Only after reaching the last page of the novel, did I come to know about Dean Koontz's own Golden Retriever. A late realization dawned on me. Only a pet-friendly person who had obviously spent plenty of time with the man's best friend could write a story this thrilling yet heartwarming. This is all because of the portraiture of the Goldens. The story is surprisingly undeterred by the predictable narrative here and there, as the author's turn of phrase while describing a certain scene or a character's emotion or even the canine creatures' responses is engaging to read. "The Darkest Evening of the Year" is about two torn souls finding comfort in each other's company, coming together to fill the space left because of a missing piece in their lives.A dimension of the supernatural phenomenon is introduced through the instincts of dogs which play a paramount role in the plot. We, humans, try really hard to find meaning in life by attaching faith to a greater unseen force. Be it superstitious or not, the fact that there is something bigger to hold on to is the appeasement we all long for. Between the unreserved love and affection that dogs bestow upon their human friends and the perilous intentions that humans possess to survive by hurting each other, "The Darkest Evening of the Year" captures the complicated nature of human lives successfully and wins as a page-turner.
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