Prodigal Son

Summary: A serial murderer is loose in New Orleans, and something far worse that two detectives begin to unravel, helped by a mysterious, tattooed figure by the name of Deucalion.

A serial murderer is on the loose in New Orleans. A number of women have turned up dead–missing one part of their bodies–feet, hands, ears, lips surgically removed–you get the idea. A few men have also died, with internal organs surgically removed. Detective partners Carson O’Connor and Michael Maddison are leading the investigation. She is intense, hard-driving both inside a car and out. Maddison is her complement–utterly loyal as a partner, always able to deprecate both himself and Carson in a way that keeps it real. Carson also has charge of her show more autistic younger brother Arnie, building a castle fortress in his room.

The fortress is an image, a warning that there is indeed danger afoot, far worse than just a serial killer. Carson’s first hint is a mysterious visitor, Deucalion. He has come to New Orleans from a monastery abroad, ostensibly the inheritor of a theater. He moves with lightning quickness, practicing an unusual sleight of hand, and tattooed on one side of his face, concealing extensive scars. He claims to be more than two centuries old, assembled from body parts, brought to life in a lightning strike–by Victor Frankenstein. He claims Frankenstein is still alive in New Orleans, also known as Victor Helios, who presents as a city benefactor. He also develops a special bond with Arnie, who is also in danger.

The real truth is far more insidious. Helios has perfected his abilities to create human life, apparently soulless but enhanced creatures, a perfect race being infiltrated throughout society until the day Helios realizes his dream of replacing the human race. Yet something is going wrong. Created without aspirations other than to serve Helios and subservient to his wishes, some are beginning to think, and act, and even kill on their own. It turns out that you cannot create humans and ensure they will remain automatons. They long for meaning, for joy, or even just to escape their bondage to Helios–longings far more human than Helios will permit.

A fellow blogger recommended this book, to amend the lack of “thrillers” in my reading. I can see why Koontz is so popular. It is not because of the depth of his characters. Carson O’Connor and Michael Maddison seem pretty stereotypic characters at this point (there are four more books in this series). It is because of the swift movements and turns of the plot that keep you turning the pages. It’s the ability to keep drawing you deeper into the maelstrom (if you thought this was bad, wait until you see this). Then there is the exploration of the nature of beings made by other human beings. Is there something truly human within? Someday, if it hasn’t already occurred, we will probably find a way to clone human beings. Will we do this with the will to power of Helios? Will we try to de-humanize them as we have with slaves and the trafficked? And what will we do when they cease to buy it?

All I know is that I will start looking for book two, City of Night. Thanks, James. show less

This tale was a reimagining of the Frankenstein legend. In this story Mary Shelly wrote a fictional book secretly based on rumors she’d heard of an actual case. Victor Helios (aka Dr. Frankenstein) now lives a luxurious life in New Orleans with servants and even a wife created by his own hands. His goal is to replace the Old Race with members of the New Race, his creations with an improved biological design that are stronger, hard to kill and resist aging. Victor’s first creature is still alive as well. Now named Deucalion, he is attempting to find peace in a Tibetan monastery when he receives a letter from an old friend warning him that Victor still lives. Leaving the sanctuary of the monastery, he travels to New Orleans. Deucalion show more eventually combines forces with two homicide detectives named Carson and Michael, who are investigating a serial killer known for removing a single body part before dumping the body.

The narrative switches between several characters but is done seamlessly and is not confusing. There is the narrative of Carson, caring for her autistic younger brother Arnie; Deucalion, the first creature designed by Victor and who almost died trying to destroy his creator; Victor, smug in his belief of superior knowledge and ability to control his creations; Victor’s created wife Erika, who longs for freedom from her brutal husband; Randal 6, the only creature designed with autism so he can endure horrifying experiments; and lastly Roy Pribeaux, the all too human serial killer who catches the attention of one of the New Race.

The individuals of the New Race created by Victor manage to be both pitiable and frightening in their capacity for violence without remorse. The unreasoning, escalating anger of the autistic Randal Six toward Arnie for being able to feel the happiness he himself is denied is both pathetic and chilling. Most of the members of the New Race are searching for more meaning in their life than Victor has designed into them. They are without a spiritual center, without the capacity for happiness, and without free will. The story ends on a cliffhanger, and I already have the next on my shelf. Four and a half stars and recommended. show less

If you've been following my reviews here for a while, you'll know I'm a big fan of Dean Koontz. I've read 27 books by Koontz, reviewed 18 of them and Frankenstein - Prodigal Son is the 28th.

The first in a series, Frankenstein is a mash-up of genres, including crime, science fiction and supernatural elements and while the character of Deucalion intrigued me, the story fell kind of flat.

Having said that, here's a great quote from page 41:
"Anger, like a long-repressed hunger, rose in Deucalion. Once anger had been his meat, and feasting on it, he had starved."

Prodigal Son is the first in the Frankenstein series, which contained five books at last count, but unfortunately I don't think I'll be reading any further.

I didn't think I would love another Koontz series like I did with Odd Thomas. I was wrong. I love everything about old monsters, aka Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy. This book was absolutely great! I loved all the characters (side note should be more Deucalion in the book but I digress). The spin on the story was wonderful as well as Victor Frankenstein continues in the modern day to make more of his monsters into an army to take over the world. I did not guess the killer at all... kudos. And of the course ending is left wide open for book 2.

Light, fun, sometimes scary and always enjoyable take on the old Frankenstein story. Both Dr. Frankenstein and his first creation, Deucalion, have survived centuries of life on earth, and come together again in New Orleans where Dr. Frankenstein has set up residence. A serial killer is stalking New Orleans, and Deucalion suspects that it may be Dr. Frankenstein's work. Deucalion aids the cops investigating the serial killings, Detectives O'Connor and Maddison. The relationship between O'Connor and Maddison is fun, and Deucalion is a very interesting and sympathetic character -- a very human monster. A good read.

Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein: Prodigal Son is consistently enjoyable and occasionally more than that.

The premise here is good fun: Frankenstein’s monster – plus the not-so-good doctor himself – turn out to be still around, and they’ve not exactly kissed and made up. A New Orleans setting is good place for both to surface, just as a weird serial killer is at work. Our protagonists – in addition to our patched-together main man, of course – are a team of off-the-shelf homicide cops. They’re both young, good looking and have the suppressed hots for each other, but they’re serviceable leads.

More interesting are some of the other stories swirling around the murder mystery plot. One member of our cop duo has an autistic show more brother whose presence is mirrored by an autistic creation of Dr F. And just what else has he created? It turns out he’s been busy over the past couple of centuries, and the revelation of his plot and its functionaries increasingly take center stage as the story goes on. Clearly, there is much more to come in the books that follow.

The unexpected pleasure here was Koontz’s contemplation of quite profound questions of existence and its meaning. This isn’t a consistently ‘deep’ book – it’s still a page turner – but its premise and the issues it raises have some sticking power.

Recommended. show less

I'm impressed and pleasantly surprised. I've been burned by Koontz novels in the past and had all but given up on him. You can only read so many books with a compelling story and characters that flops in the end before you look elsewhere.

This is different. I'm a sucker for the Frankenstein story, so a re-telling sounded intriguing. Even better that I know Koontz is a heck of a storyteller. He doesn't disappoint here AND it didn't run out of steam at the end. I have my fingers crossed for the second book.