THE NIGHT WINDOW

5 stars out of 5

Finishing this book brought back feelings similar to those I had after reading the last book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series: I didn't want the journey to end, but I wanted the journey to end. I'm not sure this is the last we'll see of rogue FBI agent Jane Hawk, actually, but if it really does mark the end of this series, it brings a bang-up ending to her battle against mind-controlling powers-that-be who killed her beloved husband and threatened the very existence of society as we know it.

It's been a heck of a ride - this is the fifth book in the series - each and every one a winner in my book (in order, The Silent Corner, The Whispering Room, The Crooked Staircase and The Forbidden Door). I will say, though, that while the books do stand alone, each builds on its predecessors, so I strongly recommend starting at the beginning if you're new to the series and want to maximize enjoyment thereof.

At the heart of the adventures is a secret but ever-expanding group called the Arcadians, who use implanted nanotechnology to infiltrate the minds of their victims and control their words and actions (and I won't even get into all the things they do to torture people). By this time, a large number of humans all over the country have been "adjusted," as the process is called - and it's been next to impossible to determine who's been infected (and thus, who can be trusted). Jane is determined to bring the group down, but in the process she's had to go to monumental lengths to avoid capture and hide her precious young son in the hope of keeping him safe. She's had a rough time of it in the preceding books, but so far both she and Travis - he with more than a little help from her friends - have eluded capture.

But it's getting much harder; at every twist, turn and corner are cameras loaded with face-recognition software that renders disguises like wigs and make-up virtually useless. Behind every stranger lurks the possibility of an Arcadian or a person whose mind is being controlled by them. As this story begins, Jane is researching mega-billionaire Warwick Hollister, who may be at the top of the ringleader chain. Meanwhile, oblivious to Jane's investigation, the egomaniacal Hollister is entertaining his twisted side by playing catch-and-don't-release in the snow with a terrified victim.

A few chases and near-misses later, Jane hooks up with FBI guy Vikram Rangnekar, a computer nerd with a larger-than-life crush on Jane. Young Travis, too, is facing unforeseen danger; it seems someone with an eye on a big payday has stumbled upon the boy and his identity. Jane's Spidey senses tell her he's in danger - but can she find a way to save him without losing them both (literally and figuratively)?

Don't expect me to answer; you'll just have to read it for yourself. At this point, there's nothing left for me to say except thank you to the author for an exciting series and the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy. Over and out!

The Night Window by Dean Koontz (Bantam, May 2019); 432 pp.