Having not read the first Jane Hawk book, nor anything else by Dean Koontz, I wasn't prepared for this writing style. I was expecting something less literary, but I suppose Dean Koontz has not become as popular as he is by writing mediocre books. While this is a second book featuring Jane Hawk, from the excerpt I think this will read fine as a standalone. The tension in the story is immediate and fierce, and the story is compelling.