I have enjoyed Dean Koontz books in the past, I am sorry to say that was not the case for “The Crooked Staircase” and I am over this series.

Mr. Koontz has crafted a good story, and there are plenty of thriller elements to it. Sometimes this worked, but the constant flipping felt hyper after a while.

However, what really turned me off was the cliffhanger-like ending. Creating a successful series that goes on and on has been done but there should be a semi-conclusion, I guess I will never find out what happens to Jane Hawk, because my interest died with the book three non-ending. This is my biggest gripe with most YA books...non endings so you are forced to read the next book.

Wasn't what I was expecting. Not the koontz I'm used to. I think he should go back to his horrific roots!!

Excellent as always! The first time I downloaded the e-book, it was missing many chapters. I downloaded again, I think twice. Unfortunately, always missing chapters. I did enjoy the part I was able to read.

Jane Hawk is driven, she must protect her son and the world from nanotechnology that turns people into mindless drones, with no free will. Those in power have killed her husband and taken her life from her, Labeled her a murderer and forced her to live on the run. As she pursues the truth and tries to find the person who runs the whole operation, she kicks a lot of ass but strive to not become a monster like those she pursues. This is a great series, you really are invested in the lead characters. The bad guys you’ll hate. I eagerly await the next book in this series.

A rare five star rating. It took me a while to review the ARC because I had to read the other two first. Koontz has built this series make me feel you can't imagine there'd be anything more... and then there's more! Jane is in deeper trouble! How Koontz manages to show compassion and thoughtfulness in times of such dire circumstances is amazing. It's fascinating to me the way Koontz manages to keep Jane the focal point in each book, introduce a new major character and make them compelling, and fully utilize the new character without feeling as though I have unfinished/unnecessary people in the story.

On to the next book, and hoping for more!

In this suspense thriller, Jane Hawk is still on the hunt for her deceased husband's killer.Although Nick's death was ruled as a suicide, Jane knows there's no truth in that. Her son Travis has been hidden away with friends until she can find the truth about the rising number of suicides that has plagued the world over the past 2 years.
I liked the sauciness of the main character Jane Hawk. The plot twists are great. Looking forward to the next Jane Hawk novel.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

This is the third in the series and I would suggest reading the other two books before reading this one.

I really enjoyed this character. Jane is capable and not a princess in need of rescue type. She can do it all herself.

The other thing is this is set in Lake Tahoe which I visited a number of times so I was really able to “see” the scenes as they played out.

A very enjoyable read.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Dean Koontz has created such an amazing character in Jane Hawk. Each installment I read keeps me hanging on for the next one!

I look forward to more.

I liked Crooked Staircase but it had too many dangling threads at the end for my taste. Still an enjoyable read and I can't wait for the next one.

*ARC via netgalley.com*

Possibly, it was because I haven't read the first two books in the series and wasn't familiar with Jane Hawk and her story, but I was not enamored with this one. In the past, I have enjoyed Dean Koontz so was eager to read this..; however, was met with some degree of disappointment.

The second book has Jane Hawk at it again. She is trying to clear her husbands name and save her child. She has an extreme network of friends to help her. Her FBI experience keeps her alive. The staircase ending as she takes another conspirator out is very suspenseful.

The Crooked Staircase by Dean Koontz is a 2018 Bantam publication.

Our vigilante superhero Jane Hawk is back. With each chapter of the series, Jane’s adversaries become more difficult to conquer, more diabolical, and evil.

This is one of the biggest challenges to date. The Techno-Arcadians- and the mastermind- Booth Hendrickson are whom Jane has zeroed in on. On this stop she must deal with Booth’s brother, Simon- a truly charming chap, who picks a female target, romances them, then proceeds to rip their world apart, just for kicks and giggles.

Jane is out to prove her husband did not commit suicide, to restore his good name, and to keep her son safe, but the deeper she dives into these murky waters, she realizes that the mind control program threatens the entire world as we know it.

With the government on her tail as well as the Arcadians, Jane must always be one step ahead- and she manages to do so with aplomb.

This is one of the most chilling installments in the series. The Crooked Staircase, once it is broken down and explained is horrifying!!

There are a few sub-plots at play here as well, and Jane’s son is in more vulnerable than he’s been since this adventure started, adding even more tension to the atmosphere.

With thrillers like this one several things must be explored. First, is it plausible? Well, truthfully, I’m not a conspiracy nut- but I like them in fictional books. But, what drew me to this series in the first place was that I honestly don’t doubt the possibility that mind control is something that governments have attempted, and with the climate we are in currently, I don’t know if I could discount the theory that rich, powerful, tech savvy men who seek to control the world would really try something like this. Do I have to suspend belief? Of course. It’s fiction, and there are plenty of aspects to the story that could only happen in books, could only come from the imagination of an author whose made a career out of dreaming up fantastical tales. Still, there is enough truth here to plant a few uneasy thoughts in my mind.

This book has the best storyline to date, but the book has some issues- all of them are purely personal pet peeves. Short chapters tend to create the illusion of reading a lengthy book, such as this one, at a faster clip. However, I loathe them and find them distracting and annoying.

I also hated the ending. I know there is another installment coming, but it’s not just the cliffhanger aspect- which I really, really, really despise, but the way the book just stopped. There really isn’t an ‘ending’ to it at all. This is annoying to the extreme, but because this series has more positives than negatives I will let it pass, but I hope it doesn't become a habit.

Overall, despite a few personal misgivings, this is a stellar installment in the series and I’m waiting with bated breath for the next book in the series!!
4 stars

Dean Koontz' Jane Hawk series is his best series yet! Jane is a strong female character that circumstances have created that leaves grown bad ass men quaking in their boots! I love the strength of this woman and how the love of her child and husband fuels her every step of the way. If you love action, strength in family values, and characters that stand up to right a wrong despite the odds against them, this is the series you have been waiting for. This adventure that Jane has embarked upon and the people who assist her and believe in her make you believe in the strength of the village and making your own family from your host of friencs again! Thank you Mr Koontz for bringing another strong character that your fans will love to follow to life! Can you write a little faster though....I need to see this thing through (smile).

I have been reading Dean Koontz off and on for many years. Sometimes I find his books a hit or a miss. This series, I love! I appreciate a good heroine and this certainly has one and much more.

FBI agent Jane Hawk is on a solo mission to fight the evil that killed her husband and threatens our country. She is out to avenge her husbands death, protect her son and stop the diabolical people who are trying to take over lives of people. Marked to the country as a murdering renegade FBI agent doesn't stop her as she uses her considerable skills in her mission. Jane Hawk is successfully climbing the pyramid of evil one person at a time. Trying every way to stop her they are hunting for her son, tracking every friend and acquaintance she's ever had. Evil stalks her and she stalks evil and they want to do things worse than death to her and thousands of others. With no one to help her she has to be successful. I received a digital copy of this book from the author through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. A page turner the whole way and at the end you want to grab the next one! Can't wait for the it!

This was far more exciting than the last and I have to know more. While I thought the battle with Jane and the Arcadians would be old at this point, the suspense was high from beginning to end. I wish there was more about the twins and the result of their story, but being a secondary plot, it wasn't too big of a deal. I also felt like leading up to the crooked staircase I was left wanting more out of it. They just went there and that part was sort of it, although there was a surprise and answer to Booth's wrird behavior found there. Can't wait to read #4.

Looking for non-stop action? Look no further. Reading a Jane Hawk book is like riding a roller-coaster, in a good way. Jane is still hot on the trail of the conspirators who are taking over people’s minds. As she gets closer, the danger begins to spread to those closest to her. But Jane has a way to turn the tables. Armed with the mind control device, Jane uses one of their own against the conspirators and unravels some of their darkest secrets. Meanwhile, those being controlled continue to wreak havoc, and Jane’s son is hidden from view. Can Jane bring these people down, or will they get to her and her loved ones first?

This continues to be a compelling series that feels like it’s all too real. Jane is like a one-man army as she continues to undermine the organization while staying just under their radar. We get to know her son a little more in this book and he is a great kid. As usual, there is a cast of side characters, good and bad, who make Jane’s work possible. I especially enjoyed the Shukla twins in this one. I continue to be surprised by the complexity of the plot in these books. Dean Koontz is a best-selling author for good reason. His stories are carefully crafted and his characters are well-developed and believable. I am a huge fan of this series and can’t wait for book 4 later this year.

Jane Hawk is back again and still out for revenge for the death of her husband. As she climbs higher up the totem to stop them from creating their version of utopia, she begins to wonder how much further she must go.

Simon Yegg is a rich and powerful man. He will do anything for his brother, and doesn't ask questions. When Jane appears, he tries to outsmart her and sets up a signal to let his brother Booth Hendrickson know that Jane is with him. But when Jane encounters Booth, could she have met her match.

Jessie and Gavin Washington have sworn to keep Travis Hawk safe. They feel that this is their part in this war.

There are many changes in this book that had me thinking it was insanely riveting. There's nonstop excitement that will leave you at the edge of your seat, anticipating the arrival of book four.

I found this book really hard to get into. Maybe because I haven't read the other two preceeding books. That said, if you are a Dean Koontz fan, you will like it.
Thank you #NetGalley for a chance to review.

This was a great book the story kept going. I think it would have been helpful to have read the first two book but wasn't necessary to keep up with the story. I now plan to read the first 2 books and then the 4th book. The pace of the book was good. It had very few slow areas where you lost your momentum in the book.