One Door Away from Heaven
Published: 2001
Author: Dean Koontz
Genre: Action, Adventure, Conspiracy, Fiction, First Contact, Literary, Literature, Mystery, Psychological, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller
Check out the review of this book here:
Summary
A shape-shifting extraterrestrial, along with others of his kind, has arrived on Earth to save us from ourselves.
After seeing his whole family slaughtered by wicked aliens focused on stopping him, he embarks on a cross-country quest to save himself.
He stops in the middle of the night at a farmhouse to "borrow" some cash and supplies and finds a sleeping youngster his age. He is able to "become" Curtis Hammond, the boy's exact replica, using a drop of blood from an old bandage.
The terrible aliens arrive seconds after he leaves the house and slaughter the family, leaving just the dog alive. Curtis and the dog escape and wind up at the site of an extraterrestrial sighting.
Castoria and Polluxia Spelkenfelter, twin UFO enthusiasts, know Curtis from news coverage of his murder and resolve to assist him. He eventually confesses his actual nature to them, and they promise to help him finish the assignment he has come to Earth to perform.
The twins, boy, and dog set off together towards Nun's Lake, Idaho, the next place on the twins' schedule while they determine what to do next.
Michelina (Mickey) Bellsong was just released from jail. She has moved in with her Aunt Geneva to start again, but things aren't going as planned. She is adrift and aimless, simply trying to get through the day.
A clever but crippled little girl approaches her as she is sunbathing in the backyard. Leilani Klonk has a malformed hand and a misshapen leg that necessitates the use of a brace. She is smarter and more talkative than the usual nine-year-old, and her wit charms Mickey.
Mickey and Geneva get to know the youngster and discover that her mother is a psychotic drug user and her stepfather is a killer. He murdered her older brother Lukipela, and Leilani is the next victim.
Leilani feels that no one can assist her since Preston Maddoc is well-regarded in the academic community. Preston and Leilani's mother, Sinsemilla, travel throughout the country hunting for UFOs, and Leilani knows it's just a matter of time until they return to Montana, where Preston murdered her brother Lukipela.
Mickey and Geneva resolve to find a method to assist Leilani, but Preston discovers this and flees with the family in the middle of the night.
Mickey realizes that they have vanished and sets out to find them in order to save Leilani. Leilani had said that they are heading to Nun's Lake, Idaho, the location of a rumored close contact, and Mickey rushes to the town in order to discover the girl.
Mickey comes and proceeds to talk with the man who was "healed" by aliens, only to discover that Leilani's step-father hasn't arrived yet. She searches the home for Preston and follows him to Leilani.
Preston is alerted to her existence by the cured man, whom he murders. He slips out of the home and approaches Mickey, knocking her out. He drags her into the deceased man's house and binds her up before speeding back to the campsite.
Curtis meets Leilani at the Nun's Lake campsite and realizes she's in trouble. While Preston is away, he and the twins approach her and persuade her to accompany them.
Leilani is kidnapped by her stepfather and taken to the home where he has concealed Mickey as they rush for the twins' RV.
His objective is to have Leilani witness him kill Mickey before torturing and killing her. When he returns home, he sees that Mickey has escaped her chains. He ditches Leilani, takes her brace and begins looking through the maze of old periodicals and newspapers for Mickey.
Leilani enters the maze in search of a route out, where she and Mickey meet. Preston corners them and sets fire to the newspapers in front of them, intending to listen as they burn to death.
Curtis and the twins arrive at the residence, helped by a disillusioned ex-PI sent by Aunt Gen. The PI, Noah Farrell, shoots Preston Maddoc as he speeds through the maze looking for Mickey and Leilani.
Preston staggers away, becoming increasingly dizzy from blood loss and smoke inhalation. Noah and Cass locate Mickey and Leilani, and the four of them look for a way out.
Curtis appears in his normal form to save them, and they all flee the home. Preston Maddoc is killed after he gets buried behind a mound of flaming rubbish.
Leilani, Mickey, Aunt Gen, and Noah join Cass and Polly in their attempt to assist Curtis in completing the assignment that has been assigned to him.
Useful Search Related Words & Keywords
Aunt Geneva, Away From Heaven, Corner Of His Eye, Curtis Hammond, Door Away, False Memory, Koontz Books, Leilani Klonk, Old Yeller, Preston Maddoc
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