by Ryan Leahy
Frankenstein: Prodigal Son
Dean Koontz
Rating: 3.5/4
This disturbing yet gripping novel starts when Deucalion, or Frankenstein’s monster, arrives in the city, but that is not why the city is so concerned. A serial killer is ravaging the city and taking different body parts from women. He fantasizes about creating the perfect woman from these body parts. He believes that one day, she will just walk out of the cooler and love him.
However, Detective Carson O’Connor is on his trail. She is a hardcore cop and the female power taking down criminals. Even though preoccupied by the serial killer, she continues trying to figure out who the mysterious man in her city is.
Deucalion’s creator, Victor “Helios” Frankenstein, uses his resources to clone people of power and to extend his life. To the public, he is a philanthropist and saint, but really, he is an evil man. He murders innocent citizens and replaces them with his clones.
The character of Deucalion was very different from the original Frankenstein character. Readers would expect him to be an evil murderer, much like his creator, but when he arrived in town, he was humble and wise. He knew how to deal with the issues of the world and gave O’Connor advice. Even though O’Connor expected him to be the murderer, he surprised her with his insight. Deucalion spent time in a monastery and learned from the monks. He no longer is the evil creature everyone fears.
Parts of this novel were really odd. The possibility of cloning someone and then replacing them in society was creepy, but added something unique to the plot. People were being replaced, and many of the sections included how the clones were destroying the city. They are pretty significant.
This novel was much like a nightmare. Everything people fear is walking the streets. Dean Koontz created a world where all the famous monsters are running rampant. Deucalion, Frankenstein’s monster readers once knew, is no more and is replaced with an equally frightening, but completely different character. Just knowing that a monster like him is in there sets the tone for the whole book. He is not the same, but he still inflicts fear into people, even though he means no harm.
This was a very dark novel. A lot of killing and disturbing events took place. All of the death was bearable, but some of it was ill conceived and too farfetched. If you enjoy Dean Koontz or Stephen King novels, you may enjoy reading this, but be prepared for what’s inside.
