But I Smile Anyway…

Today, I am on the blog tour for Dean Koonts’z new release, The Bad Weather Friend.

The Blurb

Benny is nice – too nice – so much so that they feel compelled to destroy him.

But he has a friend who is going to scare the hell out of them …

Benny Catspaw’s perpetually sunny disposition is tested when he loses his job, his reputation, his fiancée, and his favourite chair. But he’s not paranoid. Someone is out to get him. He just doesn’t know who or why. Then Benny receives an inheritance from an uncle he’s never heard of: a giant crate and a video message. All will be well in time.

How strange – though it’s a blessing, his uncle promises. Stranger yet is what’s inside the crate. He’s a seven-foot-tall self-described ‘bad weather friend’ named Spike whose mission is to help people who are just too good for this world. Spike will take care of it. He’ll find Benny’s enemies. He’ll deal with them. This might be satisfying if Spike wasn’t such a menacing presence with terrifying techniques of intimidation.

In the company of Spike and a fascinating young waitress-cum-PI-in-training named Harper, Benny plunges into a perilous high-speed adventure, the likes of which never would have crossed the mind of a decent guy like him.

The Bad Weather Friend, by Dean Koontz, published by Thomas & Mercer, 1^st February 2024; Hardcover, Kindle eBook, Audiobook

My Review

The Bad Weather Friend by Dean Koontz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Maybe I am one of a few, but I haven’t read any of Dean Koontz’s books, so this was a first in itself for me.
We have Benny, a really ‘nice’ guy, who suddenly finds his comfortable life crumbling around him, from his job going south to his fiancee ditching him because he isn’t now a viable option, seeing as he’s seen as persona non grata in the real estate world, through no fault of his own.
Ever the optimist, he tries to remain positive, then is sent an intriguing note about an inheritance from a family member he didn’t even know existed. An intriguing crate arrives, and the contents are even more intriguing: a seven-foot being called Spike.
Spike is an intriguing character. Sometimes, I think we all need a ‘Spike’!
Other interesting characters joining Benny on his journey include a new love interest, Harper, and some boys from his past who hold meaning for him.
It took me a little while to get into the swing of the story. Benny is a genuinely good person. The story twists and turns as we go back and forth as we are sent to various times in Benny’s past, then back to the present. But once I got in the swing of it, I was more and more hooked. It’s a great read with plenty of suspense!

About the Author

Dean Koontz is the author of many #1 bestsellers. His books have sold over five hundred million copies in thirty-eight languages, and The Times has called him a “literary juggler.” He lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, and their golden retriever, Elsa. www.DeanKoontz.com

PRAISE FOR AFTER DEATH

Most Anticipated Books for July – Gizmodo

“Riveting” – Audiofile Magzine

“Fans will be thoroughly engrossed” – SciFi Now

PRAISE FOR THE HOUSE AT THE END OF THE WORLD

Most Anticipated Books for 2023 – The Washington Post

“Readers should expect a twist or two in this one.” – The Real Book Spy

“THE HOUSE AT THE END OF THE WORLD really begins to soar and never comes down to earth again.” – Bookreporter.com

PRAISE FOR THE BIG DARK SKY

“A nonstop actioner with cosmic overtones”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Another A-plus thriller from a writer on a serious winning streak.”

—Booklist, (starred review)

“Koontz delivers another masterpiece in suspense infused with the creeping sense of horror he does so well. THE BIG DARK SKY is one to read with all the lights on and doors securely locked.”

—Authorlink

PRAISE FOR QUICKSILVER

“Sit back and enjoy what turns out to be quite a ride.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Positively twitching with suspense. Another sure-fire hit from a thriller master.”

—Booklist (starred review)