Ratings27
Average rating3.6
Bill Wile is an easygoing, hardworking guy who leads a quiet, ordinary life. But that is about to change. One evening, after his usual eight-hour bartending shift, he finds a typewritten note under the windshield wiper of his car. "If you don't take this note to the police and get them involved, I will kill a lovely blond schoolteacher. If you do take this note to the police, I will instead kill an elderly woman active in charity work. You have four hours to decide. The choice is yours.
"
It seems like a sick joke, and Bill's friend on the police force, Lanny Olson, thinks so too. His advice to Bill is to go home and forget about it. Besides, what could they do even if they took the note seriously? No crime has actually been committed. But less than twenty-four hours later, a young blond schoolteacher is found murdered, and it's Bill's fault: he didn't convince the police to get involved. Now he's got another note, another deadline, another ultimatum...and two new lives hanging in the balance.
Suddenly Bill's average, seemingly innocuous life takes on the dimensions and speed of an accelerating nightmare. Because the notes are coming faster, the deadlines growing tighter, and the killer becoming bolder and crueler with every communication--until Bill is isolated with the terrifying knowledge that he alone has the power of life and death over a psychopath's innocent victims. Until the struggle between good and evil is intensely personal. Until the most chilling words of all are: "The choice is yours
Reviews with the most likes.
I'm not typically a fiction reader, but this one held my interest. Fun read.
As the daughter of a librarian I respect all books good and bad. One page in I knew who the murder was, but assumed I was wrong. I was not wrong! I actually wanted to physically harm this book after the final plot twist was revealed and I'm the person that cringes every time a movie character dog ears a book. This book makes me want to run Dean Koontz over with a car repeatedly like the monster from Jeepers Creepers! That is how much I hate this book.
I gave it a 5-star because the book had a long lasting impact on my life. "How they hangin', kemosabe?" is part of my origin story.
Absolutely loved this! Not normally my genre but I was hooked by the accessible writing style and premise.
Good characters and captivating dialogue.
I found the action elements extremely visceral and easy to follow which is often something I find challenging.
This was my introduction to Koontz and gifted to me by a friend. It was a wonderful journey.