Well, it took a week, but I finally finished Dean Koontz's book, "Intensity". And boy, does the book deserve its name like . . . some clever metaphor I'm too tired to think up right now. In all seriousness though, I loved this book and would easily call it the best read that I've had for a long time, if not the best period.

The story starts with a 26 year old woman who is working towards a Masters in psychology. When the story starts, she's riding with her friend Laura, on her way home to visit with her family. Chyna (pronounced in the same way as the country) is a relatively lonely person, who had it rough growing up. Her mother was a drug and sex addict and often towed her all over the country with her psychotic boyfriend. Needless to say, she's become detached from social life, and except for Laura, has no family or friends.

Laura's family welcomes her with open arms like the parents she never had in her youth. Still, strangely, she finds it difficult to sleep in the strange home. Her squeamishness saves her life though, when two horrific screams echo throughout the house in the middle of the night.

I won't go any further than that. Needless to say, the plot thickens up pretty quickly and leaves you aching for more by the time it's over. It's a book that promises not to disappoint anyone, even if you're not an avid Dean Koontz fan. This book is just that good.

From a personal standpoint, this book easily sets Dean above the rest of the suspense crowd and places him in a whole other league of his own. There is no competition if you're looking for a solid page-turner. Past the half-way point, I couldn't put it down for more than a few minutes at a time, and that was to keep from starving to death.

Pick it up at the library or the bookstore. Either way, be prepared for a masterpiece!