The Big Dark Sky

By: Dean Koontz

Narrated by: Fajer Al-Kaisi

Length: 12 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

A group of strangers bound by terrifying synchronicity becomes humankind’s hope of survival in an exhilarating, twist-filled novel by Dean Koontz, the #1 New York Times bestselling master of suspense.

As a girl, Joanna Chase thrived on Rustling Willows Ranch in Montana until tragedy upended her life. Now thirty-four and living in Santa Fe with only misty memories of the past, she begins to receive pleas—by phone, through her TV, in her dreams: I am in a dark place, Jojo. Please come and help me. Heeding the disturbing appeals, Joanna is compelled to return to Montana, and to a strange childhood companion she had long forgotten.

She isn’t the only one drawn to the Montana farmstead. People from all walks of life have converged at the remote ranch. They are haunted, on the run, obsessed, and seeking answers to the same omniscient danger Joanna came to confront. All the while, on the outskirts of Rustling Willows, a madman lurks with a vision to save the future. Mass murder is the only way to see his frightening manifesto come to pass.

Through a bizarre twist of seemingly coincidental circumstances, a band of strangers now find themselves under Montana’s big dark sky. Their lives entwined, they face an encroaching horror. Unless they can defeat this threat, it will spell the end for humanity.

©2022 The Koontz Living Trust. (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Iraqi-Canadian actor Fajer Al-Kaisi narrates this twisted horror story set under Montana's big, dark sky.… With his emphatic voice, Al-Kaisi's narration keeps listeners engaged as he takes them through one bizarre event after another. His intelligent and perfectly timed performance makes for believable heroes and frightening villains.”—AudioFile Magazine

"Narrator Fajer AJ-Kaisi does an excellent job providing voices and accents for Koontz's wide and numerous cast of characters. He ably conveys the tidbits of philosophy, quantum mechanics, and cult thinking that Koontz sprinkles throughout."—Library Journal

“Another A-plus thriller from a writer on a serious winning streak.”—Booklist (starred review)

All the ’Koontsian’ elements are there but…….

I absolutely adore the mature DK’s writing. The kindness. The humor. The sense of serving something larger than ourselves. The sympathetic portrayal of people with disabilities. The dogs (which only get an offstage mention in this story unfortunately). The emphasis on character, inner strength and sacrifice. All beautiful things to build up his readers. All those things are here but they’re rather brief and disjointed until the very last hour or two.

What it feels like to me, and I have no proof whatsoever, is that perhaps a book or short story from DK’s earlier career has been dusted off, “punched up”, and polished to more closely match his current writing style and philosophies. Its good, but not on par with most of his books from the last couple decades.

To add insult to injury, the narrator isn’t able to raise the book beyond it’s “just good” level. There are more than a few cringeworthy mispronunciations, and inappropriate pauses between words that belong together to form coherent description. To help you understand, this is the kind of thing I mean. “They walked through a field of blue. Bells that carpeted the meadow.” It should be read: “They walked through a field of bluebells that carpeted the meadow.” Do you see?

I can hear the natural talent the narrator has and I think he’ll have a great career. He just isn’t seasoned enough or capable of covering the story’s warts as the best performers can.

All that said, the book is about a 3.5 and the narration a 3. I pre-ordered the audiobook with a credit but knowing what I do now I’d probably wait for a decent sale and pay cash.

Koontz at his best!!

Hoping there will be more to come from these characters..... maybe when Artemis Selina becomes the woman scorned!!

Fajer Al-Kaisi is perfect for this book

Not my favorite book by author Dean Koontz, but that is purely my impression at this time and not intended to disqualify the excellent writing nor the story. It is a tell that requires the reader to think about deep subjects. I just don't feel like I was ready for it. I will probably reread this book at a later date when I can immerse myself in the story better. The audio performance by Fajer Al-Kaisi was excellent as always so that is a plus anytime he is the narrator.

Great story

The idea behind this book is very different in a good way. Where a lot of Koontz books fall a little short is in the finishing chapters. The book has good characters but comes to a close a little quickly so they don’t fully develop

step into the darkness

this will have me on edge for a while thinking about the ramification of technology. I love how all the characters intertwined with each other continue to strengthen the thought of synchronicity.

Koontz not at his best but definitely a good one

As the title says it's not the best Koontz I have ever heard or read but it's definitely not the worst it's a good one. For me it just sort of seems like it's mediocre and kind of phoned in but that also could be the narrator I'm used to physically reading my books especially a Koontz, Hill, or King.

GRIPPING

Dean has done it again.
The variety in the cast of characters was great.
Fast paced and nail biting story from start to finish.

I believe that this should become a movie by a major player in that industry.

The ending made me want more.

Thank you my friend for this incredible story.

not one of his better ones

hard to follow and not very entertaining, he has lots better, narrator was good overall.

good book

excellent listen. always love Dean been reading him since I was 10 years old and 33 years later here we are!!!

Did Dean really write this?

I've been loving Koontz for 40+ years now. Hooked from the very first book... The Watchers. He could always build the story along and up, making me believe the unbelievable to be quite possible... perhaps already real! While he was always very descriptive, able to put you right there, he was never overly so. This one was very different. Every scene he described, every person, every situation, every memory was described over and over... each time any came into the story these things were described again as if reading for the first time. As particular he has always been about these details, this time, when the ending came, it was as if all of a sudden... magical! Everything just as it should be with no rhyme or reason... just happened. Like he ran out of steam and just had to hurry it up to meet a deadline. All and all tho... it's Koontz, lol. .It won't make me stop loving him! 💕 Narration was absolutely 💯 brilliant 👏. I will gladly listen to this narrator again and again!