My review of 77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz

[Ethan Jones]

If you weren’t scared of lightning and thunder, you will after reading the description of a fearful storm in the first few pages of 77 Shadow Street.  The story involves a unique cast of characters, including a killer called Witness, a single mom called Sparkle, and a paranoid man called Fielding, living in an apartment complex, which used to be a haunted house.

Mr. Koontz boxes himself and the characters in the Pendleton apartment building, where almost the entire story takes place.  Every 38 years something strange and diabolic happens in the building.  Its residents begin to see strange creatures appearing in their apartments, as the fabric of time and space begins to warp. The past becomes the present, albeit temporarily, then, it becomes the future.

There is very little dialogue and a lot of extremely detailed and repetitive descriptions of the storm, the apartments’ furnishings, and the clothes of the characters.  Similar events happen to each of the residents and we see their similar reactions to such events.  Mr. Koontz tells us the entire backstory and a lot of flashbacks of its characters, as the story goes from one apartment to another, with every chapter introducing yet another strange character.  They all experience something paranormal and extra natural in their apartments.

What is this ‘thing’ that is tormenting the Pendleton residents?  Is it a demon?  Are the residents hallucinating or is it real that a strange creature wants to exterminate them all?  Did it come from the past or the future?

[acellis]

I like Koontz. But you didn't tell us if you enjoyed the book or not. Kind of left me hanging, there.

[Betsy the Quilter]

Yes, Ethan, let us knoww!  Do you recommend it?

Betsy

[Ethan Jones]

I try to bring only facts about a book.  If you like endless descriptions, lack of dialogue, repetition of similar scenes over and over again, this book is for you.

Ethan