Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses child sexual abuse.

Dean Koontz is a novelist known for his suspense thrillers that blend genres such as science fiction, horror, and mystery. However, he’s also written a memoir, satire, and even a children’s book, often under pen names. He published his first book, Star Quest, in 1968, but his breakthrough novel, Whispers, was published in 1980. Koontz has written over 100 books, more than 30 of which have become New York Times bestsellers. His co-written Frankenstein series is a modern-day retelling and sequel to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) and explores how bioengineering could work with AI technology; like The House at the End of the World, it features hybrid monsters and examines the ethics of scientific experimentation on living beings.

Koontz’s most famous series follows Odd Thomas, a character who can speak to the dead, and has been made into a film. While The House at the End of the World doesn’t feature ghosts, Katie and Odd Thomas are both defined by their relationship to the dead. They each become obsessed with the past and seek to redress wrongs, seeing themselves as champions for justice and truth.