The Good Guy: a novel by Dean Koontz

First-rate Thriller**** June 19,2007

Dean Koontz is back in fine form. The Good Guy is comparable to The Husband and Velocity by the same author. The chief protagonist in this novel is a mason Tim Carrier. Tim is minding his own business in his favourite bar when a stranger passes him an envelope full of cash and leaves. Also in the envelope is the photo of a woman slated for murder. Shortly after another man comes in and sidles up to Tim. This is the hitman Tim was mistaken for. Tim gives him the $10k and tells him the job has been cancelled. The hitman finds this exceedingly strange.

Tim then heads off to find the targetted woman, Linda. She accepts Tim's warning and agrees to flee with him. The rest of the novel is a hunt by the hitman for Tim and Linda. Tim proves exceedingly adroit at avoiding the predator, narrowly escaping time and again. As the novel progresses we realize that Tim is not just a simple mason who is lucky. His skills were acquired in a previous career which is not revealed until near the end.

All in all, a throroughly enjoyable read! Highly recommended.