Is there a hint of fall in the air where you live? Even if the weather is still hot, my calendar tells me spooky season is next month. That means I’ll be reading mostly thriller and mystery books. My favorite place to read during this time of year is outside, where I can feel the warm sun with a tinge of chill in the air—sweatshirt weather.
A friend of mine, Cindy, and a member of our Unbook Club, recommended that I read Intensity by Dean Koontz. She loves this genre and said it was the scariest book she has ever read. She actually sent me a copy so, of course, it needed to be at the top of my list this year!
Boy was she right. If you are a fan of just plain, knock you off your socks, intense (thus the name of the book!), horrifying, and gruesome reading, this one takes the cake. Have you watched the movie, Texas Chain Saw Massacre? The story is completely different but the depth and energy are equal. So, now you know where I’m coming from…
The protagonist is Chyna Shepard, a 26-year-old woman who is spending the weekend with her best friend, Laura’s parents in their house in Napa Valley. Chyna has had a seriously flawed childhood and Laura is the only person she has ever fully trusted to share bits and pieces of her past.
The first night in the house….that’s it. That’s all I’m going to say. No spoilers. If this is your type of genre, you don’t need more of a synopsis than that.
The crazy thing about this 308-page book is that the timeline is about 24 hours. It is an extremely descriptive book so be prepared. Also, it was published in November 1995. Technology is a lot different today than 29 years ago so when you read this book you’ll feel more at ease knowing today most of us have a cell phone within reach.
If you’re ready to start the Halloween season with an over-the-top psychological thriller, look no further. Thanks, Cindy, for the recommendation and the copy of the book…I think…lol!
“There are no explanations for human evil. Just excuses”.
-Dean Koontz from Intensity
