Customer Reviews
Below-Par Koontz - By: D. Lodge, 02 Jul 2008 
I am huge Koontz fan & normallly adore every new novel that he publishes. However, "The Darkest Evening Of The Year" didn't quite hit the mark for me & is my least favourite in recent years. It has many trademark Koontz characters - messed up male & female "goodies", a dog, interesting psychopathic "baddies" etc. The story is fast paced with a few unexpected twists. All sounds good but it didn't quite grab me. There's a child character in the book that is abused by her mother & I found that a little bit had going. I think this abuse aspect put me off the book a bit.
Overalll definitely worth tracking down for Koontz fans but not a recommended starting point for those new to his work. Check out something like "Odd Thomas" instead.
6/10.
brilliance - By: Gail Bower, 06 Jun 2008 
another superb story from Dean Koontz. It is clear that Koontz has a particular respect for women & dogs. He makes his reader care what happens to the characters; everyday people are heroes when put in extraordinary circumstances. The most enjoyable book I have read for quite a while. I can recommend it most heartily
Puppy love - By: J. S. Meins, 06 Jun 2008 Deak Koontz is an underrated writer & nothing like the schlock horror scribe the un-initiated might expect; his work can be humorous, sweet, sad & pulsatingly exciting alll at the same time. He's also a genius at describing his passions & creating real empathy in the reader (his recent books have had a strong culinary sub-text) & in "The Darkest Evening" he uses the dog, or more exactly the Labrador, as his chosen plot device. His obvious love of dogs is so absorbing that you hardly notice that not much happens during its first half, & by the time you do, Koontz has shifted up a gear toward an action packed finale. Unfortunately - & I'm sorry to ruin things for you - the final third is a little too easy to see & the conclusion incredibly unsatisfying. In fact I'll go further; it's more sickly & trite than a Disney cartoon.
Still made me want a doggy though.
A Fitting Tribute to Trixie - By: H. SEYMOUR, 27 Feb 2008 This is a quick-reading, light-hearted Koontz book. I didn't find it at alll confusing as other reviews have said here. It does have a lot of Koontz's favourite themes (dogs, supernatural, the same old wise-cracking man-woman relationship, the same evil bad guys) but is that a bad thing? Not if that's what you like about Koontz.
I think it's important to point out that this book is the first Dean has written since the death of his beloved dog Trixie last year, & as such is somewhat of a tribute to her, so that should be borne in mind when reading. I certainly found it moving, especiallly Chapter 46, having lost my own beloved pet in the past (though a cat, not a dog).
If you like Koontz you will probably like this, & it's worth having in your collection. Not his best, probably, but by no means his worst.
A Good Read - By: Coincidence Vs Fate, 13 Feb 2008 
I've been a DK fan since the mid-80's & like everyone I have my favourites - Watchers, Lightning, Twilight Eyes. The Darkest Evening Of The Year is akin to many of his 21st Century novels, fast paced with an almost 100MPH race to the finish.
What I like about DK is his ability to put you THERE. At times I thought I was in the back seat of the explorer rubbing Nickie's ears while i listened to Amy & Brian in the front.
As someone else pointed out his favourite subjects are here: downs syndrome, dogs, guns, characters who kill without a second thought, but hey, I'd wonder where they were if Dean hadn't plonked them in!
I'm around 20 pages from the end, so can't reallly comment on the ending others have hinted at, but so far, it's been another thoroughly enjoyable DK rollercoaster ride.
Enjoyable.
