Intensity by Dean R. Koontz is a chilling novel of psychological suspense. This terrifying thriller about the battle of wits between Chyna Sheperd, a vulnerable young woman who survived an abusive childhood, and Edgler Vess, a sadistic killer who has murdered Chyna’s friend and her family is truly intense. Though he is oblivious of her presence, to avenge her friends’ deaths, Chyna stows away in Vess’ getaway vehicle. When she inadvertently learns of a teenager that is held prisoner at the madman’s home, Chyna appoints herself the girl’s savior and abandons her chance to escape before she’s discovered. The novel spans 436 pages; yet, the events transpire over only a 24-hour period, heightening the tension and menace in this cat-and-mouse story of terror and courage.
A major plus of this novel is its strong heroine, Chyna Shepherd. Because she outwits her nemesis time and again, fans of psychological suspense will find themselves cheering for her from her first encounter with Vess to the novel’s end. Since this is a can’t-put-down-page-turner, another strength is the novel’s level of suspense and Koontz’s fast-paced action. The only break in the novel’s intensity, which many may consider a weakness, comes in the form of occasional flashbacks that focus on the heroine’s recollection of her troubled childhood. These reflections, however, give a better understanding of why Chyna risks her life for a total stranger and chooses to battle one of fiction’s most terrifying villains. As a result, readers are also left with a sense that her actions are heroic rather than foolhardy. |
