Night Chills

by Dean Koontz

Book Overview

#1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz unleashes a contagion on a small Maine town--one that triggers the darkest desires of the soul. Designed by top scientists and unleashed in a monstrous... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425098648
• Release Date: September 1986
• Publisher: Berkley
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.7" x 1.0" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

Night Chills (book)

I did not order a book. I can only do audio due to an illness. Books are out for me. Not worth returning. Will donate to someone. Betty Harrison

Disturbing And Haunting...This Will Give You The Chills!

(Actual Rating- 4.5 Stars) Night Chills(1976). A Novel By Suspense/Thriller Writer Dean Koontz. In the Late-50's, many companies experimented with the use of subliminals to make people go out and buy their products. While a big controversy at the time, the public soon forgot about it, yet, to this day, companies still use subliminal advertising to try and get people to buy their products. Although subliminals aren't visible to your conscious mind, your sub-conscious mind fully comprehends the hidden messages, and almost on instinct, 70% of the time the person will buy that product. Although the ads never technically "forced" anybody to buy the product, Dean Koontz explores in 'Night Chills' the scary possibility that someone could use subliminals to the point of total mind control. Since I was intrigued by the original and disturbing storyline, I decided to pick up 'Night Chills'. So, much like Koontz's other novels, was 'Night Chills' a masterpiece or a sorry state of affairs? Read on to find out! Plot- In the peaceful logging town of Black River, population 400, things are about to get out of hand. Scientist Ogden Salsbury, after discovering a drug, that combined with subliminals, can induce total mind control, hurriedly seeks out millionare Leonard Dawson to be his partner in taking over the world. To test the drug, they choose to wreak havoc on the peaceful town of Black River. After putting the *mind-control* drug in the town's water supply and exposing the townspeople to a TV show filled with subliminals, Salsbury goes in to see if he can control the townspeople. With just the mention of the code-phrase "I am the key", he unlocks the townspeople's minds to his every wish, and they can't help but go along. Meanwhile, the Addendale family, which includes 11-year old Rya and 8-year old Mark, not to mention their middle-aged father Paul take their yearly camping trip to Black River, and finds that everybody but them and the Edison family is suffering from night chills. As the Addendales and the Edison's dig deeper into the mass conspiracy that Ogden Salsbury has started, they must find a way to stop it, or else find themselves under Salsbury's control... Writing/Opinions/Etc.- 'Night Chills', as any Koontz fan will agree too, isn't his best, yet it undoubtedly does what you've come to expect from Koontz: From start to finish, the gripping plotline and intricate plot twists will keep the reader enthralled throughout. Well, to no surprise, that holds true. Koontz divides the chapters between the main characters, so, one moment you'll find yourself reading the adventures of the Addendales and the next you'll find yourself gripped by the demented and disturbing acts of Salsbury and Dawson. I particuarly enjoy this style of writing, and thought it was a great idea on Koontz's part, as the reader gets to know the characters well. Koontz's eerily-possible story about Mind-control and subliminals was a great idea, and he really fleshes out all the

My favorite Dean Koontz book

I am not the Dean Koontz fan that I once was which was just over a decade ago. He and Stephen King were my two favorite authors in high school. I voraciously read their books like there was no tomorrow. "Night Chills" was my first Dean Koontz book that I read. I discovered it when I read in a blurb in a magazine that former Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson was a fan of this particular book. The concept of subliminal messages and using them to brainwash an entire town fascinated me. I enjoyed reading the story of Paul Annendale and his children who takes a trip to Black River only to discover the evil deeds of Olgen Salsbury. The results was very interesting. I loved the book the first time I read it, and I still love reading the book over and over again. What was disturbing about this book was that it made me think about subliminal messages and whether it was possible or not that my own government could use subliminal messages on its own constituents. After all the US government in recent years has managed to intrude on my personal life even more so than a decade ago. "Night Chills" is a fascinating fictional take on the possibilities of subliminal messages and what happens when it is used for evil purposes. "Night Chills" is a truly a literary classic by Dean Koontz.

Koontz's most darkest book...

Night Chills is set in the town of Black River. A man named Oldgen Salsbury has developed very effective mind control techniques that are delivered through subliminal advertising. The people of Black River have been exposed to the advertisements for months now, and Oldgen decides that it is time to experiment on the townspeople. By uttering the phrase "I am the key", the mind is unlocked and open to suggestion. This leaves anyone in town vulnerable. The people of Black River begin to commit violent and random acts of rape and murder, and have no memory of what happened afterwards. To make things even worse, the townspeople begin to suffer from flu like symptoms that are refered to as night chills. A man named Paul Annendale has been spending his summer vacations in Black River for the last seven years with his two children Mark and Rya. Since they are now the only ones in town who were not exposed to the subliminal messages, it is up to Paul to discover the truth and put a stop to Oldgen.Night Chills is without a doubt the darkest and most disturbing book that Koontz has ever written. The subject of subliminal advertising and mind control is a frightening one, because it could happen to anyone in real life. Koontz's description of the killings and sexual acts in this book is so realistic, that it will literally give you the creeps. Some scenes in this book disturbed me very deeply and it takes a lot to make me that upset. However, the book is so terrifying and disturbing that it is impossible to put down. You begin to become intrigued and you begin to anticipate what Oldgen will do next. That is why Night Chills is such a great book. Koontz's character development is great once again. Oldgen is one of Koontz's best villans because he is so ruthless. There is nothing he won't do. He literally uses the people of Black Rivers to carry out his sickest desires. Paul Anenndale plays the typical Koontz heroine, and is a very likeable character. Paul's two kids are also enjoyable characters as well.Overall, Night Chills is one of Koontz's best books. While it is his darkest and most disturbing book, the suspense the story brings is intense, and the characters are all great. Koontz's realistic and frightening look at mind control and subliminal advertising will have you glued to the pages.

Perhaps Koontz's edgiest book...

This one is not recommended for the faint of heart. Koontz doesn't hold back on telling what could happen when virtually godlike power falls into the wrong hands. Basically an exploration of how absolute power corrupts absolutely... and there's plenty of explicit corruption detailed herein. The book doesn't end on an "up" note either, like many of Koontz's others -- it's definitely a downer, albeit a highly entertaining one. Although it's one of my personal favorites (and thankfully doesn't involve the supernatural or aliens, a recurring Koontz theme), I'd recommend the typical Koontz fan go into this one knowing that all is most definitely *not* peaches and cream. The "good guys" do win, but the damage is done... and there's no easy-breezy escape via a "touched by an angel" golden dog. Not what I'd call light entertainment, but entertaining nonetheless.