The Good Guy

Starred review from April 30, 2007
Bestseller Koontz (The Husband) delivers a thriller so compelling many readers will race through the book in one sitting. In the Hitchcockian opening, which resembles that of the cult noir film Red Rock West (1992), Timothy Carrier, a quiet stone mason having a beer in a California bar, meets a stranger who mistakes him for a hit man. The stranger slips Tim a manila envelope containing $10,000 in cash and a photo of the intended victim, Linda Paquette, a writer in Laguna Beach, then leaves. A moment later, Krait, the real killer, shows up and assumes Tim is his client. Tim manages to distract Krait from immediately carrying out the hit by saying he’s had a change of heart and offering Krait the $10,000 he just received. This ploy gives the stone mason enough time to warn Linda before they begin a frantic flight for their lives. While it may be a stretch that the first man wouldn’t do a better job of confirming Tim’s identity, the novel’s breathless pacing, clever twists and adroit characterizations all add up to superior entertainment.

Starred review from May 15, 2007
Tim Carrier finds himself at the wrong place at the right time when he is mistaken for a hit man and given an envelope with money and a picture of his target. A few minutes later, the real killer walks into the bar and confronts Tim, thinking he is the man hiring him for the deed. Tim cancels the contract and then proceeds to find the woman and warn her that her life is in danger. Figuring out who Tim really is, the ruthless killer decides this good guy must die as well, and because he has amazing resources available at his beck and call, Tim and Linda (the intended victim) don't stand a chance. This tight and gripping tale of an average person thrown into extreme circumstances is vintage Koontz, probably his best book since Odd Thomas. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 2/1/07.]Jeff Ayers, Seattle P.L.

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.