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Phantoms
Review by Graboidz : One of Koontz's Best

My guess is that most folks my age who are fans of the horror genre were probably introduced to the genre by Stephen King. I wasn't. As a pre-teen I discovered Dean Koontz and all things horror by "Phantoms". I loved this book, and not only do I credit "Phantoms" for opening my eyes to the horror genre, I credit "Phantoms" for instilling in me a love to read. Since reading "Phantoms", I've of course branched out to many authors, genres and styles. I've read the classics, I read bestsellers, and basically just about anything I can get my hands on these days, and I feel I owe a debt of gratitude to Koontz and this fantastic novel for introducing me to the written word as no one else had.

The basic storyline of "Phantoms" is that the town doctor is returning home after her mothers funeral along with her little sister. When they arrive in the small ski community they find it deserted. The discover several dead bodies and call in the state police. I hate to give any spoilers, so won't get more specific than that. What happened to the town, why are some of the corpses mutilated while others are blackened with universal bruising? Once the police arrive and the nightmare begins unfolding, you won't be able to put the novel down!

That said, I was a little leery of re-reading what to me, was a landmark novel. Would it hold up? Did it still carry the magic I so fondly remember? The great news is that "Phantoms" is still a great novel. At times chilling, and full of suspense. The characters are so well crafted that you truly care whether the will make it out of Snowfield alive. Koontz can build tension and crafts such a wonderfully scary tale, its no wonder I was so eager to read more of the authors work after finishing this novel.

If you are a fan of Koontz's writing, then I'm sure you are familiar with this novel. If, however, you've missed this title, pick it up right away. As a longtime fan of Koontz, I can honestly say "Phantoms" is one of his best.......

Phantoms
Review by Thriller Lover : Quite Simply, one of the Most Entertaining Novels I have Ever Read

I love Dean Koontz, and this is one of his best novels. In fact, it is one of the best horror/suspense novels ever written, period.

PHANTOMS is an old fashioned monster novel, where a group of characters are under attack by a supernatural being in a deserted town. This story may sound familiar, but Koontz makes it come alive by the sheer talent of his writing.

This is an old-fashioned roller coaster ride of a novel, where you're constantly on the edge of your seat. I was smiling as I read this book, because I had such a good time reading it. If you're new to Koontz, this is a very good novel to start with. PHANTOMS is pure fun from start to finish.

Ignore the movie based on this book, which is quite bad and does not do the novel justice. Koontz has admitted as much on his website, despite the fact that he wrote the screenplay himself.

If you like PHANTOMS, I recommend reading the following novels by Koontz: WATCHERS, INTENSITY, VELOCITY, and ODD THOMAS..

Phantoms
Review by S. Rhodes : Closer

Phantoms is perhaps one of Dean Koontz's most well regarded books. While having to come up with a book to follow Whispers, he wrote Phantoms. A story of horror and suspense that takes place in a small town in California. The ride is a pleasant and often scary one that moves at a breathtaking pace and leaves no stone unturned.

When Jenny and Lisa Paige return to Snowfield, California, something is amiss. The town is strangely devoid of any human life and things are just too quiet. The situation isn't helped any when the two stumble upon a corpse. They stumble upon even stranger things. Severed hands, severed heads. Those that don't seem to be murdered in Snowfield, are missing. There are no pets roaming around either. It's too strange. Eventually Jenny calls in the local Sheriff, Bryce Hammond, from Santa Mira. Bryce and a few of his officers come into town to check things out. But what's really happening in Snowfield? Was it a biological attack? Terrorism? A mad killer? No. It's something much worse. Much eviler... and they don't know how to stop it.

Dean Koontz's novel sends chills down the spine as his characters do battle with an enemy that can not be stopped. Dean Koontz does a fantastic job of developing his characters and making them believable. Even better is how he manages to make you care for even the ones you don't like. His dialog is crafty and his sense of humor can't be beat.

What works even better in the story is how his characters come to understand what they're up against. Koontz has created a monster for which he can justify the existence of. The very realistic explanation for the existence of the monster is what makes it much more frightening. The story is smart and clever from start to finish.

If there was anything wrong with Phantoms, it would be its disappointing ending after such a strong build up. The final few pages of the book are not strong enough when compared to the books opening pages. In short, you'll be absorbed only to be let down by an ending that isn't so stellar.

Despite a let down of an ending, Phantoms is still a great read. Believable and interesting characters thrown into an interesting situation is what makes the book work on so many levels.....