Breathless: A Novel of Suspense

It was like a college student reaching the word limit of a required essay--he just slapped on a concluding paragraph and ended it. It may have been okay if this was the start of a series--but even then. Really, the ending just wasn't. I only gave 2 stars because some of the earlier part of the novel was engaging. But I lost interest as I got closer and closer to the end and realized he didn't have room left on the runway for a successful landing.

I loved reading this book, but what ever happened at the end was like someone walked over to Dean Koontz tapped him on the shoulder and said " okay thats enough, you out of time and paper so end the story right now" yea, that bizarre!!
I cant even explain it- but the ending was an insult if you ask me, I guess he thought he had entertained us enough, and his job was done.

I got my Kindle on Christmas and Breathless was my first book. WOW - I have always been a fan of Dean Koontz. I have read his books, listened them on my MP3 player and now the Kindle.
BREATHLESS - Every time I had to put it down I only yearned for the next time I could continue my adventure. This story drew me in from the beginning with the multiple character development. I found the skipping form character to character I was saying, "No - give me more of them".
How Dean Koontz takes the characters and weaves everything together is mentally and emotionally satisfying. Now I find myself waiting for my amazing moment.
This is a sweet, refreshing and hopeful read that allowed me to escape from the bombardment of negative news and sadness I am exposed to each day.

This was a really good book! It was well written, I read it every chance I had!!! I was sorry I read it so fast but enjoyed it enough to re-read it. It has a little bit of everything that makes up a great mystery.

I have followed Dean Koontz since he began writing. I buy his books immediately upon publishing. Rarely, if ever disappointed. This one had great promise, interesting characters, strong build up in the first third of the book. And then it just fizzled out. My thought on finishing last night was "what happened? I must have missed something." The reviewer who said he/she must have missed a few chapters was absolutely correct. It just stopped. The ending just raced up to you without explanation. Maybe my dog tore out some pages.

Recently got back into Dean Koontz novels after several years and especially enjoy those with animal characters. Recently finished The Darkest Evening of the Year (highly recommend it) and am almost done with Dragon Tears. Plan to start on Breathless next. Koontz does a wonderful job of character development. His horror novels are a little much for me, but I love his suspense novels.

Very disappointed. I always look forward to the next book by Koontz and was excited when I received my book. However, after I finished the book, I was left confused and disappointed. There were too many characters, too much time spent describing every little detail and not enough time spent developing the plot. The book seemed hurried and when I was finished, I still had questions as to what happened to the remainder of the characters. It was very sloppy work from such a well-respected author. I hope this is not a preview of his future writings.

Other reviewers have given adequate plot synopsis for the book, so without rehashing the plot, I wish to add only a couple of points. (I do have to acknowledge that I have only read 17 of DK's books at this point in time, so my perspective does not encompass a comprehensive knowledge of his writing.)

First, at this time of our recession and other bleak stories on the evening news, comes a story that will lift us out of our doldrums and help us have a better perspective on life. This novel does that.

Second, I know many readers love the dramatic style of some of DK's novels (Phantoms, for instance, the "horror" genre--but for me, I'm sorry, I'd only give Phantoms a 3 star rating.). Myself, I love the gentler, more uplifting side of Koontz. I loved Watchers, From the Corner of His Eye, One Door Away From Heaven, and The Darkest Evening of the Year. OK, OK, I admit I also really enjoyed Lightning, and the Odd Thomas, series, too. I digress, sorry...

Anyway, I agree with other reviewers about the wonderful character development, the wonderful way DK has brought dogs/animals into the story. And you have to admit that it is nothing short of amazing the way DK handles the numerous characters and plots without leaving you confused, but still managing to keep the reader interested and wanting more. ALL without giving away the denouement!

By the way, I am sometimes pleasantly surprised by little twists some authors use to excite the reader--but I was shocked! Shocked and surprised, I tell you--without revealing what--the initial scene with Henry/Jim/Nora. OMG! But WOW, it was a great scene for the book!

Dean, thank you for this wonderful story. Please, please, please, keep writing your suspenseful, uplifting, shocking, intriguing, page-turning, wonderful books. I am so happy to have them to read.

SP.

I just love Koontz books and always get excited to read the next one. The beginning is great...lots of interesting characters and multiple story lines. In fact, so much action and mystery going on at once, you have to pay attention to keep it straight. Grady, a loner with an Irish wolfhound, feels a world change coming and suddenly finds adorable humanoid aliens living in his house. His neighbor and wife are murdered by the neighbor's sociopathic identical twin, who is "haunted" by his victims and believes the end of the world is coming. A homeless alcoholic embarks on an unnamed journey. How do they all tie together? Well, they don't really until about the last quarter of the book. You get hooked on the various stories...how will it all fit together? Of course, the evil government descends and Grady, the newbies and friends must escape. All of this rambles through "scientific" explanations to an ambiguous ending. Was the crazy guy right after all? A bit too unresolved, leaving you with "is that it?" Overall, a B- read.

I am amazed at this authors insight into human nature and animal nature. The way that Koontz describes dogs...I can completely see the picture in my mind. This story is a fresh lovely venture into what ifs...You have to have an imagination to enjoy it and to be willing to accept that maybe there is more to this reality than meets the eye.

Out walking his dog one day, Colorado recluse Grady Adams sees a pair of animals that are unlike anything he's ever seen anywhere before. Meanwhile, elsewhere in rural Colorado, veterinarian Cammy Rivers has noted some strange behavior in the animals she's treating. In other narrative threads we are introduced to a chaos theorist with a Robin Hood complex and a "monster in the making." There's a lot going on, and not just in Colorado. Things are going down in California, Washington, and Nevada. The questions are: How do all these disparate stories come together? And, what is the deal with these super-adorable mystery mammals? Good questions all.

Koontz has been doing his thing for decades now. And yet, his prose is still notably not good. That said, this novel was a bit less self-indulgent than much of what we've seen in recent years. I wasn't completely taken with how he brought everything together in the end, but getting there was awfully entertaining.

Really? I was expecting a neater, cleaner ending. Henry wasn't necessary. Tom was a character nearly completely outside the story. Grady/Lamar relationship was useless. Sometimes Koontz just phones one in.

You could consider me a HUGE Koontz fan, as before my Kindle I bought every previous book since Phantoms, almost as soon as they came out. I was excited to d/l this and then so disappointed I haven't even finished it yet. I last read "Your Heart Belongs to Me" and that was classic. I passed it on to my father, who isn't a typical Koontz reader but since not a "sci-fi" book I knew he'd enjoy almost as much as me. This book I will not be passing on to anyone but out respect to the auther I will finish it...someday....

Certainly not Dean Koontz! I was sorely disappointed by the last quarter of this book. After setting the scene for another masterful, dramatic ending in the Dean Koontz style, He punted instead. I felt I've wasted 7 good hours on this one.

Breathless review This book has kept me totally spell bound. I love Dean Koontz books but for me it's his best and I wanted it to go on and on. I was so wrapped up in the book that time was totally irrelevant What a master of the written word is Dean Koontz! I have already recommended it to family and next to anyone that I know who appreciates a wonderful story.

As always, Dean Koontz lived up to my expectations. He is the very best at descriptive prose along with suspense, and this book was no exception. I have other favorite authors but Dean Koontz is in a class by himself. What a tale he wove to a very surprising ending! He never disappoints.

Dean Koontz is an awesome author. I have shelves FULL of his books. I've read about 20 of them so far. "Breathless" is a disappointment. Very little action at all. No big climax or "big reveal" at the end. It pains me to write a bad review for my absolute favorite author on the planet, but...honesty is the best policy. Skip this book. Sorry Mr. Koontz.