If you’ve ever wondered how good a short story can be, Dean Koontz reminds us in The Neighbor. While it is touted as a prequel of sorts to his novel, The City, you need not have read it — I confess I haven’t yet — to enjoy this mesmerizing and tender short story.

Koontz immediately sucks us into the world of gangly 12 year old Malcolm and his beautiful 17 year old sister, Amalia, whom Malcolm adores. Their parents are terrible, and Malcolm describes their house as being like Poe’s House of Usher just before it sank into the swamp. Music is an escape for them, Malcolm finding the one thing he is graceful at in the Saxophone, while his very talented sister plays the clarinet and wants to be a writer. They also share a love for Big Band music of the 1930s and 1940s, which they play on vinyl records in the garage to avoid parents who hardly speak to one another. It is little touches like these which separate Koontz from the pack.

At the center of the story is the house next door, once belonging to recently deceased teacher Rupert Clockenwell. Someone is turning on lights at night in the old house, and Malcolm and his sister Amalia decide to pay the new neighbors a visit. Except there are no new neighbors, only sad revelations, and great danger. To reveal more would ruin this touching and enthralling short story I truly loved.

In addition to being an amazing read, it reminded me why I so much prefer Koontz to others in this field, especially King. With no need for padding because this was not a novel, Koontz excels, giving readers a truly engaging little story. Koontz’s optimistic attitude in regard to the human spirit, and the spiritual in general, and his sometimes common-sense conservative tone, sets him apart for this reader — and is most certainly the reason some don't like his work, if comments from readers about his books in general are to be believed.

However, everything I enjoy about Koontz — when he’s at the top of his game — is on display here in this tender and unforgettable short story. Highly recommended. ( )

I was going through my ebooks when I found this little novella and thought "what the heck, it's short and I don't know what to read next". Then, I realized it was the prequel to The City. But fortunately, it was not that bad and I actually liked it better than The City.
It was a quick read about an event before the siblings Malcolm and Amelia met Jonah. You really don't need to read this before you read The City, well you really don't need to read it after either. But at least it was better then The City. I liked Malcolm and Amelia and I would rather have read a book about them and the boring The City. ( )

It's been a while since I actually read and reviewed a Dean Koontz book that was not part of his Odd Thomas series. I used to love to read Dean Koontz when I was younger and devoured Strangers, Watchers, The Servants of Twilight, Ticktock (which was more adventure/funny than scary and I loved it), and a collection of short stories that I mentioned yesterday, Strange Highways.

Then I don't know what happened. I started to find myself not loving all of his more recent fare and then just outright not liking them. I finally stopped buying his books because I felt like I was reading the same plot over and over again with new character names. I was tired of reading about this super women that seemed to have no flaws and only existed to further along the hero's plot.

I decided to take a gamble on this short story since hey it was .99 cents and clocked in at 33 pages. I have to say. I am very glad that I did.

This short story really reminded me of old school Dean Koontz. What I mean by that is that you have the story building to a climax and there are no international organizations out to destroy the world, there are no aliens, and most importantly there are no dogs.

There is just a story of 12 year old Malcolm who loves his sister Amalia the most in this world since they were dealt a crappy hand and have two parents who treat them like slaves.

So what would be the worse thing to have happen to this boy? What do you think?

This short story explores that and more. We actually have an interesting tale of a neighbor who was just a man who also was more than he appeared. And this story reminded me again that sometimes people who are truly evil can live next door.

I highly recommend!
( )

I don't usually read shot stories but this one caught my attention for three reasons. 1. It was a ghost story...2. It was written by one of my all time favorite authors, Dean Koontz...and 3. It was one I knew I had never read, or even heard of. So...off to an afternoon with "Uncle Dean". It didn't make an afternoon ...it barely made it to an hour but it was a fascinating well told little ghost story. It had hidden elements that were slowly brought out that made it all the more interesting. It didn't try to gloss over the happenings that caused the haunting with disbelieves and denials. It just told the story and left it to the reader to believe it or not. As for Malcolm and his sister Amalia...no one had to convince them that the horror that dwelled yet next door was anything other than what it was. Excelled story...but way too short. I guess that's what makes it a "short story???:) ( )

This is a prequel to The City: A Novel and should be read first.***

This short eerie story explains about the vacant house next to Malcom and Amalia's childhood home. They discover secrets they would have rather not know in the pursuit of being neighborly with the new neighbor they assume moved in at 3 am the night before. Full of suspense, this short and chilling thriller sets a very supernatural tone to the neighborhood where the characters from The City: A Novel, grow up. I don't want to give spoilers but this is a definite prerequisite for reading the novel.

Dean Koontz is BACK! The author of some of my favorite novels from my youth has returned, in this novel. And I, for one, am incredibly happy to see/read his return! JUST the same tone as older novels, like The Watchers, and Whispers, and The Funhouse. Yay! I cannot wait to read The City, now.

5 stars for this very short story, happily.

***This novella and the corresponding book are suitable for adult readers due to mature and sensitive subject matter ( )