Customer Reviews

Mr. Murder

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

A mystery writer and his family are relentlessly pursued by a renegade profesional killer who may have some sort of psychic link to his quarry. The person(s) for whom the killer had worked - and bolted from - also get involved. I won't give away more as I don't want to spoil things for the reader.

"MR. MURDER" (1993) is the eleventh Koontz book that I have read. This novel employs the same style and has some similarities to both HIDEAWAY (1992) and DRAGON TEARS (1993) but transitions from supernatural ("nutcase antagonist with supernatural abilities") to science fiction (nutcase anatgonist for science-based reasons). "MR MURDER" introduces the "up against a high-tech organization that can track you anywhere" idea that Koontz delves into more deeply with his next novel "DARK RIVERS OF THE HEART" (1994) which also has some similarities to this one. So Koontz was in a slight rut during these years with his books not changing from one to the next as much as during his more inspired times. The core ideas are actually original enough in each of the aforementioned books, but similarities arise in the way the ideas are subsequently fleshed out. However, MR. MURDER is well-written and a little better written than his average book and a fun read. (I have never read a poorly written Koontz novel - he seems to be too much of a hard-working perfectionist to allow that to happen.)

I would rank MR. MURDER against his other books that I have read as follows. Note that I have a slight bias in favor of science fiction over horror and the supernatural. In chronological order:
#1 WATCHERS (1987) - Top tier Koontz! More frequently cited as his best novel than any other of his books and I totally agree. Suspense/love story/horror/ action/science fiction. Outstanding character development, even by Koontz standards. An absolutely wonderful dog.
#3 LIGHTENING (1988) - Inspired book with some of the same strengths as WATCHERS but a very different novel and almost as good.
#5 HIDEAWAY (1992) - Antagonist has supernatural abilities. Some similararities to Dragon Tears.
#9 DRAGON TEARS (1993) - Antagonist has supernatural abilities. The similarities to Hideaway make me rank it lower primarily because Hideaway was written first.
#8 MR. MURDER (1993) - Fairly strong middle tier Koontz. You can see the transition from Dragon Tears to Dark Rivers and it overlaps with both too much.
#6 DARK RIVERS OF THE HEART (1994) Science fiction-tinged conspiracy story with similarities to the movie "Enemy of the State".
#2 INTENSITY (1996) - Top tier Koontz! He breaks out his pseudo-rut with a vengeance. 2nd most frequently cited as his best book after WATCHERS. A straight horror story which is not my favorite genre, but the quality of this work is very high. I though the title was pretentious until I read the book: wow INTENSE!
#4 ODD THOMAS (2003) - Koontz's adoption of a rather different writing style is by many considered to work the best in this novel. Supernatural.
#11 THE FACE (2003) - Very slow moving but excellent character development. I had some trouble staying engaged in this one because it was so slow. Still a pretty good book. Supernatural.
#10 LIFE EXPECTANCY (2004) - Koontz's experimentation with a new writing style in the Odd Thomas direction. Has quirkiness and humor: he is competant at this, but humor is not Koontz's strength. Strong character development. Still a good book. No science fiction or supernatural stuff.
#7 THE HUSBAND (2006) - Koontz had changed his style again. Fast paced page-turner at the expense of character development. No science fiction or supernatural stuff. Ends too abruptly.

After having read most of Koontz's catalogue 5-10 years ago, I've saved a few of his older works for later consumption & enjoyment. Mr. Murder was one of those books, and pulling it out last week & reading it reminded me why I was such an avid fan of his! There's nothing like "classic Koontz".

Mr. Murder is about Martin Stillwater and his family. The book opens as Martin begins to have a weird sense that something is going to happen to him. And sure enough, it does! Within a few days a dead-ringer for Martin walks into his home, claiming Martin stole his identity & then tries to kill Martin. The majority of the book is Martin & his family which consists of a wife & two young girls, on the run from this being that claims to be Marty. We also watch as "The Other" is getting closer & closer; and not too far behind him is people who are after him as well!

The book was full of action & adventure. And of course nail-biting suspense & curiosity of what will happen next. The only thing that could be improved on would be the pace- I think the book could have moved a bit quicker- especially the ending. As usual Koontz's characters take the cake, they make the book. He has a special talent for creating likeable characters & getting the readers to really care about them. Recommended!

Marty Stillwater is a writer and a mystery novelist. He has a wonderful (beautiful) saintly wife, two super-cute kids, and the dream job: he writes horror novels for a living. His life takes an abrupt turn, when he is stalked by a serial killer intent on revenge. Can Marty and family survive the encounter?

First, let me state, I liked the first part of this novel. But about halfway through the book rapidly deteriorated. Koontz writing suffers greatly from rehashed characters: Unrealistic-too-perfect bombshell wife, silly and almost preternaturally smart children, and worse of all the evil sadistic sexual-predator villain.

When the villain began fantasizing about raping the hero's wife and kids I had to pass on this book. Just once I'd like to read a Koontz book who with a villain who /wasn't/ a sexual predator... This is a common theme and one that I find tiresome and gruesome. Villians can be evil without being sexually perverted.

Not the best Koontz book I've ever read. If you are looking for good Koontz material pick up a copy of "Fear Nothing."

The story of Mr. Murder is a great horror story involving superhuman clones and secret conspiracies. And for a Koontz book, it's refreshingly free from super intelligent golden retrievers. It has spectacular action sequences, especially towards the end.

So why is it not more than a three star book? The problem is in the pacing. While it does have many spectacular, nail biting sequences, it also has too many parts that slows down the pace where not much happens. It is unnecessarily descriptive, sometimes repetitive. The fact that we get to see the story from both Stillwater's point of view and also from the point of view of the murderer, and get to know his thoughts ad feelings, adds an extra layer to the story, but it also slows down the pace, especially when, in the middle of some of the most climactic sequences, the action pauses to once more tell us how he feels about his "family".

Overall, "Mr. Murder" is a good book, but it should have been edited down a bit. It's not as slow as some of Koontz's worst works, but it's also nowhere near as fast paced as his best works.

I'm a huge fan of this gifted author and have read ALL of his books ... for many years. He's one of my very favorite authors.

My son had borrowed MR. MURDER from me years ago, and while on a visit to him I plucked it from his bookshelves and decided to read it again. It was even more thrilling the second time around, exciting from start to finish. This masterful writer took me on a roller-coaster ride of emotions throughout the reading.

To read Koontz books is to experience them. He is that great a wordsmith and a master at description and pacing. He certainly waxes eloquent, and he had me on the edge of my seat, worrying about Marty Stillwater, his wife and daughters. Would they survive ... or wouldn't they? Would his big, mean, larger-than-life doppleganger defeat him? All the odds were in the antagonist's favor, but Koontz pulled off a shocking surprise twist to come in with a satisfying ending.

A great book! A great read! Another winner for Dean Koontz, Master of Horror!

Highly recommended.

I certainly could see a review going either way for this book. As I read the beginning chapters, the development of the characters was very slow, and I was drawn in to keep reading, only because I kept feeling like something was missing. I was waiting for some huge revelation... but it never came.

I loved the characters. They felt like real people, and Koontz allows us to follow each and every one of them. Their POVs, their thoughts, their reactions all feel very real.

The plot, while a bit eccentric, is somewhat believable... up until the end. It all wraps up a tad too neatly for my tastes.

However, the writing style and language certain make this book an easy and entertaining read.

This is a fast paced, entertaining read by a horror/suspense author who is quick to put out new novels and who constantly whets the appetites of his devoted fans! I loved this book, the storyline was fantastic (although undeniably a little farfetched) and the action was unrelenting. A rainy day and its subsequent boredom can quickly be forgotten while reading this book. It plays out like a movie. Unfortunately it has already been turned into a terrible one, (alas Mr. Koontz just can't seem to get a good director for his silver screen translations) that if seen before reading the book will most likely turn prospective readers away. Don't heed the abyssmal warning that the film was, this book is fun to read and it won't take you all that long to do it. If you need something to pass the time I suggest this one highly!

I like Koontz as an author, and I've read his other works. My favorites were Odd Thomas and The Face. If you've read other Koontz novels, the story in Mr. Murder will be a distilling of the 'standard' Koontz archetype. It could be said the book is a self-parody of Koontz, but it is clearly intended as a serious work.

A typical cornier-than-the-Brady-Bunch American family are stalked by the typical Koontz psycho-killer who's a sexual predator. For Koontz, the pacing is slow (50-75 pages could be cut easily), and the prose limp. The main character being a horror novelist uncomfortably reminded me of Stephen King's "Misery." Overall, it felt like I was reading about caricatures (gutsy horror novelist protagonist {biographical?}, bombshell wife, too-smart kids) and not characters.

I found 'Mr. Murder' narrow and too similar in plot and events with other Koontz novels. Predictable. I recommend you read a different Koontz novel instead, as this was his worst effort.

this is another page-turner, a riveting and interesting use of a doppelganger, yet not trite in ways other such stories have been. koontz always keeps you guessing, and this is another very suspenseful novel with good character development. one caution, though, is that parts of the novel are quite graphic and may be offensive to some readers. at times i really wonder where koontz gets some of his ideas--pretty scary actually! if you're not easily offended, these parts are not as bothersome because you can see that they are an important part of the character development of a very sick and compulsive individual.

Dean Koontz's "Mr. Murder" revolves around a best-selling mystery novelist named Martin Stillwater. He has a loving wife, and two energetic young daughters. Unfortunately, a terrifying incident happens that makes Martin question his sanity. A man that could be Martin's twin brother, breaks into his house claiming that Martin stole his wife, children, and his life. Claiming to be the real Martin Stilwater, the thief threatens to take what is his. Since Martin is an only child, the police think that Martin's overactive imagination is at work again, and refuse to believe him. However, as the stranger repeatedly makes his presence known, Martin and his family have no choice but to believe his threat and run for their lives.

Before reading this book, I figured that "Mr. Murder" was probably not going to be anything special. Mistaken idenitity stories have been done before, and people often claim that Koontz has written a lot better books than this one. After I finished with this book however, I was literally blown away at how great this book actually was. "Mr. Murder" is one of Koontz's best books and is highly underrated in my opinion. The story itself is amazing. It is well written, and provides for non-stop suspense and action that will keep you glued to the pages. The subject of the story switches back and forth between the killer himself, and Martin and his family. It lets you take a look at what's happening through the eyes of both men.

Koontz's character development is amazing once again. Martin Stillwater is great. How do you kill your enemy, when he is claiming to be you? That is the question that drives Martin to the edge, and then some. The conflict and turmoil that he goes through is almost overbearing at times. His wife Paige is great too. She sticks by Marty no matter what with undying love and affection. My favorite character is the killer. Killing is all he has ever known , and he is left with the need for something more. That of course being the family that he never had. His violent and desperate behavior will shock and disgust you. But the longing he feels for Marty's life will almost make you feel for him.

Overall, Mr. Murder is fast paced action thriller that is very fun to read. The characters all offer different emotions and inner conflict that make you like them all, and the ending to the book is shocking and highly satisfying. Suprisingly enough, I would rank Mr. Murder in Koontz's top 10.