The Bad Place

By: Dean Koontz

Narrated by: Carol Cowan, Michael Hanson

Length: 15 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

Frank Pollard awakens in an alley, knowing nothing but his name - and that he is in great danger. Having taken refuge in a motel, he wakes again only to find his hands covered in blood. As far as he knows, he's no killer. But whose blood is this, and how did it get there?

Over the next few days Frank develops a fear of sleep, because each time he wakes, he discovers strange objects in his hands and pockets - objects far more frightening than blood.

Husband-and-wife detective team Bobby and Julie Dakota specialize in high-ticket corporate security investigations, but when a distraught and desperate Frank Pollard begs them to watch over him, they can't refuse. Out of compassion - and curiosity - they agree to get to the bottom of his mysterious, amnesiac fugues.

It seems a simple job: just follow a client who wants to be watched and tell him where he winds up. But as the Dakotas begin to discover where their client goes when he sleeps, they are drawn slowly into ever-darkening realms where they encounter the ominous figure stalking Frank. Their lives are threatened, as is that of Julie's gentle, Down's-syndrome brother, Thomas.

To Thomas, death is "the bad place" from which there is no return. But Julie and Bobby - and their tortured client - ultimately learn that equally bad places exist in the world of the living, places so steeped in evil that, in contrast ,death seems almost a relief.

©2004 Dean Koontz (P)2004 Brilliance Audio

Critic reviews

"A master storyteller, sometimes humorous, sometimes shocking, but always riveting. His characters sparkle with life. And his fast-paced plots are wonderfully fiendish, taking unexpected twists and turns." ( The San Diego Union-Tribune)

The Bad Place

Any additional comments?

Read by Carol Cowan and Michael Hanson, The Bad Place is just over fifteen hours of listening.

There are actually two simultaneous stories and you’ll wonder how Koontz will be bringing these to journeys together.

First, the story begins with Frank Pollard waking in an alley. Frank knows his name but nothing else. Why or how he wound up in an alley, what he does for a living, where he lives, if there is a family … all is unknown. No car, only a duffle bag. He knows absolutely nothing other than the fact that he is running or hiding from ‘something’, and it is evil and scary. Frank also is plagued with what the reader will assume to be sleep-walking in that he wakes in hotel rooms with blood on his hands and clothes, or jewels in his pocket … and always bags of cash. Frank seeks out the services of a married team of private investigators … Julie and Bobby Dakota. Add to this duo Julie’s brother, Thomas, a gentle soul living in a shelter as a down-syndrome victim. Thomas is also gifted with extraordinary extra sensory perception; he just ‘knows’ things.

The second tale is the grizzly and macabre; we’re talkin’ Dean Koontz, here. Candy is a guy who murders people and animals when he’s hungry, drinks blood, has sisters who do the same, has a mother buried in his back yard, etc. You know the type.

No spoilers, but the stories merge with delightful hide-under-the-covers terror. Keep the lights on when you listen!

The narrators do a great job, particularly Carol Cowan. Have you have listened to any Nevada Barr books read by Barbara Rosenblat? If so, Carol Cowan is very similar. She certainly had me thinking of Anna Pigeon :-). Enjoyed.

Not his best -

I generally like Dean Koontz but this was not as good as the rest of his stuff. The gratuitous violence was excessive and detracted from the story. There were multiple narrators which was distracting and unnecessary. I sped up the narration just to finish.

Not a Sci-Fi Fan...

You are then this book is for you. But the books description suggests this is a suspense, mystery which is what I had wanted. Performance was great, characters are well written and the story line is easy to follow. I just don't like Sci-Fi!

Enticing, Engaging and Erotic

Any additional comments?

I do love MOST of what I've read of Dean Koontz, although there have been a couple of "misses". This one had me on page one! It had me engaged with the characters, with the "who" and the "why" of them. Loved that Thomas the Autistic brother was such a lovable character and that he had his own gift! Koontz has a wonderful way of introducing juicy or definitive tidbits into the story where you didn't expect to find them and after you stopped looking for the answer! Like Thomas's gift. Like Candy's specific abhorrence of sex. Like what happened to their mother. Koontz's gift for erotic writing is subtle, and I think that's why it flies so well in his story lines. It is surely erotic, but sort of slipped in, as with the twins. They fairly ooze sensuality and sexual tension, and I loved the way that they used it. Of course, at every turn where you think you know what's around the corner, there's a well placed twist, it is after all a Koontz novel.

Twisted

This book is dark. Violent murders, rape, incest, and killing animals. It was a bit much for me. I did a lot of fast forwarding.

The Bad Place is a Good Listen.

Loved the book when I was a kid and also loved hearing it read back to me. as an adult. Great narrators.

Good Book, Mediocre Narration

Read the book years ago and loved it! Listened to the book and was disappointed in the narration.

certainly interesting

I loved the uniqueness of this story, and the readers are great! I definitely came to be invested in the characters as well.

The Bad Place<br />Excellent Book.

I really enjoyed this book, one of Dean Koontz finest reads in my opinion. Terrific.

one of his best

great story. great story. great great great great story
... read and enjoy. great.