Koko

This gripping novel follows four Vietnam veterans as they confront a shared secret and a haunting threat from their past, titled Koko.

In Koko, Peter Straub weaves a gripping narrative that delves deep into the psychological scars left by the Vietnam War. The story revolves around four men, each leading vastly different lives yet connected by a haunting secret. Their backgrounds—a doctor, a lawyer, a blue-collar worker, and a writer—highlight the diverse paths life can take, but it is their shared experience in Vietnam that binds them together. As they navigate their individual struggles, the weight of their past looms large, affecting their present lives in profound ways.

The plot thickens as these four veterans reunite, drawn together by the mysterious term 'KOKO'—a word that holds a dark significance known only to them. Their journey takes them from the remnants of their experiences in the Far East to the urban jungle of New York City. The narrative expertly captures the tension and fear that accompany their quest, as they confront not only the ghosts of their past but also a new threat that has emerged from the darkness, intent on causing more destruction.

Through Koko, readers are taken on a visceral thrill ride that explores themes of friendship, trauma, and the haunting nature of memory. Straub's masterful storytelling invites us to reflect on how the past shapes our identities and the lengths we might go to confront the shadows that linger within us.