Fiction Addict

Genre:  Suspense

Publisher: Bantam

Publication Date: November 24^th, 2009

Jake Chism’s Review:

In the Colorado Rockies, Grady Adams and his Irish Wolfhound, Merlin, have just discovered two creatures unlike anything they’ve ever seen before. As they welcome these mysterious animals into their home, they soon discover that their arrival coincides with a wondrous event that will forever change their lives and millions of other all over the world.

Dean Koontz never seems ceases to astonish me with the amount of tricks up his sleeve. Each installment in his illustrious career is unique and otherworldly, with Breathless being no exception. In recent offerings Koontz has come under fire, unfairly so in my opinion, for not being the same guy who once scared us around every turn with evil characters and harrowing plots. Lately, dogs have become main characters more than usual, and for whatever reason a lot of fans and critics alike have not looked kindly upon his change of style. In a bold and effective move, Koontz sticks it to the doubters and transforms familiar elements in a way we never imagined.

Not only is Man’s Best Friend featured in Breathless, but in this story animals play a bigger role than most of, if not all, Koontz’s previous works.  However, fans who feel like they have been missing out will be pleased to know that this is one of the most suspenseful novels Koontz has written in a while, with a fast paced plot laced with just the right amount of dread, wonder, and redemption. We’re even treated to some frightening and disturbing scenes that will have many readers looking under their beds and in their closets long after reading. Once again Koontz‘s prose and dialogue are delivered at the highest level as we follow several storylines to a powerful conclusion.

In the end we are left with a poignant glimpse into the beauty of nature and the mystery of life and the wonder that connects them.  I love what Koontz has done of late, and I particularly love what he’s given us here. Breathless is certainly a different kind of animal, but one that is well worth your time.

Frank Redman’s Review:

“In the stillness of a golden September afternoon, deep in the wilderness of the Rockies, a solitary craftsman, Grady Adams, and his magnificent Irish wolfhound Merlin step from shadow into light…and into an encounter with enchantment. That night, through the trees, under the moon, a pair of singular animals will watch Grady’s isolated home, waiting to make their approach.”

Dean Koontz doesn’t just entertain with written words, he writes novels of great importance, entreating us to be aware of the madness in our world and rise above it. BREATHLESS is a wonderful story about the power of good and light in a world full of darkness. Characters are presented with the opportunity to accept something so amazingly pure, it will change their lives forever. Some characters grasp that opportunity, which leads to healing and restoration. Some resist, despite the miraculous existence of the event in the first place, and their lives remain in the dark. It’s interesting to consider the justification given by the characters that refuse to accept the peace-breathing event in the story.

No one is better than Koontz at infusing stories with animals, and in many cases these animals play significant roles. BREATHLESS is one of these stories. Animal lovers will take great joy in recognizing the importance the animals have in this story.

This is a novel that could have easily been twice the length and still retain reader interest and enjoyment. There are multiple plot threads that leave you wondering as you’re reading how Koontz will be able to bring them all together. This leads me to my only complaint about the book—I didn’t want it to end. The ending was certainly no disappointment, and it didn’t feel too short; I just wanted the story to keep going.

“In a novel that is at once wholly of our time and timeless, fearless and funny, Dean Koontz takes readers into the moment between one turn of the world and the next, across the border between knowing and mystery.”

Life is indeed a mystery. And a mystery we are unlikely to ever solve. But there are clues that will help us have a more peaceful life which we’ll see if we simply take a moment and open our eyes. Koontz tells us about a few of these clues: hope, perseverance, selflessness… while at the same time telling us a story that takes us out of the everyday and entertains.