Devoted is a book full of subplots that all come together in a thriller about a terrifying killer and what it will take to defeat him. There are several characters who take center stage throughout the book.
Fans of Koontz will remember his portrayals of dogs and how they interact with the world and with his human characters. In this story a golden retriever named Kipp is one of those special dogs. No one knows if he is a result of genetic engineering. But he is not alone. Kipp stays in touch with other dogs like himself through a form of telepathy known as the “Wire.” Having recently lost his owner to cancer, Kipp picks up a human on the Wire and knows he must go to this person and help him with his problems.
Woody is the boy Kipp is seeking. He is an extremely intelligent boy who is a non-verbal autistic. He is able to speak but feels he can’t due to the fear of the embarrassment risked by revealing himself through speaking. Woody exposes himself to attention while on the dark web looking for answers to his father’s “accidental” death.
Megan is Woody’s mother. She once dated Lee who is now involved in suspicious undertakings at a lab. When there is an accident at the lab, Lee escapes the purging of employees only to find himself undergoing dark changes in personality and enhancements of his physical self. He determines to find Megan and make her his own—after killing Woody who he deems as being defective. Lee is also an employee of the very people who had his dad killed.
Add in Ben Hawkins who saves Kipp from a cruel park ranger. He immediately realizes that Kipp is a very special dog and helps him to get to Woody and Megan. Kipp and Woody communicate with other dogs on the Wire--until everyone and everything comes together to defeat the villain.
It is the special relationship between Woody and Kipp that enables Woody to finally speak. Not only is this a special bond, but Koontz predicts that the bond between dogs and humans is about to become even stronger. Kipp and those like him are growing in population.
Parts of this book were riveting while others were heartwarming. Kipp is an unforgettable character. Check this book out for an entertaining read.
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