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Cover of Intensity by Dean KoontzIntensity
Modern · Fiction, Thriller

Intensity

by Dean Koontz
1995 · 464 pages · Fiction
67.4Must-Read
Score Modern
Lifetime bestseller
≈ 12 hours to read · about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

Chyna Shepard, a twenty-six-year-old psychology student, is spending the weekend at her best friend's family home in the Napa Valley when a serial killer breaks in at night and murders the family. Chyna hides and survives. Then she learns he's holding a young girl captive at his house, and she follows him, alone, to save her.

Why it's worth reading

It hit #1 on the New York Times list. It takes place over about a day and is one of Koontz's most relentless thrillers.

You'll love it if you liked

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From the Corner of His EyeDean Koontz
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Mr. MercedesStephen King

Good to know

It's very violent, with the killer's point of view included.

By the numbers

67.4Must-Read Score
  • Readers48 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller50 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Bestseller
#1 New York Times bestseller (3 weeks at #1)

Reads as

Gripping

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Odd HoursDean Koontz
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Explore the best-of lists

All 36 best-of lists →
Mysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 555 rankedModern booksTop 25 · 1,573 rankedBooks of the 1990sTop 25 · 273 rankedFantasy booksTop 25 · 459 rankedLiterary novelsTop 25 · 309 rankedMemoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 rankedScience fiction booksTop 25 · 313 rankedRomancesTop 25 · 233 ranked

Quick answers

Is Intensity worth reading?

Yes. It hit #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #1,607 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.4 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Intensity about?

Chyna Shepard, a twenty-six-year-old psychology student, is spending the weekend at her best friend's family home in the Napa Valley when a serial killer breaks in at night and murders the family. Chyna hides and survives. Then she learns he's holding a young girl captive at his house, and she follows him, alone, to save her.

How long does it take to read Intensity?

About 12 hours (464 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Intensity?

If you liked it, try Watchers by Dean Koontz, From the Corner of His Eye by Dean Koontz or Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King.