Frankenstein: Dead and Alive

What a lot of the other reviewers are neglecting to say is that this book begins where book two left off. The action in all three books takes place over a 48-hour period. Koontz is known for writing books whose action covers a small space of time. Hence his pace is usually breakneck. Dead and Alive did not disappoint!As you know, book two ended with Victor's New Race starting to drop bits of their programs. The iron grip he thought he had on his creations is dissolving. Some of the replicants he has put in the place of key New Orleans citizens whom he wanted to control have begun behaving against his programming. Tired of waiting for the order to mass murder weak humans, they've begun their own private Armageddon.Meanwhile cops Carson and Michael are working with Victor's first creation, Deucalion, who is determined to bring Victor's evil rule to an end or die trying. In this book Carson and Michael are still trading barbs, Michael as irreverent as ever. And we are shown how Victor's New Race is falling apart and how Victor, megalomaniac that he is, refuses to see it until the very end. I was pleased with Erika Five's fate because I identified with the poor wives. And I finally got to find out what was in the glass coffin in Victor's secret sitting room. I actually guessed right about that one! This was a fun read for me. It answered all of my questions. The ending left me wondering whether there might be a book four. And there was a reference to a monastery that Odd Thomas spent time at in Brother Odd. So there was a little crossover action with another Koontz book that I enjoyed.Yes, I agree that it was too short. I wanted it to last longer. I wanted to know more about the characters. But I believe it acheived what the third book in a trilogy should do: Wrap up the tale in an exciting, memorable way. Of course, some will disagree with me. However, no writer can please all of the readers all of the time. He simply writes a book that expresses his vision. That's all he CAN do!

This is certainly not Dean Koontz best effort, but even Dean in a slump is better than most other writers. I find it hard to believe what many people read and consider to be good writing. I found myself very interested in the characters and the story really pulled me along. I don't have as much time to read in the evening as I would like, but had a hard time putting out the light to go to sleep. That's a sign of compelling characterization and plot to me, and I'm a very picky reader of fiction.I would like to have seen more of Deucalion, Carson O'Connor and Michael Maddison and a bit less of the Frankenstein creations, but the mix worked in the story. I found myself feeling sorry for the Erika's (4 & 5) and the Jocko character and hoped for the best for them. There may have been too many other New Race creatures thrown in, though. Also, Dean Koontz is usually capable of some truly eloquent and poetic prose. This novel left a bit to be desired in that regard and was not up to his usual level of excellence.I feel that there are too many 1 & 2 star ratings for this book. As I said, DK at his worst is still better than most other writers at their best and so it's unfortunate that some folks feel compelled to trash this book with unfairly low ratings. I think there must be some other factor at work, here and perhaps an unspoken motivation for the 1 or 2 star ratings. It's not right. It's worth at least 3 stars. I gave it 4 for some great characters, including Duke and Jocko, a really fast pace and a somewhat ingenious and satisfying tie-up in the end.

buy the series and get ready to read the new Dean Koontz. Not just content with scaring the daylights out of Orange County and South LosAngeles residents, Koontz has taken on a world class bad guy ( Victor Helios AKA Victor Frankenstein), with a cast of characters you will love and love to hate. Koontz writes with an effortless flow like water over stones carrying you along .I found myself occasionally laughing out loud once in a while, when's the last time you laughed when you read a Dean Koontz book (unless you are seriously deranged)Buy all five and settle in, turn off the TV, and get ready for a roller coaster ride that only a master story teller can lay on you. cause if you only buy one at a time, you are going to have to wait to find out what the hell else could possibly happen.Do it, do it now.My partner at work and i share books.I finished Book one, and gave it to her. She reads faster than i do, she's looking at me two days later, sayin "you done with book two yet, next day are you done yet.I'm not a slow reader by any means but, I bought her the series for her birthday, before she exploded.

I am a serious Koontz fan and have been for years and years but it's pretty obvious he wrote this one just to shut us up. We've read the first two installments and were anxiously awaiting the third; waiting for years actually so not to disappoint, he followed through. The thing about Koontz is this...he never fails to develope the characters in such a way where, even if the story sort of flounders at times, his characters and their interactions just don't fail.I turned the pages anxiously, just hoping to hit another conversation between Ericka Five and Jocko,(the one who came from the one who is no more) or something like that. When books are billed as "laugh out loud funny", they never are, at least by my standards but Jocko and Ericka Five were "laugh outloud funny" and I'm pleased they didn't meet their demise so we can hear more from them at a later date. Koontz's humour, mixed with his frightening story lines, keeps me coming back. Michael and Carson too...Let's get another one in the works and elaborate more with Deucalion and his cast of charcters. The ones left anyway..Dean Koontz is truly an amazing artist and talent and I thank him for years of enjoyment..

I love this series….and especially the books dedication. Mr Koontz knew what would happen with Covid back in 2009. The foresight of this man is tremendous and pretty spooky. Reading everything he writes.

So this is book three in a series, I really enjoyed book one and two and think to appreciate the story and understand it, you NEED to go read the first two. Much as i really liked the first two, not a lover of this one, I like it because I am invested in the characters but the book alone *shrugs*.The police officers Carson and Michael took a wee bit of a back seat in this one, in that I don't feel a huge amount of anything happened with them. They are in it, there are scenes but in comparison to the previous books, I just felt they didn't really have much impact in this one.Jacko, the wee weird troll thing - you will either love or hate him, he is annoying and I don't know if he was a Jar Jar Binks style character or a hint of Dobby but I wasn't a fan if I am honest, he is quite annoying overall. Ericka 5 I like, whilst she is default programmed to obey the master I fell she comes into her own in this one. Deucalion also I felt was a bit missing this time, I don't really know what the book's aim was but I feel not a lot happened but I have been left wanting more, I need to know where it is all going to end.I kept reading because I do enjoy the series, there was some wee plot developments and the next book is set up, hopefully, for greatness. 3/5 for me this time, book four has arrived so hopefully not be too long before I get to it.

Having waited for the last few years for this final installment with eager anticipation, I could not wait to sit down and read it. When the book arrived I noticed it seemed shorter than the previous two and that set off alarm bells...However I understand there have been issues over the New Orleans setting and appreciate that caused delays and possible re-writes.Book 3 feels like almost essay-like, I found it to have too much repetition of Books 1 & 2 and no real development of the story, it's an 'end'. I realised when I finished the book that somewhere in the first few chapters, I'd stopped caring about the main characters - not something I'm accustomed to when reading Dean Koontz. I hate to say it, but I just felt the whole book lacked real substance. It does feel very edited and I would not be at all surprised in Dean Koontz only wrote it because he felt he had to.Read it if you're a fan of the series, but be prepared, it may not be all you wish(ed) for.

I have to thoroughly disagree with many of the reviews here in that part three of the Frankenstein series is as well written and entertaining as its predecessors. The action continues at page turning pace and culminates in a book which will be read quickly. Koontz has the fantastic ability of creating characters full of charm who put a smile on the readers face(look out for Jocko) while conversely creating villains of a most heinous nature you almost beg to be foiled.For those who have read parts one and two of the series I would definitely recommend continuing your interest and reading this book.

I only purchased this as I had read the first two books (which although for me weren't masterpieces, were at least moderately good page-turners). I wish I had saved my money. If Dean Koontz wasn't already an established & popular author I suspect this book would not have been published. It was poorly written, often aimless and appeared to be nothing more than padding to make the story go further without much effort or control. I found it so painful to read that I cannot part with my hard-earned money to buy the next installment. The premise of the old Dr Frankenstein in a modern world is a fantastic one, but one which Koontz seems to have approached in a lacklustre and sorry manner. Very disappointing.

Having read almost everything Mr Koontz has written, I was not disappointed with this installment of the Frankenstein series. I am amazed at the way he has written the ending on this one. It could be the end or there could be a sequel and either way, you would be satisfied. As it is, I have just spotted a forth book to the series which I simply must have.