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    The Good Guy
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    The Good Guy
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    The Good Guy
    Audiobook9 hours

    The Good Guy

    Written by Dean Koontz

    Narrated by Richard Ferrone

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Timothy Carrier, having a beer after work at his friend's tavern, enjoys drawing eccentric customers into amusing conversations. But the jittery man who sits next to him tonight has mistaken Tim for someone very different-and passes to him a manila envelope full of cash. "Ten thousand now. You get the rest when she's gone."

    The stranger walks out, leaving a photo of the pretty woman marked for death, and her address. But things are about to get worse. In minutes another stranger sits next to Tim. This one is a cold-blooded killer who believes Tim is the man who has hired him.

    Thinking fast, Tim says, "I've had a change of heart. You get ten thousand-for doing nothing. Call it a no-kill fee." He keeps the photo and gives the money to the hired killer. And when Tim secretly follows the man out of the tavern, he gets a further shock: the hired killer is a cop.

    Suddenly, Tim Carrier, an ordinary guy, is at the center of a mystery of extraordinary proportions, the one man who can save an innocent life and stop a killer far more powerful than any cop...and as relentless as evil incarnate. But first Tim must discover within himself the capacity for selflessness, endurance, and courage that can turn even an ordinary man into a hero, inner resources that will transform his idea of who he is and what it takes to be THE GOOD GUY.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateMay 29, 2007
    ISBN9780739332948
    Unavailable
    The Good Guy
    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 The Good Guy

    3.5/5

    717 ratings46 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Quick read. Good fun.
    • 5/5
      Cat and mouse chase through out the entire book.
    • 4/5
      Ending was confusing
    • 4/5
      When mistaken first as a hit man and later as the procurer of said hit, Tim finds himself rushing to rescue the woman who is the intended target. She has no idea who would wish her dead nor why nor does she know that she could not possibly be in better hands.0Entertaining and suspenseful.
    • 5/5
      Even more twists and surprises. Never left unsatisfied. Great author.
    • 3/5
      I honestly have no idea what I can say about this book. I liked it but I didn’t love it. I flew through it because I just couldn’t put it down. Which is great, but I didn’t really connect with any of the characters. I was also somewhat disappointed with the ending. That is why it’s getting three stars from me.Of course I will still read more by Dean Koontz. I have two or three of his books on my TBR shelves and I can’t wait to read them. Hopefully I can pick one of them up soon.
    • 3/5
      Average and easy going, Tim Carrier is a bachelor and a stone mason by trade…what most people would call “a man’s man”…he keeps to himself and prefers others do the same. Having a beer at his friend’s bar, Tim becomes intrigued with a fellow patron’s story. After a few minutes of conversation, the man slides a manila envelope across the bar saying “half of it’s there…the rest when she’s gone.” By the time the significance of the stranger’s words sunk in, it was too late, the strange man had disappeared. A few minutes pass and Krait, the real assassin shows up and assumes Tim is the client! Realizing the magnitude of what he has unwittingly become a part of, Tim removes the information about the mark from the envelope, gives the cash to the hired gun and tells him he’s had a change of heart. If only it could have been that simple.Linda Paquette a stunningly beautiful writer couldn’t imagine who would want to kill her or why. But for now, the reasons were irrelevant because Krait was hot on their trail and he was determined to complete his assignment. Relying on all their wits to stay a step ahead of Krait gets harder and harder, as he seems to anticipate their every move. It soon becomes clear this killer has much more than good instincts and good luck on his side…Koontz fans will spot glimpses of his earlier writings throughout the story, although a full fledged return never materializes. Chock-full-of twists and turns, readers will be cheering for the good guy, while trying to figure out the who, what and why. While not the most orignial plot - average guy minding his own business is thrown into a life or death situation trying to protect a beautiful stranger… Koontz has always taken the usual, spiced it up as only he can and delivered an action packed, suspense filled ride that keeps his legions of fans lining up and clamouring for more.In recent years I have been more than a little let down by the “put it out there the fans will buy it” writing that has become all too common. Although The Good Guy is a good read I have to give it 3.0-3.5.Happy Reading!
    • 3/5
      I honestly have no idea what I can say about this book. I liked it but I didn’t love it. I flew through it because I just couldn’t put it down. Which is great, but I didn’t really connect with any of the characters. I was also somewhat disappointed with the ending. That is why it’s getting three stars from me.Of course I will still read more by Dean Koontz. I have two or three of his books on my TBR shelves and I can’t wait to read them. Hopefully I can pick one of them up soon.
    • 4/5
      Really really good. 2nd book of Koontz' i've read and equally as good. Great storyline. The characters were so believable. Will definitely be buying more from this author
    • 2/5
      Every time I read a Dean Koontz novel I keep hoping that I am going to read one of his great novels that he is certainly capable of putting together. Invariably, I’m disappointed. There were so many flaws in The Good Guy that I’m not even sure where to start. First off, the premise may be interesting, but it’s not remotely plausible. If two men were making a deal to assassinate some women, they would have to know who each other is before commencing with the deal. The guy paying to assassinate the woman isn’t going to go up to a random guy in a bar and hand him ten thousand dollars without being one hundred percent sure he’s dealing with the hired assassin. Second, assassins are professional. They kill people to earn income. This assassin was solely in it for principal of having another person killed. Koontz is the worst writer I’ve ever read when it comes to antagonists. They have no resemblance to actual human beings, and this antagonist is no exception to that rule.To make matters worse, Koontz employs the shadowy organization comprised of rich and powerful men who are virtually omnipotent and control things unbeknownst to the rest of society. This is probably the absolute most cliché thing in fictional novels and movies. It’s bad enough that Koontz has this horrible antagonist, but then he has to bring an even worse group of bad guys into the fray. The action is not remotely believable. The characters are thin and cliché. I can’t really say that there is a whole lot redeemable about this novel and I would advise readers to stay away from this one.Carl Alves - author of Blood Street
    • 5/5
      My first Koontz novel and it was a thrill ride. Love the fast plotting interspersed with literary prose, metaphor, subtle humor and tenderness, and witty dialog. All against the backdrop of a creepy serial killer, mysterious "good guy," and a love interest that builds made for a compelling read. I'm off to find another Koontz novel. Any recommendations?
    • 3/5
      I felt about this book the same way I feel about the other Koontz novels that I've read. It was a good page-turner, great airport/travel reading. Neither the plot, nor the characters, were all that original, and Koontz's prose tends to lurch awkwardly at times. Still, I enjoyed the book while it lasted, in particular the bad guy in the story (aren't bad guys always more fun?). Although I managed to distract myself by insisting on picturing him "as played by" Kevin Spacey, I still found him effectively creepy and icky. You really can't go wrong with a book like this -- if an easy, diverting, yet forgettable read is what you're after.
    • 4/5
      Timothy Carrier is minding his own business in a bar, when he is approached by another man and offered a packet containing $10,000 to kill someone. Soon thereafter, another man, the real killer enters and mistakes Tim for the client. Tim tries to buy off the killer with half of the money only to discover the hitman is a cop. He contacts the victim, an unusual lady, and the cat-and-mouse games begin.

      Nothing supernatural in this book which is great because when I read anything with supernatural stuff, my crap detector goes into overload. Lots of foreshadowing and one suspects that Tim has other skills besides masonry and that Linda, the woman he is helping, may have additional secrets. Koontz builds suspense very nicely as the killer seems to anticipate their every move leading one to suspect that he is only part of a very large team with many connections.

      Some nice humor. There scene where Linda is trying to escape from a restaurant by going through the kitchen and out the back door and is confronted by an assistant manager is worth the price of the book alone. Of course, there is that element of macho fantasy: the ostensible ordinary guy who comes to the defense and rescue of the damsel.

      What really sets this book apart from so many ordinary thrillers is the dialogue. The banter between Tim and Linda as they become closer is marvelous, and the scene where Krait, the killer with extraordinary connections, assumes a personality to allay the suspicions of a nosy mother of a couple whose house he is temporarily using as a refuge is terrifically believable even while being most improbable. Krait is the ultimate evil guy, so out of control that even his handlers begin to question his sanity. Enough said.

      Set aside an evening. I especially recommend the audio version with Richard Ferrone. Excellent.
    • 4/5
      With the note "Kill me instead" on the front I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was a very good read. Plenty of action, maybe the plot was slightly far fetched at times but it certainly kept me captivated.
    • 3/5
      The ending disappoints given the buildup of these people’s secrets; they’re not that omg and it’s wrapped up a bit too neatly. The central relationship is realistic, warm, and palpably full of chemistry.
    • 4/5
      the plot itself is rather boring,or should i say ER Burroughish? the characterizations, though, are outstanding, as is the twist. yes, we knew withj that kind of support given him, that Kurt whatis was hired by an agency or department of the government, but what fells the killer is Tim Courrier's statujs from his war service. That is why he also could get a moment with the president of the United States. It is not one of Koontz' best efforts. In fact, I had to force myself to go on through th emidsection of the book.
    • 5/5
      Gotta love Dean Koontz. Excellent book!
    • 3/5
      Nothing supernatural here. Just a good guy trying to keep an innocent woman from being murdered. It was good, but....why, for instance, was the restaurant owner's wife allowed to live? Did I miss something? And there were hints at the antagonist's past, but the author never delved deeper into it. Overall, though, I enjoyed it.
    • 4/5
      The antagonist was the driving force for me. One of Koontz' best bad guys makes this a pretty good read.
    • 4/5
      The Good Guy reluctantly fixes everything for his female co-star. This story brings faith in goodness back into your heart.
    • 4/5
      Former military trained observer stumbles upon the assassination of an artist and fights to keep her alive against a motivated, resourceful killer.
    • 2/5
      As big a fan of Dean Koontz I am, this book just doesn't do it for me. It's too much like Dark Rivers of the Heart, only not nearly as good. It seems as if Mr. Koontz is lacking new ideas. Yes, a lot of his books goes around the same plot (man meets woman who is being hunted by psykopath with all means at his disposal, man and woman flees together and tries to fight the overwhelming threat), but usually he hides it better. This time the story around the plot is just not convincing. It seems unfinished.
    • 3/5
      Mild-mannered Tim Carrier meets a man by chance in a bar who gives him $10K as a down payment to kill a woman. This is just the beginning of Tim's adventure because of a mistaken identity. Fast read and as always a very entertaining, thrilling read from Dean Koontz.
    • 2/5
      It's a good thing I don't expect more from Koontz than one long chase scene with all the loose ends rather sloppily tied up at the end. It's not all bad, of course. The dialogue had some funny bits and the miscommunication that starts off the book was cleverly done. Unfortunately, the villain wasn't especially convincing and the ending seemed thrown together at the last minute. In short, this was a nice diversion while recovering from surgery but I'm glad I didn't spend any money on it.
    • 2/5
      Guy comes up to "Tim" in bar & hands him a manilla envelope for "a hit" on a woman. Then, leaves & a few minutes later the real "hit man" comes in. Tim finds the woman & tries to save her & find out why she's a target. Turns out she was just in the wrong place at wrong time. Was O.K., but not the best.
    • 3/5
      This is an extremely fast-paced thriller. Although it held my attention, a week later I will have forgotten most of what happened. Characters are not well developed and certain plot details didn't really develop.
    • 4/5
      I loved the beginning of this book! That's unusual for me. I typically like endings much more than beginnings. This one starts out with Tim sitting in the bar. Not only is Tim an intersting character that I couldn't wait to learn more about, but so are the people around him. The people that he calls friends. When the stranger sits next to him, the conversation is a bit odd, yet totally intriguing. Then, the next stranger, and again a conversation to remember. Then the roller-coaster ride hits high speed. Tim decides that he's going to save the woman who's been targeted by an unknown to be killed. But what Tim doesn't expect is how he will feel about that woman. As they run and hide from the killer, Tim realizes that he loves her. Although Linda doesn't really voice her feelings, it's pretty clear that they are attracted to each other. However, don't mistake this book for a romance. It certainly isn't. The killer is rutheless and his killings are brutal and detailed. The ending comes together and finally answers the questions that I had about other occurances in the book. A quick note about the audio....I listened to the unabridged version of this book. The reader was great. He used different intonations and infliction in his voice, however, I didn't care for the way that he portrayed Linda's voice. He made her sound airy, or ditsy, yet that really wasn't the image that I had of her. I think that had I read the book, her voice in my head would have been much different. Overall, it doesn't affect the outcome of the book, I just kept thinking in my head that Linda shouldn't sound like that!
    • 3/5
      This was not my favorite Koontz book, but it was decent. This would be a good book for newcomers because he has much better books out there for instance "The Husband". It did hold my attention which is no easy feat.
    • 5/5
      Timothy Carrier is a man who keeps to himself and tries to live as simple a life as possible. Until one day when a man sits beside Timothy at a bar and passes him an envelope with ten thousand dollars and a picture of a beautiful woman named Linda Paquette. Timothy is intrigued by the woman but horrified to know the man has mistaken him for the contract killer he employed to murder her. When the killer later arrives and mistakes Timothy for the man who hired him, Timothy tells him the hit is off and gives him the money but pockets the picture. However, the killer makes it clear he will not be stopped. Timothy rushes to Linda’s house to warn her, and from that point on, both are engaged in a cat-and-mouse game with the killer who now is determined to kill Timothy as well and will go to any length to do so. Koontz excels at creating evil characters and allowing the reader a glimpse into the mind of a deranged murderer. The story moves at a fast pace and is filled with gut-wrenching suspense and continuous action. Timothy and Linda are two damaged souls who immediately connect and trust one another. Koontz’s ubiquitous dog is present, and, as always, appreciated. The killer is deliciously malevolent and intense, and the story one that will keep the reader turning pages.
    • 4/5
      The Good Guy is short, snappy, easy to read and delivers a thoroughly intriguing tale of one man's fight to uphold justice. When Tim accidentally wise-cracks his way in to the path of a psycho-for-hire, a story unfolds in which we follow the pair as the etch out a brutal cat and mouse tale. Tim is a character full of good intention, with a background, which teases it's way in the to story as the drama unfolds. The killer, however, is the real treat to follow. He is brilliantly crafted as a cold contract killer, yet there are glimpses in to his psyche which flesh out his thought process, ultimately creating a persona which will send a shiver down your spine. It's a little derivative, with an easy option finale, but overall The Good Guy is a great read. There is plenty of what makes Koontz fun to read and is certainly recommended for old Koontz fans and newcomers alike.