In The Whispering Room, an on-the-run former FBI agent, Jane, and a small-town sheriff from Minnesota, Luther, team up to stop a cabal of powerful business and government leaders who are trying to mold society to their sinister expectations through the use of nanotechnology. The characters of Jane and Luther are well-defined and interesting. Dean Koontz definitely knows how to make a scary idea seem realistic, and this story is engrossing and fast-paced. What I found lacking, however, was the backstory of the sinister cabal -- how and why did they get together and what is their long-term plan. Additionally, I was disappointed in the ending because it wasn't really an ending; it seems to be more just a pause in the action until a sequel is written and released. As a reader, I either want a story with a beginning, middle, and end, or I want to be told upfront that the book is just the first in series. In summary, The Whispering Room was a terrific read without a definitive ending.

Note: Since posting this review, I have learned that The Whispering Room is Book Two in a three-part series. I was unaware of that when I read the book and my review should be read accordingly. Thank you Net Galley,

This second book in the Jane Hawk series is as fast paced and exciting as Silent Corner, the first book. Jane is on the run from nearly everyone, never knowing who she can trust as she continues on her mission to avenge her husband's death and protect the world from evil narcissists. As always, Koontz' prose is impeccable. Highly recommended.

Great read from Koontz starring my new hero Jane Hawk. She is so fierce!

I am loving this new series by Dean Koontz featuring Jane Hawk as a rogue FBI agent. Jane's husband committed suicide and she thinks he was instructed to do so by an nanotech bug implanted in his brain. As she sees more suicides and unlikely terrorist activity committed by seemingly stable citizens Jane decides she needs to eradicate the root of the problem so the world will be a safe place for her young son.

The Whispering Room drew me and kept me reading. I highly recommend it to mystery and suspense lovers.

This sequel to the Jane Hawke series was not quite as riveting as the first - not to mention, there really was no end. I understand that some stories/plots are too "complicated" for one volume but this series is too simplistic for me. I much prefer Koontz's earlier novels (The Watchers) which were not only riveting but anxiety-provoking as well.

Loved this book. I think Jane is just the best character in this book. I am so excited for this series. I have always liked your books but this series is my new favorite!

I loved the first Jane Hawk book. I’m happy to say that the love is still there.

Now, first things first. If you haven’t read the first book, stop now and read that one. You need the background in that book in order to fully understand what we’re dealing with. While this 2nd book does brings us new horrors and new enemies, what happened in the past is critically important.

Jane is still Jane. She’s this wonderful Samuel Jackson-esque (only without the cursing) mix of supremely cool and righteous vengeance. You do not want to get in her way when she’s protecting those who belong to her – and even protecting those who don’t.

In addition, Koontz brings us a new character to love. He’s not Hawk-Fabulous, but he’s awesome in his own way.

Now, lest you think you know everything there is to know about the who, the what, and the how of all this…you know absolutely nothing! Expect some startling surprises in this one.

I want book 3 and I want it now. Koontz leaves us with one humdinger of an ending – cruel and oh so enticing! More, please!

This was a good book with THE most unsatisfying ending EVER. I realize that this is part of a series but REALLY, WTH?????? I'm not sure if I will continue with the series.

If I could I would rate this a 2 and ½.

I read “The Silent Corner” and was curious as to how Mr. Koontz would advance the plot in this book. It was difficult for me to finish this novel, I picked it up and put it down. It starts right where the other book ended with our hero, Jane Hawk still running and trying to chase down the #1 head of the conspiracy and financier of the operation.

I have to be honest and say that I really didn’t enjoy this book very much. There is literally no character development and it’s just a chase and run book. In Silent Corner we had the freshness of his new character, Jane Hawk, to investigate and the beginning of that book was very interesting as she tried to figure out why all of the suicides were being committed. In this book she has figured out that there is a conspiracy, knows that there are brain implants being controlled by “them” and that they are using this “technology” to try and somehow purify the race. In this book she has to even take out a colleague because he also has been taken over by the brain implant. Of course power and money are really behind the plot, same old, same old, same old.

I did enjoy some of the other characters, in particular Luther Tillman who is the sheriff of a small town that has experienced a suicide attack. He begins to investigate Cora who seems willing to commit suicide and take innocent people with her. However a government agent shuts down the investigation and Cora’s house is burned to the ground. The discovery of her journal with her repeating such phrases as she has “a spider in her brain” leads Luther to continue his own investigation.

What makes Jane’s investigation so difficult is that government agencies are involved at all levels and she can trust no one.

I think I’m probably the only one who enjoyed “Ashley Bell” because it was a variation from his rogue agents and the chase and run format. I have trouble suspending belief that any real woman, no matter how well trained, would be able to do what Jane Hawk does. I think it would make it more interesting if she had some allies, more developed characters that we could get to know.

My husband is a big Koontz fan and I was truly trying to see what he found so likable about his writing. I think if you are just looking for a quick read with lots of gunfights and chasing then you will probably enjoy this book. I like my thrillers with more unusual and unique plot lines and a feeling of tenseness throughout, I didn’t find that here.

I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.

Note, will also post to Amazon upon publication

Daniel Koonz has written with horrifying clarity, the possibilities of todays technology age and what could happen to us with it in the wrong hands.
Definitely 5 stars!

I really enjoyed this book. Well written believable characters and an interesting premise ensured that the pages kept turning.

However......as the middle volume of a trilogy I couldn't help feeling that a little pruning would not have gone amiss. Possibly the three books could have been more satisfying as two, there were passages which felt somewhat padded.

I also felt that the author might have fallen a little too much in love with his heroine. Is anyone really so impossibly beautiful, clever, tough, charismatic and cari g as Jane Hawke.

Nevertheless these are petty criticisms compared to how much I enjoyed the actual ride of reading the book. I look forward to the final volume in the series immensely.

I enjoyed this book, it was a little change of pace for me, I've been consuming fantasy lately. As expected it was well written, and the style made the story flow well. I felt the characters were mostly well developed and came together well. ***Spoilers*** I didn't really like the old horror trope of starting off on a character who is getting killed off shortly into the book, but perhaps that wouldn't have been as noticeable for readers of the whole series. I know similar to romance these books with the same story type and a few twists and changes sell well, but it does littler to stretch my imagination. Good rogue agent defeats bad guys, is out there in how many different ways already. So adding mind control via micro robotics is an interesting twist, but I feel like it's been done before too. The fact that some people are basically mindless zombies makes it trendy in a way, but obviously not origonal. I don't notice these things that much when reading the story as when analyzing why I didn't feel into it all the way. The ending has a slight twist, that helps perpetuate the series, but you start to feel like you have a pretty good idea what's coming otherwise. The actual plot seemed a little manufactured just to move the story along. Kids are seen trapped in a brain washed town, another not really original concept. I'm not sure anything is original anymore, but you knew the hero was going to save the kids and take down the bad guy. I felt like the scenes leading up to the villains suicide, were too simple. Not that the heroine needed to show more accomplishments, but that one person shouldn't have made it through there, it diminished this mastermind villain. So, despite that I still give it 4 stars with an expectation of 4.5 from those who prefer this genre. The scenes are just better written than many less experienced writers. I'd like to see Koontz be more adventurous with his story line, but his books probably sell either way.

An absolutely brilliant read, certainly not the sort of novel I would have expected from Dean Koontz - nothing supernatural here.

This is the second book in a series and I did not even realise it. You certainly don't have to read the first to enjoy this one.

Jane is trying to avenge her husband who commited "suicide" but in the process she has become one of the most wanted people in the USA and has to rely on her own wit and a vast array of very sketchy characters to find DJ Michael and force him to come clean on what is really going on.

Brilliantly bonkers filled with conspiracy, nano-tech and mind control. All very plausible and strangly more scary than guts and horror.

Picked up right where book one left off. A follow-up book two from the Jane Hawk series. And Jane is still on the run. I highly recommend starting at the beginning with ‘The Silent Corner’ in order to become fully enmeshed.
Money, power and sex! The triple threat of human nature that combined, have major potential for evil to bloom. A sinister group are using nanotechnology to take over and control unsuspecting innocent people through brain implants. (Sounds crazy right? Perhaps not so far-fetched somewhere in the near future hmmmm….). It rests on Jane’s shoulders to stop them before it's too late. Risking her own life, Jane is determined to bring them down.
Her cross-country chase/run has her bumping into all sorts of characters. (Bernie was my favorite!). Some really didn’t seem that relevant to the overall plot and simply served to slow down the speed of the chase, and thus the book.
Unfortunately this book wasn't all that different from book one. The progression of the storyline stumbled somewhat. Without advancement, the book just felt soooo long!
I am hoping book three (due out in 2018) will take this storyline to the next level!
3.5*
Thank you to NetGalley, Dean Koontz and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for an advanced copy to read in exchange for an honest review

Jane Hawk is back and in more trouble than ever! The Whispering Room picks up where The Silent Corner left off. From the first page the action is non-stop. Jane is playing a high stakes game of cat and mouse - unfortunately for her, it is hard to determine if she is the hunter or the prey.
Many familiar characters are back. And there is a kick-ass sheriff introduced, who I hope will continue to be an important character in the series.
The pulse pounding action and suspense kept me up reading well past my bedtime.

Another great novel in the Jane Hawk series - hope there are more to come!

Picks up where the last one left off. Loved it. Jane is a great character. There were great new characters that I hope will be carried into the next part of Jane's journey. Exciting story line. Can't wait for the next one

The Whisper Room continues the story of Jane Hawk as she tries to get to get to David James Michaels, the man behind the many suicides sweeping the country.
After collecting samples of the Nano machines, Jane set off to get face to face with David James Michaels and make him confess his crimes. But hunting him down won't be easy; he owns any properties and each one is protected with the mot advanced security and brainwashed people that will die to protect his secret. But Jane does not have to this alone; Sherriff Lucas Tillerman crosses her path when investigating a bizarre murder/suicide/terrorist attack committed by a lady he has known for decades. He knows something's not right and when he meets Jane, his worst fears are confirmed.
I really enjoy Dean Koontz and I like that he gave us a kick butt heroine. I'm not big on the fact that she is model beautiful, but it's great to have a series based on this ex-FBI agent who doesn't need a man to rescue her and can take care of herself.
This book like all of Koont'z work gets wordy but the plot goes at a great pace keeping you reading even if you skip the description of the gorgeous, old school. Jane is always in danger and the writing keeps that atmosphere with the reader wanting more at the end of each chapter.
Koontz has continue the work of Michael Chrichton, showing us how technology can be used for evil. But unlike Chrichton, Koontz looks at the moral aspects of humans and how they ruining technology by using it for evil.
The Whispering Room has me ready for the next book in the series. I can't wait to find out what happens next to Luther and Jane!

Dean Koontz has once again scared me with a story that could take place in our current time. Jane Hawk is an amazing heroine, strong, vulnerable and kick ass, fighting the "evils" of the human race. The Whispering Room is a nonstop thriller that will give you chills and leave you sleepless.

The Whispering Room is the second book in Dean Koontz’s Jane Hawk series. I am a Koontz fan and was prepared to give up some sleep to read this one. Luck was with me though, since I received my copy right before a scheduled train trip. This was planned ‘awake’ time, so I was able to start and finish the book before I got back home.
Often with a series, it is difficult if not impossible to jump in at any point other than the beginning. While I certainly had more background information, I do think that if this was the first book you read, you wouldn’t be lost. Of course, if you enjoyed it as much as I did, you would probably go get the first in the series, The Silent Corner.
Jane Hawk is a former FBI agent gone rogue. She is totally alone and constantly looking over her shoulder since she had uncovered a mind control conspiracy in the first book and is now a wanted fugitive. While there are many people determined to silence Jane, she is just as unwavering in her commitment to exposing the truth. That begets the question, can Jane survive against such terrible odds and will she find anyone she can trust? All the answers won’t be provided as the story ends, which is where the third book will come in to play.
I don’t think it would be a stretch to say that you could give me a book with no reference to Dean Koontz and I would know he was the writer. He has a very distinctive style and while I haven’t loved every book he has written, the good ones far outweigh those that didn’t quite resonate with me. Jane is one of those characters that I am hoping will triumph. As always in a Koontz story with evil villains, there are always some people who are good to the core and provide a beacon of hope when things appear darkest. For whatever reason, I kept thinking Hawk, Jane Hawk, so I am hoping that like Bond, James Bond, she succeeds. Koontz conspiracy theories are always way out there, or are they? In today’s world, hard to tell.
Thank you, Dean Koontz, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. It appears the publication date is now set for November. Maybe treat yourself to an early holiday gift, just because, well who better than you and enjoy Jane’s latest adventure.