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The Crooked Staircase
(Jane Hawk #3)
by
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 new 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 breat
...more
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Hardcover, 491 pages
Published
May 8th 2018
by Bantam
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Start your review of The Crooked Staircase (Jane Hawk, #3)

4.5 stars!
Jane Hawk is still on a search to find out the reason why her husband was killed and who did it. His death was set up to believe that he committed suicide, but Jane knows better. She is hiding, for her life depends on it, as she is hunted by some government agents who have a way to find their enemy. Jane used her intelligence to outsmart the enemy. She is a ex F.B.I. Agent and is a wanted fugitive. Jane's enemies are determined to see her dead or make her wish she was.
Her son has been ...more
Jane Hawk is still on a search to find out the reason why her husband was killed and who did it. His death was set up to believe that he committed suicide, but Jane knows better. She is hiding, for her life depends on it, as she is hunted by some government agents who have a way to find their enemy. Jane used her intelligence to outsmart the enemy. She is a ex F.B.I. Agent and is a wanted fugitive. Jane's enemies are determined to see her dead or make her wish she was.
Her son has been ...more

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book three of the Jane Hawk series and this is my favorite of the three so far! I’d considered walking away from the series after the last book The Whispering Room and now I’m so glad I stayed with it.
Jane, America’s most wanted fugitive OR America’s new-age hero. Jane is relentless in her pursuit to find those responsible for the nanotechnology with the potential to enslave the world to those in power. One of the first casualties…her own husband, and she’s swore vengeance to hunt down ...more
Book three of the Jane Hawk series and this is my favorite of the three so far! I’d considered walking away from the series after the last book The Whispering Room and now I’m so glad I stayed with it.
Jane, America’s most wanted fugitive OR America’s new-age hero. Jane is relentless in her pursuit to find those responsible for the nanotechnology with the potential to enslave the world to those in power. One of the first casualties…her own husband, and she’s swore vengeance to hunt down ...more

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 ...more
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 ...more

I am going to be honest here and admit to a degree of disappointment in this book. It was very long, very wordy (although Koontz often is) and it had far too much going on.
Reading it made me feel the author had so much to say that he just scribbled it all down without any editing. There were side stories that did not need to be there at all (the twins) and there were long unnecessary dialogues (Jergerns and Dubose). Worst of all was the character of Jane who has sunk to the level of the people s ...more
Reading it made me feel the author had so much to say that he just scribbled it all down without any editing. There were side stories that did not need to be there at all (the twins) and there were long unnecessary dialogues (Jergerns and Dubose). Worst of all was the character of Jane who has sunk to the level of the people s ...more

Jul 12, 2018
Matthew
rated it
it was amazing
Recommended to Matthew by:
Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl
Thanks once more to Bantam Books/Random house for this ARC (sorry I am getting to it a little late!). Also, I can never thank Dustin Crazy little brown owl - moderator of Koontzland - the definitive Koontz Goodreads group - enough for hosting another book giveaway!
You want suspense, you got suspense!
If you are in book three, the techno-terrorists probably have you in their grasp.
You are definitely being pursued - the paranoia is real . . . listen to it . . . you will obey.
Oh, but wait, Jane Hawk ...more
You want suspense, you got suspense!
If you are in book three, the techno-terrorists probably have you in their grasp.
You are definitely being pursued - the paranoia is real . . . listen to it . . . you will obey.
Oh, but wait, Jane Hawk ...more

"Jane stood in the dark, and the dark stood in her, the latter being the darkness of both her past actions and lethal potential."
OK, be honest, did Dean Koontz have a clandestine meeting with George R. R. Martin (Game of Thrones) before he wrote The Crooked Staircase? Because he definitely broke readers' hearts and left a bitter taste in my mouth with this book.
In this 3rd book in the Jane Hawk series, former FBI agent Jane is bent on climbing the Who's Who ladder within the Arcadian Society to ...more
OK, be honest, did Dean Koontz have a clandestine meeting with George R. R. Martin (Game of Thrones) before he wrote The Crooked Staircase? Because he definitely broke readers' hearts and left a bitter taste in my mouth with this book.
In this 3rd book in the Jane Hawk series, former FBI agent Jane is bent on climbing the Who's Who ladder within the Arcadian Society to ...more

Fast, violent, deadly, with intense suspense.
I think an ultimate fear is losing control of our own minds, or choices. This book dives into that fear and drags it into that dark place, then it adds rape, torture, sex salvery, and running for your life. It is intense. Jane the main character, rams though her targets, try to find her husbands killer, and save her son from an unspeakably horrific threat. The bad guys are so ruthless, my stomach churned during several scenes. Jane is an incredible ch ...more
I think an ultimate fear is losing control of our own minds, or choices. This book dives into that fear and drags it into that dark place, then it adds rape, torture, sex salvery, and running for your life. It is intense. Jane the main character, rams though her targets, try to find her husbands killer, and save her son from an unspeakably horrific threat. The bad guys are so ruthless, my stomach churned during several scenes. Jane is an incredible ch ...more

I have three things to say about the books in this series, of which this is the third: First, I loved every single minute of reading them all. Second, they're good enough to keep you looking forward to the next one - perhaps even more so because the endings aren't quite endings at all. And third, if you want to get the most out of them, start at the beginning (with The Silent Corner and The Whispering Room).
That doesn't mean the books can't stand on their own, because they do. But I also know th ...more
That doesn't mean the books can't stand on their own, because they do. But I also know th ...more

May 12, 2018
Dee Arr
rated it
it was ok
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
thriller,
beware-cliffhanger
While I have enjoyed Dean Koontz books in the past, I am sorry to say that was not the case for “The Crooked Staircase.”
Mr. Koontz has crafted a good story, and there are plenty of thriller elements to it. I realize the author was trying to generate tension by having the chapters rotate from character to character. Sometimes this worked, but the constant flipping felt artificial after a while, and the tension that could have been built became ho-hum as I felt more whipsawed back and forth rathe ...more
Mr. Koontz has crafted a good story, and there are plenty of thriller elements to it. I realize the author was trying to generate tension by having the chapters rotate from character to character. Sometimes this worked, but the constant flipping felt artificial after a while, and the tension that could have been built became ho-hum as I felt more whipsawed back and forth rathe ...more

The Crooked Staircase, the third book in the Jane Hawk series is a powerful read.
Jane continues her fight against the Techno-Arcadians; the cabal mostly consisting of politicians, agents of secret/ law enforcement agencies, rich business people and techno inventors. They are evidently the worst word in the English language: elitists. Although Koontz is careful to point out that not every Ivy Leaguer, government employee, politician, wealthy business person, innovator, or member of the mainstream ...more
Jane continues her fight against the Techno-Arcadians; the cabal mostly consisting of politicians, agents of secret/ law enforcement agencies, rich business people and techno inventors. They are evidently the worst word in the English language: elitists. Although Koontz is careful to point out that not every Ivy Leaguer, government employee, politician, wealthy business person, innovator, or member of the mainstream ...more

May 03, 2018
Marialyce (absltmom, yaya)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
net-galley
4 kept me going stars
Jane Hawk is a remarkable capable woman who in this third book in the series is still tracking a nefarious group called the Arcadians. Their goal is to control the population, eliminate what they think to be the troublemakers, and create a society of peace( well peace according to them) with them in the lead position. They do this by using a drug which uses nanotechnology to eventually control one's brain which is triggered by a group of words. The Arcadians decide who will ...more
Jane Hawk is a remarkable capable woman who in this third book in the series is still tracking a nefarious group called the Arcadians. Their goal is to control the population, eliminate what they think to be the troublemakers, and create a society of peace( well peace according to them) with them in the lead position. They do this by using a drug which uses nanotechnology to eventually control one's brain which is triggered by a group of words. The Arcadians decide who will ...more

Unrelenting tension and an unyielding female protagonist are the highlights of this well-plotted novel.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SUMMARY
An epidemic of murder-suicides is sweeping the nation. It claimed Jane Hawk’s husband and many others and it is escalating rapidly. Jane, an FBI agent, has gone rogue against a horrific conspiracy that threatens the freedom and free-will of millions. As a wanted fugitive she relentlessly hunts for the secret organization behind the plot. Jane’s enemies, both the government and ...more
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SUMMARY
An epidemic of murder-suicides is sweeping the nation. It claimed Jane Hawk’s husband and many others and it is escalating rapidly. Jane, an FBI agent, has gone rogue against a horrific conspiracy that threatens the freedom and free-will of millions. As a wanted fugitive she relentlessly hunts for the secret organization behind the plot. Jane’s enemies, both the government and ...more

Former FBI agent Jane Hawk has gone rogue, fighting the mind-control conspiracy that caused the death of her husband and countless others. She has become very skilled at hiding in plain sight as she continues to fight the powerful people behind the plot. She's being hunted, not only by the FBI but by the devious powers-that-be who are behind the increase in murders and suicides. Jane has a very powerful man in her sights....and she is determined to get him. But the closer she gets, the more she
...more

Wow! I pretty much inhaled this 3rd installment in the Jane Hawk novels.
I've been a huge fan of Dean Koontz ever since I read Watchers decades ago. One of the things I love most about his books is that no matter how inherently evil his villains are, there is always someone that is good and honorable and full of love. His books are always filled with light and dark, hope and hopelessness... But usually, light, hope, and love conquers.
Jane Hawk is not his usual protaganist, and is not always ful ...more
I've been a huge fan of Dean Koontz ever since I read Watchers decades ago. One of the things I love most about his books is that no matter how inherently evil his villains are, there is always someone that is good and honorable and full of love. His books are always filled with light and dark, hope and hopelessness... But usually, light, hope, and love conquers.
Jane Hawk is not his usual protaganist, and is not always ful ...more

My thanks to Random House/Bantam books and Netgalley. I loved the first book of this series, then hated the second book. So it was with a bit of trepidation that I requested this third book in the series. I didn't know what to expect, but I knew I'd have to finish the series. Well, this third book wasn't the end, but it did move us much closer to an ending. I confess that I kind of loved this book. The baddies were so freaking evil, but a few were funny. Make me laugh, and I'm all in. Sadly, som
...more

I was lucky enough to read a copy of THE SILENT CORNER, the first book in the Jane Hawk series just before I read this book. Since THE CROOKED STAIRCASE is book three have I only missed THE WHISPERING ROOM. However, I felt reading this book alone worked fine, despite that. I was very glad that I at least had read book one because I felt that I would have been a bit lost without the knowledge from that book. And, that's my advice to readers, start from the beginning.
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OV ...more
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OV ...more

Jul 06, 2018
Jim
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery-suspense-thriller,
books-read-2018
This is the third book in the Jane Hawk series and while still good was probably my least favorite. There seemed to be multiple stories going on at the same time. At the start of the book we had Jane's story of course but the chapters alternated with the story of twins who are the targets of the Techno-Arcadians. I kept expecting there would eventually be some kind of connection. Jane and the twins would meet. Something. Anything. That never happened. Eventually this totally separate story came
...more

May 28, 2018
Dave
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
thrillers-all,
read-borrowed
Play Manchurian With Me -Again
The good news is that Koontz has put out a third Jane Hawk book which readers like me will hungrily devour from cover to cover without taking breaks for eating or sleeping (well, maybe a few short ones). The bad news is that it's not a trilogy and a fourth book is due to come out down the road ( a preview of book four is included) so we've got to wait a bit to find out what happens. Koontz has given us a terrific fast-paced action-packed thriller series which plays ...more
The good news is that Koontz has put out a third Jane Hawk book which readers like me will hungrily devour from cover to cover without taking breaks for eating or sleeping (well, maybe a few short ones). The bad news is that it's not a trilogy and a fourth book is due to come out down the road ( a preview of book four is included) so we've got to wait a bit to find out what happens. Koontz has given us a terrific fast-paced action-packed thriller series which plays ...more

Cunning, beautiful, deadly. Three books in and I can't get enough of Jane Hawk! With THE CROOKED STAIRCASE, Koontz reminds us just why he's a master of the craft. Don't miss this one!
...more

I've been a huge fan of Dean Koontz since I was eight years old. He's incredibly talented and always manages to get me involved with the characters. My favorites by him are Watchers and Lightning, in that order. This Jane Hawk series I think is my favorite series by him. He really drew me in when introducing me to Jane Hawk and her plight in book one. Book two I thought was good but didn't quite engage me as well as book one. However, it's KOONTZ, and I just knew he was setting the stage for som
...more

Jane Hawk and her one-woman war against the Techno Arcadians are back! If anything, this book is even more intense than the first two books. When I finished, I just wanted more. The ending was a cliffhanger so we know there is more to come.
Jane's husband took his own life and Jane knows it is because he is being controlled by nanotechnology that is injected in people to control them as robots. They have a list of people who the Arcadians have decided are a risk to their planned controlled world. ...more
Jane's husband took his own life and Jane knows it is because he is being controlled by nanotechnology that is injected in people to control them as robots. They have a list of people who the Arcadians have decided are a risk to their planned controlled world. ...more

This is the third book in the Jane Hawk series. It is just as fast paced as the first two. Each chapter leaves you on the edge of your seat. Like the first two books, The Crooked Staircase picks up where the previous book left off. There is no hand holding, so I advise you to read the first two books. Jane is still trying to find out who is the head of the Arcadians who killed her husband and is trying to remake the world brain controlled nano technology. She has a new lead to expose and bring t
...more

OMG, OMG, OMG that was so good, best book in the series so far. Jane is on the trail of Booth Hendrickson the apparent DHS agent who, she believes, is close to the top of the conspiracy. She nabs him and questions him, He is difficult but she learns that, compared to his mother (Annabel?) Booth is a kitten. The mother is pure evil and subjected Booth to the crooked staircase. What is that you might ask, and how did Jane get him to spill the beans. I can't tell you and I can't tell you. I CAN say
...more

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Please, just finish already! The Crooked Staircase is the third novel in Koontz's Jane Hawk series. And, once again, he delivers a well-written thriller. The only problem here is that too much of this novel is repetitive of the first and second titles in the series.
Once again, innocent, talented individuals are deemed too dangerous to continue with their lives so they are turned into murderers; allies of Jane Hawk are hunte ...more
Please, just finish already! The Crooked Staircase is the third novel in Koontz's Jane Hawk series. And, once again, he delivers a well-written thriller. The only problem here is that too much of this novel is repetitive of the first and second titles in the series.
Once again, innocent, talented individuals are deemed too dangerous to continue with their lives so they are turned into murderers; allies of Jane Hawk are hunte ...more

Well...okay we dropped a star on the volume of this series. I still plan to follow it, I can still recommend it but let me go a little into why it hits the dreaded mediocre 3 star doldrums.
First of all (and if you have read many of my reviews concerning Mr. Koontz you may have seen some of this before), Mr.Koontz has the ability to write a good, even an exceptional novel. He can (at his best) write a novel that balances characterization and plot to the point that neither overshadows the other. S ...more
First of all (and if you have read many of my reviews concerning Mr. Koontz you may have seen some of this before), Mr.Koontz has the ability to write a good, even an exceptional novel. He can (at his best) write a novel that balances characterization and plot to the point that neither overshadows the other. S ...more

Thank you to Random House/Bantam for sending me an advance copy of this latest installment in the Jane Hawk Series.
Dean Koontz is at his best. The words printed in this book seem to lift magically off the pages, creating visual perfection in my mind. The Crooked Staircase leads to some dark moments and we can be grateful that this series is not yet finished.
Some Favorite Passages:
Not for the first time in the past two years, she felt as if somewhere ahead of her, reality itself must be erodin ...more
Dean Koontz is at his best. The words printed in this book seem to lift magically off the pages, creating visual perfection in my mind. The Crooked Staircase leads to some dark moments and we can be grateful that this series is not yet finished.
Some Favorite Passages:
Not for the first time in the past two years, she felt as if somewhere ahead of her, reality itself must be erodin ...more

*4.5 stars rounded up.
Dean Koontz is the master of building the intensity of suspense in his thrillers! There were times in this third edition of the Jane Hawk series that I had to close the cover of my Kindle to get a break from it all!
A group of wealthy and powerful people, who call themselves the Techno Arcadians, are trying to reshape society with implanted nanotechnology that allows them to control the minds of ‘adjusted’ people.
“The ones who turn society in the wrong direction, we hate th ...more
Dean Koontz is the master of building the intensity of suspense in his thrillers! There were times in this third edition of the Jane Hawk series that I had to close the cover of my Kindle to get a break from it all!
A group of wealthy and powerful people, who call themselves the Techno Arcadians, are trying to reshape society with implanted nanotechnology that allows them to control the minds of ‘adjusted’ people.
“The ones who turn society in the wrong direction, we hate th ...more

Once again, Koontz is able, with his exquisite prose, to communicate the danger of the situation, the evil of the villain, and the foreshadow the jeopardy lurking in the characters' futures. Jane Hawke redefines Koontz. She is his greatest creation yet. She is strong, capable, brilliant, a single mother, and only human.
The descriptions in this book are so beautifully wrought, I could smell the rain, and feel my heart pounding in fear along with those fleeing in the night. Add to that the very r ...more
The descriptions in this book are so beautifully wrought, I could smell the rain, and feel my heart pounding in fear along with those fleeing in the night. Add to that the very r ...more

Thanks to Bantam Books and Random House for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
So my partner reader, Chandra, and I have been in this series from book one. We both have been on the same page as far as which books we've enjoyed. I know a lot of people, us included, were a little bummed with book two. I promise you, THE CROOKED STAIRCASE is worth continuing with the series! Dean Koontz was setting everything up for this third installment and we both loved it!
We get a story told in ...more
So my partner reader, Chandra, and I have been in this series from book one. We both have been on the same page as far as which books we've enjoyed. I know a lot of people, us included, were a little bummed with book two. I promise you, THE CROOKED STAIRCASE is worth continuing with the series! Dean Koontz was setting everything up for this third installment and we both loved it!
We get a story told in ...more
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Acknowledged as "America's most popular suspense novelist" (Rolling Stone) and as one of today's most celebrated and successful writers, Dean Ray Koontz has earned the devotion of millions of readers around the world and the praise of critics everywhere for tales of character, mystery, and adventure that strike to the core of what it means to be human.
Dean, the author of many #1 New York Times bes ...more
Dean, the author of many #1 New York Times bes ...more
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