the first time that I have listened to the audiobook but I like listening to them at work.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Grandma Rowena. She cracks me up.

What about John Bedford Lloyd’s performance did you like?

I didn't. I didn't DISLIKE his performance but Lori's voice was creepy. Like, really creepy. All breathy and husky. Did NOT like that.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Many! I love this novel!!!!

Any additional comments?

I love Dean Koontz!

Stop clowning around

Being a fan of crime novels, this book too me a while to get into. Koontz obviously tried to inject some humor into this story with the circus themed characters but for me that kind of detracts from the enjoyment. Maybe it was the reader's dopey voicing for the characters that made them a little less than real. I had a hard time identifying with anyone in the book. The plot was good and the events were somewhat thrilling at times so I was determined to finish the story. All in all, this isn't my favorite Dean Koontz novel by a long shot.

My favorite Dean Koontz book

Would you listen to Life Expectancy again? Why?

Of coarse, reading this story for the first time was priceless, but I truly enjoyed listening to this amazing story again through Audible. This was a perfect choice for a long ride in the car.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Though I already know the story, listening to it again, there was a great anticipation for what I knew was coming. This really is my go to story when I have extended listening time.

Have you listened to any of John Bedford Lloyd’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first one.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Each terrible awful day brings great anticipation.

Excellent!!!

I have read Koontz for years and this is one of my absolute favorites! Great story!

Life Expectancy

This book by Dean Koontz is one of the best books that he has written.It is full of humor, has a good plot and thrilling all at the same time. Would love to see it as a movie

Really good book

Started off a bit slow but quickly built to a suspense level to the point of staying up late into the night to listen.
DK has a very good writing style. Easy to follow with highly twisted plots. LOVE listening to his books!

Great narration, Good story

I dont regret the purchase and the book entertained me. The story was good.
The goofy dialogue between the characters was pretty annoying though.