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)

Well, maybe it's me

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Having two readers, male and female at first seemed clever. That lasted a few chapters. The female tried to read with too much emotion on many paragraphs, not at all how I would read the book if I was reading versus listening.

Would you be willing to try another book from Dean Koontz? Why or why not?

It's my fourth by the author, I'll try another but not on a whim as I did this time

What three words best describe Carol Cowan and Michael Hanson ’s voice?

Out of sync

Do you think The Bad Place needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Nope. The story was already too convoluted wen it ended.

Any additional comments?

Nope

THE BEST KOONTZ

The is flat out THE BEST book Koontz ever wrote....Well this and the Odd series.

halting speech

the female reader was halting and pausing like a first year reader. like she gets to the end of a line and pauses while she's looking for the next line of text.

author's best

very interesting, great characters, great story. don't always enjoy all of his books, but this one is a MUST. good pace. never boring.

One of the best books:

I normally like to read the book so my mind can better act out the characters, visualize the scenes, etc.

This book was such a wonderful listen I found it hard to not listen to until the end.

I so enjoyed it I had to buy the paperback so I could read it myself, nonetheless the narrators did such a wonderful job I don't know if my mind can out do them.

I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Thoroughly awesome

Any additional comments?

This was written so well! It's very balanced and engrossing, even during the parts that weren't the most exciting. It is a horror story so it's got some horrific elements, like killings being told through the perspective of the killer. Even those parts were so darkly thematic though, this was not just horror for horror's sake. It could offend some very religious people, as it is about the dark side of religion, which does and has always existed and should be talked about. Still, it never gets "preachy" or didactic, not for a second. This book is straight up entertaining and it moves fluidly under its own momentum. Creepy and thrilling.

Crazy book, but entertaining!

This was my first Dean Koontz book. It came highly recommended from a friend. At first I didn't know what to think, but I am glad I stuck with it. It is every bit as twisted, and bizarre as a Greek tragedy. Very Dark, and equally entertaining. The narrators were masterful!

Excellent..ear candy!

I think this is one of Dean Koontz's best books. I read it back couple of years ago,but listening to it being read the way it was,was a awesome ear candy treat. The readers made the book come to life,by changing there tone,and word articulations,reading in sync with the character they represented. A must have for your audio library.

Right on par

My favorite Koontz books are the ones where there is no hocus pocus - time travel, aliens and the like. I like Koontz charachters that are simply creepy enough to hold their own without supernatural capabilities. This is not one of those books, but the antagonists are certainly creepy.

The narators do a great job and the story is solid enough to keep you engaged. Worth a credit.

Entertaining escape.

A monstrous human wants to kill Frank and frequently kills others. This wasn’t my favorite Koontz book, but it was good. Koontz is excellent at creating and describing characters, dialogue, and events. My favorite Koontz stories consist of one or two characters who face obstacles, struggle, become stronger, and survive or succeed. This story is more about uncovering the mystery, getting closer, then luckily managing to survive, with scars. Some of the battle scars are the loss of loved ones and good people. I require happy endings, and this met my requirement. See spoiler below for a comment about the ending.

I was intrigued with the unusual characters and some every day characters. For example, one guy was asked for a picture. He said nothing and slammed the door. She knocks again. He opens the door. She asks for the picture again. He says I was on my way to get it and slams the door again. An example of unusual characters, the twins were weird and mesmerizing. They liked being naked, living among cats on the floor, kissing each other, and inhabiting animal minds.

NARRATORS:
There were two narrators. Michael Hanson was excellent. Sadly I don’t want to listen to Carol Cowan narrate anything. I cannot adequately describe her, but it’s similar to self satisfied and arrogant, maybe like someone saying “I know, I know” to shut me up.

Genre: paranormal suspense thriller.

CAUTION SPOILER (a vague comment about the ending):
This is what I would have liked knowing in advance. The ending was happy for a minority of the good guys. And it was bad for the bad guy.

Going to give up - can't bear the narrator.

The male narrator is really weird and annoying - its like those hammy 1970s intro speeches off Star Trek "to boldly go" style throughout, with odd pauses and too many false crescendos - which loses all subtlety and is hugely distracting. Also, I didn't buy a play, it is an audo book, just read it well. The female one isn't a lot better and is too mumsy. Michael Hanson is spoiling it - should have been done drier by Will Paton (Mr Mercedes, King, or John Bedford Lloyd, Crais Cole novels, or Eduardo Ballerini - or anyone. I normally like Koontz but its also dragging too and isn't enough to hold my interest through this dreadful acting. And I never give up on a book once I've started.

Could not stop listening

This is actually a good listening to. I sometimes wonder where some writers get their ideas from. crazy as it maybe, it is very interesting.

The characters are well written, the narrator and voice acting are well done. I was full engaged in the story, not once did it feel boring or I wanted to stop listen.

Even for a thriller/horror book, there were moments I found myself laughing at some of the seen and action that were explained in the book.

The only thing that I felt wasn't really utilised was the planet. Without going into too much details, I felt there isn't any really reason to include this part.

Nevertheless, I am still given this a 5*.
Could not stop listening

Didn't get through first hour

Couldnt listen to this due to narration. Am sure the story is probably good (it seemed interesting, as Koontz's storys tend to be), but sadly I wont find out.

A classic

wonderful to revisit this spine tingling book. Classic Koontz. worth a read, ageless story telling.

loved every second.

I read this book years ago and loved it. kind of forgot the plot so thought i would get the Audible version.
Loved every second.

Helps insomnia!

Narrators were good. The story started off well with an interesting plot, but around a third of the way through the book the descriptions of everything began getting unnecessarily complicated to the point that the book was now only good for helping me sleep! I'm an avid Dean Koontz fan and love most of the books I've read, but would not recommend this one.

Awful narration

I'm sure I would have enjoyed this book as much as the other Dean Koontz ones I've read but have up after 30 mins because I couldn't listen to the narrator's voice for any longer! Book reluctantly returned.

Definitely in my top 10 books of all time

Beautiful narrative by both narrators. Very imaginative story, with super characters. nicely wrapped up at the end, and a heck of a journey throughout. Dean.... your a legand.