The Crooked Staircase is the third in a series featuring Jane Hawk, a woman trying to get to the bottom of who caused her husband’s death.

I haven’t read the first two books in the series, but this does well as a standalone novel. Koontz provides enough backstory to being along those who jump in in the middle of the series.

The Crooked Staircase presents us with two somewhat connected plots. Jane is following spurned ex wives in order to track down a sadistic man who makes Dirty John look tame. Her goal: get information on the Hamlet list and those further up in the power chain.

The Hamlet list includes the world’s most creative minds. If those authors, actors, politicians, police, or other influential individuals have views that run contrary to the group, they’re put on the Hamlet list and marked for death or brainwashing.

The second plot follows the Shukla twins, authors who have been put on the to-do list for brainwashing. Ultimately, their ploit is extraneous to the story. Likeable as they are, they seem to exist only as an example of what happens when your name is on the list.

I’m a long-time Dean Koontz fan. I’m talking decades. While many of his books contain supernatural elements, this one veers more towards crime/suspense (although the events are certainly horrific).

Koontz’s books are generally uplifting, with a theme of good triumphing over evil. There are usually no shades of grey; the baddies are bad through and through and the heroes are angelic. Jane Hawk represents a hero with more tarnished wings than I’m used to seeing from Koontz.

Generally speaking, his prose sometimes veers a bit towards purple, especially when describing the setting. While there are some places it does that here, it’s rare.

There are actually quite a bit of differences here that began to raise my hackles a bit. His protagonists in other books have razor-sharp dry wit. Snappy dialogue is the native language.

We usually also spend a lot of time in the quiet moments before the action. Characters become like family to us, and we get to know and care about them and the (usually) dark past they’ve overcome to be the strong but somewhat vulnerable people they are now.

That doesn’t happen here. Jane has no sense of humor, and neither do most of the other characters (Gavin and Jessie are an exception).

We don’t have any quiet moments of getting to know the people in this story. Characters are briefly introduced by name and the most superficial characteristics possible, and then dumped right into the drama. High-octane action start at a level of 10 from almost the very beginning.

It just seems...off. Not Koontz, but Koontz-esque.

I’m very supportive of a writer’s growth and change over the years. It’s wonderful to watch an author’s evolution in the process of honing his or her craft and trying new things. Ventures into other genres, audience age-brackets, and even different types of media are all good and encouraged. I don’t expect my beloved authors to stay the same forever.

But this is more a shadow of his previous work. Around halfway through the book, a truly horrifying thought occurred to me:

Is Dean Koontz using a ghostwriter?

Did I mention I’ve been a Koontz fan for decades? I suddenly have a bad case of the vapors and need a fainting couch, stat.

I hope I’m wrong. I hope this is just a branch that doesn’t quite work for me, but part of a still healthy and thriving tree (bad metaphor, I know).

The Crooked Staircase isn’t bad. Action is packed and settings are vivid. It’s an enjoyable read, cliffhanger ending notwithstanding.

It just isn’t quite the quality I’ve come to expect from Koontz. I’ll still be enthusiastically here for his next books...but maybe not the Jane Hawk ones.

"The Crooked Staircase" eBook was published in 2018 (May) and was written by Dean Koontz (http://www.deankoontz.com). Mr. Koontz has published more than 140 novels and novellas. This is the third volume in his "Jane Hawk" series.

I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence, Mature Situations, and Mature Language. The story is set in near future western US. The primary character is former FBI agent Jane Hawk.

Hawk, who is now consider the most wanted person in America, is still on the run. After her husband supposedly committed suicide she had begun to look into the rising suicide rate in America. This led her to discover a plot by a high placed few to take over the country.

This group employs nanobots that, once injected into the victim, assemble in the brain. This allows those 'converted' to be controlled and programmed. Her husband had been one of those converted and programmed to commit suicide.

Hawk has hidden her son away with friends as she tries to track down those responsible for her husband's death. As she slowly works her way up the ranks of those in the conspiracy, killers are on the hunt for her son. The conspirators know that once they have Hawk's son, they will be able to bring her in.

I thoroughly enjoyed the 11.5 hours I spent reading this science fiction thriller. I have read all three books in this series and have enjoyed them all. But then I have been a long time fan of Dean Koontz and have read many of his works. I like the character he has created for Jane Hawk, as well as the others in this novel. The plot is science fiction, but only just. Who is to say what nano technology will bring to us in the next decade. The cover art is OK, but something with the crooked staircase would have been better in my opinion. I give this novel a 5 out of 5.

Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

This is a Koontz suspense meant to keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you hanging there, breathless, until the fourth (and final?) episode is released. That you should have such patience!

I've only recently become a fan with The Whispering Room, and a huge fan at that, of the Dean Koontz style of writing mesmerizing horror, in this case, an injectable nano from the Techno-Arcadians. I love his prose, the bits of information he drops as an aside, little revelations, and the $300 words (but will I remember them?).

I fully appreciate the kick-ass protagonist Jane Hawk--she's an over-the-top well-trained FBI agent gone rogue. I came in on the second in the series and discovered Jane off the charts after the suicide of her hubby; an end not of his choosing, nor of his ability to deny. And now her five-year-old son is at risk of the super-baddies as they ruthlessly track her in their efforts to shut down her efforts to expose them.

This novel knits twin plots in juxtaposition, exchanging chapters, while Jane is in pursuit. The two Neanderthals tracking her good friends in whose care she left her son are a hoot. These guys are comic relief. Or are they? The West Virginian is so savage, "evil" doesn't describe him. Princeton vs Harvard. The problem is--he's backwoods crazy smart. (Princeton trumps Harvard!) Each antagonist in the cabal Hawk pursues gets her closer, but obviously we have another rung to pass to get to the top.

This story begins with a flash-bang and never slows the action. I can't get it fast enough and whaddya mean that's the end of the book?! The plot stays always just outside the comfort zone.

I was given this uncorrected proof download by Random House Ballantine-Bantam and NetGalley (thank you!) and jumped on it soon as I saw the offering. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to read and review and recommend it to Koontz fans, those who don't know they are Koontz fans, and anyone who enjoys a serious thriller, suspense, mystery, sci-fi-cum-psychological horror.

Wow! What a thrill ride this story continues to be! May 8 can't arrive soon enough shepherding in the release of The Crooked Staircase to the world.

Jane Hawk, a former FBI agent, continues on her quest to shine light and destroy the group known as Arcadian; a cabal of powerful people bent on creating a utopian paradise by killing or "converting" those who computer algorithms deem as dangerous to their future. Back to California she continues her journey for answers and key Arcadians higher up the hierarchy.

I really enjoyed the diversion this book took from focusing only on Jane. There are other story lines that are in play that add depth and additional color to the overall story arc. At times it was unclear how the diverging stories would end up converging, but that helped add to the allure and enjoyment. Not wanting to divulge spoilers, it is sufficient to say that these story lines help escalate the drama and intensity of the story and the urgency and life/death nature of Jane's quest.

Dean Koontz is a master-craftsman and the English language is his medium. His art is again excellently displayed in The Crooked Staircase, a name that ends up with significant meaning.

I give this book a solid 9 of 10 stars, and anxiously await the release of The Forbidden Door, the fourth book, which will hit shelves in October, 2018.

Finally, I'd like to express my profound appreciation to #Netgalley and the folks at Bantam who provided me with an advance copy of the novel in exchange for my thoughts, reactions, and review.

The Crooked Staircase is the third book in the Jane Hawk series, preceded by The Silent Corner and The Whispering Room. This new series is best read in order. I am finding myself upset at the end of each of these novels because Koontz leaves us hanging out there screaming without wrapping up at least some of the cliffhangers. Koontz's new character, Jane Hawk, is an FBI agent who has been forced to go rogue. She has stumbled on to a devastating and frightening evil. This evil uses mind control biotechnology to influence people to commit murder and suicide inciting a genocide of sorts. Jane's husband was one of the people that commit suicide and now she and her son are being threatened with death if she doesn't stop her investigation into the increasing suicide deaths. Even her most trusted colleagues are falling under this evil mind control that is working against her. Jane is morphing into a Superhero. She can not stop her mission to expose this evil plot but there is no one she can trust to help her. These novels leave you wanting more and waiting anxiously to grab the next installment in the series. Hawk's husband is murdered under the guise of suicide and she finds herself immersed in an evil plot to kill massive groups of good individuals who they (the evil ones) have designated trouble makers while enslaving others to do their bidding. These evil elitists use a complex nano technology to take over an individuals mind to be easily controlled and manipulated. Koontz is a master of suspense. This third title really leaves us with more questions than answers and sadness for some of the characters! I'm on pins and needles waiting for the next novel in the series to materialize! Again, I believe it is important to read this series in order. I know now that I will be binge reading the series again when it is complete to get a more continuous effect of the story-line.

Jane Hawk is a great heroine. Strong, smart, determined and resourceful. This installment of the story was not quite as strong as the previous two. Some important and compelling character arcs were left dangling in favor of introducing new characters who do not drive the story forward as well. That being said, the overall plot is good and the direct danger to Jane's son is compelling.

Really enjoyed the twist on the head of the group that is driving the nanotech threat forward. Seems he is not quite the top dog. Elements are introduced that indicate he has been a pawn for far longer than the group has been in existence.

I look forward to the wrap up to this saga and hope another mission can be developed for Jane Hawk.

I'm such a fan of Dean Koontz! He's managed to keep me invested in his stories for so many years now coming up with new and original characters. This is another Jane Hawk book and I love her character. The story is awesome and very fast paced and I simply didn't want to put it down.

Jane Hawk and her one-woman war against the Techno Arcadians are back! If anything, this book is even more intense than the first two books. When I finished, I just wanted more. The ending was a cliffhanger so we know there is more to come.

Jane's husband took his own life and Jane knows it is because he is being controlled by nanotechnology that is injected in people to control them as robots. They have a list of people who the Arcadians have decided are a risk to their planned controlled world. Jane has hidden her son with friends who she feels can protect him while she searches for more some of the conspirators who are high in command of this powerful group.

In this installment Jane is after a high-ranking, very powerful official, Booth Hendrickson. He turns out to have quite an interesting history which leads her to The Crooked Staircase. While Jane is pursuing the Techno Arcadians, there is something going on with her son.

I generally have enjoyed the Dean Koontz books I've read and I am really enjoying this series. Jane is a strong character who at times seems like a superhero.

Thanks to Dean Koontz and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through Netgalley for an advance copy of this book. I can hardly wait for the next Jane Hawk novel!

I tried to get into this book as I typically like Dean Koontz but this one just wasn’t my style. It didn’t draw me in or hold my attention. Had to dnf this one.

The Jane Hawk story continues with an exciting series of events as she tries to take down the elite group that is turning the population into mind-controlled slaves. The style of writing appears to be a showcase for the author's vocabulary, and the book is broken up into non-continuous chapters covering different people and different events. It all contributes to reader engagement as the action continues. The only thing that kept me from a five star rating is the lack of any resolution at the end of the book. While I know the story must continue, some interim resolution would be nice. Warning: do not get too attached to any character is this book.

This novel is nothing short of awesome. It is a fast-paced thriller with a strong female lead.

“The Crooked Staircase” by Dean Koontz is the third in the Jane Hawk series. It is not necessary to have read the previous two books to enjoy this one, but new readers will have some catching up to do with the “conspiracy” that compels Jane to action.
All is not well, even in the world of Techno Arcadians, the very very bad guys who are intent on taking over the world. Jane Hawk has taken them on in this fight, and she is angry. “You’re right about that,” Jane agreed. “Some days I think I don’t have nearly enough of it.” She has undertaken this fight primarily to restore her husband’s reputation and to save the life of her child. Nevertheless, the headline of the Los Angeles Times screams JANE HAWK INDICTED FOR ESPIONAGE, TREASON, MURDER.
Chapters are written in alternating points of view good guys, bad guys, the very bad guys, and those who change sides. This provides readers with an overview of the action, expands the full concept of events, and enhances the tension in all the storylines at once.
Koontz introduces readers to Tanuja Shukla in a shout out to the power of writers and the influence of books. “Her novel will inspire the worst ideas among impressionable younger generations. The computer identifies it as potentially a dangerous iconic work.” She and her twin brother Sanjay rise to the top of the “Hamlet List.”
Koontz paints word pictures that are vivid beyond those of any other. Words are a reason to read, and even the simplest of actions is described in vivid multisensory details. “The water was hot, and from her lathered hands rose the rich orange fragrance of the soap.” Even the weather reflects the tone. ”The dreary rain like a forewarning of despair to come, the claustrophobic closed-coffin darkness of the night, the half-seen python-muscled river in its serpentine flow to the right of them like some pagan god of fate whose forward slithery rush compelled them to follow, heedless of all consequences.”
Jane continues to drive the plot, and she needs a heart hardened to those who preyed on others, who recognize no right to life except their own, for whom power was no less essential than air and water. She wonders if she can really do what she intended to do. In the end, with the coming of the morning sun, Jane and readers must face the wonder and the terror of it all. Will sunshine, optimism, and love conquer? Next ….
I received a copy of “The Crooked Staircase” from Dean Koontz, Bantam Books, and NetGalley. I found it compelling, frightening, and at the same time hopeful that love and Jane will triumph, perhaps in the next book. I cannot wait.

Is the next book available yet???? I am on the edge of my seat waiting for it! I have read books one through three now and have to tell you this is a wonderful series. Each one leaves you on a cliffhanger (which in some wait is nail biting crazy) and you can not wait for the next one to come out.

The lengths Jane Hawk has gone to find out the truth and then when she knows the truth the further lengths she is going to find the top of the ladder of the truth is simply amazing. You will cry and laugh, and then scream, "You go girl" when she wins a small victory. Though I do have to say this cliffhanger ending makes me wanna cry and Dean Koontz needs to hurry up and get his publishers to put out number four cause I need to know what happens to one character.

The simple fact that Jane knows she will probably die in this investigation is depressing yet you receive enough hope that she won't and will be reunited with her son and live out the rest of her life in happiness or as close to it as she can. Since it is Dean Koontz you will not know that till the end of the story.

The storyline starts out with a good hook but as I kept reading I found that it became somewhat tedious. There are several storylines weaved within this installment of the Jane Hawk series, I found myself wondering why some of the characters were even part of this book. I still enjoyed the book, since the main character Jane Hawk is a very well developed character, but there were certainly parts of this book, that if kept out, would have led to a much more enjoyable read. Overall, Jane Hawk is still one of my favorite female badass characters of any book I’ve read in a long while and I look forward to his next installment The Forbidden Door!

"The Crooked Staircase" has two problems. The first problem is Dean Koontz trying to convince his readers that he's the smartest man in the room. His vocabulary gets in the way of his story telling. I'm not afraid of intimidating words. I'm afraid of rambling without purpose.
Having just finished Stephen King's "On Writing", I might suggest the book for Dean. King recommends going back through the first draft and eliminating 10% of the excess verbiage. Dean, that's what you should have done here. Extra words, having no bearing on the story, add nothing. Sorry, I'm not impressed.
The other problem is the cliffhanger. I'll admit I've not read a Dean Koontz novel previously. I read 85-100 books per year, but never gotten around to a Koontz novel. Now I know why. I want my author to finish a story, not leave me dangling over a cliff no matter how sturdy the rope. If I want to learn what happens to Jane and Travis, I'm expected to read a second book. No thanks. I'll assume the best and move on to another author.
On the plus side, the story is good. Lots of action. Lots of character development. The potential for a 4.25 star book is right there. But then the story gets mired in meaningless vocabulary and no conclusion.
Sorry, Koontz fans. Can't join your team.

As this is book 3 in the Jane Hawk series, it goes without saying that you shouldn’t read this book without reading the first 2. It’s mind blowing the amount of people who’ve already read this book and dog it because they haven’t read the previous books so please take those reviews with a grain of salt.

Jane Hawk is a mega badass. I love this series and plowed through each eager to get to the next. The Crooked Staircase had me on the edge of my seat through most of the book and I was muttering to myself “how is she/he/they going to get out of this one?!!!” several times. Out of the three, this was the most suspenseful and definitely had some twists you won’t see coming! Great read, was thoroughly entertained, and can’t wait for The Forbidden Room!

I really liked the book! It's scary in a very realistic manor! The situations and the characters were well-done!! Excellent mystery!!

This is a very exciting and very disturbing story. Dean Koontz is a very popular author so I am sure I am in the minority when I say, I did not enjoy this story and had to force myself to finish it. I actually skimmed many of the action scenes because they went on and on. The bad guys were unbareably ruthless and endless. Just when you get rid of them, 3 more pop up. And then there was rape, torture and the threatening of a child. I also find the jumping back and forth between two stories, every few pages, a very disruptive format. And then there is the non-ending ending. Obviously to draw you into the next installment of series.

I tried to like this book more but it was tough to get into maybe because I have not read either of the two prior books. I. have read some of Dean Koontz's books but this one just seemed to be more disappointing than enjoyable

Jane Hawk is back for the third installment of the nanotechnology thriller series that is a non-stop ride through the state of California. The clandestine pseudo/shadow government is back and only Jane can stop them. Protecting her son and friends is important, but even more she needs to expose the evil being carried out. Dean Koontz is a master of the thriller genre and the English language as a paints pictures so vivid you can't stop reading until you're done.