Intense Intensity... (Intensity - Dean Koontz)

Member Name: rachels_ratty

Product:	Intensity - Dean Koontz
Date:	25/04/03 (215 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Superbly written, Excellent characterisation, Twist at the end

Disadvantages: None

Chyna Shepherd is a survivor. She lived through abuse as a child at the hands of her both her mother and Mums collection of boyfriends. When we meet her at the beginning of this book she is a young adult studying Psychotherapy at University and only has one true friend in the world, Laura Templeton. Shes travelling with Laura to her parents vineyard to spend the four-day Spring Break with them.

What should be an idyllic rest from classes turns into a living nightmare for poor Chyna. In the middle of the first night there, the house is broken into and Lauras parents are slaughtered. Chyna finds Laura bound and shackled on her bed and vows to save her life, however the killer is still in the house. Hiding in fear of her life Chyna hears screams coming from Lauras room – and then silence. Managing to stay hidden she watches the killer, Edgler Vess carry her only friend down the stairs and out of the house. Not knowing that Laura is already dead she follows. Outside is a motor home and Chyna has no choice but to watch helplessly as Vess takes Laura inside.

Chyna, having promised Laura that she would save her, follows. Remaining undetected in the motor homes bedroom she finally discovers Laura is dead. But now its too late, they are already on the move and shes trapped with a vicious killer. Chyna discovers that Laura isnt the only "victim" in what appears to be a mobile mortuary and her heart hardens, determined that she will at the least get the opportunity to raise the alarm and failing that will dispose of Vess herself. A chance discovery at a service station merely reinforces these thoughts in her head; she learns that Vess has a captive back at his house. Having suffered the loss of the only person in the world she loved shes more determined than ever that no one else will suffer at the killers hands.

Thats as far as Im going to go with the story line for this fast paced book. I point out that this is a fast moving
story as I have found with a lot of Mr Koontzs novels that they can tend to be very slow to start and therefore sometimes a little hard to get into. Sometimes with his writing, the story doesnt instantly jump out and grab me. Not so with Intensity. The tale that is woven here I found to be an instant attention grabber and I was totally hooked by the end of the first chapter.

The story is set within a single twenty-four hour period of Chyna Shepherds life and is interspersed with flashbacks from her childhood. Through these we get a better understanding of exactly what makes her tick and a much better grasp of why she chooses to do what she does, where, lets face it, most of us would turn tail and run for the hills! Her character is extremely well written and formed, by the end of the book I had a very clear picture in my mind of what she looks like and I think that is the mark of a good writer; Mr Koontz certainly puts plenty of flesh on her bones.

Further to that and I believe the crux of why this story works so well, the character of Edgler Vess is superbly crafted. This particular figment of the authors imagination managed to scare the pants off me! In this case I think a little too much flesh was put on his bare bones as he truely is a good example of "evil" and a very believable character. Vess is a sociopath and therefore shows no signs on the outside of exactly what he is or how his thought processes are completely skewed from how you or I would think. Vess thinks in sensation only; through touch, taste, sight etc. Chynas interactions with him make for compulsive reading as she tries to psychoanalyse him using knowledge she has gained through her degree course. Vess you see just doesnt fit into any "neat" little box!

This is more than a tale about a mass murderer and one womans attempt to stop him once and for all. Its also a well-written insight into the human mind and although extreme in this case, highlights
choices all of us have to make every day and how we make those decisions. Granted not many of us are ever faced with life or death choices; but what if we were? What would you do if in the same position as Chyna Shepherd? Yes its a fantastic story but its also one that makes you think. That to me is the mark of a well-crafted tale.

Whilst reading this book I did have a sense of dread that had nothing to do with the unfolding story. I have tended to find in the past that whilst Dean Koontz can tell a very good story, his endings do tend to fall a little flat. He really does seem to struggle with how to finish whatever tale he is telling. Imagine then my surprise when not only does this particular book finish in spectacular style he has also woven a very unexpected twist into the climax of the tale. I certainly didnt guess it and Im not sure anyone else would either.

In conclusion all I can say is, highly recommended!



ISBN number 0-7472-4840-0

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