Out of frustration, I closed the book I was reading and how a book with a lot of promise would shift course to becoming bizarre. I needed to read at that moment and I didn’t want to start on a new book in my e-library so I searched for previously read paperbacks and that’s when I stumbled on this book.
Tick Tock is a standalone novel written by Dean Koontz. It was originally published in 1996 and has horror, thriller, suspense, mystery and paranormal as its genres. It has about 300 pages, although that may vary depending on where you’re reading it from. And finally, has no sequel.
I was sceptical reading this book because I detected horror as a genre from the first page. But I was in that phase where there was a desperation to consume everything readable. So even though, I stood the risk of not sleeping for many nights, I squelched my fear and began the journey into this world created by Dean Koontz
The protagonist of the novel is Tommy Phan, who is a Vietnamese immigrant who moved to America as a kid. He has since then completely embraced the American culture as a way of life, all the way down to his mannerisms. He even changed his name. This doesn’t go well with his very traditional Vietnamese family who wants him to be a part of the family’s baking business or at least be a doctor. Tommy, however, becomes a journalist who begins writing detective novels.
He becomes quite successful in his career and buys a Corvette. As he cruises around, delighted with his purchase, he begins to get an ominous feeling that something isn’t right. The night becomes dark and stormy and when he arrives his home, he sees a strange something sitting on his doorstep. It’s a small, all-white ragdoll with cross stitches on its eyes and mouth, and another pair of stitches on its heart. Tommy, curiously but callously, brings this ragdoll into his house and that night it morphs into something else. Something way bigger and deadlier than what it once was. Something intent on killing him.
That night becomes a game of cat and mouse for Tommy and the creature formed out of the ragdoll. On the day before this happens, he runs into someone by chance.... Or a fate far greater than what he knows. Her name is Deliverance Payne, a beautiful, witty and strangely intuitive waitress. She becomes his ally and partner in the journey to escape the vicious creature after him.
But it is clear that with the emergence of this creature and then Del Payne, the course of his life has been altered forever. However, time is running out, for the creature has left a warning on Tommy’s computer screen: The deadline is dawn. Will he be able to survive it before dawn comes? Tick tock.
I loved reading this book for a lot of reasons. And the first was the escape from reality. I cannot delude myself into thinking demon-possessed rag dolls don’t exist, however as it’s not something I care for considering my faith, I didn’t put regard into it, choosing to enjoy the tale regardless. The paranormal description of the scenes, people and occurrences left me with such an eerie feeling but it was one I relished because I found myself at the edge of my seat, bursting with emotions at the suspenseful scenes and then wide-eyed with the bizarreness of some other scenes.
I also liked the character development of Tommy and Deliverance. I don’t care so much for male protagonists but Tommy, with his lofty dreams and brazen acceptance of himself as an American, who was accepting his new roots, spoke of him as a man of his own. As a detective, his character was portrayed as overtly curious and suspicious of everything. These traits amused Del who had far too many secrets and mysteries surrounding her.
The book was also strangely comical. One of the stellar settings of the book to me was the time at Mrs. Payne’s house. Comic relief was provided and a sense of catharsis simply washed away my heightened terror.
However, the book took a nosedive in some sense for me with the info dumping. I do like books that keep the reveal of its prime mystery till the end of the novel but there seemed to be too much reveal. It was like a lot to take and the info dump had me reeling with dissatisfaction. Another issue for me was the amount of wreckage that happened in the book. Destruction of property that has the mysterious, Miss Del, saying that she’ll “make it right” with the owners. However, the fact that three lives were lost and there was no mention of “making it right” just made it seem all wrong.
After reading, I had to check other books by Dean Koontz. I was surprised when people gave negative ratings about Tick Tock, stating that the first half went so well but when Del entered the picture, it shifted from the world-class horror and mystery tale that it should have been to a baseless story with bad puns and unrealism.
I don’t feel this way though but it seemed to be a narrative spurned by people that have read other books by Dean Koontz. With all said and done, the mystery and its resolution, the comedy and the ominous, and all the mixes between supernatural and reality made it a more than okay book for me. Giving Tick Tock a 3.9/5. It’s a brilliant book with much to offer whoever dares to read.
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Other image is from my e-library.
