After Death

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars | 21,027 ratings

Price: 17.5

Last update: 01-08-2025


About this item

A modern-day Lazarus is humanity’s last hope in a breathtaking novel about the absolute powers of good and evil by Dean Koontz, the #1 New York Times bestselling master of suspense.

Michael Mace, head of security at a top-secret research facility, opens his eyes in a makeshift morgue twenty-four hours following an event in which everyone perished—including him and his best friend, Shelby Shrewsberry.

Having awakened with an extraordinary ability unlike anything he—or anyone else—has ever imagined, Michael is capable of being as elusive as a ghost. He sets out to honor his late friend by helping Nina Dozier and her son, John, whom Shelby greatly admired. Although what Michael does for Nina is life changing, his actions also evoke the wrath of John’s father, a member of one of the most violent street gangs in Los Angeles.

But an even greater threat is descending: the Internal Security Agency’s most vicious assassin, Durand Calaphas. Calaphas will stop at nothing to get his man. If Michael dies twice, he will not live a third time.

From the tarnished glamour of Beverly Hills to the streets of South Central to a walled estate in Rancho Santa Fe, only Michael can protect Nina and John—and ensure that light survives in a rapidly darkening world.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Ciprian Marius Bujor
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2023
    I have a confession to make: I was never a fan of Dean Koontz. I know, I know, he's one of the most popular and prolific authors of our time, but I just couldn't get into his books. I tried reading two of them, and they left me cold and bored. So when I saw his latest novel, After Death, on Amazon Unlimited, I was ready to browse past it without a second glance.

    But something caught my eye: the blurb on the book's page. It promises a thrilling story about a man who comes back to life with a mysterious power, and a deadly enemy who wants to kill him again. I immediately thought about The Invisible Man I loved so much since first reading it in my adolescence. It also mentioned modern-day Lazarus, a breathtaking novel, and the absolute powers of good and evil. That sounded intriguing enough to make me flip through the pages.
    And I'm glad I did. Because After Death is not like any other Dean Koontz book I've ever read. It's not just a suspenseful thriller, it's also a profound exploration of life, death, and what lies beyond. It's not just a story about a man with a supernatural gift, it's also a story about friendship, love, and sacrifice. It's not just a book about good and evil, it's also a book about hope and redemption.

    The protagonist of After Death is Michael Mace, the head of security at a top-secret research facility where something goes wrong. Everyone in the facility dies—including Michael and his best friend, Shelby Shrewsberry. But Michael doesn't stay dead for long. He wakes up in a makeshift morgue with an extraordinary ability: he can become invisible and intangible at will. He can walk through walls, access the internet, do whatever he wants, and escape danger. But he's not invincible and a lot of the action of the book is geared towards people trying to contain him or kill him.

    But he can't escape his conscience. He feels guilty for surviving when everyone else perished, especially his friends. He decides to honor Shelby's memory by helping Nina Dozier and her son, John, whom Shelby admired and cared for. Nina is a single mother who struggles to make ends meet and protect John from his abusive father, a member of one of the most vicious street gangs in Los Angeles.

    But Michael's good deed doesn't go unnoticed. The Internal Security Agency (ISA), the shadowy organization behind the research facility, is hunting him down. They want to capture him and use him as a weapon—or worse. And they have sent their most ruthless assassin, Durand Calaphas, to do the job. Calaphas is a cold-blooded killer who enjoys torturing his victims before he finishes them off. He has never failed a mission—and he won't let Michael be the first.

    What follows is a cat-and-mouse game between Michael and Calaphas that takes them from the glitzy mansions of Beverly Hills to the gritty streets of South Central to a secluded estate in Rancho Santa Fe. Along the way, Michael discovers more about his power, his past, and his purpose. He also discovers more about Nina and John, who become more than just people he wants to help—they become people he loves.

    After Death is a book that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. It has everything I look for in a good read: action, suspense, romance, humor, and emotion. The plot is fast-paced and unpredictable, with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. The characters are well-developed and relatable, with flaws and strengths that made me care about them. The writing is crisp and clear, with vivid descriptions and witty dialogue that made me feel like I was there.

    But what impressed me the most about After Death was the depth and meaning that Dean Koontz infused into his story. He didn't just write a thrilling adventure; he also wrote a philosophical meditation on the nature of existence. He explored questions like What happens when we die? Is there an afterlife? Do we have souls? Do we have free will? Do we have a destiny? How do we cope with loss? How do we find happiness? How do we make a difference? How do we fight evil? How do we choose good?

    These are not easy questions to answer, but Dean Koontz did so with grace and wisdom. He didn't preach or lecture; he showed rather than told. He used his characters' experiences and choices to illustrate his points. He used his power of imagination to create scenarios that challenged my assumptions and opened my mind. He used his skill of storytelling to entertain me while enlightening me.

    After Death is not just a book; it's an experience. It's one that I highly recommend to anyone who loves thrillers with a note of spirituality. Don't forget, reading is living.
  • Tom Riddell
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good Story- Descriptions too lengthy
    Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2024
    I enjoyed the story and at the end, the message to our society in regard to how far science and all of us should go.

    Dean Koontz has always attracted my interest as a well-known and top selling author however, as I have said before, his descriptions of places and people and other subjects in his novels are way too long for me. It takes away from the plot and causes me to rush over paragraphs, which is a good indicator of it not receiving a five-star review. That being said, I enjoyed the story and at the end, the message to our society in regard to how far science and all of us should go when we weigh the pros and cons of the subjects that the novel mentioned. The characters are likeable and interesting, and I enjoyed the read. From a solid 3 star- it barely made a 4 star. I loved it.
  • RAVEN'S MOMMY
    5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent and palpable
    Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2024
    I'll be honest. At first, I thought I might be reading something that was beyond my comprehension. Embarrassing, I know. However, I'm glad I pushed through the first few pages because I enjoyed this book more than I had expected. Surely, I looked up more word definitions than usual, but I welcome the expansion of my vocabulary. Aside from that, the story was exceptional. The setting is a not so distant dystopian future in California, subtly mocking our world's current state. I admit that I am a sucker for dramatic irony, and this novel has plenty of it. I found it cinematic, with an exhilarating plot and well described characters that I either enjoyed cheering or loathing. I look forward to reading more of Koontz's works.
  • Ray
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
    Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2024
    I am certainly not a worthy critic, so I will not bother with discussing anything technical. The storyline was a topic that I found fascinating, and the intrigue with the various adversaries kept the action going. It is a book I am sure to read again.
  • CityGuy7
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not his best work - but entertaining.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2024
    The concept is great, starts out great but then I struggled at times to not fall asleep. Been a fan for many years and have read some great books from Koonts - this was not one of them.
  • Kokomo
    4.0 out of 5 stars good vs evil plus singularity achieved
    Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2024
    Another twist on the epic good vs evil theme so often explored by Dean Koontz. The virtues embodied by the Greatest Generation mixed up with Boomer greed and striving against a new crypto/techno cyber reality. Whew! Our hero has achieved singularity and is using his newly acquired gifts to right the wrongs imposed by the powerful privileged secret plutocracy that pulls all the strings. Plenty of action with guns, violence, robo-dogs, gangs, geezers and a calculating sociopathic assassin. I got a kick out of Mr. Koontz’s gangland dialogue.

    Today some experts are warning that singularity may happen within the next decade. Unfortunately we have no hero
  • Adrian D'Amico
    5.0 out of 5 stars terrific
    Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2024
    If you enjoy DK, you’ll enjoy this. Great wordsmithing. Solid fantastical storyline. Thankful ending. Creepy villains as usual but fate prevails.
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Solid Koontz
    Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2025
    Solid Koontz novel, although he can go back to Moonlight Bay whenever. Good characters as usual. Overall a good book if you are in a Koontzy kind of mood lol.

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