I am delighted to share my review today for The Hosue at the End of the World by Dean Koontz. I used to read this author as well as Stephen King and James Herbert when I was an older teen and possibly into my early 20s. It has been a long time since I last read a book by Koontz!
Soon no one on Earth will have a place to hide in this novel about fears known and unknown…
In retreat from a devastating loss and crushing injustice, Katie lives alone in a fortresslike stone house on Jacob’s Ladder island. Once a rising star in the art world, she finds refuge in her painting.
The neighbouring island of Ringrock houses a secret: a government research facility. And now two agents have arrived on Jacob’s Ladder in search of someone—or something—they refuse to identify. Although an air of menace hangs over these men, an infinitely greater threat has arrived, one so strange even the island animals are in a state of high alarm.
Katie soon finds herself in an epic and terrifying battle with a mysterious enemy. But Katie’s not alone after all: a brave young girl appears out of the violent squall. As Katie and her companion struggle across a dark and eerie landscape, against them is an omnipresent terror that could bring about the end of the world.
MY REVIEW
It has been many, many years since I last read a book by this author. It is quite scary to think how many years ago this actually was! I used to love reading his horror stories.
This story is set in the US on a small island called Jacob’s Ladder. It was originally built by a soldier trying to come to terms with life after the horrors witnessed during WWI. After an early success, an author took over, looking to progress his career. Now, it is in Katie’s ownership.
Katie is living a life of solitude, of routine and trying to keep a promise. This promise gradually emerges as the author tells the story of her past. She can see other islands, the closest being Ringrock, it is supposed to be some sort of research facility but she can’t find any details about it.
One night there is an explosion in the distance, then two men appear on her island. She does not have visitors, so to see two authoritative-looking figures is startling and crushes the feel of her island which has been her own space for a couple of years. Their emergence is the start of something more startling and also sees the expansion of her friendship base.
The author gives a good amount of detail about the island, Katie, her life and to a certain extent, the reasons for her living alone. The way her life shatters and how she rebuilt it only to have it shattered again. It is around the first third that lays this down, then as the story gains speed and the suspense, fear of the unknown and thriller vibes start to come to the forefront. Initially very sparse on details, but enough to keep the reader engaged, but then building more and more. I wasn’t sure how the author would progress with the “unknown”, but the danger is there as is the sense of dread.
I do like the way the author laid this out, a slower start, but not that slow that it made it hard going, but enough to inject details and concerns from the perspective of Katie. Building on her insecurities and her life as she lives it in the present. As the book continues more and more is detailed, other characters are involved and more expansion to Katie’s history.
While this book does have a horror feel, it is not overly scary. The suspense and thriller vibes come through more than the horror and as the author brings the story to a climax these vibes continue and increase along with the pace of the story.
I really enjoyed delving back into the world of this author, I was a teen when I last read any of his books I think and they felt a lot scarier then, as an adult I found them less scary but focused more on the story, plot and the general suspense that the author imparts. I think this is a good book and one that I would be very happy to recommend.
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
