The Husband
by Dean Koontz
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Book Reviews of The Husband
Book Review: Dean's New Formula
Summary: 3 Stars
I struggled with what rating to give this book. This is a *good* Koontz book..which equates to an *excellent* Patterson book, and the way Grisham is writing lately, is a *groundbreaking* book for him. Thats how much better Koontz is than his contemporaries. All of Dean's strengths shine here: character development, pure evil as the antagonist, intense writing with twists and turns, and exquisitely written settings and environments.
But anyone who knows the *prime* Dean Koontz (Strangers, Watchers), knows this is not typically his formula. It's almost as if, upon responding to pressures from his publisher in regards to Patterson's commercial success, he tried emulating his stories. Or maybe he's just trying out new themes. Dean's classics have included themes like government conspiracies, time travel, DNA mixing and experimentation, or pure sci-fi. Like I said, this is a basic kidnapping/ransom story that seemed like it was right out of Patterson's playbook. Its almost as if Dean read one of his books and said "He makes how much? I can do better than this!". Well, he can, and he did. It's just not the kind of plot line and theme where Koontz really shines. A *good* book for him, and a *great* book for anyone else, and compared to anything else thats out nowadays. This guy can write!
Book Review: What would you do?
Summary: 4 Stars
The Husband of the title is Mitch Rafferty, his wife is Holly and they are a young married couple, blissfully in love and making plans for the future. While Mitch is working at one of his landscaping jobs he receives a phone call on his cell phone, one that plunges him into a nightmare that goes from bad, to worse and then to unbelievably terrifying. Holly has been kidnapped, the kidnapper's want 2 million dollars, a sum that is completely out of Mitch's range. While Mitch tries to reason with the voice on the phone they tell him to look across the street, and then an innocent bystander is shot to death. These guys mean business- no police and they will give Mitch instructions on what to do to save his wife's life.
I've read some Dean Koontz before, but those books had some paranormal aspects to them. This book was a pulse pounding thriller, full of tricks, turns, betrayals and surprises. The story focuses on good versus evil as well as an examination of what it is to love unconditionally and to what lengths a person would go to protect and defend that love. This is one of those stay up all night reads, because every time you think the worst has happened Koontz ratchets it up another notch. Although the ending is a little anti-climatic this was overall a really good read.
Book Review: A good read...suspense....twists and turns
Summary: 4 Stars
I've read at least a dozen of Dean Koontz's books over the years. I grabbed "The Husband" while waiting for a plane in Baltimore, Maryland. I read the entire book by the time I returned home to Texas. It never let me down.
Now, I understand that Koontz writes books faster than we can read them, but this book was a fun read. Mitchell Rafferty is a gardener with one employee. His life is quiet and he is a happily married guy living in Southern California. No problems, right? Well, I never want to give a plot away on my reviews, but Mitch gets a phone call while he's working and then finds himself tangled in a murder that he did not commit, but all the evidence will show that he's the culprit. His wife is being held hostage for two million dollars......how will he get that much money to release her before she is killed? It is clear the hostage takers will make him look like the murderer of his wife.
The plot moves fast. It has to since Mitch only has "x" number of hours to get the money. Mitch's family is useless (except for one particular family member.....Anson) and the bizarre family issues that permeated his life as a child are revealed in the plot that never slows down.
It's worth the time to read the book.I enjoyed it and I recommend it.
Book Review: engrossing but forgettable
Summary: 3 Stars
This is the first Dean Koontz book I've read. I admit I stayed up all night to finish it and it was practically a one-sitting read. The first half I liked better than the last, because it became a bit far-fetched and not too believable on plot. It was very readable and hard to put down, but once I finished it I felt like I had wasted my time. I guess I've gotten to the point that I don't read fiction too much and want to be moved enough to feel changed or challenged or affected in some way.
This book had some disturbing parts and I don't like violence much. It isn't gory and most would say the disturbing portions were "mild" but I'm a sensitive reader. It definitely makes time pass but is just an escape and not much of an inspiring read. That probably wasn't Koontz' goal, though.
ATTENTION: the discussion and the Q and A w/author on the amazon page have some SPOILERS! I would suggest not reading UNTIL after you read the book, IF you decide to read it.
Thus three stars because I can't recommend this wholeheartedly. See below:
Recommended to those who want an escape read that will keep you interested
Not recommeded if you want to feel like you have learned something or feel moved by the plot/storyline.
Book Review: A decent page turner, but missing Koontz' typical eerie overtones
Summary: 4 Stars
"The Husband" is best described as a straight-forward thriller. The plot starts out quite simple, a gardener's wife gets kidnapped and is being held for ransom for 2 million dollars. To prove the kidnapper's point a "random stranger" is immediately gunned down -- with a warning not to go to the police.
The questions are "Why was his wife abducted when this man has barely 2 nickels to rub together?" and "How can he possibly raise 2 million in a few days?"
Without going into a ton of plot spoilers, there is actually a reason that the gardener was picked -- having to do with his rather unusual family.
Also complicating the story is a Detective Taggart, who gets the sense that a cover up is going on, but isn;'t sure who is covering up what.
I found the detective character confusing and a bit of a sideline to the main story that never really developed.
Also, what I really like about Koontz is his semi-occult twists, which weren't a part of this book. Not that they have to be in everthing he writes, I just missed them.
Overall I enjoyed the book. It was a good page turner and kept my interest. A few flaws kept it from the 5 star rating though.