I find Dean Koontz novels to be rather hit-or-miss.  Sole Survivor is interesting in that it is both.  The book is just over 400 pages.  And I really enjoyed about 340 of those pages.  That is to say, I enjoyed the entire build up of the story.  The main character was likable, and the story intriguing.  But it sure fell apart in the end.

Joe Carpenter is living every parent’s worst nightmare.  One year ago his wife and two daughters were killed in a horrible plane crash.  One of the worst crashes that has ever occurred, all crew and passengers were killed instantly.  Joe struggles to live his life, missing his family and pondering the horrible end they must have endured.

On this day, the anniversary of the crash, Joe visits his family’s gravesites.  And there he encounters Rose, a mysterious woman who claims that she’s been trying to get in touch with Joe for a while.  She claims to have been a passenger on that fateful flight, the sole survivor.  But before Joe can talk to her further, gunshots ring out and Rose disappears.  Apparently this woman knows something about that flight, something that others will kill to keep secret.

Joe has now set upon a singular mission - find Rose, find out what she knows, and of course, get answers to the biggest questions of all…How did she survive the crash?  And could there possibly be other survivors?  And why, as he tracks Rose, do bodies start piling up via a series of ever more bizarre suicides?

As I said, I found the story to be fascinating.  We never get a good feeling for who Rose is, and whether she is good or evil.  Telling the truth?  Or spinning a web of lies?  Joe is never sure, and neither are we.  But we start to find out clues about the flight, clues that are difficult to reconcile.  I found myself really pondering exactly which path the story would take.  

And then, finally, the ‘big reveal’.  The last 60 pages, where we are given the entire story.  And I have to say I was disappointed.  The author settled on several different paths to take the story, none of which I would have chosen.  Koontz used an odd  mixture of the paranormal, supernatural, science fiction, and spirituality. 

And while some might find this strategy a refreshing change from the standard horror/thriller fare that we come to expect in a Koontz book, I found it to be too far off the beaten path for my liking. 

So, do I recommend Sole Survivor?  It depends on who’s asking.  Most of the story was very intriguing, and I turned the pages very quickly trying to figure out what was going to happen next.  But when the ending came, I was disappointed, and I think most true Koontz fans will feel the same.   But if you can stand the departure from the norm, you might want to give this book a try.  But not, necessarily, while you’re on a plane.

Recommended: No