The Voice of the Night

Title: The Voice of the Night

Author: Dean Koontz

Published in: 1980

Date read: 25th October 2005

Score: 4/5

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"The Voice of the Night" by Dean Koontz, published in 1980 (and initially under the pseudonym Brian Coffey), is a chilling psychological thriller that delves into the insidious nature of manipulation, the erosion of innocence, and the terrifying realisation that evil can hide behind the most charming façade.

The story is told from the perspective of Colin Jacobs, a seemingly ordinary fourteen-year-old boy, enjoying a summer at a California coastal community. Colin is a bit of an outcast, thoughtful and sensitive, often observing the world around him.

His summer takes a dark turn when he encounters Roy Borden, an older boy who is everything Colin isn't: charismatic, confident, fearless, and seemingly sophisticated. Roy quickly befriends Colin, drawing him into his orbit with an irresistible charm and a compelling personality. Colin, lonely and drawn to Roy's magnetism, soon considers him his best friend.

However, Roy's true nature gradually begins to reveal itself. He isn't just mischievous; he's cunning, sadistic, and utterly devoid of empathy. He starts involving Colin in increasingly disturbing and cruel acts, testing boundaries, and manipulating Colin's loyalty. What begins as minor transgressions escalates into acts of animal cruelty, vandalism, and eventually, a cold-blooded murder.

Colin finds himself trapped in a nightmare. He is horrified by Roy's actions but is terrified to reveal the truth, partly due to Roy's threats and psychological hold over him, and partly out of fear of being implicated himself. Roy, with his almost supernatural ability to exert control and leave no evidence, makes Colin an unwilling accomplice and confidante in his escalating spree of violence.

The novel is a tense and claustrophobic exploration of psychological torment and the corruption of innocence. Colin's internal struggle is central: his desperate desire to escape Roy's influence, his fear for his own life and the lives of others, and his burgeoning understanding of true evil. Koontz masterfully builds suspense as Colin's moral compass battles against the insidious influence of his "friend," who seems to be a pure psychopath.

The climax involves Colin making a desperate bid for freedom and attempting to expose Roy, leading to a terrifying confrontation where Colin must fight for his life and the lives of those he cares about, ultimately facing the "voice of the night" that Roy represents – the seductive, terrifying lure of pure malevolence. "The Voice of the Night" is a chilling and unflinching portrait of a young boy's descent into a terrifying partnership.

Comments:
This one has been really difficult for me as I don't recognise the plot summary at all. I still have the copy that I read 19 years ago at school but I just can't remember it.

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)