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The Darkest Evening of the Year
The Darkest Evening of the Year
Author: Dean Koontz
Amy Redwing has dedicated her life to the southern California organization she founded to rescue abandoned and endangered golden retrievers. Among dog lovers, she's a legend for the risks she'll take to save an animal from abuse. Among her friends, Amy's heedless devotion is often cause for concern. To widower Brian McCarthy, whose c...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780553589122
ISBN-10: 0553589121
Publication Date: 10/28/2008
Pages: 496
Rating:
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 439

3.7 stars, based on 439 ratings
Publisher: Bantam
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

freakazoidP avatar reviewed The Darkest Evening of the Year on + 39 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 9
This book is truly a love story to Koontz's dog Trixie,who has passed.Mystery surrounds Amy,who is the founder of a Golden Rescue group.While this book is a bit thin on character development, since it is pretty much a 3 day slice of life, I will forgive.You never feel like you are missing anything,as the story moves so quickly.And above all, while this book may make you cry (if you care anything about dogs),it will leave you with a sense of hope and wonder.Which is exactly what he wants you to take from this experience.
GeniusJen avatar reviewed The Darkest Evening of the Year on + 5322 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
I really loved this title, much more so than Mr. Koontz's last two releases, THE GOOD GUY and THE HUSBAND. Although this title follows in the same vein as regards to time (it only covers roughly 48-hours), it has characters who are easier to relate to and a chilling, supernatural-based storyline.

As the other reviewer mentions, it's a kind of memorial to Mr. Koontz's own Golden Retreiver, Trixie, who has passed away. In the book, a dog named Nickie is at the center of the story, along with the humans that she must protect.

This is an emotional thriller with some pretty messed-up bad guys, and if you like that type of story, you'll love this one, too!
reviewed The Darkest Evening of the Year on + 14 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
I am not sure who gave the book a half a star here, but to me it was at least a 4. So good that I stayed awake to finish it all in one sitting. Dean Koontz is often called the Master of Suspense, and in this book he once again keeps you on your toes. The plot is slightly predictable, however his ability to make you laugh while dealing with the tragedy of human nature, make you smile while you are on one page and cringe when you are on the next,continues to make him one of my favorite authors. It isn't his best work. It isn't his most unique story either. But it is a sweet story of redemption and faith.
reviewed The Darkest Evening of the Year on + 12 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
When my wife bought this book for me for Christmas, I thought it was about a non-fictional dog rescue organization that found homes for mistreated golden retrievers. What a surprise, while it did have the dog rescue org as a part of the story, it was so much more. It is Koontz at his best. I have read all of his novels and must say that this one ranks up there at the top. Don't pass this one up. You won't be able to put it down.
reviewed The Darkest Evening of the Year on + 90 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
I totally agree with AnitaC. I've been a big fan of Koontz for years now, but this one just didn't do it for me. I'll finish it, but only because it's the last book on my shelf right now; it certainly isn't because I'm enjoying it. Don't know how many times I've laid it down in frustration because of his penchant for paragraph after paragraph of rambling that goes no-where.
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mnorth avatar reviewed The Darkest Evening of the Year on + 32 more book reviews
I'm not a huge fan of Koontz, but I have liked the few books of his that I've read. There are 66 chapters. I liked this story until I reached the last page of chapter 65. Did not like where he took it from there. Chapter 66 feels rushed, like it had to be finished so he threw everything in altogether to tie up the ends. It just didn't work for me. Fans will love it. For me it's a meh.
cwousn avatar reviewed The Darkest Evening of the Year on + 108 more book reviews
This was a quick and easy read. It kept me guessing and I was turning pages quickly trying to figure out the plot. I enjoy the books that Koontz writes that contain golden retrievers as characters. He normally gives them powers above and beyond those of normal dogs (though sometime those powers seem to be normal with some dogs I've encountered). Anyway, I read this book in a day and a half so I obviously enjoyed it. Try it - you'll like it!
reviewed The Darkest Evening of the Year on + 27 more book reviews
Great reading! Koontz has outdone himself. Characters are crazy & incredable. I am a dog lover, and he brings Nickie (a very good dog) into the storyline in wonderful ways. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a Koontz reader as I am. It shows how magical and intertwined...and even cruel and bizare... this world can be. Loved it.
reviewed The Darkest Evening of the Year on + 37 more book reviews
When Amy Redwing rescues Nickie, a beautiful golden retriever, and takes her into her own home, it is clear that Nickie is a special animal. It also becomes clear that Amy has a past that is coming back to haunt her.

Not as horrifying as Koontz's other works, this book manages to be suspenseful while weaving a sweet tale of a woman and her love of dogs. Golden retrievers to be specific.
reviewed The Darkest Evening of the Year on + 5 more book reviews
I really like the supernatural connection with the dog. Enjoyed it!
reviewed The Darkest Evening of the Year on + 20 more book reviews
The Darkest Evening of the Year

I found it to be a fast, fairly predictable read. I was hoping that Einstein or his kin from "Watchers" would make a reappearance, but no such luck. The focus of the book is Golden Retrieval Rescue and I almost wish he would have dropped the child abuse and the purely, evil people and focused on animal rescue, which has enough horror stories for several books. You don't ever forget that the book is about rescue efforts, still it would have been nice if the book were about the real rescue efforts of so many people. I type this as my most recent rescue is trying to help me type! So I may be a bit biased towards animal rescue!


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