Book Review: the Husband by Dean Koontz

This is a well written book with many unexpected twists and turns that at times you will wonder "Did I read that right?" The first time I read it, I back up a couple of times and re-read the pages, because I felt sure that I skipped a page, because what I read just couldn't be. Don't start reading this book the night before you have to be at work early because this book is a page turner in the truest sense of the word. It is hard to put down, because you have just got to know what happens next.

I have to tell you the first paragraph of the book it is a humdinger: "A man begins dying at the moment of his birth. Most people live in denial of Death's patient courtship until, late in life and deep in sickness, they become aware of him sitting bedside." What did I tell you? Koontz's opening lines are attention grabbing and give the reader some deep thoughts to maul over even before the story begins. I like that in a book - by the way the opening lines live up the rest of the book.

Normally, I would give a brief summary of each main character of the book, but in this case if I did that I might give away some of the surprises that are awaiting you so I won't. Instead I just will tell you about Mitchell Rafferty, who is the main character. Mitch is just an ordinary guy who is put through an emotional and physical ringer by circumstances beyond his control. By trade he is a gardener; actually he owns his own small scaled landscape business. Mitch enjoys his work, his life and he loves his wife. He is married to Holly, an ordinary woman who works in a real estate office and is studying to take the real estate exam. Nothing extraordinary about either of them; if I had to label them I would call them the sweet young couple next door type.

In order to keep from spoiling the story I don't want to tell you much more, but I will summarize what is on the back cover. Holly is kidnapped and Mitch is asked to get two million dollars cash together to get her back. Just one problem with that - he doesn't have two million in cash nor does he have the means to get it. The kidnapper doesn't care about that fact; he just asks Mitch if he loves his wife.

That's all I'm going to tell you, other than it is a great book and I highly recommend it.