Perhaps the BEST Koontz book I’ve read so far.

And the most like Stephen King. It’s long. Sprawling. Surprising.

Supernatural horror.

MANY original and interesting characters.

One of the leads makes a pilgrimage to thank Dr. Jonas Salk for inventing the Polio vaccine.

Bartholomew Lampion is born on a day of tragedy and terror that will mark his family forever. All agree that his unusual eyes are the most beautiful they have ever seen.

On this same day, a thousand miles away, a ruthless man learns that he has a mortal enemy named Bartholomew. He embarks on a relentless search to find this enemy, a search that will consume his life.

And a girl is born from a brutal rape, her destiny mysteriously linked to Barty and the man who stalks him.

At the age of three, Barty Lampion is blinded when surgeons remove his eyes to save him from a fast-spreading cancer. As he copes with his blindness and proves to be a prodigy, his mother counsels him that all things happen for a reason and that every person’s life has an effect on every other person’s, in often unknowable ways.

At thirteen, Bartholomew regains his sight. How he regains it, why he regains it, and what happens as his amazing life unfolds and entwines with others results in a breathtaking journey of courage, heart-stopping suspense, and high adventure.

deankoontz.com

Whispering Room is the 2nd book in his Jane Hawk series.

Jane’s husband inexplicably committed suicide. And the badass superwoman is determined to bring down the killers.

It’s an interesting plot.

Some terrific characters.

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James Patterson wrote a book with Bill Clinton called “The President Is Missing” — and it became the best-selling novel of 2018.

I enjoyed it.

The President’s Daughter is not a sequel.

In this one it’s the ex-POTUS President Matthew Keating, a former Navy SEAL, who has his daughter kidnapped.

It’s silly, of course. But I like this book even better.

The audio version is well done. One of the few novels with multiple readers that worked for me.

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I finally got around to trying a Louis L’Amour book.

Hondo had been recommended as one of his best.

He’s been one of the most popular writers all time and displays surprising skill with the pen in writing cliche Western books like Hondo.

That said, I won’t read more. I’ve no interest in Western novels. Ranch romance. Good guy vs bad guys. Too much formula.

Excellent.

The Cellist is the 21st title in Daniel Silva‘s Gabriel Allon series.

It was released on July 13, 2021 and subsequently reached #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List …

The book draws heavily from the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 American presidential election as well as the U.S. Capitol events of January 6, 2021. …

The plot is contemporary and interesting. Action is limited by COVID restrictions.

Dictator Putin and President Biden are important characters.

Some of my favourite characters from past books — especially Christopher Keller — are included.

I have no idea why Allon is still front and centre in the field. As leader of the Mossad he should be working behind the scenes. And should definitely RETIRE after this one.

Amazon

Koontz has published over 100 novels.

I did get into his Odd Thomas series.

In 2017 he began his current Jane Hawk series.

“I very much need to be dead.”

These are the chilling words left behind by a man who had everything to live for—but took his own life. In the aftermath, his widow, Jane Hawk, does what all her grief, fear, and fury demand: find the truth, no matter what. …

Amazon

The book is well written. The plot hooks immediately.

Jane is a badass.

Great plot. Good writing.

Main complaints you’ll hear are about the rambling story with no clear ending. Apparently that’s how he puts books together. Starts without knowing exactly where he’s going.

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