The Mask
by Dean Koontz
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Jane is a very good girl. But #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz shows that appearances can be deceiving—in a deadly way...She appears out of nowhere, a beautiful teenage girl in the middle of traffic on a busy day. Paul and Carol Tracy are drawn to her—she's the child they never thought they could have. But then Carol's nightmares begin—the ghastly sounds in the night...the bloody face in the mirror...the razor-sharp ax.
Jane can't remember her past. And as Carol show more attempts to help her uncover who she was, she has no idea of the horrors that await... show less
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The Mask by Dean Koonz
It was a dark and stormy night with things that go “thunk.” No, really, it was. Except Dean Koontz did a superbly remarkable job of turning it into a truly terrifying experience.
Thunk. Is that the sound of a loose shutter during the storm? Someone in the house? An ax slicing through something unimaginable?
Paul and Carol want to adopt a child, and someone – or something – doesn’t want them to. And then Carol ran into a girl on the street – literally, with her car – a teenager with no memory of her past. She is taken in by Paul and Carol and becomes the daughter they are unable to adopt. And there-in lies the foundation for the story line. Known simply as Jane Doe, due to her unknown past, it seems show more she suffers from a multiple personality disorder, unless you believe in reincarnation. And that changes the entire story line. Carol is a psychiatrist and tries to help Jane by a series of hypnotic sessions that delves deeply into her past, and slowly unravels her mind with deeply disturbing consequences.
A supernatural horror story that will leave you gasping for air, you will not want to put this book down. But you’d better before going to bed because some nightmares can be a bit too prophetic. First published in 1981, some technology is dated (the main character is a writer who uses an electric typewriter), and the ending seems a bit too abrupt, it is nonetheless Dean Koontz at his best. show less
It was a dark and stormy night with things that go “thunk.” No, really, it was. Except Dean Koontz did a superbly remarkable job of turning it into a truly terrifying experience.
Thunk. Is that the sound of a loose shutter during the storm? Someone in the house? An ax slicing through something unimaginable?
Paul and Carol want to adopt a child, and someone – or something – doesn’t want them to. And then Carol ran into a girl on the street – literally, with her car – a teenager with no memory of her past. She is taken in by Paul and Carol and becomes the daughter they are unable to adopt. And there-in lies the foundation for the story line. Known simply as Jane Doe, due to her unknown past, it seems show more she suffers from a multiple personality disorder, unless you believe in reincarnation. And that changes the entire story line. Carol is a psychiatrist and tries to help Jane by a series of hypnotic sessions that delves deeply into her past, and slowly unravels her mind with deeply disturbing consequences.
A supernatural horror story that will leave you gasping for air, you will not want to put this book down. But you’d better before going to bed because some nightmares can be a bit too prophetic. First published in 1981, some technology is dated (the main character is a writer who uses an electric typewriter), and the ending seems a bit too abrupt, it is nonetheless Dean Koontz at his best. show less
A reread as part of a book clearance plan. Though readers often find though Koontz in the horror or fantasy section, the best way to describe most of his books is supernatural thrillers. This, one of his earlier titles, is well-plotted, perhaps a little simplistic for true thriller aficionados of today, but is a fast, well-paced read although the end feels a little too fast and abrupt to me.
I did enjoy "The Mask" alot, this was a good eerie novel dealing with reincarnation, it seemed obvious in the beginning, but like any Koontz novel the obvious lies within the unobvious, and when we are finally allowed to look outside the box, we are shown a bigger picture than originally thought. I did enjoy the supernatural element, but The Mask did have a few flaws that kept it from greatness: One being, that Koontz, never really explains the supernatural element that was tipping off the main charactors; were the spirits good or bad? Also, the book ended too abruptly,It was wrapped up in 10 pages. We never know the fate of the charactors, did they live happily ever after? But over all I'll try to stay positive and "The Mask" is a good show more early novel for Dean Koontz. show less
Written over 30 years ago you can tell that this is one of Koontz's earlier works.
Paul and Carol can not have children and are going through the process to adopt. While at the lawyers office a large storm breaks out and an extreme lightning show starts and shatters the window that Paul and the lawyer and standing in front of. This is one of many bizarre events that will make Carol believe that someone is trying to stop them from adopting.
When a young girl comes into their life after an accident with amnesia Paul and Carol want to help her until the police can locate her family. Little do they know that by letting Jane into their lives they could be inviting in the end of their lives.
Short and interesting novella, but definitely not the show more best work by Koontz show less
Paul and Carol can not have children and are going through the process to adopt. While at the lawyers office a large storm breaks out and an extreme lightning show starts and shatters the window that Paul and the lawyer and standing in front of. This is one of many bizarre events that will make Carol believe that someone is trying to stop them from adopting.
When a young girl comes into their life after an accident with amnesia Paul and Carol want to help her until the police can locate her family. Little do they know that by letting Jane into their lives they could be inviting in the end of their lives.
Short and interesting novella, but definitely not the show more best work by Koontz show less
It has been probably a decade since I read this book but I still remember it very well. That alone says a lot about the book since I read constantly.
Carol and Paul are living the American dream until one night when a mysterious teenager shows up at their house. Due to unusual circumstances, they take the child into their home.
Things began to happen. Spooky things that force Carol and Paul to open their minds to the possiblity that the girl's appearance in their lives was no coincidence, no accident, but part of a cosmic plan.
In life, we all wear masks every day. Sometimes even we do not know who we are.
Carol and Paul are living the American dream until one night when a mysterious teenager shows up at their house. Due to unusual circumstances, they take the child into their home.
Things began to happen. Spooky things that force Carol and Paul to open their minds to the possiblity that the girl's appearance in their lives was no coincidence, no accident, but part of a cosmic plan.
In life, we all wear masks every day. Sometimes even we do not know who we are.
This started off very interesting with a couple unable to have children decide to adopt, but something seems deteremined to stop them. Then a young teenage girl comes out of nowhere into their lives and then the nightmares start. This novel had all the elements of a good story, it was intriguing enough to keep me reading, mysterious enough to keep me guessing and had just enough chills to keep me looking over my shoulder as I read. The first 303 pages of this novel were absolutely great.
It was the last two pages that made this one of the worst books I’ve read in a long time. The ending absolutely stunk, it was vague and contrived and seemed to come out of nowhere. It didn’t answer any questions and left me feeling cheated because I show more just wasted all that time reading the book (though it was a quick read) and was left with that ending. If this had been my first Koontz book, I may not be back. However, I know he is capable of so much more, that of course I’ll be back.
If you can look past the horrible almost non-existent ending then you’re in for a decent read, but just be forwarned that the ending will leave you looking for more. show less
It was the last two pages that made this one of the worst books I’ve read in a long time. The ending absolutely stunk, it was vague and contrived and seemed to come out of nowhere. It didn’t answer any questions and left me feeling cheated because I show more just wasted all that time reading the book (though it was a quick read) and was left with that ending. If this had been my first Koontz book, I may not be back. However, I know he is capable of so much more, that of course I’ll be back.
If you can look past the horrible almost non-existent ending then you’re in for a decent read, but just be forwarned that the ending will leave you looking for more. show less
One of my least favorate Koontz books so far, but still a very underrated book of his. It had a lots of mystery until the end, fun characters, and lots of action and suspense. On top of all that, it had some pretty creepy parts, which believe it or not, isnt exactly typical for Koontz. On the other hand, parts of its horror were chessy, the ending was more openended that most will appreciate, and when compared to a lot of Koontz's books, it just isnt that good. If you want to get the most out of this novel, i suggest that you make it one of your earlier Koontz reads before you start reading some of his top notch novels.
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Author Information
526+ Works 227,427 Members
Dean Koontz was born on July 9, 1945 in Everett, Pennsylvania. He received a degree in education from Shippensburg State College in 1967. A former high school English teacher as well as a teacher-counselor with the Appalachian Poverty Program, he began writing as a child to escape an ugly home life caused by his alcoholic father. A prolific writer show more at a young age, he had sold a dozen novels by the age of 25. Early in his career, he wrote under numerous pen names including David Axton, Brian Coffey, K. R. Dwyer, Leigh Nichols, Richard Paige, and Owen West. He is best known for the books written under his own name, many of which are bestsellers, including Midnight, Cold Fire, The Bad Place, Hideaway, The Husband, Odd Hours, 77 Shadow Street, Innocence, The City, Saint Odd, and The Silent Corner. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Heyne Allgemeine Reihe (01/6951)
Casino grøsser (59)
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Mask
- Original title
- The Mask
- Original publication date
- 1981
- People/Characters
- Carol Tracy; Paul Tracy; Jane
- Epigraph
- A dirge for her, the doubly dead, in that she died so young.
--Edgar Allan Poe, "Lenore"
And much of Madness, and more of Sin,
And Horror the soul of the plot.
--Edgar Allan Poe, "The Conqueror Worm"
Extreme terror gives us back the gestures of our childhood.
--Chazal - Dedication
- This book is dedicated to Willo and Dave Roberts and to Carol and Don McQuinn who have no faults -- except that they live too far away from us
- First words
- Laura was in the cellar, doing some spring cleaning and hating every minute of it.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"No, honey," Carol said. "No spiders. There aren't any spiders on you. Not now. Not any more." And she looked at Grace, wondering.
- Original language*
- Englisch
- Canonical DDC/MDS
- 813.54
- Canonical LCC
- PS3561.O55
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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