Book Review: Velocity

By Dean Koontz 

4 stars 

Velocity is a cleverly written thriller by author Dean Koontz. It begins in the small town of Napa County, California, with bartender Billy Wiles getting off work to find a note on his car. The writer of the note threatens to kill a young, lovely teacher if Billy doesn’t take it to the police, or an elderly woman who is very active in charity work if he does. He has six hours to decide.  Assuming it’s a prank by his comedic coworker Steve Zillis, he ignores it. That was, until a schoolteacher fitting the description was found dead the next day. Billy now understands this is not just a prank. “Inaction now counted as a choice.” He knows he must stop the killer before any harm can come to anyone else or his beloved fiancée.   

I much enjoyed reading Velocity. I couldn’t stop trying to predict the killer and the potential victims. There were lots of plot twists, keeping me guessing. The deep, tragic backstory of Billy made it even more entertaining. I felt an emotional attachment to some of the characters, as they were very well written. The plot was thought out thoroughly. The notes that Billy received tested his morals and who he was as a person. I would rate it 4 stars. I wouldn’t call it my favourite book, but it was very entertaining and hard to put down. This book moves along with incredible velocity. I would recommend this book to people who love murder mysteries, suspense, and thrills. 

Reviewed by Adelaide 

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