Life Expectancy

I normally rate audiobooks based on whether or not I can fall asleep to them. I found the characters and plot of this book good enough to keep me up til morning on two different nights. Not only was the story suspensful, it had a finely honed humorous edge to it. The twists of the second half of the story were very unexpected, which was a delight to me since I normally predict them. I'm glad to see that Koontz is still in top form.

After listening to Frankenstein and finding the writing way too narcissistic, I was very pleasantly surprised to listen to this book. I can only assume one of these books was either not written by Koontz, or this author is a man of multiply diverse styles. This book was a complete joy! It was one of those books that made me feel like I had a new friend and that the book was written for me... that is to say, i wanted to listen to it at every available moment and was sorry when it was over. It was filled with intelligent humor, witty and always captivating. Mr. Koontz, if you are out there, can you please explain to me how you can write in such an enveloping manner in one book, and lose it (IMHO) in the other. This book had none of the overt need to impress the reader with the author's grasp of the dictionary...this book was not filled with irrelevant detail like the other. For a mystery novel, this does all I expect the genre to provide. Bravo.

You might as well perch yourself on the edge of your seat before you sit down to listen to this great creepy story - - you're going to wind up there anyway. I grabbed this story out of desperation for something to listen to on a plane ride and found myself sitting in the airport for another hour until I could pull myself away to hurry to get to my hotel to try and finish. Good fun.

Of all the books I have read by Dean Koonz, this is the best of the best. While some of his books I have not enjoyed as much, this book left you thirsty for more. The story of Jimmy Toc and Laurie Toc, and the Toc clan, and the mirthless existence of Punchinello Bezo, all combine to make a novel rich with detail and satisfying in scope.
But even that doesn't adequately convey what is so great about this book. The theme of the book is uplifting and inspiring, while at the same time, entertaining. Koonz doesn't lecture, he just tells a story, and you wind up lecturing yourself. I thought Odd Thomas was great, and The Taking Better, but this is just outstanding. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone.

I read this book in hardback and thought it was a very good book, very entertaining while still being suspenseful. When I LISTENED to the book on Audible, I WAS HOOKED. This became my favorite Dean Koontz novel ever. The narrator was excellent and added so much more to the book itself. I plan on listening to more books read by John Bedford Lloyd. If you are unsure whether you want to spend a credit on this book or not, I suggest you go for it. You won't be sorry.

This book is a kick--an adrenalin rush of a thriller that manages to be surprisingly comic and genuinely heartwarming at the same time. The characters are wonderful! Honestly, who doesn't love killer clowns? Or psychotic aerialists? And the descriptions of food make you think it's time to dust off the cookbooks, roll up your sleeves, and start something simmering on the stovetop.

However, I'm only giving the book 4 stars--and probably would have given it 3.5, if possible--because it seemed as if the author had difficulty maintaining the fast-paced, gripping action that draws you in at the beginning of the book. The rather explosive start of the book set my expectations high. Halfway through, although I was still intrigued, I felt let down by the plot. The plot had many surprising turns, but had lost some of the initial edginess that I really enjoyed. I wanted to be scared more.

Nevertheless, the story is thoroughly enjoyable and the characters are memorable. In fact, I am so tickled by them I laugh when I think of them. Koontz is a brilliant writer with a wicked sense of humor. The narrator of the book, John Bedford Lloyd, is quite gifted and a pleasure to listen to.

I am normally a big fan of Dean Koontz and have enjoyed every book I have read, until this one. In fact, this one was so trite, sappy and cheezy that I had to check a couple of times to be sure it WAS Koontz! Predictable in spots, over-the-top stupid in others; far and away his worst book in my opinion. There is not anyway to describe this accurately. It's sort of a "Wonderful Life" meets "Killer Clowns from Outer Space" type of novel. I would not bother with this one.

I preface this review by stating I LOVE DK - he has thrilled, frightened, enthralled, and otherwise captivated me with almost every other book he's written. Life Expectancy was a disappointment - a huge yawn. It almost seems that the premise (a pastry chef turned ultimate hero) was chosen to "prove" he (DK) can make even the most banal scenario interesting, but it failed to rise even to that unlikely occasion. DK, how about finishing the Christopher Snow/Fear Nothing trilogy?

I am a Koontz fan but...is this the third Koontz book I've read where one of the antagonist eats a spider during his character development? What's that all about?

Not at all crazy about this book. He's had way better. I think he's trying fill his contract quota because I recognize scenarios pulled out of his other books..

Reader is too melodramatic, he sounds like a motivational speaker overplaying and exaggerating the antagonists.

This book was so much better than the Taking. Mr. Koontz is back. I haven't been able to stop listening. The reader is great and the plot engaging. Great fictional read (listen).