The Vision

by Dean Koontz

Looking into the future will scare you to death...

In The Vision , Dean Koontz writes a chilling novel of clairvoyance, dark forces and a struggle for survival. Perfect for fans of Stephen King and Harlan Coben.

'Spine-tingling - it gives you an almost lethal shock' - San Francisco Chronicle

Mary Bergen is a clairvoyant, able to foresee murders that will happen in the near future, but unable to prevent them from taking place.

And now she is up against a power that is stronger than her own, a power that is taking her over, a power that is trying to kill her before she can identify it...

What readers are saying about The Vision :

' Imaginative, clever and very unputdownable! This book draws you in like a fish at the end of a rod'

' Chilling and very much a true suspense story from beginning to end'

' Highly suspenseful with clever twists - a wonderful novel of 'whodunnit' with some supernatural elements thrown in'

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Fantasy, Supernatural

372 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Acknowledged as "America's most popular suspense novelist" (Rolling Stone) and as one of today's most celebrated and successful writers, Dean Ray Koontz has earned the devotion of millions of readers around the world and the praise of critics everywhere for tales of character, mystery, and adventure that strike to the core of what it means to be human.

Dean, the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna.

Facebook: Facebook.com/DeanKoontzOfficial
Twitter: @DeanKoontz
Website: DeanKoontz.com

Reviews

[Eloy Cryptkeeper · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*


"El dolor nos ata. El dolor produce lazos aún más resistentes que el amor. El amor es un concepto humano abstracto, sin significado, inexistente. Sin embargo, el dolor es real"

"no siempre el mal se adquiría. La mayoría de la gente educada estaba convencida de que, sin excepción, las motivaciones que había detrás de los actos antisociales de las personas violentas tenían sus raíces en la pobreza, en hogares deshechos, en traumas de la infancia, en la indiferencia y la ineptitud de los padres. Los sociólogos insistían en que los sistemas sociales basados en la injusticia eran los que primordialmente engendraban criminales. No obstante, ¿existía la posibilidad de que algunas personas estuviesen podridas desde un principio, irremisiblemente corruptas antes de que el medio ambiente tuviera oportunidad de afectarles? ¿Acaso aquello era un razonamiento reaccionario y medieval?"

Cuando Mary Bergen era una niña de 6 años, alguien la torturó y trató de asesinarla. Luego de recuperarse,Cuando tiene el alta del hospital, descubre que posee el don de la clarividencia: percibe con antelación cuando se van a perpetuar asesinatos y siente en carne propia lo que sienten las victimas.
De adulta decide valerse de esta habilidad para colaborar en las investigaciones policiales-criminales. En el mas reciente caso en el que decide colaborar se encuentra con un bloqueo mental, en su habilidad y cae a cuenta que el asesino tiene relación con la trágica experiencia de su ninez. y para superar su bloqueo y seguir adelante deberá recordar cada detalle del horror que realmente sufrió y permaneció oculto en su mente, dilucidando que fue víctima de algo aun mucho mas siniestro y extraño.

Un thriller que abraza al terror. En el que evidentemente lo que aparenta ser un don, en realidad es una maldición ". Sólo puedo ver gente que muere Me altera cómo tengo que vivir; me altera ver la violencia y no poder evitarla; me altera ver los problemas de la gente inocente y no poder ayudarles. Estoy cansada de una vida llena de cadáveres, de mujeres violadas y niños golpeados, de sangre y de armas."
Con unos personajes que cumplen y un antagonista, que en cuanto a lo retorcido juega en las grandes ligas; tal vez en motivaciones se quede un poco corto , pero no considero que las necesite y esta bien justificado.
Una trama que juega con dar ciertas pistas falsas, generar algunas dudas .
Con la cantidad de paginas justas, en relación a lo que propone (250 +/-), lo cual es un gran punto a favor.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book at the beginning and found it really gripping however the ending was disgusting. You need a strong tummy to read it and there's a good chance of it giving you nightmares forever.

You have been warned!!!

[Louie the Mustache Matos · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not certain if I had read this before or if I just figured it out because it was so obvious. Of course, I mean the big reveal, but I did not feel like this was one of Koontz’s best. Usually, I get so wrapped up in his novels because the characters are so compelling. The stories generally feel so fresh, but here you have Mary (the female protagonist) gifted with some form of foresight, telepathy maybe. She has been hired by the police to assist in the capture of a serial killer. The serial killer is killed, but Mary believes that the spirit of the serial killer has moved from that body to another body. There is a red herring that is meant as a distraction, and the discussion of a prior evil is supposed to lead us down a different avenue, but I do not believe either succeeds very well. Not a horrible read by any means. It is a short and quick-paced novel. I just think that the story suffers for its brevity.

[Mía Nauca · Rating 4 out of 5]

El primer libro que leo de este autor y me gustó muchísimo xq definitivamente sentí una vibra con los personajes a Los Warrens una pareja en la que la esposa es psíquica y el esposo su fiel ayudante.

La manera de escribir de esta autor es rápida, entretenida y te mantiene en suspenso durante todo el libro, lo recomiendo especialmente para las personas que dicen que King divaga mucho al escribir, este es directo al punto y también es un novelistas de terror y thriller psicológico, definitivamente compraré todos los libros que me encuentre de él.

Pdt le hubiera puesto 5 estrellas si no hubiera adivinado quien era el asesino 100 paginas antes de terminar el libro... aún así excelente lectura!

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Koontzland - February 2019 Group Read

Mary now 30 years old was attacked 24 years ago when 6.
Mary has psychic powers, “The Vision” allows her to see the next attacks/crimes. She’s always scared/confused of murders/attacks - the attacks are more descriptive than I remember in my first read.

A psychiatrist helps with “The Vision” - psychic or haunted? She describes the family gardener, Mitchell, “attacking” her when a child. Her clairvoyance started after Mitchell’s death....

The killer is a unexpected vampire & close family member. He forced Mary to think she was responsible for Mitchell’s murder, but she is not... Mary’s cornered by him, can flying bats rescue & kill this vampire. Can Mary, Max freed from injuries, have a happy life?

Love scenes outside the main plot with Max(husband) - “breaks” & calms the story.

Great FYI Trivia only
The book was published in 1977 & makes references to the famous F.W.Woolworth's Five-and-Dime Stores, existing 1879-1997 - example/reference in Chapter 7
Wikipedia - Woolworth's - Great Five Cent Stores (Just like today’s Walmart. Agree?)

My 2017 read

4 major characters: Mary Bergen(psychic/wife), Max(husband), Alan Turner (brother) & a murderer? Mary(6) was a tortured child recovering in a hospital, nightmare being tied & abused by a man. Close to her family? Mary haunted by him, throughout life, seeing people he's attacked & vowed to kill her if she let out their secret. Mary’s psychic powers, Max, Alan & Police Chief Barnes track the murderer & next person to be killed. Mary sees victims she may have known. He captures her, reveals the promises he made in the hospital. She stales him to divulge all the murder nightmares she was involved with him since 6? "Hoping someone or anything in a dark pavilion" can attack him?

YouTube Audiobook - The Vision (7:51)

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vision, published in 1977, is one of the best novels from Koontz's transitional phase of going from genre to mainstream fiction. It has elements of horror (child abuse) and science fiction (psi-powers), but the main focus is on character, and it has a nicely gripping romance story framing it all. Spoilers aside, there's a nifty little twist at the end that caught me by surprise, too. This first paperback edition has two really eye-catching covers from an uncredited artist. They look like pencil sketches except for the two little red dots on the bat face... it reminds me of the Masterpiece introductory credits. It's a nice, chilling page turner.

[Άννα Morta 💀 · Rating 3 out of 5]

My clairvoyant self predicted 3,5 ⭐️.

[The Face of Your Father · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading Koontz is like Russian Roulette..

This time, the gun was pointed at me.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl · Rating 3 out of 5]

When intuition and memory provide conflicting information, eventually the truth is revealed. Dean Koontz has explored this theme in other novels: The Key to Midnight, The House of Thunder, False Memory, Ashley Bell etc.


The Vision gives us a glimpse of early Dean Koontz and we see hints of future novels. For example, Bats play a significant role in this story and they also show up in the concluding Odd Thomas novel, Saint Odd. Also, like Odd, Mary Bergen is sometimes frustrated that her visions are not more clear. Both characters possess a gift of imperfection.

Some Passages:

"Gloves of Blood" - opening line of The Vision

A blue giraffe standing in the center of a giant custard pie - The Vision, Chapter 5

Bloody little footprints of a cat all across the light tan carpet. - The Vision, Chapter 17

Pretty soon, she thought, I won't need a tornado like Dorothy did. Just a puff of air will carry me off to Oz.

A bitch with a litter of fragile glass puppies stood near a comic scene of dogs playing tiny glass instruments, flutes and drums and bugles for beagles.

An awesome force pressed against her from all sides. She felt as if she was enfolded by leathery wings, muscular wings that were draining the heat from her, squeezing the life out of her.

Lights speckled the nighttime King's Point hills like orange flame gleaming from within a jack-o'-lantern with a thousand eyes. To the west the ocean and sky melted into a single black shroud.


"I wrote The Vision while living in Las Vegas, when I was young and stupid." - Dean Koontz, Afterword

There are a few good parts throughout the book, but the best payoff is in the ending. The Vision is worth reading as one of Dean's early novels, but not among his best - not by a long shot.

[☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit scary, a bit wozy novel of the sort that DK is famous for. It dwells on how our memories are fickle and unreliable features, what lurks in the depths of (some) humans' psyche and how this all could be made into a fun-to-read book.

Here we meet paranormalicious, a cartoonish love story, creepy family members getting creepier by the second and a ton of other things that we might have been better never setting our minds upon.
Just like that.

Not stellar but a very decent read.

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Description: Mary Bergen is a clairvoyant, able to forsee murders that will happen in the near future, but unable to prevent them from taking place. And now she is up against a power that is stronger than her own, a power that is taking her over, a power that is trying to kill her before she can identify it...

Opening: 'GLOVES OF BLOOD.'
The woman raised her hands and stared at them, stared through them.
Her voice was soft but tense. 'Blood on his hands.' Her own hands were clean and pale.
Her husband leaned forward from the back seat of the patrol car. 'Mary?'
She did not respond.
'Mary, can you hear me?'
'Yes.'
'Whose blood do you see?'
'I'm not sure.'
'The victim's blood?'
'No. In fact...it's his own.'
'The killer's?'
'Yes.'

There is a scene just like this circa page 133, yet there is not a hattip accorded to D du M.

A fab little clairvoyant versus poltergeist story with added telekinesis, and as it was no longer than it should be.

3* Odd Thomas (Odd Thomas, #1)
3* Forever Odd (Odd Thomas, #2)
TR Brother Odd (Odd Thomas, #3)

2* Intensity
2* Phantoms
3* Strangers
1* The Taking
4* The Good Guy
3* Whispers
3* Tick Tock
2* The Darkest Evening of the Year
2* By the Light of the Moon
3* Mr. Murder
1* Dragon Tears
2* The Face
TR Darkfall
3* Winter Moon
3* The Vision
3* Black River

3* 77 Shadow Street (Pendleton, #1)

2* Fear Nothing (Moonlight Bay, #1)
1* Seize the Night (Moonlight Bay, #2)

[Luis David Sarmiento · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Estaba decidida a no rendirse al temor, pero también tenía casi la convicción de que si no dejaba de pensar en las alas, éstas la llevarían a las tinieblas eternas"
Mary Bergen, nuestra protagonista que tiene el don de la videncia pre-cognitiva y sensitiva con la capacidad de ver imágenes de un futuro cercano, visiones de asesinatos que están sucediendo o están a punto de suceder, capacidad de la que se vale para ayudar a evitar dichos eventos o eventualmente ayudar a la policía con la captura del asesino,con la ayuda de su hermano Alan y su esposo Max intentaran resolver el que parece ser su caso mas difícil, un asesino que parece ir siempre un paso por delante de ellos y que al parecer va por ella ahora; Mientras a su vez Mary intentara resolver sus sus traumas de la niñez.
La visión es una novela de terror con alto grado de suspenso y misterio al que nos tiene acostumbrado Dean Koontz, si bien la capacidad de este autor para crear misterios y mantenerte en vilo por las interrogantes que surgen a los largo de sus aproximadamente 250 paginas no raya en lo virtuoso, si consigue su objetivo, dejando posibles pistas esparcidas mientras nos mantiene enganchados para finalmente echar todo el carbón al asador en las ultimas 100 paginas, consiguiendo así resolver la trama de manera solida, aunque un poco rocambolesca.
Una novela que debido a su extensión no nos permite conocer a fondo a los personajes a excepción de Mary Bergen, nuestra protagonista, donde sus puntos altos radican en la rapidez que la trama avanza y su volumen de paginas pero que pierde puntos por los diálogos (algo que me paso en sus otras dos novelas leídas) que no son el fuerte de Koontz.
3 estrellas a una buena novela que consigue su objetivo, aunque te deja deseo de mas.

"Necesito protección contra la soledad. Me da miedo estar sola..."

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good book with a surprise twist at the end. I guessed it as a possibility just because it was unexpected but it was still a good storyline. Sometimes the protagonist got on my nerves and the couple banter bordered on realistic much of the time. Not the best, fairly mediocre, but still attention-grabbing and worth a read if you have it laying around.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in 1977 this story is about a clairvoyant called Mary who can track down murderers. Her husband Max and brother Alan assist her. The story opens with her helping a sheriff track down a serial killer who when shot says her name with his dying words. The story is set in California.

Mary has visions of people being murdered and difficulty in tracking down the killer. At a seaside town they have a confrontation with the killer.

SPOILERS AHEAD

She finally realizes that the man she thought brutalized her when she was six was innocent. The murderer is Alan who is completely loony tunes. He didn’t kill her earlier because he was curious about her psychic powers. Max is stabbed by him and Mary in the final confrontation is able to use her powers to get a flock of bats to attack and kill him.

[Rod Horncastle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Freakishly sick and disturbing supernatural serial killer murder mystery. Yet interesting and well written as always - with good characters. But I don't recommend that anyone should ever read this. I'm gonna try and forget that I did.

Shame on dean koontz for even thinking these thoughts and writing them down as entertainment. Koontz isn't usually sexually repulsive. This isn't something we should be amused by.

Basic storyline: A lady with a dark repressed past (who is now a Clairvoyant crime-solver?) has to deal with a supernatural serial killer who's ruining her new marriage.

[Uriah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mary is a talented clairvoyant who's found her calling in helping police across the country solve cases despite having no leads. Aided and guided by her devoted husband and doting brother, she's led a seemingly simple life. Until her visions change, and a dark, preternatural force seems to enter her life. Where are these visions coming from? Will she be able to solve this new case and find her answers before it's too late for her and those she loves?

Far from one of Koontz's best works, this is still a fun read. It has an easy, flowing rhythm to it, along with fabulous dialogue. Mystery fans be forewarned, as the killer is easily distinguished by the end of the second chapter. It's the brother. This was most likely the height of the disappointment for me, especially considering just how hard Koontz seems to try and steer the reader towards believing the killer is the husband.

Let's be realistic, here, for a second. If you trip and fall and obtain a small cut upon your finger, your entire sleeve will not be ruined by copious amounts of blood unless you have some type of medical disorder, at which point you will be going to see a doctor. When you trip and fall again, and reopen the two day old wound and it ruins your shirt and jacket from even more blood, and then you get stabbed three or four times and shot, you're likely going to bleed out extremely quickly from these massive, gaping wounds you've sustained, rather than being able to walk across a 60 yard room, down a corridor, force open a heavy oak and glass window, climb out of the window, fall six feet, and then climb to your feet to greet police officers...unless, of course, you're batman, which this character most certainly is not.

I also failed to get an emotional connection to the characters, something I've grown accustomed to in other works by Koontz. I shed a tear at the end of Odd Thomas, grew frustrated at the failed attempts and lack of connection in Lightning, and was out of breath from fear, anticipation, and shear flabbergastedness in both Fear Nothing and Seize the Night. When someone died in this book, I honestly didn't care other than to think, "Hm, I wonder who the killer could possibly be" in overly sarcastic tones to myself while turning the page.

All in all, while it's not overly terrible, it's not a fantastic work, or even up to par by Koontz standards. That being said, if you are a die hard fan of Dean Koontz or are simply looking for a quick read, pick it up, but don't feel bad about skimming through it. Otherwise, skip it.

[Coni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, quick book. A woman clairvoyant, Mary, routinely helps the police with investigations due to her visions she receives of murders that are about to happen. She is stuck on a certain case because she can't see the killer's face for unknown reasons. It also seems tied back to some trauma she encountered when she was six years old that she has blocked from her memories.

Mary has some conflict in her life with her husband Max, who is 10 years older than her, and her brother, Alan, who does not trust Max. They do not get along. Even though there are really only three main characters, there isn't too much involved in getting into their characters. I feel like more time was spent on describing what everyone ate at each meal, rather than the motivations behind the characters.

Mary did struggle with wanting to be stronger than she felt, and she depended on her husband for strength in many ways, even though by the end of it, she knew she needed to depend on herself. Earlier on in the novel though, Koontz wrote this:

She must have gone pale, for he said, “Calm down. It’s over.” He looked good. Marvelous. So big and reliable. She did calm down somewhat, merely because he told her she should.

NO woman, actually, I don't think any PERSON wants to be told to calm down. It never makes anyone calm down. That did not sit well with me and I was hoping that she would argue about his statement, but she never does, which is disappointing. She does take care of herself in the end when she has to, but I was hoping for a bit more of a stronger character.

The plot itself is interesting and fast-paced. It all keeps moving along. I totally fell for some red herrings that were thrown in, even though I knew they couldn't be right, I still couldn't see another way for it to end. The explanation for the ending was a bit ridiculous. I think more breadcrumbs throughout the book could have paid off the explanation better, but it still didn't make me enjoy the book any less. This is what I feel would be a perfect book to pick up in the airport and read quickly on a flight.

[Entre libros y ronroneos]

No sé si es la narración o la historia en sí, pero me estoy aburriendo soberanamente.
He llegado hasta aquí con la sensación de que leo por leer, sin verdadero interés por la historia ni el destino de los personajes, así que abandono en el página 130.

[Julie Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always like stories by Dean Koontz and this was no exception. It was cleverly psychological and kept me guessing 'whodunit' although I did suspect the killer and I was right.

Well written, great characters, descriptions, suspense and plot.

Recommended read.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quite enjoyable paranormal mystery/suspense novel. Quick to read, but satisfying!

[Christopher Badcock · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Vision was first published in 1977, and IMO Koontz didn’t really reach his peak until the 80’s, so this is far from his best work. It’s a quick thriller though, moving at a crazy pace, with very little time breaks and covering only 4 days. I nailed it in two sittings.

Mary is a clairvoyant, she helps the police track down killers by using her gift to connect with them or objects left at the crime scene. However, the latest killer seems to know that they’re being watched, and might well be linked to a (honestly) majorly fucked up traumatic experience she went through as a child, it made me cringe so bad. It’s a good read, albeit littered with what we would now consider to be outdated tropes – the lady in distress who can’t function without a strong, handsome man to protect her. Also a twist which I had sussed by page 50ish (of a 270 page novel) even though Koontz did attempt to present some red herrings, they really weren’t enough to change my mind.

You can expect the usual clinical prose that Koontz is kinda known for, some might say it lacks character or feeling, and they’d be right, mostly. I also still don’t understand his fascination with describing every meal the characters eat, in great detail, every item on the plate, plus desert, and whatever drink they’re having with it.

Have you ever read The Vision? Are you a Koontz hater and just feel like he’s a total koont? Have you never read Koontz, but hate him anyway as he’s positioned as the arch-nemesis of Stephen King? Slide into the comments below and tell me how you feel about the Koontz, I’m dying to know.

[Sandra Uv]

DNF

Abandonado.
No me está convenciendo nada:(

[Jamie Bucey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking for a spooky book to read in October? This fits. Fun to read a book written so long ago that there are no cell phones, no computers. Very fun read.

[Meri Pindado · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5⭐

Me ha gustado leer este libro, pero tampoco puedo ponerlo por las nubes. La trama va dando pistas falsas para hacerte pensar cosas que no son, eso me ha gustado. Ha habido partes en que me aburría, y otras que he disfrutado mucho. El final me ha gustado cómo se resuelve, de hecho lo apruebo por esa misma razón (es una pena que no haya 2,5⭐ en Goodreads, porque un 3⭐, en mi opinión, no lo merece).

[MikeR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read for all Dean Koontz fans, as it is where Koontz achieves a major milestone in the suspenseful thriller genre by incorporating paranormal elements, which sets the groundwork for his illustrious career. By this time, he had already released thirty-five novels under different pen names. His book "The Vision" draws readers in with its mix of psychics, clairvoyance, murder, and mystery.



Since being raped and mutilated as a child, Mary Bergen has developed psychic abilities. Together with her older brother, Alan, and her husband, Max, she assists the police with murder investigations. However, her gift only allows her to perceive crime as it unfolds in real time.

Dean Koontz's writing style shifts between short, impactful sentences and more elaborate descriptions, keeping readers hooked. The characters he creates are well-rounded and show the complexities of human nature, making them easy to relate to.

The story includes various conflicts, including Mary’s difficult past and her supernatural struggles, as well as Alan’s rivalry with Max, which contributes to a fast-paced and captivating narrative. Koontz’s vivid, poetic descriptions bring settings to life, creating lasting mental images. An example is the murder scene in a beauty shop, where he captures the sensory details—like neon lights, scents, and sounds—to build a chilling atmosphere.

Koontz's graphic portrayals of murders and visions instill a sense of fear, revealing the darker aspects of humanity. The rich symbolism throughout the narrative shows the occult fascinations prevalent in the mid-to-late 70s, but his story still has an allure that continues to resonate with today's audience.

[Mackenzie Petermeier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that I would recommend is The Vision by Dean Koontz. This book is a thriller that keeps your mind going. The Vision is suspenseful and also quite slow in spots and quite predictable, but for the reader who wants a thriller without too much gore this could be a perfect choice. Mary Bergen is the main character, which has a gifted clairvoyant. Her psychic ability and haunting visions to aide the police in solving both past and future crimes, but who must also deal with the stress of not having the power to stop the perpetrator from carrying out his evil intentions. Read The Vision to find out if Mary’s powers can save these people from getting killed by the murderer.

[Tiffany Bates · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this could have been a 4 if I hadn't read such a fast paced novel right before this. Maybe. Going to this book after a fast pace book made it seem very slow at times and I was thinking 'get on with it'. I predicted who the killer was going to be really early on as well, but hoped all the way through that I was going to be wrong and that would make it great for fooling me. But alas it didn't unfortunately. The premise was interesting, and it would still make a good read for anyone looking for something easy and slow.

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of Koontz's more disturbing. The woman is a psychic who has some issues with her mentally sick brother. Some of the sexual scenes were a bit distasteful, causing the four star rating despite the adrenaline pumping excitement and horror. A quick read too.

[Javed Hayat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Without wanting to sound too harsh, Dean Koontz, along with John Saul and couple of others, is one of the worst possible writers I have ever read. Koontz is a classic case of 'right ideas in (extremely) wrong hands'!!!

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This thriller opens with such action. I whizzed through reading this as it never had a dull moment and the background descriptions were not long and drawn out. The killer in the end is more than likely not who you think, so pay close attention!