Life Expectancy

By: Dean Koontz

Narrated by: John Bedford Lloyd

With his bestselling blend of nail-biting intensity, daring artistry, and storytelling magic, Dean Koontz returns with an emotional roller coaster of a tale filled with enough twists, turns, shocks, and surprises for ten ordinary novels. Here is the story of five days in the life of an ordinary man born to an extraordinary legacy—a story that will challenge the way you look at good and evil, life and death, and everything in between.

Jimmy Tock comes into the world on the very night his grandfather leaves it. As a violent storm rages outside the hospital, Rudy Tock spends long hours walking the corridors between the expectant fathers' waiting room and his dying father's bedside. It's a strange vigil made all the stranger when, at the very height of the storm's fury, Josef Tock suddenly sits up in bed and speaks coherently for the frist and last time since his stroke.

What he says before he dies is that there will be five dark days in the life of his grandson—five dates whose terrible events Jimmy will have to prepare himself to face. The first is to occur in his twentieth year; the second in his twent-third year; the third in his twenty-eighth; the fourth in his twenty-ninth; the fifth in his thirtieth.

Rudy is all too ready to discount his father's last words as a dying man's delusional rambling. But then he discovers that Josef also predicted the time of his grandson's birth to the minute, as well as his exact height and weight, and the fact that Jimmy would be born with syndactyly—the unexplained anomal of fused digits—on his left foot. Suddenly the old man's predictions take on a chilling significance.

What terrifying events await Jimmy on these five dark days? What nightmares will he face? What challenges must he survive? As the novel unfolds, picking up Jimmy's story at each of these crisis points, the path he must follow will defy every expectation. And with each crisis he faces, he will move closer to a fate he could never have imagined. For who Jimmy Tock is and what he must accomplish on the five days when his world turns is a mystery as dangerous as it is wondrous—a struggle against an evil so dark and pervasive, only the most extraordinary of human spirits can shine through.

©2004 Dean Koontz (P)2004 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Emotionally powerful and thought-provoking."—Booklist

"A master storyteller and a daring writer... he gives readers bright hope in a dark world.... Life Expectancy pits good versus evil and carries a persuasive message, about the power of love and family and the miracle of existence... Koontz is a true original and this novel, one of his most unusual yet, will leave readers aglow."—Publishers Weekly, starred review.

"Mr. Koontz is a skillful storyteller....His new Life Expectancy offers a clear illustration of what he does right."—The New York Times

Silly but addicting.

This book is so unrealistic it is rediculous. The twists and turns were just outrageous. But for some reason, I couldn't shut it off until it was done. I finished it in two sitting.

3 ½ stars. Tongue in cheek mystery suspense.

I was disappointed when I saw this was first person. Sometimes it works, but usually it’s not as good for me, and in this case first person did not help. The plot premise was odd. It didn’t draw me in as much as other plots. When the book begins, we are told something disastrous will happen five times during Jimmy’s life. It feels like a scavenger hunt. The first day comes and we watch a disaster which Jimmy survives. Then we wait a little and watch the second disaster. I did not enjoy the formula. It felt staged - contrived. It was hard to identify with.

BUT, because the author is such a talented writer, there were many parts I enjoyed. I laughed or chuckled several times - especially at Lorrie’s comments. If you’re new to this author, don’t start with this book. Try Watchers, Lightning, or Intensity - my favorites so far.

The narrator John Bedford Lloyd was great. I was pleased that he used a soft, feminine voice for Lorrie without sounding like an effeminate gay guy.

Genre: mystery suspense.
Ending: happy.

Prefect

Engaging , a "page-turner", but also very endearing. The narrator is excellent - prefect, even. I wish I still had this ahead of me.

What a phenomenal story and performance!

Thrilling, suspenseful, and funny all wrapped up with a bow on top - and a few scary clowns too!

great!

I love this book! Narration was on point! The plot line is amazing. just overall a wonderful novel.

Probably listed to this one 10+ times

The ill-omened tale of Punchinello and his impact on innocent bystanders is always a crowd pleaser. Love Dean Koontz' offbeat style, and this is one of his standouts.

If you like lemony snickets you will lobe this!

I could not stop listening to this book. I loved the series of events (unfortunate) that drove the story, and I adored the characters, especially the morbidly obsessed grandma. Buy this, you will not be disappointed!

good book

i enjoyed this book until the end!! great book!!

The Bomb!

I loved every single second of this book and this reading. Considering rereading it immediately.

Captivating.

Such a different read than Koontz's Jane Hawk series, but kept my attention. Great story and I loved the over-the-top humor.

Did not anticipate the ending. Great read.