A terrifying story about a man who goes out at night but doesn't know where he's been. He awakes each morning discovering something new and strange--like blood on his hands. Two detectives are hired to watch him but only one person can imagine where the journey might end.

FROM AMAZON: Frank Pollard awakens in an alley, knowing nothing but his name - and that he is in great danger. Having taken refuge in a motel, he wakes again only to find his hands covered in blood. As far as he knows, he's no killer. But whose blood is this, and how did it get there?

Over the next few days Frank develops a fear of sleep, because each time he wakes, he discovers strange objects in his hands and pockets - objects far more frightening than blood.

Husband-and-wife detective team Bobby and Julie Dakota specialize in high-ticket corporate security investigations, but when a distraught and desperate Frank Pollard begs them to watch over him, they can't refuse. Out of compassion - and curiosity - they agree to get to the bottom of his mysterious, amnesiac fugues.

It seems a simple job: just follow a client who wants to be watched and tell him where he winds up. But as the Dakotas begin to discover where their client goes when he sleeps, they are drawn slowly into ever-darkening realms where they encounter the ominous figure stalking Frank. Their lives are threatened, as is that of Julie's gentle, Down's-syndrome brother, Thomas.

To Thomas, death is "the bad place" from which there is no return. But Julie and Bobby - and their tortured client - ultimately learn that equally bad places exist in the world of the living, places so steeped in evil that, in contrast ,death seems almost a relief. ( )

seeing that onimus cover with the house and trees blowing with the giant shiney letters saying "The Bad Place" as a kid always gave me chills in wondering what its all about and after all these years i finally read it and i can say its another very good koontz thriller that has good pacing. the character Thomas. is probably one of Koontz best written character i read so far with many touching and tragic moments that made me think.

this book is also pretty graphic with the violence and the villain is relentlessly brutal in here wish really made you want to see how the main characters finish him. there is some interesting supernatural elements that i liked and it gets pretty wild with one characters power wish was fun to read.

my only complaint is that the 2 main characters were not amazing but still serviceable but a little on the cheese side. the rest of the characters were much better in my opinion. also there was a couple lose ends not fully covered but its still a very good book that i liked very much ( )

A re-read for me, which I almost put down a time or two. I can’t claim to like this book because the bad guy is almost comically grotesque in mind, manner, and his origins and ultimately this is a terribly sad story. Also, I found the passages focusing on him and his sisters simply didn’t hold my attention, but the mystery behind Frank, the detectives he hires, and the surrounding characters kept me reading. Of course, as this was a re-read — be it after many years — I knew the outcome, but had forgotten some details. Perfectly plotted, if there’s one big negative in the book is that it feels a little overwritten and could do with tightening to make a more punchy impact. And the somewhat excessively dangerous man and his kin is questionable. ( )

The 1st time through I read a physical book, probably a brand new HC in 1990 - 5*

This time through, giving it a shot on audio (TY library!). I wonder if adult me will still like it...

DNF @ 10% *crying emoji* Who am I? Who was I?

Far outside my current interests with its shoot 'em up action scenes, crime "detectives", who done it? / who are they? mystery...

Dean, Dean, Dean...I think I've got to take a break from you...I know you've matured as an author throughout the years, but this book should be renamed from "The Bad Place", to "The Bad Book", because it was just that. Cannot believe it got a rating hirer than what I've GENEROUSLY given it. ( )