I usually like Dean Koontz novels, but this one fell short, real short. Volume 4 of at least a 5 volume series, it features a character named Jane Hawk, wanted by the government for treason, espionage, and multiple murders which she apparently did not actually commit. The prosecutor after her is Egan Gottfrey, an extreme Nihilist, who believes that everything is an illusion and everything that happens is part of a plan determined in advance by the Unknown Playwrite. He is also part of a revolution in which injections of nano particles take control of the subject’s brain and they become totally submissive. Unfortunately, a few fall through the “Forbidden Door” and become uncontrollably psychotic and engage in vicious murder sprees. Jane Hawk is not only trying to escape his grasps but also trying to rescue her special needs child who has been previously kidnapped by these revolutionary forces.

Some books in a series can be read as stand alone novels. Perhaps I would have found this one more interesting if I had read the first four in the series first, but truthfully, there was nothing in this volume that makes me want to read any of the first four. The few exciting parts that do honor to Koontz’s writing are negated by huge sections of average, even mundane, dare I say boring filler. I almost didn’t finish it. ( )

Enjoying the continuing saga of Jane Hawk. As always the character development is great and his detail in setting up the scenes puts you right in the action. Can"t wait to get into the next book in the series. ( )

The Forbidden Door is book 3 of the Jane Hawk series. This novel was a rather quick read as we see young Travis depend on Cornell, as he gets comfortable with Travis enough to divulge his family history and why he's alone. We see everyone around Borrego Valley get implants and they struggle to find Travis' grandparents. Jane has a plan to get Travis to safety before the Arcadians find him. Let's hope she does before it's too late. ( )

The Forbidden Door is book 4 of the Jane Hawk series. This novel was a rather quick read as we see young Travis depend on Cornell, as he gets comfortable with Travis enough to divulge his family history and why he's alone. We see everyone around Borrego Valley get implants and they struggle to find Travis' grandparents. Jane has a plan to get Travis to safety before the Arcadians find him. Let's hope she does before it's too late. ( )

As I look back on the Jane Hawk series, "Forbidden Door" rises to the top because of its intensity. ( )

Ridiculous characterizations and interior dialogue of bad guys used up much of the verbiage of this novel and made it much longer than necessary. Could barely stand to even skiim the mess to get to the conclusion. Horrid. ( )

This series is great! I have the audiobooks and the narration is excellent. Koontz writes characters that you can believe, even the truly evil ones. Jane Hawk and her young son are a treasure. Most of his books feature dogs and you'll fall in love with them also. Highly recommended.

Series order: 1/ Silent Corner; 2/ Whispering Room; 3/ Crooked Staircase; 4/ Forbidden Door; Night Window.

FROM AMAZON: She was one of the FBI’s top agents until she became the nation’s most-wanted fugitive. Now Jane Hawk may be all that stands between a free nation and its enslavement by a powerful secret society’s terrifying mind-control technology. She couldn’t save her husband, or the others whose lives have been destroyed, but equipped with superior tactical and survival skills—and the fury born of a broken heart and a hunger for justice—Jane has struck major blows against the insidious cabal.

But Jane’s enemies are about to hit back hard. If their best operatives can’t outrun her, they mean to bring her running to them, using her five-year-old son as bait. Jane knows there’s no underestimating their capabilities, but she must battle her way back across the country to the remote shelter where her boy is safely hidden . . . for now. As she moves resolutely forward, new threats begin to emerge: a growing number of brain-altered victims driven hopelessly, violently insane. With the madness spreading like a virus, the war between Jane and her enemies will become a fight for all their lives—against the lethal terror unleashed from behind the forbidden door. ( )

I have to say I'm disappointed in this book. I requested The Forbidden Door from NetGalley and received an ARC version for review. I had previously read The Crooked Staircase (#3 in the Jane Hawk series) and enjoyed it.

All of the problems I had with The Crooked Staircase I have with The Forbidden Door - but now they're less excusable. The Crooked Staircase seemed to have a lot of filler 'issues' that came up for Jane to deal with, and at times it became a tedious description of a series of steps and explanations. The Forbidden Door is all of the same and even worse (or after having read one entire book like this already, maybe I just have less patience for it).

I found myself skimming quite a bit to get through the tedium, but every now and then I would miss something critical and have to go back (most notably the scene with the sassy old lady and her small dog).

I was also frustrated that the Techno Arcadian agents seemed to, in turns, be either preternaturally aware of a situation (e.g., the chalk paint situation) or deliberately choose a terrible course of action (e.g., Laurie's situation).

You feel for Jane and Travis, but there's just not a whole lot of room for character development and tender moments in the midst of all of the 'action.'

Once again, I feel as though I read a book that didn't go anywhere and had no great resolution. I won't be reading future books in the Jane Hawk series. ( )

The Forbidden Door takes a wicked turn and proves that just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. Now the real Dean Koontz shows his face.

‘They’ have been unable to capture Jane. Even when they catch up to her, she is quick and manages to escape by the skin of her teeth. So…they have set their sites on her five year old son. I love the character that is introduced here…Cornell…is absolutely fabulous.

Dean Koontz brings his characters to life and I root for the good guys who lay it all on the line. Regardless of what could happen to them, they feel compelled to do the right thing.

This is the fourth book in the Jane Hawk series. I am so disappointed I will have to wait for the next one from the library, The Night Window, the finale. I have been binge reading them and I sooooo much want to know what happens next. This is a 5 book series and needs to be read in order. The books are looooong but I have been devouring them.

See more at http://www.fundinmental.com ( )

Please see all of my reviews on my blog at www.robinlovesreading.blogspot.com.

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

If you have been reading this series to-date, especially The 3rd book, The Crooked Staircase, be reminded that Jane Hawk was racing to keep her five-year old son Travis out of danger. The Techno Arcadians, a powerful group of extremists with connections to the highest level, have been a major threat to Jane, who is a former FBI agent, but is now the nation’s most wanted fugitive. The group is closer than ever would have been believed possible when the very life of Travis is threatened.

A bit more about the Techno Arcadians. This group has a far reach, with the end goal of controlling humanity. Their methods are nothing less than terrifying. If you’ve been following this series, then you will see that is patently obvious that they’ve come close to perfecting the brain implants they are doing via injections. This is utterly eerie as they are out for complete control. The victims can and will do horrifying things. It is due to such horrendous actions that have Jane both on the run of her life, all the while striving to save Travis.

It has been months since I read the third book in the series, The Crooked Staircase, but the overwhelming loss of life that has already occurred, as well as the most recent with Travis’s protectors, is utterly fresh in my mind. As in the three previous stories, the danger is ever-present and the action is nonstop. Page after page of nefarious characters and terror are never ending.

The Forbidden Door is presented to us in six thrilling parts, each getting more captivating as the story intensifies. There was one particular trigger referred to more than once in this series “Uncle Ira is not Ira”. Sound familiar? Remember the novel and film, Invasion of the Body Snatchers? Yes, that. Creepy.

While this chilling story carries you through, there was often heartbreak. It is at this point that I will generally mention two characters who had my heart in a bind, but I am working really hard at not allowing any spoilers into this review.

While this book may seem long at 480 pages, don’t let that deter you. The chapters are short enough to entice you into continuing to turn pages. So, if you are a Dean Koontz fan, and have been enjoying this stunning series so far, then definitely pick this title up! I can't wait to see what happens with Jane next!

Many thanks to Random House LLC and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion. ( )

Woo hoo! The thrill ride continues in this fourth installment of Dean Koontz's Jane Hawk series. In "The Forbidden Door" Jane is still on the run, attempting to reach her son with the assistance of a small handful of people whom she trusts. But in this book, things start to descend into chaos as the Arcadians' techniques have unforeseen consequences. I'll say no more because I don't want to give anything away. Suffice it to say that this book provides the breathless thrills that I've come to expect from this series. I can't imagine how Koontz is planning to conclude this series in book #5, but I can't wait to find out! ( )

I had never read anything from this author and this book is (I think) the fourth in this series. I think this could be read as a stand alone but there are lots of references to past incidents and characters so it’s probably better read as a series. Also, the book ended with a definite “to be continued “ vibe. The story is thrilling and interesting, however, I often wished that the work had had a more strict editor. The editing is not for grammatical or spelling mistakes but because the author is so verbose at times it’s just too much. We don’t need to know each brand of clothing a character wears or the make and model of each car a person drives, SUV will suffice. We also don’t need to know the types of bugs chirping or that spiders are fighting. There are intricate personal relationships with long drawn out explanations that someone might have with others when suddenly in the next scene that person is killed. None of the characters were very likable; all were a little strange. I didn’t really care about any of them except Travis and Cornell. Overall, I liked the story but the writing style was too detached, the story had too many superfluous details and the portrayal of humanity was too bleak. I don’t think I’ll read the rest of the series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. ( )

The fourth Jane Hawk novel and I could not put it down! I couldn't even wait a day after I finished The Crooked Staircase to pick this book up and race through it. I've had this book since the day it was released but was buried in library books and library requests. I finally took my library books back and cancelled my books on hold so I could concentrate on some of my own books in January and I am so glad I did! The 7 books I've read from my own TBR pile have been excellent! In this book, Jane's enemies are about to hit back hard. If their best people can't stop her, they intend to bring her to them by using her five year old son as bait. This is a breathless, heart pounding read. I literally could not put this book down and I tried! Now, while I can catch my breath, I also have to wait until May for the fifth and, I think, final installment of the Jane Hawk series. One of Dean Koontz's best characters, ever! ( )

3.75 Stars - The Forbidden Door is the fourth installment in the Jane Hawk series by Dean Koontz.

Jane Hawk is a strong female protagonist that has gone from highly respected FBI agent to the star of America's Most Wanted. Charged with espionage, murder, and treason Jane is on the run, off the grid, and in way, way over her head.

The Arcadians intend to enslave the population with a mind control substance they call nanoconstructs. This ungodly injection gives a handful of diabolical people God-like power. Able to deem who is worthy of life and who is not. Robotic humans acting on the whims of mad-men, sound crazy? Well, Jane Hawk is the only person that stands in the way of an Arcadian takeover. Total world domination is within their grasp. Heartless and drunk with power they will do whatever it takes to get Jane. The Arcadians have access to literally every conceivable form of weaponry in existence today and a laundry-list of smart stuff that the most discerning of sci-fi lovers would appreciate. This is where readers have to suspend reality and let Koontz make you believe Jane could defeat this powerful entity.

Dean Koontz has a unique voice that sets his stories apart from similar books. All the characters feel genuine. There's depth and fullness within each. Unlike many writers whose secondary characters are nothing more than filler, Koontz's supporting cast are thought-out, feel real, and add something of value to the story. Then there's the believability factor. I can only suspend reality so far, past that and the story begins to border on the ridiculous. To believe that one woman, worried about the safety of her child, mourning the loss of her husband, on the un, and wanted by every law enforcement agency on the planet is actually a threat to The Arcadians requires a lot of suspending.

The Forbidden Door is a good read. The weaponry is impressive, the crimes are horrific, and the ultimate goal of the Arcadians is unthinkable. I definitely recommend reading the previous books
first. While you could enjoy the action and understand the bare basics, the real "meat and potatoes" comes from the continuation of the story. Start with book one, The Silent Corner. You'll be glad you did. This series reads like a 2000 page novel divided into (at present) five chapters. I cannot wait to see where the story goes next. I am anxious to read The Night Window. I love the super-woman protagonist as much as anyone, but I really hope book five takes the story in a new direction.

Happy Reading!

RJ ( )

I just didn’t like this book much. I love a huge book...and this one has the potential to be really compelling and not let you put it down. But it just never got there for me. Jane Hawk could be a great character if given a better story and extra suspense, but I am not sure I will try another.
After all...after 434 pages...right at the end and the book let’s me down with no closure. That’s the worst. ( )

The Forbidden Door by Dean Koontz is the very highly recommended fourth thriller in the Jane Hawk series.

Jane Hawk is still on the run from the Techno Arcadians, a secret widespread secret group whose nefarious plans include enslavement of most of society through mind-controlling nanotechnology. They have killed her husband and others. They have enslaved even more. Jane is using all her skills to escape capture by them. Now her son Travis is in danger of being captured by them and she has to save him.

For those reading the series, it is a given that you will want to continue it to find out what happens next. Jane herself is not quite in the forefront as much in this novel, but we are introduced to some new characters. The bad guys are terrifyingly evil and their reach is widespread. Those Jane can trust and the people who are fighting for the truth are wonderfully heroic. The crossing into the forbidden door is a ghastly and horrifying event. The heart-pounding action is non-stop and relentless, ensuring that you will read this at a fast pace since it will be difficult to set it down.

The series now includes: The Silent Corner; The Whispering Room; The Crooked Staircase; The Forbidden Door. While this fourth book in the series isn't quite as strong as the previous three, it is an essential bridge novel that is likely setting up the series for an explosive fifth installment, The Night Window. The Jane Hawk series is a winner!

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Random House.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2018/10/the-forbidden-door.html ( )

I received a print review copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

We first met Jane Hawk in The Silent Corner when she had sold her home, packed up as much as possible, took a leave of absence from the FBI, and drove from Virginia to acquaintances in California, dropping off her five-year-old son Travis, before beginning her quest for answers and, yes, just a bit of vengeance against her husband's death and threats against her son. She obtained some answers but found herself driving back across the country to obtain more answers in The Whispering Room, the second book in this series, to Iron Furnace Lake, Kentucky where she met a sheriff from the mid-West and they helped to rescue several children from the town filled with adjusted adults. This chance meeting in Kentucky meant Jane learned that children under the age of 16 can't be injected with the nanites to become "adjusted" or mind-controlled. She also learned the key-phrase used to gain control of these adjusted people at that time. In the third book in this series, The Crooked Staircase, Jane has once again returned to California and is attempting to learn more about the upper echelons of the Techno Arcadians. But this shadow cabal is out for Jane in a vicious way and feel that the best way to get her to get her son. His safe place is no longer safe and her friends are able to spirit him away to another safe hiding place just minutes before their property is invaded. Now Jane knows that it is truly take-no-prisoners scenario and she is ready to kill or be killed when it comes down to protecting her innocent son. Thankfully, the Techno Arcadians don't have her son, but they seem to be closing in. And the group also seems to be closing in on Jane's in-laws and neighbors while launching a full-scale media campaign _targeting Jane as public enemy number one. Jane's friends and family recognize this smear campaign for what it is, but other's may believe the lies so Jane continues to wear disguises and live an incognito life. Not as easy to do as you might think, when this cabal can hack into any camera system across the US, tag license plates, and use facial recognition software to track people, innocent or guilty, for their nefarious purposes. Is it possible for Jane and her small crew of friends to reach her son and once again spirit him safely away when everything they do might be watched? If that's not problematic enough, it appears that some of the adjusted people are walking through a so-called "forbidden door" and going beyond crazy, like rabid animals. It's one thing to deal with a group of crazy cabal thugs, but to deal with crazed rabid humans on top of everything else?!

I've read all of the books in the Jane Hawk series several times. I had to reread The Silent Corner before reading The Whispering Room when it was released, and then reread both books before reading The Crooked Staircase when it was released. And yes, I just reread the entire series before reading The Forbidden Door. Just in case you can't tell, I'm loving this series and find Jane Hawk to be one incredibly strong, cunning, funny, and yet flawed character. If I had to deal with a strong enemy, I'd definitely want Jane Hawk fighting for me. I've enjoyed the friendships she's made over the course of this series, especially those with Luther Tillman (the sheriff) and Bernie Riggowitz (the retired wigmaker - read the series to learn more about Bernie), the drama occurring on the Hawk's neighboring Longrin ranch with the Techno Arcadians - especially between 13-y.o. Laurie Longrin and so-called FBI agent Janis Dern, and more. Yes, there's a lot going in this book as well as the previous books. There's a shadow government-like group trying to create a utopian society while eliminating anyone that they feel may get in their way. There's tons of psychological suspense, lots of violence (can't have an overthrow of any kind without violence), and drama tinged with just a bit of horror that some of this might be based in reality. The Forbidden Door is the fourth book in the Jane Hawk series and has a lot more violence and drama than previous books but we also witness Jane starting to make some headway in her fight for justice. I can only hope that the fifth book in this series, The Night Window, sees her become victorious and the bad guys toppled and imprisoned. I know, the odds are slim to none, but hope springs eternal. If you've read the previous books in this series, then I strongly encourage you to grab a copy of The Forbidden Door to read. If you're a Dean Koontz fan but haven't read any books in this series begin with The Silent Corner and read through The Forbidden Door. I strongly recommend this series to fans of psychological suspense-thrillers or anyone seeking something different to read. Of course, after reading this series, you may never want to go online, use a smartphone, or GPS ever again. I'll be rereading the entire series when The Night Window is released. Yes, again (while hoping and praying none of this is based on anything close to reality)!

This review originally posted on 10/08/2018 at https://www.thebookdivasreads.com/2018/10/2018-book-391-forbidden-door-by-dean.h... ( )

The Forbidden Door
Jane Hawk #4

A creative and frightening story of a evil conspiracy using nanotechnology and one woman’s fight to save her son.

⭐️⭐️⭐️


SUMMARY
She was one of the FBI’s top agents until she became the nations most-wanted fugitive. Now Jane Hawk may be all that stands between a free nation and its enslavement by the Techno Arcadians and their terrifying mine-control nanotechnology. Jane has struck major blows against this powerful secret society in the past, but now they are going to make her come back to them. They are going after her five-year-old son, Travis, to use him as bait. The Techno Arcadians have brain-altered an entire neighborhood and programmed them to find Travis. Jane must battle her way back across the country to reach her son who she thought was safely hidden away. But something went wrong with the neighbors who were injected with the nanotechnology, and now they are each going violently insane. With the madness spreading, Jane must use all of few resources available to her to reach her son.

REVIEW
Jane Hawks is a fabulously strong female character, and she comes alive on the pages of The Forbidden Door. I wanted even more of her , as she out-thinks and out-fights those trying to capture her. This story focuses on the hunt by the army of Arcadians and adjusted neighbors who are trying to find Travis and lure Jane into their trap. Each chapter is told from alternating perspectives and if I wasn’t paying close attention I’d loose track of which of the many bad guys were taking the lead. The story is creative and frightening and DEAN KOONTZ’s writing is both haunting and action-packed. One of my favorite parts of the book is the relationship that the sweet and brave 5-year-old Travis develops with a brilliant but panicked autistic recluse.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Bantam Books
Published September 11, 2018
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com ( )

This is another excellent book in the wonderful Jane Hawk series. Once again, Dean R. Koontz outdoes himself with this riveting series of tales that are filled with heroism, suspense, thrills, and an enemy worth fighting against. I am so glad he is a fast and prolific writer, as I do not want to wait long for the next title in the Jane Hawk books. #NetGalley #ForbiddenDoor #DeanRKoontz ( )

Picking up where “The Crooked Staircase” left off, the Techno Arcadians have killed Jessie and Gavin, the couple watching Jane Hawk’s son, Travis. Fearing for her child’s safety, Jane is putting a plan in motion to get to the boy before her enemies find his hiding place. The Arcadians, knowing that Jane will come for her son, have hatched their own plan to locate Travis before she arrives and so capture both the mother and the young son.

The fourth in the Jane Hawk series, this installment introduces several of the Techno Arcadians, providing readers with intriguing insights into their thoughts and ideas. The action centers on the efforts of the Techno Arcadians to further vilify Jane, to capture her, and to put an end to her interference in their malevolent plans. Plans and schemes, carried out in hopes of success, build the suspense; palpable tension keeps the pages turning at a brisk pace as a shocking catastrophe affects both Jane and the Techno Arcadians.

“The Forbidden Door” offers sufficient backstory for readers new to the series; a strong sense of place anchors the intriguing tale. Well-developed characters, a twisting plot, and several unexpected reveals increase the tension and keep the suspense building. Readers are certain to find much to appreciate in this unputdownable narrative.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this Advance Reader’s eBook from Random House/Bantam Books and NetGalley
#TheForbiddenDoor #NetGalley ( )

Jane Hawk is back in the fourth installment of this series. And no time is lost. The story begins as the last one ended. Jane fears that her young son (who is hidden with friends) is in danger and she need to get him before the powers that are trying to kill her, get to him first. New characters are introduced (why not, she keeps killing all the bad guys) and old ones come back. There is enough information so one doesn’t necessarily have to read the previous ones, but it helps and they are intense. Filled with a lot of action, this is not as fast paced as the earlier ones, but still fascinating. Will Jane ever live an normal life and take down the Techno Arcadians? ( )