Helpful Score: 4
The story centers around a Vietnamese author named Tommy Phan who writes detective novels. One night, Tommy receives a strange package on his porch. When he opens it, Tommy discovers that it is a rag doll. Unfortunately, things start to become deadly serious rather quickly. There is an evil demon inside the doll that breaks out and is obsessed with killing Tommy. Not only is the demon a deadly one, but it is also highly intelligent as well. It managed to leave Tommy a note on his computer that comprised of "The deadline is dawn. Tick tock... Tick tock". Now Tommy not only has to survive the night without being killed, but he also has to solve the mystery of who sent the demon to him and why they want him dead.
Over the years I have read most of Koontz's books. However, Tick Tock was always a book that I put off reading. The premise sounded like a rip off of the film "Child's Play", and I had heard some bad feedback on the book from certain people who had read the book. I finally decided to put my skepticism aside, and give Tick Tock a chance. I am so glad that I did, because it is seriously one of the best books that I have read in awhile, and that is just not limiting the criteria to Dean Koontz novels either. I am talking overall, and I read a lot of books. The book manages to hook you in from the first page and keeps you there until the very end. The suspense that this book brings is so intense, that it is almost unreal.
However, although the demon may be scary and the suspense is almost overwhelming at times, the book's real appeal comes from Koontz's character development. Tommy Phan is one of my favorite Koontz characters. Koontz portrays Tommy as a man who is constantly fighting against his heritage to become more American, and it is his battle against those beliefs that makes his war with the demon harder. Koontz also manages to create one of the best female leads he has ever written as well. Along the way, Tommy meets and eventually falls for a woman named Deliverance Payne who joins him in the fight against the demon no questions asked. Del's different philosophies on life, her twisted sense of humor, and her wild past make Del an extremely interesting and likeable character. The relationship that develops between Del and Tommy is one of Koontz's more enjoyable ones. It truly brings a new meaning to the phrase "opposites attract".
Overall, Tick Tock is now one of my favorite Koontz books. This book showcases Koontz's character development at its best, and supplies a perfect mixture of horror, suspense, humor, and romance.
Over the years I have read most of Koontz's books. However, Tick Tock was always a book that I put off reading. The premise sounded like a rip off of the film "Child's Play", and I had heard some bad feedback on the book from certain people who had read the book. I finally decided to put my skepticism aside, and give Tick Tock a chance. I am so glad that I did, because it is seriously one of the best books that I have read in awhile, and that is just not limiting the criteria to Dean Koontz novels either. I am talking overall, and I read a lot of books. The book manages to hook you in from the first page and keeps you there until the very end. The suspense that this book brings is so intense, that it is almost unreal.
However, although the demon may be scary and the suspense is almost overwhelming at times, the book's real appeal comes from Koontz's character development. Tommy Phan is one of my favorite Koontz characters. Koontz portrays Tommy as a man who is constantly fighting against his heritage to become more American, and it is his battle against those beliefs that makes his war with the demon harder. Koontz also manages to create one of the best female leads he has ever written as well. Along the way, Tommy meets and eventually falls for a woman named Deliverance Payne who joins him in the fight against the demon no questions asked. Del's different philosophies on life, her twisted sense of humor, and her wild past make Del an extremely interesting and likeable character. The relationship that develops between Del and Tommy is one of Koontz's more enjoyable ones. It truly brings a new meaning to the phrase "opposites attract".
Overall, Tick Tock is now one of my favorite Koontz books. This book showcases Koontz's character development at its best, and supplies a perfect mixture of horror, suspense, humor, and romance.
Helpful Score: 3
As printed on book cover:
Thirty-year-old detective novelist Tommy Phan has just become the proud owner of a bright aqua Corvetter. But as he drives his new purchase home on a balmy California day, he is suddenly seized by a teeth-chattering chill and the feeling that he is being followed by something sinister. When Tommy arrives home, a mysyerious rag doll-with crossed stitches for eyes and mouth, and one over its heart-is sitting on his doorstep.
Tommy takes the doll inside. That evening, he is horrified when its fabric rips open, revealing a beating heart and a blinking green eye. It evolves into a hulking, formidable creature bent on destroying him. On Tommy's computer screen, it writes, 'THE DEADLINE IS DAWN.' With his new friend Del, a beautiful, strangely intuitive blonde, Tommy frantically flees. He must discover what this fierce enemy is and why it's pursuing him...before his very life ticktocks away.
Thirty-year-old detective novelist Tommy Phan has just become the proud owner of a bright aqua Corvetter. But as he drives his new purchase home on a balmy California day, he is suddenly seized by a teeth-chattering chill and the feeling that he is being followed by something sinister. When Tommy arrives home, a mysyerious rag doll-with crossed stitches for eyes and mouth, and one over its heart-is sitting on his doorstep.
Tommy takes the doll inside. That evening, he is horrified when its fabric rips open, revealing a beating heart and a blinking green eye. It evolves into a hulking, formidable creature bent on destroying him. On Tommy's computer screen, it writes, 'THE DEADLINE IS DAWN.' With his new friend Del, a beautiful, strangely intuitive blonde, Tommy frantically flees. He must discover what this fierce enemy is and why it's pursuing him...before his very life ticktocks away.
Helpful Score: 1
scary scary but really good.
I read it a couple of times it soo good. It is not what you think and it will not end how you expect, that is what makes this author the best out there. Even over KING
Tommy Phan, a Vietnamese immigrant trying to escape a home-brewed spell run amok. The story races through a terror-filled night as Tommy and his new friend, Deliverance Payne, try to outsmart a demon bent on murder.
One of Koontz's best thrillers
Koontz is riviting in his ability to keep you reading and reading. i turned into a prune in the tub while i froze in the cold bath water- i just couldn't stop reading to get out!
Scary Thriller, Koontz is the master of them, right up there with King.
Another thriller for Dean Koontz. Very bizzar. Just reading it can turn your blood cold if your not careful.
This is my very favorite of all Dean Koontz books. It's fun and quirky, and has the usual good mystery as well.
You'll find yourself laughing quite a bit through this one but it was still great. One of my favorites to reread.
It is a decent Koontz novel even though it tries to be a little too light-hearted at times. All in all, a good read.
This book was one of the creepiest I have ever read. I loved it but also did not did not want to reread it because it scared me so much. Great writing by one of my favorite authors', Dean Koontz. My advice, don't read it alone in your house at night!
it was good and kind a wonder.....
This is an enjoyable, typical Dean Koontz book.
This one was a fun book to read. Not perfect, but very very much fun. Del is a great character, as are her "parents". Great dialog in many places.
This book never made it to a hard copy book. Koontz wrote this novel after writting "Dark Rivers of the Heart", hence the lightheartedness and humor within this novel. Koontz was looking for relief from the darkness of his previous writtings. This story is a little unusual, not one of my favorite Koontz novels, but still a good read.......
This book was hilarious.
Tommy Phan is a successful detective novelist, living the American Dream in southern California. One evening he comes home to find a small rag doll on his doorstep. It's a simple doll, covered entirely in white cloth, with crossed black stitches for the eyes and mouth, and another pair forming an X over the heart. Curious, he brings it inside. That night, Tommy hears an odd popping sound and looks up to see the stitches breaking over the doll's heart. And in minutes the fabric of Tommy Phan's reality will be torn apart. Something terrifying emerges from the pristine white cloth, something that will follow Tommy wherever he goes. Something that he can't destroy. It wants Tommy's life and he doesn't know why. He has only one ally, a beautiful, strangely intuitive waitress he meets by chance--or by a design far beyond his comprehension. He has too many questions, no answers, and very little time. Because the vicious and demonically clever doll has left this warning on Tommy's computer screen: The deadline is dawn.
fast paced thriller,tommy phan unwittingly brings a curse into his home and discovers he will be dead by dawn if he can't stop it
From the inside of the book:
Tommy Phan is a thirty-year old Vietnamese-American detective novelist living in Southern California and a chaser of the American dream. He drives home his brand-new Corvette one day to discover a strange doll on his doorstep...
He brings it into the house. That night, he hears an odd little popping sound and looks up to see the crossed stitches breaking over the dolls heart. When he picks the doll up, he feels something pulsing in its chest. Another thread unravels to reveal a reptilian green eye - not a doll's eye, because it blinks. Tommy Phan pusues the thing as it scrambles away into his house - and then is pursued by it as it evolves from a terrifying and vicious minikin into a hulking and formidable opponent bent on killing him. THE DEADLINE IS DAWN, the creature types on Tommys computer screen, and in the hours that follow, with the help of a beautiful, strangely intuitive waitress he meets on the highway, Tommy frantically flees this fierce enemy, desperate to discover what this thing is and why it's pursuing him.
Tommy Phan is a thirty-year old Vietnamese-American detective novelist living in Southern California and a chaser of the American dream. He drives home his brand-new Corvette one day to discover a strange doll on his doorstep...
He brings it into the house. That night, he hears an odd little popping sound and looks up to see the crossed stitches breaking over the dolls heart. When he picks the doll up, he feels something pulsing in its chest. Another thread unravels to reveal a reptilian green eye - not a doll's eye, because it blinks. Tommy Phan pusues the thing as it scrambles away into his house - and then is pursued by it as it evolves from a terrifying and vicious minikin into a hulking and formidable opponent bent on killing him. THE DEADLINE IS DAWN, the creature types on Tommys computer screen, and in the hours that follow, with the help of a beautiful, strangely intuitive waitress he meets on the highway, Tommy frantically flees this fierce enemy, desperate to discover what this thing is and why it's pursuing him.
On of my favorites by Koontz, the ending has quite a twist to it!
Good occult/Mystery with Veitnamese flavor.
Tommy Phan is a thirty-year-old Vietnamese American detective novelist living in southern California, and a chaser of the American dream. He drives home his brand new Corvette one day to discover a strange doll on his doorstep. It's rather like a rag doll, but is covered entirely with white cloth, having no face or hair or clothes, little more than a doll blank. Where the eyes should be, there are two crossed stitches of black thread. Five sets of crossed black stitches mark the mouth, and another pair form an X over the heart.
He brings it into the house. That night, he hears an odd little popping sound and looks up to see the crossed stitches breaking over the doll's heart. When he picks the doll up, he feels something pulsing in it's chest. Another thread unravels to reveal a reptilian green eye--not a doll's eye, because it blinks. Tommy Phan pursues the thing as it scrambles away into his house--and then is pursued by it, as it evolves from a terrifying and vicious minikin into a hulking and formaidable opponent bent on killing him. THE DEADLINE IS DAWN, the creature types on Tommy's computer screen, and in the hours that follow, with the help of a beautiful, strangely, intuitive waitress he meets on the highway, Tommy frantically flees this fierce enemy, desperate to discover what this thing is and why it's pursuing him.
He brings it into the house. That night, he hears an odd little popping sound and looks up to see the crossed stitches breaking over the doll's heart. When he picks the doll up, he feels something pulsing in it's chest. Another thread unravels to reveal a reptilian green eye--not a doll's eye, because it blinks. Tommy Phan pursues the thing as it scrambles away into his house--and then is pursued by it, as it evolves from a terrifying and vicious minikin into a hulking and formaidable opponent bent on killing him. THE DEADLINE IS DAWN, the creature types on Tommy's computer screen, and in the hours that follow, with the help of a beautiful, strangely, intuitive waitress he meets on the highway, Tommy frantically flees this fierce enemy, desperate to discover what this thing is and why it's pursuing him.
If you like KOONTZ you gotta read this.
A "light" read...as light as Koontz ever gets.
Hard to get into, but turns into a great story.
I enjoyed reading this book very much.
Thought the concept here was very interesting.
Tommy Phan,A Vietnamese-American detective in Southern California> He drives home one day to find a strange doll on his doorstep, covered entirely with white cloth, having no face, hair or clothes. Little more than a doll 'blank' with two crossed stitches where the eyes should be, five sets mark the mouth and two mark the heart. That night
he hears an odd popping sound and sees the crossed stitches breaking and revealed a reptilian green eye-not a doll's eye, because it blinks
then Tommy Phan pursues the thing as it scrambles away into his house---then he is pursued by it as it evolves into a terrifying opponent bent on killing him. "The deadline is dawn" the creature types on Tommy's computer screen---------(I enjoyed this book very much and recommend it to everyone who likes MYSTERY & SUSPENSE.)
he hears an odd popping sound and sees the crossed stitches breaking and revealed a reptilian green eye-not a doll's eye, because it blinks
then Tommy Phan pursues the thing as it scrambles away into his house---then he is pursued by it as it evolves into a terrifying opponent bent on killing him. "The deadline is dawn" the creature types on Tommy's computer screen---------(I enjoyed this book very much and recommend it to everyone who likes MYSTERY & SUSPENSE.)
Good as usual with Koontz. Very fast read, quick paced. This book is paperback size with hardback cover(library binding?) Excellent shape with celophane cover.
After finding a doll on his doorstep, things get weird and Tommy is fighting for his life. Koontz is always a little weird.
a great Dean Koontz book - if you are a fan you will love this book
Fantastic! I couldn't put it down! Koontz at his best!
