Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

First let me start by saying I have been a Dean Koontz fan for 25 years. I was a Dean Koontz fan before he made the best seller lists and had millions of fans. I've read every book the man has ever written as well as his biographies. Stalker? No- I don't know his address- but I am and will always be a die-hard Dean Koontz fan. THAT being said, this was the first and only thing I have ever read from Koontz - to include all interviews and dialogues recorded anywhere- that was actually disappointing and not funny. Koontz, the master of suspense, horror and comedy all rolled into one- what happened???? Seriously, the book was so bad I wondered if Koontz really wrote it at all or did he just allow someone to do short story for him and he pinned his name to it? The book just doesn't make sense. Phantom avatars you put in your pocket? Really? The protagonist walking out of a burning building with the sprinklers going full blast and the he doesn't get wet- even though the other people do- AND THERE'S NO EXPLAINATION AS TO WHY? (You'll get it when you read it why this is so annoying). Koontz is always so methodical about explaining the unexplainable, about weaving a tale so wonderfully complex and amazing, and no matter how utterly insane the plot gets IT MAKES SENSE in the end. There's no "he found the keys, but he doesn't know when he learned of them (the keys) or if he ever did". THE KEYS being the ones that allow the protagonist to enter the room in an attempt to save his brother's life- yet when it was his little sister being murdered all he could do was pound on the door. Was Koontz on medications when he wrote this? Perhaps someone kidnapped him and wrote under his name. I can only hope. Regardless of this disappointment, I am still a die-hard Dean Koontz fan. Everyone has their off days. This is the first one he's ever had as far as I'm concerned. Even though his style has changed dramatically from his Phantom and Intensity days (Intensity being my all-time favorite book- I even have a black Doberman named Chyna for those of you who've read the book), I still loved- love- every single one of Dean Koontz books except this one. Ech. I don't think I'll ever read it again. :( However, I cannot diss on my favorite-author-of-all-time without cringing (I'm so sorry Koontz. Seriously, did you really write this book?). However the books before this one "Frankenstien" and "What the Night Knows" were freaking awesome. I think I'll go back for a re-read on those. While I may still by the hard copy of this book - if it becomes available- it will be the only Dean Koontz book that will not be re-read by me ever again (Okay, well I am going to read it again one more time just to make sure it was as horrible as I thought the first time I read it. If I change my mind I'll update my review.)