There used to be a time that I read every Dean Koontz book right when it was released. (Side note: My husband is not a reader but did actually read quite a few Koontz books. Especially when he was in the Navy and on deployment.) For reasons I’ll get into shortly I had gotten away from this author. So much so that the last Koontz book I read was Brother Odd from the Odd Thomas series and that was published in 2006! Yikes! Over 10 years without reading an author who was a favorite at one time. Crazy!

In all honesty, before reading this book I could not have pinpointed a reason I had taken such a long break from this author. In the past, there were times I’d take short breaks because his stories would sometimes blur together if I read too many too close together. Part of that is the often one word titles that would sometimes make it hard for me to remember which was which. But he also tends to (as most authors do) stick to a certain “type” when it comes to his heroes and heroines. The guys are usually ordinary or even a bit unusual looking but they’ll have one feature that stands out (often the eyes) and he’s always brave and kind. The women are often beyond beautiful and always have the most intense eyes no matter their color. The ladies are also very brave and no-nonsense and are never stuck-up about their appearance. So you can see how the stories can start to blur together.

Within a few chapters of this story I quickly remembered that Mr. Koontz tends to get wordy. Which is fine at times. I like to really picture the overall surroundings in stories I read. But because this book, and many of his other books, have a lot of action and movement there are a lot of scenes to take in. So if he is describing each scene in minute detail it can get to be a bit much for me. I don’t need a full page to describe a bathroom to me. Instead of drawing me into the story, it frustrates me and I tend to NOT pick up the book as often as I usually would. Unless the precise gun being used by the characters is essential to the story (so far that I’ve read it hasn’t been) I don’t need to know every detail of said weapon. (Another side note: Back in the day when I read his books I knew nothing about guns and would skim over these parts because they meant absolutely nothing to me. Now I know a lot more so at first, I was excited for the extra info, then I realized I didn’t need it for the story and it just threw the pacing off for me.)

On the other hand, when it comes to action and suspense, Dean Koontz is a master. His stories always hurl me into a heart pounding, breath-holding state of being. I will shake my head and audibly gasp at the actions of characters in his books. That was all here in this story. Jane is in a race to find answers while staying one step ahead of “them”. While most of the world goes about their business in blissful ignorance of the true evil this world holds, Jane is hunting down the bad guys and getting to the truth. She’s trying to prevent others from getting caught in the terrible web of evil she has discovered. This stuff, the action and intrigue and evil, Koontz writes to perfection.

I can’t tell you if I’ll read the next story in this series. I’m really not sure. There is something that happens to Jane toward the end that makes me curious to see if it’ll affect her. I just don’t know if that will be enough to have me returning for more. On the other hand, reading this story reminded me of all the Koontz books I haven’t read yet that I would like to get into again. Especially the Odd Thomas series that I never finished. FYI – as usual the movie adaptation of Odd Thomas was sorely lacking. If you haven’t read the book, do yourself a favor and read it asap. The first book is phenomenal as I remember. Hence, why I would like to pick that series back up.

Summary: If you are already a Koontz fan you will surely enjoy this story. If you are new to Dean Koontz might I suggest Watchers or By the Light of the Moon. Or, to go really old school Koontz, Demon Seed. That one gets creepier and creepier the more technologically advanced our society becomes.

Dean Koontz once again proves he is the master at his trade. The Silent Corner is a testament to his ability to leave the reader in a state of panic, wondering if things like this could actually happen...could BE happening in the world today. A page turner that won't let you out of it's grip until the last page has been read...and that leaves you thirsting for the next novel in the series.

I haven't read very much Dean Koontz, this is actually my second novel of his, my first one being PHANTOMS. So when Random House/Bantam Books sent me an advanced copy of THE SILENT CORNER I was excited to read more of his works! I definitely was not disappointed and I'm looking forward to the rest of this series.

"I very much need to be dead." These are the chilling final words left behind by a man who seemingly had everything to live for. His widow, Jane Hawk, is grief- stricken and afraid, decides that she needs to stop at nothing to find the truth behind her husband's apparent suicide. Along the way to find answers, she discovers that there are many other talented, accomplished people that have been committing suicide in large numbers.

She quickly becomes the most wanted fugitive in America. Being chased by the FBI she needs to go off the grid to avoid getting caught. She's getting too close to some closely guarded secrets that they will execute anyone that gets too close.

This book has some serious Enemy of the State vibes (the awesome Will Smith movie). Lies, government corruption, espionage, and conspiracy. The use of cameras and surveillance videos in order to find Jane and track her gave it an eerie, unsettling, and creepy vibe. That can happen - and I'm sure it does in the US. This is a fast paced novel with short chapters. I love the shorter chapters since I'm a person that reads chapter to chapter - "oh I only have to read 5 more pages and I'm at the next chapter".

So many unanswered questions and I can't wait for the next book in the Jane Hawk series. The use of technology in this gave it a different element for a thriller. So if you want a contemporary thriller/suspense, then I'd highly recommend this one to you.

5/5 stars!

Big thanks to Random House/Bantam Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I had to go back and check the cover of the book to make sure this was THE Dean Koontz. It was an absolutely wonderful book...but didn't seem to be a real Koontz type of story. Nonetheless, it looks like a serial and if it is, then I will definitely buy each one. Maybe my problem with this book/this author being what I expected (a story on the wild crazy side of normal) is that I don't really see it as impossible. I think, for sure, that this WILL happen, if it hasn't already. Distopia has become my new favorite genre of reading....and my judgement of real life has shifted...I can see almost everything I read now happening in the real future. Excellent book, as always, from Dean Koontz.

The Silent Corner starts slowly but builds surely to the semi-supernatural action we have come to expect from Dean Koontz. Koontz is a master of pulling out the shadowy and evil in everyday actions and people. This novel is no exception. The horror is all based in events that are more than plausible given the political and commercial environment of today.
Dean Koontz is also expert at showing the ability of every day people to rise as heroes. Jane Hawk is one of these heroes. She is determined and creative and you will root for her to the end and beyond.

My first Dean Koontz was a success! I've always been curious about his writing, but believed he would be too scary. I'm not a horror reader, and I have no desire to be. But I couldn't help but want to see why he was such a popular author. I ran across The Silent Corner on NetGalley and the blurb sounded interesting without being too scary.
It was good!
The book itself was much longer than I expected, but I was thoroughly entertained. The mystery within is creepy without being scary and Jane Hawk is pretty much my hero. I did find it a bit too descriptive for my taste in a few places but I still had a hard time putting it down. I will be definitely be picking up The Whispering Room when it comes out in January.

Dean Koontz's latest release is nothing like his recent work. Going into it, I expected something totally different. It's an FBI suspense-drama with a similar style and pacing as The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. While I did enjoy that series, it's not what I typically read, especially in the summer! There is already a sequel starring the same agent so that means we can expect more of this type of thing from Koontz. I didn't hate it; I just wasn't prepared for him to go this route!

The plot was interesting. It involves mind control and nanotechnology. (Both of which I know nothing about.) Think of The Manchurian Candidate, a movie most people are familiar with. That's basically the inspiration for this story. I don't have a strong interest in watching or reading this type of thing but I know a lot of people who do. The Matrix, Minority Report, Men in Black...all movies that have similar elements.

I will say that it was a rocky start. Since I don't typically get into this style, it took me awhile to get totally invested. However, once I got about 40% in, I found my stride.

I've been a Dean Koontz fan for over 20 years now. I was insanely excited to have a chance to read an early copy of The Silent Corner! Sadly, it did not live up to the hype for me. TSC reads like your typical Koontz chase novel: someone is driving around trying to escape the bad people chasing them. The problem was the main character and the people chasing her just were not all that interesting

This is not the first Koontz novel to deal with mind control. . I just didn't care for the way it was handles in this book. Sure it was creepy af, but it was all so boring. I didn't care what happened to any of the characters to be quite honest.

What annoyed me about this book the most was, the non-ending. The book literally just STOPS. I turn the page looking for more text, and nothing. THE END.

I am a long time reader of Dean Koontz's book, but had gotten away from his books recently. I am glad to be back reading his book. Silent Corner reminded me of Dark Rivers of the Heart (one of my favorite books). Jane Hawk is an FBI agent whose military husband commits suicide. She just can't believe that he would do this and goes on to investigate the suspicious rise of suicides. When her son is threatened by an unnamed person, she hides her son with a couple who are essentially off the grid while she goes on the run trying to find the reason for suicides. The more Jane digs into this the more danger she gets into.

The story didn't move as fast as I would have liked, but it does give you a complete picture of her investigation. My only complaint (not really) is that the story doesn't end but is continued. I was so hoping to have a resolution but am really looking forward to the whispering room.

ARC received in exchange for review.

As a self-proclaimed number one Dean Koonz fan, it breaks my heart to only give this a 3/5. This book moved about as fast as my 13 year old getting ready for school in the morning.
At first, I really liked the main character Jane (think Taya Kyle). The overall plot and mission of Jane is interesting enough, it just seemed to take a long time to actually have some exciting movement. This book overall pales in comparison to Koontz's earlier works. I'm holding out hope that book 2 of the series is better, and that book 1 is necessary background information to get the story really started.

This is unlike any previous titles released by the master himself. I love Dean Koontz novels and try to get my hands on any and all. He is a master story teller. I found this unlike any of his previous novels. I wouldn't say this book is a flop by any means, and I'm sure many will love it. This isn't the case for me. I found myself reading page after page a long way into the book, waiting for it to grab me and take me to Koontz land. This felt like a non stop chase scene without any resolve, or direction to the plot. I Guess we'll have to keep purchasing the novels as they come out, but this one didn't hit the mark for me. He's written way better novels than this one, and I just couldn't get into this one!

The Silent Corner by Dean Koontz is a very highly recommended conspiracy thriller and starts a new series. This is a perfect summer novel of suspense!

FBI agent Jane Hawk's husband, Nick, committed suicide, leaving behind a note that said, "I very much need to be dead." Jane knows that this is not her husband, a decorated Marine, a full colonel, on a career path to becoming a general. She needs to find out the truth behind his suicide and that of other capable, talented people. In fact, Jane knows that the suicide rate is dramatically increasing across the country. What is alarming is that these are people of accomplishment, of excellence. These are people who will make a difference or are making a difference. Why would these intelligent, proficient people be committing suicide?

After taking a leave of absence from the Bureau, Jane tries to find out the answer to the increasing suicide rate. When the life of her son is threatened, Jane knows they are a target. She hides her son and Jane goes rogue and underground. Clearly she is the target of powerful people who will do anything to stop her and there is no one she can trust. She has to rely on her skills to find the answers she needs. Who is behind the increasing suicide rate? How are they controlling people? More importantly, why? As she gets closer to the truth, the danger increases.

It is truly frightening to know how easily our every move can be tracked today. Koontz takes real life technology and shows how the features built into it can be used to track people. It is frightening to realize how easily our every step and movement can be watched without us even realizing it. It's not the stuff of science fiction, it is fact.

The Silent Corner is an extremely well written, excellent thriller with incredible characterization and fast paced action. Jane Hawk is a fully realized, compelling character, full of depth, growth, and intelligence. It's good to know that this is the start of a series featuring her. It's also challenging. Because it is the start of a series there isn't complete closure or answers to all the questions.
There are terrific, nail-biting action scenes and narrow escapes. The suspense and threats grow but Jane narrowly manages to keep a clear head and a step ahead. And it's a great story.

Thriller/suspense fans: read this book. You won't regret it. After that you will be relieved to know that the second book in the Jane Hawk series, The Whispering Room, has a tentative release date of January 9, 2018.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Penguin Random House.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2017/06/the-silent-corner.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2026717397

I've always been a huge fan of Dean Koontz so whenever a new book is released, I eagerly jump in. In The Silent Corner, although not his typical genre, I ended up loving his new protagonist Jane Hawk, an FBI agent on leave.

Jane's husband mysteriously commits suicide and she stops at nothing to seek the truth as to why. She goes completely off the grid to find the answers and discovers terrifying secrets along the way.

In this new series of books by the master storyteller, Dean veers away from his usual supernatural tales and instead delves into science.

One of the reasons I have loved Dean Koontz for all of these years is that his books always contain the kind of characters I can root for. No matter how much evil is in the world, there is always someone who has a big heart. The Silent Corner, thank goodness, has Jane. I loved her and am so happy this book is the first of a series of Jane Hawk books!

Thank you to NetGalley and to Random House for providing an advanced copy!

Dean Koontz has managed to bring to life a strong both physically and emotionally, intelligent, driven and beautiful heroine in Jane Hawk. All without profanity and pages of blood and gore just great descriptive prose and a great story line. SILENT CORNER is the first in a promising series, looking forward to more of Jane Hawk.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

It has been a very long time since I last read a book by Dean Koontz. He is still one of the best in my opinion. This suspenseful thriller has a colorful and complex cast of characters. The suspense builds slowly as layers are added to the plot. Koontz is a master with descriptive details. The premise of this book is terrifying. It will make you think about your own life in a different way, and it will stay with you long after you turn the final page. With advances in science and technology happening at an alarming rate, the realm of future possibilities is wide open.

Part one begins with a woman named Jane who is on the run. Jane suspects foul play is involved in her husband's death, so she sets out to discover the truth and clear his name. Along the way she receives a message that tells her to mind her own business or else she and her son might meet a similar fate. This warning drives her desire to uncover the truth about her husband. Through interviews and research, Jane soon discovers a bizarre pattern of deaths that will lead her on an even more bizarre and dark series of twists and turns as she continues on her journey.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and I eagerly anticipate the next installment in the Jane Hawk series. She has lots of unfinished business to attend to and loose ends to tie up. I would recommend it to fans of suspense and thrillers. I received this as a free ARC from Bantam Books, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Action-packed, with a unique premise. Perfect for anyone who enjoys technology-based thrillers. Main character could use a bit more development in future installments so that the reader is better able to connect with/feel for her. Looking forward to seeing how her story unfolds.

Premise of this latest novel by Dean Koontz was great. Unexplained deaths, tricky science. All the things that make a thriller reader want to dive right in. Unfortunately the reality was a little more drawn out and disjointed than that. Instead of giving readers a complete story, Mr Koontz decided to prolong this story into a series. Those hooked enough to continue reading a second book will undoubtedly be gratified with the continuing story. Those readers who felt "Silent Corner" hit a wall may not bother.

In The Silent Corner, Dean Koontz has created a terrifying possibility. Not one with a mad man and a machete or clowns living in the sewers, but no less chilling than either of those.

What if there was a spider in brain? Changing your personality? Whispering to you to do things? How would really know?

Jane is a Marine widow. But she's more than that. A top FBI agent and a mother. So when her husband commits suicide, so absolutely refuses to believe it. So she does some research. Jane is such an interesting character. She's focused and willing to do what it takes to protect what she holds most dear. Her experience hunting down monsters for FBI serves her well as she takes on Them.

Jane collects allies and enemies along her roller coaster of ride. There are so many twists and turns, you may need a scorecard to keep track of the players. But They are scary and Koontz's "What If" in The Silent Corner is terrifying and maybe not that farfetched.

I read most of Dean Koontz's early works, up to around Odd Thomas. I found that in his later books it seemed to be more about pages than plots. I loved his spookiness, heart-warming characters, creative situations, and used to stay up all night to finish the book. Not so with Silent Corner. I realize that this book is really a straight-up thriller, not horror or even spooky, by any means. For the first half of the book I kept waiting for something eerie, something astounding, something scary to happen. Nothing did. I had to force myself to continue reading and finally, about halfway through the book the plot seemed to pick up. He does have a strong-willed, strong-minded, assertive, smart heroine, but I just didn't buy the plot. I did feel that there was over-elaboration in the pacing, locations, and action. After finishing the book, I do not plan to continue this series. I do realize that part, if not a large part, of my disappointment was that I was really expecting a horror/spooky/more techno plot. I do believe that Koontz has many more artful, terrifying plots in him. I just didn't find it in this book.

Dean Koontz novels are hit and miss for me, I am either utterly enthralled or completely bored. This one is possibly one of my favorites of his, and it's the first in a series! I can't wait to read the second one.

The main character, Jane, is a strong woman with a solid moral code but who will do what she has to in order to stop the evil she is chasing. I really bought in to Jane and her mission and the people she chose to be close to her. At the risk of being vague (I don't want to give too much away), I will say that the subject matter was very interesting and could have been taken to a very crude and X-rated level if Koontz had wanted to. Honestly, I was expecting to have to skip some pages. But I didn't have to, which made this book even more enjoyable to me. More and more, I am coming to appreciate authors who can tell a compelling story without making me wade through the metaphorical trash pile.

I still only gave this 4 stars because I felt like the last quarter of the book was drawn out too much. But bring on book 2! (Like, rapido, por favor =D)