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    Relentless
    Relentless
    Relentless
    Audiobook9 hours

    Relentless

    Written by Dean Koontz

    Narrated by Dan John Miller

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Bestselling novelist Cullen “Cubby” Greenwich is a lucky man and he knows it. He makes a handsome living doing what he enjoys. His wife, Penny, a children’s book author and illustrator, is the love of his life. Together they have a brilliant six-year-old, Milo, affectionately dubbed “Spooky,” and a non-collie named Lassie, who’s all but part of the family.

    So Cubby knows he shouldn’t let one bad review of his otherwise triumphant new book get to him—even if it does appear in the nation’s premier newspaper and is penned by the much-feared, seldom-seen critic Shearman Waxx. Cubby knows that the best thing to do is ignore the gratuitously vicious, insulting, and inaccurate comments. Penny knows it; even little Milo knows it. If Lassie could talk, she’d tell Cubby to ignore them, too.

    Ignore Shearman Waxx and his poison pen is just what Cubby intends to do. Until he happens to learn where the great man is taking his lunch. Cubby just wants to get a look at the mysterious recluse whose mere opinion can make or break a career—or a life.

    But Shearman Waxx isn’t what Cubby expects, and neither is the escalating terror that follows what seemed to be an innocent encounter. For Waxx gives criticism; he doesn’t take it. He has ways of dealing with those who cross him that Cubby is only beginning to fathom. Soon Cubby finds himself in a desperate struggle with a relentless sociopath, facing an inexorable assault on far more than his life.

    Fearless, funny, utterly compelling, Relentless is Dean Koontz at his riveting best, an unforgettable tale of the fragile bonds that hold together all that we most cherish—and of those who would tear those bonds asunder.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateJun 9, 2009
    ISBN9781423356998
    Relentless
    Author

    Dean Koontz

    Dean Koontz is the author of more than a dozen New York Times No. 1 bestsellers. His books have sold over 450 million copies worldwide, and his work is published in 38 languages. He was born and raised in Pennsylvania and lives with his wife Gerda and their dog Anna in southern California.

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    Reviews for Relentless

    3.5/5

    424 ratings40 reviews

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    • 5/5
      This book is a rollercoaster ride, it's fun, surprising, and satisfying. Dont pay attention to any other review as based on the reviews I've read they are biased against Koontz's viewpoints on the dangers of a government in complete control. That being said, this book is about the survival of a family against malevolent and powerful forces that want them eliminated. The characters are delightful and engaging and of the kind you never forget. As always (with Koontz) the dog is an important member of the family as well. You cannot go wrong if you listen to this novel! It's one of my all time faves of Koontz. Others not to miss are Watchers, Dark Rivers of the Heart, and the Bad Place.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      The characters are enjoyable all throughout the journey, funny, persistent, funny, evolving, funny, interesting…did I mention funny? I want more, but since this doesn’t appear to be forthcoming, I’ll continue to reread this book over and over.
    • 4/5
      Reason for Reading: Dean Koontz has a new book out! Comments: Cullen Greenwich is a best selling author who is living a wonderful life and he knows it. Good money, nice home, loving wife, fine son (who at six happens to be a genius), what more could a guy ask for. Then his latest book is published and he receives a review from the nation's most renowned book critic, Sheardon Waxx. A scathingly bad review. Cullen usually just ignores bad reviews but Sheardon is somewhat of a recluse and when he finds out where he dines for lunch once a week, Cullen goes just to have a peek. The little peek turns into a chance encounter and what follows changes Cullen's life forever. His life becomes filled with terror as he and his family are stalked by a sociopath whose one goal in life is to kill them each very slowly. As someone who hasn't read a lot of Koontz, just a few oldies a long time ago, and now his new ones, I'm finding that he does not stick to any one particular genre label. This book is pretty much your straightforward serial killer thriller with a bit of science fiction thrown in to give it a Koontz twist. Fast-paced, frightening, gruesome thriller that hooks you from the first chapter. A very hard book to put down once you get started. I'm a big fan of the serial killer thriller and this one does not disappoint. One thing I particularly like about Koontz's villains is that they show pure evil, there is no sympathizing with them at all. The science fiction twist was, well, fun and a mystery itself which I managed to figure out shortly before it was revealed. I really enjoyed the main characters of Cullen and his wife Penny. Cullen is a sensitive, all round nice guy type of man with a dark secret in his past while his wife is the author/illustrator of cute children's books but is an expert with weapons and has a fierce determination to fight back when she or her family are threatened. Penny's parents are very eccentric and a real hoot. Actually, there is a sense of humour running in the background throughout the whole book which pops up every now and then giving the reader an occasional chuckle to lighten the otherwise heavy tension. I really enjoyed the book and know I'll continue to read Koontz's work as it comes out each year. Now just to find some time to tackle his extensive backlist! I really want to get the Odd Thomas and Frankenstein books first then go back to all the other ones.
    • 3/5
      Once more I couldn't put it down. Koontz knows how to keep up the suspense, but I agree that the endings are often weak.
    • 3/5
      I have to compliment the narration for this audiobook - the narrator, when acting as the narrator, had an average Joe sort of voice, yet he managed to impart distinction to each of the characters in turn, and not to irritate me in the process, which is something that male narrators can do at times when portraying a female voice, Percival's Planet being a good recent example of that. Odd that I was reading two books at the same time that featured a child genius as a character, but the similarities ended there! Koontz is one of my go-to authors for light entertainment in between things I have to think harder about, and I did enjoy this. There was a curious mixture of the lightheartedness of the central family and their bemused approach to their son's experimentation and the dog who kept turning up in odd places and the absolute unprovoked graphic violence that was visited upon the various victims. Cubby's back story was interesting and unanticipated. I would have to say though that actual explanation of the purpose behind the violence was weak - the weakest part of the story, but still and all, a nice diversion.
    • 4/5
      I love when authors write about 'writers' in their novels and that's exactly what we find in Relentless.The main character in this book is 'Cubby' who happens to be a writer, his wife is a children's book author and their six year old son is a prodigy. When Cubby (I found this nickname somewhat annoying throughout the book for what it's worth) receives a poor review of his latest work by Shearman Waxx, well known book critic, Cubby can't 'let it go'. He pursues Waxx to find out more about the reclusive critic, however soon wishes he had followed everybody's advice to 'let it go'.Shearman Waxx turns out to be psychotic and begins hunting Cubby and his family and trying to kill them. Cubby does some investigative work while on the run, and learns that other authors who received poor reviews from Waxx have been killed or are in hiding.The book moves along at a great pace, and for once the main character seems to think ahead and make all the right moves. It's frustrating in books when the characters make stupid decisions and you know it's going to result in their death and you feel like yelling out at them.Cubby's son Milo is extraordinarily gifted and is working on a device that he cannot explain to his parents but which the reader knows will save them in the end. This is a little predictable and unbelievable at times but if you can 'go along with it' then it doesn't interfere with the pace of the book.Koontz loves to write about dogs with special powers and children who are intelligent and mature beyond their years and Relentless is no exception. Familiar themes, a terrifying nemesis and much murder and mayhem means that I really enjoyed this book.Recommended for any Dean Koontz fans or those who enjoy a thriller but who are willing to submit a little to some of the sub plots.
    • 4/5
      Cubby Greenwich has just received the first scalding and completely negative review of his literary career from Sherman Waxx, a reclusive and enigmatic critic. When Cubby tries to get a look at the hermit, Waxx begins an assault on the writer’s personal life that seems destined to end in tragedy. On the run with his wife and child, Cubby learns that he is not the first author to be panned by Waxx, nor the first to be targeted for doom by the eccentric critic. [Relentless] is vintage Koontz, in some ways too vintage and in others gloriously so. On occasion, the prolific Koontz seems to slip into heavy-handedness in constructing his plots along a familiar path, and [Relentless] sometimes suffers from treading that well-worn ground. Indeed, he portends big happenings with the last line of several chapters. And all of the signs point to Koontz favorites – supernaturally endowed animals, children with otherworldly knowledge and capability, and heroes with bloody, dark pasts. On the other hand, his ability to create circus performer-like, reality-defying characters with a charm that overcomes any suspense of belief overcomes will keep most readers engaged. And Koontz’ wry sense of humor fills in any other gaps.Bottom Line: Not the Koontz I would recommend to introduce the author, but one that rewards the fan who knows him well – a fun read.4 bones!!!!
    • 4/5
      Would of been 5 stars but it is a 4.5 because of the ending.
    • 3/5
      I have been a fan of Koontz for 20 years now, and have read everything he has written. This book is not one of his best books. Waxx was crazy & kooky enough to keep me reading. But as usual- as of late, Koontz characters seem to fizzle out, and their plots launch into unbelievable twists that even he cannot bind up right, at the end.. And again, I was disappointed. What is his obsession with magical/other-worldly dogs? The witty repartee' was nice, though. But I no longer buy his books, since The Taking, and will continue to borrow them from the library.. :-
    • 3/5
      “Cubby” Greenwich is an author in Dean Koontz book "Relentless". Cubby's newest book is out and the reviews are coming in. One critic, Shermann Waxx gives Cubby a bad review. Cubby can't stand the thought that this critic gives him a bad review. So Cubby decides to "stalk" this critic. This is not a good decision.Shermann Waxx goes from being the hunted to being the hunter. Cubby, his wife Penny, their dog Lassie and their intellectual prodigy son, Milo go on the run after their home is blown up. Waxx and his associates chase the family from one place to another. In the final showdown, you can guess who comes out on top. This was not one of Dean Koontz better novels. I listened to it on audio book and it just wasn't up to Koontz standards. All in all it was a decent story, just not noteworthy.
    • 3/5
      This book was another of what is becoming "typical Koontz". I was always an avid fan but find lately (aside from the ODD THOMAS series), his books are getting a little cookie cutter. Entertaining read none the less if taken for what it is.
    • 3/5
      This is the first Koontz I have read and it was an enjoyable and super fast read. In fact, I read it all in one evening because I so wanted to see how it could possibly be resolved. Relentlessis the story of Cubby Greenwich (famous author), his wife, Penny (famous children's book author), their son, Milo (6 yr old nicknamed Spooky for good reason), and a book critique named Shearman Waxx. Cubby has just finished a book and receives a scathing review from Waxx. It just keeps bothering him - he can't get it out of his head. It seems so unfair, and so obvious that Waxx did not even read the book. Through more luck than detective work Cubby an Waxx end up in the same restaurant...in the same bathroom...and then... "Doom." That is the single word that Waxx speaks to Cubby and the beginning of a an altered life for the Greenwich family. Waxx is beyond a psychotic. His first contact with the family is simply wandering through the house - but the very next time there is a taser and a darkened room are involved. The violence escalates as does the bottomless fear - especially as more of Waxx's victims turn up on the internet....a poison pen review is only the first step - you have been marked for elimination as a writer and as a human being! So - this book creeped me out. Waxx seems to be everywhere and able to do absolutely any horror he deems necessary. But - Koontz's humor and odd, fringe details about Milo and his bizarre machine and his levitating, disappearing, grinning dog really balanced out the horror of the torture in this book. I hate reading suspense novels...they simply eat me alive.. but this was different! The conversations between Cubby and Penny and Cubby and Milo were hilarious and boring and so typical of a normal family. This was in sharp contrast to the unthinkable horror that Waxx's previous victims were subject to. There was also another layer of bizarreness...Cubby tells the story of the night his parents were killed - through the eyes of a 6-yr-old. Creepy beyond measure and terribly interesting! I enjoyed this escapism book. It was the perfect antidote to tech and teaching overload as we prepare to start our first day of school on Monday.
    • 4/5
      I am such a fan of Dean Koontz that I'm going to attempt any of his books. This one is pretty far out there. The main characters are so likeable that you just keep reading beacuse of them.
    • 4/5
      Marmite. Don't read all these reviews until you have finished the book.
    • 3/5
      I've always loved Dean Koontz books, but this one felt like a comic/graphical book - - so much silliness that I could care less about any of the characters.
    • 2/5
      Too much of the author's politics drives the characters dialogue. I didn't appreciate the lectures.
    • 3/5
      Ah What a quick and not so good end again. I used to love his books and sometimes I still do but most of his newer books are not as good as they used to be. He is so desperately trying to be funny all the time. You also know everyone is going to be safe, the so called good people, and the grand finale was a little flutter.
      Even though all of the above it is a quick read but after the last page I could not help but feel disappointment again.



      Read another book in between so that is why it took me so long.
    • 3/5
      This was a rollercoaster ride from beginning to end, with no end to the thrills. Definitely worth reading.
    • 4/5
      very good book...kept my attention...loved the action...could visualize a movie in my head while I was reading this book...highly recommend
    • 3/5
      Nothing much to say here aside from this being a typical, readable Koontz book, suitable as a dinner companion while out of town on business. Typical of Koontz, it is improbable as all get-out BUT he manages to get away with it anyway. Brain candy for sure, but at the end of a long day and alone at the Olive Garden, it works just fine. Makes you wonder what Mr. Koontz is on and is it available over-the-counter.
    • 4/5
      I have read a lot of Koontz and this is by far my favorite so far. I really enjoyed this story, especially the dialogue between the main character and his family. It was witty and fun with that sadistic murderous edge Koontz is known for. Looking forward to the next Koontz novel.
    • 3/5
      This is the first Koontz novel I've read and I was pleasantly surprised by the pace and the wicked sense of humour. It was a enuine page-turner which I read in two sittings. Unfortunately I did feel that it lost the plot about a third of the way through and although, up until that point, I'd been lured into the story and was prepared to be drawn into this semi-fantasy world, I did find some of the twists and turns a little too far-fetched. By the end I'd been overwhelmed by preposterousness of the highest order. Still, I would recommend it as it's a cracking read and perhaps I'm being a little too unimaginative.
    • 5/5
      It is really hard to not like a Koontz story and this is one that starts of with a bang. I was drawn in by the humor in the first couple of chapters and then when the terror starts, and it does start very early, I had touble putting the books down. Well done and a super, great read.
    • 3/5
      When novelist Cubby Greenwich receives a punishing review from one of the nation’s top literary critics, he tries his best to put it behind him. But critic Shearman Waxx has other ideas and soon starts terrorising the writer’s family, blowing up his home, and sending him on the run in fear for his life. Relentless is a book that lures you in with a plausible opening and likeable hero, then throws all credibility out the window with a series of escalating threats, a preposterous conspiracy and a villain who’s both unstoppable and untouchable. It breaks all kinds of narrative and genre rules – not least in the way it introduces elements of deus ex machina sci-fi in the final chapters that stretch our suspension of disbelief past breaking point.And yet… I can’t help but admire Koontz’s continued skill at crafting breakneck-pace page turners, and his way with humour – you can almost see him winking at the reader as he piles plot twist on top of plot twist and writes his characters into one impossible scenario after another. Jack Bauer would approve. As with many of this author’s books, I wouldn’t be brave enough to recommend it for fear of ridicule… but I can’t deny I had fun.
    • 3/5
      I used to read Koontz many years ago and remember his books as being terrifically suspenseful and weird. This one came in a pile of books from a friend, and I decided to read it. The suspense was great, and it's definitely weird, but it was ruined in the last quarter by the stupid "reason" for the murderous events. I know, the sci fi, supernatural, elements should have been the reason it was ruined, but they were actually fun and expected. The huge, secret organization on a mission to direct world culture just didn't fit with the pure evil, grotesqueness of the crimes. They were of a highly personal nature, individually tailored to render the greatest horror and despair in the targeted victim. The humour seemed a bit off to me as well. Koontz does write entertaining and sympathetic protagonists and here's a spoiler; nothing awful happens to the dog.
    • 3/5
      Sherman Waxx, a notorious book critic, rips the latest book by Cubby Greenwich. Despite the advice of everyone to let it go, Cubby decides to find out more about Waxx, and gets more than he bargained for. Waxx is seemingly superhuman in his ability to terrorize Greenwich, his wife, his genius young son, and their brilliant retriever. The book plots out over just a few days as the Greenwich family runs for their lives, only to discover other artists who have been similarly terrorized by Waxx. Fans of recent Dean Koontz books won't be disappointed; detractors of Koont's books will find similar complaints here. The first-person voice and ability for characters to shrug off life-threatening danger feels unlikely, despite the author's efforts to explain. Also, the lengthy side-bar narratives add less than they take away from the flow of the story and are distracting. But this is Koontz's style, and it's not new to his legion of fans. The action keeps the pages turning through the end, as does the wait for the payoff to the early foreshadowing that one member of Greenwich's small family will be shot to death.
    • 4/5
      A witty best-selling author, his survivalist-raised childrens' book-author wife, his prodigy son, and his teleporting dog are stalked by a serial killer who is supported by a government agency. I know that sounds ridiculous, but this was a really good, fast read.
    • 5/5
      Bestselling author Cullen “Cubby” Greenwich, having survived a traumatic experience as a child, considers himself a lucky man. He’s married to the love of his life, has a six-year-old son who’s a genius, and a dog named Lassie Cubby suspects may have supernatural abilities. When Cubby’s latest novel is given a scorching review by acclaimed reviewer Shearman Waxx, everyone advises Cubby to let it go. But Cubby’s curious about the man whose review is filled with misstated facts about his book. Cubby manages to lunch where the reviewer has a reservation, and from that point on, finds himself and his family targeted by Waxx, inexplicably intent on ending their lives. After researching Waxx and learning other authors and their families have met torturous demise at the hands of Waxx and his minions, Cubby and his family flee from a demented sociopath who is relentless in his efforts to find them.Koontz excels at providing exciting thrillers involving wholesome, very likeable characters pursued by evil. This book is reminiscent of Koontz’s earlier works, filled with breath-taking suspense and gripping scenes. Characterization is in-depth and revealing, and the plot fast-paced and intriguing.
    • 4/5
      I read my first Koontz thriller some time ago. I’d just been through a break up and needed a book that wouldn’t make me cry, and would distract me from those nuisance things us girls have called ‘emotions’. That book was Velocity. I read it in one sitting, and needless to say, it didn’t make me cry. Instead, I felt like I’d been through a meat mincer. So when I pulled Relentless out of my Christmas stocking a few weeks ago, I was a little apprehensive, but added it to my to-be-read pile nonetheless. Going through my pile the other day (it’s more than doubled since a trip to the local library), I started reading the first page of each book. Relentless was the only one I managed to pick up. I sat there, on the floor of my bedroom, sweating profusely in the heat, until I’d read it from cover to cover.Relentless is the story of Cullen ‘Cubby’ Greenwich, a bestselling novelist who has just published his fifth book, ‘One O’Clock Jump’. Although used to bad reviews, Cubby is rattled by Sherman Waxx’s review of his book, and not just because of the reviewer’s bad syntax. Sherman Waxx is an enigma. The nation’s premier literary critic, authors far and wide live in fear of receiving a Waxx review. Unable to let his own review go as Cubby’s wife Penny suggests, Cubby and his six-year-old son Milo decide to stake out Waxx while he lunches in a local restaurant. Crossing paths in the men’s bathrooms, with Waxx narrowly avoiding being sprayed with Milo’s urine, Cubby sees Waxx at his home later that evening, stalking down the hallways with an air of purpose. Cubby soon realises that Waxx is not merely a book critic, but a psychopath who has his sights set on Cubby and his family, who flee to stay alive.Much like Velocity, Koontz has written Relentless at a cracking pace – there’s never a dull moment, such is Koontz’s talent. The protagonist Cubby and his family also have a really strong presence on the page – their family dynamic is so realistic and natural. Cubby is a very likeable character, modest and unassuming with his out-of-control hair and his ineptitude with electrical equipment. His narration of the story feels quite candid at times. But the character that really drove the narrative for me was that of Cubby’s son Milo. A genius with an intellect that far exceeds that of his parents, I think Koontz has quite cleverly captured the essence of an emotionally immature six-year-old, who despite being wise beyond his years, still finds fart jokes funny and believes that he can blame things on his dog, Lassie, and get away with it.‘John Clitherow called while you were packing. He gave me some advice. Credit cards were part of it.’‘Clitherow – the writer?’‘Yeah . . . He has some experience with this . . . of Waxx.’‘What experience?’‘Because I didn’t want to talk about . . . [this] . . . in front of Milo, I said ‘John wants me to tell you his three favourite children’s stories are “Dumbo”, Kate DiCamillo’s “The Tale of Despereaux”, and your first Purple Bunny book.’‘That’s nice. But you said “experience”, What’s he know about Waxx?’‘John especially liked the funny physiology in those books.’In my lap, Milo said, ‘The little elephant, the little mouse, and the little bunny all had really big ears . . . Mom, Dad’s trying to tell you that I’m little but I’ve got big ears, and there’s something Mr. Clitherow told him that I guess I’m too young to hear. . . Probably something really bloody, strange and scary. Or a sex thing, ’cause from what I know about it, that’s totally weird.’Koontz also goes for a bit of a supernatural/sci-fi twist with Relentless, which I understand is quite unusual for his style. Throughout the book it’s assumed that there’s something distinctly sub-human about the antagonist Waxx, but when the revelation does come, it didn’t quite pack the punch I was expecting, nor is it particularly convincing. As I read the final chapters of the book, I got the sense that the storyline simply got too complicated for Koontz to resolve it effectively without resorting to using supernatural/science fiction elements. As it stands, there is still a huge chunk of the narrative that isn’t addressed in the book’s conclusion – an obvious piece – which leads me to believe that Koontz’s writing of the manuscript was a little rushed. Indeed, looking at his website, it seems that he’s published 13 books in the last two years. Whilst six of these are graphic novels and one a children’s novel, that’s still a hell of a lot of writing – equating to a rate of three novels a year. Either Koontz is a genius like his character Milo, or he has a few helpers. Whilst I’m not experienced enough to judge the quality of his current writing against his earlier work – indeed, Relentless is extremely well written for the most part – I’d be surprised if Koontz isn’t undergoing the same branding process that Clive Cussler has recently been subjected to. Cussler published three books in 2009, with three already announced for 2010 – all achieved with a host co-authors including Dirk Cussler, Paul Kemprecos, Jack Du Brul, Craig Dirgo and Grant Blackwood. (If you are interested in learning more about this branding process, there’s a nifty little article here that explains the basics).For what it is, Relentless is a merciless little thriller with some excellent characters and I would recommend it to fellow reviewers – even if only to show how not to review a book.
    • 1/5
      I just could not get into this book...it's the first book by Koontz that I totally abandoned. I borrowed the audio version and listened up to the 4th disc...if it was the book in print I probably wouldn't have gotten that far. The premise is that some psycho lit critic is terrorizing this writer, his wife, and their unbelievably smart child. The writing style reminded me of Koontz's book 'Life Expectancy' which had lots of dry humor interspersed...it was bearable there but I just couldn't take it in this book. It didn't help that I didn't particularly care for the reader's voice either.