Thrillers & Suspense
![Dean Koontz - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_a_dean_koontz.jpg)
The Big Dark Sky
A group of strangers bound by terrifying synchronicity becomes humankind's hope of survival in an exhilarating, twist-filled novel by Dean Koontz, the #1 New York Times bestselling master of suspense.
As a girl, Joanna Chase thrived on Rustling Willows Ranch in Montana until tragedy upended her life. Now thirty-four and living in Santa Fe with only misty memories of the past, she begins to receive pleas―by phone, through her TV, in her dreams: I am in a dark place, Jojo. Please come and help me. Heeding the disturbing appeals, Joanna is compelled to return to Montana, and to a strange childhood companion she had long forgotten.
She isn't the only one drawn to the Montana farmstead. People from all walks of life have converged at the remote ranch. They are haunted, on the run, obsessed, and seeking answers to the same omniscient danger Joanna came to confront. All the while, on the outskirts of Rustling Willows, a madman lurks with a vision to save the future. Mass murder is the only way to see his frightening manifesto come to pass.
Through a bizarre twist of seemingly coincidental circumstances, a band of strangers now find themselves under Montana's big dark sky. Their lives entwined, they face an encroaching horror. Unless they can defeat this threat, it will spell the end for humanity.
As a girl, Joanna Chase thrived on Rustling Willows Ranch in Montana until tragedy upended her life. Now thirty-four and living in Santa Fe with only misty memories of the past, she begins to receive pleas―by phone, through her TV, in her dreams: I am in a dark place, Jojo. Please come and help me. Heeding the disturbing appeals, Joanna is compelled to return to Montana, and to a strange childhood companion she had long forgotten.
She isn't the only one drawn to the Montana farmstead. People from all walks of life have converged at the remote ranch. They are haunted, on the run, obsessed, and seeking answers to the same omniscient danger Joanna came to confront. All the while, on the outskirts of Rustling Willows, a madman lurks with a vision to save the future. Mass murder is the only way to see his frightening manifesto come to pass.
Through a bizarre twist of seemingly coincidental circumstances, a band of strangers now find themselves under Montana's big dark sky. Their lives entwined, they face an encroaching horror. Unless they can defeat this threat, it will spell the end for humanity.
Editorial Reviews
"A nonstop actioner with cosmic overtones painted in consistently broad strokes." ―Kirkus Reviews
"Another A-plus thriller from a writer on a serious winning streak." ―Booklist (starred review)
"A twisty, mystifying, suspenseful, expansive and, ultimately, entertaining read." ―CultureFly
"Another A-plus thriller from a writer on a serious winning streak." ―Booklist (starred review)
"A twisty, mystifying, suspenseful, expansive and, ultimately, entertaining read." ―CultureFly
Readers Top Reviews
RickC750Medic Mom
This book has everything you could possibly want in a good mystery novel. Horrible, seemingly invincible villains. Many characters, all starting with different stories and backgrounds, that are brought together ultimately to become heroes. Lots of sub-plots spice the mystery in Montana. There are also several twists and unexpected turns. The themes around the nature of humanity and the the growth of AI are skillfully woven into the storyline, but in true Koontz fashion, are not “preachy.” Basically, this is a fast moving, fun-to-read romp that I enjoyed immensely.
jessannRickC750Me
Many different lives converging into one finish. This book has many characters seemingly unrelated that are all moving towards the same goal. Keeps you guessing until the end. Good read
OkiejessannRickC7
What a wacky set of characters drawn together. They were crafted such that it was easy to align and engage with them. I really liked Ganesh Patel. I could see a future for him in subsequent Koontz stories. Loved the plot. It’s a shame we couldn’t have seen what was at the bottom of the lake. As with all Koontz novels, the scene settings were brilliant and over the top. A great and easy read, and I’m ready for another.
Janice SimsOkieje
I don't know how Dean Koontz keeps coming up with ideas to thrill us with. I've been reading his novels since the early nineties, LIGHTNING being the first novel I was lucky enough to get hold of. His talent for mixing horror, science-fiction and suspense, then adding real human emotions is what keeps me coming back for more. THE BIG DARK SKY had me hooked from the beginning. Joanna Chase is a novelist who spent the first nine years of her life on a ranch in Montana. For the most part, they were happy years but then tragedy struck. Her mother drowned and shortly afterward, her father was killed when a bear attacked him. She was sent to live with her aunt in New Mexico. Her memories of her childhood were dulled over the years. Then, suddenly she starts getting weird phone calls from a woman whose voice she thinks she knows but can't place. The voice is pleading for her help. Then, she starts having dreams about the ranch where she grew up. Her car begins turning on of its own accord with the GPS set to the coordinates of her childhood home in Montana. She succumbs to the mystery of it all and goes back home. That's when she meets Wyatt Rider, a private investigator hired by the present owners of the ranch to get to the bottom of a few mysteries that caused the present owners to flee. Joanna and Wyatt start sharing their stories and they realize they're in the middle of the ultimate showdown with a presence that is sinister, calculating and immensely powerful. That's all I'm going to say about the plot. That much you could have gotten from the description of the book. Let me just say you are in for one heck of a ride. The science-fiction elements were thrilling. Think Spielberg and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The suspense kept me tense and wondering what would happen next. The horror elements made me cringe. The utter evil of some of the characters you'll meet was mind-blowing. And the bravery and devotion of the good guys put me back on an even keel. Well, I've been saying for years that Dean Koontz is way more than a suspense novelist. He's a genius, and this book is testament to that fact. Also, I've been wanting longer books from him and this one comes in at 381 pages. His longest in a while. Thanks, Mr. Koontz.
Kindle Janice Si
I enjoy immersing myself into these stories created by Dean Koontz, which make me think, question, wonder, imagine, and explore as yet unknown phenomenon inside or outside our world. Some of his stories strangely foretell future events. Keep them coming Dean.
