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wombat_88's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
tjr's review against another edition
2.0
When I first picked up Dean Koontz’s Shattered, I thought, What the hell, maybe this will be okay. I was not sure what I would be getting. It was a very early Koontz novel, and I could not tell whether or not it would be good when I skimmed the pages in my favourite used book store, Allison the Bookman. It just had one of those cheap 80s thriller covers that once were considered modern, but now look completely dated twenty years later and dog eared. However, I learned long ago never to judge a book by its cover, so I didn’t. Instead, I bought the old novel.
I really enjoyed reading Shattered; the novel was short, to the point, and really fun—really quite thrilling—to read. Originally published under Koontz’s early pseudonym K. R. Dwyer, Shattered nonetheless foreshadows a prolific career of many great thrilling novels to come.
Pick it up at a used bookstore if you’re looking for a fun read over the course of a day or so.
It is sort of unmemorable though...I can't for the life of me remember who the characters were or why they were doing what they were doing.
I really enjoyed reading Shattered; the novel was short, to the point, and really fun—really quite thrilling—to read. Originally published under Koontz’s early pseudonym K. R. Dwyer, Shattered nonetheless foreshadows a prolific career of many great thrilling novels to come.
Pick it up at a used bookstore if you’re looking for a fun read over the course of a day or so.
It is sort of unmemorable though...I can't for the life of me remember who the characters were or why they were doing what they were doing.
mxgriffin's review against another edition
3.0
This was incredibly fast paced, short, and easy to get through. It had an interesting premise, set in the real world, about a scorned ex-lover trying to “win” his girl back. Well, by following her new husband and brother across the country. This followed multiple people and we got to see a lot of different perspectives, even the police who were of no help. The story kinda went nowhere with that. Ending was anticlimactic. Eh, overall good read but not a favorite.
adrina33's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
It is true Dean Koontz does write suspense really well. The book was fast paced and entertaining.
I disliked a few things gs though and could not give this book more than three stars.
I disliked that he switched back and forth between calling the main character by his first a d last name. He would switch sometimes in the the same paragraph. It was awkward and very annoying. I still have no idea why he chose to write like that.
I disliked the racism and prejudices that were just nonchalantly thrown in to the story.
I disliked the description of Alex and Courtney's beginning of their relationship where she was calling him ugly. The scene was awkward and weird.
I disliked that they never finished the storyline about the dead cop. It never received a conclusion.
I disliked a few things gs though and could not give this book more than three stars.
I disliked that he switched back and forth between calling the main character by his first a d last name. He would switch sometimes in the the same paragraph. It was awkward and very annoying. I still have no idea why he chose to write like that.
I disliked the racism and prejudices that were just nonchalantly thrown in to the story.
I disliked the description of Alex and Courtney's beginning of their relationship where she was calling him ugly. The scene was awkward and weird.
I disliked that they never finished the storyline about the dead cop. It never received a conclusion.
sgrossi28's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
shaank's review against another edition
2.0
This was the first Koontz book that I did not throw down in disgust after 15 pages, so that's something! Pretty much what the back cover promised.
thereadingknitter's review against another edition
3.0
A man and boy leave for a cross country drive that turns deadly.
cecireads17's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
ladymoonlight's review against another edition
3.0
"Die Spuren" von Dean Koontz ist einer seiner ersten Romane. Zum ersten Mal kam das Buch 1973 auf den Markt. Der Thriller ist zwar etwas unspektakulär, wenn man das Alter des Buches bedenkt und auch das die Geschichte mit so wenigen Charakteren auskommt, ist das aber auch schon wieder irgendwie genial. Im Prinzip spielt sich die ganze Handlung nur im Auto und in Motels ab. Langeweile kommt beim Lesen trotzdem keine auf.
Die Charaktere sind richtig gut ausgearbeitet. Colins Charakter finde ich besonders interessant. Aber auch Alex Doyle, der immer wieder wegen seinem Aussehen angefeindet wird. Das Buch zeigt übrigens richtig gut auf, wie viele Vorurteile es in den 70er-Jahren gab. Nur George Lelands Charakter bleibt am Ende ein wenig blass. Für meinen Geschmack erfährt man zu wenig über seine Beweggründe und die Krankheit, die ihn dazu treibt.
Das Ende ist leider ziemlich offen. Ich hätte mir an dieser Stelle gewünscht, dass Courtney Alex ein paar Erklärungen liefert. Dafür mag ich den Schreibstil des Autors und seine detailliert ausgearbeiteten Beschreibungen sehr gerne. Ich kann die Geschichte allen Dean Koontz Fans empfehlen. Wer noch keines seiner anderen Bücher kennt, sollte aber vielleicht nicht unbedingt mit diesem Werk beginnen. Von mir gibt es 3,5 Sterne.
Die Charaktere sind richtig gut ausgearbeitet. Colins Charakter finde ich besonders interessant. Aber auch Alex Doyle, der immer wieder wegen seinem Aussehen angefeindet wird. Das Buch zeigt übrigens richtig gut auf, wie viele Vorurteile es in den 70er-Jahren gab. Nur George Lelands Charakter bleibt am Ende ein wenig blass. Für meinen Geschmack erfährt man zu wenig über seine Beweggründe und die Krankheit, die ihn dazu treibt.
Das Ende ist leider ziemlich offen. Ich hätte mir an dieser Stelle gewünscht, dass Courtney Alex ein paar Erklärungen liefert. Dafür mag ich den Schreibstil des Autors und seine detailliert ausgearbeiteten Beschreibungen sehr gerne. Ich kann die Geschichte allen Dean Koontz Fans empfehlen. Wer noch keines seiner anderen Bücher kennt, sollte aber vielleicht nicht unbedingt mit diesem Werk beginnen. Von mir gibt es 3,5 Sterne.