Colette Guerin's Reviews > The Door to December

This book was released in 1985 and Koontz talks about a child with autism; however the child does not in fact have autism. This is when little was truly known about autism. We still don't know enough about it, so don't hold it against him that he is ignorant to the facts.

It doesn't matter that in 1985 there wasn't a lot of published research on autism. It doesn't make it fair game to make things up about a very real condition.

Amanda wrote: "This book was released in 1985 and Koontz talks about a child with autism; however the child does not in fact have autism. This is when little was truly known about autism. We still don't know enou..."

Having a child born in 1993 with autism, I know that even 8 years prior they knew autism wasn't something that was induced in a much older child by neglect and abuse. Bruno Bettleheim published works in the 50's or 60's which did huge damage to families blaming the mother saying they were distant and unloving to these children therefore causing them to withdraw into themselves. He did absolutely no research on it. I know nothing of his personal history and I really don't care. But by 1985 he could have had some grasp of it. I find it offensive but then again it is a sensitive subject for me personally. A complete misrepresentation of the effects of parenting on the disorder. My child was and is loved and adored, it doesn't make up for a lack of speech, social and other developmental delays. It is a neurological disorder, possibly genetic, possibly environmental, possibly a combination of both. We do know enough about it not to spread ignorance.

Japheth wrote: "It doesn't matter that in 1985 there wasn't a lot of published research on autism. It doesn't make it fair game to make things up about a very real condition."

Thank you, well said.

Joyce wrote: "Well said! Are you old enough to remember Watergate and when Koontz did his repentance in Jail and started writing books? "Don't buy books from crooks" was popular in those days."

No, I know nothing of his history, I can't say I'm interested! :) He's definitely not my cup of tea. He'll have his fans, I'm sure my bad review won't hurt his sales.

The child he depicted in this book was much too old to fall into the grasp of autism by a cold, neglectful parent. She also made amazing strides in days in what takes months to achieve with our autistic children. He simply knew nothing of what he was writing about, early 80's or not. My daughter as well as many other severely autistic children I know come from very loving homes. We bankrupt ourselves trying to help our kids. Not every autistic child has a loving home nor does every "normal" child. Autism is a neurological disorder. If it is caused by the parents, it's in the genes not in the love we fail to give. You can defend a stupid author all you want, but don't through a couple of psychologists in my face, who no nothing of science but are merely counselors. You have the right to read him all you want, I prefer not to, he is ignorant.

No, a psychologist is a counselor/therapist. They have no medical credentials. Most have bachelor's degrees. Google autism, it is a neurological disorder, that is a fact. It can cause delays is speech, social development and causes repetitive behaviors. Children with severe forms are usually diagnosed at 2 and younger, older children with the higher functioning form called called Asperger's sometimes don't get diagnosed till much later. Some children go on to develop further neurological problems like epilepsy, as my daughter has. There is no telling what will make one child develop further than another, early intervention is key but is not a cure. I can go on, I've been living this for 20 years. I've seen children develop and grow beyond my wildest dreams for my child with half the therapies I've gotten for her. For them and their parents I am grateful, there is no one answer. Please don't lecture me on what I live and know. I think the author is an idiot and does crappy research. Even for 1980. Enjoy reading him, I don't care.

There is a huge difference between a psychiatrist, which is a medical doctor and a psychologist which is not. Argument ended, we disagree.

Neither do you. You brought up psychiatrist. A psychologist may study behaviors but they cannot diagnose and find the cause of medical disorders like autism. Most people see psychologist for counseling/therapy not to be a part of a study like Pavlov's dogs. Point made. Read the damn book who cares.

You are so brilliant I can hardly stand it, you must give me your credentials. Please leave me alone. I'm guessing your a psychologist and have a great need to validate yourself. Go away, I find you offensive, insensitive and ignorant. Walk 20 years in my daughter's severely autistic shoes and then tell me what you know. I'm tired, I get 2 to 4 hours sleep each night from my daughter's made up disorder I gave her from my lack of love and affection. I have to go to bed now so when she does get up, because her brain doesn't function like your's and mine, I have to make sure she is watched and safe, that she doesn't "elope" and find herself in a dangerous situation. If she does crawl into bed with me and fall back to sleep, I will be grateful because I have to work in the morning after I bath her, brush her teeth and get her dressed and fed and put her on the bus for school. When I get out of work I will get her off the bus take her to therapy and then come home pickup my house, do laundry and make dinner all with a pounding headache, because I haven't had a full night's sleep in I don't know when. But I love to sit on Goodreads and read your stupid babbling about what a psychologist can do. Sorry if I come off harsh, I don't need your expertise. I have very little respect for psychologists. They did not take the time or make the effort to really understand how the brain works and get the education to become a psychiatrist. Many go into the field because they are screwed up themselves. Guess what, I get to think what I want. Please message Dean Koontz from now on and not me. I am not you audience.

I think most of you are taking this work of fiction WAY to seriously. I think this was an awesome book! Remember, this is a work of FICTION! Pull the stick out of your butt and enjoy a good imaginative story. Are we back to the old days when we burn books just because they struck a nerve?

No Kaleena. But he has no clue as to what autism is. It is not caused by sensory deprivation or abuse. Yes it is a work of fiction but I think authors have a responsibility to represent, especially disorders as misunderstood as autism is, correctly. Yes even fiction writer's need to do research. Maybe you would feel this way if he were making a joke of your child's life and the devastation it had on your family. PARENTS DON'T CAUSE AUTISM unless it is in their genetic make-up or vaccine related. In the case of vaccines, we were led astray, if they ever find that to be the cause. Bruno Bettleheim blamed cold distant mother's for years. So it's a touchy subject with some of us, sorry. Children also don't start to come out of it with a few good treatments and love. My child would be working on a bachelor's degree now instead of trying to tie her shoes if that were true. It's offensive. If you like Dean Koontz, by all means read him. I don't care. I do care about advocating my daughter and not letting ignorance stand, in my own small way. I guess Koontz decided to burn a medical dictionary, especially the neurological section.

Of course parents don't cause autism. That is not what the book is about. He was using autism to describe her behavior. And I highly doubt he was talking about your child. If this book were the exact same only instead of a child, he used an adult or evrn an older teen, I'd bet you wouldn't have the same gripe. I recently wrote a book about people with schitzophrenia. I did because I'm facinated wiyh abnormal psychology. Am I portraying that disorder is caused by drugs? Of course not. It was an idea I had and ran with it. And I'm not insensitive about it either. My father saidly suffers from it and no one can get him the helps he needs. But I don't get hypersensitive about FICTION subjects that do not pertain directly to me.

And, if you think Koontz is saying abusive parents cause autism (which is not true) then, by that logic, the last part of his story, you'd habe to conclude that loving parents can bring children out of autism (which is also not true)

My last note, this book isn't even about autism. It's about opening your mind to the possibilities of leaving your physical body and still intetact with the physical world. And the fact he used a child as the medium is because kids are more perseptive to inprobabilities than close minded adults

His writing is crappy and written for people who like to read crap. Enjoy it I don't care. Not interested in your opinion as you don't care about any authenticity and feel writer's have no obligation whatsoever to the truth. If you cannot figure out the difference from fantasy and horror to accountability to research a neurological disease that is your ignorance not mine. People seem to want to defend this author. Read him and don't worry about a negative review. I am not out to tell you who to read and who not to. If you like crap, read him. I read crap too from time to time, but I recognize it for what it is. Your opinion means nothing as you know nothing of autism. I'm really sick of people feeling the need to attack someone with a negative review. It is my prerogative to not like this book or author for my own reasons. Don't like my review, skip it. I don't recommend this book, others do, follow them.

It's a horror/occult book written to satisfy the people who read this genre. Lonely, depressed woman, loses child to a mad psychiatrist/psychologist (whatever he was it's been a long time) she was married too. Her brilliant psychiatric/psychological skills didn't enable to detect madness in her own home nor did she (the strong woman she was) protect her child. Child found and the hero and her begin to fall in love. Watch Altered States if you want to know about deprivation chambers. Autism is no madness or being catatonic. It is not about sensory deprivation but in fact sensory overload. If you find this a brilliant work, write a review you find suitable.

My saying I wish a book were off the shelves is because it is crap and spews stupidity. I am not leading a march to burn books. I get that Koontz has rights to write crap. I also have the write to object to his portrayal of a serious disorder. I have the right to say it's crap. The problem lies with people who want to attack negative reviews. Yep, that's their right too, but why do they care? Write your own review about how amazing it is. I don't care, nor will you find me comment on it. I might read it but my eye roll suits me fine. I don't attack until someone comes at me.

Lesson, read what you want. If you don't like someone's review, write your own.

That Joyce I have no problem with. Though people have the right to attack reviews, I have to ask why? If you like a book, write you're own marvelous review of it. I am passionate and defensive on the subject of autism and how it is portrayed. It is an isolating disorder. We get stares and looks of scorn taking my child in public. Unsolicited ignorant advice is abundantly given to us as parents. So it's misrepresentation and the idea it is easily or quickly cured or managed only spreads it more ignorance.

I read every genre, not to into romance and a few others, but I do feel no matter the genre an author has the duty to research certain things they portray. Whether that be autism, Alzheimer's or non-medical issues. It's one thing to write fantasy, it's another thing to spread ignorance. These are real things, not fantasies. In 1985 there was still enough information out there on autism to realize he should not have written this was the girl's problem.

Again I am not a book banner but I am not a professional reviewer either. Saying I want a book off the shelves is not going to create a movement to burn it and these naysayers are overblowing a few words. Also having been in the autism "business" for close to twenty years, a psychologist may recognize the disorder but is not qualified to treat it. You need a team of speech, occupational, music and behavioral therapists to help treat it. Add to that a good neurologist and psychiatrist. A nutritionist and a good gastro Doc. helps to. The list goes on.

That being said, I don't need people ignorant, made more ignorant trying to school me on my daughter's life, my life. Why they have the need to attack is beyond me. Why don't they exert their energies in a positive manner and write their own positive review? Really enough said on this.

I find it funny that you condemn this author and book ehich was written in the 80's. Thrre are only theories as to what causes autism. You even state theories yourself, not facts. Interesting that you say children that have autism can't do a turn around and if that were the case your daughter would have her bachelor's degree. Everyone is different. I know of several people who were diagnosed with autism who made a huge turn around. You wouldn't even guess they had autism. This is a work of fiction written almost 30 years ago. Less was known about autism at that point compared to now. Even now it's still a mystery. So for all you know he did research it. Also your immunization theory is just that. A theory. So you can theorize all you like and be upset over a novel written in the 80's but the author is an asshole? Ok.... sounds irrational. So far the only one that made any sense is Jessica. Not you.

Joyce,

Flu vaccines as well as childhood vaccines contain an ingredient called thermosal. It contains mercury. Fact. You can ask for vaccines without it. It is used as a preservative and not necessary other than to add shelf life to the vaccine. It is not nonsense.

From the CDC:

What is thimerosal?
Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative that has been used for decades in the United States in multi-dose vials (vials containing more than one dose) of some vaccines to prevent the growth of germs, bacteria and fungi, that can contaminate them.

Your statement that it has been discredited is up for debate. Also from the CDC:

Is thimerosal in vaccines safe?
Yes. There is a large body of scientific evidence on the safety of thimerosal. Data from several studies show the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines do not cause harm, and are only associated with minor local injection site reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site.
Three U.S. health agencies (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)) have reviewed the published research on thimerosal and found it to be a safe product to use in vaccines. Three independent organizations [The National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)] reviewed the published research and also found thimerosal to be a safe product to use in vaccines. The medical community supports the use of thimerosal in influenza vaccines to protect against potential bacterial contamination of multi-dose vials.

All parties have an interest in negating the possibility that thermosal is not a health threat and does not cause autism. How many times does the FDA recall a "safe" drug? Everyone of these health agencies and organizations pushes vaccines. Imagine the lawsuits to pharmaceutical companies and doctors should it be so. They are hardly without interest.

My feeling as a mother of a severely autistic child is this. Get your children thermosal free vaccines, they are available, at least childhood vaccines. The grouping of vaccines like MMR is a convenience for doctors. One shot takes care of all, less syringes on the shelf to store, less well child visits with your kid. This is where thermosal is used. We are injecting are children with weakened pathogens of these diseases, I think they are in such a early stage of development with both their immune system and neurological state that it is better to split them up and take a longer course. As for thermosal, if we are not to eat tuna or other foods due to their mercury content while pregnant, why are we injecting anything like that in our babies, especially when it is used for convenience.

Yes, I know first hand doctors push shorter course schedules and muti-dose vaccines. Their reasoning to me is that they fear I will not fully immunize my child. You have to ask for the vaccines that do not contain thermosal, otherwise you do not know what you will get.

I wish I had this knowledge with my daughter, I was just told to vaccinate or basically I was a horrible mother. In truth I thought it was the right thing to do and my first two children were injected with thermosal. When I knew better I put my foot down and was argued with and told vaccines did not cause autism, this was before all these studies were done. dr. Andrew Wakefield and his faulty study put the spot light on this and gave the government more ammunition to not fully inform parents what was being injected into their children's body.

Would my child have autism without vaccines, I don't know. I can tell you she spiked fevers and screamed for two days after her MMR. Called the pediatrician and told this was normal and not to fear as long as her fever didn't get too high. Give her Tylenol. Now they suspect acetaminophen may play a roll....

Brienna,

We may not know if autism is caused by environmental factors or genetics, but it has been known well before this book was published it was not caused by parenting. Many of our children's problems come from sensory OVERLOAD not deprivation. We also know that intensive ABA therapy and early intervention are the best way to help our children at this point. This was being done as early as 1965 by a gentleman by the name of Lovaas. Some parents choose different interventions. I suggest you do some research.

I don't give a flying fart if you people think this idiot is the best author out there. I stated an opinion. I will not be reading him, go ahead, he seems to be more than your closed, ill-educated mind can handle. As for calling me an asshole, you now know what I think of you, so your insult doesn't mean anything.

Joyce,

I never said I was anti-vaccine. I am for slowing the process and not injecting our children with unnecessary chemicals. I am simply a mother that lives this. That is all.

Sorry, I find the FDA a joke. Their record for drug approval and then recall is out there on the internet and everyday On TV law suits rum amuck.

I will tell you when you've lost a child to something like autism (and I've lost her in a way you cannot imagine) you keep searching. You take everything with a grain of salt and you passionately search. I live in a different world than you and I say this with all due respect, I see the results of vaccines gone wrong, I know the beautiful 23 year old boy who had his brain fried from the DPT shot. He exists, with beautiful blue eyes and perfect teeth and can't dress or shower all by himself or communicate with his mom at least verbally or in written word. He is gorgeous and his life of independence was cut short before he was a toddler. I met the girl crippled from the polio vaccine, the one in a million. I simply live in this world. I know the one or two that have been irrevocably harmed from the vaccines that save millions. Sorry, they are not perfect. Sorry as parents many of us wonder and suspect, our lives are forever impacted. How do you know that there are not children who are neurologically susceptible to something in the vaccines? New number, 1 in 68, again CDC.

Again I don't know if vaccines hurt my daughter. The problem figuring out the cause is probably that it is caused through both genetic and environmental factors. I don't know. I can tell you I won't take a chance loading up my grandson now on vaccines containing thermosal nor does he need a fast track when separating things out by a few months is easy and practically harmless. Until you walk in my shoes, your science is just words to me.

Don't try to invalidate my life experience or say I know nothing because my degree is not in the sciences. Science has been wrong before and there is nothing wrong with parents educating themselves and making decisions for their children, not the government. Thermosal was not on the consent sheet I signed. I deserved full disclosure.

No, I can't always see logic, and 2 + 2 does not always equal 4. I have passion, love and heartbreak. I will never be an empty nester and I will never sleep soundly again in my life for one eye must always be open and one ear on alert to protect my daughter from "eloping" (autism term for those who think I'm worried about my daughter going off to get married, look it up) or from falling out a window someone forgot to keep shut and locked (son-in-law this weekend). I have to make sure she doesn't run into the street or hit her head when she throws a tantrum or has a seizure which all too much comes part and parcel with autism. And the list goes on and on.

Walk in my shoes and wonder as a scientist what you would feel or do if it were your child. And for all the other lovers of this book, leave me alone and write fan letters to Koontz instead.

There was plenty about autism known at the time of this writing to make it inexcusable that someone would spout off their pet theories like this.

Oh... And I'll add my two cents to this fracas. Vaccinations have nothing to do with autism (when your main spokesperson is playboy bunny of the year Jenny McCarthy you have serious problems... By the way she now thinks her son is not autistic, but an indigo child, which is kind of like an x-man), psychologists may not be medical doctors but they are not just counselors and often have decades of training and expertise related to diagnosis, and, finally, some of you guys need to calm down. Koontz, like Kellerman, has some very silly perceptions that show up in his books. I can't stand this in fiction and is one if the only reasons that I will quit a well-told story. I understand your pain and frustration, but there comes a time that you have to let misperceptions about you or your family roll away. God bless and take care.

I'm a little foggy about what you are saying happened to this 23 year old when he received a DPT vaccination. Imagine for a moment having to watch a defenseless child die of whooping cough (that's the P in DPT, btw) simply due to the inability of a tragically misguided parent to properly vaccinate that child. Having questions and wanting to improve the standards of medical care is fine and necessary, but we don't need to invent boogeymen to due that.

Thank you David. There are some good fiction books that represent the disorder and struggle of the child/parents pretty well but as a whole I agree with you on how fiction autism story lines represent our children and families. Authors seem to like to throw it in because it is "chic" or something. As most AI parents will tell you, "If you've met one child with autism, you've met one child with autism." I am of course sensitive to this subject matter, but the same is true for any author who chooses a subject, they should know their subject matter. As for vaccines, I sway back send forth. Hard not too when you want to know what happened to your child. I can say that we should not load babies up with live viruses. These things can wait till they are older. I don't need people blaming me for the new measles outbreaks. Our society herds are children in packs send diseases spread, can't tell you how sick we were in our house for three years while I had three children at three different schools all under the are of six. We had every flu and cold variant out there. What parents deserve is information not intimidation, and we also need society to understand this is something that isn't brought about by bad parenting. I have two children who graduated with honors, were accepted into honors college at the university they chose, who work hard and well mannered, not perfect but good kids. Then I have a severely autistic middle child with severe behavioral issues, cognitive delays and epilepsy. Please don't tell me bad parenting, it's my other two kids who have lacked for attention out of necessity not love.

As for Jenny McCarthy, she is not my spokesperson. She cried poor and then hitched up with a million dollar man and could get her son all the treatment and tutors in the world. I didn't realize she finally admitted she didn't think her son had autism. Glad to here she came clean on that. I'm glad for her and especially him he doesn't. But people told her that for years. There are many disorders that present like autism but are not, I don't blame her for thinking so, I blame her for not wanting to step out of her money making limelight. She used that child to further her career and get attention.

I could go on, but I rant. Thanks for getting it. Authors need to research their subject material, no matter what it might be.

I think you missed the point of this novel...#1 it's fiction and #2 it was written in the 70's. I read this years ago and loved it...I still love it!

Pretty crappy review. Looks like your major gripe is that Koontz was unable to use his time-machine properly and hit the books of the future so he could be all caught up on autism for you. You took the book way too personally. I can guarantee that Koontz wasn't using a telescope to peer into your home from the far-away trees, taking notes for when he wrote this book. Yes, his whole intent was to piss you off! He craved that 1-star review from Colette Guerin!

Mike wrote: "Pretty crappy review. Looks like your major gripe is that Koontz was unable to use his time-machine properly and hit the books of the future so he could be all caught up on autism for you. You took..."

Mike, please give the novel a 5 and cancel out my review. I sure Mr. Koontz has lost so much sleep over this. I don't know if I can handle the guilt any longer.

Just so you know, and this has been known for a long time. Autism is a neurological disorder. It is not given to a child thru crappy parenting or abuse. I think an author has the due diligence in researching what they are writing about. If hugging my daughter and giving her 24 hours attention for a few days would "snap" her out of it, she'd be in Harvard right now. By all means read his books. Post a review you think others will love. I posted my thoughts.

Everyone has a right to their opinion....you,Mike, etx... However, I still think you missed the point....

I am surprised people with autistic children even read a horror novel which includes it. However, I have a seizure disorder and many theories were demon possession back in the day. Yet I still enjoy reading horror even if that pops up. Which it does often. I just don't take it personally.

If only Koontz had Google in 1985......alas....

He did not need Google Wade, just a medical dictionary. Simply, I believe, whether you write fiction or non-fiction, you have a duty to research what you are writing about. You have no idea how many people will base their false beliefs on autism or any other disorder based upon a book of fiction. Read him, don't read him, I don't care, that's your choice. I will not, that's my choice. Write a great review, that's your choice, my choice was not to. While not nearly as much was known about autism in the early 80's, the refrigerator mom theory had long been debunked. ABA treatment was recommended and it was an assault of the senses not a deprivation of them that is the hallmark of autism. Passion makes for strong opinions, I can see I'm over the top for many. It is clear where I come from.

It is just a fiction book. I think you are over reacting about the autism thing because you have an autistic child. He didn't mean any harm I'm sure. I have a son with ADHD another son with dyslexia,a niece with a limb deficiency and a cousin who has Down syndrome so I understand if you have a child with special needs Just don't attack a guy who is writing a fiction book. It's not a medical journal

I haven't gotten very far into the book yet. I just started. But I will say that this book was originally published in 1985. That was the year I was born. So, I basically aged along with this book. I will tell you that a lot has happened in 31 years. A lot has been discovered, debunked, proven true about many things. And we are learning a lot of new things about autism now than we did 31 years ago. Research is being funded more and are able to diagnose it on a broad spectrum. Dean Koontz probably just based it on the little research that was available at the time. We now know that autism is not caused by abuse and neglect but that was just one of the theories at the time. Clive Cussler wrote about the raising of the Titanic and wrote that it came back up in one piece. We now know that it broke in half. They even made a movie of that book where it's sitting up on the surface in one piece with just a big hole in the side. That's what happens with books sometimes. We write them according to the info on hand at the time and years later they may be proven false.

What real-time problem did his use of the word "autism" cause?

I admit being over sensitive to ignorance on autism spectrum references. As a reader, I think an author should do research and try to portray things with some semblance of realism. Simply my preference. Autism is a neurological disorder, it is not obtained through lack of contact or sensory experiences, it is not cured by a loving mother in a week. Misinformation on issues such as these, causes ignorance, ignorance causes pain to those individuals and families who must deal with medical issues such as these. My kid doesn't need a nap, a spanking, or be stared at because she laughs and flaps her hands too loud at a Disney movie. A little understanding goes a long way. Promoting ignorance is shameful. I can't cure my daughter with a magic pill, I can't love it out of her, but it would be nice to go get a gallon of milk with my kid and have no one gawk at her or for me to not get a rude comment on my parenting skills. If he portrayed pancreatic cancer as a minor health set back, easily cured, is that good with you? Or maybe epilepsy as being possessed by the devil (a theory long debunked) is that okay? Just my perspective.

It's not necessarily "good with me." I was just asking the same question I ask myself before I decide whether to check a perceived slight or potential problem. Be well.

A bad review is simply one person's opinion. Mine comes from a personal perspective. The book is dated, I agree so much more is out there now, but at the time of his writing, he still had it all wrong. Abuse does not cause autism, it can sure screw someone up for life, socially, mentally, and no doubt cause severe developmental delays, but that is not autism. It's fiction, so he can be as true or as imaginative as he wishes. Unlike many, I strongly do not recommend this book. Take care, happy reading.

I'm glad I've read this review before reading the book. I'm a mother of an autistic son and I find misrepresentation of autism very upsetting and I don't want to feel upset when I'm reading for excitement and entertainment.

Joannah wrote: "I'm glad I've read this review before reading the book. I'm a mother of an autistic son and I find misrepresentation of autism very upsetting and I don't want to feel upset when I'm reading for exc..."

And if we all get over ourselves, the book is just that. Simply exciting and entertaining.

I think all of you are forgetting that when a writer writes a fiction story, she/he is the"GOD" of the fictional world depicted in the story a writer can take "poetic license" and stretch the details a little bit but not too much. There are writers who stretch things TOO far. Koontz is NOT one of them.

Never once is it stated that the girl in the aory has autism. I never once thought the girl was autisic. I thought she was cannatonic from the abusive experiments her father performed on her.

I'm with John. Where was autism mentioned in this book?

If you enjoy the book and or author, read what you enjoy. Everyone’s tastes and expectations from authors is different, as it should be. Plot synopsis from Wikepedia. Sorry I do not own a copy. When a pair of renowned psychologists are brutally murdered from unexpected causes, Laura McCaffrey is called to assist in the case. Meeting with Dan Haldane, a police lieutenant, she is told that one of the victims was her divorced spouse, Dylan, who kidnapped their only daughter six years ago. While inside the crime scene, police notify Lieutenant Haldane of a naked young girl wandering the streets of Los Angeles in a daze. It turns out that the girl was Melanie McCaffrey, Laura's daughter. She was found in a catatonic, autistic state, and is sent to the hospital. It soon becomes apparent that Dylan was using his only child in a series of experiments that combined science and the occult. Unfortunately, it has resulted in unintended and deadly consequences.

I had read this book as teen in the ‘90s and loved it. Picked it up again and liked it, though Koontz’s writing is entertaining but hacky. Read this review which has been defended for near a decade now LOL and honestly not sure why anyone thinks the girl he describes is considered autistic or portraying autism. Koontz never said she is, though one of the doctors mentions that autism isn’t his expertise. She is catatonic and traumatized and thats all she ever is presented as, though the doctors thought she may have been autistic because of her state and lack of her known history, they were speculating.

Please post a pic of where it says the girl had autism it never said that even once. She was severely catatonic.

Plot synopsis from Wikepedia. Sorry I do not own a copy. When a pair of renowned psychologists are brutally murdered from unexpected causes, Laura McCaffrey is called to assist in the case. Meeting with Dan Haldane, a police lieutenant, she is told that one of the victims was her divorced spouse, Dylan, who kidnapped their only daughter six years ago. While inside the crime scene, police notify Lieutenant Haldane of a naked young girl wandering the streets of Los Angeles in a daze. It turns out that the girl was Melanie McCaffrey, Laura's daughter. She was found in a catatonic, autistic state, and is sent to the hospital. It soon becomes apparent that Dylan was using his only child in a series of experiments that combined science and the occult. Unfortunately, it has resulted in unintended and deadly consequences. posted already. if you enjoy the book or author, post your positive reviews. just not for me.

People get butt hurt over the stupidest stuff. Omg it’s not a biography people.