I have heard many times from fans of Dean Koontz that they were upset because Koontz used "no-name" writers to co-author his retelling of Mary Shelly's classic story, FRANKENSTEIN. Let me put some of this nay-saying to rest. Kevin Anderson is not a no-name author. He has written numerous novels for the Star Wars universe (the bounty hunter trilogy is a lot of fun), and he has also written for X-Files. I'd say that's two pretty solid foundations to stand upon.

As for the story itself, I really enjoyed it. The pace was fast, keeping me wanting to turn pages well into the night. The New Orleans setting is perfect, giving a creepy quality to an already creepy story. And who doesn't love an almost seven feet tall protagonist in Deucalion? As for the human characters, I am confident that they will be fleshed out in future installments. This series has serious potential.

RECOMMENDED

Fast moving and enjoyable with Koontz's wonderful paranoia throughout. Its characters interesting and developed with a complex concept and smooth plotting. Its only significant weakness, its repetitiveness, seeming like filler or padding, but nothing that lagged the story too much.

I'm in for number two.

This books was published in 2005, and, with hindsight being 20/20, it would be easy to nitpick the technology that Koontz gets wrong when it comes to life longevity and over-the-counter supplements, and I could even forgive his telling us that the chief villain stores stolen body parts in real Tupperware in his freezer and not explain any concern for ice crystal damage to organ cells in long-term storage (in Tupperware). And it is a freezer, not some special liquid nitrogen setup. Even with its problems, the story is engaging and moves along. However, as I was reading this, thinking about what I would rate it-- I was prepared to give it a 4-star rating (3/4ths the way through the book), but then the book ends abruptly, almost in mid sentence with tons-- I mean tons of things unresolved. Actually, nothing is resolved. It's like, if you want to know how this story ends, read my next book.

Koontz a incercat sa reinterpreteze clasica poveste a monstrului lui Frankenstein si i-a reusit cu succes. Si, in ciuda subiectului(crime macabre), m-am trezit razand de multe ori. Cei doi detectivi au niste replici absolut delicioase. Sunt extrem de sarcastici si carcotasi. Dar si Deucalion (Monstrul lui Frankenstein) are un fel "aparte" de a gandi :
"— Vești rele? A murit cineva?
— Mai rău de atât. Cineva e încă în viață. "

Really good fun. One of the best Koontz novels I've read.

I like this style of Koontz book best of all; it is not so much about dreams and fantasy, but more about real things like man-made monsters, disembodied animated hands, and tanks where people are made. Plus I loved the descriptions of the sultry Big Easy!

Fascinating series by Dean Koontz. I love what he's done with modernizing an old classic.

I am a big Dean Koontz fan, having read some books I rated with 3 stars, to 5 stars. This book was not a disappointment.
Koontz takes the classic Frankenstein story and builds on it as though it really happened. In his book both the Monster (Deucalion in this book) and Victor Frankenstein (calling himself Victor Helios) have survived. There is a rash of serial murders in Louisiana and Deucalion returns when he finds out Victor is still alive. In the two hundred years that have passed Victor found a way to keep himself alive and is a wealthy scientist who is still "creating" new life. Deucalion, once the monster has grown and changed into a humane "human" and Victor is becoming the monster. Victor's new creations are not happy and become aware that they are being used. On the case of the serial killings where body parts are being taken, are two homicide investigators, partners who learn of things they never thought possible.
One of the things I like about Koontz is the "little" touches he adds to his story. The other detectives, Old-timers, and not so fond of the two young detectives, appear to be lazy and looking for just the glory. One of these detectives is named Harker, Jonathan Harker. Victor names his creations and at one point creates a head with a brain with no body. He names this creature "Karloff" in a nod to the movies which he loved. These are two of those little things that make me appreciate Koontz' writings all the more.
I am holding myself back from reading the next in the series to prolong the enjoyment as I had not previously read any of this series, so these are like "new" Koontz books to me.

I'm shocked, I never thought I'd find a DK I enjoyed. Prodigal Son is not the most unique or original premise (I find the whole Frankenstein-was-a-true-story uninspired), but the story was good and I found the commentary/messaging to be (definitely accidentally) super based, but maybe I just read it wrong. The characters are nothing memorable, but I've just come to accept that from contemporary fiction. I'm running through some DK paperbacks, so hopefully there are some more winners among them.

And also, one thing, if the guy is supposed to really be Victor Frankenstein, shouldn’t his wife’s name be Elizabeth Four not Erica Four? Maybe they’ll explain it, or maybe it doesn’t matter.

"Come in, come in! I was just cremating a customer."
- Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Prodigal Son, Chapter 40

New Orleans is such a wonderful setting for this story and the storytelling is brilliantly executed. The humor is sharp as a razor's edge. I am so happy to be re-reading this series with other Koontzlanders.

I love this fairytale setting:
A white picket fence met white gateposts inlaid with seashells. The gate itself featured a unicorn motif.
Under Carson's feet, the front walkway twinkled magically as flecks of mica in the flagstones reflected moonlight. Moss between the stones softened her footsteps.
Almost thick enough to feel, the fragrance of the magnolia tree flowers swagged the air.
The windows of the fairy-tale bungalow were flanked by blue shutters from which had been cut star shapes and crescent moons.
Trellises partially enclosed the front porch, entwined by leafy vines graced with trumpetlike purple blooms.

Favorite Passages:
Roy Pribeaux liked to rise well before dawn to undertake his longevity regimen - except on those occasions when he had been up late the previous night murdering someone.
______

She needed to have the rug of routine pulled out from under her, to be tumbled headlong into the mystery of life. Maybe mystery was a synonym for change.
______

When new hopes fail, old hopes return in the endless cycle of desperation.

Αρκετή φλυαρία ώρες ώρες και ο Δευκαλίων λάμπει δια της απουσίας του! Θα ήθελα περισσότερο από αυτόν. Ελπίζω στα επόμενα να έχει μεγαλύτερο ρόλο.

I really liked this story on Frankenstein yet I haven’t read the original so I can’t compare. I probably would have like a regular appearance from Deucalion (the first Frankenstein Monster) but he seems to be observing events from distance (or in the theatre). But he does come out more often towards the end and I’m hoping he will have a bigger part to play in next book.

I didn’t find the crime an ‘edge of you seat’ type drama but it was fascinating because it was a mixture of supernatural and serial killings (a sort of new to me). Koontz really lets get inside the heads of these killers and monsters and we see what makes them tick; the derange and twisted view of the perfect person and/or race.

I felt I really knew the serial killers/Monsters more in this book than the 2 detectives. I felt a little disconnected to them and I think it was because the chapters weren’t long enough for me (2 to 3 pages) to fully understand or sympathise with them. Carson voice was so bland and unemotional, and Michael jokes became too cheesy (he actually annoyed me at one point). And I’m pretty sure the Monsters had a crack at a joke at one stage….ha-ha!

Mmm I don’t know! I don’t think the jokes work for me

I actually really enjoying it....nothing too graphic or complicated which suits me fine, and I will be reading the next book in the series to see where it’s headed.