BookPath
Elsewhere*
Dean Koontz

Elsewhere*

Quick Answer

"Elsewhere*" is an optional companion work. It can be read at any time, though it is usually best enjoyed after reading the first few core novels of the Standalone Novels.

Quick Verdict

🟡 Optional side story — not required for main plot

❓ Can I skip this book?
✅ Yes — Optional

This is a companion work that enriches the lore but is not strictly necessary to follow the main plot.

Verdict Insight: While this novella provides deeper world-building, it is a standalone story and can be read at any stage.

Is this helpful?
2021368 ppNovellaOptional Side Story
In the little South Californian town of Suavidad Beach, Jeff Coltrane is raising his daughter Amity on his own, ever since his wife Michelle went missing seven years ago. He's doing a pretty good job of it, and though Amity misses her mom she pours her excess love into her pet mouse Snowball: she's on a promise for her own puppy if she proves she can take good care of the mouse. Then one day their itinerant friend Ed - known locally as 'Mr Spooky' - hands into Jeff's care a small box containing 'the key to everything', with the warning that it's worth around $76 billion, and that he has a demonic posse on his tail searching for it, and that because it's both so powerful and so valuable, they'll never give up their quest to get their hands on it. He'll come back for it in a year: but on no account during that time is Jeff to open the box.
Next Recommended Book

Forest Of Lost Souls

Book #2021.2 of 524 in Series

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for deep lore fans.

Order Confidence

high Confidence

Why this order?

Our team of curators analyzes publication history, author interviews, and internal narrative continuity to establish the definitive reading sequence. This ensures zero spoilers and maximum narrative impact.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Standalone Novels conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I skip reading Elsewhere*?

This is a companion work that enriches the lore but is not strictly necessary to follow the main plot.

Can I read Elsewhere* before The House At The End Of The World?

Yes. Elsewhere* is an optional side story and can be read at any time without spoiling the main series plot.

Is Elsewhere* required reading for the Standalone Novels?

No, it is a companion work that enriches the lore but is not essential to the central storyline.

What comes after Elsewhere* in the reading order?

The next recommended book after Elsewhere* is Forest Of Lost Souls (Book #2021.2).