Final Hour

Ashley Bell #0.5

by Dean Koontz

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Following Last Light comes Final Hour, the second of two standalone eBook original novellas leading in to Ashley Bell, the highly anticipated new novel of suspense from Dean Koontz!   Just by touching others, Makani Hisoka-O’Brien can see the darkest secrets they keep. The troubling talent has made the Southern California surfer wary of casual contact. But while impulsively saving a stranger from an accident, she experiences her most disturbing vision.   With only a good friend to help her, and mere traces of information to guide her, Makani must track down two mysterious women—one of them innocent, one not.   But Makani is stepping into the path of an adversary more dangerous than she can a brutal predator behind a pretty face, who won’t go down without drawing blood.   Acclaim for Dean Koontz   “Dean Koontz is a prose stylist whose lyricism heightens malevolence and tension. [He creates] characters of unusual richness and depth . . . with a level of perception and sensitivity that is not merely convincing; it’s astonishing.”—The Seattle Times   “Demanding much of itself, Koontz’s style bleaches out clichés while showing a genius for details. He leaves his competitors buried in the dust.”—Kirkus Reviews   “A rarity among bestselling writers, Koontz continues to pursue new ways of telling stories, never content with repeating himself.”—Chicago Sun-Times   “Tumbling, hallucinogenic prose. ‘Serious’ writers . . . might do well to examine his technique.”—The New York Times Book Review   “[Koontz] has always had near-Dickensian powers of description, and an ability to yank us from one page to the next that few novelists can match.”—Los Angeles Times   “Koontz is a superb plotter and wordsmith. He chronicles the hopes and fears of our time in broad strokes and fine detail, using popular fiction to explore the human condition.”—USA Today   “Characters and the search for meaning, exquisitely crafted, are the soul of [Koontz’s] work. . . . One of the master storytellers of this or any age.”—The Tampa Tribune   “A literary juggler.”—The Times (London)

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, Short Stories, Novella

87 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 27, 2015

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

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Koontz has often been hit-or-miss in my reading experience. When he's on his game, he's very good, but when he's not, he doesn't hold my interest for long. FINAL HOUR is the second novella he released as an eBook, paving the way for the release of his new novel ASHLEY BELL. The first novella was LAST LIGHT, both tales featuring Mikani Hisoka-O'Brien, a California surfer girl with the gift (or curse) of reading people's darker natures just by touching them. Even though this may not seem like a very original plot device, Koontz's masterful telling of this short tale elevates it to that 5-star rating you see above.

While not many readers would accuse Koontz of using spare language in his storytelling, his wordage in both these novellas is surprisingly streamlined and built for speed, and yet he doesn't sacrifice his usual poetic word images. The language here suggests zen poetry, as opposed to the usual epic-poetry lushness of language of his full-length novels. Koontz also seems to have surfer lingo down pat.

Both novellas feature Pogo and Bob. Guess which one is the dog. Wrong. Bob is the dog, Pogo is Mikani's surfer dude would-be boyfriend--both instrumental in helping surfer girl Mikani deal with a couple of Koontz's evilest villains.

The twist at the end is just about perfect for this fast-moving story.

If the just-released novel ASHLEY BELL is as good as these novellas, then it may turn out to be, as Koontz says, the best thing he's ever written.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's disappointing to know that Makani and Bob won't be in the new novel. I'm not really sure why these novellas were written. Apart from introducing Pogo. Who will be in the new novel. I really enjoyed Makani and Bob. Would love to read more novellas on them.

Makani has a special gift, she only has to touch a person and she knows what dark thoughts they think. This talent makes her lead a life trying never to touch people.

One day while out Makani sees a bunch of boys about to crash into an unsuspecting jogger. She automatically reacts to stop the woman getting hurt. Only to see a blonde woman starved and in chains in a dark room.
Makani gets no thanks for helping out. Only nastiness.

Ursula is a psychopath who can't stand anyone having what they don't deserve and she thinks she does. She loves herself and hates everyone else including her twin sister.
Ursuline has her twin captured and is planning on killing her.

What happens next might surprise you. I'm not going to tell. Download the novella and read for yourself.

[Michael Stretton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 2nd novella featuring Makani, Pogo and Bob the dog. Enjoyable short story with 3 strong characters that surely in time Mr Koontz should reward with a full blown novel. He has stated that he will write another novella featuring the likable trio but I feel there should be more.

I enjoyed "Final Hour" as much as last light and once again it was a two sitting read that was ideal for lunch breaks. Koontz does create a lot of likable characters which makes you feel you have extended your friends list considerably as you read his books. There's a nice if not predictable twist towards the end of Final Hour and the novella takes up little of your time - well worth a read. Ashley Bell follows Final Hour and Pogo stars in that so I look forward to reading it as Koontz himself rates it as one of his top 5 books.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another fantastic Dean Koontz thriller. How he can come up with these ingenious plots , paint the characters into a corner and then somehow satisfactorily tie up the loose ends amazes me every time. This is a stand alone novella with amazing characters. There is a second novella with the same characters and another nail biting plot. I recommend you read this one second and read Last Light first. Great reads!!!

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the fact that Koonz doesn't blabber and waste my time going on and on about nothing. Unfortunately he does a poor job of creating the mystery. After reading numerous Stephen King novels it's hard to say this was anywhere near Kings equal

[Rick · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a pale shadow of the first novella. It feels like Koontz had some cool characters, and decided to continue the story with no real plan in place. The stakes are low and feel inauthentic. The villain is plastic. Character descriptions feel copy and pasted from the first novella. It was all disappointing considering how much I enjoyed Last Light.

[Joel · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I enjoyed revisiting Makani, Pogo, and Bob, this novella wasn't nearly as good as the one preceding it.

Makani's supernatural ability to read people's darkest secrets via touch is used in an unconvincing coincidental way here, and the subsequent misadventure in which she finds herself involved isn't very believable.

It was a quick read, which was good, but I never fully bought into the antagonist's actions or motivations, and I feel like that damaged the book overall, making it less enjoyable.

[Dominique · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing style wasn’t for me. The concept of the story was interesting though.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed in Dean's creativeness. The premise was good for a short story I suppose but not at all what I expected.

[Karen B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second of two books that are prequels to Dean Koontz's novel Ashley Bell . Although one of the characters will be appearing in the novel, the main character, Makani and her dog, Bob will not be in the novel. I found Makani very interesting and would like to read more books with her in them. Makani has a special gift: when she touches people she sees their dark side. Accidentally brushing against a woman she sees something terrible that she feels she must address. She enlists the help of her almost boyfriend, Pogo to help her. I really don't see why Koontz needed to write this prequel considering it doesn't really introduce us to the novel. As a stand alone short story it is okay, but this seems more like a way to just make more money and give advance publicity for the December 8 release of Ashley Bell . Keep in mind that this review is coming from a die-hard "Dean Koontz is my favorite author" fan.

[Jim C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short story that contains characters from his previous short story Last Light. In the previous novella we learned of a power that Makani possesses. In this one, she once again uses her power and is put into a situation where she is forced into action.

This is one of the better short stories that I have read. I liked the situation that Koontz put his characters and the resulting action they chose. I was impressed that a short story can entertain and give such detail to its characters. Also, the story delves into moral questions of how heroes who perform heroic deeds and whether it is worth it.

This is a quick read and was excellent throughout. This contains a character from his novel Ashley Bell and if this is any indication of what that novels contains I am looking forward to that novel.

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a little torn with this one...it's just a little too far fetched to swallow. The first book, The Last Hour, was a tad more believable. I love the supernatural bit with Makani and it started off great, but the further it went the less I was into it...just kept rolling my eyes into the back of my head, like, really? Seriously? I still enjoyed it but just couldn't give it more than 3 stars. Sorry Dean...now onto Ashley Bell...hope it's a winner. Koontz says it's his favorite so far so I have high hopes.

[Trish Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've never read Dean Koontz, be aware that while he is a exceptionally talented writer, his stories are always about the paranormal and dark.

This is the second novella I've read about surfer girl Makani Hisoka-O'Brien, her black lab Bob and her friend Pogo.

Makani's special talent it that she can read people's bad thoughts on touching them. In this story she 'sees' that an evil and egocentric super-rich young woman is keeping her own twin imprisoned, and starving and torturing her.

Great story!

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I am reading the Ashley Bell stories at a friend's behest. Under normal circumstances I do not torture myself with bad prose unless I am being paid to help improve it.

[Tracy]

Loved it - Dean Koontz nails it again with the novella format, surprisingly as usually I prefer a long book.

[Lilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great quick read

Exciting from the first page. Wonderful characters and two very evil twins. Can't wait to see what will happen with the two main characters.

[Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second novella of the Koontz’s Ashley Bell series. It follows the awesome duo, Makani, Pogo and Bob the dog. The first novella Last Light was by far my favorite Koontz novella, and this one is…not great.


Don’t get me wrong, Dean Koontz is an excellent writer. He wrote one of my favorite stories, Lighting, although he wrote one hell of a forgettable story. *glares at Twilight Eyes at the bottom of a pile of books, hoping it gets squished into hell. At the same time, feeling dissatisfied with myself for being mean to a book that used to be a tree*

The thing I disliked about Twilight Eyes is how the main female character is heavily sexualized, and doesn’t have anything else interesting about her. Unfortunately, Final Hour follows this same pattern once the antagonist was described as being so fit, her buttcheeks could break open a nut…so.. Thankfully, the main protagonists make up for some of the silly fuckery of a butt breaking an acorn open.

________

Koontz Ranking:

1 - Lightning
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 - Phantoms
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 - Watchers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 - Last Light
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5 - Devoted
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
6 - The Neighbour
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
7 - Nameless series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
8 - Odd Thomas
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
9 - Final Hour
⭐️⭐️⭐️
10 - Midnight
⭐️⭐️ 💫
11 - Twilight Eyes
⭐️⭐️

[Kyle Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The problem with being real was that reality kept intruding on a life that, to others, seemed like a dream."
Final Hour by Dean Koontz

"The timeless sea was freedom, and the surfer’s life was ideally lived always in the moment, shorn of striving and struggle, with simplicity, without the envy that led both to regrets about the past and to a focus on the future at the expense of now. Those who wanted to change the world were certain to do great harm to it, while those who loved the world as they found it, those who shunned politics and theories, might discover in themselves a grace to match that of the sea; they might live a life that would be a beautiful line of calligraphy written not in ink, but in sunshine and mist, written in the wake carved in the water as you navigated the face of a wave, every trace of it gone with you when you left the planet, no stain or wreckage left behind."
Final Hour by Dean Koontz

"The harbor raced with color under a red sunset so bright that it seemed even saltwater should burst into flame from its fiery reflection."

[Bookloverinhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makani has the ability to see people’s secrets just by touch them (I love that she has a Hawaiian name). Her only real friend is Pogo and her dog, Bob.
📚
Makani’s weakness is that when she finds out someone’s secrets she can’t help but get dragged in. She meets Ursula, and when she touches Ursula she sees a girl that looks like Ursula who is locked up. With the help of Pogo and Bob, Makani works to free this locked up girl.
📚
I really enjoyed the story, but was bummed to see that this was a pre-quel to the Ashley Bell series which does not include Makani. 📚
This short story was really well written, the storyline and characters well developed and I was hooked in. The ending had good closure without feeling rushed or leaving me hanging. I’m going to be looking for more short stories by Dean Koontz.

[Mcf1nder_sk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another novella starring Makani and Pogo, the main characters in Last Light, the prequel to the Koontz novel Ashley Bell. In this tale, Makani saved a beautiful female jogger from getting run into by some inattentive skateboarders. Upon touching the woman, Makani sees that the woman she helped is holding another woman captive and starving her to death. Makani and Pogo then put themselves at risk, trying to save what they assume is an innocent victim. This is another fun quick read, and the main characters are easy to enjoy. The story is well-crafted, and the pace of the tale will keep the reader engrossed until the twist at the end.

[Murrel Lowry]

Headline (required)

Dean Koontz. Probably my all time favorite author. He and I have shared time together for many years through his writing. I can’t remember a single time that I have been disappointed in his books. From Christopher Snow to Odd Thomas to his Frankenstein series and I could go on and on. Final Hour, a novella has again completed what I have known for years. He is indeed a master of his craft and I have been very fortunate to be able to partake of his works. Many, many thanks to Dean Koontz. I look forward to more from this author!

[Cathy Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find Koontz can be a bit hit and miss for me. The style of his writing together with the unusual circumstances always involved either hooks me from page one or I struggle to get into the book. Unformtunately this book was the latter.

I enjoyed the book Ashley Bell but this one had few similarities other than the location and one of the characters appears in both books.

The story is good but I was frustrated with the apparent lethagy in the main protagonists to rescue the girl. As usual with Koontz expect a twist or 2.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story with Makani and Pogo, just like Last Light. And of Course Bob the dog. Makani helps a Beautiful woman by grabbing her out of harms way when two youth almost hit her while skate boarding. When Makani touches this woman, she sees the Evil this woman is committing. Fast paced and hard to put down, Once again Dean Koontz keeps me on the edge of my seat. Looking forward to his next book Ashley Bell.

[Toni Salyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE IT!!

I loved everything about this book. Bob, the dog, especially. I read it in just a few hours and I'm tempted to read it again. In spite of the dark overtones that is Dean Koontz's forte, his book is clean, free, and filled with ocean breezes that completely swept me away. I definitely want more of Pogo and Mikani. I hope the spelling of her name is correct. I look forward to reading a sequel or more.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sequel to Last Light continues the adventures of Makani, Pogo, and Bob the dog. While I enjoy the main characters, I wish Koontz would treat them to a full-length novel, and put his considerable talents to work in developing the characters and their relationships, instead of just including a lot of filler as he seems to have done more and more in recent years.

[Paula E Tedrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

He never fails me.

I've read books by Dean Koontz for years and like my headline said, he has never failed me. I recommend this novella if you want an entertaining read. It grabs you from the beginning and holds on until you finish. I appreciate Mr. Koontz for this book and all the other hours of entertainment he has given me.

[Leila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok for teens

Considering this is a novella, I was still intrigued from the first page onward. Dean Koontz has a wonderful way of leading his readers unknowingly down the path of knowing his characters on a visceral level without ever realizing you left your real life behind. Absolutely loved this shorter book.

[P.J. Hester · Rating 5 out of 5]

???

I usually don't write reviews because I state what I liked about the book not give a synopsis about the book. It's up to the individual whether or not they want to take the time to read it or not. Since I like Dean Koontz and have read many, many of his books, I have just finished reading 3 of them and am now ordering Ashley Bell.

[Nancy Silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Makani's Gift Is A Curse"

A novella that's hard to put down. This continues the story of Makani Hisoka-O'Brien as first revealed in "Last Light." So, you may want to read that first even though by itself this is a great story. It's a good vs evil and paranormal story to captivate you as all of Dean Koontz's stories do. Highly recommend.

[Nevajac Frye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not so much

I am a did hard Koontz can from the very beginning, so, must read anything with his name on it. However, I just don't get the point of this novella. The iconic descriptive narrative is there, and the introduction of two new somewhat interesting character ( and a dog, of course), but the story is short, and weak. I am really disappointed.