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Shadow Fires
Shadow Fires
Author: Dean R. Koontz
Arkansas Democrat Rachel Leben's violently possessive ex-husband was killed in a freak auto accident, but his hideously mangled body has disappeared from the morgue. Now someone, or something, is watching her. Stalking her. And, although no one will believe her, Rachel knows who it is. His walking corpse a grotesque mockery of life. His bril...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780425136980
ISBN-10: 0425136981
Publication Date: 6/1/1993
Pages: 391
Rating:
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 254

3.8 stars, based on 254 ratings
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Shadow Fires on + 242 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
One of Dean Koontz's early books. Previously published under the pseudonym Leigh Nichols. Suspenseful. A combination of science (genetics) gone wild and the supernatural with emphasis on the former.
LaurieS avatar reviewed Shadow Fires on + 504 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This was one of the earlier Koontz novels that I somehow missed in my youth. It tells the tale of a genetic genius named Eric who after an ugly argument with his soon to be ex-wife Rachel, dies in an accident. But he doesn't stay dead for long. . .

Before long Rachel and her new love interest, Ben, are on the run from a resurrected Eric and men who will do anything to keep Eric's status a secret.

Koontz has always been hit or miss with me and I'm sad to say that book was more of a miss. I'm a big fan of monster books, particularly zombies, but this book focused more on the action (which usually bores me), was filled with mostly unlikable characters and the dialogue was not believable.

Koontz should also stay far away from any attempt at a love scene. When Rachel and Ben finally give in to temptation Koontz describes their happy ending as "Ben emptying copious measures of himself into Rachel". Funny? Yes, but also very creepy when you think about it which I'd rather not!

Anyway, now that I'm completely off track, I'll just end this by saying that I would've enjoyed this more if Koontz had focused more on the changes his "monster" was going through and spent less time on the chase scenes. It would've helped too, if he'd spent less time agonizing about every thought and motivation passing through the dull men's heads (Ben and his nemesis whose name escape me).

I probably would have enjoyed this more when I was a bit younger because now that I'm old and grouchy I don't seem to like much of anything!
euphoria avatar reviewed Shadow Fires on + 25 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Another of Dean's earlier efforts, from back when he wrote powerful, suspenseful thrillers with realistic characters that you actually cared about and an ending that wasn't so sweet it made you gag. Unlike the pablum he writes now. ::sigh:: I wish he'd never had that aneurysm, or whatever it was that made him into Mother Theresa...
reviewed Shadow Fires on
Helpful Score: 1
This book is by far the best Koontz that I have read. Hauntingly believable (for me at least). I had to force myself to put it down and go to bed, but couldn't go to sleep because my heart was racing. Highly recommended read.
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reviewed Shadow Fires on + 164 more book reviews
Rachel's request for a quick and clean divorce enraged her husband. She had never seen Eric so angry, so consumed by pure and terrifying hatred. Then, in the heat of the moment, Eric was struck down in a traffic accident. His death was instantaneous. Shocked and relieved, Rachael had nothing left to fear. Until Eric's body disappeared from the morgue - and Rachael was stalked by someone who looked like her dead husband...
reviewed Shadow Fires on + 593 more book reviews
This is a very good read.
reviewed Shadow Fires on + 20 more book reviews
Good scarey story of husband who died and comes back to chase his wife across states. Always enjoy Dean Koontz books. only 1 reader of this book in excellent condition.


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