77 Shadow Street [Paperback]

Being a reader of Koontz novels for well over 20 years now, I picked up a second-hand copy of 77SS to see what all the fuss was about. Countless reviews slated just about every aspect of the writing / story, and so I thought I'd see for myself - keeping an open mind of course.
I sadly have to agree with what many people have already commented on the book - too many characters, too much whizzing back and forth, and quite simply - too many pages of unessessary 'dragging out' storyline text.

Where I was once impressed with Koontz delivery of describing a location in a way I could clearly see in my mind's eye; in 77SS I found location descriptions to be repeated constantly throughout the book to the point of thinking to myself - yes, I already know that - you already told me about the walls & ceiling on the last page.
I can't help but feel that Koontz simply gave himself a very limited arena with which to write about - not to mention filling 470 pages with attempting to describe 'one' event in the place (in great detail).

I can't say much better about the story I'm afraid. The idea of a building going through some type of time-shift phase has been done before - only much much better. Take Graham Masterton's 'The House That Jack Built' as an example. Much better story, simple plot and so far ahead of 77SS that you can still smell the warp engines' residue.

I would normally get through a Koontz novel in 2-3 days with the likes of Phantoms or Watchers; I even thoroughly enjoyed Breathless - with 77SS it was almost a 3-week assault course. After every pick-up and covering 20 or so pages I felt I had learned enough about grey slime and things in walls to do me; and after realising the story was going nowhere fast it would be put down again.
In the end it wasn't to reveal whatever twist or turn (which is quite poor I must add) lurked on the final pages, it was simply to get shot and be done with it.

To sum up, my only advice to anyone considering reading this book would be to have a good supply of Pro-Plus or black coffee at hand during the process. It may also help to have a notepad and pen handy to keep track of the amount of jumping around it does, and the people involved.
Perhaps what I feel most concerned with is the fact that Koontz does indeed seem to be slipping in the overall quality of his work. To put this another way - had 77SS been written by anyone else, I doubt the publishers would have even given it the light of day. Perhaps someone should tell them - it may help wake Mr Koontz up a little.

2 stars - 1 for the hope Koontz will recover; and the 2nd - well - I liked the cover.

As a new convert to Dean Koontz I have very recently read 'The Husband' and 'Intensity' and really enjoyed both, in fact I'd go as far as to say that Intensity is one of the best thrillers I have ever read. And that despite the fact there is hardly any dialogue. It takes an exceptional writer to be able to do that and maintain momentum. It is simply superb. So I bought 77SS with high anticipation and was sorely disappointed. I can't believe it has been written by the same author. Too many characters, a stereotypical haunted house on a hill, daft, disjointed story, repetitive storytelling and silly creatures. Just couldn't get into it and gave up half way. I speed read to the end and it didn't seem to pick up. I wouldn't care I normally only buy bargain books generally no more than £2 but I paid more for this. However, I'm prepared to give him another go as everyone is due a duff book and have started 'The Good Guy'. And so far, it's back to the Dean Koontz I like...

Oh for the days when Dean Koontz wrote with a ceaseless rigour and a haunting rhythm and an 'R' in between his two names. In those days a new book by the author was an event and a welcome one at that; nowadays he seems to churn them out and they can fail to enthuse and to enthral and are often flabby and flaccid.
At least this is not yet another book about Odd Thomas and there are some gripping passages of prose. This is far more than a haunted house/hotel/apartment block novel with a time travel twist added to the mix. However,unlike earlier tomes such as Watchers and Night Chills this book does not grip and it never seems to entirely engage the reader or to move into top gear.