Intensity

Title: Intensity

Author: Dean Koontz

Published in: 1995

Date read: Not yet read

Score: /5

Genre:

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Intensity," published in 1995, is a relentless and terrifying thriller by Dean Koontz that is praised for its non-stop action, claustrophobic suspense, and a truly chilling villain. The novel's narrative is a pure, high-octane cat-and-mouse chase, stripping away all but the most basic elements of survival.

The protagonist is Chyna Shepherd, a twenty-six-year-old psychology student. She is staying at a friend’s remote farmhouse in Napa Valley for a quiet weekend. On her first night, a sinister man breaks into the house and brutally murders her friend's entire family. Chyna, hidden in a closet, is a silent witness to the horrific crime.

The killer is Edgler Vess, a deeply disturbed and intelligent psychopath who, like Chyna, is a student of psychology. He is a collector of human experiences and a man who believes he has evolved beyond human morality. He is not just a killer; he is a connoisseur of fear and a spiritual seeker who believes he can transcend his human body.

Instead of running away, Chyna, driven by a mixture of shock and a desperate need to act, hides in the back of Vess's motor home. She is then trapped as he drives away, taking her to a different, equally isolated location: his own secluded house in the mountains.

The second half of the novel is an intense, heart-pounding psychological duel. Chyna is a prisoner in Vess's hideaway, a place filled with the gruesome evidence of his past crimes. She is an astute observer, using her knowledge of psychology to understand Vess's mind and predict his actions. She realizes that her only chance of survival is not to flee but to outsmart him.

The novel is a masterclass in suspense. The narrative rarely lets up, with Vess and Chyna constantly locked in a battle of wits and physical prowess. The suspense comes from Chyna's desperate attempts to find a way out and call for help while Vess, a man of chilling intelligence, is always one step ahead.

The climax is a brutal and visceral confrontation where Chyna must use every ounce of her cunning and strength to fight for her life and stop Vess's reign of terror. It is a battle of wills between a terrified but determined woman and a monster who believes he is more than human. "Intensity" is a raw, unflinching, and unforgettable thriller that has no heroes, only survivors.

Comments:

Books that we've read by Dean Koontz (27):
Demon Seed (1973), Icebound (1976), The Voice of the Night (1980), Phantoms (1983), Darkness Comes (1984), Watchers (1987), Dragon Tears (1993), Mr. Murder (1993), Tick Tock (1996), False Memory (1999), The Face (2003), Odd Thomas (Odd Thomas, #1) (2003), The Taking (2004), Forever Odd (Odd Thomas, #2) (2005), Velocity (2005), Life Expectancy (2005), Brother Odd (Odd Thomas, #3) (2006), The Husband (2006), Odd Hours (Odd Thomas, #4) (2008), Breathless (2009), Relentless (2009), The Silent Corner (Jane Hawk, #1) (2017), The Whispering Room (Jane Hawk, #2) (2017), The Crooked Staircase (Jane Hawk, #3) (2018), The Forbidden Door (Jane Hawk, #4) (2018), The Night Window (Jane Hawk #5) (2019), The Other Emily (2021)