The Forbidden Door

By: Dean Koontz

Narrated by: Elisabeth Rodgers

Length: 14 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

When this relentless rogue FBI agent comes knocking, her adversaries will have to answer - with their lives - in the latest thrilling Jane Hawk novel by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Corner.

“We’re rewriting the play, and the play is this country, the world, the future. We break Jane’s heart, we’ll also break her will.”

She was one of the FBI’s top agents until she became the nation’s most-wanted fugitive, a happily married woman before becoming a devastated widow. 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 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.

©2018 Dean Koontz (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Koontz is always a good listen!

Jane Hawk books are busy, detailed and entertaining!
The antagonists are so colorfully narcissistic and sociopathic!

Good, but series starting to show signs of fatigue

When I started this series, I should've known that I had to commit to Jane Hawk and her adventures for the long haul. What started as a rather isolated ex-FBI agent on the run story has evolved into a multi-character, sprawling saga about one woman (and her allies) fight against a government nano-tech mind control conspiracy.

Still with its share of thrills and intrigue, the series does seem to be exhibiting some signs of fatigue. Jane is now in a race against time to find her son Travis while government agents, some we've met before, some new, are on the hunt for Jane's parents. As these stories occur concurrently, we are introduced to the usually uniquely named carnival of Koontz characters. For example, Radley DuBose and Carter Jergen, FBI agents who are in deep with the Techo-Arcadian crew, return as they lead the hunt for Jane's parents-in-law. We are introduced to a new team of agents and a family reported to be hiding Jane's family. This is where the story gets convoluted, and it almost seems like this subplot was diversion and an attempt to pad the pages a bit more.

What I had originally found a bit frustrating of the previous entries in the series is the introduction of characters who we never hear from again. Patience is a virtue, as some of those characters do come around and full circle in this story. It gives me hope that perhaps some of the more eccentric ones do return in the next one.

What was assuring was it seems like the series appears to be wrapping up. Or at least I hope it is. I think Jane Hawk is a dynamic character. Her adventures have captivated me and held my attention over 4 books...but there can be too much of a good thing. I think if they prolong the story any more than one (or maybe two) books...we would need serious suspension of believability. Someone can only outrun and escape the government so long before she finally messes up.

Ultimately, I love Dean Koontz and his style. His writing after all these years is like a comforting blanket. You can't help but think in the end, the good guy will always in (although in this book, I wasn't so sure...and good's victory seemed a bit unrealistic and highly coincidental...but isn't life full of coincidences?). If you are just getting into Koontz, you have to accept the fact that he uses a LOT of simile...like, a lot...and it did kind of wear on me after a bit...

But, overall, a good entry, but here's to hoping he ends this series soon and delivers some standalone novels he is known for.

A worthy sequel

Great continuation of the Jane Hawk series. If you made it this far, it's a must read!

Disappointing...

I am a huge Koontz fan as well as
A fan of this series but this was so boring and repetitive. I could stop listening for 5 minutes, go back and nothing of import had happened. Feels like the story is just being drawn out with nothing interesting happening.

not as good

Struggled to get finished with this one. I like the Jane Hawk story but this got ridiculous.

Extremely good, but I was hoping for more

The first books in this series were amazing and I absolutely fell in love with Jane Hawk and couldn't wait to listen to this one. Unfortunately, this one is slightly disappointing. The story line is still very riveting, but it felt like a lot of "fluff" at times. It's almost as though Dean Koontz is dragging out the story a bit. There was a lot of focus on several characters in this book that were really unnecessary and didn't really add anything to the main story. I had hoped that more would have been done in this book to bring us closer to some type of epic conclusion, but at this rate there could be another five books before we learn Jane's final fate. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed this book and it was definitely filled with lots of edge of your seat moments and twists. Dean Koontz does a great job of endearing you to many of the main characters. I am certainly looking forward to the next installment.

The narration was absolutely amazing! Elisabeth Rodgers is fantastic.

Fantastic!!!

I want more already! Love the series. Can’t wait until he finishes the next book.

Waiting for the End

Jane Hawk is no Odd Thomas and this story line is now two books further into an adventure that would have benefited from a dose of brevity. I have read or listened to almost everything Dean has produced but I have to say that I am longing for this particular tale to come to an end. A number of the predicaments the heroine faces and continues to overcome stretches the boundaries of incredulity and I found myself taking to the narrator in a “Oh, come on” tone. At least that’s the polite way of how I expressed my exasperation.

The Forbidden Door

Looking to get your teeth into an absorbing series? Well...

Plot. The Jane Hawk Series consists of five books based on a diabolical cabal of crazies whose objective it is to own the minds of mankind. They created an algorithm to identify those among us who are leaders that may become a threat to the objective. To get the best and brightest out of the way, they are injected with controlling nanotechnology that forces them to commit suicide. Jane Hawk is an FBI agent and her husband is an early victim. Jane has an obsessive drive to determine the truth and stop the nightmare. She soon becomes the most-wanted fugitive in the country, on the run with her five-year-old little boy. Thus is the thrust of this series.

To avoid plot confusion, start with Book 1, The Silent Corner, and read the stories in sequence. Book 2 - The Whispering Room, Book 3 - The Crooked Staircase, Book 4 - Forbidden Door, Book 5 - The Night Window. All are in the area of fifteen hours of listening, give or take, and released from 2017 - 2019, narrated by Elisabeth Rodgers.

Liked. There is that "what-if" element to ponder. What if this was possible? Yikes! There are some wonderful characters that Jane meets in her journey to the truth.  Some hair-raising events that you're certain will be the end of Jane, but she keeps moving.  Page turning in sections. Squeaky clean reads, no sex, no objectionable language - just good mysteries.

Not so hot. Nothing worth mentioning.

Narration by Elisabeth Rodgers is great, male voices included. She "is" the voice of Jane Hawk!

There is one more story that includes the character of Jane Hawk, The Bone Farm. This is a short, two hours of listening. Although it is more reveal of the character of Jane Hawk, it is not relevant to enjoying the series. It's okay, a nice story written mid-series but the events take place in an earlier timeline, early in Jane's FBI career.

Recommended. Enjoy!

Worst book I have ever tried to listen to

This author makes reading a technical book fun to read compared to this book. He goes on and on about stuff that does nothing to enhance the story. Bored to death and I am so happy I did not buy a hard copy of it because I would have to throw it in the trash. If you want a book to put you to sleep this is the one. I have now put this author on my never read again list.

Gripping

Kept me listening. Not my usual type of book but will definitely be reading more. Great narration.

fantastic continuation

absolutely fantastic! can't wait for more Jane hawk adventures! my favourite book series to date

another edge of the seat read

A well woven tale continuing the Jane Hawk story. Dean does it again, exciting stuff.

Gripping!!!

Lost a lot of sleep because I had to find out what was going to happen next.

Excellent

A gripping book and highly descriptive. I would class a book brilliant that makes you think you are there watching it play out. Love the descriptive details surrounding characters and the ease with which they all intertwine. I’m exhausted reading these books.

Crazily Good

How does Dean write so well. Unbelievably Brilliant. Can’t wait for the next one. None of his books is ever boring or disappointing. Genius.

Forbidden Door

Was so excited when this was released and although I still thought it was great I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as the others! It feels as though it’s getting slightly too far fetched! Koontz always makes you think ‘well you never know!’ But now I’m starting to border on ‘really!!!’
I feel like he’s dragging it out a little too much but only my opinion.

Brilliant

I absolutly loved this book and now I'm eagerly awaiting the next exciting chapter.