The Forbidden Door

Jane Hawk #4

by Dean Koontz

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - When this relentless rogue FBI agent comes knocking, her adversaries will have to answer--with their lives--in the latest thrilling Jane Hawk novel by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Corner.

"Koontz continues the incredible saga of the robust character of Jane Hawk, and it's as terrific as the others in the series."--Associated Press

"We're rewriting the play, and the play is this country, the world, the future. We break Jane's heart, we'll also break her will."

She was one of the FBI's top agents until she became the nation's most-wanted fugitive. Now Jane Hawk may be all that stands between a free nation and its enslavement by a powerful secret society's terrifying mind-control technology. She couldn't save her husband, or the others whose lives have been destroyed, but equipped with superior tactical and survival skills--and the fury born of a broken heart and a hunger for justice--Jane has struck major blows against the insidious cabal.

But Jane's enemies are about to hit back hard. If their best operatives can't outrun her, they mean to bring her running to them, using her five-year-old son as bait. Jane knows there's no underestimating their capabilities, but she must battle her way back across the country to the remote shelter where her boy is safely hidden . . . for now. As she moves resolutely forward, new threats begin to emerge: a growing number of brain-altered victims driven hopelessly, violently insane. With the madness spreading like a virus, the war between Jane and her enemies will become a fight for all their lives--against the lethal terror unleashed from behind the forbidden door.

Don't miss any of Dean Koontz's gripping Jane Hawk thrillers:
THE SILENT CORNER - THE WHISPERING ROOM - THE CROOKED STAIRCASE - THE FORBIDDEN DOOR - THE NIGHT WINDOW (Coming Soon!)

Praise for The Forbidden Door

"Compelling and enthralling."--New York Journal of Books

"Mind-blowing. . . [a] gripping series . . . a thrill ride. [Dean Koontz is] able to distract you for hours."--Bookreporter

"Koontz is on another roll with a new series that boasts a juicy premise and a compelling star. . . . Pure gold."--Booklist

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Horror, Science Fiction, Mystery Thriller

608 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 11, 2018

About the author

Acknowledged 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

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Forbidden Door by Dean Koontz is a 2018 Bantam publication.

Full throttle thrill ride- sans Jane Hawk- well, mostly…

This fourth installment in the Jane Hawk series brings on even more tension- if that’s possible- and a seismic shift in direction as the weight of the world has become nearly too heavy for Jane to carry, but carry it she must, for the sake of her son, Travis... And all of America.

As the story begins, Travis is in more danger than ever before, and Jane is trying to make her way back to him, but the journey is fraught with many close calls and near misses.

In the meantime, the mind control developments are becoming more frequent, but with limited success. In fact, things seem to be going awry more often and in a horrifying way, a situation no one seems prepared for.

While this series is still very intense, it has also morphed into something far removed from with the original premise, snowballing into something so huge, it is hardly recognizable.

While Jane Sleeps…

There were chunks of the story where Jane was not directly involved, and I suppose I missed her presence. But it wasn’t as if there was nothing going on. This book, like the previous installments, is packed with high octane action and suspense.

The non-stop terror and feelings of dread are palpable. The four-hundred -plus pages fly by, once again leaving me breathless and drained, and geared up for the next and final chapter in the series!

4 stars

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book four of the Jane Hawk series. I’m normally one to start at the beginning of a series in anticipation of getting the most out of it. But truly, with this series, each book leans heavily on the last. I can’t imagine reading this series out of order.

Jane Hawk has been on the run (for her life) from the Arcadians. A powerful group who pose a threat to the country and more importantly, to humanity. With the use of nanotechnology this group is imprisoning anyone they feel could be a threat to their cause. What’s their end-game you ask? Simple. Take over all of humanity. To manipulate all of mankind to serve their own twisted vision.

The Arcadians now have Jane in their cross-hairs as the biggest threat to bring them down. They need to capture her, or better yet just kill her. Somehow, she has managed to stay one step ahead and out of their reach.
Their newest strategy is to go after those she loves. Well...bring it on! “Hell hath no fury...”

This latest addition to the series is an all-out race with nonstop action! Short chapters keep you flying through the pages. This series just gets better and better.

Can’t imagine where Dean Koontz is going to take it from here, but I’m already standing in line for his next release!

Thank you to Goodreads giveaways 🌸

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the Jane Hawk Series and you really would want to read these in order. Mainly this series is about Jane, who is on a search to find out why her husband was killed and who did it. His death was set up to believe that he committed suicide but Jane knows better. She is hiding for her life depends on it as she is hunted by some government officials, who have a way to find their enemy. Jane used her intelligence to outsmart the enemy. She is an ex F.B.I. agent and is a wanted fugitive. Jane's enemies are determined to see her dead or make her wish she was dead. The Arcadians are just pure evil. They use a drug and inflicts it into people, and then they have total mind control of them. They do it to those who they feel are a threat to society.

With the madness spreading like a virus, the war between Jane and her enemies will become a fight for all their lives- against the lethal terror, unleashed from behind the forbidden door.

This book was super action packed. The books in this series, just get better and better. Make sure you have plenty of time on your hands because I didn't want to put this book down. This is a thriller series. I loved the writing style. This is a long book but the chapters are short and it has riveting suspense that makes it a fast paced read and it didn't take me long to finish it. My heart was pumping and I was holding my breath and coming up for air several different times to find out what was going to happen next.

I love Jane's character. She is an ass kicking heroine and doesn't seem to be afraid of any thing and truly trusts her insyincts. I loved the dynamics of the characters.

I highly recommend this series to thriller fans. I can't wait to read the fifth book, The Night Window! Coming Soon!

I want to thank NetGalley, Random House and Dean Koontz for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

More action!

More suspense!

Now, Koontz has brought a little bit of horror into the Jane Hawk mix!

This series is pretty darn good. Each book is a breakneck thrill ride – and the rate at which he is releasing them I am guessing he sat down one day and the words just started pouring out. The intensity and speed with which they poured out have translated very vividly into the delivery. Each time I start reading I take a big breath because I know I am going to be holding it until I finish.

I am pretty sure I mentioned this in one of my previous Jane Hawk reviews (I know, I could go back and double check if I did, but that would involve too many clicks . . . #bookreviewerproblems), but the feelings I have for the characters is very vivid. And, even if I did say it before, it is worth mentioning again. I am very passionate when cheering for the good guys. Koontz has created all of them in such a way that I whole-heartedly want them to succeed and I chew my nails as I worry about their fate. On the other side of the coin, I hate the bad guys with the very deepest of loathing. They are so twisted and despicable I actually grin with dark satisfaction when they finally meet their fate. Bravo to Koontz for this!

Oh, and I mentioned horror making an appearance. Up until now, the series has been basically a techno-action-suspense-chase-thriller. But, without saying too much to spoil it, things start getting out of control in the most horrific of ways. It actually kind of reminds me a bit of his Frankenstein series. So, if you are a Koontz fan because of his horror and have been missing it in this series, you can rest assured it makes a triumphant return!

Say goodbye to peaceful reading and get ready for your heart to race if you give the Jane Hawk series a try!

Thanks once more to Bantam Books/Random house for this ARC. Also, thanks again to Dustin Crazy little brown owl - moderator of Koontzland - the definitive Koontz Goodreads group - for hosting another book giveaway!

[Maureen Carden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m gonna start with a secret. For long time readers there is some exquisite satisfaction to be found in The Forbidden Door. No, to casual readers of this review-I did not mean porn type. To interested readers of this review, the book could be read as a standalone if you like heart racing action; but why not quadruple your pleasure and read all of the Jane Hawk books?
It is a bit unwieldy to keep referring to the bad guy elites as the techno Arcadians. Let’s simplify and refer them as the Mauve team. The Mauves are mostly made up of the well educated, moneyed people who are often in the tech, media, financial, law enforcement and intelligence fields. Let’s call Jane Hawk, the rogue FBI agent, her amazing friends and the good people of America, the Teal Team.
The Mauve Team is aiming for world domination by injecting the Teal Team with nanoconstructs that cross the blood/brain barrier and changes people into willing slaves. I would say some are now turning into violent zombies, but that would give zombies a bad name.
As a hint to the horror of this adjustment, the first two triggers for these “adjusted people were “Let’s play Manchurian candidate”, then after Jane discovered the first trigger, “Uncle Ira is not Uncle Ira”.
Before the Mauves started their plans, a computer composed the Hamlet list picking people who showed potential for future greatness and leadership; they were consequently injected with the nanoconstructs and ordered to commit suicide. Jane Hawk’s husband, Nick, was among these people. This terrible tragedy launched Jane into a crusade to bring down the Mauve team.
The tension of this book never lets up. There were some heartbreaking losses in the third book. In The Forbidden Door, Jane’s beloved five year old son, Travis, is staying with an autistic genius, Cornell. He is the resident and designer of a library and bunker in case of an “apocagedden” –one of the best portmanteau words ever. The Mauve Team knows Travis is in the area and launches a full scale effort to find him. Jane, with the help of two Teal friends, launches her own clever plan to rescue him.
There is also a secondary story line concerning the relentless search by a Mauve nihilist to find and “adjust” Nick Hawk’s parents. Maybe, parts of this story line were dragged on too long.
I am also irritated that Jane did not search for GPS tracking devices as a matter of basic counter-surveillance.
I am fascinated as always, either by Koontz’s knowledge of or imagination concerning his surveillance and counter surveillance technologies. I wish he had an afterward on which is which.
Dean Koontz is an outstanding writer. He has never gotten stale or repetitive. I know more people who will mention one of his books as being on their personal top ten lists than just about any other writer.
The Forbidden Door belongs amongst his best; his characters are better developed, his descriptions more complete, and his plotting more intricate and careful. As to his villains and heroes; they are what I have come to expect from Koontz. Hey, I wonder if there will be a new Orange hero in the final book.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for this fair and honest review.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

So what do you get when you mix the Matrix, Jason Bourne and your scariest roller coaster ride all in one? You get Dean Koontz’s latest thriller, The Forbidden Door. The newest installment in the Jane Hawk series (#4) is 480 pages of non-stop action, adventure and a wish that not only the book but the entire series never ends.
The book picks up right where the previous one left off and continues rolling right along. The Forbidden Door just never lets up with the action to the point where you feel you can’t catch your breath.
As Jane Hawk, once a top FBI agent, is now the Nation’s most wanted fugitive, is on the run from a group of extremists who want to takeover the world and all of humanity.
Without asking for the role, Jane is cast in the ultimate cat and mouse game to save herself, her family, and oh by the way, the world.
This book reminded me of what it was like years ago riding Space Mountain. As you are catapulted into total darkness, the thrill of not knowing where you are going is both terrifying and thrilling at the same time.
Every page was like that ride as Koontz had multiple stories all happening at the same time. He is one of the few writers that can juggle multiple stories at once without confusing the reader. Not sure where each chapter is going to take you is the fun of this book.
The only negative to this book is the fact that I finished it and the next book isn’t out yet.
Jane Hawk is one of the most cunning, resourceful, determined, strong, relentless heroines that uses all of her attributes along with a few more to battle the unrelenting evil forces. I am already excited for the next installment in the series, The Night Window.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. #NetGalley #TheForbiddenDoor

[Cody | CodysBookshelf · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Jane Hawk novels seem to be following the pattern set by the Odd Thomas series: first book, excellent; second book, terrible; third book, surprisingly great; fourth book, an overlong slog.

I’m beginning to notice a pattern in the Jane Hawk novels, too: the ones padded out with chapter upon chapter decidedly not focused on Hawk tend to be weak. For long stretches of time, The Forbidden Door is not about Hawk at all, or even her son, but random agents that are amongst Koontz’s wackiest and grating. One of them is a nihilist, which Koontz takes pains to remind his reader of every other paragraph. “Nothing matters,” the character repeatedly says. “Nothing is real, nothing matters.” It reads like an author in his seventies trying to write an edgy character . . . it fails.

And I hope you Jane Hawk fans were impressed with the finale of the third book, because we don’t progress far beyond that. The end of that book had me dying to get my hands on this — I had to find out what happened next! — But Koontz squanders that momentum, instead focusing on poorly developed characters straight out old b-movies, all while giving Jane Hawk almost nothing to do, aside from drive from place to place. This one is so action-packed that I felt exhausted halfway through. Character development? Forget about it. This is Koontz, yeah, but the character work is substandard, even for him.

The Forbidden Door is a boring, bloated do-nothing novel that adds little of substance to this series as a whole. This is an aging, out of touch author working on autopilot.

Thanks to Bantam Books and Random House Publishing for the ARC.

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason I thought this was going to be the final book and I went into it expecting all sorts of things to happen, none of which did of course. I am now wondering if #5 is the last book or not.

Anyway plenty of other things happened, just nothing that actually advanced the story. Koontz had his favourite fun with plenty of really nasty stuff which even included 'zombies'. Jane Hawk was masterful - she has some quite amazing talents - but she came and went in short bursts throughout the book. Alternating chapters featured other characters in parallel time.

It was very wordy in parts (typical Koontz in fact) but the momentum was amazing and the book was hard to put down. The end result is that it is a great read but it leaves Jane and Travis pretty much in the same situation they were in at the end of the previous book.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first 2/3 of this story is decent before the last 1/3 descends over a cliff. Earning perhaps a too generous 4 of 10 stars

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

So what do you get when you mix the Matrix, Jason Bourne and your scariest roller coaster ride all in one? You get Dean Koontz’s latest thriller, The Forbidden Door. The newest installment in the Jane Hawk series (#4) is 480 pages of non-stop action, adventure and a wish that not only the book but the entire series never ends.
The book picks up right where the previous one left off and continues rolling right along. The Forbidden Door just never lets up with the action to the point where you feel you can’t catch your breath.
As Jane Hawk, once a top FBI agent, is now the Nation’s most wanted fugitive, is on the run from a group of extremists who want to takeover the world and all of humanity.
Without asking for the role, Jane is cast in the ultimate cat and mouse game to save herself, her family, and oh by the way, the world.
This book reminded me of what it was like years ago riding Space Mountain. As you are catapulted into total darkness, the thrill of not knowing where you are going is both terrifying and thrilling at the same time.
Every page was like that ride as Koontz had multiple stories all happening at the same time. He is one of the few writers that can juggle multiple stories at once without confusing the reader. Not sure where each chapter is going to take you is the fun of this book.
The only negative to this book is the fact that I finished it and the next book isn’t out yet.
Jane Hawk is one of the most cunning, resourceful, determined, strong, relentless heroines that uses all of her attributes along with a few more to battle the unrelenting evil forces. I am already excited for the next installment in the series, The Night Window.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. #NetGalley #TheForbiddenDoor

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Random House/Bantam for sending me an advance copy of The Forbidden Door.

Jane Hawk has quickly become my favorite Dean Koontz series. The scariest thing about this fictional series is the believable possibility. Cautionary tales have been told time and time again. Honesty and Integrity must start with each of us individually in order to transform the society we live in.

Some Favorite Passages:

The wind brought the dark, and the dark brought a chill, but the sea of stars was a work of wonder and a source of solace.
_____

They possess no warrants, but a lie is not a lie when there's no such thing as truth. Words are merely words, used like tools.
_____

There is no regret in doing right.
_____

"We'll make much noise and shine the light of justice on you."
_____

"Don't bite or claw me, please and thank you."

[Marialyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has become for me a seriously addicting series. Although it is what might be considered a long book, the pages fly by and one is totally immersed in Jane Hawk's quest to undo evil and protect her beloved son, Travis.

In this book, the fourth of the series, Jane is once again battling the evil members of the Arcadian group who through the ability of nanotechnology are able to infiltrate one's brain literally doing away with free will and putting the recipients in the total power of the Arcadians. This diabolical group has infiltrated all levels of government, and business, having successfully succeeded in painting our heroine Jane appear as a serial killer. Of course Jane is on every wanted list imaginable, and the Arcadians's goal is to stop her and find her son in order to do so.

Jane is a masterful character. She is astute, cunning, and has all the makings of a terrific female lead character. She is searching for the leader of this organization who is able to enslave people with just an injection. You find yourself cheering Jane on as she battles, with the help of a few wonderful friends, this evil organization. There are some topnotch additions to the series with the characters of Bernie Riggowitz, the Auschwitz survivor, Cornell Jasperson, app inventor with a touch of autism and Luther Tillman, ex-cop and freedom fighter.

If you enjoy a book that combines a touch of humor, horror, suspense, and reading into the middle of the night, this series comes highly recommended. So looking forward to the next in the series. Until then, this reader will be pulling for Jane and waiting for her to cut the head off the snake who is the leader the Arcadians.

Thank you to Dean Koontz, Berkley, and NetGalley for providing me with many hours of riveting reading.
My reviews can be seen here: https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...

[Scott Rhee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stakes have never been higher for rogue FBI agent and America's Most Wanted Jane Hawk, as she fights to survive the Techno-Arcadian conspiracists, save her son, and reveal to the public the evil plans of world domination by the super-wealthy cabal.

In the fourth Hawk novel by Dean Koontz, "The Forbidden Door", something unforeseen has happened. (As it happens, it was not completely unforeseen, by one of the Techno-Arcadian scientists who helped create the nanobot device that infiltrates victims's brains to turn them into pliant brain-slaves. He had predicted that one in a million victims might have an extemely violent reaction to the implant; instead of becoming a subservient robot, one could revert back to an animalistic primal neanderthal.)

Well, the unforeseen has happened. Only it's not just one in a million. The neural computer link-up between the implanted---the so-called "whispering room"---has more than exacerbated the problem. Adjusted people by the dozens are suddenly having "malfunctions", turning them into homicidal zombies.

Now, Jane doesn't just have Techno-Arcadian assassins to deal with but hordes of zombified victims wreaking havoc in the city streets and in homes throughout the small western town that is ground zero for the outbreak.

This series has steadily increased in intensity and terror, and I'm only one book away from the fifth and final (maybe) book in the series.

Koontz has managed to blend a lot of doomsday Big Tech fears with current political hot-button issues into a series that seems terrifying because of its potential verisimilitude and, at the very least, its subtly humorous take on Trumpian Q-Anon America.

This was an audiobook narrated by Elisabeth Rodgers.

[Adrienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

As usual I am in awe of Dean Koontz' writing abilities. He puts such beautiful sentences together. Often I have to stop and re-read a sentence or a paragraph. Just to admire and appreciate not only the emotion or physical description it reveals. But the words he uses.
This book was no exception. Probably I noticed the prose more because the story was so slow moving . Jane Hawke travels to collect her son Travis. Pursued by the Techno Arcadians.
I love the Jane Hawke series.
As a lover of technology I am also concerned about the possible uses. Ie this type of mind /hive technology.
Unputdownable

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series gets more and more intense! This is the fourth book in the Jane Hawk series and they are all good. Jane is a hero - a character to love and respect and root for. In this episode her son is in grave danger and she must rescue him before the Techno-Arcadians get him. This is no easy task and she has to make quick decisions, obtain assistance from people she trusts, and hope for the best. The tension builds edge-of-your-seat style. There is quite a bit of violence in this book so if you are squeamish you might not enjoy it. Anxiously awaiting the next book in this series.

Thanks to Dean Koontz and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through Netgalley for an advance copy.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Koontzland Group Read - September/October 2018
I was lucky with the Koontzland group giving me a ARC copy.....

Jane Hawk continues to be a beautiful heroine, x-FBI admired with courage & strong to defeat any problem thrown her way. She lives thru memories of her husband's suicide, Lt.Col. Nick Hawk, that were disturbing her mind & life.

Angel & Clare (Nick's parents) enter the story to protect Travis, her 5 year old son, from the Jane & "villians" chase.

Jane is the nation’s "most-wanted" fugitive, chased by Dept. of Home Security "villains", Egon Gottfrey & Ivan Pert.
Her goal is top stop "brain" altered insane people & defeat a lethal terror behind "The Forbidden Door".

The end of Koontzland’s October Group Read... a great one

Koontzland - Group Home

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A creative and frightening story of a evil conspiracy using nanotechnology and one woman’s fight to save her son.

SUMMARY
She was one of the FBI’s top agents until she became the nations most-wanted fugitive. Now Jane Hawk may be all that stands between a free nation and its enslavement by the Techno Arcadians and their terrifying mine-control nanotechnology. Jane has struck major blows against this powerful secret society in the past, but now they are going to make her come back to them. They are going after her five-year-old son, Travis, to use him as bait. The Techno Arcadians have brain-altered an entire neighborhood and programmed them to find Travis. Jane must battle her way back across the country to reach her son who she thought was safely hidden away. But something went wrong with the neighbors who were injected with the nanotechnology, and now they are each going violently insane. With the madness spreading, Jane must use all of few resources available to her to reach her son.

REVIEW
Jane Hawks is a fabulously strong female character, and she comes alive on the pages of The Forbidden Door. I wanted even more of her , as she out-thinks and out-fights those trying to capture her. This story focuses on the hunt by the army of Arcadians and adjusted neighbors who are trying to find Travis and lure Jane into their trap. Each chapter is told from alternating perspectives and if I wasn’t paying close attention I’d loose track of which of the many bad guys were taking the lead. The story is creative and frightening and DEAN KOONTZ’s writing is both haunting and action-packed. One of my favorite parts of the book is the relationship that the sweet and brave 5-year-old Travis develops with a brilliant but panicked autistic recluse.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Bantam Books
Published September 11, 2018
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

[Jim C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Random House and the author.

This is the fourth book of the Jane Hawk series. Even though this is the fourth book it can be read as a stand alone novel. At the end of the third novel Jane learned that her son might be in trouble. This book tells of Jane's journey to get to her son and rescue him.

This series by Dean Koontz has been really enjoyable even though I thought the third book was a step back (IMO it was more filler). This book gets things back on track. This series puts the thrill in thriller and this continues with this book. The pace is perfect. There is constant progress and action and it does not overwhelm the connection with the characters. Out of all the books from this series, I had the best connection with the characters. Jane was her usual self and I love that we get to see her use her wits in extreme situations. I felt connected to the minor characters even the ones that I am suppose to root against. We get the development of a new bond between two characters and layers to characters that I thought were one dimensional.

The action scenes were terrific in this book. I am not sure if this series is ever going to be adapted to the screen. I hope it does and I hope it gets to this point in the series because there were a couple of scenes I would love to see visually.

I enjoyed this latest offering from this series and this series has been consistently good throughout. I had one minor quibble with a sub plot and that is why I could not give this book a five star rating. That being said, everything else is spot on in this book. There is a terrific mix of action, character growth, and plot development to keep the reader more than interested.

[Karen’s Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

With this 4th installment in the Jane Hawk series, protagonist Jane has solidified as my favorite character ever of Dean Koontz, and I'm pretty sure I've read most of his books. Once again, I inhaled this book and couldn't stop reading tonight until I finished. And yes, it's about 1:30 am.

The action never seems to let up as Jane rushes to get her son back before he can be captured by the evil Techno Arcadians after his guardians are killed. A new character is brought in and once again, I absolutely love him. Cornell is strange but he and Travis have bonded deeply and can't be separated.

And, yes! Koontz also brings back two other beloved characters from past installments. This is why I love Koontz so much. As horror filled as his books are, they are always balanced by the most pure of heart characters.

And just when I'm positive that the craziness of the Manchurian Candidate type of mind takeover couldn't be any worse, Koontz comes up with an even scarier side effect that take some of those injected through "the forbidden door".

I can't even fathom how Koontz is going to wind up this series. Although I must have the next book, The Night Window, as soon as possible, I don't want this series to end.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advance copy of this book!*

[LIsa Noell "Rocking the chutzpah!" · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual, Mr. Koontz is very wordy! It took me around 50 pages or so to get over my exasperation with him. But, I ended up truly loving this book. The characters are all indeed characters. Lovable, funny, intelligent and caring. I even enjoyed the bad guys, mostly. The nihilist was an odd duck. Very odd. The Princeton hillbilly is definitely one of my favorite bad guys ever. I was never rooting for him, but he sure made me laugh! This book didn't advance the storyline much, but I think it may be my favorite out of the 4 books. My thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the e-arc. Recommended.

[Monnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If it's possible to have a love-hate relationship with a book, this is it. On the one hand, the writing is almost exquisite, virtually ensuring my reluctance to put it down. Conversely, wading through page after page hoping that yet another important character won't bite the dust - probably in a most horrific way - is borderline unbearable. Characters I adore; other characters so loathesome that I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemies.

Oh, what a happy conundrum!

This is the fourth book in the series featuring former FBI agent now-fugitive Jane Hawk; the other three are excellent as well. And for the record, although each of the books can stand alone, I daresay I've derived much greater understanding and enjoyment by having read them in order from the beginning (and I recommend this to anyone who's new to this series).

At this point, Jane has been indicted for espionage, treason and seven counts of murder - many of the charges trumped up because she's fighting a nasty group called the Techno Arcadians, who are intent on changing society by injecting select humans (including Jane's late husband) with mind-control drugs. These "adjusted" folks, whose numbers are growing day by day, then can be programmed to do the bidding of the Arcadians - with the possibilities ranging from sweeping floors to murder to committing suicide. All of the above are fast zeroing in on Jane, her young son Travis and her in-laws Clare and Ancel Hawk; torturing or killing the latter three would, in their opinion, bring Jane to her knees. In the previous book, the couple Jane entrusted with hiding Travis were found and dealt with, so he's now living with a slightly autistic but sweet recluse named Cornell. Scared and lonesome, Travis calls his mother, who promises she'll come to get him.

At least that's her intent - but we all know what happens to best-laid plans. Most of us, happily, won't run into fake FBI and Homeland Security officers with murder on their minds nor mind-controlled folks who have been ordered to be on the lookout for us - but Jane isn't so fortunate. And since the brain-altered folks look and act just like they did in their previous everyday lives, who can Jane trust?

The answer is almost no one, thus complicating her attempts to get to Travis and keep both of them out of the hands that would do them wrong. There are several narrow misses (involving some pretty grisly scenes and salty language, for those who may be bothered by that stuff}. And just when you think Jane, Travis and their trusted friends may make it, the nanotechnology begins to go awry; one by one, the recently injected people begin to psychologically regress - euphemistically falling through "the forbidden door" and turning into insatiable killing machines.

I'd love to say there's a happily-ever-after ending, but that's just not the case (well, except that Jane lives to see another day, which one would expect of any character without whom there wouldn't be a series). It's certainly a wild ride, though, and once again I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy. Another winner that has me chomping at the bit for the next installment (The Night Window). Bring it on, please!

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was the best of the series so far. It was a little different from the others as it focused on Jane trying to rescue her son instead of going after the Arcadians. A few of our favorite characters make an appearance and we meet some new people that do not mess around. I love the way some of the regular people band together in different situations and it was good to see the Arcadians looking less indomitable at times. The story had some interesting twists and I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

So far, this series has been a consistent 4 star read for me. It is one long story with each book starting where the last ended. I have greatly enjoyed the series, but I have had concerns about the story being dragged out too long and becoming repetitive. However, the last book, The Crooked Staircase, definitely took some different turns and I'm happy that this book had a bit of a different feel from the others, so it kept it fresh. I'm still going with 4 stars, but this one was close to 5 for me.

Series to date:
The Bone Farm (An audio novella prequel) - to read soon
The Silent Corner 4★
The Whispering Room 4★
The Crooked Staircase 4★
The Forbidden Door - 4★
The Night Window - release 2019

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume (and indeed the last) delved into an area that I (in general) don't care for. I mean I saw it coming from the time I started the series...but it's a plot point or plot device I tend to hate, or at least strongly dislike.

Yeah, our protagonist has a child, a built in Achilles' Heel. Sooner or later the evil overlords of the story were going to move heaven and earth to track down the kid. It was totally inevitable. So we get that as part of the last volume and this one (no spoiler there I won't go into details). I simply mention it as at times it took me to the point of considering dropping a star as I simply don't get into that. It's been done so often...but it's been done because it's so reliable. Hitler and Stalin always had the threat of "I know where your family lives", and bad guys still find that (and of course did before the 2 I mentioned) a reliable pressure point.

Sigh.

Anyway despite that the story stays pretty good with nicely done characters and reliably well done plotting. Things are now beginning to (predictably) spin out of control for the Techno Arcadians and it don't look good for the rest of us (humanity) either.

Good series I can recommend it...though of course start from Book 1...recommended, enjoy.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm at a loss for superlatives for this book. This was so scary and suspenseful, shudder, but I loved it.

I won't say too much. Jane knows where her son is but she also knows that the forces arrayed against her are monumental so she can't just rock up and grab him. She calls on a like-minded compatriot in the form of Luther Tillman but she needs one more person. I won't let this cat out of the bag but its kind of cute and provides one of the few lighter moments. Still, the odds are massively against them until a glitch that the Arcadians have not considered occurs.

The Whispering Room of book 2 has gone feral and the 'converted' people are picking up very negative messages that scramble their brains with devastating consequences. The Forbidden Door has been opened. And the Arcadians can do nothing to stop it. Dean Koontz's horror writing origins are really evident in this book. Things get very hairy very quickly in the small rural community where Travis is in hiding. There will be blood! The only sour note is I now have to wait until mid May to get my hands on the next and, hopefully final, instalment, sigh.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Koontz has created a world where a dark shadowy group called Techno Arcadians, has a secret plan to control society and is going about implementing this plan by infiltrating Homeland Security, the FBI, and other institutions. More importantly, they are injecting people with a control mechanism that can be enacted at any time and makes people mindless tools or savage monsters doing the bidding of the secret society. Few people know what’s really going on behind the scenes, except former FBI Agent Jane Hawk and a few others who are either on the run or holed up in doomsday boltholes.

This is the fourth book in the series - with a fifth already in the works— and Koontz begins the book with a quick summary of where we are at now, but the first three books are recommended reading for a full fleshing out of the story. This book is a touch less compelling than the others and doesn’t move the story forward too much even given all the gunfire and explosions and narrow escapes. The focus here is not always on Jane’s point of view, but on some odd Arcadian characters, often without their heads screwed on quite right. Cornell is also developed far more firmly as an oddball in his own right, hidden in his little bolt hole in the desert. And, the moves against the Hawk in-laws in Texas leads to some interesting stories and characters.

Overall, it is quite a compelling read. Looking forward to volume five.

[Peggy Geiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the exciting Jane Hawk series. Previously in the series, former FBI top agent Jane Hawk's husband was believed to have committed suicide. Jane did not believe the official FBI story and investigated on her own. She has discovered American citizens are being injected with nano-technology enabling the helpless victims to be downloaded with commands.

To protect Travis, her small five year old, from danger Jane has secreted him with friends at an undisclosed location. He has called to let her know his guardians have not returned from a small town shopping trip. Jane needs to rescue him before he is taken for hostage.

To complicate matters further, the mind controlled victims are beginning to go violently insane and the insanity is spreading like a virus.

I highly recommend this Dean Koontz thriller to all lovers of mystery and horror. Enjoy!

[Marty Fried · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars...

This book is getting to be too much for me. It pretty much keeps on with the same story, which is a bunch of really nasty, unbelievably evil people who seem to have all the power, against the overly good people who are fighting a losing battle and, confusingly, not losing (so far). But they're also not winning, and it seems like it's going to go on and on like this until it stops somehow. I may skip ahead just to see how it gets wrapped up, and skip all the craziness in between.

I ended up skipping around a bit, and more or less finished it while waiting for a new book to listen to. It was still pretty tedious at times, but I began to look at it less seriously, and it was better that way. It's actually a bit humorous, but with too much serious boredom in between, and still too many characters. But I upped my opinion a little.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

The Forbidden Door is the 4rth book in the Jane Hawk series. You definitely need to read the books in order.

It feels like we take a pause in Jane's fight to bring down the Arcadians as she makes a detour to go save her son. There's a lot going on with many different storylines. However, the book was fast-paced and action-packed. The pages were just flying by.

I highly recommend this series if you are looking for an intense, edge-of-your-seat thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for a copy of Dean Koontz's "The Forbidden Door" in exchange for an honest review.

[Maureen Carden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m gonna start with a secret. For long time readers there is some exquisite satisfaction to be found in The Forbidden Door. No, to casual readers of this review-this is not porn. To interested readers of this review, the book could be read as a standalone if you like heart racing action; but why not quadruple your pleasure and read all of the Jane Hawk books?
It is a bit unwieldy to keep referring to the bad guy elites as the techno Arcadians. Let’s simplify and refer them as the Blues. The Blues are mostly made up of the well educated, moneyed people who are often in the tech, media, financial, law enforcement and intelligence fields. Let’s call Jane Hawk, the rogue FBI agent, her amazing friends and the good people of America, the Red Team.
The Blue Team is aiming for world domination by injecting the Red Team with nanoconstructs that cross the blood/brain barrier and changes people into willing slaves. I would say some are now turning into violent zombies, but that would give zombies a bad name.
As a hint to the horror of this adjustment, the first two triggers for these “adjusted people were “Let’s play Manchurian candidate”, then after Jane discovered it, “Uncle Ira is not Uncle Ira”.
Before the Blues started their plans, a computer composed the Hamlet list picking people who showed potential for future greatness and leadership; they were consequently injected with the nanoconstructs and ordered to commit suicide. Jane Hawk’s husband, Nick, was among these people. This terrible tragedy launched Jane into a crusade to bring down the Blue team.
The tension of this book never lets up. There were some heartbreaking losses in the third book. In The Forbidden Door, Jane’s beloved five year old son, Travis, is staying with an autistic genius, Cornell. He is the resident and designer of a library and bunker in case of an “apocagedden” –one of the best portmanteau words evah. The Blue Team knows Travis is in the area and launches a full scale effort to find him. Jane, with the help of two friends launches her own clever plan to rescue him.
There is also a secondary story line concerning the relentless search by a Blue nihilist to find and “adjust” Nick Hawk’s parents. Maybe, parts of this story line were dragged on too long.
I am also irritated that Jane did not search for GPS tracking devices as a matter of basic counter-surveillance.
I am fascinated as always, either by Koontz’s knowledge of or imagination concerning his surveillance and counter surveillance technologies. I wish he had an afterward on which is which. Some I know from experience, I used to watch vehicle surveillances via trackers from 200 miles away. It was an interesting experience.
Dean Koontz is an outstanding writer. He has never gotten stale or repetitive. I know more people who will mention one of his books as being on their personal top ten lists.
The Forbidden Door belongs amongst his best; his characters are better developed, his descriptions more complete, and his plotting more intricate and careful. As to his villains and heroes; they are what I have come to expect from Koontz. Hey, I wonder if there will be a new Orange hero in the final book.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for this fair and honest review.

[Terri Wino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ugh! Considering the underlying plot/theme of the Jane Hawk series, you would think that I would be able to say that this was an action-packed thrill ride. But Mr. Koontz continues to load these books with unnecessary filler and side stories that serve no purpose other than to make what could be a taut, tension filled 250 page book into a 400+ page, mostly boring, vomit of words.

I absolutely DO love these characters and the friends she continues to pick up along the way, so it's a damn shame that I had to force myself to finally read this book that I purchased at the time it was published and let languish in my to read stack because I knew it would drag along like the others. The actual action that involves the core characters is exciting and nerve wracking, so I really don't understand why he continues to ruin these books with unnecessary filler. My opinion may be in the minority, but this is truly how I feel.

That aside, I AM thoroughly invested in these characters and I NEED to know how this wraps up so, of course, I am in it for the long haul. I just hope things are wrapped up in the next book and -- please, please, please -- has a satisfying conclusion when it finally does.