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Jane Hawk #2
The Whispering Room
Jane Hawk - fiction's most relentless, resourceful, stunning new heroine - continues her battle against a murderous conspiracy in the riveting sequel to The Silent Corner.
"No time to delay. Do what you were born to do. Fame will be yours when you do this."
These are the words that ring in the mind of mild-mannered, beloved schoolteacher Cora Gundersun - just before she takes her own life, and many others', in a shocking act of carnage. When the disturbing contents of her secret journal are discovered, it seems certain that she must have been insane. But Jane Hawk knows better.
In the wake of her husband's inexplicable suicide - and the equally mysterious deaths of scores of other exemplary individuals - Jane picks up the trail of a secret cabal of powerful players who think themselves above the law and beyond punishment. But the ruthless people bent on hijacking America's future for their own monstrous ends never banked on a highly trained FBI agent willing to go rogue - and become the nation's most wanted fugitive - in order to derail their insidious plans to gain absolute power with a terrifying technological breakthrough.
Driven by love for her lost husband and by fear for the five-year-old son she has sent into hiding, Jane Hawk has become an unstoppable predator. Those she is hunting will have nowhere to run when her shadow falls across them.
"No time to delay. Do what you were born to do. Fame will be yours when you do this."
These are the words that ring in the mind of mild-mannered, beloved schoolteacher Cora Gundersun - just before she takes her own life, and many others', in a shocking act of carnage. When the disturbing contents of her secret journal are discovered, it seems certain that she must have been insane. But Jane Hawk knows better.
In the wake of her husband's inexplicable suicide - and the equally mysterious deaths of scores of other exemplary individuals - Jane picks up the trail of a secret cabal of powerful players who think themselves above the law and beyond punishment. But the ruthless people bent on hijacking America's future for their own monstrous ends never banked on a highly trained FBI agent willing to go rogue - and become the nation's most wanted fugitive - in order to derail their insidious plans to gain absolute power with a terrifying technological breakthrough.
Driven by love for her lost husband and by fear for the five-year-old son she has sent into hiding, Jane Hawk has become an unstoppable predator. Those she is hunting will have nowhere to run when her shadow falls across them.
517 pages, Hardcover
First published November 21, 2017
5195 people are currently reading
11507 people want to read
About the author
Dean Koontz
905 books39.6k followersAcknowledged as "America's most popular suspense novelist" (Rolling Stone) and as one of today's most celebrated and successful writers, Dean Ray Koontz has earned the devotion of millions of readers around the world and the praise of critics everywhere for tales of character, mystery, and adventure that strike to the core of what it means to be human.
Dean, the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna.
Facebook: Facebook.com/DeanKoontzOfficial
Twitter: @DeanKoontz
Website: DeanKoontz.com
Dean, the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna.
Facebook: Facebook.com/DeanKoontzOfficial
Twitter: @DeanKoontz
Website: DeanKoontz.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,887 reviews
September 16, 2017
Picked up right where book one left off. A follow-up book two from the Jane Hawk series. And Jane is still on the run. I highly recommend starting at the beginning with ‘The Silent Corner’ in order to become fully enmeshed.
Money, power and sex! The triple threat of human nature that combined, have major potential for evil to bloom. A sinister group are using nanotechnology to take over and control unsuspecting innocent people through brain implants. (Sounds crazy right? Perhaps not so far-fetched somewhere in the near future hmmmm….). It rests on Jane’s shoulders to stop them before it's too late. Risking her own life, Jane is determined to bring them down.
Her cross-country chase/run has her bumping into all sorts of characters. (Bernie was my favorite!). Some really didn’t seem that relevant to the overall plot and simply served to slow down the speed of the chase, and thus the book.
Unfortunately this book wasn't all that different from book one. The progression of the story-line stumbled somewhat. Without advancement, the book just felt soooo long!
I am hoping book three (due out in 2018) will take Jane's quest for justice to the next level!
3.5*
Thank you to NetGalley, Dean Koontz and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for an advanced copy to read in exchange for an honest review
Money, power and sex! The triple threat of human nature that combined, have major potential for evil to bloom. A sinister group are using nanotechnology to take over and control unsuspecting innocent people through brain implants. (Sounds crazy right? Perhaps not so far-fetched somewhere in the near future hmmmm….). It rests on Jane’s shoulders to stop them before it's too late. Risking her own life, Jane is determined to bring them down.
Her cross-country chase/run has her bumping into all sorts of characters. (Bernie was my favorite!). Some really didn’t seem that relevant to the overall plot and simply served to slow down the speed of the chase, and thus the book.
Unfortunately this book wasn't all that different from book one. The progression of the story-line stumbled somewhat. Without advancement, the book just felt soooo long!
I am hoping book three (due out in 2018) will take Jane's quest for justice to the next level!
3.5*
Thank you to NetGalley, Dean Koontz and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for an advanced copy to read in exchange for an honest review
March 3, 2023
“You're dead already...They'll know about you in the whispering room.”
A narrative which moves like a runaway train, a terrific premise which is more plausible than we’d like to admit, a resourceful protagonist we like and care about, and Dean Koontz’s signature trademarks of goodness and hope in a world which too often seems to have gone mad, make this second entry in the Jane Hawk series a terrific read. I had not read the first in the series when I was fortunate enough to win a chance to read the second through a Goodreads Giveaway, but had little trouble getting up to speed with events. Koontz’s narrative has so much movement, with brief chapters driving the story ever forward, it had echoes of pulp-style pacing, which eventually began to remind me of Robert Ludlum when he was at the top of his game. Whatever device Koontz may have used in penning this exciting and thought-provoking story, it’s electric, moving across the pages like ball lightning moves across the vast, empty prairie.
Because this was the second book in this series, it took me a bit to get a feel for Jane. She’s a resourceful FBI agent gone rogue, fighting a vast, not so unbelievable conspiracy, to remake and control the population through nano-technology. It has cost her dearly, and it is that price which drives her and gives her strength, so that she can clear her deceased husband’s name. She also has unfinished business with her father, who murdered her mother — and got away with it. She has a son, whom she has stashed away until this is all over. I couldn’t help thinking it was not by chance that Koontz named Jane’s son, Travis, since the author is a great fan of writer John D. MacDonald, as am I.
As The Whispering Room begins, Jane is on the run, the most wanted person in the country. Alone but relentless, she moves with great purpose, believing that good can triumph over evil, and must. Towards that end, she must take up the figurative sword, because there is much at stake:
“A guardian angel with a gun?” — Sandy
“Michael the archangel always had a sword. Others, too. Maybe even angels have to change with the times.” — Jane
And these times are dreadful, because they are indeed our times, which we sadly recognize. Reading a Koontz book, especially this one, we realize we are not alone in believing the world has gone askew. With decency, tension and suspense, rather than pessimism, graphic violence, bloody gore and vulgarity, and with a rich belief in kindness and redemption, the eventual triumph of good over evil, Koontz once again shows who is the real king of these genres.
As Jane makes overtures to discover in what quarters she might find allies, she is cautious yet resourceful. But her quest to clear the books on her husband’s death, and indeed perhaps save the world, is a lonely one:
“She knew only a loneliness as might have been felt by the sole survivor of a shipwreck, adrift on a flotsam of deck boards and fractured cargo crates, under a sky empty of all but the sun, the surrounding sea emptier still.”
But she is not alone for long, and not alone in feeling adrift once this one gets rolling:
“As he gazed out from nature's comfort at the blacktop parking lot so barren in the cold fall of hard light, he asked for courage and for mercy, and if that should be too much to ask, then for courage alone.” — black sheriff, Luther Tillman
It will be the strange and disturbing plight of Minnesota’s Cora Gunderson, and Sheriff Luther Tillman’s secret investigation into her “suicide” which brings Jane and Luther together at a town in Kentucky called Iron Furnace. I don’t want to reveal too much here, because this is such a terrific read, but suffice it to say, not all is as it seems in Iron Furnace:
“What the waitress said, Freya...What kind of fever kills all the dogs just like that?” — Luther
“One that knows dogs aren't deceived by appearances.” — Jane
What most strikes the reader — when they are able to catch their breath — is just how far-fetched this should all seem, yet how eerily plausible it actually is in the climate of the past decade. Twice, Jane and Luther comment on it. The first time is when Jane is feeling out a famous journalist to see if she can find an ally:
“Haven't you noticed, insanity is the new normal?” — Jane
The second is when Luther Tillman tries to wrap his mind around what’s happening, and has trouble with it:
“But these Arcadians, the Hamlet list...this is insanity.” — Luther
“Whole nations descend into insanity from time to time. Germany under Hitler. China under Mao. There's a long list of examples.” — Jane
There is a frightening physical web of evil, and an unseen dark-web which is even more frightening. At the heart of what’s going on is elitism run amok, led by a progressive named David James Michael. Koontz very quietly takes on society’s oversensitivity to every tiny word spoken, which often causes otherwise nice people to take offense for no valid reason. And in eerily convincing fashion, he makes the case that government has already run amok, with virtually every aspect of our lives accessible to others, though we in fact have done nothing wrong. He takes a direct shot at the heart — not across the bow — of this idea that others should have control over how we feel, what we believe, what we say and do, and in doing so, illuminates who is attempting to achieve this:
“They were intellectuals, excited by ideas more important to them than people. Self-identified intellectuals were among the most dangerous people on the planet. The problem was, all intellectuals first self-identified as such before others accepted their status and sought them for words of wisdom. They didn’t need to pass a test to confirm their brilliance, didn’t appear before a credentialed board by which they needed to be certified. It was easier to be celebrated as an intellectual than to get a hairdresser's license.”
But even as Jane moves toward the ultimate confrontation, Koontz never allows the thriller portion to lose its humanity. There are children who must be saved, including Luther’s family, who are in more danger than they could possibly imagine. There is a woman who will learn to think twice before taking offense at a perceived politically incorrect slight. There is Luther’s wonderfully intelligent daughter. There are colorful locations and people willing to help Jane as she races toward the shadowed whispering room. And of course, as in every Koontz novel, there are dogs. But the real question is, how long can Jane elude capture so that she can confront the evil head-on:
“You’re scaring me a little: — Luther
“I doubt that.” — Jane
“I mean, scared for you. You have what it takes, but you also need some luck. You’ve had a long run of luck in this. But nobody’s luck holds forever.” — Luther
The story is rich and exciting, and will have you turning pages as quickly as Sidney Sheldon and Robert Ludlum did many moons ago. This is a blast to read, with my only caveat being a confrontation which ends too quickly once it finally happens. It was necessary in order to show how factious evil can be, and it does make me eager to read the next entry, so I’m not downgrading over a minor quibble to a remarkably engaging thriller. Even within a lightning paced narrative such as this, which has some mildly tawdry elements such as the Stepford-like Aspasia, and some terrific action to boot, Koontz takes the time to smell the roses, scattering some lovely descriptions between the train tracks as it barrels forward, out of control. A marvelous modern day thriller with echoes of old-school storytellers, you might be scrambling to obtain a copy of The Manchurian Candidate after reading this if you don't get the references. Highly recommended!
“Once truth was known, it could not be unlearned, nor could it be forgotten, but lay always in the heart, a darkness for which all the years ahead would be spent seeking whatever light could be found to compensate."
A narrative which moves like a runaway train, a terrific premise which is more plausible than we’d like to admit, a resourceful protagonist we like and care about, and Dean Koontz’s signature trademarks of goodness and hope in a world which too often seems to have gone mad, make this second entry in the Jane Hawk series a terrific read. I had not read the first in the series when I was fortunate enough to win a chance to read the second through a Goodreads Giveaway, but had little trouble getting up to speed with events. Koontz’s narrative has so much movement, with brief chapters driving the story ever forward, it had echoes of pulp-style pacing, which eventually began to remind me of Robert Ludlum when he was at the top of his game. Whatever device Koontz may have used in penning this exciting and thought-provoking story, it’s electric, moving across the pages like ball lightning moves across the vast, empty prairie.
Because this was the second book in this series, it took me a bit to get a feel for Jane. She’s a resourceful FBI agent gone rogue, fighting a vast, not so unbelievable conspiracy, to remake and control the population through nano-technology. It has cost her dearly, and it is that price which drives her and gives her strength, so that she can clear her deceased husband’s name. She also has unfinished business with her father, who murdered her mother — and got away with it. She has a son, whom she has stashed away until this is all over. I couldn’t help thinking it was not by chance that Koontz named Jane’s son, Travis, since the author is a great fan of writer John D. MacDonald, as am I.
As The Whispering Room begins, Jane is on the run, the most wanted person in the country. Alone but relentless, she moves with great purpose, believing that good can triumph over evil, and must. Towards that end, she must take up the figurative sword, because there is much at stake:
“A guardian angel with a gun?” — Sandy
“Michael the archangel always had a sword. Others, too. Maybe even angels have to change with the times.” — Jane
And these times are dreadful, because they are indeed our times, which we sadly recognize. Reading a Koontz book, especially this one, we realize we are not alone in believing the world has gone askew. With decency, tension and suspense, rather than pessimism, graphic violence, bloody gore and vulgarity, and with a rich belief in kindness and redemption, the eventual triumph of good over evil, Koontz once again shows who is the real king of these genres.
As Jane makes overtures to discover in what quarters she might find allies, she is cautious yet resourceful. But her quest to clear the books on her husband’s death, and indeed perhaps save the world, is a lonely one:
“She knew only a loneliness as might have been felt by the sole survivor of a shipwreck, adrift on a flotsam of deck boards and fractured cargo crates, under a sky empty of all but the sun, the surrounding sea emptier still.”
But she is not alone for long, and not alone in feeling adrift once this one gets rolling:
“As he gazed out from nature's comfort at the blacktop parking lot so barren in the cold fall of hard light, he asked for courage and for mercy, and if that should be too much to ask, then for courage alone.” — black sheriff, Luther Tillman
It will be the strange and disturbing plight of Minnesota’s Cora Gunderson, and Sheriff Luther Tillman’s secret investigation into her “suicide” which brings Jane and Luther together at a town in Kentucky called Iron Furnace. I don’t want to reveal too much here, because this is such a terrific read, but suffice it to say, not all is as it seems in Iron Furnace:
“What the waitress said, Freya...What kind of fever kills all the dogs just like that?” — Luther
“One that knows dogs aren't deceived by appearances.” — Jane
What most strikes the reader — when they are able to catch their breath — is just how far-fetched this should all seem, yet how eerily plausible it actually is in the climate of the past decade. Twice, Jane and Luther comment on it. The first time is when Jane is feeling out a famous journalist to see if she can find an ally:
“Haven't you noticed, insanity is the new normal?” — Jane
The second is when Luther Tillman tries to wrap his mind around what’s happening, and has trouble with it:
“But these Arcadians, the Hamlet list...this is insanity.” — Luther
“Whole nations descend into insanity from time to time. Germany under Hitler. China under Mao. There's a long list of examples.” — Jane
There is a frightening physical web of evil, and an unseen dark-web which is even more frightening. At the heart of what’s going on is elitism run amok, led by a progressive named David James Michael. Koontz very quietly takes on society’s oversensitivity to every tiny word spoken, which often causes otherwise nice people to take offense for no valid reason. And in eerily convincing fashion, he makes the case that government has already run amok, with virtually every aspect of our lives accessible to others, though we in fact have done nothing wrong. He takes a direct shot at the heart — not across the bow — of this idea that others should have control over how we feel, what we believe, what we say and do, and in doing so, illuminates who is attempting to achieve this:
“They were intellectuals, excited by ideas more important to them than people. Self-identified intellectuals were among the most dangerous people on the planet. The problem was, all intellectuals first self-identified as such before others accepted their status and sought them for words of wisdom. They didn’t need to pass a test to confirm their brilliance, didn’t appear before a credentialed board by which they needed to be certified. It was easier to be celebrated as an intellectual than to get a hairdresser's license.”
But even as Jane moves toward the ultimate confrontation, Koontz never allows the thriller portion to lose its humanity. There are children who must be saved, including Luther’s family, who are in more danger than they could possibly imagine. There is a woman who will learn to think twice before taking offense at a perceived politically incorrect slight. There is Luther’s wonderfully intelligent daughter. There are colorful locations and people willing to help Jane as she races toward the shadowed whispering room. And of course, as in every Koontz novel, there are dogs. But the real question is, how long can Jane elude capture so that she can confront the evil head-on:
“You’re scaring me a little: — Luther
“I doubt that.” — Jane
“I mean, scared for you. You have what it takes, but you also need some luck. You’ve had a long run of luck in this. But nobody’s luck holds forever.” — Luther
The story is rich and exciting, and will have you turning pages as quickly as Sidney Sheldon and Robert Ludlum did many moons ago. This is a blast to read, with my only caveat being a confrontation which ends too quickly once it finally happens. It was necessary in order to show how factious evil can be, and it does make me eager to read the next entry, so I’m not downgrading over a minor quibble to a remarkably engaging thriller. Even within a lightning paced narrative such as this, which has some mildly tawdry elements such as the Stepford-like Aspasia, and some terrific action to boot, Koontz takes the time to smell the roses, scattering some lovely descriptions between the train tracks as it barrels forward, out of control. A marvelous modern day thriller with echoes of old-school storytellers, you might be scrambling to obtain a copy of The Manchurian Candidate after reading this if you don't get the references. Highly recommended!
“Once truth was known, it could not be unlearned, nor could it be forgotten, but lay always in the heart, a darkness for which all the years ahead would be spent seeking whatever light could be found to compensate."
February 4, 2018
The Whispering Room by Dean Kootz is a 2017 Bantam publication.
Kick-butt heroine Jane Hawk is back ready to save the world from a diabolical and evil plot against America.
After reading the ‘The Silent Corner’, I was cautiously optimistic about this new series. After reading this second installment, I have become a true believer- lock, stock and barrel.
The thing about this storyline that makes it so incredibly chilling, especially in America, is that while it may sound like pure science fiction, our government has experimented with mind control in the past. After a recent mass shooting, where a plausible motive still remains totally unclear, this story really makes me think, and scares the crap out of me.
As the story picks up, Jane is now the most sought after woman on the planet, which makes her job all the harder. But, she is determined to take down the billionaire sponsoring the mind control experiments that took the life of her husband, robbing her son of his father.
As more tragedy takes place, Jane races against time, but soon finds the network behind such an evil plot is much larger than she knew.
The David versus Goliath set up, pits Jane against powerful entities and keeps her on the run, struggling to stay under the radar, and still manage to see her son on occasion.
"After the coming tide of change had passed, there would be no rest in the world, only the peace of submission or death, only the quiet dread that keeps the mouse mute in the presence of the fanged and searching cat.”
The story does start off with a literal bang, but the real suspense stems from Jane’s predicament, while we follow her along on a tense road trip, where she encounters other adventures, on top of everything else she must contend with. The danger is always there, simmering, then escalating.
But, the scariest thought of all is the prospect that Jane will not succeed. So, I cheer her on with all my might, mentally supporting her, as the world, as we know it, rests on her shoulders.
Jane’s work is far from done, as she will face a new set of circumstances in the future. Jane is a tough but compassionate heroine, vulnerable, yet capable. Her cynicism is hard earned but not necessarily celebrated, but most of all Jane is a survivor and I for one feel immense respect for her tenacity, and her sense of right and wrong, in the ultimate good versus evil showdown.
Overall, this second installment is even better than the first one and sets the stage for an even more intense follow up in the next installment. I can hardly wait!
It is good to feel this excited about a Dean Koontz series again!
4.5 stars
Kick-butt heroine Jane Hawk is back ready to save the world from a diabolical and evil plot against America.
After reading the ‘The Silent Corner’, I was cautiously optimistic about this new series. After reading this second installment, I have become a true believer- lock, stock and barrel.
The thing about this storyline that makes it so incredibly chilling, especially in America, is that while it may sound like pure science fiction, our government has experimented with mind control in the past. After a recent mass shooting, where a plausible motive still remains totally unclear, this story really makes me think, and scares the crap out of me.
As the story picks up, Jane is now the most sought after woman on the planet, which makes her job all the harder. But, she is determined to take down the billionaire sponsoring the mind control experiments that took the life of her husband, robbing her son of his father.
As more tragedy takes place, Jane races against time, but soon finds the network behind such an evil plot is much larger than she knew.
The David versus Goliath set up, pits Jane against powerful entities and keeps her on the run, struggling to stay under the radar, and still manage to see her son on occasion.
"After the coming tide of change had passed, there would be no rest in the world, only the peace of submission or death, only the quiet dread that keeps the mouse mute in the presence of the fanged and searching cat.”
The story does start off with a literal bang, but the real suspense stems from Jane’s predicament, while we follow her along on a tense road trip, where she encounters other adventures, on top of everything else she must contend with. The danger is always there, simmering, then escalating.
But, the scariest thought of all is the prospect that Jane will not succeed. So, I cheer her on with all my might, mentally supporting her, as the world, as we know it, rests on her shoulders.
Jane’s work is far from done, as she will face a new set of circumstances in the future. Jane is a tough but compassionate heroine, vulnerable, yet capable. Her cynicism is hard earned but not necessarily celebrated, but most of all Jane is a survivor and I for one feel immense respect for her tenacity, and her sense of right and wrong, in the ultimate good versus evil showdown.
Overall, this second installment is even better than the first one and sets the stage for an even more intense follow up in the next installment. I can hardly wait!
It is good to feel this excited about a Dean Koontz series again!
4.5 stars
January 23, 2023
The book opens with Cora Gunderson, a schoolteacher from Minnesota who inexplicably embarks on a horrific murder-suicide mission. It’s clear her actions were not her own and there was a form of mind control that led her to do what she did. Even more disturbing is there seems to be an epidemic of murder-suicides across the country
What could cause such a phenomenon? There is a rogue group of people intent on hijacking the future of the U.S. in order to gain absolute power. They have employed nanotechnology to control the minds of others to carry out their evil deeds.
Farfetched? Perhaps not, which is what makes this even more terrifying.
FBI agent Jane Hawk is a badass heroine, who, after losing her husband to this group’s nefarious tactics, goes rogue to avenge his death, keep her son safe, and bring down those responsible.
From my review of the first book in the series:
Koontz outdid himself with Jane….she does the right thing regardless of the personal cost. She’s smart, courageous, and determined…a badass, but with a heart. She won’t hesitate to kill, but only if unavoidable and necessary.
I stand by my assessment of Jane, and in this book, Luther Tillman, the sheriff of a small town whose suspicions are aroused after he finds Cora’s diaries, is on his own mission to get to the truth.
Their challenge? They can trust no one. Law enforcement and those in the highest levels of government are involved in the conspiracy. Jane lives life off the grid, but it’s a nail-biting race to stay one step ahead.
My only complaint is I don’t think the story warrants so many pages, and the author could have told his story with less descriptive writing...yet, I can’t wait to read the next installment.
The underlying theme is good vs evil, one that fans of Dean Koontz will recognize. It is impossible to read his work and not root for the good guy. Jane and Luther were my favorite characters and I can’t wait to see their story progress in the next book.
This was a buddy read with my friend Marialyce, do check out her review!
• I listened to the audiobook via Hoopla, narrated by Elisabeth Rodgers, who did an excellent job.
What could cause such a phenomenon? There is a rogue group of people intent on hijacking the future of the U.S. in order to gain absolute power. They have employed nanotechnology to control the minds of others to carry out their evil deeds.
Farfetched? Perhaps not, which is what makes this even more terrifying.
FBI agent Jane Hawk is a badass heroine, who, after losing her husband to this group’s nefarious tactics, goes rogue to avenge his death, keep her son safe, and bring down those responsible.
From my review of the first book in the series:
Koontz outdid himself with Jane….she does the right thing regardless of the personal cost. She’s smart, courageous, and determined…a badass, but with a heart. She won’t hesitate to kill, but only if unavoidable and necessary.
I stand by my assessment of Jane, and in this book, Luther Tillman, the sheriff of a small town whose suspicions are aroused after he finds Cora’s diaries, is on his own mission to get to the truth.
Their challenge? They can trust no one. Law enforcement and those in the highest levels of government are involved in the conspiracy. Jane lives life off the grid, but it’s a nail-biting race to stay one step ahead.
My only complaint is I don’t think the story warrants so many pages, and the author could have told his story with less descriptive writing...yet, I can’t wait to read the next installment.
The underlying theme is good vs evil, one that fans of Dean Koontz will recognize. It is impossible to read his work and not root for the good guy. Jane and Luther were my favorite characters and I can’t wait to see their story progress in the next book.
This was a buddy read with my friend Marialyce, do check out her review!
• I listened to the audiobook via Hoopla, narrated by Elisabeth Rodgers, who did an excellent job.
February 6, 2019
Thanks to Bantam Books/Random house for this ARC. Also thanks to Dustin Crazy little brown owl - moderator of Koontzland - the definitive Koontz Goodreads group - for hosting the giveaway. I say ARC even though it came out two weeks ago, but I got it just a couple of days before the release so I am late to the party.
The Jane Hawk adventure continues as she takes her bad-ass-ery all over America in search if truth an justice. There is so much stuff happening in this book and it was very suspenseful. Page after page I was fully entertained. I cannot wait for this saga to continue.
For Koontz fans: this series is unlike anything I have read by Koontz before. If you are look for a story and writing like early Koontz, you will not find it here. That is not a bad thing, just different. This series is more espionage and corporate/government corruption instead of horror and supernatural. But, it does have dogs - so it is definitely Koontz!
Important note: as you may already know this is the second book in the series. While you might be able to read this without reading the first one and still be entertained and catch up with what is going on, I highly recommend starting with the first.
The Jane Hawk adventure continues as she takes her bad-ass-ery all over America in search if truth an justice. There is so much stuff happening in this book and it was very suspenseful. Page after page I was fully entertained. I cannot wait for this saga to continue.
For Koontz fans: this series is unlike anything I have read by Koontz before. If you are look for a story and writing like early Koontz, you will not find it here. That is not a bad thing, just different. This series is more espionage and corporate/government corruption instead of horror and supernatural. But, it does have dogs - so it is definitely Koontz!
Important note: as you may already know this is the second book in the series. While you might be able to read this without reading the first one and still be entertained and catch up with what is going on, I highly recommend starting with the first.
November 30, 2017
Time for a confession: I’ve never read a single book by Dean Koontz. I started The Face once, long ago, and never finished.
Maybe it’s time to revisit that book. The Whispering Room is a sequel to Koontz’s first Jane Hawk book: The Silent Corner. I should have picked it up while it was on sale a couple weeks ago because it’s right up my alley: conspiracy theories, kick ass heroine, a fun supporting cast.
That being said, I actually had no issue following along here. The first few chapters provide a convenient recap of the first book (without feeling like an obvious infodump- though I might have felt differently had I read the first one), and while there were references to the events of The Silent Corner, I could easily put 2 and 2 together from the context and never felt lost or confused.
I really loved the plot. This is a spoiler if you know nothing about The Silent Corner: a super secret shadowy organization called the Arcadians, which have infiltrated every aspect of the US Gov’t, have invented nanotechnology which can be injected into a person’s blood stream making them a shell of themselves and susceptible to mind control. Arcadians then decide whether the geniuses of the world will help to influence it for the “better” (what matches their vision) or do something to upset the balance of their power for the “worse”. If you are one of those that their computer program decides will influence the world in a way that doesn’t match their vision of the future, you are selected for elimination or to commit other atrocious acts of violence. Jane’s husband was one of these victims, and she is on a mission to rid the world of Arcadians and their mind controlling nanotechnology.
While I do believe that many of the events in this book are entirely plausible (which is also borderline terrifying) I also think that towards the end the whole book got a little wacky and crossed the lines of implausibility (but always remained entertaining). For example, Jane meets a LOT of people who mysteriously don’t think she’s a complete looney toon. And I don’t mean friends or acquaintances, I’m talking random people she meets at truck stops and the like. I also think that for all Jane’s smarts the author left some gaping plot holes that the antagonist actually bothers to point out to the reader. He literally says: “What if she did X, Y, or Z with this knowledge? Imagine how bad that would be!” And then of course I couldn’t get out of my head: “Damn it Jane! Why the hell didn’t you do that?” Given the circumstances she was operating under at the time it was somewhat forgivable, but still, given the ease with which she utilized her knowledge in some situations, I’m a little confused as to why she didn’t make better use of the knowledge later in the book.
The characters were all very enjoyable and likeable. My only real complaint about some of them was they lacked some depth. The whole cast, minor characters especially, seemed like perhaps they were colored significantly by the author’s own perception of what he might like the world to look like. Lots of them were very well dressed. Jane is noted to look like a supermodel on multiple occasions. They have happy, amiable faces. They are fit, in shape, with stylish haircuts and shoes, etc. None of this ever detracted from the entertainment factor, but it just seemed like a cartoonish caricature of the world by the end of it.
Minor issues aside, I am 100% hooked and can’t wait for the next book. I’ll probably go back and read The Silent Corner while I wait.
I’d recommend this to any fans of Koontz, believers in conspiracy theories, or fans of the suspense genre in general. Thank you to BookishFirst and Bantam books for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Maybe it’s time to revisit that book. The Whispering Room is a sequel to Koontz’s first Jane Hawk book: The Silent Corner. I should have picked it up while it was on sale a couple weeks ago because it’s right up my alley: conspiracy theories, kick ass heroine, a fun supporting cast.
That being said, I actually had no issue following along here. The first few chapters provide a convenient recap of the first book (without feeling like an obvious infodump- though I might have felt differently had I read the first one), and while there were references to the events of The Silent Corner, I could easily put 2 and 2 together from the context and never felt lost or confused.
I really loved the plot. This is a spoiler if you know nothing about The Silent Corner: a super secret shadowy organization called the Arcadians, which have infiltrated every aspect of the US Gov’t, have invented nanotechnology which can be injected into a person’s blood stream making them a shell of themselves and susceptible to mind control. Arcadians then decide whether the geniuses of the world will help to influence it for the “better” (what matches their vision) or do something to upset the balance of their power for the “worse”. If you are one of those that their computer program decides will influence the world in a way that doesn’t match their vision of the future, you are selected for elimination or to commit other atrocious acts of violence. Jane’s husband was one of these victims, and she is on a mission to rid the world of Arcadians and their mind controlling nanotechnology.
While I do believe that many of the events in this book are entirely plausible (which is also borderline terrifying) I also think that towards the end the whole book got a little wacky and crossed the lines of implausibility (but always remained entertaining). For example, Jane meets a LOT of people who mysteriously don’t think she’s a complete looney toon. And I don’t mean friends or acquaintances, I’m talking random people she meets at truck stops and the like. I also think that for all Jane’s smarts the author left some gaping plot holes that the antagonist actually bothers to point out to the reader. He literally says: “What if she did X, Y, or Z with this knowledge? Imagine how bad that would be!” And then of course I couldn’t get out of my head: “Damn it Jane! Why the hell didn’t you do that?” Given the circumstances she was operating under at the time it was somewhat forgivable, but still, given the ease with which she utilized her knowledge in some situations, I’m a little confused as to why she didn’t make better use of the knowledge later in the book.
The characters were all very enjoyable and likeable. My only real complaint about some of them was they lacked some depth. The whole cast, minor characters especially, seemed like perhaps they were colored significantly by the author’s own perception of what he might like the world to look like. Lots of them were very well dressed. Jane is noted to look like a supermodel on multiple occasions. They have happy, amiable faces. They are fit, in shape, with stylish haircuts and shoes, etc. None of this ever detracted from the entertainment factor, but it just seemed like a cartoonish caricature of the world by the end of it.
Minor issues aside, I am 100% hooked and can’t wait for the next book. I’ll probably go back and read The Silent Corner while I wait.
I’d recommend this to any fans of Koontz, believers in conspiracy theories, or fans of the suspense genre in general. Thank you to BookishFirst and Bantam books for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2017
This is turning into such a great series. I gave book one 4 stars but this one gets a full 5.
The most noticeable aspect of The Whispering Room is the suspense. I sat on the edge of my seat, holding my breath and forcing myself not to peep at the end to see who survived. Jane Hawk is one of those characters who really has it all together and is usually one step ahead of the baddies. In this book however the baddies have all the power of the government behind them and sometimes things get really scary. I especially liked the middle part where Jane works out the question and uses it to huge effect. What question? Read it and see. It is very, very clever.
I am a Dean Koontz fan from way back but I know the quality of his work can be very high or equally low. This one is near the top!
The most noticeable aspect of The Whispering Room is the suspense. I sat on the edge of my seat, holding my breath and forcing myself not to peep at the end to see who survived. Jane Hawk is one of those characters who really has it all together and is usually one step ahead of the baddies. In this book however the baddies have all the power of the government behind them and sometimes things get really scary. I especially liked the middle part where Jane works out the question and uses it to huge effect. What question? Read it and see. It is very, very clever.
I am a Dean Koontz fan from way back but I know the quality of his work can be very high or equally low. This one is near the top!
August 18, 2017
For good reason there a genre called thrillers, if you looked the term up in the dictionary no doubt a picture of the cover for The Whispering Room (TWR) would be one of those books featured prominently.
Rogue FBI Special Agent Jane Hawk is back in her continuing crusade against the cabal that is trying to control the world through implanted nanotechnology.
Jane has acquired proof but since she is #1 on the FBI's most wanted list and since the NSA and other sources can mess with whatever she posts on a the web, Jane is desperate to find a way to get the information out to the public and to those government officials not yet ensnared.
Fast paced might be an understatement. Koontz starts at 60 mph and speeds up from there. I welcome Jane's nightly vodka and coke; I need the break too for my heartbeat to slow. Hey, does that mean reading TWR is a cardio exercise?
FBI Special Agent, rogue agent, crusader, cold blooded killer; the true definition of Jane is mother, wife, and now widow. Jane is as compelling as she was in the first book, The Silent Corner. In the Silent Corner the inexplicable suicide of her husband and thousands of others set Jane on her journey and is what inspires Jane to keep moving, to keep searching for payback and justice, and most of all to keep her hidden five year old son safe.
Jane has acquired an ally, Sheriff Luther Tillman from Minnesota. A beloved teacher in his town commits an unbelievable act of terrorism sending him on a search for answers after it becomes clear the Feds have no interest in looking into the inexplicable crime. Jane and the sheriff come across each other in a resort town hiding a dark secret. He ends up paying a terrible price for his knowledge and loyalty after combining forces with Jane to fight the growing evil.
Koontz is so polished in his characters and plotting, there isn’t much to say other than he carries on this tradition with The Whispering Room too.
He also continues with his very strong anti-government stance, which always amuses me since I, myveryownself work for the government as does my husband and most of our friends and neighbors. Who devote their best effort for this country. But I’ve never let this put me off from the pure magic of his writing.
My only complaint, not enough dog. Koontz is the master of dog characters.
A great second book, in what I hope is a long running series.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in return for a fair and honest review.
Rogue FBI Special Agent Jane Hawk is back in her continuing crusade against the cabal that is trying to control the world through implanted nanotechnology.
Jane has acquired proof but since she is #1 on the FBI's most wanted list and since the NSA and other sources can mess with whatever she posts on a the web, Jane is desperate to find a way to get the information out to the public and to those government officials not yet ensnared.
Fast paced might be an understatement. Koontz starts at 60 mph and speeds up from there. I welcome Jane's nightly vodka and coke; I need the break too for my heartbeat to slow. Hey, does that mean reading TWR is a cardio exercise?
FBI Special Agent, rogue agent, crusader, cold blooded killer; the true definition of Jane is mother, wife, and now widow. Jane is as compelling as she was in the first book, The Silent Corner. In the Silent Corner the inexplicable suicide of her husband and thousands of others set Jane on her journey and is what inspires Jane to keep moving, to keep searching for payback and justice, and most of all to keep her hidden five year old son safe.
Jane has acquired an ally, Sheriff Luther Tillman from Minnesota. A beloved teacher in his town commits an unbelievable act of terrorism sending him on a search for answers after it becomes clear the Feds have no interest in looking into the inexplicable crime. Jane and the sheriff come across each other in a resort town hiding a dark secret. He ends up paying a terrible price for his knowledge and loyalty after combining forces with Jane to fight the growing evil.
Koontz is so polished in his characters and plotting, there isn’t much to say other than he carries on this tradition with The Whispering Room too.
He also continues with his very strong anti-government stance, which always amuses me since I, myveryownself work for the government as does my husband and most of our friends and neighbors. Who devote their best effort for this country. But I’ve never let this put me off from the pure magic of his writing.
My only complaint, not enough dog. Koontz is the master of dog characters.
A great second book, in what I hope is a long running series.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in return for a fair and honest review.
December 2, 2024
Dean Koontz knocks another one out of the park! It's so crazy!
I felt like I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, rooting for Jane to succeed against insurmountable odds and hoping for the bad guys to lose.
This man LIVES and BREATHES SUSPENSE! I don't really want to say anything that will spoil the immense story!
I HIGHLY suggest that you read Book 1 before reading this since there is a lot of story building: The Silent Corner.
I can't wait to read more of this nail-biter series!
5 STARS!
I felt like I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, rooting for Jane to succeed against insurmountable odds and hoping for the bad guys to lose.
This man LIVES and BREATHES SUSPENSE! I don't really want to say anything that will spoil the immense story!
I HIGHLY suggest that you read Book 1 before reading this since there is a lot of story building: The Silent Corner.
I can't wait to read more of this nail-biter series!
5 STARS!
October 24, 2017
When I finished The Silent Corner, the first book in this series featuring FBI agent Jane Hawk, I loved it so much that in my review I urged the author to hurry up and finish the next one sooner than scheduled. He must have heard me, since he beat that original date by a couple of months. And oh boy, am I glad he did!
This one can stand alone, although I'm sure I enjoyed it more for having read the first. That one had plenty of action, but here it's almost nonstop, meaning I was "forced" to put other chores on the back burner so I could keep reading (honestly, I think it's even better than the first, and I gave that one a 5-star rating). The prose is pure Koontz, with each turn of the phrase artfully crafted. The focus of the plot - really, really bad guys and gals who are using nanotechnology to turn human beings they don't like into well-controlled automatons - may be a bit "out there," but on the other hand, as one of my favorite comedians, Judy Tenuta, used to say, "It could happen."
In the first book, Jane's husband Nick reportedly committed suicide - but Jane knew better and vowed to get to the truth. That in turn put her at odds with the FBI and even higher-up powers, forcing her to go on the run and put her young son Travis in hiding. Early on, she seeks help from a respected journalist - hoping he's someone she can trust (it's nearly impossible to discern who's had the technology implants, making Jane's quest to take down the instigators all that much harder). At the same time, a much-loved Minnesota school teacher inexplicably commits mass murder by driving her homemade bomb-laden car into a crowd (killing herself as well). When Jane learns of the incident, she immediately suspects that the woman was "guided" by an outside force.
At the same time, local Sheriff Luther Tillman has suspicions all his own; wanting to find out why the normally sweet teacher would commit such a horrible act, he visits her home and retrieves a few items. Shortly thereafter, her home goes up in flames, adding fuel to Luther's belief that something is rotten in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Jane and Luther lead separate investigations for a while, but as might be expected, their trails eventually come together. From that point on, there's no going back - and they must cling to the hope that the way forward won't end with either or both of their deaths.
Mysterious and spooky and all together ooky, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves thrillers spiked with a tablespoon of science fiction. Love it - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
This one can stand alone, although I'm sure I enjoyed it more for having read the first. That one had plenty of action, but here it's almost nonstop, meaning I was "forced" to put other chores on the back burner so I could keep reading (honestly, I think it's even better than the first, and I gave that one a 5-star rating). The prose is pure Koontz, with each turn of the phrase artfully crafted. The focus of the plot - really, really bad guys and gals who are using nanotechnology to turn human beings they don't like into well-controlled automatons - may be a bit "out there," but on the other hand, as one of my favorite comedians, Judy Tenuta, used to say, "It could happen."
In the first book, Jane's husband Nick reportedly committed suicide - but Jane knew better and vowed to get to the truth. That in turn put her at odds with the FBI and even higher-up powers, forcing her to go on the run and put her young son Travis in hiding. Early on, she seeks help from a respected journalist - hoping he's someone she can trust (it's nearly impossible to discern who's had the technology implants, making Jane's quest to take down the instigators all that much harder). At the same time, a much-loved Minnesota school teacher inexplicably commits mass murder by driving her homemade bomb-laden car into a crowd (killing herself as well). When Jane learns of the incident, she immediately suspects that the woman was "guided" by an outside force.
At the same time, local Sheriff Luther Tillman has suspicions all his own; wanting to find out why the normally sweet teacher would commit such a horrible act, he visits her home and retrieves a few items. Shortly thereafter, her home goes up in flames, adding fuel to Luther's belief that something is rotten in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Jane and Luther lead separate investigations for a while, but as might be expected, their trails eventually come together. From that point on, there's no going back - and they must cling to the hope that the way forward won't end with either or both of their deaths.
Mysterious and spooky and all together ooky, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves thrillers spiked with a tablespoon of science fiction. Love it - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 5, 2017
Jane Hawk is back. She's still on the run....a fugitive....a rogue FBI agent. Following the apparent suicide of her husband, Jane discovered a conspiracy, something so evil and diabolical that she immediately knew she had to find those responsible and stop them. A group of powerful, wealthy people have developed technology that can hijack the will of any person...take over their brain. The person can be made to do anything. No resistance. No conscience. They will obey without question. Some people are made to kill themselves like Jane's husband. Others are made to commit terrorist acts. And some are just used as mindless sex slaves for the wealthy. They made a mistake when they killed Jane's husband. They made a mistake when they threatened the life of her young son. They made a mistake when they tried to kill her. And, they made the biggest mistake of all when they underestimated her power to bring them down, to exact revenge.
This book is hard hitting from the beginning and doesn't let up until the very end. I loved the first book in this series, The Silent Corner.....and I enjoyed this book just as much. Jane Hawk kicks ass. She is intelligent, resilient, and cunning. As a highly trained FBI agent, she knows how to use surveillance, interrogation and techonology to her best advantage. She also knows how to avoid being seen, unless she chooses to be noticed.
Dean Koontz is hit or miss for me. His horror books recycle plot elements a bit too much -- sentient dogs, groups of people battling supernatural forces, etc. But the Jane Hawk series is something from Koontz that's fresh and wonderfully written. He could even write in a talking dog and nobody would see a single eyeroll from me.....that's how much I like Jane Hawk. A strong, hard-hitting, brutal female main character. The story has great realistic action and excitement. It's not often I sit and read an entire book in one sitting, but this series has had me burning the midnight oil twice now. I'm sure I will be totally into the third book, The Crooked Staircase, when it comes out in June 2018.
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Random House - Ballentine via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
This book is hard hitting from the beginning and doesn't let up until the very end. I loved the first book in this series, The Silent Corner.....and I enjoyed this book just as much. Jane Hawk kicks ass. She is intelligent, resilient, and cunning. As a highly trained FBI agent, she knows how to use surveillance, interrogation and techonology to her best advantage. She also knows how to avoid being seen, unless she chooses to be noticed.
Dean Koontz is hit or miss for me. His horror books recycle plot elements a bit too much -- sentient dogs, groups of people battling supernatural forces, etc. But the Jane Hawk series is something from Koontz that's fresh and wonderfully written. He could even write in a talking dog and nobody would see a single eyeroll from me.....that's how much I like Jane Hawk. A strong, hard-hitting, brutal female main character. The story has great realistic action and excitement. It's not often I sit and read an entire book in one sitting, but this series has had me burning the midnight oil twice now. I'm sure I will be totally into the third book, The Crooked Staircase, when it comes out in June 2018.
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Random House - Ballentine via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
May 14, 2019
The Whispering Room, Jane Hawk #2 (NEW RELEASE - Group Read November/December 2017)
Goodread's ARC - first edition copy!
Link to Koontzland's December 2017 Group Read Discussions: this is #1 out of 4 listed - completed
Below is the group link
https://www.goodreads.com/event/show/...
Jane Hawk, the "rogue" FBI agent solves her husband's suicide, FBI Lt.Col. Nick Hawk.
She wants to catch the criminal scientists & investors on implanting microscopic brain "mechanisms" to control a person's brain to kill. They were responsible for her husband, as a "suicide" victim with the implant they created.
Cora Gunderson, schoolteacher, sets her SUV on fire, drives into the Veblen Hotel exploding, killing 42 & killing a congressman. Sheriff Luther Tillman reads Cora's insane journal to determine she was "programmed" to kill.
Jane corners Journalist Lawrence Hannifin in an embarrassing "nude" scene locking him inside his closet forcing him to give her info, it took time to escape the locked closet. Says he was "attacked" by her to get to lawyers & owners for information to them.
Her goal is stop Brain implants & save future victims from scientists? investors? Jane needs to follow, Randell Larkin - of Woodbine, Kravitz, Larkin & Benedetto lawyers. And Bertolucci Shenneck & D.J. Michael who own Shenneck Technology & Far Horizons.
Goodread's ARC - first edition copy!
Link to Koontzland's December 2017 Group Read Discussions: this is #1 out of 4 listed - completed
Below is the group link
https://www.goodreads.com/event/show/...
Jane Hawk, the "rogue" FBI agent solves her husband's suicide, FBI Lt.Col. Nick Hawk.
She wants to catch the criminal scientists & investors on implanting microscopic brain "mechanisms" to control a person's brain to kill. They were responsible for her husband, as a "suicide" victim with the implant they created.
Cora Gunderson, schoolteacher, sets her SUV on fire, drives into the Veblen Hotel exploding, killing 42 & killing a congressman. Sheriff Luther Tillman reads Cora's insane journal to determine she was "programmed" to kill.
Jane corners Journalist Lawrence Hannifin in an embarrassing "nude" scene locking him inside his closet forcing him to give her info, it took time to escape the locked closet. Says he was "attacked" by her to get to lawyers & owners for information to them.
Her goal is stop Brain implants & save future victims from scientists? investors? Jane needs to follow, Randell Larkin - of Woodbine, Kravitz, Larkin & Benedetto lawyers. And Bertolucci Shenneck & D.J. Michael who own Shenneck Technology & Far Horizons.
January 19, 2019
Koontz has created a smart and exciting heroine in ex-FBI agent, Jane Hawk.
She can outwit the bad guys with her well-trained, bad ass skills and at the same time fiercely protect her loved ones.
In The Whispering Room her battle continues against a murderous conspiracy in the riveting sequel to The Silent Corner.
A fast-paced, heart pounding, entertaining and thought provoking read!
Love this series!!!
She can outwit the bad guys with her well-trained, bad ass skills and at the same time fiercely protect her loved ones.
In The Whispering Room her battle continues against a murderous conspiracy in the riveting sequel to The Silent Corner.
A fast-paced, heart pounding, entertaining and thought provoking read!
Love this series!!!
September 11, 2017
The Whispering Room is book #2 in the Jane Hawk series. The story follows on from #1 The Silent Corner, but it is not necessary to have read book #1 in order to understand the gist of the storyline. In some ways I was disappointed with how the storyline developed. Jane Hawk seems to have spent most of the book chasing around, interrogating people in order to extract information from them. The book was boring at times and not as enjoyable as The Silent Corner. I will be reading book #3 because I do want to know what happens. Hopefully, book #3 will not disappoint.
After Cora Gunderson's spectacular suicide mission, Sheriff Luther Tillman begins to realise that somehow people are being controlled. He decides to go to Iron Furnace in a bid to find out what happened to Cora whilst she was there. Tillman and Hawk paths cross in Iron Furnace and they team up to rescue the children from the 'school'. They transport the children to safety, then go their separate ways. Tillman tries to get his family to safety, but that doesn't go quite as he planned. Hawk continues in her bid to find out how to get to D.J. Michael in the Far Horizons building.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the advanced proof digital copy.
After Cora Gunderson's spectacular suicide mission, Sheriff Luther Tillman begins to realise that somehow people are being controlled. He decides to go to Iron Furnace in a bid to find out what happened to Cora whilst she was there. Tillman and Hawk paths cross in Iron Furnace and they team up to rescue the children from the 'school'. They transport the children to safety, then go their separate ways. Tillman tries to get his family to safety, but that doesn't go quite as he planned. Hawk continues in her bid to find out how to get to D.J. Michael in the Far Horizons building.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the advanced proof digital copy.
October 15, 2025
What would happen if someone discovered a way to make anyone into an assassin? Unlimited power, wealth beyond your imagings, sexual servitude, and corruption and evil explode.
The Whispering Room immediate follows Jane Hawks experiences and discoveries from The Silent Corner. She is following the trail of the power-players using the nano-tech to control minds and being hunted by the people she is hunting for. You can never know who is friend or foe because your friend can be controlled and under their power and you’d never even know it.
Suspense-filled, action intense and sure to get your pulse pounding. Really good read. I love Jane Hawk as a contemporary heroine but the story didn't take much progression from the previous novel. You learned a little more but most of it was just too similar to her last experiences in THE SILENT CORNER.
I received this ARC copy of The Whispering Room from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine - Bantam. This is my honest and voluntary review. The Whispering Room is set for publication Nov. 22, 2017.
My Rating: 4 stars
The Whispering Room immediate follows Jane Hawks experiences and discoveries from The Silent Corner. She is following the trail of the power-players using the nano-tech to control minds and being hunted by the people she is hunting for. You can never know who is friend or foe because your friend can be controlled and under their power and you’d never even know it.
Suspense-filled, action intense and sure to get your pulse pounding. Really good read. I love Jane Hawk as a contemporary heroine but the story didn't take much progression from the previous novel. You learned a little more but most of it was just too similar to her last experiences in THE SILENT CORNER.
I received this ARC copy of The Whispering Room from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine - Bantam. This is my honest and voluntary review. The Whispering Room is set for publication Nov. 22, 2017.
My Rating: 4 stars
October 13, 2017
I received a free electronic copy of The Whispering Room (Jane Hawk, #2) by Dean Koontz from NetGalley for my honest review.
First I have to say I have always been a big fan of Dean Koontz. This was a great thriller filled with conspiracy and mind control. Jane Hawk's husband committed suicide and Jane is trying to avenge her husband's death by proving it wasn't a suicide. Jane then becomes one of the most wanted people in the US because of what she knows.
First I have to say I have always been a big fan of Dean Koontz. This was a great thriller filled with conspiracy and mind control. Jane Hawk's husband committed suicide and Jane is trying to avenge her husband's death by proving it wasn't a suicide. Jane then becomes one of the most wanted people in the US because of what she knows.
October 31, 2017
REVIEW OF THE FIRST 4 CHAPTERS ONLY .....
COURTESY OF BOOKISHFIRST
I'd almost forgotten what a Dean Koontz book did to me .... the hairs on the back of my neck tingled, an adrenaline rush, forgetting to breathe at times. This book may be his best yet.
Jane Hawk has a story to tell. She is an FBI Agent, gone rogue, charged by our government of multiple murders. But the government is not telling the truth and Jane is looking for an honest reporter to tell her story. She has a young son to protect, but will she be able to tell her tale before 'they' find him .. and her?
Terrific story premise with unforgettable characters. Book drew me in from the very first. This 4 chapters has me drooling to read the entire book.
COURTESY OF BOOKISHFIRST
I'd almost forgotten what a Dean Koontz book did to me .... the hairs on the back of my neck tingled, an adrenaline rush, forgetting to breathe at times. This book may be his best yet.
Jane Hawk has a story to tell. She is an FBI Agent, gone rogue, charged by our government of multiple murders. But the government is not telling the truth and Jane is looking for an honest reporter to tell her story. She has a young son to protect, but will she be able to tell her tale before 'they' find him .. and her?
Terrific story premise with unforgettable characters. Book drew me in from the very first. This 4 chapters has me drooling to read the entire book.
January 26, 2022
I truly hated this book. I didn't want to hate it because I loved the first one so much, but getting through it was a chore. The characters were heroic and villainous to such an extreme that all I could think about were Dudley Do-Right, and Snidely Whiplash. "Curses, foiled again!" The major difference of course is that one is a cartoon. The other is just cartoonish. On the plus side, I remembered why I stopped reading Dean Koontz books so long ago. My thanks to the Bantam and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 4, 2025
It's strange times we're living in. So strange that even George Orwell would have been like "WTF?"
Dean Koontz's "The Whispering Room" is the frightening and suspenseful sequel to "The Silent Corner", which introduced his bad-ass heroine Jane Hawk. Imagine a cross between Lisbeth Salander, the computer genius heroine from the "Girl Who..." books started by the late Stieg Larrson, and Lee Child's Jack Reacher. Jane's definitely more brain than brawn, but her FBI weapons training and martial arts background come in handy now and then.
The fact that Jane is on the FBI/NSA/Homeland Security's Most Wanted list should not deter one from rooting for her. She's one of the good guys, out to save her son's life, her own, and everyone else in the world from an underground consortium of evil---and super-wealthy---assholes who literally want to take over the world. Not to get too deep into an already-complicated plot, but they are using a combination of Artificial Intelligence (AI), nanotechnology, and simple brain-washing techniques to turn average citizens into mindless automatons. The ones who fight back? Let's just say that no amount of Tylenol will help those migraines.
Along the way, Jane meets allies in her fight. Average every-day heroes who can see past the bullshit of the evening news. She may be a lone wolf, but she recognizes the fact that she can't save the world on her own.
Koontz has created a great heroine and a fascinating---and terrifyingly plausible---series for our times.
Dean Koontz's "The Whispering Room" is the frightening and suspenseful sequel to "The Silent Corner", which introduced his bad-ass heroine Jane Hawk. Imagine a cross between Lisbeth Salander, the computer genius heroine from the "Girl Who..." books started by the late Stieg Larrson, and Lee Child's Jack Reacher. Jane's definitely more brain than brawn, but her FBI weapons training and martial arts background come in handy now and then.
The fact that Jane is on the FBI/NSA/Homeland Security's Most Wanted list should not deter one from rooting for her. She's one of the good guys, out to save her son's life, her own, and everyone else in the world from an underground consortium of evil---and super-wealthy---assholes who literally want to take over the world. Not to get too deep into an already-complicated plot, but they are using a combination of Artificial Intelligence (AI), nanotechnology, and simple brain-washing techniques to turn average citizens into mindless automatons. The ones who fight back? Let's just say that no amount of Tylenol will help those migraines.
Along the way, Jane meets allies in her fight. Average every-day heroes who can see past the bullshit of the evening news. She may be a lone wolf, but she recognizes the fact that she can't save the world on her own.
Koontz has created a great heroine and a fascinating---and terrifyingly plausible---series for our times.
March 26, 2018
This is much better than Jane Hawk #1 and was headed to 5 stars until chapter 20 to conclusion. Hard to understand why Koontz would move from a great pulse-pounding story, to practically turn the heroine into a victim. Elisabeth Rodgers is a fabulous narrator. Instead of what should have been 5 stars, 3 due to the poor end. Overall, 6 of 10 stars.
January 23, 2023
Never a dull moment with Jane Hawke!
I often think of how strong, courageous and intelligent, Dean Koontz has made is character Jan Hawke. She is a power to be reckoned with and in this the second book with Jane as the tough as nails protagonist, we see her once again battling the evil forces that want control of the human race with the insertion of nanotechnology into the brains of its victims.
To say, I have enjoyed this series is an understatement as I find the propolsiveness of the story to be so compelling that what some would consider to be a long book is over in a matter of hours. Jane is once again on the hunt as she travels across the country searching out these evil megalomaniacs who want control. She, in her travels, meets up with a number of people and using the key term "Play Manchurian with me", is able to determine those infected from those who still have free will. She meets a man named, Bernie and a sheriff named Luther who add a level of old age maturity, grit and wittiness to the story as they pick up and travel with Jane.
I will mention that the premise of this series scares the willies out of me since what is an attempt at science fiction might just be reality. When the elites advocate for chipping people, it sends shudders down my spine as I think how true Dean Knootz's revelations in this book just might be.
At any rate, it seems like the world's future lies in the capable hands of Jane Hawke as she battles the powerful forces that threatened to end her, her son, her family without repercussions. Power, sex, and the almighty dollar are played out in this good versus evil theme that is so prevalent in this author's books. The pace of the novel is a tad slow at the start but the action soon clicks in with powerful scenes and times that make one's blood run cold.
This was a super exciting though truly scary book because it so mimics a possible reality for all of us. This book is the second installment and although I have read them all, I continue to want more.
Jan and I read this one and once again found that Dean Kootnz is a true master of the thrill.
I often think of how strong, courageous and intelligent, Dean Koontz has made is character Jan Hawke. She is a power to be reckoned with and in this the second book with Jane as the tough as nails protagonist, we see her once again battling the evil forces that want control of the human race with the insertion of nanotechnology into the brains of its victims.
To say, I have enjoyed this series is an understatement as I find the propolsiveness of the story to be so compelling that what some would consider to be a long book is over in a matter of hours. Jane is once again on the hunt as she travels across the country searching out these evil megalomaniacs who want control. She, in her travels, meets up with a number of people and using the key term "Play Manchurian with me", is able to determine those infected from those who still have free will. She meets a man named, Bernie and a sheriff named Luther who add a level of old age maturity, grit and wittiness to the story as they pick up and travel with Jane.
I will mention that the premise of this series scares the willies out of me since what is an attempt at science fiction might just be reality. When the elites advocate for chipping people, it sends shudders down my spine as I think how true Dean Knootz's revelations in this book just might be.
At any rate, it seems like the world's future lies in the capable hands of Jane Hawke as she battles the powerful forces that threatened to end her, her son, her family without repercussions. Power, sex, and the almighty dollar are played out in this good versus evil theme that is so prevalent in this author's books. The pace of the novel is a tad slow at the start but the action soon clicks in with powerful scenes and times that make one's blood run cold.
This was a super exciting though truly scary book because it so mimics a possible reality for all of us. This book is the second installment and although I have read them all, I continue to want more.
Jan and I read this one and once again found that Dean Kootnz is a true master of the thrill.
September 23, 2017
Wow! This story picked up Jane Hawk's mission and hit the ground running. I liked this one better than the first in this series - The Silent Corner. The conspiracy is much larger than she first imagined and more people she needs to try to bring down so that people won't be changed by these "idealists". Fast-paced and engrossing, I couldn't put this one down.
Thanks to Dean Koontz and Random House Publishing - Ballantine through Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Dean Koontz and Random House Publishing - Ballantine through Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2017
Release Date: 11.21.17
Picking up immediately after the action of this novel's predecessor, The Silent Corner, The Whispering Room — Dean Koontz's latest thriller — hits the ground running. Jane Hawk, blacklisted CIA agent, is still on the run and working hard to solve the massive conspiracy she uncovered in Koontz's previous release. Certain people have been chosen to kill themselves, for no apparent reason . . . except to manage the gene pool, perhaps?
In a lot of ways, this book feels like the antithesis of The Silent Corner. I thought that book was exciting, fresh. It was a techno thriller that, for the most part, felt original and believable. I read it in three days and gave it a glowing review. The Whispering Room . . . is a sequel. Bringing nothing new to the table, this is Silent Corner redux. Jane is a boring cipher here; before, I thought she was perhaps one of Koontz's finest creations. Everything that interesting about her before is not really present here. Like Koontz's 2005 novel Forever Odd, this is a sequel that saps all the energy and vitality from its main character. And the villains . . .? I'm going to be totally honest and say I'm not exactly sure who the villains were in this one, aside from the mysterious "government agents" Koontz LOVES to use this century, to varying degrees.
In essence, this is a chase novel. There's no character development — it's all action: running, gunfights, boom boom boom. And at one point Jane helps children from an orphanage of sorts, in a scene straight out of Brother Odd. Laaaame.
Yeah, this book is pretty terrible. I dreaded reading it every day, which is why it took me so long to finish. It was just a big bore, that's all. Constant action isn't for me. I like world building and character development. I will give it two stars for its first 25% or so, which did hook me in. And, as usual, Koontz's prose is professional and without error.
Overall, this is a disappointment.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bantam for the ARC, which was given in exchange for an honest review.
Picking up immediately after the action of this novel's predecessor, The Silent Corner, The Whispering Room — Dean Koontz's latest thriller — hits the ground running. Jane Hawk, blacklisted CIA agent, is still on the run and working hard to solve the massive conspiracy she uncovered in Koontz's previous release. Certain people have been chosen to kill themselves, for no apparent reason . . . except to manage the gene pool, perhaps?
In a lot of ways, this book feels like the antithesis of The Silent Corner. I thought that book was exciting, fresh. It was a techno thriller that, for the most part, felt original and believable. I read it in three days and gave it a glowing review. The Whispering Room . . . is a sequel. Bringing nothing new to the table, this is Silent Corner redux. Jane is a boring cipher here; before, I thought she was perhaps one of Koontz's finest creations. Everything that interesting about her before is not really present here. Like Koontz's 2005 novel Forever Odd, this is a sequel that saps all the energy and vitality from its main character. And the villains . . .? I'm going to be totally honest and say I'm not exactly sure who the villains were in this one, aside from the mysterious "government agents" Koontz LOVES to use this century, to varying degrees.
In essence, this is a chase novel. There's no character development — it's all action: running, gunfights, boom boom boom. And at one point Jane helps children from an orphanage of sorts, in a scene straight out of Brother Odd. Laaaame.
Yeah, this book is pretty terrible. I dreaded reading it every day, which is why it took me so long to finish. It was just a big bore, that's all. Constant action isn't for me. I like world building and character development. I will give it two stars for its first 25% or so, which did hook me in. And, as usual, Koontz's prose is professional and without error.
Overall, this is a disappointment.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bantam for the ARC, which was given in exchange for an honest review.
September 28, 2017
Absolutely loved this. One of Koontz's best series.
August 22, 2019
Δείτε επίσης και στο Chill and read
Η δεύτερη περιπέτεια της Τζέιν Χοκ είναι εδώ και είναι ακόμα καλύτερη από την πρώτη! Αυτό το βιβλίο δεν το διάβασα, το ρούφηξα! Και δεν ήμουν καν σε παραλία όταν το διάβαζα!! Ευτυχώς γιατί θα καιγόμουν από τον ήλιο για να το τελειώσω!!
Η δεύτερη περιπέτεια της Τζέιν Χοκ είναι εδώ και είναι ακόμα καλύτερη από την πρώτη! Αυτό το βιβλίο δεν το διάβασα, το ρούφηξα! Και δεν ήμουν καν σε παραλία όταν το διάβαζα!! Ευτυχώς γιατί θα καιγόμουν από τον ήλιο για να το τελειώσω!!
Μετά την ανεξήγητη αυτοκτονία του Νικ, του συζύγου της Τζέιν Χοκ, και άλλες παρόμοιες αυτοκτονίες λαμβάνουν χώρα. Σε όλες αυτές τις περιπτώσεις φαίνεται πως ο αυτόχειρας έχει χάσει τα λογικά του. Μία τέτοια περίπτωση είναι και αυτή της Κόρα Γκάντερσαν, μιας δασκάλας παιδιών με ειδικές ανάγκες, η οποία παίρνει μαζί της στο θάνατο πολλούς ακόμα ανθρώπους. Το ημερολόγιό της που μένει πίσω μετά την αυτοκτονία της δείχνει ότι λίγο πριν προβεί στη μοιραία πράξη, έχει χάση τα λογικά της καθώς δεν βγαίνει νόημα από τα γραπτά της. Ο μόνος που μπορεί να διακρίνει κάτι στο μπερδεμένο σύμπλεγμα των λέξεων που έγραφε τις τελευταίες μέρες είναι ο σερίφης της πόλης, Λούθερ Τίλμαν. Ο Τίλμαν που γνωρίζει καλά την Κόρα δεν πιστεύει πως ξαφνικά τρελάθηκε και αποφάσισε να δημιουργήσει ένα πεδίο θανάτου.
Την ίδια σκέψη κάνει και η Τζέιν Χοκ, όχι μόνο για την περίπτωση της Κόρα, αλλά και για άλλες περιπτώσεις. Τον τελευταίο καιρό βρίσκεται στα ίχνη μιας συνωμοσίας που απειλεί να αλλάξει τον κόσμο όπως τον ξέρουμε και να πάψει κάθε ουσιαστική μορφή ελευθερίας. Οι άνθρωποι που έχει βάλει στο στόχαστρο είναι πολύ ισχυροί, πολύ πλούσιοι με απίστευτες διασυνδέσεις που τους θέτουν υπεράνω του νόμου, αφού μπορούν να ελέγξουν υπηρεσίες όπως είναι το FBI και η NSA, ή τουλάχιστον ένα μέρος τους ή να χρησιμοποιήσουν τα μέσα των υπηρεσιών αυτών για τους σκοπούς τους.
Η έκταση της συνωμοσίας όπως παρουσιάζεται στο δεύτερο βιβλίο είναι απίστευτη. Το σενάριο που παρουσιάζει ο συγγραφέας είναι τρομακτικό αλλά και πολύ πιθανό ταυτόχρονα και αυτό το κάνει ακόμα πιο τρομακτικό. Ειδικά αν συνδυάσεις την τωρινή κατάσταση στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες αλλά και την κατάσταση σε χώρες όπως η Βόρεια Κορέα, δεν δυσκολεύεσαι καθόλου να το θεωρήσει πολύ πιθανό. Όλα αυτά που βλέπουμε σε ταινίες ή στο ίντερνετ αλλά και διαβάζουμε σε βιβλία όπως αυτά του Koontz όλο και κάποια αλήθεια κρύβουν. Άλλωστε ο «Μεγάλος Αδερφός» του «1984» ήταν τόσο προφητικός που πλέον ότι κινείται σε παρόμοια λογική, φαίνεται πολύ φυσικό να είναι αληθινό.
Ο χαρακτήρας της Χοκ που δημιούργησε ο Koontz είναι ένα εξαιρετικό μείγμα, που δεν μπορείς παρά να συμπαθήσεις. Είναι πρώην πράκτορας του FBI, οπότε και έχει στο πετσί της το αίσθημα δικαίου και δεν μπορεί παρά να επέμβει όταν δει ότι πρόκειται για ασφάλειας των συνανθρώπων της, για κάποια εγκληματική ενέργεια που έχει σκοπό να βλάψει αθώους πολίτες. Ένα πολύ χαρακτηριστικό παράδειγμα αυτού του χαρακτηριστικού της έχουμε όταν η Χοκ, παρόλο που καταζητείται σε ολόκληρη τη χώρα και η φωτογραφία της προβάλλεται από κάθε οθόνη τηλεόρασης στη χώρα, ρισκάρει την ελευθερία και τη ζωή της προκειμένου να βοηθήσει δυο γυναίκες και δυο κορίτσια και να τις σώσει από μια παρέα αντρών που το λιγότερο που μπορεί να έχουν στο μυαλό τους είναι να τις βιάσουν. Αυτό το αίσθημα δικαίου σε κάνει να την αγαπήσεις ακόμα περισσότερο. Μαζί με αυτό είναι και η εξυπνάδα και εφευρετικότητά της, η λογική της σκέψη που την οδηγεί στα σωστά συμπεράσματα αλλά και η αγάπη της μάνας για το παιδί της. Αυτή η αγάπη που την οδηγεί να κάνει τα πάντα για να μην πάθει κάτι ο γιος της ακόμα κι αν αυτό σημαίνει πως δεν θα τον έχει κοντά της για αρκετά μεγάλο διάστημα. Γι' αυτό και κρατάει ακόμα μέσα της την ανθρωπιά της, υπάρχουν όμως στιγμές που αναρωτιέται αν όταν όλο αυτό τελειώσει, θα συνεχίσει να έχει μέσα της κομμάτι αυτής της ανθρωπιάς, ή αν θα την έχει χάση όλη στην πορεία.
Με το συγκεκριμένο θέμα και με μια ηρωίδα όπως η Τζέιν Χοκ, το βιβλίο κυλάει σαν νερό. Η δράση ξεχειλίζει και κινείται με κινηματογραφικούς ρυθμούς προκαλώντας στον αναγνώστη πείνα για τη συνέχεια σε σημείο που να μην μπορεί να αφήσει το βιβλίο από τα χέρια του. Οι εικόνες που σχηματίζονται σχηματίζουν μια τέλεια κινηματογραφική αναπαράσταση των σκηνών στο μυαλό του αναγνώστη δημιουργώντας την τέλεια εμπειρία ανάγνωσης, που εκτιμάται ιδιαιτέρως από αναγνώστες του είδους. Δε φτάνει να διαβάζεις μια περιπέτεια, πρέπει και να τη ζεις και ο Koontz το καταφέρνει με άνεση και ήταν φανερό ήδη από την «Τυφλή Γωνία». Πλέον το μόνο που απαιτείται είναι υπομονή μέχρι να βγει το επόμενο!
November 26, 2017
Once again, Dean Koontz left me breathless from start to finish in his second book of his Jane Hawk series. We pick up in The Whispering Room immediately following the end of The Silent Corner, and this time Jane gets a helping hand from Sheriff Luther Tillman. Luther and his family quickly endear themselves to the reader and I hope to see more Luther in the next book!
In fact, Jane has a way of pulling in the unlikeliest of allies which give the much needed light to this very dark story. Jane's battle with the evil conglomerate is epic and she needs all the help she can get.
There is something about Jane Hawk that I can't get enough of. Her determination to protect her child, and ultimately, the future of mankind, is a thrill to watch. More Jane, please!!
Thank you to NetGalley and to Random House for providing an advanced copy!
In fact, Jane has a way of pulling in the unlikeliest of allies which give the much needed light to this very dark story. Jane's battle with the evil conglomerate is epic and she needs all the help she can get.
There is something about Jane Hawk that I can't get enough of. Her determination to protect her child, and ultimately, the future of mankind, is a thrill to watch. More Jane, please!!
Thank you to NetGalley and to Random House for providing an advanced copy!
November 16, 2017
The thing I like most about this series is the protagonist. I grew up reading about Jason Borne, Jack Reacher, and Mitch Rapp, and I'm loving having a female hero that is just as skilled and competent. This book starts right where book 1 left off. Jane has learns more about what is happening, and gains an interesting ally in Luther Tillman, a small-town sheriff. But the bad guys are everywhere, and the story is basically one continuous chase.
I'm definitely interested to see what happens in book #3. Note: I didn't think this book was an annoying cliffhanger (thank goodness), but there are sure a lot of problems left to resolve.
I'm definitely interested to see what happens in book #3. Note: I didn't think this book was an annoying cliffhanger (thank goodness), but there are sure a lot of problems left to resolve.
March 3, 2022
“They don’t just use the nanoimplants to cull the population of people they don’t like. They have other uses that’ll sicken you when I lay it all out. Terrify and sicken. This is about freedom, Hannafin, yours as much as mine. It’s about a future of hope or slavery.”
- Jane Hawk
——
“Every human being was a mystery, each mind a maze of passages and secret rooms. No one ever really knew anyone or what they might be capable of doing.”
- Luther Tillman
——
“I found it difficult to believe that there were those who despised the works of humanity and even humanity itself—not just the Arcadians but so many others—who in their misanthropy longed to undo all that had been built through the millennia of human struggle and striving, and even some who thought the world would be a better place if humankind had never existed.”
- Jane Hawk
——
“There is no world if there is not a human eye to see it, no world of any purpose or meaning, no world of more importance than is any barren planet now circling a burnt-out sun. The world can’t see itself and marvel at its wonders. The mystery of consciousness makes reality, and there is no reality without a fully conscious species to apprehend it. You think the world precious because you’re here to see it. We are the world and the world is us, and neither can be but a dream of no importance without the other.”
- Jane Hawk
- Jane Hawk
——
“Every human being was a mystery, each mind a maze of passages and secret rooms. No one ever really knew anyone or what they might be capable of doing.”
- Luther Tillman
——
“I found it difficult to believe that there were those who despised the works of humanity and even humanity itself—not just the Arcadians but so many others—who in their misanthropy longed to undo all that had been built through the millennia of human struggle and striving, and even some who thought the world would be a better place if humankind had never existed.”
- Jane Hawk
——
“There is no world if there is not a human eye to see it, no world of any purpose or meaning, no world of more importance than is any barren planet now circling a burnt-out sun. The world can’t see itself and marvel at its wonders. The mystery of consciousness makes reality, and there is no reality without a fully conscious species to apprehend it. You think the world precious because you’re here to see it. We are the world and the world is us, and neither can be but a dream of no importance without the other.”
- Jane Hawk
November 22, 2017
Anyone who has read this will feel a compulsion to ask a certain question (no spoilers) of their nearest and dearest...just in case. When Jane Hawk ask herself in the mirror--chills! Sorry, I'm not usually that cryptic in my reviews but I wont give it away, you need to go read this one yourself.
I am a huge Dean Koontz fan. He is brilliant with characters, plot, dialogue and making the impossible completely plausible (and terrifying) but more than that I find him quite lyrical at times and those are the moments that make me slow down and appreciate what a great writer he is. One observation in this book was homeless people caulking the dark doorways in an alleyway--I mean, how brilliant is that image? (Apologies I do not have the exact quote.)
I wasn't 100% sold on the ending (unless there are plans for more in the series?) but on the other hand I was exhausted from the plot action and was happy to see some resolution. I think it helps to be familiar with the movie cited in the book. But unreservedly 5 stars.
I am a huge Dean Koontz fan. He is brilliant with characters, plot, dialogue and making the impossible completely plausible (and terrifying) but more than that I find him quite lyrical at times and those are the moments that make me slow down and appreciate what a great writer he is. One observation in this book was homeless people caulking the dark doorways in an alleyway--I mean, how brilliant is that image? (Apologies I do not have the exact quote.)
I wasn't 100% sold on the ending (unless there are plans for more in the series?) but on the other hand I was exhausted from the plot action and was happy to see some resolution. I think it helps to be familiar with the movie cited in the book. But unreservedly 5 stars.
May 12, 2020
The Whispering Room by Dean Koontz is Book II of the Jane Hawk series. The books need to be read in order, and when I started the series, I had no idea there are five books, looooong books, but I am lovin’ them.
The Whispering Room picks up where The Silent Room leaves off.
I must warn you about the characters. There are so many great ones introduced, but many will not survive, so be careful who you become enamored with. She has ‘friends’ that offer their help, some willingly, some not so willingly, but this is a solo operation and she works best alone.
“They’ll all know about you in The Whispering Room.”
I loved when Jane put her mission aside to render assistance to a family. It shows what kind of person she really is. This is a nice touch, because most of the story is spent with Jane traveling here to there in search for answers.
The high and mighty sociopaths are culling the population. Why? What makes the victims such a threat? How did they even come to think of such horror? And all the other twisted, perverted things they do?
Iron Furnace, Kentucky makes the Stepford Wives look like child’s play.
Utopia…one man’s vision is another man’s horror.
I know, with the digital world we live in, there is no such thing as privacy. Every time we step foot outside our homes, we are being watched. Anyone can be found anywhere. But there are even more threats out there and I wonder if something like this could happen in the future.
I loved that I made a quick appearance, or at least my name did, Sherry. That’s always fun to see.
The action ramps up in The Whispering Room. I was not able to quit reading, rapidly flipping the pages and I mourn for some of the characters that fall victim.
Are ‘they’ going to ‘win’? How can they not? But this is fiction, so I know (?) Jane has to come out victorious.
I checked out The Whispering Room by Dean Koontz from the library and have already downloaded the next book, The Crooked Staircase.
See more at fundinmental
The Whispering Room picks up where The Silent Room leaves off.
I must warn you about the characters. There are so many great ones introduced, but many will not survive, so be careful who you become enamored with. She has ‘friends’ that offer their help, some willingly, some not so willingly, but this is a solo operation and she works best alone.
“They’ll all know about you in The Whispering Room.”
I loved when Jane put her mission aside to render assistance to a family. It shows what kind of person she really is. This is a nice touch, because most of the story is spent with Jane traveling here to there in search for answers.
The high and mighty sociopaths are culling the population. Why? What makes the victims such a threat? How did they even come to think of such horror? And all the other twisted, perverted things they do?
Iron Furnace, Kentucky makes the Stepford Wives look like child’s play.
Utopia…one man’s vision is another man’s horror.
I know, with the digital world we live in, there is no such thing as privacy. Every time we step foot outside our homes, we are being watched. Anyone can be found anywhere. But there are even more threats out there and I wonder if something like this could happen in the future.
I loved that I made a quick appearance, or at least my name did, Sherry. That’s always fun to see.
The action ramps up in The Whispering Room. I was not able to quit reading, rapidly flipping the pages and I mourn for some of the characters that fall victim.
Are ‘they’ going to ‘win’? How can they not? But this is fiction, so I know (?) Jane has to come out victorious.
I checked out The Whispering Room by Dean Koontz from the library and have already downloaded the next book, The Crooked Staircase.
See more at fundinmental
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