The Whispering Room (Jane Hawk, #2)

Title: The Whispering Room (Jane Hawk, #2)

Author: Dean Koontz

Published in: 2017

Date read: 10th February 2019

Score: 4/5

Genre: Science fiction, Thriller, Crime

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"The Whispering Room" by Dean Koontz, published in 2017, is the second intense instalment in the Jane Hawk series, continuing the harrowing odyssey of former FBI agent Jane Hawk as she battles a vast, insidious conspiracy.

The story picks up with Jane Hawk still on the run, a phantom operating in the shadows, hunted by the very government agencies she once served, as well as the shadowy organization she's determined to expose. Having faked her own death in "The Silent Corner," she continues her personal crusade to uncover the truth behind the wave of "suicides" that claimed her husband, Nick, and numerous other accomplished individuals.

Jane's investigation leads her to a chilling new case: a brilliant, reclusive astrophysicist commits a seemingly inexplicable murder-suicide, taking out his entire family before turning the gun on himself. The circumstances mirror the previous incidents, but the scientist's final, cryptic message hints at a terrifying new dimension to the conspiracy. He left behind a bizarre, almost nonsensical, rant about "the whispering room," suggesting a deeper, more sophisticated form of mind control.

As Jane meticulously pieces together clues, she realizes the Techno Arcadians, the powerful cabal behind the mind-control technology, are not just targeting specific individuals for disposal. They are perfecting their brain-altering implants, making them even more undetectable and effective. The "whispering room" refers to a method or a state where victims are subtly influenced, their free will gradually eroded, until they are programmable puppets, capable of committing acts against their own nature.

The novel is a relentless cat-and-mouse game, with Jane constantly evading capture by both government agents and the Techno Arcadians' ruthless assassins, including the chillingly efficient Luther Tillis. She uses her exceptional tactical skills, mastery of disguise, and deep understanding of surveillance to stay ahead, often turning the hunters into the hunted.

Jane's personal stakes remain incredibly high. She's fighting not just for revenge, but for the future of humanity, determined to prevent the complete subjugation of free will. She also harbours a desperate hope of finding a safe place for her young son, who is currently in hiding.

"The Whispering Room" expands on the chilling implications of the conspiracy, revealing more about the Techno Arcadians' ultimate goals and the horrifying extent of their reach into every aspect of society. The climax finds Jane uncovering crucial new information, barely escaping fatal traps, and further solidifying her resolve for the monumental fight that lies ahead in the series. It's a high-octane thriller that deepens the mystery and intensifies the dread.

Comments:
Picked up straight away and did not lose any of the urgency or pace.

Books that we've read by Dean Koontz (27):
Demon Seed (1973), Icebound (1976), The Voice of the Night (1980), Phantoms (1983), Darkness Comes (1984), Watchers (1987), Dragon Tears (1993), Mr. Murder (1993), Tick Tock (1996), False Memory (1999), The Face (2003), Odd Thomas (Odd Thomas, #1) (2003), The Taking (2004), Forever Odd (Odd Thomas, #2) (2005), Velocity (2005), Life Expectancy (2005), Brother Odd (Odd Thomas, #3) (2006), The Husband (2006), Odd Hours (Odd Thomas, #4) (2008), Breathless (2009), Relentless (2009), The Silent Corner (Jane Hawk, #1) (2017), The Whispering Room (Jane Hawk, #2) (2017), The Crooked Staircase (Jane Hawk, #3) (2018), The Forbidden Door (Jane Hawk, #4) (2018), The Night Window (Jane Hawk #5) (2019), The Other Emily (2021)