By the Light of the Moon

A Novel

By: Dean Koontz

Narrated by: Kate Rudd, Seth Podowitz

Length: 13 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Dean Koontz has surpassed his longtime reputation as “America’s most popular suspense novelist” (Rolling Stone) to become one of the most celebrated and successful writers of our time. Reviewers hail his boundless originality, his art, his unparalleled ability to create highly textured, riveting drama, at once viscerally familiar and utterly unique.

Author of one #1 New York Times bestseller after another, Koontz is at the pinnacle of his powers, spinning mysteries and miracles, enthralling tales that speak directly to today’s readers, balm for the heart and fire for the mind. In this stunning novel, he delivers a tour de force of dark suspense and brilliant revelation that has all the Koontz trademarks: adventure, chills, riddles, humor, heartbreak, an unforgettable cast of characters, and a climax that will leave you clamoring for more.

Dylan O’Connor is a gifted young artist just trying to do the right thing in life. He’s on his way to an arts festival in Santa Fe when he stops to get a room for himself and his twenty-year-old autistic brother, Shep. But in a nightmarish instant, Dylan is attacked by a mysterious “doctor,” injected with a strange substance, and told that he is now a carrier of something that will either kill him...or transform his life in the most remarkable way. Then he is told that he must flee—before the doctor’s enemies hunt him down for the secret circulating through his body. No one can help him, the doctor says, not even the police.

Stunned, disbelieving, Dylan is turned loose to run for his life...and straight into an adventure that will turn the next twenty-four hours into an odyssey of terror, mystery—and wondrous discovery. It is a journey that begins when Dylan and Shep’s path intersects with that of Jillian Jackson. Before that evening Jilly was a beautiful comedian whose biggest worry was whether she would ever find a decent man. Now she too is a carrier. And even as Dylan tries to convince her that they’ll be safer sticking together, cold-eyed men in a threatening pack of black Suburbans approach, only seconds before Jilly’s classic Coupe DeVille explodes into thin air.

Now the three are on the run together, but with no idea whom they’re running from--or why. Meanwhile Shep has begun exhibiting increasingly disturbing behavior. And whatever it is that’s coursing through their bodies seems to have plunged them into one waking nightmare after another. Seized by sinister premonitions, they find themselves inexplicably drawn to crime scenes—just minutes before the crimes take place.

What this unfathomable power is, how they can use it to stop the evil erupting all around them, and why they have been chosen are only parts of a puzzle that reaches back into the tragic past and the dark secrets they all share: secrets of madness, pain, and untimely death. Perhaps the answer lies in the eerie, enigmatic messages that Shep, with precious time running out, begins to repeat, about an entity who does his work “by the light of the moon.”

By the Light of the Moon is a novel of heart-stopping suspense and transcendent beauty, of how evil can destroy us and love can redeem us—a masterwork of the imagination in which the surprises come page after page and the spell of sublime storytelling triumphs throughout.

©2002 Dean Koontz. (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Perhaps more than any other author, Koontz writes fiction perfectly suited to the mood of America post-September 11: novels that acknowledge the reality and tenacity of evil but also the power of good; that celebrate the common man and woman; that at their best entertain vastly as they uplift. By the Light of the Moon is one of those best, exciting and deeply moving.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Koontz seems to know us, our deepest foibles and fears.”—USA Today

“Surefire plotting and a roster of characters built out of painful tragedies make the pages move…. Koontz has a touching faith in the human spirit.”—People

Very imaginative

I enjoyed listening to this on Audible. The only mildly disruptive parts were when both narrators tried playing the parts of the opposite gender, it sounded silly and forced but it was easily overlooked.

This story is about a scientist who injects his newly developed nanotechnology into 3 otherwise unwilling individuals. The technology reacts differently for each individual giving them special abilities.

The macro philosophical theme or question that seems to arise is are those who are gifted unique abilities obligated to use their uniqueness? If so when and more importantly why or whom should benefit?

Some of the micro philosophical themes deal with neuro-divergence, living despite adversity, space and time multiverse, and cynicism.

This is a very brief review but even still shorter I'd say, I HIGHLY recommend this book, it's action packed.

Not a fan

Sorry as interesting, but almost didn’t finish this due to the (in my option) the exploitative use of Dylan’s autistic brother. Wish I had used my credit for something else.

Liked it

I love how Koontz uses the English language
He is not afraid of using highly descriptive words that fit the moment. He never talks down to his readers as some authors do.

Love it

Loved the ability to write about going through difficult times accompanied by humor. And the fact he is always leaning toward the light. Read it to fast and now it’s over. What’s next?

Uniquely Captivaring

This book kept me engrossed cover to cover. It was well worth the time . Just wish it could have continued for a bit more.

To descriptive

I found myself getting annoyed, trying to get through the story. Kuntz overly described too many things to the point that the descriptions, slow down the movement of the story. It could’ve been much more exciting if there was less descriptors of items in context that were of no consequence to the story itself.

classic Koontz

I really enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down. I wasn't ready for it to end. I would love to read the sequel and I hope we discover there were more "victims" who survived.

another well written story

I find Dean Koontz stories to be well written and intriguing. This was no different .

Partnership

Loved how the three became a family. Enjoyed how the younger brother progressed through the book! Was waiting for the next clues throughout the book- fascinated by how they were delivered

Fun Adventure

I found the story well written and the characters likeable. like all Dean Koontz books, it is full of adventure.