Movement.. Velocity... Impact ... - Velocity (2005)

"Velocity" a novel by Dean Koontz


The king of killer horror novels, has struck again. With a story that is full of grotesque gore and solid suspense, it is a book for those searching for a thrilling terror tale. Dean Koontz shows a talent for morbid writing, as he delivers page after page of mutilation and murder. For those who are alienated by all things found in rated R movies.. then this book is certainly not for you. For this novel holds everything from foul language to a full morsel of sexually explicit content.



The Story


The main man of this book is Billy Wiles. He is a mild mannered man, who is a hard worker, and lives a quiet, normal life. A quiet life, until its changed one evening. After an eight-hour shift of bartending, he discovers under his vehicles windshield wiper, a typewritten note.

Which reads: If you don't take this note to the police and get them involved, I will kill a lovely blond schoolteacher somewhere in Napa County. If you do take this note to the police, I will instead kill an elderly woman active in charity work. You have six hours to decide.

The choice is yours.


To Billy and his friend Lanny Olson from the local police force, it seems to be just a cruel sick joke. Lanny then advises Billy to go home and just try to forget this morbid action of jest. Besides.. as they converse.. What could they do, even if they did take the note seriously? As they debated against each other they came to the conclusion that no actual crime had been committed.

But less than 24 hours later, a young blond teacher is revealed murdered and its Billy's fault: for he did not convince the police to get involved.

From this point forward the story takes off into a splendid thriller of a killer caliber. More notes are found, and more decisions are to be made. Each note leading to a new balance of death, making him have to choose.. who will have death fall upon them that day. In a timid life turned into a nightmare, it becomes Billy's challenge (and survival necessity) to try to find a way to stop this psychopath, that is becoming bolder and crueler by the minute. This is a story that shows the struggle between good and evil... in a very personal way.



Mr. Koontz

Some writers seem to rely too much on past accomplishments, to the point where they duplicate what they have created before. One example is John Grisham. As I read more and more of his current novels.. I find that he is going for a slight change in story and just throwing creativity out of the window. With Dean Koontz, hit or miss, one thing that we can always count on, is the originality and creativity that he reveals in his work. He always strives to mix it up, with things that you would deem bazaar and strange. Yet, it usually pans out well. If anything, we find each of his novel to be fresh and best of all horrific. In this novel he surely does that, we enjoy reading it because it is original and fresh. (Not to mention.. full of violence and action.)


Here in "Velocity", we find all those things we love. Not only is the premise different, but it is also horrific. This novel reminds me much of rated R movies. Like a suspense thriller. It has uncompromising violence. It is filled with morbid imagery. Also, the intensity in which it is written, just makes for a delightful fast pace read. Best of all, it is a constant surprise, because you never have a big picture feel.. where you could try to guess what will occur next.



"Velocity" is an exciting book to read because its author, is not afraid of visit the most darkest of places that your imagination can take you to. This book is intense because it holds many pages filled with taboo subjects all involving death and some involving sexuality.

If you are a timid reader, then "Velocity" will surely not prove to be a satisfying read. For a more delightful book that is not all morbid but is still superb .. I once again would recommend "Life Expectancy" by Dean Koontz. But if you are searching for a book that is all violent, gross, and is drenching in dark humor.. you should surely check this horrificly healthy book out. I surely enjoyed the suspense and intensity in it, and the impact of the horrific and morbid movements that it held.




ZeN