Cover Image: The Silent Corner

The Silent Corner

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A page-turner from start to finish... Highly recommended.

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Alas it was archived before I got chance to read it.

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The silent corner by Dean Koontz.
These are the chilling last words left by a man who had everything to live for but took his own life. In the void that remains stands his widow, FBI agent Jane Hawk, determined to do what all the grief and fury inside her demand: find the truth, no matter what. People of talent, seemingly happy and sound of mind, have recently been committing suicide in surprising numbers. A disturbing pattern is beginning to emerge. Jane is determined to give up everything to find out why. Those arrayed against her are devoted to protecting something important – or terrifying – enough to exterminate anyone in their way. But Jane is as clever as these enemies are cold-blooded. And she is driven by a righteous rage they can never comprehend. Because it is born of love.
a fantastic read with brilliant characters. I love dean books. Highly recommended. 5*. Netgalley and harper Collins UK harper fiction.

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Having long been a fan of Dean Koontz, I knew I was in for a book of great substance, although having not read one of his for a little while, I had forgotten the extent of his talent.

The Silent Corner is remarkable, in the clever way Dean has, by slowly drawing you in over the first few chapters.

Janet's Hawk is an FBI agent who has recently been widowed after her husband takes his own life completely unexpectedly. Although this is shocking enough, what Jane learns soon puts her own life at risk.
When her life is threatened, Jane decides she won't be silenced, and having taken time off from her job, she is soon consumed by her investigation into other suicides.
Saying any more about the story would spoil it for others, which in this case, would be a crime in itself.
Needless to say, if you enjoy getting immersed in a good book that will make you think outside the box, buying this will be guaranteed to be the best money you can spend.

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When this opened for request, I figured why not. I did not realise when I started it that it was the first novel in a series he has started, but no worries. I found that out right at the end, when I only had a few pages left and wondered how on Earth he was going to wrap this crazy story up with to little time.

The book starts off and hits its flow pretty quickly, though it takes some time to actually figure out what is going on and what Jane's deal is because everything is really vague, which contributes to what Jane is feeling, and slowly but surely more pieces start to fall into place, to pull you in to see what else is on the loose, and before you know it is a crazy, sci-fi style conspiracy has blown up, and you are in for a wild ride. There are chases and escapes and constant fear and terror for Jane, so the book barrels along. There are some cool characters, too, though they mostly just pop in and out.

I felt that there were places the book could have been tightened up more, but I have also realised that this is also par for course with Koontz. There are sections that just ramble on or go on, and they are a little incongruous to the other parts of the book that just barrel along. But that overall does not detract from the reading experience, just slows you down a little once in a while. The dialogue is also a little stinted at times, and there was not really much of it, which is why it sticks out to me so much.

The Silent Corner is an interesting read with a pretty cool, creepy concept, and I think that this series could be well worth the read, and I will certainly follow up with the second one when it releases. I could recommend this, especially if you like a fast read and some conspiracy thrown in for good measure, then this is definitely for you.

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When FBI agent Jane Hawk's husband commits suicide, she can't believe he took his own life. She goes 'off grid' to hunt those responsible and discovers a massive surge in similar deaths; people who appeared outwardly stable and rational taking their own lives in unexpected circumstances. What she uncovers is terrifying. It threatens not only her life and that of her son's but also the lives of thousands of innocent Americans.

Dean Koontz was one of my go-to authors as a teenager and young adult but then life took over. I've always considered Koontz to be an author who could write some damn fine novels... and some, well, not damn fine novels! The Silent Corner left me pleasantly surprised. It's a cracking story of one woman's determination in the face of adversity. Jane Hawk is a woman of strong mettle - she's determined, loyal, empathetic and sassy. It made for a thrilling and highly enjoyable read.

My only criticism would be it's somewhat wordy and overly descriptive. I'm sure it would work just as well minus a hundred pages or so. That being said, I'll be looking forward to the follow-up, The Whispering Room, released for the kindle on Dec 28th 2017 (with slightly less pages than its predecessor 😉).

Thanks to Dean Koontz, publisher HarperCollins and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really like this author and we now have a new heroine in Jane Hawkk. This was a lot better than I thought it would be so thank you.

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I've read what I thought were some really good books lately, but it's not until I read this that I remembered what a really good book is. This is a brilliant read: exciting, engrossing and oh so very clever. I love this author (his books and the man himself, as he sounds like a really nice man) and have really missed being so thoroughly and absolutely enthralled and entertained. He is a master story teller and this book is one of his very best. And, of course, his writing style is so perfect that it is a real pleasure to read - I can't wait for the next one.

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Sadly I didn't enjoy this book as much as I have other books written by Dean Koontz. And I really can't put my finger on why not. The premise of the story is very interesting and the thought that someone might figure out a way to control people to the point they would kill themselves is scary. But I just couldn't get into the book, plus that I don't like open endings. I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK!

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I have been a fan of Dean Koontz for many years and this book takes me back to his earlier novels - it is, in my opinion, his best work in recent years. I was riveted from the first chapter. The plot moves quickly and relentlessly and I found myself unable to put the book down. I had not realised at the start that it was intended to be part of a trilogy but it readily became apparent that the plot was too complex and Jane's task too big to be wound up in one novel. My only criticism was the way Jane's boss was included - it felt like an afterthought, when he could have played a much more interesting role. Without giving too much away, I didn't have a problem with the nature of his role, but rather with how it played out - it all felt a little 'rushed' for want of a better word.
I await the continuation with great anticipation.

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A cracking thriller unlike anything ive ever read. Dark, unsettling with a great new protagonist. Will fefi itely read the next in the series.

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Dean Koontz is very excited about his new character Jane Hawk. And that excitement is well placed - The Silent Corner is a great read, pacy with the type of characterisation that haunts Koontz novels. Tracking the bad guys who are behind a spate of suicides and people who have been programmed Jane Hawk will need all of her FBI skills and also needs to protect her young son.
This is the first in a new series for Koontz, he tees the next story up with the ending of The Silent Corner and the subsequent books will be ones to look out for. Highly Recommended !

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Someone doesn't want Jane to find out about her husbands supposed suicide, she knows he didn't kill himself and is determined to find out the truth. She starts looking into the recent increase in suicides of people who have everything to live for and instinctively knows they are somehow related. It's a fast paced storyline and I really enjoyed the book.

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Couldn't get interested in this book at all. D.N.F.

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“I very much need to be dead.”
These are the chilling words left behind by a man who had everything to live for—but took his own life. In the aftermath, his widow, Jane Hawk, does what all her grief, fear, and fury demand: find the truth, no matter what. She discovers other people who had supposedly committed suicide as she races around America, flying well under the grip, as she races around America trying to find those behind her husband’s unexpected death. The plot is not as pacy as normal Koontz books, which disappointed me somewhat. The lengths Jane goes to stay hidden are interesting but is she really as undetected as she hopes?
I had mixed reactions to the characters in this book, sometimes empathising with them and sometimes not. An interesting read, if not satisfying, read. Be warned, this book is part of a trilogy and so does not have all the plot threads resolved.

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Why, why, why did you move from supernatural fiction Mr Koontz? I struggled to plow through this, unlike any of your other books which I adore. Jane bored me. I had no sympathy or empathy for her whatsoever, and I tried so hard to like her! I now anxiously await the return of your supernatural novels and unfortunately won't be reading anymore with this character in. Sorry!

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Dean Koontz is one of my favourite authors. His books are always brilliant and action packed. Jane and her fight for justice is brilliantly written. It is full of action. There are a lot of different characters and the story comes together to make a chilling read. This is a scary chilling thriller that kept me engrossed the whole way through.

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Really descriptive, I felt as if I was with Jane all the way. Everything that occurs I believe is really possible. and there is 'Big Brother' manipulating us in many, many ways we' know nothing about. Fast paced, excellent read, would recommend.

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I've been a fan a of Dean Koontz since before he dropped the R. Some of his best work like Midnight, Whispers, Lightning and Watchers still have pride of place on my book shelves. I've already ordered a copy of this book which deserves to sit along side those too. Although removed from previous work this fast paced thriller introduces us to a bad ass new Heroine who could give Vanessa Munroe a run for her money. Once the investigation into her husbands suicide unfolds the action doesn't let up until the final page and as this looks to be the start of a fantastic new series, count me in.

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I’ve been a fan of Koontz, off and on for decades. I loved The Silent Corner, this is an example of the kind of crazy, twisted novel he writes so well. I loved the concept, nano robots that can control people’s mind. This idea chilled me to the bone. The worst thing is I don’t think such a notion is merely in the realm of science fiction or fantasy. The Silent Corner contains the usual elements of a great Koontz thriller. He’s written numerous novels that deal with the dangers of technology going a few steps too far. He’s great at that. I was gripped from start to finish. I liked the fact the novel had quite short chapters which made it fast paced despite the intense events taking place it didn’t feel rushed. The Silent Corner is great and I look forward to reading more of Jane’s adventures.

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