Benny is so nice they feel compelled to destroy him, but he has a friend who should scare the hell out of them in this breathtaking new kind of thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling master of suspense Dean Koontz.
Benny Catspaw’s perpetually sunny disposition is tested when he loses his job, his reputation, his fiancée, and his favorite chair. He’s not paranoid. Someone is out to get him. He just doesn’t know who or why. Then Benny receives an inheritance from an uncle he’s never heard of: a giant crate and a video message. All will be well in time.
How strange―though it’s a blessing, his uncle promises. Stranger yet is what’s inside the crate. He’s a seven-foot-tall self-described “bad weather friend” named Spike whose mission is to help people who are just too good for this world. Spike will take care of it. He’ll find Benny’s enemies. He’ll deal with them. This might be satisfying if Spike wasn’t such a menacing presence with terrifying techniques of intimidation.
In the company of Spike and a fascinated young waitress-cum-PI-in-training named Harper, Benny plunges into a perilous high-speed adventure, the likes of which never would have crossed the mind of a decent guy like him.
The Bad Weather Friend by Dean Koontz is published on 1 February 2024 by Thomas & Mercer. My thanks to Antara at FMcM who sent my copy for review as part of this Blog Tour.
This is my first experience of reading Koontz and I'm led to believe that The Bad Weather friend is very different to his normal style.
I have to be honest, I really thought this book was more than a little bonkers! It is an incredibly easy to read story, with characters who are well thought out and easy to like, but the whole concept just blew my brain to smithereens at times.
The story opens in Florida where we meet two men loading a very large trunk that is to be put on an aeroplane. We learn a little about the guy who is sending the trunk. We then meet the lead character of the story; Benny Catspaw (oh, most of the characters have VERY strange names). Benny arrives at work, he's an estate agent, only to be called immediately to the boss's office. He is then fired, but Benny doesn't know why and can get no straight answers from his boss.
Benny Catspaw is a very nice bloke. We learn that he's had a terrible childhood, but that he is still very nice. His days are not getting any better when he is dumped by his girlfriend. So, no job, no girlfriend, what next?
The trunk that was being loaded in the opening in the book is for Benny, and when it arrives, Benny finds he now has a 'bad weather friend'; this is Spike, a seven-foot-tall 'craggle' and is supernatural. Benny also finds himself a new girlfriend; Harper Harper (yes, you read that correct, double Harper). This unlikely trio band together to try to discover why Benny was fired, and it's a crazy journey for sure.
The current story is interwoven with snippets from Benny's past, some of this is really dark and violent and goodness knows how Benny turned out so 'nice'!
Koontz often talks directly to the reader throughout the book which to be honest, I found a little off putting and it felt as though I was kicked out of the story at times, and was listening to his own opinions of current affairs. That's the style though and some readers may love it.
The author can definitely spin a great yarn, his writing is easy to follow and his characters are vividly created (although those names!). Not really my usual type of read, but one that I did enjoy once I'd settled into the style.
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