Cold Fire / Hideaway / The Key to Midnight

by Dean Koontz, Leigh Nichols (Pseudonym)

A collection of three previously published Koontz novels. This will be the first time The Key To Midnight will be available in hardcover.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, American, Ebooks

784 pages, Hardcover

First published August 28, 2000

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

[Louie the Mustache Matos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed Koontz since I was in my preteens with Demon Seed (that is not one of the novels compiled here). What I have always loved about him is that he has never considered himself a writer of horror, but I do consider him that. He prefers to be called a writer of thrillers, and his books are mostly that, but there is generally a supernatural through-line embedded in the story.

Cold Fire and Hideaway have clear supernatural elements, but even in The Key to Midnight, which is meant as a romantic, espionage thriller, there are flashes of telepathy and precognition that are not natural flowing results of the story. Here, Koontz has compiled three novels that he wrote under the Leigh Nichols pseudonym.

He may have been trying to write stories for a different genre, but honestly IMHO, the Koontz fingerprint is indelibly linked to these three novels because at heart, they are still horror stories -- maybe in the case of one, more subtle, but horror stories, nonetheless. I have reviewed all three of these novels separately on GR if you want to see what I say about each one. Feel free to check those out.

[VickiLee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I spotted this novel on an author recommendation list so I got it from the library. It is totally different from the novels I am accustomed to reading by him. This was not a supernatural tale. Rather, he explored dramatic adventure with a little romance and mystery thrown in. I enjoyed reading it.

[Bita · Rating 2 out of 5]

the first story, was not very good
the second story, was still not good, but not as bad
the third story, was good.

[Velvetink · Rating 3 out of 5]

Donated to Smith Family charity march 2015

[Jyllayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

**THIS IS A REVIEW FOR ONLY THE KEY TO MIDNIGHT-I HAVE NOT READ THE OTHER NOVELS**

The Key to Midnight is a face-paced, mystery novel. The characters are all likable and well developed; the backstory of each character is really well written too. I enjoyed the plot of the novel a lot. I also loved the Japanese backstory and culture written into the novel because it added a more authentic feel to the novel. However, I did not care for the ending of the novel for a couple reasons. I felt as though the ending was kind of like a fast wrap-up and I was left with questions about a lot things because there was not enough/good explanation. Despite these, I am looking forward to reading a few more of his books that I have been recommended to me by friends!

[Kerri Truman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dean Koontz! What can I say one of my all time favourite Authors, this book was the first one I bought (three books bound together in a huge hard back) and oh my god they didn’t disappoint, real life and supernatural collide!
I was instantly addicted to his style and have since read every book he has published (there are a lot of books!!)
I cannot recommend more highly, these books are the type you just can’t put down.

[Vinada · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so fabulous.

[Paschalis]

elibrary

[Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible talented author?

[Laurie Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book redone

[Elaine Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The absolute best of Koontz. I loved it. Wonderful villain, Great characters!! Loved the twisted ending.

[Ryan Zielinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Dean Koontz and let me just say that it was great. Amazing. Page-turning, edge-of-your-seat astounding. And for me, that's saying something. Normally I wouldn't like a book like this, but The Key to Midnight was just plain amazing. It had everything a book needed; suspense, mystery, death, plot twists and more. Maybe even a love interest here or there. It's Koontz's clever word play that made me want to read for hours on end.

This novel, The Key to Midnight by Dean Koontz is about a woman named Joanna Rand. She has her whole life partly figured out. She has the Moonglow Lounge and her singing career. There was just those small details such as having the same nightmare for twelve years straight, every single night. There's also the part where when every man that she met tries to get close to her in an intimate way, she cuts them off- doesn't speak to them ever again. She wants to be close to someone- anyone, but she can't help it. She just can't get close to anyone. The closest thing to a relationship with anybody is her manager to the Moonglow Lounge -Mariko. They are basically best friends without the knowledge of being best friends. Then Alex Hunter came around. Alex is a detective. A secret investigator for missing persons. On a month long vacation to Kyoto, Japan, Alex visits the Moonglow. He watches Joanna perform and after a few nights, recognizes her as a missing person from twelve years earlier. A girl taken from her father's (whom is a very famous political man) Jamaican vacation home. This is what flips Joanna's world around. She isn't really Joanna Rand. Her whole past- all of her memories are fake. Not real. None are hers. Now here's the real question; What do her nightmares mean? Who is responsible for Joanna's kidnapping? And why was she programmed with a whole knew identity? With fear and determination, Joanna and Alex go on a wild goose chase full of fear and lust, to find what really happened to her and why.

I suggest this book to anyone who is in to mysteries and thrillers with a bit of love and lust. This is definitely a book of thrill. With characters such as Joanna Rand, Mariko and Alex Hunter, the book lightens up and opens a whole new visual on why people make the decisions they do.

[Maynard · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the first Dean Koontz read, and it will be my last. On the positive side, Koontz is an excellent writer, with all the skills to create compelling prose, and he does. It was his writing that drove me to finish the book. He is also adept at creating a story line, bit I found "Cold Fire" rediculous and not the least bit thrilling or frightening. If I want fantasy, I will read that genre. Although I am capable of suspending reality and becoming completely engaged with fiction and fantasy, psychic abilities and multiple personalities do not in the least interest me when portrayed within the framework of fiction not meant to be fantasy. Apparently, Koontz has a long line of fans who would disagree with me, and that is good, as any reader can respect that there are writers for all of us.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

good collection for Koontz fans

[Theresa]

Just started it , but Dean Koontz is one of my favorite authors

[Steve Parcell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Koontz at his best

[I invite lunch · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this book so much

[Denise Beggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I wasn't sure. Once I got in to the book I was hooked.