Nerds That Geek Book Review – ‘Frankenstein: Lost Souls’

Written by Scott Edwards 

​The keystone to survival is surviving. It seems like that is the easiest thing to remember, but sometimes people are just willing to stay and take the torment. Running away from the situations that you cannot win could be the best way to survive, but sometimes you choose to stay and fight for what you believe is right, even though there is no chance of making it out alive. That is how heroes are born and written about in the history books. 

Private investigators Carson O’Connor and Michael Maddison are just that, heroes. The two fell in love when living in New Orleans and while working on a case together, and have just given birth to their first child, Scout. Having survived their encounter against and killing Victor Frankenstein along with most of his minions, the two are looking to settle down and live a pain free existence. As they take up a very easy assignment, they are met with more possible trouble. For when an old friend, Deucalion, shows up at their doorstep, the couple is going to be faced with the rebirth of Frankenstein and his newest creations.

In Rainbow Falls, Montana, a band of replicates are slowly taking over the town. First replacing the key members of the community, their group is now focusing on everyone else. With a new mind reading technology, the replicates are very difficult to detect since they are able to download the existing memories from their victims. When staying at the local hospital for chest pains, old western writer Bryce Walker notices a difference in the demeanor of the medical staff. Young Travis, who is also staying in the same wing as Bryce, notices that the staff will come into his room and just watch him while he sleeps. Thinking that the staff hates him and wants to bring him harm, Travis joins forces with the old writer as they plan their escape from the hospital of doom.

Nunny has been battling with the loss of his grandmother and now finds himself staying at the local jail under false pretenses. Being paired up with an old killer, Mr. Lyss ,in the same cell, the two discover what is really happening in Rainbow Falls before the rest of the town. Seeing a replicate bring in his own doppelganger and then seeing him harvested, the two know they must escape to save their lives. Nunny is not happy with leaving all of the helpless people behind but does not have enough smarts to keep Mr. Lyss from pursuing his own goal of survival. The two end up holding up in Nunny’s neighborhood and wait for the infestation of replicates to blow over, but when the search parties get closer and closer the two find themselves running once again. 

In Frankenstein: Lost Souls you follow a small town in Montana that is trying to survive the second coming of Doctor Victor Frankenstein. Although the doctor was killed a few years before, he has created a replicate of himself to be fired up upon his premature demise to continue his work in creating the ultimate race. Having to face off against his old creator, Deucalion meets up with his friends from New Orleans, along with Frankenstein’s latest wife, Erika Five and adopted son Jocko. Everyone has a part to play when battling the old scientist, but nobody could expect that his creations have come so in just a year. Not knowing the exact way to kill off the replicates to save the town, the group goes back to their old tricks of slaying and tries to defeat the threat before it grows even worse. But not knowing where Frankenstein’s replicate is held up, they will need to do their research and keep their heads above water until he is located once again.

Just and overall fun read from author Dean Koontz. Frankenstein: Lost Souls is the fourth novel in the series and is setting up for the ultimate showdown between the living and the doctor’s creations. Having plenty of laughs along with enough gore to keep it interesting, this book is a page turner and will keep you in the mood for a good old-time monster showdown. How the characters interact with each other is a delight and watching them grow a little bit more will make you want to pick up the next entry in the series. Having a couple of the old school creations come together with the living to find a way to defeat their master makes for a good story line and although this is a set up book, you will not be disappointed with the results. Happy Reading and Stay Scared.

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