Intensity (original 1995; edition 1996)

Intense indeed. ( )

This started out rough. I had to get used to Koontz's writing style, which to me isn't as smooth a read as others. But once the story got going, I was really interested in it.

Chyna Shepherd is trapped in the house as the killer, Mr. Vess, goes on his rampage. She must deal with not only her fear of being found out, but of a lifetime of insecurities brought on by a sorry mother and a troubled childhood. She must overcome these deeply rooted issues if she is to survive the next 24 hours and if she is to have a chance of outwitting Mr. Vess.

Once Koontz begins to switch point of view perspectives and give us that of Mr. Vess, I think the book really became much more interesting. Viewing the world through his eyes was refreshing, not for the views themselves but the amount of thought that was put into them. While I wouldn't call Vess a sympathetic character, he is certainly an interesting study.

The last third of this book was where the pace really picked up. I couldn't put it down for the last 50 pages or so. This, combined with the unique perspective of Vess, is what brought it up to a 4 star read. The early pages had me thinking 2, and finally 3 as it evened out and things started happening. But by the time the intensity really started to set in, the story went up a notch.

It's still not my favorite Koontz. Either Odd Thomas or Life Expectancy has that distinction, but Intensity certainly belongs on the next tier. I made a comment earlier that the first person point of view of these other two novels gave his writing a smoothness that he doesn't capture in third person. But Intensity would not have worked in that point of view, because the Vess chapters is what gives it flavor. If I had to read an entire 300 pages of Chyna Shepherd's repetitive thoughts I would have thrown the book into the river.

I liked her alright as a character, and I was pulling for her through the book, but Koontz had a tendency to hammer the same thoughts over and over. While I sympathized with Chyna and her inner struggles, I didn't need quite the play by play. I will say that the little flashbacks to her childhood traumas were interesting. Her mother and her loser boyfriends were truly frightening. Her background is essential to the struggle she faces in the present with Mr. Vess, so I don't mind going over that. I just feel Koontz tends to linger sometimes and repeat himself. Which I just did in this review, I fear. Well, as much as Koontz is paid for it, I can be allowed a little freedom here on this free review, right?

All in all, this was a fun read. It was enjoyable, sometimes intriguing, and didn't require a lot of effort or time. Definitely worth a pass through.

Now, where did I leave the keys to my motor home? ( )

In this book Chyna is a 26-year-old graduate student still coming to terms with her abusive past. She is staying at her friend’s house for the weekend when Edgler Foreman Vess enters the home. When a scream pierces the night, Chyna hides under the bed. Edgler comes in and searches her room but finds no one. Driven by a weird sense of duty, Chyna ventures out to find that he has killed everyone. Frightened and alone she does not give up but hides away in his motor home. This act leads her to learn of a girl who is trapped in his basement. She takes it upon herself to save this girl and herself in the process.
Despite the dark nature of this book that will leave some readers with a pit in their stomachs, I love its power. A non-stop roller coaster ride that does not disappoint, on the front of this book, it says Intensity: A Novel. What it should say is An Intense Novel. This book is a page-turner from page one. If you plan to read Intensity make sure you make time to read it all at once because you will not be able to put it down. This is my third time though and I would not hesitate to read it again. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery, horror, and suspense.
( )

This was a slush book for me. I really had to drag my way through it. I found it very boring and was soooo dissapointed. Koontz books either thrill me or the opposite it seems. Not one I could recommened. ( )

I'm not normally a horror fan, but a friend gave me this book and assured me it wasn't as scary as most horror. She was right. I really enjoyed Intensity and would have finished it a LOT faster if I hadn't been busy watching the Olympics and traveling to visit relatives. I definitely recommend this to those who like suspense. ( )