I didn't realize that I had read this book many years ago when it was published under the name Brian Coffey. A few years ago I bought it when it was released on kindle under the name Dean Koontz. As I finally got around to reading it, bits and pieces came back to me.

Anyway, Colin is a shy and quiet, friendless, boy who loves to read and watch movies. His parents are divorced and he lives with his mother who is almost never home and does not seem to have much if any time for him.

He strikes up a friendship with Roy, or more specifically Roy chooses to strike up a relationship with him. Roy is a disturbed and twisted individual who enjoys torture and killing.

I would probably have rated this 5 stars if Koontz had not made the mother such a senseless flipping moron who would rather believe outrageous stories about her son with no proof and so easily having the wool pulled over her eyes by an Eddie Haskell type fake politeness. Therefore, 4 out of 5 stars from me. ( )

Read this years ago but didn't remember it. Read it again in a couple of days. A quick read for sure. Not one of my favorite books by Koontz but it was interesting. It it the story of a young teen who has always been an outcast who becomes friend with the wrong guy and the consequences of that friendship. Worth a read but don't expect classic Koontz classic thriller. ( )

A reread as part of a hoped-for book clearance though I didn’t remember this story at all so, first time around, it couldn’t have made an impact and I can’t say it did this time either. As with much of early Koontz it’s a book of its time. The oft sexual violence as imagined by one character is particularly off-putting as it should be but it’s still dated. Oddly, this book breaks a general rule of publishing in that if the protagonist is a child, then the book is for children but there’s no way this book would be for suitable for kids or, as the boys in question are teens, for a Young Adult readership. Nothing to do with the book but it crossed my mind to wonder whether this would have ever seen print these days. Another thing that ages the book is a ‘boy’ of Colin’s age would likely not, these days, sleep with a nightlight. I perceived the boys as much younger, maybe 7, 8, or 9, and Colin’s father is particularly devolved. The good parts of the book for me is Colin’s perceptions of the dark, a haunted house, a creature ready to jump out of the shadows having lain in wait for him, wonderfully described. ( )

I read this book years ago and liked it then too. Fortunately, I couldn't remember the ending so it was new for me. As always, Koontz does an excellent job entertaining you. ( )

Colin is a fourteen year old boy that moves to a new little town in the 1990's. He soon becomes friends with Roy who is about the same age. The two boys are inseperable. Roy has become Colin's new best friend, which is something Colin has never had. He has always been the outcast at his old school, but now he is friends with the most popular boy in his class. He can't believe this is happening to him. We soon find that Roy has a deep, dark secret that he desperatly wants to share with Colin. First has to test Colin to see if he is trustworthy. When Roy finally feels that Colin is trusted enough, he tells him his awful secret. Roy likes to kill for the fun of it. He wants Colin to help him kill someone to prove their friendship. Colin knows he can't possibly kill someone, but he doesn't want to lose Colin as a friend. He decides that their friendship is not worth what Roy wants and he tells him "no" This angers Roy. He decides to kill Colin. But in the end.....

The book was pretty disturbing at times. Roy is a really messed up kid. It's his reasons for being a messed up kid, that will actually make you feel sympathy for him in the end. ( )