Sociopaths, strangers and shootings (The Good Guy - Dean Koontz)

Member Name: Tracy_1127

Product:	The Good Guy - Dean Koontz
Date:	29/09/09 (52 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good fast read, great chemistry between characters

Disadvantages: would anyone really help?

I've had this book for a couple of years now and I think I've read it three times. Some of Dean Koontz's books are well worth keeping and reading again when you've forgotten lots of the plot and this is one of them in my opinion.

Tim Carrier is a stone mason who lives a quiet life, he does his job and has a couple of beers in the pub then goes home. One night while having his first beer he gets mistaken for a hitman but doesn't realise it until it's too late. He is left with an envelope containing a photo of a woman called Linda Parquette and ten thousand dollars. When the real hitman arrives he gives him the money and tells him he's changed his mind about the job than takes the photo to the woman to warn her. Naturally the hit is still on and Tim has to persuade the target she is going to die if she doesn't run. Why does anyone want Linda Parquette dead and will Tim and Linda be able to outrun the killer Krait long enough to find out?

Firstly I have to say the initial scene where Tim is mistaken for a hitman is fairly loose, he likes engaging strangers in odd conversations and I always think when I read it that if it was me I would be leaving the bar during that conversation thinking "what a looney tune" but as Tim is a big bear of a guy and perfectly able to look after himself I suppose he would react differently. Later on when we find out more about Tim it becomes clearer.

Secondly the fact he tries to stop the hit and goes to Linda to warn her then goes on the run with her initially seems impossible. I think about people and how they are and would estimate 99% of people would want to keep out of it. Again though when we know more about Tim it becomes clear that is what he would do.

I think over the last few years Koontz has been trying to inject a bit of good into his world, it's almost like he's aware of how much bad there is in the world and seems to need wholesome, reliable characters in his books to balance this out. I personally like the hopeful characters he writes and enjoy a bit of good in his books because there really is too much bad in the world.

The chase is a great read with Krait seeming to be almost psychic in his ability to find Tim and Linda but with Tim remaining one step ahead of the killer throughout. Again though this is something we later learn is natural for Tim and it becomes clear that he would actually be able to achieve this.

The chemistry between Linda and Tim is great and really works well alongside the constant danger that lurks just around the corner. The other characters in the book add more depth and explanations to the plot and it all comes together nicely at the end.

The killer, Krait, is suitably a bit insane and definitely falls into the sociopath category which makes for a calm, collected and charming killer who gets himself into his own situations along the way. Technology plays a part in this book too and Koontz seems to have a healthy respect and paranoia for big brother style technology.

Overall the cat and mouse scenario works well especially as Linda has no idea why anyone would want to kill her. It's always best if the target doesn't know in this kind of book because it makes it even more alarming that it could happen to anyone for some small reason they are unaware of. It's typical Koontz to write a situation that is scary because it could happen to you and that's one of the things I like best about his books.

The book is a good read for any Koontz fans and a good way to be introduced to the author's style if you're not a fan, it's a fast paced read with plenty of twists and turns that keep you wondering throughout. Some of my friends don't like the good characters he often has but in a book about random evil there has to be some good to balance it out.

I recommend this book and can honestly say I'll probably read it again in the future when I've forgotten parts of the plots again. The book is available in paperback for £3.66 from Amazon or 1p used. The only disadvantage to this book is the improbability of Tim's help but Koontz makes this work with the background he gives us later on.

Definitely one to read at least once.

Summary: Recommended