The Good Guy

Timothy Carrier spends his evenings at a friend’s tavern, drawing eccentric patrons into conversation. One night, a jittery stranger mistakes him for a hitman and leaves an envelope containing ten thousand dollars and a photograph of a woman marked for death. The instructions are clear: eliminate the target to receive the remainder of the payment. Before Tim can process this error, another man approaches. This second visitor is a cold-blooded killer who believes Tim hired him. Tim improvises, claiming he has changed his mind and offering the money as a no-kill fee. He keeps the photo and the cash, then follows the stranger outside to discover the killer is actually a police officer. Tim finds himself at the center of a mystery involving a powerful adversary who is relentless as evil incarnate. He must use selflessness, endurance, and courage to save an innocent life and stop the murderer. Dean Koontz, known for suspense and thriller fiction, structures this narrative around mistaken identity and murder for hire. The story examines how an ordinary man discovers inner resources that transform his understanding of heroism. Readers who enjoy fast-paced plots involving supernatural elements and gothic tension will appreciate this work. Those seeking historical romance or literary fiction may find the focus on action and survival less appealing.