From the Corner of His Eye: Amazon.co.uk: Dean Koontz: Books

Amazon.co.uk Review

Horrormeister Koontz looks heavenward for inspiration in his newest suspense thriller, From the Corner of His Eye, which is chock-full of signs, portents, angels and one somewhat second-rate devil, a murky and under characterised guy named Junior Cain who throws his beloved wife off a fire tower on an Oregon mountain and spends the rest of the novel waiting for the retribution that will surely come. But not before a series of tragedies ensues that convince Junior that someone or something named Bartholomew is out to exact vengeance for that crime and the series of other murders that follow.

Bartholomew's own troubles begin with his birth, which transpires moments after his father is killed in a traffic accident as he is taking his wife to the hospital, and continue with the loss of his eyes at the tender age of three. Young Bartholomew has visionary gifts, though to his mother, a nice lady who's renowned for her pie-making abilities as well as her sweetly innocent nature, he's just a particularly smart kid who can read and write before his second birthday. Eventually, Bartholomew regains his sight, Junior Cain gets his comeuppance and fate conspires to bring love into the Pie Lady's life, reward the faithful and put a happy ending on this genre-bending tale. Koontz will no doubt rocket right to the top of the bestseller list with this inventive, if somewhat slower-paced, read. --Jane Adams, Amazon.com

Review

'A mammoth new thriller' Mirror 'Keep[s] you turning pages well into the night' Belfast Telegraph 'A breathtaking thriller pumping with suspense' Western Mail 'Powerful emotion tinged with spiritual wonder. That emotion, which rocks the characters and will shake readers, marks this as one of Koontz's most effective novels -- and he's written a lot of them' Publishers Weekly 'This is not merely a novel of suspense; it is also a story of belief and reflection, of choices and thebeauty that can blossom from doing what is right, rather than what is easy. While dazzling the reader with magnificent turns of phrase that will evoke simultaneous admiration and envy, [Koontz] alternates the mood between tenderness and suspense. A novel that is absolutely perfect from opening word to closing sentence' Bookreporter.com 'Koontz tries to create serious literature, and he largely succeeds in FROM THE CORNER OF HIS EYE' USA Today 'Uplifting and optimistic. There's nothing sentimental...in this book, though a complex philosophical thesis is at its heart. A knuckle-biter from start to finish' Toronto Star 'FROM THE CORNER OF HIS EYE may be Koontz's crowning achievement in a lengthy career already filled with triumphs. In this first-rate thriller, non-stop action keeps one turning the pages in spite of the book's length' Minneapolis Star Tribune 'Readers in search of a pull-out-the-stops, multigenre thriller need look no further than FROM THE CORNER OF HIS EYE' Denver Post 'A fascinating theme...peopled with interesting characters, a fast-paced plot, and some imaginative theories about the nature of science and faith. Koontz has written another winner' Toronto Sun 'He succeeds in creating and fleshing out a cast of remarkable and unique characters. Koontz builds mansions of place and time. FROM THE CORNER OF HIS EYE is a suspenseful, entertaining and thought-provoking novel, examining the depth of the human spirit, our capacity for good and evil...and the consequences of even the simplest deed' Harrisburg Patriot-News 'An ambitious exploration of the intricacies of human relationships' Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel 'Highly entertaining' Chicago Tribune 'Koontz connects these [characters'] stories with his usual ingenuity. He has always had near-Dickensian powers of description, and an ability to yank us from one page to the next that few novelists can match' Los Angeles Times 'Though over 600 pages, the book never seems long. The characters are vivid and emotionally exciting, creating a fast and compelling read. Highly recommended' Library Journal 'A psychologically complex suspenser' New York Daily News 'Fans of Dean Koontz are in for another thrilling treat. Once again we [are] mesmerized by his gift for...colorful prose' Oakland Press 'Koontz is famous for the way he falls in love with his characters. They're so richly and compellingly drawn, you can practically hear them breathing from the page. FROM THE CORNER OF HIS EYE is chuckfull of hope an wonderment, good and evil, familial adoration, and characters you'll wish lived next door. You'll never want to leave the worlds Koontz draws you into. Settle in for one remarkable read of awesome possibilities' Lexington Herald-Ledger 'Full of more surprises than the average Koontz offering -- and that is saying much. His opening is like a man announcing he will juggle bowling balls while frying eggs and piloting an air balloon. Preposterous -- but Koontz proceeds to do it, and much more. Koontz does not bore' San Diego Union Tribune 'Exceptional writing and storytelling. Year after year, Koontz provides fresh ideas' San Antonio Express News 'A heart-pounding tale of Biblical proportions. [Koontz] proves once again that he still has the power to scare the daylights out of us' Ottawa Citizen 'Very appealing characters... For some time now, Koontz has been quite ambitious with the themes of his thrillers. FROM THE CORNER OF HIS EYE is the most ambitious yet. Here joy is definitely in the journey' Flint Journal 'A wonderful read. The pacing is perfect, keeping the reader in exquisite tension. This is a deeply satisfying, rich novel. You may have nightmares about [the villain] but you'll love the other characters. Singularly and collectively, they are unforgettable. FROM THE CORNER OF HIS EYE is magic' New Orleans Times Picayune 'Delightful...fascinating and terrifying' Detroit News and Free Press 'Dean Koontz almost occupies a genre of his own. He is a master at building suspense and holding the reader spellbound' Richmond Times-Dispatch 'Vintage novel writing... The reader waits intensely for the final showdown' Calgary Sun 'Dean Koontz is not an author to be taken for granted. Each of his books stands alone; they do not fit a pattern. FROM THE CORNER OF HIS EYE is full of well-developed characters which is a trademark of Koontz's. Highly diverse characters...marvelous people' Fort Meyers Beach Observer 'Probably the most creative and most far-reaching book he has ever written. Riveting...well-written. This book says a great deal about why Koontz is on top of his field -- he's very good' Deseret News 'An explosion of emotion and wonder. The tale is spun so masterfully that it is as gripping a novel as you'll find, and as thought-provoking' Baton Rouge Sunday Advocate 'In his latest novel, Dean Koontz has achieved a literary miracle. A tapestry of intrigue and suspense...stunning physical description, unique turns of phrase... FROM THE CORNER OF HIS EYE will make readers stop, think, and ultimately appreciate "the many ways things are"' Fort Worth Star-Telegram 'A fascinating piece of work...stuffed to the gunwales with colorful characters and plot twists. It's virtually a Charles Dickens epic for the 21st century' Locus From The Corner Of His Eye was no.7 in the Sunday Times and Observer bestseller lists

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

I could not put it down 14 Mar 2003

By Detra Fitch TOP 500 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Three things happened on one momentous day. Enoch Cain killed his wife for fourteen months. Bartholomew Lampion is born in California with amazing eyes. Angel White is born in San Francisco, born from a violent rape. All three of them lost a relative on that same day. The man, the boy, and the girl, were all connected through a force larger than life.

Enoch was a brilliant for a madman. He believed himself to be God's gift to women and the smarted man alive. But he had a few obsessions. A detective did not believe his wife's death to have been an accident and was constantly around, even if not seen by Enoch. Enoch also found himself murmuring the name "Bartholomew" in his sleep. Believing Bartholomew to be a threat he made his life's mission to find Bartholomew and kill him!

Bart was an amazing child prodigy! Before age three he was reading adult books, Robert A. Heinlein being his favorite! His mother also found out her son was special in another way. Her son "knew" of parallel worlds. He could "walk where it is not raining" and remain dry while others get soaked in a down pour. At three, he was found to have retinoblastoma and he became blind. This in no way stopped him though.

Angel was adopted by her aunt on the day she was born. Her mother had been black. Her biological father had been white. Celestina, the aunt, was sure that if the father ever found out about Angel, he would hunt her down to kill her. So it was kept quiet. But Angel had an awareness that others did not. She was one of the few like Bart, though they did not know each other.

Fate was about to change all their lives!

***** Dean Koontz is a master of scaring readers from his tales. This one is not as chilling as some of his previous works, but still an awesome read! Highly recommended! *****

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

What an awesome book!!! 28 Mar 2007

By E. Philippou

Very rarely does a book make me cry due its power and emotion, but From The Corner Of His Eye succeeded in making me do so, on more than one occassion throughout the story. It was one of those books that once I'd finished it, made me feel a bit empty inside because whilst reading it, it gave me so much and occupied so much of time emotionally. A woman's despair at losing her husband to death just before the birth of their son, her devotion to her brothers who in the outside world are considered strange and somewhat intimidating and most prominently, her love for her outstandingly talented and special son all serve to make this book an amazing rollercoaster of a journey. For me the biggest strength that Koontz gives to this book are the characters; I have never felt so involved and drawn to figures in a book before! Please read this book - you won't regret it!

...AND A CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM 10 Nov 2002

By Lawyeraau HALL OF FAME TOP 100 REVIEWER

This book is an interesting melange of genres. It is at once mystical, suspenseful, horror filled, part sci-fi, and tinged with the supernatural. Add to this a little boy with beautiful eyes, who is a child prodigy, gifted beyond his years, and capable of entering parallel universes or realities; a child who can literally walk in the rain without getting wet. Add yet another unusually gifted child prodigy named "Angel" who was conceived out of a violent rape. Mix in the rapist, who is also a socio-pathic killer, a priest turned cop who is aware of the existence of parallel or alternate realities, because he has the ability to send inanimate objects there, and stir in a woman whose goodness is almost legendary. What do you have? You have a best seller on your hands!

The book is a very quick, easy read. You won't want to put it down. The only real criticism is the fact that about twenty five years are crammed into the last dozen pages. It is as if the author had a limit on how long the book could be and had to have it end before it exceeded the limit. Having taken about six hundred pages to get to a certain stage, it was a little jarring to go at warp speed for the last dozen pages. Still, all in all, it is a good read.