This is the first series I have read by Dean Koontz. With each new novel, I find myself drawn more and more to the strong female character, Jane Hawk.

She is fighting against an enemy that is bigger and much more well-funded than she is. Though she is far from by herself. Though it feels that way to her. The truth is, as time goes on, more and more people are becoming aware of a sub-current that is going on in the world. She finds help in unexpected places.

Such is the case as Jane fights against the clock to save her young son from being found and killed (or worse) by the sick society that is trying to take over.

At times, it feels like for every two steps forward that Jane takes, she ends up taking three steps back. Her character is being fleshed out in each story which builds a sense of caring in my, as a reader. The other characters appear and some re-appear. Others do not.

The storyline continues from book to book. There is only small resolution as the overall theme continues. That’s okay by me. I wait for each new book, wondering where the author will take me. It’s always surprising but it also feels just right.

I believe the book could be read stand-alone but I suggest reading the series in order. I started the series with book 2 but went back and purchased book 1 so I could understand how it all began.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

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

The Forbidden Door is the fourth installment of the exciting and suspense-filled Jane Hawk series. I thought this was going to be the last book, but was uber happy to discover that there will be at least one more! The writing in this series is classic Dean Koontz - great action, suspense, a little sci-fi, and a corrupt government organization to rail against.

Note: You need to read this series in order as it's a continuing story line and you will need all the background from the earlier books. So this review may have spoilers for the earlier books.

You may recall from the last installment that the couple who was hiding Jane's son had to fly the coop and were hiding out in the desert in Borrego Valley. Unfortunately, they were killed while grocery shopping, and Jane's son had to hide out in an underground bunker with an eccentric, but gentle, giant of a billionaire. Now Jane is racing the clock to get to her son before the Arcadians find him. She enlists help from some friends she has made along the way, and it was nice to see those characters re-appear.

The suspense and anticipation in this book was excellent. I didn't want to put it down once I started reading. I was amazed that Jane is still managing to stay a step ahead of many of these evil Arcadians. I also like that we don't just get Jane's viewpoint, but we also follow the bad guys and get peeks into their brains and thought processes. Some of the baddies featured in this installment were eerily philosophical, which gave the book an interesting flavor. I won't say that I always understood their inner monologues, but it did a good job of freaking me out!

If you are a suspense and thriller fan, I highly recommend the Jane Hawk series. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher.

A great installment of a great series. I love Dean Koontz and the Jane Hawk books. The concept of nanotechnology and brain control is frightening because of its potential to come to pass. Jane is still running, this time to rescue her son. Cornell, the eccentric recluse, plays a key role. The characters are so well developed, good and evil. There is lots of action and violence, with souped up vehicles and even a garbage truck!! A real page turner. A fantastic series, but one that should be started from the beginning. Highly recommended..

Jane Hawk is a fugitive former FBI agent and fighting to bring to light the truth regarding the Techno Arcadians, a group of people organized into cells that will take out any opposition, any who are likely to be an opposing force, and subdue the will of the people with a mesh of nanobots that assemble inside the brain. One team is trying to track her whereabouts directly, sure she will try to go to her son now that his guardians are dead. Another team is tracking her in-laws in the hopes that they know where their only grandchild is hidden. There are rare side effects of the nanobots, including sudden and total psychological collapse, and it seems to be infectious.

This is the fourth book in the Jane Hawk series, and I hadn't read the prior ones. Even so, it was easy enough to figure out the background and hit the ground running. Dean Koontz had written about shadowy organizations before, and the use of technology to change humans and to subjugate the will of those that would oppose them. As in previous novels he'd written, this backfires and goes haywire in a hideously spectacular bloodbath. Until that happens, we're in for a thriller as Jane races against the clock to gather up supplies and allies to retrieve her son while not getting caught. She's clever and resourceful, and there are plenty of action sequences as she works to achieve her aim. Her pursuers, both teams of them, are full of characters that range from the benign and dull paper pushing evil to the radical nihilist that believes nothing is real but his own mind.

There are a lot of very resourceful characters in the book, and they're fun to read about. It almost seems like there's too much happening in the novel at times, and that's partly because of the different plot threads that are happening simultaneously. It's easy enough to follow, and the separate sections of the book clearly indicate when in the story it's taking place. Jane's story isn't at an end when we reach the conclusion of the novel, because the Techno Arcadians are still out there, and she hasn't found a way to go public with her proof. I'm sure the next novel in this series will be just as full of adrenaline and suspense as this one.

If you're looking for action, tension, suspense, then Forbidden Door is your next thrilling read. The Techno--Arcadians are marching forward with their brain altering plans picking and chosing citizens to innoculate with their nasty nanoimplants. When it comes to Jane Hawk they will do anything to stop her and their goal is to capture her son. Jane has no intention of letting that happen. With genius plans, knowledge of FBI procedures and manipulative ways of the Arcadians, friends who believe in her cause and a whole lot of luck she moves forward to save her son. Every bit of action will keep you attention while at the same time you may find yourself wanting to bury your head under the covers fearing the end is near. A must read.

This story begins almost right at the close of "The Crooked Staircase." You can read this as a stand alone, but you will want to go go back and read the events that lead you to this story. For the first part of the book, it had the build of a bank heist type of a story line. Mind you, there is no heist, but the anticipation of will the Jane make it to her son, Travis. I got to the point that I was wanting to not put it down and debating one more chapter vs. doing what I probably supposed to do. I found the separation of the characters. story lines, and how they got to where they were on whichever side of the law they fell wanting to have them all longer than the book.

I thought the addition of Cornell Jasperson's character was beautifully written. He adds a believable and lovable character, even with his quirks. It is refreshing to see a non conventional character written so tastefully, and not as a comedic side character. I would have to say the "Unknown Play write" hit the mark with him in goodness, and and Gottfrey as his polar opposite. The guy who is so detached, nothing was real. His character becomes the perfect stereotype of even the most corrupt think they are the heroes, or in this case, " an iconic loaner." I really began to worry as the group began to grow on both sides. Who we would lose? I even wanted the bad ones for a bit longer. I was happy to finally see that one would get them got what was coming to them. Down to those that slip from the Whispering Room and fall through the Forbidden Door. All were emotionally rooted for. A solid book that keeps building in excitement.

I did not enjoy The Forbidden Door as much as I did The Whispering Room. I still love Jane and Trevor. And of course Bernie and Luther. Now I also love Cornell and his unique look at the world. I enjoyed every part of the book that contained these characters. All other parts of the book made my mind wander.

This is a continuation of the story from the previous novel, the characters are defined and the story leaves you breathes throughout the whole book.. I can wait for the continuation of this story in tee next book.

This was my first Koontz novel. He writes wonderfully well plotted tales that are just a tad too Techno and SciFi for my taste. In this one, Jane Hawk is attempting to rescue her son from pursuing Techno Arcadians who want to use him as a pawn to capture her. There is lots and lots of action and a cast of characters that could terrify most anyone. Perfect reading for those who like the genre. Thanks to Net Galley and Bantam for an ARC for an honest review.

A fantastic book. Extremely entertaining, captivating and interesting read. I could not put it down. Wonderfully written with strong, intriguing characters. I want to read more from this author. I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

First of all, I love this author and his writings. This book, as all his other books, did not disappoint. It is the fourth book in the Jane Hawk series and I think one of the best. Jane Hawk is a super FBI agent that is bent on ridding the country of the evil force using technology to control people. She, along with people she has befriended along the way, must find a way to keep her son, Travis safe. The book revisited old friends and introduces new characters that will aid Jane in her adventures to save the world as we know it. I would recommend you read these books in order, as this will give the reader a full explanation of actions and events referenced in the book. I cannot wait to read about Jane’s next adventure.

I got an ARC in return for an honest review on NetGallery.

I give this fourth book in the Jane Hawk series a tentative four stars. I say that because yes, it's still loaded with the suspenseful paranoia that Koontz is so good at, and there's plenty of action to keep things rolling. Except that it doesn't roll that far. We don't see nearly as much of our heroine, Jane Hawk, in this one. In fact, she almost takes a backseat to the many bad guys in this terrifying conspiracy for world domination. While I appreciate the author's ability to paint a scene, this one got a little wordy and drawn out. It takes a bit before the title is explained, but I have to say that it certainly added another chilling layer to this story. So, while this one had its ups and downs for me, I'm still intrigued by Jane's story and recommend it frequently. At this point, I'm invested in the outcome, whatever it may be, so will be checking out whatever's next for Jane and company.

Our favorite Rogue FBI agent is back in the fourth installment of the Jane Hawk series. Jane has been very busy and successful collecting the evidence she needs to expose the Techno Arcadians and the nanotechnology they use to control the minds of people they deem to be a threat to the ultimate “utopia” they are striving to achieve. Beyond all odds, she has managed to stay a step ahead in this game of cat and mouse until the unthinkable happens. Jane’s five year-old son, Travis, has been carefully hidden away from these monsters who seek to do him harm in order to draw out his mother and put an end to her crusade once and for all. Using the best technology and the vast amount of government vehicles and tools at their disposal, the Techno Aracadians have finally discovered the whereabouts of Travis and will use any means necessary to capture him. With her son in the sites of her enemies, Jane must cross the country under the nose of these terrorists to save her child before it’s too late. The race is on.

The Forbidden Door is my favorite book in the Jane Hawk series so far. Jane is one of the best female heroines in any of the books that I’ve read to date. She’s extremely sharp, brave, and good to her core. Koontz has created such a believable and brilliant character and I continue to be amazed at the wisdom with which he so vividly captures the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child and also the lengths in which a mother would go to protect that bond. Jane reminds me of a mama grizzly bear going after the poachers who have taken her cub. This book was also a relief from the constant kidnapping and interrogation of Jane’s enemies. While it’s a great storyline and necessary to the plot, the story needed a bit of a shakeup to keep the reader interested and this book was perfect for that.

While Jane is the main Protagonist and an extraordinary character, she is not the only great character in the series. The cast throughout all four books is made up of a motley crew, each character being more interesting than the last. In this installment we are introduced to Cornell Jasperson. Cornell is an unusual person, both in appearance and personality. He’s a gangly, 6’9” tall, African American millionaire with Asperger’s Syndrome. He’s such a well rounded and lovable character and, in my opinion, does a wonderful job of representing people suffering from this horrible affliction. He’s easily my second favorite character, behind Jane, to be introduced thus far. I pray he’s fated to have a happy ending at the conclusion of the series.

At every turn in this story it seems like there is no way for Jane to come out on top, but she always does. Koontz has such a vivid imagination and takes his characters to places I would never guess at. This series has been wildly entertaining and I’m completely invested in the outcome of these amazing characters. I can’t wait to see where Dean takes us in the next installment, The Night Window, expected to release in May 2019.

Book Review: The Forbidden Door (Jane Hawk #4) by Dean Koontz

In the fourth installment of the Jane Hawk series we love, mind-bending A.I. nanotechnology unexpectedly loses control as "adjusted" marionettes get shuttled through the "forbidden door", spawning blood thirsty, vicious zombies.

Our heroic former-FBI protagonist is now faced with the warped creatures, along with heavily armed telepathic hunter /killers who can seemingly foresee her every move, nanotech virus-injected hapless slaves, the cabal of highly placed masters, and the vaguely god-like ultra controller now revealed as the "Unknown Playwright".

In her quest to save her son, Travis, her in-laws and the world, and avenge the death of her husband, she is allied with amiable, colorful characters encountered in previous books.

To enjoy this book, it is a must to read the first three in sequence.

This book has the usual Dean Koontz imaginative and creative brand of techno-thriller, urgent fast-paced action scenes interlaced with rich poetic expressions and elegant prose - which makes for a thoroughly enjoyable read.

But, with this fourth book, the reader perceives an inkling of deja vu, with the plot, the villains, confrontations, locations, somewhat repetitive, even predictable. The series needs fresh ideas, new locations - perhaps abroad, and at the appropriate point, an explosive Dean Koontz finale.

Review based on an advance reading copy presented by NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine.

This was the best book in this series, so far, in my opinion! There was a lot of action and I felt more connected to the main characters, as it is the 4th book in the series. Dean Koontz is a gifted writer and this is one of his best books!

This is the fourth book in the Jane Hawk thriller series. OMG this series has had some major twist and turns. Every time I think I know where the story is going, oh no I am completely surprised when it goes in another direction. These stories have been wonderful and exciting. The characters are well developed and the story is paced well. I do feel that the reader would have a better understanding of the story if the books are read in order.

No one spins a terrifying-ly good yarn like Dean Koontz. And hidden amongst the long passages of flowery prose and constant introspection by almost every character, there is a doozy. But it took some dedication to find it.


A continuation of the previous Jane Hawk novels, we continue her journey to... Well, I must admit I've rather forgotten what her journey is supposed to be. In the first novel, she was out for vengeance, bent on taking down a shadowy cartel of revolutionaries who are determined to inject nanotechnology into everyone who opposes them, turning them into virtual, mindless slaves. These same people were responsible for the suicide of Jane's husband. Each succeeding novel has her going farther astray from this noble cause and accomplishing pretty much nothing. This story is no different. In fact, we probably see the least amount of Jane Hawk in this effort that we did in the preceding ones.


Jane's son is in danger and about to be found and held hostage or killed by the evil doers. Jane is on her way to rescue him. Then we segue off into one of several other storylines. Her in-laws realize they are in danger and escape at the last second from their ranch in Texas. We have a running storyline of the baddies going after them and being frustrated at every turn. Then we have another branch of the baddies going after a family who may have helped the in-laws escape; a childhood friend of their deceased son, his wife and their three children. They are held captive in their home by the evil agents looking for Janes in-laws. This storyline goes on for a while, with a quite interesting character being introduced in the twelve-year-old daughter, Laurie. She is intrepid and feisty and finds a way to fight back against their captors. Sadly, when this story arc ends, we don't see anymore of this family or Laurie.

Then we switch to a desert town, where Jane's son is being hidden in a protective bunker by a cousin of the friends of Janes who were originally keeping him safe at their ranch. Having a hard time keeping up with me? This is how fast and furious scenes in the book kept switching back and forth. Back to the story: Janes friends were killed off in the previous book, and her son left in the care of the husbands possibly autistic, exceedingly smart (and rich), definitely odd cousin, Cornell. Another fascinating character that I would have loved to keep seeing more of, but... The bad guys inject 50 of the local townspeople (how?!, never really explained), hoping to turn them into willing slaves to help them search for the boy. But something starts going horribly wrong with the injected ones. Instead of the usual mindless worker drones, they are turning into killing zombie machines, wreaking havoc on everything and everyone in sight.


Meanwhile, we jump back to the mentally deranged bunch searching for Janes' in-laws. Their leader is a nut-job who thinks he is in a play and everything is being run by the Unknown Playwright, and that nothing, including his own existence, is real. How this loony tune accomplishes anything in the search for the in-laws is beyond me. They pull info out of thin air, make deductions faster than Sherlock Holmes, and stay on the tail of the in-laws as if they were attached at the hip.


Now back to the desert and Cornell, who has become quite fond Jane's son. The bad guys are getting closer, led by the Ivy school educated Dubose. While searching for the boy, he often stops to wax philosophical about life, liberty and the pursuit of sex wherever he can find it. They are scrambling now to deal with the influx of zombie-slaves while still doggedly pursuing the whereabouts of the boy, and expecting Jane to show up at any moment. Which she finally does. Whew. Accompanied by two more spunky characters that I would dearly love to hear more about, the 80+ year old widower Bernie, and ex-Sherriff Luther. No spoilers but, at long last, the end.

This wasn't an easy book to get through. I admit to occasionally reading the first and last sentence of some of the paragraphs that dragged on and on (and on and on), spouting innermost thoughts about existentialism and delving into the minds of the characters, mostly the bad ones, to explain away the whys and wherefores of what they're doing. Lots of metaphors used, when it would have been just as effective to actually write about the real thing. It was as tedious as sounds. But as I said at the beginning, if you persevere and slog through all the chaff, there is a really good story hidden in here.


Oh, and The Forbidden Door? Never did find out what it is or where it's at. May have been a metaphor...

“Nature won’t allow us to be haunted backward to a primitive consciousness because of any trauma. Nature will have built into our psyche a forbidden door forever locked against the past of the species, and no event can open it.” 0h yeah??...

For the purpose of my review I’ll just let potential newbies to the series know that the Techno Arcadians, as they’re known, are the bad guys whom I’ll refer to as TAs. They are a group of elitists in all walks of life... judges, government officials, law enforcement, and also regular John Q. Public types. Many lives have been lost to this group that uses a nano-technology method of mind-control and will eliminate any threatening human beings to their movement of supremacy. They took the life of Jane Hawk’s husband Nick, a former special-ops guy in the back-story of book 1, which was made to appear as a suicide. It didn’t take Jane long to figure out what was happening but proving it was to be the most challenging, frustrating, and frightening experience of her life.

Jane Hawk, rogue FBI agent, is now a wanted fugitive after bringing down former powers-that-be of the Techno-Arcadians in the previous novels. Her life and that of her 5-year old son Travis have been threatened by this same elitist group. Her job isn’t done.

I’ve enjoyed the series, but this one the least. Perhaps because much has to be reiterated from the first 3 novels to keep new readers abreast of what has transpired. Another reason is that this one focuses more on the baddie TAs instead of Jane’s plight. And there are many new ones. Many, many. They had something go wrong with the last group of people they injected to readjust them into the mindless robots they become. The subjects erupted into bizarre behavior by blazing mindlessly through The Forbidden Door of their minds,

My favorite parts of the novel were the interactions between Jane’s son Travis and his new care-giver, the brilliant autistic (and rich) Cornell, and the two faithful German Shepherd’s, how they bonded and took care of each other. Also Jane’s grandfatherly ally, Bernie, helping Jane to rescue Travis from the threat of his capture by the TAs. You can’t help but love him and I look forward to more about Bernie and his family in Scottsdale in book 5 “The Night Window” coming May 14, 2019.

My thanks to NetGalley for the eARC and opportunity to honestly review this writing by Dean Koontz. He’s at the top of his game with this series. 👏🏻 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2492495602

Dean Koontz has done it again with this page-turning mystery. I felt myself getting drawn in by these characters! You won't want to put this book down.