One of the most prolific and popular contemporary novelists, Dean Koontz has captivated both young and mature readers alike. This critical companion examines his mature fiction, including his most popular recent novels, Watchers, Lightning, Dark Rivers of the Heart, and Intensity. Its intention is to provide both conventional and alternative readings so that students and readers who love Koontz's fiction can develop their critical skills. Other novels examined in depth are Phantoms, Strangers, IMidnight, DEGREESIThe Bad Place, and Mr....

Since the publication and cinematic success of 1992's "Along Came a Spider," James Patterson seems to have taken up permanent residence on the bestseller lists. In the ensuing decade, his hit detective novels, with memorable nursery rhyme titles like "Cat and Mouse," (1997) and "Pop Goes the Weasel "(1999), came in rapid-fire succession and generated similar popularity and praise. His "Alex Cross" series created one of the most recognizable detectives in literature, and one of the first urban African American detectives to appeal, on such a grand scale, to audiences of all demographics....