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The Darkest Evening of the Year

Author: Dean Koontz
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Category: Book

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Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

14 reviews
Sales Rank: 56547

Media: Hardcover
Pages: 400
Shipping Weight (lbs): 6.8
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.5

ISBN: 0007226616
EAN: 9780007226610
ASIN: 0007226616

Publication Date: January 2, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: perfect condition

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Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...

3 out of 5 stars

Below-Par Koontz July 2, 2008
I am huge Koontz fan and normally adore every new novel that he publishes. However, "The Darkest Evening Of The Year" didn't quite hit the mark for me and is my least favourite in recent years. It has many trademark Koontz characters - messed up male and female "goodies", a dog, interesting psychopathic "baddies" etc. The story is fast paced with a few unexpected twists. All sounds good but it didn't quite grab me. There's a child character in the book that is abused by her mother and I found that a little bit had going. I think this abuse aspect put me off the book a bit.

Overall definitely worth tracking down for Koontz fans but not a recommended starting point for those new to his work. Check out something like "Odd Thomas" instead.

6/10.

5 out of 5 stars

brilliance June 6, 2008
another superb story from Dean Koontz. It is clear that Koontz has a particular respect for women and dogs. He makes his reader care what happens to the characters; everyday people are heroes when put in extraordinary circumstances. The most enjoyable book I have read for quite a while. I can recommend it most heartily

3 out of 5 stars

Puppy love June 6, 2008
Deak Koontz is an underrated writer and nothing like the schlock horror scribe the un-initiated might expect; his work can be humorous, sweet, sad and pulsatingly exciting all at the same time. He's also a genius at describing his passions and creating real empathy in the reader (his recent books have had a strong culinary sub-text) and in "The Darkest Evening" he uses the dog, or more exactly the Labrador, as his chosen plot device. His obvious love of dogs is so absorbing that you hardly notice that not much happens during its first half, and by the time you do, Koontz has shifted up a gear toward an action packed finale. Unfortunately - and I'm sorry to ruin things for you - the final third is a little too easy to see and the conclusion incredibly unsatisfying. In fact I'll go further; it's more sickly and trite than a Disney cartoon.
Still made me want a doggy though.

5 out of 5 stars

A Fitting Tribute to Trixie February 27, 2008
This is a quick-reading, light-hearted Koontz book. I didn't find it at all confusing as other reviews have said here. It does have a lot of Koontz's favourite themes (dogs, supernatural, the same old wise-cracking man-woman relationship, the same evil bad guys) but is that a bad thing? Not if that's what you like about Koontz.

I think it's important to point out that this book is the first Dean has written since the death of his beloved dog Trixie last year, and as such is somewhat of a tribute to her, so that should be borne in mind when reading. I certainly found it moving, especially Chapter 46, having lost my own beloved pet in the past (though a cat, not a dog).

If you like Koontz you will probably like this, and it's worth having in your collection. Not his best, probably, but by no means his worst.

4 out of 5 stars

A Good Read February 13, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I've been a DK fan since the mid-80's and like everyone I have my favourites - Watchers, Lightning, Twilight Eyes. The Darkest Evening Of The Year is akin to many of his 21st Century novels, fast paced with an almost 100MPH race to the finish.

What I like about DK is his ability to put you THERE. At times I thought I was in the back seat of the explorer rubbing Nickie's ears while i listened to Amy and Brian in the front.

As someone else pointed out his favourite subjects are here: downs syndrome, dogs, guns, characters who kill without a second thought, but hey, I'd wonder where they were if Dean hadn't plonked them in!

I'm around 20 pages from the end, so can't really comment on the ending others have hinted at, but so far, it's been another thoroughly enjoyable DK rollercoaster ride.

Enjoyable.