This is a truly wonderful horror book! I also had mixed feelings about different parts of the plot while reading it, but eventually I thought that all the loose ends, some unclear scenes and the anticlimax make this novel so hugely refreshing, surprising and bold. Together with all the violence and darkness being the background, and Straub's usual perfect style. 'Koko' stands with 'If You Could See Me Now', 'Shadowland' and 'Ghost Story' as my favourite novel written by Straub and also belongs to a bunch of my favourite horrors ever.

Plus, the loose ends MEET after all, but to see that happen you have to read several short stories by Straub - for instance 'Blue Rose' (from a creepy collection 'Houses Without Doors') goes back to the childhood of one of the characters, one other story I've read describes the cave events (I believe it had '...ghosts...' in the title, but I'm not sure as I don't have it around - only read it in a horror magazine some time ago), and so it goes. So if you feel a bit let down by the ending of 'Koko' do get hold of these stories - they're all very good and only make sense to those who have read 'Koko' so... I guess it's some kind of a reward for staying with Straub until the end of this thick book.