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Relentless
Relentless
Author: Dean Koontz
Bestselling novelist Cullen "Cubby" Greenwich is a lucky man and he knows it. He makes a handsome living doing what he enjoys. His wife, Penny, a children's book author and illustrator, is the love of his life. Together they have a brilliant six-year-old, Milo, affectionately dubbed "Spooky", and a non-collie named Lassie...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780007267590
ISBN-10: 0007267592
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 368
Rating:
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 2

3.8 stars, based on 2 ratings
Publisher: HarperCollins
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

Phantene avatar reviewed Relentless on + 72 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 10
I must admit that when I read the synopsis of this book I was not at all interested in the story. However, since I've quite enjoyed several of Dean Koontz's recent books, I decided to purchase this one. Am I glad I did!

I absolutely LOVED this book! The action and suspense had me wanting more and more, and I had trouble putting this one down at the end of the evening. I wanted to stay up all night to finish it. I felt a deep caring for the characters Cubby, his wife Penny, their son Milo, and one of my favorite dogs ever--Lassie. I laughed with them, felt wonder with them, and worried about them.

With this book, Dean Koontz created an interesting, unique, and engrossing story. I highly recommend 'Relentless'.
GeniusJen avatar reviewed Relentless on + 5322 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
Dean Koontz is my favorite author, but I have to admit that it's been awhile since I've truly enjoyed one of his new releases. So I can also admit that I was a bit leery when I first picked up RELENTLESS, hoping that it would be good, worrying that it wouldn't be.

Thankfully, this was a one-sitting read, since once I started I couldn't stop. Is the plot outlandish? Of course it is, as only a Koontz book can be. But he's back with the universal theme of good vs. evil, with a dog named Lassie that you can't help but love, and a young boy named Milo who is beyond imagination.

The storyline is fairly simple: an accomplished author has gotten a scathing review by a well-known critic, and instead of letting the matter go as his wife suggests, he ends up on the receiving end of a psychopath.

What follows is a mad-cap (there really is no other word for it), fast-paced story where a family goes on the run, explosions ensue, guns are drawn, secret organizations are revealed, mystic themes of the universe are unveiled, and a teleporting dog and a boy who discovers a scientific impossibility are all-too believable.

RELENTLESS is obviously one of those "this could never happen in real life" type of books, but it's classic Koontz, and that's good enough for me.
BookBinge avatar reviewed Relentless on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
I loved this book. It's been some time since I have enjoyed a Koontz book this much. Right out of the gate I loved all four of the main characters. Cubby, Penny, Milo and Lassie each are three dimensional characters that with their personal quirks are very real right from the start. Their characters don't require time to develop. They are quirky, fun, loving, deep, intense, funny and mysterious.These are people, that if they existed in real life, I would love to know. Ah, but my love of the characters created a paradox. Throughout the book I found my self tightly gripping the book reading fast and excited wanting to know what comes next. Then just a few short pages later having to put down the book because I could not bear the coming of the horrible event that will befall one of them. Throughout the second half of the book Mr. Koontz tortures us with the knowledge that the worst possible fate will befall one of the three but he does not tell us which it will be. The wanting to know. The not wanting to know. Combined with Mr. Koontz's early revelation of the climax was gut wrenching.I felt I must keep reading. All the while saying to myself "No, No, please don't let it be Milo. Please don't let it be Cubby. Please don't let it be Penny. Oh no, Not Lassie"......Can you stand the suspense? Pick up the book and see.
reviewed Relentless on
Helpful Score: 3
Only one word to describe this book...riveting. Koontz, is one of the most profilic authors I've ever read. He has a way of drawing you into the story, keeping you on the edge of your seat, as well as having your adrenaline pumping so hard you can't help but keep turning the page to see what happens next. This book, though scary, was also hilarious. Cubby is such a lovable character, and Penny can certainly kick butt. My favorite, however, was "the little einstein," I liked how Milo was able to be a 6 year old when it was necessary, but still able to help his parents think rationally as they planned their next move on Waxx. I was very disappointed when it ended. I absolutely loved this book, and highly recommend it. All of Koontz's books are keepers for me, because I want to read them more than once, and Relentless was no different.
yomama1 avatar reviewed Relentless on + 11 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Dean Koontz is absolutely one of my favorite authors. As always, this story grabs you at the beginning, and doesn't let go until the very end! Koontz's mastery of our language is excellent, and his use of synonyms is beyond what most writers dare. Relentless is the story of a writer (Cubby Greenwich) who is reviewed by "poison pen" critic, Shearman Waxx. Cubby intends to ignore the review until he happens to find out where Waxx will be having lunch. He just wants to get a look at the man. Waxx is not what Cubby expects, and neither is the terror that follows. This book is a must-read for Koontz fans especially, but also for any lover of the thriller!
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dragoneyes avatar reviewed Relentless on + 836 more book reviews
For most of this book Koontz kept me very enthralled. I enjoyed the characters, loved the nonstop action and thought the evil guy as very creepy. So why the three stars? The ending. I was so curious as to what was going on and was wondering how they were going to get out of their situation. Then the ending happened. It was a bit too far fetched for me. Don't get me wrong, I know Koontz likes to throw supernatural twists in there and most of the time I'm okay with it. This one didn't work for me at all. Unfortunately, I can't get into more detail without giving it away.
The story is about a guy named Cubby who writes books, his wife writes children's books and does the illustrations, and his 6yr old son is a prodigy. They are very happy together and seem to have the perfect life. After the release of Cubby's new book, he is informed about a bad review from noted critic Shearman Waxx. Of course Cubby is upset about the review especially since it looks like the critic never even read his book. His wife tells him to let it go and he decides he will until he finds out that the critic eats lunch at the same restaurant every day. Cubby decides he has to check the elusive critic out. After he gets to the restaurant and spots Waxx, he ends up having a small encounter with the critic and from there Cubby's life is forever changed. Now he has this madman stalking him and trying to hurt him and his family. It seems like everywhere he goes he is being followed.
It is a good book. I can recommend the majority of it but think the ending kind of killed it for me.
reviewed Relentless on + 1568 more book reviews
This one is a hell of a lot scarier than some overtly bloodier slasher thrillers. The suspense builds and builds, and then builds some more. Think of the worst stalker tale you ever heard of . . . and that's just the starting point! Don't start it late at night if you're alone in the house, though.

From back cover: Literary critic Shearman Waxx can kill a good book with just a few acidly worded bon mots. And as one unlucky author is about to discover, that's not all he's prepared to kill...

From #1 New York Times bestselling master of suspense Dean Koontz comes a mesmerizing thriller about the battle of wills that ensues when a successful author and likable family man confronts a reclusive sociopath who wields an all-too-deadly poison pen. Respect Sherman Waxx's opinion and you might escape with your career intact. Cross him and he'll destroy you, your family, and everything you hold dear. For the title 'America's most feared critic' isn't one Waxx takes lightly. He takes it literally. And now Cubby Greenwich, his wife, Penny, their brilliant six-year-old, Milo, and their uniquely talented non-collie, Lassie, are about to learn the true meaning of 'culture war.'
reviewed Relentless on
The most exciting DK book I've read so far!
marcijo28 avatar reviewed Relentless on + 320 more book reviews
Very good read! Highly Recommend!
readfreak avatar reviewed Relentless on + 12 more book reviews
Really tense and engaging. A fresh approach to stalker-type/obscessive mentality. Kept me turning pages well into the night just to see where the story was going to go next.
reviewed Relentless on + 11 more book reviews
This is the first Dean Koontz book I've read and I really enjoyed it. It's a fast paced thriller with some humor and quriky twists. The basic story is about Cubby, a man who makes an enemy of the wrong guy- Sherman Waxx. It turns out that Waxx will use extreme means to get revenge on Cubby and his family. This leads to a cross country chase with all sorts of escapes and near misses. Fast paced, couldn't put it down, fun read.
reviewed Relentless on + 3 more book reviews
I read Koontz years ago and my reading interests grew beyond him. Recently, this book was recommended so I gave it a try. It seemed rather simple, written in first person as the main character. I found it a bit lacking. It is not a deep thinker and makes for a relative easy read.
my2luvsemmyandmally avatar reviewed Relentless on + 758 more book reviews
I think this was one of Koontz's more exciting books he has written in a while. Really enjoyed it!


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