For those who were left breathlessly awaiting the conclusion of rogue FBI agent Jane Hawk's plight depicted earlier this year in The Silent Corner, the release of this sequel can't come too soon. Jane, readers will recall, was seeking an explanation for her husband Nick's unanticipated suicide when she discovered a bizarre network of similar deaths across the country that set her on a quest to locate a common source. Her clandestine investigation led to the discovery of a sinister group employing nanotechnology to control the actions of an alarming number of individuals without their knowledge or consent and to her suspension from the FBI. In this second volume of Koontz's new series, Jane's mission is retribution. Employing her impressive skill set that combines tech-savviness with physical prowess, she methodically pursues the powerful and evil masterminds behind this malevolent conspiracy, hoping to put an end to the destruction it has caused. The results she achieves both satisfy and leave the door open for Jane's promised return. Verdict Koontz delivers another winner. [See Prepub Alert, 7/1/17.]-Nancy McNicol, Hamden P.L., CT © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

*Starred Review* Here's the sequel to Koontz's terrific The Silent Corner (2017), which introduced a new lead character, Jane Hawk, an FBI agent who risked everything she held dear to solve the mystery of her husband's suicide. Actually, sequel isn't quite the right word for this novel; it's more like a continuation, part two of an ongoing story. Jane is still the most wanted criminal in America (she's killed some people), she's still wanted by the FBI, and she's still in shock over the massive conspiracy she's uncovered a conspiracy that took the life of her husband, who, like other innocent people, was turned into a killer via implanted nanotechnology. Koontz takes a bit of a risk in making his lead character so seemingly unhinged Jane really appears, at the beginning of the book, like she's dangerously close to self-destructive obsession but then 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. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Koontz is on another roll with a new series that boasts a juicy premise and a compelling star. Combine that with some marketing muscle, and you have pure gold.--Pitt, David Copyright 2017 Booklist