A truthful review

I've enjoyed Dean Koontz for decades but I will admit my trepidation about purchasing this one based on the reviews and more so based on the AWFUL previous book he published...of which I despised the narrator and story so much the title is erased from my memory HOWEVER I am so GLAD I went ahead and gave his writing another chance.
The narrator does not have a squeaky voice as reputed in other reviews...she sounds like a woman in her late 20's to early 30'a which equates to a not quite fully matured voice but one with a pleasant quality
If you are a follower of Dean Koontz then you know the qualities that define his best works: a strong brave and independent but sometimes innocently ignorant or naïve main character, a sprinkle of the supernatural, a profound battle between good and evil and of course a beautiful intelligent magical Golden Retriever...this book fulfills each of those listed. I won't say it is one of his best works, not even close to a Christopher Snow or Odd Thomas level nor Tick Tock and Sole Survivor BUT it does come close enough to prove he still is on his writing game.
I am not one to give away ANY part of a story...that is a writers gift to his readers and I trust if you don't let bad reviews cloud your judgement and just "walk the board" and "pet the cat" as you listen that you will be pleased with your purchase. Areana Szkola

232 people found this helpful

Ashley Bell

If you are going to read this book, you must be willing to suspend disbelief and go along for the ride. The ending is either sheer genius or it is a total cop out. I'm still undecided. It is a long book and I feel like there are some loose ends hanging out there; and yet I can't put my finger on what they are. But, if there are loose ends out there, I'm sure they will be wrapped up in the next installment, because there is no doubt that this is going to be an ongoing series.

The book as a whole I really liked and I wanted to give it 4 Stars for holding my attention and making me want to read any chance I had. Then when the creepy parts came, though few and far between, I wanted to give it 5 Stars for giving me the willies. But, then taking into account the crazy and unnecessary surfer-talk throughout from Bibi's parents, friend Pogo, and occasionally Bibi herself, made me want to chuck the book and give it no stars. And alas, that ending. Right now I'm thinking 2 Stars, but I feel like I could be swayed to give the ending at least 4, if not 5, Stars if I discussed the ending with the right person. So after all of that, I've landed on a middle-of-the-road 3 Stars because I can't justify anything lower or higher for the book as a whole.

73 people found this helpful

Disappointed

As a huge Koontz fan I was very excited to see a new book out. If I had to guess the author, I would not have guessed Koontz if his name had not been on the cover. Not a typical Koontz book in many ways. Poorly executed plot that had promise but never grabbed you like the usual Koontz book. The surfer premise was not skillfully weaved into the overall storyline. Lots of open-ended things that never go anywhere. The plot never really delivered and the characters just weren't likable or believable. Worst rating I've ever given a Koontz book.

100 people found this helpful

Imagination, the power to cure oneself?

A very touchy story (and different from the author) of someone fighting a terminal disease with the power of imagination. It was a very interesting idea that the fight took place in two different worlds the “real” and the fictitious world.

34 people found this helpful

Different and wonderful...

The imagination can make anything and anyone 'real', as Dean Koontz well knows. Everyone carries the ability to invent worlds, but only a few can bring them to life. I truly enjoyed this book, in exploring the world 'behind'the one we see and live in every day.

33 people found this helpful

Truly a Kootz Masterpiece

What made the experience of listening to Ashley Bell the most enjoyable?

I've read all other Koontz books before this one, and most were excellent while others lagged. So it was with tremendous (cautious) excitement that I grabbed this latest work and started in. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by the new feel to the main character, and the book grew on me with each chapter. Now, at the end of the book, I believe I've discovered a new favorite! Hope, fear, love, shame, pain... I was right there inside the story, completely involved. Little nuggets of wisdom, like all Dean Koontz books, are sprinkled throughout, and I had to pause to write them down. Highly recommended!

63 people found this helpful

Boring and Meandering

What disappointed you about Ashley Bell?

One of the facets of Dean Koontz books I enjoy are the quirky characters and the humor along with the chills. I found the characters in this one not all that likeable and even though he reaches for some quirky characters, they are too contrived and not all that interesting. For example: the surfer mom and dad who break into surf lingo now and then seemed a contrived reach back to Mr. Koontz's Christopher Snow books. It just didn't seem to make sense in this one. I found the heroine of the story annoying and didn't really care what happened to her. The story seems to meander around a lot without getting to the heart of the story. There are a lot of boring side trips that don't seem relevant. In fact, it lost me by about the middle and I will return it. I actually bought the book because I love Dean Koontz's books that have dogs in them and the sample included the heroine finding a lost Golden Retriever. Unfortunately, as far as I got in the book, this is only a very minute segment that is a memory of the leading character and which through most of the part I listened to, never came up again.

What could Dean Koontz have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

More humor, making the dog more of the story, some of his old creativity with characterizations.

What three words best describe Suzy Jackson’s voice?

Whiney, annoying, squeaky. But, then, I have to admit I've only found very few female narrators that I care for.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The Golden Retriever, that plays a very small part in the book.

Any additional comments?

I have read or listened to all of Dean Koontz's books and have been a long time fan. So, I always look forward with eagerness to the next one. My favorites are the ones with interesting quirky, but likable characters and lots of Dean's signature humor amid the chaos (which makes the thriller quality of his stories more palatable). This one seemed like it was a story that wasn't quite well thought out....like a sort of "filler book" because he is expected to turn out a certain number of books in a time period, maybe? I realize that every writer has ideas that just don't work and certainly, I have to give him credit for writing many books over the years that are really wonderful and creative. Unfortunatelly, this, in my opinion, isnt one of his best.

88 people found this helpful

Glad I can return books to Audible!!!

Any additional comments?

I have read many of his books, however I gave up on chapter 11. Couldn't follow the story. Kept jumping around. Never got any sense of character development. Glad I can return the book and get something I hope I enjoy more. I was looking forward to it, because like many of his books, it includes a dog.

16 people found this helpful

Awful

I don't usually write bad reviews. I think everyone has different tastes in listening to books. I just thought this audio never amounted to anything. I kept thinking something would pick up and happen. To b honest, this author has never been a favorite of mine but the reviews made it seem promising. A huge waste of time and very disappointing and somewhat just stupid.

10 people found this helpful

Not the best of Koontz

If you're a fan of Dean Koontz, do yourself a favor and don't buy this one. It seemed pieced together. The only reason I finished this is because I kept hoping the end would get better.

19 people found this helpful