I have read a fair amount of Dean Koontz by now; he’s one of my favourite authors. Tick Tock is a short novel following a crazy night of events for Tommy Phan. Tommy Phan returns to his home one night, after turning down his mother’s invitation to eat a traditional Vietnamese dinner. Upon returning to his house, he finds a rag doll with black stitches for eyes and mouth, and an X over the heart; he brings the doll inside.

Tommy’s night from that point on changes as a terrifying entity emerges from the doll, determined to kill Tommy. Tommy has until dawn to survive. If he reaches dawn, the entity will disappear.

Unfortunately, the book was not my favourite Dean Koontz book. (Maybe I’m just too engrossed by Odd Thomas’ life to move on to other characters?) The ending was a tad anti-climatic, and to be honest, left me unsatisfied. Sure, it made sense, but I thought and was expecting more from Dean Koontz.

“Reality is perception. Perceptions change. Reality is fluid.” pg. 126

“Whatever you expect is what will be, so simply change your expectations.” pg. 176

“Because reality is what we carry in our hearts, and my heart is full of beauty just for you.” pg. 335

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