The Face is a novel by Dean Koontz published in 2003 by Bantam Books. Plot summary The main plot of the story follows Ethan Truman, an ex-cop who now works as the head of security for the most famous actor in Hollywood, Channing Manheim, a.k.a. "The Face." Ethan is trying to track down the sender of several gruesome "messages" that were received in black boxes. Ethan now has six black boxes to figure out what the contents of the boxes mean. After chasing down leads and tracking the "ghost" of his dead friend Duncan "Dunny" Whistler (technically, Dunny is not a ghost, as he came back to life in the morgue), Ethan finally uncovers the plot and races to stop the kidnapping of Manheim's son, Aelfric. Characters Major characters Ethan Truman - A 37-year-old ex-policeman/detective who now works as the head of security at Channing Manheim's Bel Air estate. He left law enforcement because it held no meaning for him after the death of his wife Hannah. Aelfric "Fric" Manheim - Son of Channing Manheim. He is very small and quiet and is described as "an invisible little mouse" by his often absent mother. Prides himself in knowing small things that no one else knows. Has an asthma condition. Lester "Hazard" Yancy - A detective in the homicide division who assists Truman on his search. Yancy is a large, bull-like man who is not afraid to put himself in the line of fire. He is the most shot at man that Ethan Truman has ever known. Vladimir "Corky" Laputa - An English professor who also happens to be an anarchist that practices his craft daily. Corky spreads chaos wherever he goes and plans to kidnap Aelfric. He has already kidnapped a colleague and starved him, feeding him only as much minerals and vitamins as needed to stay alive. He kills four other characters who might have linked him to the kidnapping of Aelfric. Duncan "Dunny" Eugene Whistler - Ethan's friend from his childhood and later a big-time mobster that died while in a coma. His coma was caused by being held underwater too long by some former associates who attacked him sometime after he left the mob. His body disappears from the morgue and seems to be walking around. Dunny acts as Ethan's guardian throughout the story. He is invested with certain powers by a demon called Typhon. Mrs. McBee