Dean Koontz - Life Expectancy

Pros: Protagonists
Cons: Antagonists

Ah, Dean, I can’t stay away from you. Yes, you, Dean Koontz. You’ve let me down many times, yet I still come back to you for more, always hopeful, always waiting for what I know you can give me. And you can, you can do it, you can write a good, breezy ...

Pros: Good tight plot, with twists
Cons: Would have liked to know Jimmy's kids better.

This is another review about Dean Koontz. Yes, I know I have written reviews about him in the past. Often his work has annoyed me, but it has never bored me. He is an entertaining master of words. I was discussing Koontz with my granddaughter not ...

Pros: Interesting plot and likable characters
Cons: Some characters could have been more developed

For the last few years, there have been two new books by Dean Koontz released each year. A new Koontz book has been released every year in December since I started reading his books in 1999. Life Expectancy was released in early December ...

Pros: Intriguing story.
Cons: Hated most of the characters.

With Dean Koontz books, it's hit or miss with me. Some I really enjoyed, others I hated. Life Expectancy falls in the middle for me. With a clever premise, I do have to say I was thoroughly engaged, waiting to see what would happen next. But, I ...

Pros: Charming and quirky main characters, lots of laughs in the early sections
Cons: I had no idea Dean Koontz wrote telenovelas (aka Spanish soap operas)

On a recent visit, I described the humor of the S tephanie Plum series to my uncle, and he recommended I read Life Expectancy. According to Uncle D., this book was going to make me laugh a lot. He was half right. ...

Pros: Characters, plot, optimism.
Cons: Wordiness, cheesy banter, overdone analogies.

There are many reasons why I have always striven to be a writer. Maybe it was because I was read to as a child. Maybe because I spent hours in the library every day in grade school in lieu of a babysitter. However, if I must trace back to one author ...

Pros: Great premise, some nice dialogue, generally good characterisation.
Cons: Very odd tone in places, pedestrian storyline spoils strong opening.

The only thing worse than a bad book, I feel, is a book which should have been so much better. For all the distaste a real stinker of a story can cause, it's quickly forgotten, whereas the remnants of the nearly-novel seem to linger for some time, an ...

Pros: Funny, Exciting, Endearing characters, Unexpected plot twists
Cons: Some of the bookishness flairs up, Ending feels a bit rushed

My first two experiences with Dean Koontz (Phantoms and Strangers) didn’t exactly make me a life-long fan. I found the characters to be mostly uninteresting, the dialogue to be pretty wooden, and the plot to be a letdown. And, as ignorant ...

Pros: Compelling story, interesting characters.
Cons: Simplistic plot

Dean Koontz is a very prolific writer. By that I mean he grinds out a lot of books but as he grinds out new titles his writing has been changing (evolving?). I'm not saying it's bad, far from it. It's just that when Koontz started out, he used to write ...

Pros: Fast paced, likeable characters, imaginative
Cons: There weren't 20 terrible days

Dean Koontz has recently become my favorite author. Normally I am a Michael Crichton fan, but I came across the novel Life Expectancy in a box of used books in the corner of a motel lounge while I was on a business trip of sorts. Anyway, my situation is ...

Pros: Dialogue, Pacing, Humor, Suspense, Plot, Everything else
Cons: The other four days after the first seemed a little rushed.

Before I begin this review, I must warn you that I am a long time fan of Dean Koontz and I'm always rushing to the store to get his newest novel. Because of that, I am going to try to be as un-biased as possible in my opinions. So, with that in mind, ...

Pros: Exciting, very suspenseful. Emotional characters that you can have empathy for.
Cons: You don't really get to meet Jimmy's children,
Evil Clowns!

From the first sentence in this book, you know it is going to be a good read. There is never a moment when you're not nervous to know what will happen next. Of all of the Koontz books I have read this is by far my favorite. It has a scary yet emotional mood that keeps you hooked from page one. In this book, I liked how things mentioned in the very beginning in the book become important in the lives of all the main characters. Everything ties together and keeps you wondering. The ending is so touching and amazing. I've read this book multiple times and I'm still shocked by each event every time.

Pros: Exciting, character depth, storyline
Cons: Some far-fetched concepts.

I have read almost all of Dean Koontz's vast selection of novels, and this would have to be my favorite. The characters in this novel spring to life with his lively descriptions and lovable analogies. Jimmy Tock, the main character, becomes a stoic reminder of how a father, son, and man should be. The warmth and coziness of the characters lives make you want to settle down and start a family (and bake, you will be VERY hungry after reading this book).

The Five Terrible Days Jimmy Tock has to endure leaves you breathless, nervous, and anxious to get through the next one. Since you fall so deeply in love with the main characters, the suspenseful parts are much more unbearable! Enjoy the suspense, romance, twists and turns of this excellent book!

Pros: Exciting, suspenseful to the max, utterly fantastic to read
Cons: The story had to end!

In Dean Koontz's most recently released novel fans won't be disappointed. "Life Expectancy" chronicles the story of Jimmy Tock and the five terrible days predicted for him at birth. Suspense builds as each of the days arrives and the plot twists are superb. I was glued to the page, unwilling to stop reading until I knew what happened next. Reading this book made for sleepless nights - with three children under age ten, I have little time for recreational reading but this book was a gripping, must-read-now.

Pros: If you like train wrecks, this book is for you.
Cons: Totally ridiculous plot.

I could not put this book down. It was a total train wreck. I suspect Mr. Koontz owed his publishers a book, so rips off some Super Mario character names and writes the most idiotic book ever. I kept reading along and telling my family about the Tocks, Punchinello and the great Beezo the Clown. It got really twisted when the freaking trapeze people come to steal the child. Oh my gosh!! Switched at birth!! What a new concept. I am a great fan of Dean Koontz, but this book was a stinker. Oh well, you got my money! Better luck next time.