When I first picked up The Whispering Room, I was unaware that the Jane Hawk novels were intended to be read in order. However, this did not inhibit my enjoyment or understanding of it, which must be noted because of skill and care it shows of the writer. It acknowledges that it’s okay not to read books in order from time to time and that if you did read them in order, that a refresh of information from a time away is not something to be ashamed of.
I picked up this book originally due to being intrigued by the premise and the blurb as it fits well into my preferred type of story. It did not disappoint from my original assumptions. Jane Hawk is on the run from the law after being framed and must figure out a way to confront and stop the man responsible, billionaire D.J. Michael. Who plans to rule the world through nano-tech brain implants.
There is good introspection for Jane’s character as well as the introduction of a new character, Luther Tillman, who fits well into the narrative. I was a fan of the interactions between them. But Jane does plenty of entertaining in her personal actions as well. For people who like stories featuring fugitive from justice themes then this book has it in spades. I quite enjoyed the lengths that the characters went through in order to maintain their freedom.
There were quite a few unexpected twists and surprises, ones that were welcome and increased the stakes of the story. To avoid spoilers, the big twist at the end concerning the interaction between Jane and D.J. Michael was fantastic. It was a good set up for the sequel and has convinced me to read the next book.
Overall, I would rate this book an 8 out of 10. It is a good book, above average for its genre. And though it was not life changing, it was a good read that I enjoyed. I would recommend it to a friend and will be looking into reading the rest of the series.