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The Taking: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.00) - 19,999 listener ratings
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In one of the most dazzling books of his celebrated career, Dean Koontz delivers a masterwork of page-turning suspense that surpasses even his own inimitable reputation as a chronicler of our worst fears—and best dreams. In The Taking he tells the story of a community cut off from a world under siege, and the terrifying battle for survival waged by a young couple and their neighbors as familiar streets become fog-shrouded death traps. Gripping, heartbreaking, and triumphant in the face of mankind’s darkest hour, here is a small-town slice-of-doomsday thriller that strikes to the core of each of us to ask: What would you do in the midst of The Taking. On the morning that will mark the end of the world they have known, Molly and Niel Sloan awaken to the drumbeat of rain on their roof. It has haunted their sleep, invaded their dreams, and now they rise to find a luminous silvery downpour drenching their small California mountain town. A strange scent hangs faintly in the air, and the young couple cannot shake the sense of something wrong. As hours pass and the rain continues to fall, Molly and Niel listen to disturbing news of extreme weather phenomena across the globe. Before evening, their little town loses television and radio reception. Then telephone and the Internet are gone. With the ceaseless rain now comes an obscuring fog that transforms the once-friendly village into a ghostly labyrinth. By nightfall the Sloans have gathered with some of their neighbors to deal with community damage...but also because they feel the need to band together against some unknown threat, some enemy they cannot identify or even imagine. In the night, strange noises arise, and at a distance, in the rain and the mist, mysterious lights are seen drifting among the trees. The rain diminishes with the dawn, but a moody gray-purple twilight prevails. Soon Molly, Niel, and their small band of friends will be forced to draw on reserves of strength, courage, and humanity they never knew they had. For within the misty gloom they will encounter something that reveals in a terrifying instant what is happening to their world—something that is hunting them with ruthless efficiency. Epic in scope, searingly intimate and immediate in perspective, The Taking is an adventure story like no other, a relentless roller-coaster read that brings apocalypse to Main Street and showcases the talents of one of our most original and mesmerizing novelists at the pinnacle of his powers.
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"I was surprised that I liked this book as much as I did considering that it's kinda science-fictiony. But I did like it and it was interested. I don't think it was one of Dean Koontz's best books, but it was definitely worth reading in my opinion."
— Haleybethhill (4 out of 5 stars)
The Taking Listener Reviews
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" Eh. Definitely had it's scary moments, but overall, I felt a great deal of the writing was like being hit with an anvil, over and over again. He really needed to tone it down and let the story tell itself. "
— Jessica, 2/18/2014 -
" It's sort of like a survival horror video game in book form. Spooky town, strange creatures, gloomy atmosphere. I liked the ending quite a bit. "
— Shaun, 2/8/2014 -
" 3.5 stars....My first jump back into Dean Koontz's books. Enjoyed it. "
— Linnja, 1/25/2014 -
" Ok, so all of his books are kind of creepy, but this one bothered me. The idea of "sifting of the wheat" stuck with me. "
— Lori, 1/22/2014 -
" This book is weird and kinda hard to understand at some points. Overall it ended up being good. "
— Candace, 1/20/2014 -
" Very intense book, had me on the edge of my seat and couldn't put it down. A great Koontz read for sure!! "
— Carrie, 1/20/2014 -
" my first dean koontz book... interesting. "
— Emily, 1/16/2014 -
" Pretty good until the end... the author frequents religious themes throughout this book (and his other works), but it was a bit too religious for me in the end. Good suspense and sense of terror, but poor character development. "
— Brianne, 1/12/2014 -
" Call it what it is: an End Times/Revelations piece of preachiness dressed up as a regular Koontz thriller. If you have to cheat to get readers, that might say something about the message, don't you think? "
— Julie, 1/3/2014 -
" Very strange book. It definitely makes you wanna finish it. "
— Peter, 12/26/2013 -
" Could not finish - did not hold my interest "
— Rosanne, 12/6/2013 -
" This is a great Dean Koontz book. It's a little weird, but really suspenseful. I thouroughly enjoyed it. "
— Shaun, 11/29/2013 -
" Never read anything quite like this book, and I loved it. All I will tell you about the story is that you will love the ending. It is not what you will expect. "
— Melissa, 11/28/2013 -
" this was weird and almost good. "
— RK, 11/25/2013 -
" I loved this book!!!! I read it when we were house sitting this huge house, and I was terrified to even walk alone at night. "
— Kim, 11/17/2013 -
" The supernatural element and the suspense of this novel are unrivaled. "
— Geokowgurl, 6/25/2013 -
" Interesting idea, weak character development. The whole book reads like a "What If..." idea, with characters thrown in to flesh it out. Koontz could have easily done the entire thing as a short story or a novella. Easy read, though, and not too taxing on the brain. Perfect mid-winter reading. "
— Jennifer, 6/8/2013 -
" you won't be able to put this one down "
— Sandy, 5/3/2013 -
" I couldn't put this one down! "
— Roxanne, 10/2/2012 -
" Very good, the ending left me slightly unsatisfied, but really the whole thing was creepy and left me not wanting it to end...not what I expected of Dean Koontz at.all. "
— Meri, 7/25/2012 -
" This is one I would really like to see made into a movie. "
— Roz, 5/9/2012 -
" One of my favorite DK stories. A fascinating story that repeats the theme of contrasting the unbelievable evil in the world that resides alongside those who demonstrate the highest pinnacles of love that our kind is capable of. "
— Tim, 3/17/2012 -
" I loved this book. One of the best dean koontz novels I have ever read "
— Rachel, 3/15/2012 -
" Story was a little weak, but there was some good visualisation. "
— Macamboy, 2/27/2012 -
" One of my all time favorites! "
— Ramona, 1/6/2012 -
" One of Koontz' more spooky and engaging stories. Loved this one. "
— Aaron, 7/12/2011 -
" Koontz's is at it again with a good story. "
— Cindy, 6/27/2011 -
" The idea for the book was good.. I thought the book was NOT put together very well.. I just had issues with the writing.. I had to go back an reread many things in this book, because it jumped around so much--transitions were not clear. "
— Steve, 6/27/2011 -
" Dean got the pacing, the atmosphere, the characters, and the plot right in this one. It was a short novel that kept my interest in both the suspense and mystery surrounding the event that takes place in this small community. Highly recommended! "
— Steven, 6/24/2011 -
" Absolutely love this book. It's like a syfy version of the Rapture. But in a really freaky way. I read this book for the first time in 4 hours! It is still one of my favorite books! "
— Whitney, 6/22/2011 -
" this book had one heck of a twist-did not end to the point it was leading to! "
— Wayne, 6/21/2011 -
" I thought this was too gross in parts. TOO much bad stuff in the middle of the book. He is better than this and I am disappointed. The best parts of the book is the first and last chapters. Won't be keeping this one on my shelves. "
— Lorelei, 6/16/2011 -
" One of the few I started to read and couldn't get into at the time...will try again based on reviews I see here possibly. One star for now until then. "
— Melissa, 6/14/2011 -
" Very creative. I never saw the end coming. One of my favorite Koontz books. "
— Sky, 6/14/2011 -
" The book is ok, the ending wasn't what I expected but was somewhat interesting, I found it a bit repeatative throughout but over all it was a good read. <br/> "
— Juanita, 6/11/2011 -
" Koontz is an awsome writer, he makes you think and feel when reading his storys. <br/>U have to read this book u might learn somthing. "
— Yvonne, 6/8/2011 -
" Interesting alien twist on a sort-of modern day Noah's ark story. "
— Lisa, 6/3/2011 -
" Very unsatisfying ending....I'm a little confused. "
— Kyra, 5/25/2011 -
" some how I missed this one the first time around. be afraid, be very afraid. this is the stuff that nightmares are made of. not for the squeamish, but a rip roaring creepfest if you're up for it. "
— Paula, 5/22/2011 -
" This is definitely not one of my favorites from Koontz. I don't know why, I just had a hard time getting through this book. "
— Amanda, 5/13/2011 -
" This is one of my favorite dean koontz books. "
— Jess, 5/3/2011
About Dean Koontz
Dean Koontz is the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, including suspense thrillers and books for young readers. His books are published in thirty-eight languages, and his worldwide sales top 500 million copies. Several of his books have also been adapted into feature films and television miniseries. He has been hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as “America’s most popular suspense novelist.” For more information, visit his website at www.deankoontz.com.
About Ariadne Meyers
Ariadne Meyers, an Earphones Award–winning narrator, was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1969. She began an acting career at twelve, with her role as Al Pacino’s stepdaughter in Author! Author! Her most famous role to date is that of “Emma Jane McCardle,” which she portrayed on the 1980s sitcom Kate & Allie for six years. In 1991, she graduated from Yale with honors and a double major in philosophy and theater arts.