Velocity

Herein lies the newest suspenseful masterpiece by Dean Koontz—a terrible thriller writer with a heart and soul—wherein he pushes one man against the ultimate deadline. "Velocity" breaks all speed limitations if there were any for the amount of heart-pounding suspense permitted in a single book. Prepare yourself for an incredible journey.

Bill Wiles is a calm, unremarkable man who works hard and is laid back. However, that is about to change. One evening, after his customary eight-hour shift as a bartender, he discovers a typewritten message under his car's windshield wiper.

"I will murder a beautiful blonde schoolteacher if you don't take this letter to the police and get them involved. I will murder an old lady who is involved in charitable work instead of you taking this message to the police. Four hours to make a decision. You have an option.

Lanny Olson, Bill's buddy who works as a police officer, also believes it to be a nasty joke. He tells Bill to forget about it and return home. Besides, even if they did take the memo seriously, what could they do? Actually, no crimes have been committed. However, Bill is to blame for the death of a young, blond schoolteacher that is discovered less than twenty-four hours later because he failed to persuade the authorities to get involved. Now, two more lives are on the line, along with another message, deadline, and ultimatum.

Bill's perfectly normal existence suddenly takes on the size and velocity of a rapidly approaching nightmare. Due to the fact that the notes are arriving more often, the deadlines are getting closer, and the murderer is becoming more brazen and vicious with each message, Bill finds himself alone and terrified that he is the only one who can save the lives of a psychopath's innocent victims. Until the conflict between right and wrong becomes very personal. Up to the very last, most terrifying words, "The choice is yours."