Three Complete Novels - Dean R. Koontz - A New Collection (Shattered/Whispers/Watchers) [Box set] [Hardcover]

Dean Koontz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 20, 1992

Three more electrifying thrillers by the new king of the genre. The New York Times #1 bestselling author's terrifying masterpieces: Watchers (his personal favorite), Whispers and Shattered, now for the first time in one hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Three more electrifying thrillers by the new king of the genre. The New York Times #1 bestselling author's terrifying masterpieces: Watchers (his personal favorite), Whispers and Shattered, now for the first time in one hardcover edition.

About the Author

Dean Koontz, author of the national bestsellers Stranger, Watchers, and Lightning, won an Atlantic Monthly fiction competition in 1965 at the age of twenty and has been writing ever since. He lives in California with his wife, Gerda--and a vivid imagination.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 691 pages
• Publisher: Wings (July 20, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517073692
• ISBN-13: 978-0517073698
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #254,082 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born and raised in Pennsylvania where I graduated from Shippensburg State College (now Shippensburg University). When I was a senior in college, I won an Atlantic Monthly fiction competition and have been writing ever since. My first job after graduation was with the Appalachian Poverty Program, where I was expected to counsel and tutor underprivileged children on a one-to-one basis. During my first day on the job, I discovered that the previous occupier of my position had been beaten up by the very kids he had been trying to help and had landed in the hospital for several weeks. The following year was filled with challenge but also tension, and I was more highly motivated than ever to build a career as a writer. I wrote nights and weekends, which I continued to do after leaving the poverty program and going to work as an English teacher in a suburban school district outside Harrisburg. After a year and a half in that position, my wife, Gerda, made me an offer I couldn't refuse: "I'll support you for five years," she said, "and if you can't make it as a writer in that time, you'll never make it." By the end of those five years, Gerda had quit her job to run the business end of my writing career. Gerda and I, along with our dog, Trixie, live in southern California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good place to start, May 16, 2005

By 

Jessie (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Three Complete Novels - Dean R. Koontz - A New Collection (Shattered/Whispers/Watchers) (Hardcover)

Watchers and Whispers are two of Dean Koontz's best. Shattered isn't quite as good, but it's still a good read that will only take you a day or two to finish.

First of all, Watchers is a MUST read. I was skeptical that it could be *THAT* good, but it was. It's brilliant, unforgettable, and at times, a tear jerker. It's about a lonely, depressed man named Travis and a lonely, "homely" sheltered creepmouse of woman, Nora who are brought together by a super-intelligent golden retriever who's escaped from a government lab. Meanwhile, a vicious failed experiment of a creature has also escaped, intent on killing the dog, whom the couple adopt and name Einstein. It's when we learn WHY the creature wants to kill Einstein, when we learn MORE about this terrifying creature that makes our hearts break and the tears flow. Watchers features a truly sympathetic bad guy, and the character's development and progress (espescially Nora's) throughout the story are amazing to watch. There's also a sub-plot in the first half of the story with a psychotic cable guy stalking Nora. Wonderful book, rivaled only by the excellent Intensity as Koontz's best.

Whispers is also a fantastic book. An aquintance sneaks into a semi-famous screenwriter's house and tries to kill and violate her. She kills him, and one day he shows up at her house again, apparently having risen from the grave. Unfortunately, everyone, save for one police officer, thinks she's either mistaken, nuts, or lieing for attention. Eventually we learn that the villian is actually convinced that the female protagonist is his mother risen from the dead, in another body. Why does does he despise his mother so much? What are the nightmares about "whispers" that he has every night about? How could Bruno still be around when he's been killed? There is, of course, a budding romance between the officer and the female protagonist, and there's also a very *detailed* sex scene. One scene where the villian rapes and murders a young woman is very disturbing and somewhat graphic.

Shattered is the lesser of the three, but it's still a good book, and a nice, quick, simple read just like The Face Of Fear is. It's about a guy and his eleven year old brother who are driving across the country to meet his fiance Courtney. Unfortunately, Courtney's jealous ex just so happens to be trailing them, along for the ride, and determined to kill him. He tries to break into their hotel room one night and even wields an ax in one scene.

Overall, this is a great place to start when it comes to Dean Koontz. I'm currently reading my 16th Koontz book, and I highly recommend:

Intensity

Hideaway

The Door To December

Darkfall

Phantoms

Shadowfires

Dragon Tears

The Bad Place

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Koontz's best,, most thrilling book., May 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Three Complete Novels - Dean R. Koontz - A New Collection (Shattered/Whispers/Watchers) (Hardcover)

The Watchers I have read this book about three times over as many years. The story grabs you in the first chapter and quickly brings you to the next event untill the very end. The characters are believeable and and are very much alive in the story.One main point for me is that the auther generates sympathy for ALL the characters.It is a book to be read in one sitting.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutly nothing compares to watchers, April 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Three Complete Novels - Dean R. Koontz - A New Collection (Shattered/Whispers/Watchers) (Hardcover)

Watchers was my first Koontz novel. Since then I believe I've read every one of his books. But this one just has no competition. I read it many years ago and can still recall just about every detail of this story enough to tell it like I'm reading it to someone! Thanks Dean!