Keanu A-Z News Reports
Tuesday, November 28, 2000
Mystery master still falls short
[Calgary Sun -28/11/2000]
FALSE MEMORY -- Dean Koontz
After his last two dismal efforts, it takes a lot of faith to plough through 600-odd pages of the latest Dean Koontz offering. Fortunately for everyone involved, the effort, on balance, is worth it.
But the once proud master of the mystery shocker is still far from regaining his crown with False Memory.
Still, there are glimpses of classic Koontz ... the evil therapist and the two main heroic characters are finely drawn and elicit suitable feelings of dread, fear and apprehension.
The plot, too, is an improvement over his last few works, although the shady, all-powerful, nameless, corporate entity which casts a shadow over the book is becoming a long-running cliche with Koontz’s novels.
What limits the book, and makes it about 100 pages too long, is a collection of silly bit players in the drama, including a ridiculous woman haunted by Keanuphobia ... a powerful attraction to actor Keanu Reeves.
That this twit of a character can eventually prove the downfall of the supposed all-knowing evil therapist is stretching credulity too far.
Overall, however, False Memory is a fairly safe summertime read, which goes part way to reclaiming Koontz’s once-great reputation.
However, it’s worth waiting for the likely imminent release of the paperback version rather than shelling out close to $40 for this reading privilege.
