Breathless

by Dean Koontz

Book Overview

In the stillness of a golden September afternoon, deep in the wilderness of the Rockies, a solitary craftsman, Grady Adams, and his magnificent Irish wolfhound, Merlin, step from shadow into light . .... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553807153
• ISBN13: 9780553807158
• Release Date: November 2009
• Publisher: Bantam
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.27 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.7" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

I generally love Dean Koontz, BUT

This book left me wanting. I am a huge fan of Dean Koontz, and typically never have complaints about his style or storytelling. Truthfully it surprises me this book is rated so well on this site. The book just felt like he got tired of it and tried to wrap it up the entire "mystery" in 5 or 6 pages thrown in at the end in a very underwhelming manner. The "I'm over it" vibe a la D. Koontz was palpable toward the entire end of the book. Not his typical writing at all. It was an easy, fast read just beware you may feel the same lackluster vibes and irritation I felt in the thrown together ending as I did.

I loved this book

Breathless: A Novel was a really good book. It had me hooked from the first chapter all the way to the end. The characters were well developed and the story was really imaginative. The descriptions were amazing and the story was full of suspense. I really like the way the chapters ended making you want to continue reading instead of stopping at the end of the chapter. It was also a plus how the characters in the book interacted. The animals in the story were a huge factor. Puzzle and Riddle will stay with me for a very long time.

Never a disappointment!

Dean Koontz never disappoints me! I will have to admit that it is difficult to limit my reading time or to change my schedule to permit more time. His books are interesting, unique and the climax when everything is explained finally lets you take a deep breath and smile. BREATHLESS is a terrific read, has done it again. Read it!

loved this book

another great book by Dean Koontz. I love the way he takes our reality and twists it. in this book he is able to show both the great acts of humanity that we are capable of and also the acts of cruelty that are possible. I love that his book both scares us with the existence and strength of the darker side of humanity, but does show that good people exist and fight to do the right thing. This book has excitement, humor, the good guys triumphing over the bad guys, and it's absolutely a must for dean koontz fans or for anyone looking for a good book to read.

Always a good author to read....

Breathless by Dean Koontz is a stunningly beautiful story that stresses the divisions we find in our world between light and dark, beauty and ugliness, and redemption and damnation. While Koontz is not a stranger to using animals in his stories, Breathless stands everything else on its head. Grady Adams is a simple man; a carpenter/craftsman who manages to provide for himself and his Irish Wolf-hound, Merlin, while working out of a converted barn. Living a relatively isolated life in the mountains of Colorado is perfect for Grady. One day, while exploring Grady stumbles onto two creatures unlike any he has ever seen. At first, he is unable to approach them before they flee. Over a few days though, he gains their trust and, the story is on. In time Homeland Security and the Army become forces that Grady and his friends must deal with. Let's just say the story is captivating and once you're hooked you won't regret picking up the book. I hate to use the phrase "typical Koontz" when discussing any of his works because that implies every story is the same. One thing is for sure that over the years Koontz's books have been anything but typical. I know this is a cliché but most of his recent books seem to open to the reader like you peel an onion. One layer after the other is revealed until the climax is reached. You may even tear up a long the way. Breathless is a great story packed with suspense, great character development, and fantastic descriptions. Long time readers appreciate Koontz's ability to tell a good story and also touch the reader in a special way. Many of his stories are spiritual without being spiritual. That makes no sense at all, except it is true, at least for this reader. Once again Dean Koontz has written a wonderful story. I highly recommend. Peace always.

A Wonderful "Feel-Good" Novel

"In the stillness of a golden September afternoon, deep in the wilderness of the Rockies, a solitary craftsman, Grady Adams, and his magnificent Irish wolfhound Merlin step from shadow into light...and into an encounter with enchantment. That night, through the trees, under the moon, a pair of singular animals will watch Grady's isolated home, waiting to make their approach." Dean Koontz doesn't just entertain with written words, he writes novels of great importance, entreating us to be aware of the madness in our world and rise above it. BREATHLESS is a wonderful story about the power of good and light in a world full of darkness. Characters are presented with the opportunity to accept something so amazingly pure, it will change their lives forever. Some characters grasp that opportunity, which leads to healing and restoration. Some resist, despite the miraculous existence of the event in the first place, and their lives remain in the dark. It's interesting to consider the justification given by the characters that refuse to accept the peace-breathing event in the story. No one is better than Koontz at infusing stories with animals, and in many cases these animals play significant roles. BREATHLESS is one of these stories. Animal lovers will take great joy in recognizing the importance the animals have in this story. This is a novel that could have easily been twice the length and still retain reader interest and enjoyment. There are multiple plot threads that leave you wondering as you're reading how Koontz will be able to bring them all together. This leads me to my only complaint about the book--I didn't want it to end. The ending was certainly no disappointment, and it didn't feel too short; I just wanted the story to keep going. "In a novel that is at once wholly of our time and timeless, fearless and funny, Dean Koontz takes readers into the moment between one turn of the world and the next, across the border between knowing and mystery." Life is indeed a mystery. And a mystery we are unlikely to ever solve. But there are clues that will help us have a more peaceful life which we'll see if we simply take a moment and open our eyes. Koontz tells us about a few of these clues: hope, perseverance, selflessness... while at the same time telling us a story that takes us out of the everyday and entertains.