The Darkest Evening of the Year

I've "read" many of Dean Koontz's books, some good, some not so good and then there's this one. Probably one of, if not the best one so far. The story line kept me interested all the way through. I listen to the books in my car and found myself sitting there listening to this book well after getting to many of my destinations. I liked the dog in this book as much as Christopher Snow's dog in 'Fear Nothing'. By the way, where is Christopher Snow?

This book is one of my new favorite Dean Koontz novels.

The narrator did a fantastic job, one of the best narration jobs I've heard.

Dean does an excellent job of weaving a fantastic tale with characters keeps you entertained and makes you want to countinue to listen in intrest.

I have never read a Koontz book until this one caught my eye. He has certainly done his homework into the world of dog rescue which he intertwined into the heart pounding story in this book. I found myself tearing up on more than one occasion as he described in detail the life of a dog rescuer and the happiness and sorrows that come with that life.

Even if you've never rescued an animal you will enjoy this book. It's touching and exciting and holds your interest right up to the last sentence

Dean delivers with his unusual gift of prose, but much of the dialogue comes out as preaching to the choir. The bad guys are exceedingly evil and the good guys, of course, are the ones in the big white hats. This becomes a bit simplistic. I wish there was a little more balance, but it is certainly an interesting read.

I have read a lot of Koontz and was a bit skeptical, seeing that Golden Retriever on the cover page....thinking maybe this is going to be real bad, real corny and all that (especially since Koontz' dog just died.)
But surprise surprise. after reading many reviews on this book on amazon as well, I think it's time someone steps up and mentions that this book is not really about dogs and dog rescue, though though this plays a certain role.

there is actually something like a plot as well, and I was really really impressed by "moon girl", the novel's most shining character and villain, I am not saying that she is the most vicious koontz-creation ever, since there are so many, but she is certainly second to none. the way koontz fleshes out the character there is a super dangerous and also erotic charge emanating from this character, very interesting. and the villain a woman, that's quite rare. Big plus.

amy the dog-fanatic and rescuer has an interesting story to tell as well - and guess what: there are supernatural elements in this story. and there's lots of really brutal sadistical people after her and her boy-friend.

so don't be too concerned, this is not all "cutsy" stuff (though some of it). it is, however, a light and good suspenseful read, way better than I had thought it would be. the ending is in my opinion completely ridiculous, and I am wondering if he screwed it up on purpose, but this story does not really need a clever ending, it's just not that type of read where you just can't wait for a ingenious conclusion. the ending is silly but it doesn't really matter with this book. will most certainly entertain you.

kept my interest until the last work. Has alotof supernatural stuff in it and edge of your seatstuff. I appreciate any bood where the dog is made the hero he really is. you will not be disapointed in this one

What else can I say - I am a rabid fan and love all of his work! This one is a little darker then most, dealing with some abuse which was hard to stomach. But as always, there is a faithful dog and happy ending. If you love Dean, you will love this.

I have to admit I'm one of the Biggest Dean Koontz fans and this one was a bit hard for me to read. Unless you are a huge dog fan, and can handle the switch from reality to supernatural almost at books end, then it's tough to get through. I still Loooove the Man, though. Dean is the best author out there, so far!

This is the first audio book That I have listened to. The story seemed slow to me and hard to concentrate. I drive for a living and once I got to know the characters it was very hard to pause the audio to do my deliveries. Nikkie was a fantastic Dog. How a person can come up with a story with so many different characters then tie them all up at the end was beyond belief. Thank you for a wonderful story.
George

Perhaps under the painfully verbose description of every aspect of each scene, character, and action in this novel there may be an excellent and gripping story; But unless you are a an aspiring English literature professor who enjoys reading 200 words to describe something where 2 words would suffice to convey the same meaning, you'll never reach the heart of the story. This book reads like an over-zealous college student's attempt to use every word he has ever learned in a five hundred page poem disguised as a novel. By the time the author finishes describing the smell of the wind blowing through the trees the reader (or listener) will forget the plot. This is the first content I've downloaded by this author, and it is likely to be the last.