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    Frankenstein: Prodigal Son
    Frankenstein: Prodigal Son
    Frankenstein: Prodigal Son
    Audiobook9 hours

    Frankenstein: Prodigal Son

    Written by Dean Koontz

    Narrated by Christopher Lane

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    From the celebrated imagination of Dean Koontz comes a powerful reworking of one of the classic stories of all time. If you think you know the legend, you know only half the truth. Here is the mystery, the myth, the terror, and the magic of . . .

    Every city has its secrets. But none as terrible as this. He is Deucalion, a tattooed man of mysterious origin, a sleight-of-reality artist who has traveled the centuries with a secret worse than death. He arrives in New Orleans as a serial killer stalks the streets, a killer who carefully selects his victims for the humanity that is missing in himself. Deucalion’s path will lead him to cool, tough police detective Carson O’Connor and her devoted partner, Michael Maddison, who are tracking the slayer but will soon discover signs of something far more terrifying: an entire race of killers who are much more—and less—than human and, deadliest of all, their deranged, near-immortal maker: Victor Helios—once known as Frankenstein.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateJan 2, 2018
    ISBN9781543674262
    Frankenstein: Prodigal Son
    Author

    Dean Koontz

    Dean Koontz is the author of more than a dozen New York Times No. 1 bestsellers. His books have sold over 450 million copies worldwide, and his work is published in 38 languages. He was born and raised in Pennsylvania and lives with his wife Gerda and their dog Anna in southern California.

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    Reviews for Frankenstein

    4/5

    850 ratings39 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Really enjoyed this book. I wish we could get more about what happened in the past before this book started though
    • 2/5
      I suffered thru the whole audiobook hoping it would get better, but it never did. It might be someone's cup of tea, however, but not mine. I always enjoy Dean Koontz books. This one is the exception.
    • 5/5
      Loved it and loved the reader. A must read for anyone who loves to think outside the box.
    • 5/5
      Loved this book! Definitely made my work day go by faster
    • 5/5
      By far my favorite story by Koontz.
      Imaginative and gripping. Best series I’ve read in a long time.
    • 3/5
      Not half bad, and a little more than half good.
      I would have liked if it stood alone better, and didn't leave 2 or 3 of its 5 or 6 sub-plots for the next book(s) - but it was enjoyable, and led me to ask myself why I don't read more Koontz. When he's good, he's good - and it's clear that he had some enthusiasm for this series.
    • 1/5
      I started reading but tossed this back into the TBR pile in September. I recently tried giving it another shot. It quickly found itself being removed from my Kindle. I do not recommend. I love Koontz, but this one just did not hold any interest.
    • 5/5
      I didn't think I would love another Koontz series like I did with Odd Thomas. I was wrong. I love everything about old monsters, aka Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy. This book was absolutely great! I loved all the characters (side note should be more Deucalion in the book but I digress). The spin on the story was wonderful as well as Victor Frankenstein continues in the modern day to make more of his monsters into an army to take over the world. I did not guess the killer at all... kudos. And of the course ending is left wide open for book 2.
    • 4/5
      This tale was a reimagining of the Frankenstein legend. In this story Mary Shelly wrote a fictional book secretly based on rumors she’d heard of an actual case. Victor Helios (aka Dr. Frankenstein) now lives a luxurious life in New Orleans with servants and even a wife created by his own hands. His goal is to replace the Old Race with members of the New Race, his creations with an improved biological design that are stronger, hard to kill and resist aging. Victor’s first creature is still alive as well. Now named Deucalion, he is attempting to find peace in a Tibetan monastery when he receives a letter from an old friend warning him that Victor still lives. Leaving the sanctuary of the monastery, he travels to New Orleans. Deucalion eventually combines forces with two homicide detectives named Carson and Michael, who are investigating a serial killer known for removing a single body part before dumping the body.

      The narrative switches between several characters but is done seamlessly and is not confusing. There is the narrative of Carson, caring for her autistic younger brother Arnie; Deucalion, the first creature designed by Victor and who almost died trying to destroy his creator; Victor, smug in his belief of superior knowledge and ability to control his creations; Victor’s created wife Erika, who longs for freedom from her brutal husband; Randal 6, the only creature designed with autism so he can endure horrifying experiments; and lastly Roy Pribeaux, the all too human serial killer who catches the attention of one of the New Race.

      The individuals of the New Race created by Victor manage to be both pitiable and frightening in their capacity for violence without remorse. The unreasoning, escalating anger of the autistic Randal Six toward Arnie for being able to feel the happiness he himself is denied is both pathetic and chilling. Most of the members of the New Race are searching for more meaning in their life than Victor has designed into them. They are without a spiritual center, without the capacity for happiness, and without free will. The story ends on a cliffhanger, and I already have the next on my shelf. Four and a half stars and recommended.
    • 2/5
      This novel brings a "new and improved" classic legend up to date by replacing Victor Frankenstein's previously crude monster creation techniques with biotech engineering, cloning, and computer programming. Victor has learned the secret of long life and is still alive and well in 21st century New Orleans. Now a respected scientist and wealthy member of high society by day, Victor practices his high-tech life creation projects by night in order to create perfect beings, totally obedient to his will. He seeds his creations throughout the city so that they can undermine, and eventually replace, humanity and lead to a perfect New Age society. In the meanwhile, Frankenstein's original monster, now called Deucalion, is also gifted with immortality. He learns of his creator's existence and sets off for New Orleans to seek revenge. When a series of gruesome murders occur where body parts are removed from the victims, two police detectives try to track down the killer. Is one of Frankenstein's creations to blame? I am a big fan of Dean Koontz but not this book. The character Decaulion was boring. I didn't think much of the ending (I don't want to give it away). Usually I'm surprised by the ending, or satisfied. A predictable conclusion. Sorry Dean but I don't care for your Frankenstein series. Write more scary stuff that you are well known and loved for.
    • 5/5
      Love this story and the illustrartions are fantastic. I cold stare for hours at the beautiful drawings.
    • 4/5
      Not as good as Odd Thomas, but I enjoyed it.
    • 5/5
      This is Frankenstein with a modern twist. It's written in a way that almost makes you believe it's real.
    • 4/5
      really cheesy dean koontz book. Nice trash reading IMO
    • 3/5
      I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I thought it lacked imagination by saying that Shelley's Frankenstein was really non-fiction thus giving a foundation for Koontz's version. On the other, Koontz tells his story well and from many different angles which can be hard to do.

      Overall, I liked it and will read the second installment. Hopefully, Koontz will get around to writing the third one which is overdue.
    • 3/5
      I don't ordinarily care for Dean Koontz's writings, but I found this series to be a cleaver and engaging retelling of the Frankenstein monster story.
    • 1/5
      I almost didn't finish this one. It was just so boring and convoluted for me. I sighed and rolled my eyes constantly. I pushed through to the end only because I hate to leave a book unread.

    • 3/5
      The book started promising, fast and funny. But it didn't last long. Only in the last 50 pages or so does the pace pick up a bit again.
      This is the first book of the series and it introduces all the characters, establishes their background and personality. But I feel that's it's only function. Of the three storylines only one is resolved at the end of the book. To me it feels like the story is originally longer and it's been cut in two.
      I did like the characters, because Koontz takes the whole book to introduce them the main characters are well rounded. The story itself is okay, nothing special but I think this book's function is to introduce the characters.
      What I did find annoying is how often Koontz tells the reader, explicitly, that the members of the New Race heal very fast when hurt. After a couple of times I knew and didn't need constant reminders that way.
      I might get the second book of the series to see if it improves, because the concept of the series seems promising.
    • 4/5
      Koontz is sometimes hit-and-miss for me, but so far I'm enjoying his take on Frankenstein. As usual his characters sometimes engage in mundane-but-amusing dialogue that I find charming. And the token golden retriever? I'm sure there was one, but it's been a couple months since I've read this.
    • 3/5
      The beginning was quite ordinary and the ending typically thriller-gruesome. In between, though, were some of the original's core issues worked in.
    • 5/5
      First, this is a Koontz book and he has entertained me with every title of his I've read, which have been many. So, I thought mixing two really great names together on a book cover, Koontz & Frankenstein, this was too good to be true. It was better than too good, it was such a clever/creative twist to the whole Frankenstein story. Within this title Koontz sets things in modern times but respectfully makes references to the classic tale. As well as creating such a wonderful caste of characters thrown into scenes so cinematic, full of action, suspense and even humor that to put this title down you will become instantly bored and have to pick it back up. The great and generous thing that Koontz has done with this title is he's made it a series. Thankfully, I now have 4 more books of this amazing story to read, and he definitely leaves the first off for the second so get ready for quite a ride.
    • 3/5
      I’m not sure how I feel about this book. If I had to do it all over again, I don’t think I would purchase this book; however, despite the simplistic writing style, there were parts of the story that made me gasp. Although I probably won’t continue on with the rest of the series, I’m glad I gave Dean Koontz a chance. The book had its shocking and humorous moments. Don’t go into this story expecting complex characters because most of the cops behave EXACTLY as you might expect detectives in bad murder mysteries to act. There isn’t much to be said for the dialogue either. The one thing I did like about this book was the revival of the Frankenstein monster (as if he ever died). I adored the Frankenstein monster from Mary Shelley’s novel and I think Koontz did a great job bringing him back to life in this novel. If I do ever read more of this series it will simply be to find out what happens to the Frankenstein monster, also known as Deucalion.
    • 5/5
      One of my favorite Dean Koontz books. I know lots of people prefer his Odd Thomas books but I like the Frankenstein books better.
      Can't wait to finally be able to read book 3.

      Re-read and finished Aug. 11 2009 because book 3 can arrive here any day now.

      first read July 2005 4th
    • 5/5
      This was a cannot put it down kind of book. Koontz and Anderson really took the Frankenstein story into our century while still maintaining the old story. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading the second book in the series.
    • 4/5
      Possibly the highest concentration of psychos in a book ever
    • 4/5
      Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein: Prodigal Son is consistently enjoyable and occasionally more than that. The premise here is good fun: Frankenstein’s monster – plus the not-so-good doctor himself – turn out to be still around, and they’ve not exactly kissed and made up. A New Orleans setting is good place for both to surface, just as a weird serial killer is at work. Our protagonists – in addition to our patched-together main man, of course – are a team of off-the-shelf homicide cops. They’re both young, good looking and have the suppressed hots for each other, but they’re serviceable leads. More interesting are some of the other stories swirling around the murder mystery plot. One member of our cop duo has an autistic brother whose presence is mirrored by an autistic creation of Dr F. And just what else has he created? It turns out he’s been busy over the past couple of centuries, and the revelation of his plot and its functionaries increasingly take center stage as the story goes on. Clearly, there is much more to come in the books that follow.The unexpected pleasure here was Koontz’s contemplation of quite profound questions of existence and its meaning. This isn’t a consistently ‘deep’ book – it’s still a page turner – but its premise and the issues it raises have some sticking power.Recommended.
    • 4/5
      Light, fun, sometimes scary and always enjoyable take on the old Frankenstein story. Both Dr. Frankenstein and his first creation, Deucalion, have survived centuries of life on earth, and come together again in New Orleans where Dr. Frankenstein has set up residence. A serial killer is stalking New Orleans, and Deucalion suspects that it may be Dr. Frankenstein's work. Deucalion aids the cops investigating the serial killings, Detectives O'Connor and Maddison. The relationship between O'Connor and Maddison is fun, and Deucalion is a very interesting and sympathetic character -- a very human monster. A good read.
    • 5/5
      Book 1 of a trilogy, well trilogy 1 as I hear Koontz has continued and started a second trilogy, I couldn't wait to read the remainder. I downloaded the rest onto my eBook from the library and am now on Book 3, Dead and Alive. If you love Koontz, you will LOVE this series. Run, don't walk, to your nearest library or book store and get yours. Now.
    • 5/5
      i used to be a huge dean Koontz fan, and for a good while - about 8 years - I let it go. I'd seen this on the shelves many times and wanted to read it, and ended up picking it up at a local library fundraiser. Glad I did.According to Koontz's intro, this really began as a project for USA network to develop into a series for TV. Sounded like it had all the right backign and help to make it akiller series, and someone wanted to edit too much for Koontz. Typical network junk. Shame. Would have been great from what I've read.Premise - Mary Shelley wrote that Dr. Victor Frankenstein died. well - he didn't. He is alive and well, and living in New Orleans. And he hasnt stopped his work on creating life - he's perfected it. No more lightning storms, and criminal body parts. He's cloning, bio-engineering, etc to make a New Race. And they have started getting out of hand, some actually killing people to try to find what is missing inside them. 2 detectives from New Orleans have been working the murders, and are getting more and more frustrated. Then the really bizzare happens - one of the lead detectives runs inot Victor's first creation from 200+ years ago at one of the crime scenes. And he (Deucalion) wants Victor stopped for good, and helps enlighten the detective as to what they are really facing.An excellent thriller, with lots of unexpected twists and turns, Koontz delivers a new twist on an old classic with gusto.
    • 5/5
      Deucalion, the newest name of the Monster from Frankenstein, is brought to America when he receives news that a ghost from his past is back and causing problems in New Orleans. Joining up with a young police officer, he sets out to fix his mistakes.I'm under the impression that Koontz goes all out when it comes to books that will inevitably have sequels, because they look like he has put a whole lot more work into them than his stand alone novels. Kevin J. Anderson's hand may have helped a bit in that area as well. This book was a lot of fun, and a good read.