The Darkest Evening of the Year

Amy Redwing, former victim of an abusive relationship, devotes her life to running a rescue organization for golden retrievers, where she searches for the perfect forever home for the abandoned ones and seeks treatment and rehabilitation for the abused and neglected ones. When Amy and her boyfriend, architect Brian McCarthy attempt to rescue a golden named Nickie, they find themselves in the middle of a domestic dispute. Amy senses a connection to Nickie and decides to keep her, unknowing that a chain of events are occurring which will lead Amy and Brian back to traumatic events of their past lives and into extreme danger, and that Nickie may be the only one to save them. Koontz has been described as a master storyteller and this reviewer agrees. His love for dogs shines through with this book and enhances the story. The plot moves at a fast pace, with plenty of evil characters to entertain thrill-seekers, buffeted by Amy and Brian's love for one another and for dogs. Excellent book.

The Story opens tense and the suspense builds through to the climax. Right from the get go we see Amy Redwing, rescuer of Golden Retrievers, in trouble and she and her beau Brian McCarthy approach the home of mean tequila drunk Carl Brockman. Not only does Brockman treat his dog Nickie like a dormat, but he treats his wife and kids that way as well. Amy gets right into Brockman's space, but instead of bullying him out of the dog, she buys him for two thousand dollars, then drops a dime on Brockman. At home with Nickie it doesn't take long before Amy, her two Goldens, Fred and Ethel and Brian too, to realize Nickie is special and rather than adopt him out, Amy decides to keep him. And things start happening. Lights go on and off, Brian can't stop drawing the dog, especially his eyes, someone starts following Amy and someone very bad wants her dead and employs some horrible people to do his bidding. And there is more, both Amy and Brian have troubled pasts and secrets that will be revealed as you pour through this book that you won't be able to stop reading. And just who or what is Nickie? Gotta read it through to find out, but don't worry, every word in this book is worth it.

Who would come up with the idea of writing a horror novel with a sweet golden retriever as one of its main protagonists? Dean Koontz does it, and marvelously well, too. Amy Redwing lives for her goldens, those she owns and those she rescues from abusive homes. Her life, especially her past, is shrouded in mystery, a fact that makes her even more appealing to her boyfriend, architect Brian McCarthy. Brian has something in common with Amy, and it isn't only a kind heart-he's also haunted by a troubled past. On one of her rescue missions, Amy boldly risks her life to save a female golden from a violent, alcoholic owner. That there's something very odd and peculiar about this particular golden soon becomes evident. Amy instantly bonds with the creature and decides to adopt her. Soon after Amy adopts the golden, Brian experiences a series of uncanny, paranormal incidents. At the same time, Amy realizes someone is after her, watching her every move-and this someone means her and her golden harm. How are Amy and Brian's past connected to the golden? Who is watching them and why does the person--or persons--mean them harm? This is one of those books that not only entertain, but that strikes the reader at a deeper, more basic human level. Not easily forgotten, the story exemplifies Koontz's most powerful skill as a horror writer: to remind us the reality of good and evil--not only the presence of evil in the world, but also of the redeeming power of goodness. Koontz's writing style is beautiful and evocative. His author omniscient's observations are a delight more than an intrusion. For lovers of golden retrievers, this will be a particularly rewarding read. Armchair Interviews says: The Darkest Evening of the Year will be relished by fans of paranormal thrillers.

I have to admit that I've grown tired of explaining to other potential readers that Dean Koontz must develope as an author in the same way that a baseball player changes and gets better after his rookie year would be a gross understatement. The Darkest Evening of the Year is a natural progression in Dean Koontz's career. To demand that he write the same type of novels as he did twenty years ago is to deny that we all change with time. Whether his novels continue the same "quality"; that the characters continue to move and touch us or that the plots work well, is another issue. To that point, the characters in The Darket Evening of the Year, Amy Redwing and Nickie, add significantly to the texture of the book. Well, written with a tight plot and good supporting characters you will find The Darkest Evening of the Year to be well worth your while to read. A suspenseful read, The Darkest Evening of the Year will keep you turning pages. Very tender in places (some readers may tear up), this book did more tugging on my hear than I usually allow. Darkest also will hold you in suspense so that when Koontz changes from scene to scene and character to character, you may feel frustrate. Never fear, these changes (chapters) are short. Dogs have always played a signicant role in Koontz's books, even the earlier ones. That they play larger roles in his recent works is refreshing. At the risk of starting a breed war, I will say that Goldens are a special breed of dog. After having owned two, Joe and Comet, I can say that Goldens add to the caretakers life in so many ways. But thats true of most dogs, even the "sooners"; I've owned a few of those as well. The Darkest Evening of the Year....get it. Peace

I believe that we are all put on this earth for a reason. If we are fortunate, we discover that purpose and use our lives for good. In The Darkest Evening of the Year, Dean Koontz demonstrates what has given meaning to his life. Through his prolific writing and generous contributions, he and his wife, Gerda, are changing a small portion of the world. It is summed up so well through Dean's heroine, Amy, who is rescuing dogs and educating the public on puppy mills and the cruel conditions in which these dogs live. I am an avid animal lover and even I did not realize that a lot of the Internet sites, which sell purebreds, are simply fronts for such puppy mills. Perhaps Dean Koontz described it best when he writes of Amy's philosophy in believing that dogs have a spiritual purpose. "The opportunity to love a dog and treat it with kindness was an opportunity for a lost and selfish human heart to be redeemed. They are powerless and innocent, and it is how we treat the humblest among us that surely determines the fate of our souls." The Darkest Evening of the Year is the first book by Dean Koontz after the passing of Trixie, his former Canine Companion assistive dog. Indeed, he had to finish this book right after her death. But this book and the legacy that Trixie left with the immense funding of CCI show truly that Trixie really did make Dean and Gerda better people. Trixie, who always was a "shameless huckster" for her Dad's books (keep Trixie in Kibbles), is now in avatar form on Dean Koontz's website. I hope that she will be there always because she will forever remain in the hearts of so many of his readers. She touched us all. Frankly, although great suspenseful writing such as Koontz's is to be admired, in the whole scope of life it actually means very little. However, when you turn that tremendous writing ability into a TOOL; to influence, educate, and share intrinsic moral truths such as Koontz has done with The Darkest Evening of the Year and his other stories on dogs...now THAT truly is to be admired. Great book and wonderful story. I know that Trixie is proud of you for this one! (Trixie thinks all books should be dog books.)