Do you enjoy a suspenseful thriller novel told through humorous narration with messages of triumphant good and friendship? Well, if so, may I suggest your next read: “Going Home in the Dark,” the 2025 novel by bestselling thriller and horror novelist Dean Koontz.
I went into “Going Home in the Dark” completely in the dark, having no idea what I was getting myself into. The novel tells the story of four long-time friends and social outcasts who call themselves “the amigos.” When one amigo, Ernie Hernishen, suddenly falls into a coma, the other three return to their picturesque childhood hometown of Maple Grove, a place none of them had visited in 15 years.
Now grown up, the amigos have found success in artistic fields: Ernie as a songwriter, Bobby Shamrock as an author, Rebecca Crane as an actress and Spencer Truedove as a painter. Something about Maple Grove has changed as well, but the trio isn’t quite able to put their fingers on what. Shortly following their homecoming, the amigos are told that Ernie is dead. Unconvinced, they steal his body from the hospital, hide it and try to uncover the mystery of Ernie’s sudden coma and get to the root of why the town feels off. Piecing together broken knowledge, the ensemble slowly recalls repressed nightmarish and supernatural events from childhood. While this is happening, they begin to have premonitions of a looming threat: a murderous figure who is out to get them. The amigos must race against the clock to save Ernie before they too are overtaken by something sinister lurking beneath the town. The work culminates with a climactic ending and an insane twist that you won’t see coming.
One of the best aspects of the novel is its distinctive voice. Told through a mix of third person narration and often humorous first person commentary, the work’s voice is frequently sarcastic or tongue-in-cheek, breaking the third wall while making references about the story, literary devices and pop-culture. I think that these interjections are what sells the book's charm: It doesn’t take itself super seriously. This self-awareness really ups the novel’s fun quality, and allows Koontz to shine as an individual and a storyteller.
Another highlight is Koontz’s ability to write horror scenes. While the novel primarily keeps a fun tone, it is still a horror/thriller and not afraid to be, when appropriate, truly scary. Two moments come to mind. The first is the amigos’ childhood Halloween encounter with the villainous Wayne Louis Hornfly. Without too many spoilers, the flashback sequence features a tonal shift that sets the intensity and stakes for the rest of the novel. Another standout horror scene, for me, is the Thanksgiving hospital sequence. Once more, without spoiling, Koontz dials the medical horror all the way up. I think that, with the novel’s predominately fun tone, the horror scenes serve as an interesting foil. The characters are shocked by these crazy experiences and so are the readers; this atmospheric whiplash is effective in building tension and suspense.
My low for the novel is the character of Britta Hernishen, Ernie’s mother. This isn't anything about the writing, character quality or development; I just found her personality to be irritating and loathsome. However, that is the character's purpose as one of the antagonists. I think this speaks volumes about the effectiveness of Koontz’s strengths and writing style. He can craft a character that elicits such a negative reaction.
Overall, I found Dean Koontz’s “Going Home in the Dark” to be an entertaining summertime book and I had lots of fun with it. In addition to having an entertaining plot and heavy suspense, the novel’s message is genuinely up-lifting and pleasant. At the core, it is about the importance of friendship and how nothing can destroy it. This is seen in the unwavering bond between the amigos; when faced with even the most cosmic horrors, they can’t be separated. The novel is easily one of my most memorable reads of 2025, and I’d recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the horror, thriller and mystery genres.
