Dean Koontz is a prolific writer whose career began in the late ’60s. If nothing else, he has exhibited nearly limitless creativity to be able to crank out so many thrillers, horror novels and sci-fi works over this time period without missing a beat.

Koontz’s latest effort, AFTER DEATH, plays right into a literary formula and blueprint that has worked so well for him for over five decades. I call it the Dean Koontz “flight novel,” which typically features an adult male and female with either a child or a dog, and one or several of these characters has some kind of special power.

"AFTER DEATH could not have been written by anyone other than Dean Koontz. I hope his countless fans will settle in comfortably to the literary formula that has been at the center of so many outstanding novels over the years."

The book’s title refers to Michael Mace, the head of security at a top-secret research facility who opens his eyes after nearly everyone there perished following a catastrophic event. He wakes up like Lazarus rising from the dead, and now he has ghostly powers that allow him to do things and go places that other mere mortals cannot.

Accompanying Michael is Nina Dozier and her highly intelligent son, John. Nina was close with Shelby Shrewsberry, Michael’s best friend and the woman who hired him. Unfortunately, Shelby was killed in the attack and was specifically targeted by whoever was behind it. Michael must make sure that Nina and John get as far away as possible and hole up somewhere safe until he figures out exactly what happened.

This is all easier said than done. The evil cadre that wiped out Michael’s workplace has sent a sadistic and brutal killer on his trail. Durand Calaphas is a member of the Internal Security Agency and has many resources to support his vicious streak and tracking skills. At the same time, Nina and John are having difficulty getting out of town without being seen as they are targeted by Nina’s gangbanger ex-husband and his crew, who are in tight pursuit of them.

Michael is aware that Durand is after him and knows in his heart that he will not have another resurrection if he is taken down. But this does not stop him from infiltrating the wealthy members of the group behind the attack. Once Michael pieces together why they did it and what they intend to do next, he realizes that he cannot get caught or slowed down before he is able to prevent their sinister plans from ultimately succeeding.

AFTER DEATH could not have been written by anyone other than Dean Koontz. I hope his countless fans will settle in comfortably to the literary formula that has been at the center of so many outstanding novels over the years.