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The Voice of the Night
#1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz gives new meaning to blood brothers in this chilling book of friendship gone awry.
No one could understand why Colin and Roy were best friends. Colin was so shy; Roy was so popular. Colin was fascinated by Roy—and Roy was fascinated by death. Then one day, Roy asked his timid friend: “You ever killed anything?” From that moment on, the two were bound together in a game too terrifying to imagine—and too irresistible to stop.
No one could understand why Colin and Roy were best friends. Colin was so shy; Roy was so popular. Colin was fascinated by Roy—and Roy was fascinated by death. Then one day, Roy asked his timid friend: “You ever killed anything?” From that moment on, the two were bound together in a game too terrifying to imagine—and too irresistible to stop.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1980
About the author
Dean Koontz
870 books37.5k followersAcknowledged as "America's most popular suspense novelist" (Rolling Stone) and as one of today's most celebrated and successful writers, Dean Ray Koontz has earned the devotion of millions of readers around the world and the praise of critics everywhere for tales of character, mystery, and adventure that strike to the core of what it means to be human.
Dean, the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna.
Facebook: Facebook.com/DeanKoontzOfficial
Twitter: @DeanKoontz
Website: DeanKoontz.com
Dean, the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna.
Facebook: Facebook.com/DeanKoontzOfficial
Twitter: @DeanKoontz
Website: DeanKoontz.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 593 reviews
March 6, 2019
A decent coming-of-age tale. The execution was a little spotty, but it was still enjoyable.
June 8, 2017
Dean Koontz has used so many pen names (something I hadn’t known). Ten by the count of Google. The Voice of the Night was originally published under the name of Brian Coffey (learned that here on Goodreads). But I have read quite a few of Koontz’s books in the past. A few early ones, and then a bunch through the early 2000’s. If there was one thing I could count on with his books, it’s suspense. He’s just good at it. Because of that, I liked Odd Thomas and books like Life Expectancy. Personal favorite: From the Corner of His Eye. I think he’s best when combining suspense with emotion and a touch of the supernatural.
The Voice of the Night is what then? Well, the first half was awful. Those things I mentioned above – they did not exist here. Most of the dialogue between these two boys was, to put it simply, annoying. Back, forth, back, forth. People don’t talk like this. And the direction these boys were heading put me off (BTW, the jacket description is misleading). I almost put the book down for good. But I had done just that with two recent books, and didn’t want to give up on another.
Now guess what?! I liked the second half! Koontz changed directions on me! You sly dog. He didn’t take the road I’d expected. The plot gained substance and reasoning. Suspense made an appearance. Moments of crappy dialogue remained in spots (case in point: Colin’s mom became utterly ridiculous at this point. I think she’s an excuse to free up the plot). This isn’t Dean’s “A-game” writing. The use of a pseudonym makes sense.
So this is like two books for me, one bad, one good. Together not so bad. Can’t go above 3 stars, so I’m calling it “3-stars with a plus”. Good to pick up a Dean Koontz again. Makes me want to read another of his oldies.
The Voice of the Night is what then? Well, the first half was awful. Those things I mentioned above – they did not exist here. Most of the dialogue between these two boys was, to put it simply, annoying. Back, forth, back, forth. People don’t talk like this. And the direction these boys were heading put me off (BTW, the jacket description is misleading). I almost put the book down for good. But I had done just that with two recent books, and didn’t want to give up on another.
Now guess what?! I liked the second half! Koontz changed directions on me! You sly dog. He didn’t take the road I’d expected. The plot gained substance and reasoning. Suspense made an appearance. Moments of crappy dialogue remained in spots (case in point: Colin’s mom became utterly ridiculous at this point. I think she’s an excuse to free up the plot). This isn’t Dean’s “A-game” writing. The use of a pseudonym makes sense.
So this is like two books for me, one bad, one good. Together not so bad. Can’t go above 3 stars, so I’m calling it “3-stars with a plus”. Good to pick up a Dean Koontz again. Makes me want to read another of his oldies.
October 4, 2021
This was my first Dean Koontz book and I really enjoyed it. It moved really fast. Unlike seemingly everyone else here, I liked the first half better than the second. It reminded me of Apt Pupil by Stephen King. The second part was tame and predictable by comparison, but still very entertaining.
February 25, 2023
I'd like to start this review by thanking Dean Koontz for writing this book. It isn't perfect, and it has its flaws, but it got me through a very difficult time in my life recently that I wasn't sure I was going to make it through. Some years ago, Don DeLillo's excellent novel Underworld similarly got me through another difficult time. Sometimes, when we're alone, or when we're enduring a difficult situation, books can be there for us. They can provide solace. They can relieve anxiety. Above all, they allow us to just get lost in a good story. And sometimes, that's all you need...
So thank you, Mr. Koontz, and Mr. DeLillo. These two books will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will cherish them always.
Getting to the book itself, I've heard The Voice of the Night described as a coming-of-age story for its young protagonist Colin Jacobs. But it fundamentally is not. We don't see Colin grow up or reach adulthood in this story, which I think occurs over part of just a single summer (the summer of 1980, to be exact) in Santa Leona, California, where Colin and his mother have recently moved. Colin is portrayed as an introverted nerd who likes comic books, regular books, horror movies, and monster movies. I like and identify with him quite a bit in this respect. Colin soon meets Roy Borden, who is everything Colin is not: popular, handsome, physically strong, and far more sexually advanced than Colin.
For reasons Colin does not understand, Roy decides he wants Colin to be his friend, and at first things seem to be going okay. Colin has never really had a best friend before, and Roy gives him an opportunity to be a manager on the school football team and helps him come out of his shell a bit and think about things in a more mature way. But it soon becomes evident that something is wrong with Roy. He talks about girls in a perverted way, and keeps trying to convince Colin that he's killed animals before and that he likes to kill. Colin thinks it's just a game Roy is playing, so when Roy makes the extraordinary claim that he's killed other people as well, Colin doesn't buy it. But is there any truth to Roy's claims? And if so, what is Roy's motive? Why is he the way he is, and is Colin himself potentially in danger?
I enjoyed this one, and as of this writing, I consider it to be the best Dean Koontz book I've read to date. The book starts out really slow, with Colin not accepting that Roy really is a psychopath and that he really does want to kill other people until page 179, over halfway through the book. Until then, there must have been half a dozen times where Roy talked about committing one murder or another, and Colin just thought it was "a game" the whole time. What kid plays a game where he tries to convince you that he wants to kill people? And if he is playing such a game, he obviously has mental issues, so why are you raving about how he's so amazing, he's the best friend you've ever had, etc. Colin is unbelievably naive in this respect, and I thought Koontz dragged that out a bit too much (okay, way too much).
I also thought Colin's mom not believing anything he says and instantly believing the narrative that he's really just crazy and addicted to drugs was completely ridiculous. Like, I get that you don't have that close of a relationship with your son, but you have a close enough relationship, and he's your son, for God's sake! Why would your default response not be to believe him when he makes such serious claims and tells you he's in real danger? Any real mother would, so the fact that Colin's mom didn't seemed really far-fetched in this story. The more she didn't believe him as the book went on, the dumber and more unrealistic it appeared.
To the book's credit, Roy was a near-perfect depiction of a psychopath, and I found him to be a chilling nemesis. I also really liked Colin as a protagonist. Koontz's protagonists are usually these flat, dull, or insufferable people, but Colin had a lot of personality, and his character underwent a satisfying evolution by the end of the book, where he was brave and strong and stood up for himself, something he never would have done at the beginning of the book. The story was also a lot better than most Koontz books I've read so far, and though, similar to all his other books, you could probably cut 30-50 pages out of it, this one didn't bother me as much in that respect, because the underlying story was interesting and I was engaged in it.
Overall, this is a solid Dean Koontz book. I don't usually keep books below a four-star rating in my collection, and despite what the CAWPILE rating system says I'd rate this book 3.5 stars, but this one might be an exception. I liked it, and I might hold onto it. I wouldn't go as far as to recommend it, but with this being my sixth Koontz book, and the only one I've given a rating as high as 3.5 stars, you could certainly do worse if you're looking to check out his work.
CAWPILE rating:
Characters: 8.0
Atmosphere / Setting: 7.5
Writing Style: 7.0
Plot: 6.5
Intrigue: 6.5
Logic / Relationships: 6.0
Enjoyment: 7.0
= 48.5 total
÷ 7 categories = 6.92 out of 10
= 3 stars
So thank you, Mr. Koontz, and Mr. DeLillo. These two books will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will cherish them always.
Getting to the book itself, I've heard The Voice of the Night described as a coming-of-age story for its young protagonist Colin Jacobs. But it fundamentally is not. We don't see Colin grow up or reach adulthood in this story, which I think occurs over part of just a single summer (the summer of 1980, to be exact) in Santa Leona, California, where Colin and his mother have recently moved. Colin is portrayed as an introverted nerd who likes comic books, regular books, horror movies, and monster movies. I like and identify with him quite a bit in this respect. Colin soon meets Roy Borden, who is everything Colin is not: popular, handsome, physically strong, and far more sexually advanced than Colin.
For reasons Colin does not understand, Roy decides he wants Colin to be his friend, and at first things seem to be going okay. Colin has never really had a best friend before, and Roy gives him an opportunity to be a manager on the school football team and helps him come out of his shell a bit and think about things in a more mature way. But it soon becomes evident that something is wrong with Roy. He talks about girls in a perverted way, and keeps trying to convince Colin that he's killed animals before and that he likes to kill. Colin thinks it's just a game Roy is playing, so when Roy makes the extraordinary claim that he's killed other people as well, Colin doesn't buy it. But is there any truth to Roy's claims? And if so, what is Roy's motive? Why is he the way he is, and is Colin himself potentially in danger?
I enjoyed this one, and as of this writing, I consider it to be the best Dean Koontz book I've read to date. The book starts out really slow, with Colin not accepting that Roy really is a psychopath and that he really does want to kill other people until page 179, over halfway through the book. Until then, there must have been half a dozen times where Roy talked about committing one murder or another, and Colin just thought it was "a game" the whole time. What kid plays a game where he tries to convince you that he wants to kill people? And if he is playing such a game, he obviously has mental issues, so why are you raving about how he's so amazing, he's the best friend you've ever had, etc. Colin is unbelievably naive in this respect, and I thought Koontz dragged that out a bit too much (okay, way too much).
I also thought Colin's mom not believing anything he says and instantly believing the narrative that he's really just crazy and addicted to drugs was completely ridiculous. Like, I get that you don't have that close of a relationship with your son, but you have a close enough relationship, and he's your son, for God's sake! Why would your default response not be to believe him when he makes such serious claims and tells you he's in real danger? Any real mother would, so the fact that Colin's mom didn't seemed really far-fetched in this story. The more she didn't believe him as the book went on, the dumber and more unrealistic it appeared.
To the book's credit, Roy was a near-perfect depiction of a psychopath, and I found him to be a chilling nemesis. I also really liked Colin as a protagonist. Koontz's protagonists are usually these flat, dull, or insufferable people, but Colin had a lot of personality, and his character underwent a satisfying evolution by the end of the book, where he was brave and strong and stood up for himself, something he never would have done at the beginning of the book. The story was also a lot better than most Koontz books I've read so far, and though, similar to all his other books, you could probably cut 30-50 pages out of it, this one didn't bother me as much in that respect, because the underlying story was interesting and I was engaged in it.
Overall, this is a solid Dean Koontz book. I don't usually keep books below a four-star rating in my collection, and despite what the CAWPILE rating system says I'd rate this book 3.5 stars, but this one might be an exception. I liked it, and I might hold onto it. I wouldn't go as far as to recommend it, but with this being my sixth Koontz book, and the only one I've given a rating as high as 3.5 stars, you could certainly do worse if you're looking to check out his work.
CAWPILE rating:
Characters: 8.0
Atmosphere / Setting: 7.5
Writing Style: 7.0
Plot: 6.5
Intrigue: 6.5
Logic / Relationships: 6.0
Enjoyment: 7.0
= 48.5 total
÷ 7 categories = 6.92 out of 10
= 3 stars
January 15, 2008
this was my first dean koontz, and as you can see from my library, it basically opened a flood gate. i was fairly young when i read this, probably close to the age of the main character, and this book disturbed me in a lot of ways. i think if i re-read it, i would be a lot more hardened toward it, because i've read and watched a lot in the horror genre in the years since then. but i will always remember and cherish this as the first (and among the few) books that quite literally made me squirm.
January 10, 2018
Koontzland Group Read - December 2017
Dean Koontz in December: this is #4 out of 4 listed for me
What can Colin Jacobs do to protect his love? Will his best friend, Roy, be detrimental to the relationship Colin desires with Heather?
Colin & Roy are "blood brothers". Colin's girlfriend is Heather Litshitz. Roy Borden says girls are more interested in him & violence. He bullies Colin on attacking a "passenger" train but Colin cannot help him. Colin & Heather find Roy is adopted, Roy killed Belinda (his adopted sister) using his adopted father's car.
First Read - May 2015
YouTube soundtrack 1 = https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tgEJNLJ...
YouTube soundtrack 2= https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=btdVtYb...
Koontzland - Group Home
Dean Koontz in December: this is #4 out of 4 listed for me
What can Colin Jacobs do to protect his love? Will his best friend, Roy, be detrimental to the relationship Colin desires with Heather?
Colin & Roy are "blood brothers". Colin's girlfriend is Heather Litshitz. Roy Borden says girls are more interested in him & violence. He bullies Colin on attacking a "passenger" train but Colin cannot help him. Colin & Heather find Roy is adopted, Roy killed Belinda (his adopted sister) using his adopted father's car.
First Read - May 2015
Colin Jacobs and Roy Borden are 14 year old "blood brothers" driven by Roy, a school bully. Does Colin hurt and kill animals as Roy demands? Heather Litshitz (14) enters the story - is it worth it to risk her life? The Jacobs and Borden parents are no help as one would expect. The book may take a little time to read to keep track of Roy-Colin "blood brother" relationships and Roy's training is fulfillment.
YouTube soundtrack 1 = https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tgEJNLJ...
YouTube soundtrack 2= https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=btdVtYb...
Koontzland - Group Home
March 10, 2010
One of Koontz's most underrated novels. Roy and Colin are two unlikely friends; Colin is a shy and awkward bookworm, while Roy is the most popular kid in the down. Roy begins to confide in Colin and tells him his secrets, which Colin takes as jokes - but they might not be jokes at all.
Originally published under the pen name Brian Coffey in 1980, The Voice of The Night received almost no attention and I really don't know why. Scary, psychological, chilling and realistic, it will touch the soul of any man who was an outcast during his childhood, and was desperate for friendship. Totally Recommended.
Originally published under the pen name Brian Coffey in 1980, The Voice of The Night received almost no attention and I really don't know why. Scary, psychological, chilling and realistic, it will touch the soul of any man who was an outcast during his childhood, and was desperate for friendship. Totally Recommended.
June 26, 2020
4.5 stars out of 5. This book was great. A fantastic coming of age tale that centres around two unlikely friends. One a shy, unassuming geek and the other a handsome, strapping jock....who has some pretty sinister goings on in that warped head of his.
The two main characters are fantastically done and this leads to some pretty intense scenes developing between them. There's one scene in a junkyard, which is just edge of your seat stuff. Koontz always does them parts well.
That's as much as I'm going to say as this is well worth a read and I think if you're talking best Koontz books then this has to be mentioned.
The two main characters are fantastically done and this leads to some pretty intense scenes developing between them. There's one scene in a junkyard, which is just edge of your seat stuff. Koontz always does them parts well.
That's as much as I'm going to say as this is well worth a read and I think if you're talking best Koontz books then this has to be mentioned.
December 24, 2021
A slow burning coming of age thriller that felt like a screenplay because of the large amount of dialogue but always had tension and dread. My biggest complaint is some of the dialogue didn’t feel natural and the story didn’t blow me away.
Overall a fun story and had some moments that really creeped under your skin.
Overall a fun story and had some moments that really creeped under your skin.
March 23, 2022
Colin and Roy are friends. Opposites really, Roy popular and well liked and Colin new to town, nerdy and a loner. They bond instantly over intelligence and games. But Colin soon finds out Roy has a popper of a itch he needs to scratch. When things escalate dangerously rather quickly Colin must put a end to Roy or Roy put a end to Colin.
Gave this book four stars because I did enjoy it. It was a fast paced read, good character development and good plot line although I found that a lot of the big moments and characters mentioned in the book that I thought would bring substance to the story never went anywhere or mentioned again. Like Colin's father.... Didn't see why he fit in the story at all. he came then he went for nothing. Also the ending was quite predictable.and a lot things were not finalized for me.
Ill try another one of his books to see of its just me or if its a pattern for this author.
Happy reading!
Gave this book four stars because I did enjoy it. It was a fast paced read, good character development and good plot line although I found that a lot of the big moments and characters mentioned in the book that I thought would bring substance to the story never went anywhere or mentioned again. Like Colin's father.... Didn't see why he fit in the story at all. he came then he went for nothing. Also the ending was quite predictable.and a lot things were not finalized for me.
Ill try another one of his books to see of its just me or if its a pattern for this author.
Happy reading!
January 5, 2017
A story of 14 year old boys that start off as friends who turn against each other. Not my cup of tea, but I guess the writing is okay. 3 of 10 stars
December 17, 2017
Jeez! I've read this book four times and it's a real popper!
The Voice of the Night, told in simplistic form, is a coming of age story. Young teenagers Roy and Colin, strike up an unusual friendship. The Voice of the Night explores how our past experiences, family relationships and relationship with our peers shape our lives & influence our decisions. Koontz highlights his classic storytelling with a mix of Horror & a love of Science Fiction.
Favorite Passages:
To Colin, who was a science-fiction buff, Roy appeared to be in telepathic communication with something that hid far out in the deep, dark, rolling water.
_______
He wondered if Roy's parents really were nut cases. Of course, they weren't a couple of raving lunatics; they weren't certifiable. They weren't so far gone that they sat in corners talking to themselves and eating flies. Maybe just a little bit crazy. Just a tiny bit nuts. Perhaps they'd get a lot worse as time went on, gradually crazier and crazier, until ten to fifteen years from now they would be eating flies. It sure was something to think about.
_______
"I'm a successful businesswoman. I can afford it."
She brought him a five-dollar bill, and he said, "It's too much."
"Blow the rest of it on comic books."
_______
"Who said you're a nobody?"
"I did."
"What kind of a thing is that to say about yourself?"
_______
"People who say they love you will pounce when they get the chance. You gotta always remember that they're just waiting for the opportunity to get you. Loves a trick. A cover. A way to catch you off guard. Never let down your guard. Never."
_______
The night was a vast, dank cellar, home to that which crept and crawled and slithered. The night had ears and eyes It had a horrible, scratchy old voice. If you listened closely, turning out your doubt and keeping an open mind, you could hear the dreadful voice of the night. It whispered about graves and rotting flesh and demons and ghosts and swamp monsters. It spoke of unspeakable things.
_______
"So tell him to take his fishing pole and shove it up his ass. Tell him you won't go."
_______
"Some people say they've seen spirits that glow in the dark, crazy things, headless children who come out onto this porch and run back and forth as if they're being chased by someone. . . or something."
_______
". . . I'll put a knife at her throat."
"She'll scream."
"Not with a knife at her throat."
"She'll think you're bluffing."
"If she does," Roy said, "I'll cut her a little to show we mean business."
"What about the kid?"
"I'll have Sarah under control, so you'll be free to catch the brat and tie him up."
"What'll I tie him with?"
"We'll take along some clothesline."
_______
He read half a dozen new paperbacks: science fiction, sword and sorcery, occult stories, stuff that was filled with monstrous villains, the sort of thing he liked the most.
_______
Last night Hermit Hobson's collection of wrecks had been a sinister labyrinth. Now, in the bright daylight, it was only sad, a very sad and lonely place. By squinting slightly, you could look through the dead and pitted surface, through the sorry present, and see the past glowing in all of it. Once, the cars had been shiny and beautiful. People had invested work and money and dreams in these machines, and all that had come to this: rust.
The Voice of the Night, told in simplistic form, is a coming of age story. Young teenagers Roy and Colin, strike up an unusual friendship. The Voice of the Night explores how our past experiences, family relationships and relationship with our peers shape our lives & influence our decisions. Koontz highlights his classic storytelling with a mix of Horror & a love of Science Fiction.
Favorite Passages:
To Colin, who was a science-fiction buff, Roy appeared to be in telepathic communication with something that hid far out in the deep, dark, rolling water.
_______
He wondered if Roy's parents really were nut cases. Of course, they weren't a couple of raving lunatics; they weren't certifiable. They weren't so far gone that they sat in corners talking to themselves and eating flies. Maybe just a little bit crazy. Just a tiny bit nuts. Perhaps they'd get a lot worse as time went on, gradually crazier and crazier, until ten to fifteen years from now they would be eating flies. It sure was something to think about.
_______
"I'm a successful businesswoman. I can afford it."
She brought him a five-dollar bill, and he said, "It's too much."
"Blow the rest of it on comic books."
_______
"Who said you're a nobody?"
"I did."
"What kind of a thing is that to say about yourself?"
_______
"People who say they love you will pounce when they get the chance. You gotta always remember that they're just waiting for the opportunity to get you. Loves a trick. A cover. A way to catch you off guard. Never let down your guard. Never."
_______
The night was a vast, dank cellar, home to that which crept and crawled and slithered. The night had ears and eyes It had a horrible, scratchy old voice. If you listened closely, turning out your doubt and keeping an open mind, you could hear the dreadful voice of the night. It whispered about graves and rotting flesh and demons and ghosts and swamp monsters. It spoke of unspeakable things.
_______
"So tell him to take his fishing pole and shove it up his ass. Tell him you won't go."
_______
"Some people say they've seen spirits that glow in the dark, crazy things, headless children who come out onto this porch and run back and forth as if they're being chased by someone. . . or something."
_______
". . . I'll put a knife at her throat."
"She'll scream."
"Not with a knife at her throat."
"She'll think you're bluffing."
"If she does," Roy said, "I'll cut her a little to show we mean business."
"What about the kid?"
"I'll have Sarah under control, so you'll be free to catch the brat and tie him up."
"What'll I tie him with?"
"We'll take along some clothesline."
_______
He read half a dozen new paperbacks: science fiction, sword and sorcery, occult stories, stuff that was filled with monstrous villains, the sort of thing he liked the most.
_______
Last night Hermit Hobson's collection of wrecks had been a sinister labyrinth. Now, in the bright daylight, it was only sad, a very sad and lonely place. By squinting slightly, you could look through the dead and pitted surface, through the sorry present, and see the past glowing in all of it. Once, the cars had been shiny and beautiful. People had invested work and money and dreams in these machines, and all that had come to this: rust.
May 18, 2020
This book was originally published by Brian Coffey in the summer of 1981 and I have had it since then and I have no idea why i never read it before!!
I love, love LOVE 'coming of age stories' especially if they take place in a horror novel, and this is one of the best I have read in a LONG time. It however is not as good as McCammon's 'Boys Life' but it is a damn close second. It takes place in a small beach town of Santa Leona in California, which I think is fictional as I live in California and have never heard of it. Voice centers around a new kid in town, 15 year old Colin, and he has made the mistake of becoming obsessed with his friendship in popular fellow high school student Roy Borden. Colin; being thin, shy and quite self satisfied with his horror books, and movies and just spending time alone in the library, is completely opposite of Roy. Roy is blonde, blue eyes and muscular and popular at his school; and he is also a KILLER!
This story takes off with Roy asking Colin if he has ever killed anything before? Colin, surprisingly answers with 'like what, you mean bugs?' and Roy shocks Colin with his response. As these two boys become closer friends, they realize how much they need each other; Colin just wants a friend, and Roy needs someone he can trust....and manipulate into helping him become who he is; a serial killer. Voice of The Night will take you on a ride that you are not expecting, I know it did me and that is what i absolutely loved about it. Roy's obsession with watching things die, and how he feels and responds when he kills something is just the most terrifying to witness and see grow. He needs to outdo his last torture and kill and this is what you are about to witness; the maturing of a sadistic, and pure EVIL young man and killer.
Colin's mother is divorced, and very attractive with as Roy describes 'The rack of racks!' and she is recently seeing other men and this leaves Colin alone a lot of the times. He is scared of the dark, always thinks something is outside of his bedroom window or in his closet, and this is what Roy loves about him. This book has everything, two young boys going thru puberty, first time experiences with girls, watching their first adult films at the local drive in while hiding out with their bikes, and there is even the scary, haunted house in the neighborhood where a man killed his entire family, and that is right up Colin's alley.
This novel will take the reader whether they are boy, girl, man or woman to a place in their lives where there is something somewhere in the book they will all be able to remember or relate to; however be ready for a quick, ( so quick that I read it all in one sitting!) fast ride down the tracks of EVIL and sick desires.
I LOVED it!
I love, love LOVE 'coming of age stories' especially if they take place in a horror novel, and this is one of the best I have read in a LONG time. It however is not as good as McCammon's 'Boys Life' but it is a damn close second. It takes place in a small beach town of Santa Leona in California, which I think is fictional as I live in California and have never heard of it. Voice centers around a new kid in town, 15 year old Colin, and he has made the mistake of becoming obsessed with his friendship in popular fellow high school student Roy Borden. Colin; being thin, shy and quite self satisfied with his horror books, and movies and just spending time alone in the library, is completely opposite of Roy. Roy is blonde, blue eyes and muscular and popular at his school; and he is also a KILLER!
This story takes off with Roy asking Colin if he has ever killed anything before? Colin, surprisingly answers with 'like what, you mean bugs?' and Roy shocks Colin with his response. As these two boys become closer friends, they realize how much they need each other; Colin just wants a friend, and Roy needs someone he can trust....and manipulate into helping him become who he is; a serial killer. Voice of The Night will take you on a ride that you are not expecting, I know it did me and that is what i absolutely loved about it. Roy's obsession with watching things die, and how he feels and responds when he kills something is just the most terrifying to witness and see grow. He needs to outdo his last torture and kill and this is what you are about to witness; the maturing of a sadistic, and pure EVIL young man and killer.
Colin's mother is divorced, and very attractive with as Roy describes 'The rack of racks!' and she is recently seeing other men and this leaves Colin alone a lot of the times. He is scared of the dark, always thinks something is outside of his bedroom window or in his closet, and this is what Roy loves about him. This book has everything, two young boys going thru puberty, first time experiences with girls, watching their first adult films at the local drive in while hiding out with their bikes, and there is even the scary, haunted house in the neighborhood where a man killed his entire family, and that is right up Colin's alley.
This novel will take the reader whether they are boy, girl, man or woman to a place in their lives where there is something somewhere in the book they will all be able to remember or relate to; however be ready for a quick, ( so quick that I read it all in one sitting!) fast ride down the tracks of EVIL and sick desires.
I LOVED it!
April 29, 2012
This book changed me, in it's own way. It's my first Dean Koontz, so I haven't got anything to compare it to. But, I must say, that this book, so far, is one of my favorites. Dean did a great job making the reader intreged trough the whole plot.
For me, it's almost always the first book, that I'm going to compare other, this author's books to. I know, I should've started with the first book Dean ever wrote, and read them chronicly, but, while sitting in the library, waiting for my friends, looking at Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's, than, Charles Dickens' work, this book just, sorth of, spoke to me. So, I read the first twenty pages, and knew, that the book is something I'll enjoy - and it was.
And I also liked, what Dean did with the ending - simple,yet, it leaves you, kind of empty - hounding for more. For example, I wanted to read more about Heiser ( I read the book not in it's original language) and Colin.
I know, that from a reader's point, it seems absurd, but, this book would make a great film, even a prequal to the first. I'm absolutely thrilled about Dean, and am looking forward to reading his work.
I must say, I like Dean's work, even better than Stephen King's.
All in all, I give this book five stars.
For me, it's almost always the first book, that I'm going to compare other, this author's books to. I know, I should've started with the first book Dean ever wrote, and read them chronicly, but, while sitting in the library, waiting for my friends, looking at Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's, than, Charles Dickens' work, this book just, sorth of, spoke to me. So, I read the first twenty pages, and knew, that the book is something I'll enjoy - and it was.
And I also liked, what Dean did with the ending - simple,yet, it leaves you, kind of empty - hounding for more. For example, I wanted to read more about Heiser ( I read the book not in it's original language) and Colin.
I know, that from a reader's point, it seems absurd, but, this book would make a great film, even a prequal to the first. I'm absolutely thrilled about Dean, and am looking forward to reading his work.
I must say, I like Dean's work, even better than Stephen King's.
All in all, I give this book five stars.
July 10, 2014
I have read quite a few Dean Koontz books but this is the first one I did not really like. There was plenty of horror and suspense but the story never really grabbed me and the characters were more irritating than anything else. I could not believe in Roy at all, nor could I believe that Colin could turn around his own character in such a short space of time and go from being scared of his own shadow to planning and carrying out the events of the final scene. Oh well, there has to be the occasional fail when someone has written so many books. He is still one of my favourite authors.
January 20, 2018
3.5 It was enjoyable and fast-paced.
Written very simply, I was able to fly through it; not too mention I was intrigued to know when Colin would realize the truth. About this, it got a little repetitive at the beginning.
I really liked how the night was almost represented as another character and its voice beautifully described more than once. I hated instead, the way Colin's mom acted when he was in need, she was a total bitch, I couldn't believe it; I wanted to smash her face. But at least in this book parents had their part.
I also kinda enjoyed the end. I have no idea if there's a sequel but I don't think so and I don't really believe in Roy's redemption.
Written very simply, I was able to fly through it; not too mention I was intrigued to know when Colin would realize the truth. About this, it got a little repetitive at the beginning.
I really liked how the night was almost represented as another character and its voice beautifully described more than once. I hated instead, the way Colin's mom acted when he was in need, she was a total bitch, I couldn't believe it; I wanted to smash her face. But at least in this book parents had their part.
I also kinda enjoyed the end. I have no idea if there's a sequel but I don't think so and I don't really believe in Roy's redemption.
April 29, 2024
I can never really say anything bad about a Dean Koontz novel. This was a pretty good coming of age story where the first half of the book had me on the edge of my seat with suspense and I was loving it. Then the last half, after the automobile junkyard scene, it slows down a bit to fill in some backstory about Roy and his family. The ending was underwhelming compared to the rest of the novel in my opinion. Due to the slow pacing in the last half of the novel and the ending, I say four stars.
October 26, 2023
This book was deliciously dark. I truly felt the emotions Collin was feeling and the way the Dean Koontz portrayed Roy was amazing!! He seemed to have made a him a truly terrifying character and I loved that!
5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 29, 2023
I love Koontz
April 28, 2016
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.
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.
February 18, 2020
Toppertje
December 30, 2020
Una Voz En La Noche.- Dean R. Koontz
"La muerte es la cosa más importante de la vida, la más interesante, la más misteriosa, la cosa más sugestiva de la vida"
Colín es un adolescente que se muda al pequeño pueblo de Santa Leona junto a su madre recientemente divorciada. Fanático de la ciencia ficción, cómics y libros, Colín se hace amigo Roy, un muchacho totalmente opuesto en carácter y gustos. Pero Roy también tiene otra diferencia, Roy está obsesionado con la muerte y tiene objetivos muy claros en cuanto a ese tema….
Una Voz En La Noche se publicó originalmente en el año 1980 por el autor Dean R. Koontz usando el seudónimo de Brian Coffey, bajo este nombre Koontz publicó varias otras novelas.
Quizá Una Voz En La Noche no esté dentro de los imprescindibles de Koontz, pero tampoco es de los más flojos ni cerca. Cómo muchas de las historias de Koontz, se toma su tiempo para mostrar el lado violento de la historia, aunque desde las primeras páginas ya va dando indicios de la oscuridad de los personajes, nos va plantando la semilla de que algo no está muy bien que digamos. En esta historia los protagonistas son adolescentes cuyos padres, que por una causa u otra, están bastante ausentes; esto puede resultar un punto a favor para el autor, se adelantó unos años a la montaña de historias de terror protagonizadas exclusivamente por adolescentes que vendrían después.
Para ser un libro de Koontz es bastante corto y aunque se demora un poco en arrancar, se lee súper rápido y termina siendo una buena lectura.
🤘🤘🤘
Obviamente es la última reseña del año, gracias a todos, y espero tengan un 2021 mejor que este año bastante bastante infumable.
"La muerte es la cosa más importante de la vida, la más interesante, la más misteriosa, la cosa más sugestiva de la vida"
Colín es un adolescente que se muda al pequeño pueblo de Santa Leona junto a su madre recientemente divorciada. Fanático de la ciencia ficción, cómics y libros, Colín se hace amigo Roy, un muchacho totalmente opuesto en carácter y gustos. Pero Roy también tiene otra diferencia, Roy está obsesionado con la muerte y tiene objetivos muy claros en cuanto a ese tema….
Una Voz En La Noche se publicó originalmente en el año 1980 por el autor Dean R. Koontz usando el seudónimo de Brian Coffey, bajo este nombre Koontz publicó varias otras novelas.
Quizá Una Voz En La Noche no esté dentro de los imprescindibles de Koontz, pero tampoco es de los más flojos ni cerca. Cómo muchas de las historias de Koontz, se toma su tiempo para mostrar el lado violento de la historia, aunque desde las primeras páginas ya va dando indicios de la oscuridad de los personajes, nos va plantando la semilla de que algo no está muy bien que digamos. En esta historia los protagonistas son adolescentes cuyos padres, que por una causa u otra, están bastante ausentes; esto puede resultar un punto a favor para el autor, se adelantó unos años a la montaña de historias de terror protagonizadas exclusivamente por adolescentes que vendrían después.
Para ser un libro de Koontz es bastante corto y aunque se demora un poco en arrancar, se lee súper rápido y termina siendo una buena lectura.
🤘🤘🤘
Obviamente es la última reseña del año, gracias a todos, y espero tengan un 2021 mejor que este año bastante bastante infumable.
December 26, 2020
A breezy Laymon-lite single narrative story that was certainly geared towards younger readers. Not a lot actually happens despite the consistent promise throughout that something will. Pleasant but not essential.
The conversation between a mother who thinks her son is on drugs and her son who falsely confirms her fears brought a smile to my face.
The conversation between a mother who thinks her son is on drugs and her son who falsely confirms her fears brought a smile to my face.
April 19, 2020
ReedIII Quick Review: Early, simple, easy to read Dean Koontz (Brian Coffey) yet still enjoyable. Nice coming of age tale with good “revelations.” Lots of dialog, maybe too much.
June 15, 2012
2.5 stars
Nothing to really say about this book.
Nothing to really say about this book.
March 11, 2013
Not one of my fav Koontz novels. I had a hard time finding parts believable. Colin was too naive and Roy wasn't evil enough.
November 19, 2010
"The Voice of the Night" was the second Koontz book I ever read, after “The Mask” and before my second attempt at “Strangers”. I was thirteen/fourteen at the time, so of course the main characters were very close to me. It’s difficult to write from the point of view of kids, because they have a very different look on things than adults. For the same reason, it’s difficult to write such a book when you know it’ll be adult who’ll read it. When reading this book now, at the age of nearly thirty, I find myself underestimating the feelings and thoughts of our hero Colin. I have to remind myself that as a kid his age, those things really were the most important things in the world and the fear of a ruined and doomed life was very much real. Of course growing up, we learn how relative such things can be. Just read back one of your own diaries or journals, and I’m sure you’ll be sighing, wincing, laughing at your younger self the whole way.
Colin Jacobs is the new kid on the block, a skinny little bookworm to keep it stereotypical, who somehow falls in the grace of popular guy Roy Borden. The two become friends, for no apparent reason Colin can deduce, yet soon it becomes clear Roy has his own private agenda.
Even with teens, Koontz used the male/female formula. A young girl comes between Colin and Roy and it’s mostly because of her, not because of Roy as we are first led to believe, that Colin will transform into his new self. It’s very typical of Koontz to have them join forces in order to combat the evil that is Roy.
It’s a sort of coming of age book which somehow reminds me of King’s “It” and McCammon’s “Boy’s Life”, though the California setting, the character personalities, the descriptions and dialogue make it all definitely Koontz. There’s no supernatural element present here, so it can be put alongside books like “Chase” and “Shattered”, only more fleshed out.
Though the book isn’t actually all that fleshed out. Either Koontz changed so much with his revision of “The Key to Midnight”, or “The Voice of the Night” really is a step backward. I said that it’s difficult to write a book about kids when you know adults are going to read it, but more than once I got the feeling Koontz wasn’t writing for adults at all, but for teens. Sure, the book probably contains more sex and violence than you’d like to have your friendly neighborhood teenager come into contact with (though it doesn’t come near to what Richard Laymon’s younger characters often face), but the general style feels rather condensed compared to what we know Koontz can do.
Colin Jacobs is the new kid on the block, a skinny little bookworm to keep it stereotypical, who somehow falls in the grace of popular guy Roy Borden. The two become friends, for no apparent reason Colin can deduce, yet soon it becomes clear Roy has his own private agenda.
Even with teens, Koontz used the male/female formula. A young girl comes between Colin and Roy and it’s mostly because of her, not because of Roy as we are first led to believe, that Colin will transform into his new self. It’s very typical of Koontz to have them join forces in order to combat the evil that is Roy.
It’s a sort of coming of age book which somehow reminds me of King’s “It” and McCammon’s “Boy’s Life”, though the California setting, the character personalities, the descriptions and dialogue make it all definitely Koontz. There’s no supernatural element present here, so it can be put alongside books like “Chase” and “Shattered”, only more fleshed out.
Though the book isn’t actually all that fleshed out. Either Koontz changed so much with his revision of “The Key to Midnight”, or “The Voice of the Night” really is a step backward. I said that it’s difficult to write a book about kids when you know adults are going to read it, but more than once I got the feeling Koontz wasn’t writing for adults at all, but for teens. Sure, the book probably contains more sex and violence than you’d like to have your friendly neighborhood teenager come into contact with (though it doesn’t come near to what Richard Laymon’s younger characters often face), but the general style feels rather condensed compared to what we know Koontz can do.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2015
You can read this review and others at my book blog site, joshsbookcorner.blogspot.com
To start this off, this is a really hard book to summarize the plot without giving away half of the plot. My description will be very vague, I apologize but I don’t want to give away most of the plot.
Colin just moved to Santa Leona about two months before the story takes place. He becomes best friends with Roy. When Roy starts asking and about death and rape, he doesn’t know what to do. He doesn’t want to believe the stories but if they are true, what can he do about them?
That’s all good but is the book good? You came to the right place to find out. This is my review of a standalone novel, The Voice of the Night by Dean Koontz.
The plot of the story is actually really slow. It takes the book about 170 pages to actually pick up pace. While it was slow, I surprisingly actually enjoyed the slow part. The character of Colin must have hit a soft spot for me or something. Once the story picks up, it really picks up. You are on the edge of your seat all the way through until the very last page. The story abruptly ends so you don’t know what happens to the characters after the story is over but that’s alright for. It left it up to my imagination to guess what happened to the characters right after the story. The ending is a very satisfying ending though.
The characters of Colin and Roy are great. They are fourteen. They have really awesome chemistry together. The only other character the plays a big part of the story is the character of Heather, a fourteen year old girl. She is another great character. These three characters get really fleshed out from beginning to end. There are several minor characters but they don’t play much of a role to the story and they for the most part are two dimensional.
I really enjoyed this book a lot. I recommend this book to fans of thrillers that don’t mind slow stories cause it does pick up. I would also recommend it to first time Koontz readers and R.L. Stine fans since this one reads like a book you would find in his Fear Street series.
To start this off, this is a really hard book to summarize the plot without giving away half of the plot. My description will be very vague, I apologize but I don’t want to give away most of the plot.
Colin just moved to Santa Leona about two months before the story takes place. He becomes best friends with Roy. When Roy starts asking and about death and rape, he doesn’t know what to do. He doesn’t want to believe the stories but if they are true, what can he do about them?
That’s all good but is the book good? You came to the right place to find out. This is my review of a standalone novel, The Voice of the Night by Dean Koontz.
The plot of the story is actually really slow. It takes the book about 170 pages to actually pick up pace. While it was slow, I surprisingly actually enjoyed the slow part. The character of Colin must have hit a soft spot for me or something. Once the story picks up, it really picks up. You are on the edge of your seat all the way through until the very last page. The story abruptly ends so you don’t know what happens to the characters after the story is over but that’s alright for. It left it up to my imagination to guess what happened to the characters right after the story. The ending is a very satisfying ending though.
The characters of Colin and Roy are great. They are fourteen. They have really awesome chemistry together. The only other character the plays a big part of the story is the character of Heather, a fourteen year old girl. She is another great character. These three characters get really fleshed out from beginning to end. There are several minor characters but they don’t play much of a role to the story and they for the most part are two dimensional.
I really enjoyed this book a lot. I recommend this book to fans of thrillers that don’t mind slow stories cause it does pick up. I would also recommend it to first time Koontz readers and R.L. Stine fans since this one reads like a book you would find in his Fear Street series.
June 27, 2022
Samērā labs spriedzes nevis šausmu literatūras darbs (nezinu kāpēc, bet Valmieras bibliotēka, šo grāmatu ir ielikusi pie šausmu literatūras žanra, bet man izlasot, tā vairāk likās kā spriedzes literatūra). Grāmatas viens no lielākajiem plusiem ir tas, ka tā ir ļoti reālistiska, proti, grāmatā aprakstītie notikumi varētu notikt īstenībā. Savukārt viens no mīnusiem, ir tāds, ka man personiski, likās, ka grāmatai nav realizēts viss iespējamais potenciāls (tomēr varēja būt arī labāk).
August 31, 2023
this was great.
this is my second Dean Koontz book and wow this was both disturbing and thrilling i had to stay up at night to finish it. highly recommend it
this is my second Dean Koontz book and wow this was both disturbing and thrilling i had to stay up at night to finish it. highly recommend it
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