If you are on Mr Koontz mailing list you will know he can be a bit off the wall. His humour a bit strange and himself a bit kooky, very much like his latest story.

Our hero of the story Benny is a nice guy who is a bit down on his luck, cue a gift that will change everything in the form of Spike the Craggle. A sort of paranormal creature/bodyguard that supports nice guys.

As per previous books there was always going to be a good vs evil element, which is what Koontz does so well. His bad guys are Evil with a capital E and his good guys are always thoroughly decent and community spirited.

This gave me Odd Thomas vibes especially with Harper the waitress reminding me of Stormy, so if you are missing that series then I highly recommend giving this a whirl.

This is entertaining from start to finish, while tense at times it’s also packed with fun and Spike is just too cute.

Maybe I am one of a few, but I haven't read any of Dean Koontz's books so this was a first in itself for me.
We have Benny, a really 'nice' guy, who suddenly finds his comfortable life crumbling around him, from his job going south to his fiancee ditching him because he isn't now a viable option, seeing as he's seen as persona non grata in the real estate world, through no fault of his own.
Ever the optimist, he tries to remain positive, then is sent an intriguing note about an inheritance from a family member he didn't even know existed. An intriguing crate arrives, and the contents are even more intriguing: a seven-foot being called Spike.
Spike is an intriguing character. Sometimes, I think we all need a 'Spike'!
Other interesting characters joining Benny on his journey include a new love interest, Harper, and some boys from his past who hold meaning for him.
It took me a little while to get into the swing of the story. Benny is a genuinely good person. The story twists and turns as we go back and forth as we are sent to various times in Benny's past, then back to the present. But once I got in the swing of it, I was more and more hooked. It's a great read with plenty of suspense!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Mercer for an ARC.