The Darkest Evening of the Year
Dean Koontz

Amy Redwing has dedicated her life to the southern California organization she founded to rescue abandoned and endangered golden retrievers. Among dog lovers, she's a legend for the risks she'll take to save an animal from abuse. Among her friends, Amy's heedless devotion is often cause for concern. To Brian McCarthy, whose commitment she can't allow herself to return, Amy's behavior is far more puzzling and hides a shattering secret.
No one is surprised when Amy risks her life to save Nickie, nor when she takes the female golden into her home. The bond between Amy and Nickie is immediate and uncanny. Even her two other goldens, Fred and Ethel, recognize Nickie as special, a natural alpha. But the instant joy Nickie brings is shadowed by a series of eerie incidents. An ominous stranger. A mysterious home invasion. And the unmistakable sense that someone is watching Amy's every move and that, whoever it is, he's not alone.
Someone has come back to turn Amy into the desperate, hunted creature she's always been there to save. But now there's no one to save Amy and those she loves.

As with most jacket covers, this does not do this novel justice. There is a much more complex plot going on than revealed in the description, but I can understand that because certain things must reveal themselves to the reader in due time. There are a lot of twists, turns, and surprises that are not at all obvious until they happen and to spoil those, would be to spoil this novel.

As with all of Dean Koontz's books, this is for a more mature audience and contains themes that are not suitable for the younger crowd.

Not only is there plenty of action and drama in this book, but there is also that small and subtle element of the supernatural that seems to be in all of Koontz's novels. It's not in your face supernatural, but instead it's subtle enough to be believable.

The characters in this book, both the good and the evil, tie to each other in ways that the reader cannot predict and make for a thrilling ending. Even the minor characters are well fleshed out and believable.

I would recommend this book, especially for those who like the other works of Dean Koontz.

My rating: Four out of five snails.