NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Jane Hawk—who dazzled readers in The Silent Corner and The Whispering Room—faces the fight of her life, against the threat of a lifetime, in this electrifying thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling suspense master Dean Koontz. “I could be dead tomorrow. Or something worse than dead.” Jane Hawk knows she may be living on borrowed time. But as long as she’s … knows she may be living on borrowed time. But as long as she’s breathing, she’ll never cease her one-woman war against the terrifying conspiracy that threatens the freedom—and free will—of millions. Battling the strange epidemic of murder-suicides that claimed Jane’s husband, and is escalating across the country, has made the rogue FBI agent a wanted fugitive, relentlessly hunted not only by the government but by the secret cabal behind the plot. Deploying every resource their malign nexus of power and technology commands, Jane’s enemies are determined to see her dead . . . or make her wish she was.
Jane’s ruthless pursuers can’t stop her from drawing a bead on her prey: a cunning man with connections in high places, a twisted soul of unspeakable depths with an army of professional killers on call. Propelled by her righteous fury and implacable insistence on justice, Jane will make her way from southern Southern California to the snow-swept slopes of Lake Tahoe to confront head-on the lethal forces arrayed against her. But nothing can prepare her for the chilling truth that awaits when she descends the crooked staircase to the dark and dreadful place where her long nightmare was born.
Don’t miss any of Dean Koontz’s gripping Jane Hawk thrillers:
THE SILENT CORNER • THE WHISPERING ROOM • THE CROOKED STAIRCASE • THE FORBIDDEN DOOR • THE NIGHT WINDOW
Praise for The Crooked Staircase
“An absorbing thriller full of fresh touches . . . Writing his unusual heroine, Koontz keeps the pages alive with attitude as well as action. . . . For Hawk, who is as fearless as she is beautiful, no obstacle is too great, especially with the well-being of her hidden-away five-year-old son on her mind.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Spellbinding . . . Beautifully plotted and written with notable care and flare . . . The Hawk series . . . is among [Koontz’s] best work.”—Booklist (starred review)
“Unrelenting . . . [Jane] rivets readers’ attention. . . . Michael Crichton fans and thriller aficionados who appreciate a fierce female protagonist . . . should be urged to meet Jane Hawk.”—Library Journal
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Familiar formula. More of the same from Jane Hawk and her quest for justice. Was going to give 4 stars but the character Cornell Jasperson tipped it over to a 5. No doubt we’ll see him in The Forbidden Door!
Dean Koontz is one of favorite authors. The Jane Hawks series is a sit on the edge of your seat, can’t put it down story. Jane an FBI Agent, attractive, dangerous, and brilliant. Recently widowed leaving her as a single mother she is aware that her husband’s suicide is suspicious. Along with other suicide deaths she’d been hearing about. And high ups in our Government were behind whatever was going on. Knowing how to disappear and stay off the grid she begins her investigation in figuring out how this conspiracy started and those behind it. But first, she has to protect her son hiding him away with friends who are as suspicious about the increase in suicides. My husband and I are hooked and live for each new book in this series.
Am really enjoying the Jane Hawk series. Koontz’s books always seem “out there” with a touch of “that could really happen”. Always a thrilling ride from start to finish. Nice to think that it’s possible for the underdog to outsmart & defeat the bullies, no matter how bullet proof they are, especially considering the current political climate.
Very good installment of this Jane Hawk series. MAKES ME LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT ONE!!
The 3rd book in Koontz’s Jane Hawk series is even better than the 1st two books. I wondered how Koontz was going to continue the Hawk series and keep up the tension and suspense. I was at times horrified, near tears, spellbound, and simply unable to put the book down. This reminds me of some of Koontz’s earliest books (Watchers, Intensity, Phantoms), all of which I enjoyed immensely. If you like a book that will keep you reading well past bed time, this series is for you.
The idea of mentally accessing the internet was recently on 60 Minutes. Character (Jane Hawk) easy to l ike…..sort of akin to Jack Reacher.
This series from Dean R Koontz is wonderful – one of his best to be sure – hard to put down – and hard to wait for the arrival of the next book. I’ve been a fan since ‘Watching’…
This one is different – but sooo good!
Good series with interesting woman protagonist
I’ve always enjoyed Dean Koontz and his books. Mr. Koontz’s writing is so lovely – the way he puts his stories together is precise, finding just the right words to make his stories come alive the minute you begin to read. Most of his books are page turners like his Jane Hawk series. It’s agony to have to wait for each book in the spell binding story of a beautiful, currently widowed FBI agent whose has uncovered a strange phenomenon buried amongst the rich, high ranking government officials and filthy rich business men. And they know she has caught onto their horrible secret and she is on the run while evading those who will kill her or harm her son. To keep her son out of harms way she has hidden him with people unknown to those looking for her. All the while, she continues to investigate what this hidden organization is up to and can she stop them before they catch her or take her son. Never knowing who is her friend or foe. But, she’s smart, tough and can dish it out with the best of them. The story is full of intrigue building and gaining in suspense. The Forbidden Door has just been released after The Cooked Staircase. With another to be released May 2019. Jane can kick ass and take names – she has been taught well by the FBI and has used her past experience to get her by the many that are on her trail. Go Jane go!! My review doesn’t do Mr. Koontz justice so just take my word and start with “The Silent Corner”, then “The Whispering Room”, “The Crooked Starcase” onto his newest release “The Forbidden Door”. You won’t be sorry!!
I am a big Dean Koontz fan and this one didn’t disappoint me. I took it to the beach with me and spent most of the week sitting under an umbrella glued to this book. I wasn’t a big fan of how he ended the book at such an important point by he made it up by adding the preview of the next book in the series in the back of the book.
This is the third book in the Jane Hawk series. There was a lot of tedious detail and I found myself hoping this was the last in the series…there’s one more as of now. It dragged, unlike the first two.
Best one in the series yet! Can’t wait for the next.
I didn’t want to put this book down. Fast paced and vivid.
Just finished this book and all I can say is WOW! Dean Koontz has done it once again! A book that is hard to put down, you feel as if you can not read it fast enough but want to slow down so you can get all the details. The way Dean writes, the flow everything just goes so well together. Jane Hawk is such a great character that you wish you could be as tough as her if the time ever came that you would have to be. Can not wait for book #4 in the series! Bring it on!!!
great main character and good premise to story.
This is the third in the series. The first two are great also.
Have read dozens of Koontz’s books over many years. He is a master of the English language weaving with words his hair raising and very imaginative tales. This has been a very good read BUT when I originally bought it I had no idea he was going to drag the reader into a very expensive multiple book series. If I had known this I probably would not bought the first book! So you decide if the read is worth the expense.
Behind the Door, by Mary SanGionvanni, is a tale that hearkens back to the archetypal theme posed in stories such as The Monkey’s Paw.
Be careful what you wish for.
In the forest near the town of Zarephath, there stands a mysterious door. It is an unassuming, aged wooden door that does not appear to lead anywhere. However, this door turns out to be a magical portal to an unknowable dimension. For generations, citizens of Zarephath would walk alone into the woods at night to slip a letter under the door. The letters would contain heartfelt requests that are fulfilled in three days. Each person is allotted only one wish. Some wish for understandable favors such as an end to illness, pain, sadness, or addiction. On the other hand, some ask that their heartless sins and vile crimes will remain hidden, thus protecting them from retribution. What could go possibly wrong?
SanGionvanni’s writing style is a strong point. Her prose is easy to read, clear, and intelligent. It does include a heavy dose of tell, but this can be said to fit nature of this genre.
Characterization is arguably the strongest element in the tale. The players are varied, real, flawed, multidimensional, and clearly drawn. Some elicit pity; some elicit visceral disgust. Almost all of them have crept into the forest to slip letters under the door. Readers will have no problem finding characters to root for and characters to hate. Some may even wish their town had its own door in the forest.
The plot kicks into motion when a mother who has lost a child wishes to forget the pain of her loss. She carefully writes and delivers her own letter. In three days, the pain is forgotten, but so are the love and good memories. She soon realizes her mistake and is overcome with regret. How will she deal? An intelligent aspect of the plot is the fact that the characters’ lives and letters turn out to be intrinsically intertwined by hidden connections. These connections ultimately increase tension and keep readers guessing what will happen if or when the truth is revealed. When the inevitable complications occur, the outcome is deadly . Occult specialist Kathy Ryan is called in to save the town.
By the time Ryan arrives, the entire town is at war with supernatural entities. At first the entities are recognizable, believable, fearful, and even strangely worthy of pity. Soon, they morph into quasi Lovecraftian creatures that loose their individuality and thus become less interesting. In addition, Ryan lacks complexity and would be a much more believable and interesting character if she offered information more rooted in any actual magical tradition. That lack of complexity extends to and effects the conclusion which ends up as rather lack-luster and too easily accomplished
Overall, the author does a great job of creating a complex, surprisingly believable story. It will be easy for readers to suspend disbelief and buy into the possibility of a magic door.
Although Behind the Door is a part of the Kathy Ryan series, it can be understood and enjoyed by those who have not read any of the other Kathy Ryan novels. Followers of the series will no doubt enjoy this tale, and newbies will most likely dive into the rest of the collection after reading this edition to the series.
My favorite author who did not disappoint.
I have enjoyed this series immensely. Very entertaining, it’s a good read!