Your Heart Belongs to Me

By: Dean Koontz

Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner

Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

At 34, Internet entrepreneur Ryan Perry seemed to have the world in his pocket - until the first troubling symptoms appeared out of nowhere. Within days, he's diagnosed with incurable cardiomyopathy and finds himself on the waiting list for a heart transplant. It's his only hope, and it's dwindling fast. Ryan is about to lose it all...his health, his girlfriend Samantha, and his life.

One year later, Ryan has never felt better. Business is good and he hopes to renew his relationship with Samantha. Then the unmarked gifts begin to appear: a box of Valentine candy hearts, a heart pendant. Most disturbing of all, a graphic heart surgery video and the chilling message: Your heart belongs to me.

In a heartbeat, the medical miracle that gave Ryan a second chance at life is about to become a curse worse than death. For Ryan is being stalked by a mysterious woman who feels entitled to everything he has. She's the spitting image of the 26-year-old donor of the heart beating steadily in Ryan's own chest. And she's come to take it back.

©2008 Dean Koontz (P)2008 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Koontz is a master of the edge-of-your-seat, paranoid thriller - and perhaps the leading American practitioner of the form." (Newark Star-Ledger)
"Koontz is a superb plotter and wordsmith. He chronicles the hopes and fears of our time in broad strokes and fine detail, using popular fiction to explore the human condition." (USA Today)

Eh?

The book was rather slow not reaching any true action until its last quarter. Even after the action picks up it is not on par with other Koontz books. I really wish I had my $9.95 back. That being said I am still a huge Dean Koontz fan. Its impossible to come up with a winner every time.

Disappointing

I usually like Dean Koontz but this book sounded unfinished. Not in length but in depth. A lot of loose ends - like it was a story idea he just never got to round out.

Also, the writing was stilted. Its not a good thing when I start to notice the words more than the story.

I just finished Darkfall which is much, much better and his Odd Thomas books are great. Stick to those.

Not his best

Not his best work. The characters were a little deeper and more complex than much of Koontz' earlier writings. I like Koontz for his grim subjects but happy endings, but this one left me sad and disappointed.

Amateurish

This book reads like a story written by a first year writing student. Did you find it among your school notes Mr Koontz? I expected better from one of my favorite authors.

Pretty lame

The author spends much time on explaining the living conditions and circumstances of the main character. However, Koontz fails to create a real connection between this dot-com millionaire and the listener. His long winded descriptions make you wonder when the actual story starts to unfold. The original idea holds enough material for maybe a short story, but not for an 8 hours book. If there is an abbreviated version, you might want to give that a try. Otherwise you will end up skipping half hour segments, especially during the first half of the book (don't worry, you won't miss much).
I wouldn't call it totally boring, but it also is not a captivating thriller. Slightly below average in my opinion.

Koontz Fan

I'm a big fan so I cant say much bad. I've loved most of Deans books but only liked this one. I did like the message.

Story came together

As I was listening to this, I began to
wonder what it was about Dean Koontz that l had originally liked. It seemed odd and disjointed. I had trouble identifying with any character! However, thankfully he did tie the story together at the end.

If this had been my only Book by this author, I may have never tried another.

Nice Twist

First, I am glad I didn't pay attention to the bad reviews. It's not really a thriller, and not as fast paced as some of his books, but it does keep you guessing. When I got towards the end of the book and realized what I should have realized all along, (subtext,) I audibly gasped, (I was at work,) and waited as Ryan took a little too long to grasp the truth of what his actions had caused. There were several false hints along the way. And as usual with Koontz's books, I am left wanting more.

edge of the seat anticipation

but the ending kinda came out of no where and kinda left the book finished but unfullfilled.

Not what I have come to expect from Dean Koontz

I have read or listend to most of this author's collection. Maybe I missed the "subtext", but at no time was I in suspense or even concerned for the characters in this book.