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Going Home In The Dark
Dean Koontz

Going Home In The Dark

Quick Answer

"Going Home In The Dark" 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?
2025395 ppNovellaOptional Side Story
When hometown horrors come back to haunt, friendship is salvation in a novel about childhood fears and buried secrets by #1 New York Times bestselling master of suspense Dean Koontz. As kids, outcasts Rebecca, Bobby, Spencer, and Ernie were inseparable friends in the idyllic town of Maple Grove. Three left to pursue lofty dreams--and achieved them. Only Ernie never left. When he falls into a coma, his three amigos feel an urgent need to return home. Don't they remember people lapsing into comas back then? And those people always awoke...didn't they? After two decades, not a lot has changed in Maple Grove, especially Ernie's obnoxious, scary mother. But Rebecca, Bobby, and Spencer begin to remember a hulking, murderous figure and weirdness piled on mystery that they were made to forget. As Ernie sinks deeper into darkness, something strange awaits any friend who tries to save him. For Rebecca, Bobby, and Spencer, time is running out to remember the terrors of the past in a perfect town where nothing is what it seems. For Maple Grove, it's a chance to have the "four amigos," as they once called themselves, back in its grasp.
Next Recommended Book

False Memory

Book #2001.1 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 Going Home In The Dark?

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

Can I read Going Home In The Dark before Darkness Under The Sun?

Yes. Going Home In The Dark is an optional side story and can be read at any time without spoiling the main series plot.

Is Going Home In The Dark 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 Going Home In The Dark in the reading order?

The next recommended book after Going Home In The Dark is False Memory (Book #2001.1).