The Husband by Dean Koontz Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Husband
Book Review: A downhill ride
Summary: 3 Stars
This was my third Koontz book, and so far, it's my least favorite. I like Koontz's work, but I expected a little bit more out of this one.
The book starts out with a pace and tone that will give you whiplash; almost like riding on a roller-coaster, but once you get to the top of the track and you're expecting that thrilling, tickling sensation in your stomach as you plummet straight down at 70 miles per hour.....the brakes kick in and you're only tavelling at about, say, FOUR miles an hour.
The characterization is weaker than some of Koontz's other works, and that sort of damages the level of emotional involvement the reader is willing to invest. When the "hair-raising" climax comes to pass, the book just abruptly ends leaving you with the felling that there should be something more.
It's not a BAD book, it's just not as good as some of the other things Mr. Koontz has done before. This book won't make me give up on him. I'm looking forward to reading more of his novels. I like his writing style and the ideas he comes up with.
Book Review: A good read, not as great as his others.
Summary: 4 Stars
Unfortunately, this great novel is standing in the shadow of even greater novels by the same author. I feel compelled to compare this work against his others, and in that light I feel it is not as strong. The emotional satisfaction Koontz typically delivers at the end of his books was not really there for me, and I felt a little disapointed.
However, I think anyone would enjoy this book and recommend it highly.
Book Review: A good read...suspense....twists and turns
Summary: 4 Stars
I've read at least a dozen of Dean Koontz's books over the years. I grabbed "The Husband" while waiting for a plane in Baltimore, Maryland. I read the entire book by the time I returned home to Texas. It never let me down.
Now, I understand that Koontz writes books faster than we can read them, but this book was a fun read. Mitchell Rafferty is a gardener with one employee. His life is quiet and he is a happily married guy living in Southern California. No problems, right? Well, I never want to give a plot away on my reviews, but Mitch gets a phone call while he's working and then finds himself tangled in a murder that he did not commit, but all the evidence will show that he's the culprit. His wife is being held hostage for two million dollars......how will he get that much money to release her before she is killed? It is clear the hostage takers will make him look like the murderer of his wife.
The plot moves fast. It has to since Mitch only has "x" number of hours to get the money. Mitch's family is useless (except for one particular family member.....Anson) and the bizarre family issues that permeated his life as a child are revealed in the plot that never slows down.
It's worth the time to read the book.I enjoyed it and I recommend it.
Book Review: A novel that asks the question: what would you do?
Summary: 4 Stars
First off, I really enjoyed the topic that this novel brought about: what would you do if someone asked for two million in ransom for your spouse? How would you handle it, how would you get the money, would you try and get revenge?
The Husband was a great read, I enjoyed it a lot. It's pretty fast-paced and has lots of plot twists and turns, many of which you do not see coming. The suspense to see how the story will end kept me up at night reading. It was worth the late nights!
Denfinitely a Koontz book worth checking out!! Many authors who have written so many novels may be losing their flare or touch, but not Dean Koontz!
Book Review: A taut, well-written thriller
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm honestly surprised at how quickly I finished this book. Granted, I'm usually hooked on a Koontz book until I've finished, but this one seemed to fly by - a sure testament to how well written it was, and how difficult it was to put down.
The premise seems fairly straightforward - an average guy, Mitch, receives a call on his cell phone, threatening to kill Mitch's wife, Holly, if he doesn't pay them $2 million in cash. Mitch isn't rich, but they assure him they are aware of that, and will give him instructions on how to get the cash...then reinforce their threat to him by shooting a passerby in the head. He has a mere 60 hours to complete the task, and the clock is ticking.
The novel is a great exercise in the concept of love enduring through adversity, and the lengths you would go to for the one you love. However, the one weakness, the only weakness I might add, of the book is that most married couples I know would love to have their spouse kidnapped as they can't think of a legal way of getting rid of them, without having to go through divorce. So I'm forced to ask myself - how may Mitch & Holly couples are there really out there?
The other main concept of the novel is that the mask of evil may lurk closer at hand than we realize, in those we wouldn't expect...and on this I'll agree with Koontz. Everyone has skeletons in their closets (in Koontz's case, quite literally, I'm sure), and evil may wear many guises, but if we were to look in the minds of those around us, I'm sure we'd be often shocked and horrified...and probably wouldn't keep those people around us any more.
Ever present is Koontz's love of architecture showing through in the description of houses, and he displays a passing interest in horticulture this time...although that could be driven in part by the main character, Mitch, who does landscaping/gardening. However, the descriptions don't get stodgy, as Tokien is wont to do, but add to the atmosphere. It's the characters which drive the book, taking us on a thrill ride as they go on emotional rollercoasters. Koontz writes with a style that is, at turns, funny, and I found myself genuinely laughing out loud at one turn of phrase. Granted, some may argue that the paranormal element may be missing from this book, yet stepping into the mind of Mitch's enemy is wierd enough as it is.
I highly recommend this book.