The Whispering Room

1

Cora Gundersun walked through seething fire without being burned, nor did her white dress burst into flames. She was not afraid, but instead exhilarated, and the many admiring people witnessing this spectacle gaped in amazement, their expressions of astonishment flickering with reflections of the flames. They called out to her not in alarm, but in wonder, with a note of veneration in their voices, so that Cora felt equally thrilled and humbled that she had been made invulnerable.

Dixie, a long-­haired dappled gold dachshund, woke Cora by licking her hand. The dog had no respect for dreams, not even for this one that her mistress had enjoyed three nights in a row and about which she had told Dixie in vivid detail. Dawn had come, time for breakfast and morning toilet, which were more important to Dixie than any dream.

Cora was forty years old, birdlike and spry. As the short dog toddled down the set of portable steps that allowed her to climb in and out of bed, Cora sprang up to meet the day. She slipped into fur-­lined ankle-­high boots that served as her wintertime slippers, and in her pajamas she followed the waddling dachshund through the house.

Just before she stepped into the kitchen, she was struck by the notion that a strange man would be sitting at the dinette table and that something terrible would happen.

Of course no man awaited her. She d never been a fearful woman. She chastised herself for being spooked by nothing, nothing at all.

As she put out fresh water and kibble for her companion, the dog s feathery golden tail swept the floor in anticipation.

By the time Cora had prepared the coffeemaker and switched it on, Dixie had finished eating. Now standing at the back door, the dog barked politely, just once.

Cora snared a coat from a wall peg and shrugged into it. Let s see if you can empty yourself as quick as you filled up. It s colder than the cellar of Hades out there, sweet thing, so don t dawdle.

As she left the warmth

Dean Koontz, the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirits of their goldens, Trixie and Anna.

Koontz has never exactly shied away from complex characters or situations. And this situation gets very complex indeed, as Jane pursues the people behind the conspiracy with the kind of single-minded relentlessness that makes the book absolutely spellbinding. As good as The Silent Corner was, this one s even better. . . . Koontz is on another roll with a new series that boasts a juicy premise and a compelling star. . . . Pure gold. Booklist (starred review)
 
A deeply layered, satisfying thriller that is character-driven and nearly impossible to put down . . . grounded in many real-world, current issues . . . [The Whispering Room] never loses sight of the classic political/sci-fi/thriller elements that make it so much fun to read. Bookreporter 
 
Jane Hawk, the compelling heroine of The Silent Corner, returns in another terrifying Dean Koontz conspiracy thriller, The Whispering Room. . . . The character of Jane Hawk is arguably the best character Koontz has created. Knowledge of The Silent Corner helps put some of the narrative in perspective, but it s not necessary to fall under the author s spell. It s clear that another story featuring her quest for ultimate justice is on the horizon, and hopefully there will be even more after that. Simply put, wow. Associated Press

From exciting to overdrive, there s something dangerous around every corner that will have readers loving the thrills and chills. . . . Hawk is one of those rare characters that quickly became a favorite with readers and, thankfully, will continue for a long time to come. Suspense Magazine

Acclaim for Dean Koontz s previous Jane Hawk novel, The Silent Corner
 
Gripping . . . The paranoia and mystery increase as the story unfolds. . . . Koontz has created [a] wonderful character in Jane Hawk. . . . Koontz rocks it again. Associated Press
 
In this era of stingy text-message prose, Mr.