MIDNIGHT

In this morality tale for our time, Dean Koontz tells a story of mindlessness run amok. Sam Booker, undercover FBI agent, comes to peaceful Moonlight Cove, California, to investigate a sudden increase in the "accidental" death rate. A messianic genius has effected chemically induced changes in the DNA of the townsfolk. The absence of human emotions frees the locals from thought and responsibility, but burdens them with murderous, uncontrollable altered states. Narrator J. Charles's high energy keeps things from becoming a gratuitous bloodbath. Although Charles plays against the gloom and doom, infusing humor whenever possible, Koontz spends too much time defining terminology, interrupting rather than advancing the excitement. It is Charles's performance that keeps this ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU clone from bogging down. S.J.H. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 04]