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The Bad Weather Friend
Dean Koontz

The Bad Weather Friend

Quick Answer

"The Bad Weather Friend" 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?
2025550 ppNovellaOptional Side Story
" <p><b>Benny is so nice they feel compelled to destroy him, but he has a friend who should scare the hell out of them in this breathtaking new kind of thriller by #1 <i>New York Times</i> bestselling master of suspense Dean Koontz.</b></p> <br> <br> <p>Benny Catspaw's perpetually sunny disposition is tested when he loses his job, his reputation, his fiancée, and his favorite chair. He's not paranoid. Someone <i>is</i> out to get him. He just doesn't know who or why. Then Benny receives an inheritance from an uncle he's never heard of: a giant crate and a video message. <i>All will be well in time.</i></p> <br> <br> <p>How strange--though it's a blessing, his uncle promises. Stranger yet is what's inside the crate. He's a seven-foot-tall self-described "bad weather friend" named Spike whose mission is to help people who are just too good for this world. Spike will take care of it. He'll find Benny's enemies. He'll deal with them. This might be satisfying if Spike wasn't such a menacing presence with terrifying techniques of intimidation.</p> <br> <br> <p>In the company of Spike and a fascinated young waitress-cum-PI-in-training named Harper, Benny plunges into a perilous high-speed adventure, the likes of which never would have crossed the mind of a decent guy like him.</p> "<br> <br>
Next Recommended Book

Christmas Is Good!

Book #2017.2 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 The Bad Weather Friend?

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

Can I read The Bad Weather Friend before Ashley Bell?

Yes. The Bad Weather Friend is an optional side story and can be read at any time without spoiling the main series plot.

Is The Bad Weather Friend 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 The Bad Weather Friend in the reading order?

The next recommended book after The Bad Weather Friend is Christmas Is Good! (Book #2017.2).