Midnight

By Dean Koontz

Dean Dean Dean. What can I say, you didn’t disappoint me. Oh, let me clarify. When I say Dean didn’t disappoint me, I mean I expected to be disappointed… and I was. Midnight was a book that started off interesting. A book about a strange, isolated incident in a similarly isolated town. Changes happening to the residents, monsters running amok, protagonists fleeing for their lives, and tension building as they hide. The end was ultimately disappointing, disjointed and anticlimactic.
There are 3 main protagonists in the book, with a fourth developing into a more major role later in the novel. Tessa is investigating the death of her sister, which she believes has occurred under suspicious circumstances. Similarly, Sam is an FBI agent who has also been sent on an official mission to investigate some odd occurrences in Moonlight Cove. In summary, a rash of deaths has occurred in Moonlight Cove, often suspicious in nature and involving rapid disposal (or absence of) the bodies. In addition, we have conversions going on rendering the residents into emotionless beings or primal creatures. Chrissie, our final protagonist, is a young girl who has seen firsthand what is happening to the residents of Moonlight Cove. Her parents have changed and were in the process of converting her when she managed to escape. Chrissie is probably the least interesting and most annoying character. She fancies herself a future writer, and punctuates her activities with “cute” little paraphrases of her activities or perceived disasters. She was also left out of the action for a while, and I began to forget about her (and I wondered if Dean had done the same). Tessa played the tough girl, who was still pretty defenseless, relying on her intellect and gritty personality to survive. Sam was gutsy and knew how to get the job done. Overall though, I wasn’t struck by any tension that should have existed, and I had no real attachment to the characters. The final protagonist was Harry, a disable Vietnam veteran. He was really not necessary to the story, the only importance I can see was his dog (and this is minor).
The antagonist, Shaddack, was the most frustrating character to me. His ego was obvious, if not overdeveloped. He is the one responsible for the events taking over Twilight Cove. As I read this book, I couldn’t silence the unaddressed questions which plagued me. How did Shaddack orchestrate this whole thing on his own? Yes, there was a corporation involved, but how did it all develop from there. And how did nobody object? I decided that what bothered me most is that Dean didn’t provide enough detail about the cause to make it believable. I can’t be sure whether I should hold myself at fault for wanting to know more, but I was not satisfied with the simple blanket explanation offered.
This story started off as promising, even interesting. But due to lack of direction, and (as it seemed to me) indecision about what the story was about, this book was disappointing. This book needs counseling, because it obviously has an identity crisis.
A note about Dean: At this point I have read three Dean Koontz books. Being an avid Stephen King fan, when you ask people who else you should read, they always recommend Dean Koontz. I have given him more than a sporting chance, and I can say with confidence that these authors are not equivalent. Parallel at most. I can see how some might want to suggest that their subject matter or even writing style might be similar. But overall, Stephen King is leagues ahead of Dean in all the important categories (character development, believable story, necessary dialogue, and a sufficient conclusion).
In summary: the characters were underdeveloped, the story was disjointed and unfocused, the resolution was sudden and unsatisfying, and I was not attached enough to the characters to experience any emotion or connection to the story. It will take a lot to get me to read another Dean Koontz book, and I can only hope that Stephen King will continue to write for another 30 years (or maybe I can find a sufficient alternative, suggestions are welcome!).
Rating: 1.5/5 Bunsen Burners
Up Next: I’m Dreaming of a Black Christmas by Lewis Black.