Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Dead and Alive: A Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“A rarity among bestselling writers, Koontz continues to pursue new ways of telling stories, never content with repeating himself. He writes of hope and love in the midst of evil in profoundly inspiring and moving ways.”—Chicago Sun-Times




From the Paperback edition. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Review

“A rarity among bestselling writers, Koontz continues to pursue new ways of telling stories, never content with repeating himself. He writes of hope and love in the midst of evil in profoundly inspiring and moving ways.”—Chicago Sun-Times

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (July 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553587900
• ISBN-13: 978-0553587906
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (128 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #722 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Insulting?, August 31, 2009

By	M. Phillips (NC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book was a disappointment.

Why are the detectives still here? They seem to be nothing more than a loose string. A string Koontz toys with solely because it was already there. They've been getting ready for the apocalypse and get... something much less interesting.

There are so many ridiculous plot devices used that it is beyond infuriating. It seems like Koontz couldn't figure out how to end the series. So, he decided to find the simplest way out. He gave up on interesting plot threads, he came up with new characters that were disappointments, and other characters became shadows of their previous self. Then he left us with an ending that wasn't an ending at all.

The book was also highly repetitive. How many times do we have to hear that the lighting made Deucalion something more than a monster? How many times do we need an inventory of his criminal origins? How many times do we need to hear about the pulse of illumination in his eyes? How many times do we have to hear about Carson's dead father? How long could this list be? Trust me it could be much longer. Definitely a bad trait. Especially for a book that isn't even 400 pages.

It honestly felt like Koontz intentionally insulted his fans for pressuring him. We wanted the book because we loved the first two. We were upset because it was promised and never delivered. Now Koontz has insulted his readers and many are beyond upset. I personally will think long and hard before buying another Koontz book.

60 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As man becomes monster, humanity hangs in the balance., July 28, 2009

By	Fernando Treese - See all my reviews

Dean Koontz is the master at weaving a tale that completely encapsulates the reader....and Dead and Alive is no exception. The moment I got my pre-release I put everything on the back burner and lost myself in this darken tale. When man attempts to play God only devastating events will ensue.

By now, everyone has read the first two books in the series: Prodigal Son (Dean Koontz's Frankenstein, Book 1) and Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: City of Night: A Novel. Well, this expansion on Mary Shelley's classic masterpiece Frankenstein began years ago. A man named, Victor Frankenstein, hatched a diabolic plan to create life - an affront to the gods that would lead to disastrous results. The world had thought that both the man and the monster were destroyed in the ensuing events -- but their hopes and presumptions were wrong!

Anyone familiar with the trilogy will attest to the brilliant way Mr. Koontz has added his stamp to this classic with incredibly well-developed characters and a thrilling plotline that could only come from the master himself.

Fast forward to modern day, New Orleans. Two men emerge with new identities -- but old habits are hard to break. Once again, the doctor has begun his sinister experiments of creating life. Two detectives, Carson O'Connor and Michael Maddison, are investigating a serial killer and are thrust into the middle of an enigma that began over two hundred years prior. This case may well be the end of humanity as we know it.

The two detectives, however, receive aid from the most unlikely of sources -- a heavily tattooed man named, Deucalion. The killer is targeting those who have the human traits he lacks...and this is a pattern Deucalion has seen before. Deucalion, was Dr Frankenstein's first attempt at creating the perfect human. Now, a breed of super humans roam the streets of New Orleans. These killers are stronger, faster, smarter, and able to regenerate themselves -- and Victor Helios is no longer able to control them.

Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Dead and Alive: A Novel is a marvelous finale that has seen two men switch roles: The monster, Deucalion, is becoming human...and the doctor, Victor Helios, is becoming the monster. The book builds and builds the anticipation levels to the climax and releases the reader as creator and createe face off in a final confrontation. This is one dual genre book you don't want to miss. Whether you're into suspense or horror, Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Dead and Alive: A Novel is one not to be missed.

Another book that masters the dual genre that I would highly recommend is S is for Sirens it brings the reader to the same eyes-rolled-back-climax as the Frankenstein series.

25 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Dismal Disappointment, August 12, 2009

By	F. Potts - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Dead and Alive: A Novel (Paperback)

I have been an avid reader/fan of Koontz for years. I waited patiently and impatiently for book 3. The first 2 books were brilliant. This 3rd was a total disappointment in the book, the characters and in Koontz. It's clear from reading book 3 that he was irritated at his fans for having to write it- several parts felt just like a slap in the face to his fans. Apparently he intended to slap us in the face and punish us for wanting him to write a book that he didn't want to write. The characters fell apart- they were barely recognizable from the first two books- had they been as shallow in the first two books, he wouldn't have gotten any requests for the third. The only part of the book that tried to come up to par was the mother of all gone wrongs.. that part hinted at koontz.. but he just blew that off in a rush to end the book. In retrospect- he SHOULD have collaborated on this book. When an author gets mad at his fans for wanting more, it's the end of the road. No more Dean Koontz books for me.