The Face

A Novel

By: Dean Koontz

Narrated by: Dylan Baker

Length: 19 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

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 and listeners 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 thriller 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.

©2003 Dean Koontz (P)2003 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"...The suspense builds smoothly and steadily in [narrator Dylan] Baker's hands." —AudioFile

“Koontz has always had near-Dickensian powers of description, and an ability to yank us from one page to the next that few novelists can match.”—Los Angeles Times

"Both terrifying and amusing, The Face is classic Dean Koontz—a blend of murder, mystery and wit...Koontz's dialogue is sharp, his characters multidimensional, and the plot is tight."—New York Daily News

Okay, but not great

I have been an avid audiobook reader for years and have enjoyed many books by Koontz, but The Face was slow to get into and too long. I enjoyed the ending, but it seemed to be a labor to get there.

Not one of Dean's best.

Would you try another book from Dean Koontz and/or Dylan Baker?

Oh yes. I'm a fan of Dean Koontz.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

The book is too verbose. It would have been better had it been a bit shorter. I would have made the climatic scene more exciting. So many possibilities.......lost.

Would you be willing to try another one of Dylan Baker’s performances?

yes

Could you see The Face being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

no

Any additional comments?

The book had me intensely interested and then it ended. I felt somewhat unfulfilled after investing 19 hours in the listen. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book. Just not a lot.

Killer Bad Guy

Narrator was great. Was good but could of been better. Worth a credit even so.

The Face

Great story. Held my interest from the very beginning to the end. Audible should have more Koontz novels.

Excellent thriller.

Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Great mystique as well as cloak and dagger stuff. This one is a keeper...

Dean Koontz you're back !

I'm so happy that Dean Koontz can still write a suspense/horror novel with esoteric undertones. This book isn't his very best but is written so in his style that anyone who loves his work will love this great effort. All the characters had depth and the story makes you think about good and evil in only the way Koontz's work can.

One of my favorites

I've read enough Dean Koontz books to become very aware that he reuses plots, characters, etc., and while his writing is not always the best this is one of his gems. Add to that a fantastic narration by Dylan Baker (proving that the best audiobooks are not just read, but PERFORMED) and the result is a very fun listen that I tend to replay every couple of years for the sheer enjoyment of it.

Pretty Awesome!!

I thought I chewed through all the konz thrillers. so glad I found this one.

I love books that have twists and turns.

you will enjoy this audiobook. I would do it all again. i was not disappointed!

I just cannot find words to describe how thoroughly I enjoyed this book

Dean Koontz is simple the master of the telling of the struggle between god and evil. No one weaves a story together the way he does. This book has it all. You’ll be trying to piece together the connections until your head is spinning! As the climax approached, I literally had my head in my hands! It was that good.

This villain though. Wow. This character was expertly crafted and moved through the story as the fascination and dread he provoked in me steadily grew. Excellent!

And I World give the narrator ten stars!!!! I wasn’t sure if I was going to like him in the beginning, but let me tell you, this guy is a star! He handled the humor in this story like an expert. He really brought the action alive and all his character voices were believable. He’s a new favorite!

So yes, I highly recommend this book. Loved it!