Book Review: The Whispering Room by Dean Koontz

Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons!

  When I read the Bone Farm in January, I fell in literary love with Dean Koontz's heroine, Jane Hawk. This FBI agent's story continued in the Silent Corner, which I ended up loving, as well. With two Jane Hawk books read, it was time for another. 

  The Whispering Room is Dean Koontz's second full-length Jane Hawk novel. It is released by Bantam Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House Publishing. Taking place a few weeks after the events of the Silent Corner, Jane Hawk is on the hunt for the masterminds behind the Techno Arcadians. This shadow organization has developed nano technology that once implanted in body, becomes a control mechanism that allows them to puppet whomever they wish. They controlled Nick Hawk, causing him to commit suicide. This set off a shocking series of events that now has them in the cross hairs of Jane Hawk, Nick's wife. After raiding and eliminating the threat of one of the Arcadian's leaders, Jane is now determined to get a confession from the other mastermind behind the organization. 

 Meanwhile hundreds of miles away from Jane a celebrated school teacher drives her flaming car into a hotel, killing dozens of people. Her senseless act of terrorism is confusing to her long-time friend, Luther Tillman, the local Sheriff. As he investigates her death, he is intercepted by Arcadian agents working as law enforcement. Soon he is removed from the case and the teacher's home is burned to the ground. Reading journals that he procured from her home before the fire, Tillman settles down to read Cora Gundersun's last words. What he discovers chills him.

  As Tillman and Hawk continue their investigations, they eventually encounter one another in the town of Iron Furnace. After exchanging stories the two team up to help bring down the Techno Arcadians. But the deadly organizations not only has the pair in their sights, but Luther's family, as well. It's a race against time to stop the Arcadian's horrific ascension before they control what is left of the country's free will.

  The Whispering Room builds upon the series' previous books, driving the adventure and danger up several notches. Jane's fight to bring down her enemies is not the sole focal point of this volume in the series. We are given several side adventures that firmly brings the novel into stand-alone territory. And with Koontz's writing style we are given bullet points from the Bone Farm and the Silent Corner, allowing readers starting with the Whispering Room to never feel confused. The addition of the Tillman family gives the novel an additional sense of dread, as we are given first-hand knowledge that Luther's wife and daughters are being tracked by the Arcadians. And several side characters, such as a family being stalked by hijackers on the highway, give us a side of Jane that hearkens back to her days as an FBI agent, setting aside her vendetta. There is also a kindly old man that Jane encounters mid-way through the novel that is a definite heart-warmer. But ultimately we return to Jane's pursuit of her enemies, which leads to a surprise-filled finale that sets up a revelation that the reader and Jane are not prepared for. 

  Elisabeth Rodgers returns as audio book narrator. Her past work on the series has been impressive. And the Whispering Room is some of her best work. Her ability to read the action sequences adds a more sense of urgency. And her presentation of Jane Hawk feels like someone relating a life story filled with tension. Excellent work.

  The Whispering Room takes the thrilling story of the Silent Corner and adds intricate layers that end with a chilling finale. This five star read had me once again sacrificing sleep to finish this six hundred-plus page-turner. With three more novels left in the series, I know that when all is said and done I will want to re-read all books again. Koontz has not only created an excellent series featuring an impressive heroine, he has left us with a literary masterpiece. Run, don't walk to your book store for this book. It will leave you breathless.

  Have fun reading this week. Let me know in the comments below what you are reading this week.

   Also please follow me on my social media platforms, and enjoy shopping with me at eBay and the Book Depository.
 
  Because there is always time to read,
   Xepherus3 



At Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=Xepherus3

 At eBay: http://stores.ebay.com/xepherusstudios

At Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/11975160-xepherus3

At Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xepherusstudios/

At RedBubble: http://www.redbubble.com/people/xepherus3

At Twitter: https://twitter.com/XepherusStudios

My Amazon Wish List: https://amzn.com/w/3J58FXCH0Y44F


All written content and top logo (c) Copyright 2019 by Thomas Bahr II
Book cover is (c) Copyright by the publisher