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Secret Forest
Dean Koontz

Secret Forest

Quick Answer

"Secret Forest" is an optional companion work. It can be read at any time, though it is usually best enjoyed after reading the first few core novels of the Standalone Novels.

Quick Verdict

🟡 Optional side story — not required for main plot

❓ Can I skip this book?
✅ Yes — Optional

This is a companion work that enriches the lore but is not strictly necessary to follow the main plot.

Verdict Insight: While this novella provides deeper world-building, it is a standalone story and can be read at any stage.

Is this helpful?
2018528 ppNovellaOptional Side Story
Jane Hawk - fiction's most relentless, resourceful, stunning new heroine - continues her battle against a murderous conspiracy in the riveting sequel to The Silent Corner. Mild-mannered, beloved school teacher Cora Gundersun takes her own life, and many others', in a shocking act of carnage. When the disturbing contents of her secret journal are discovered, it seems certain that she must have been insane. But Jane Hawk knows better. In the wake of her husband's inexplicable suicide - and the equally mysterious deaths of scores of other unlikely individuals - Jane picks up the trail of a secret cabal of powerful players using a terrifying technological breakthrough to gain power for their own monstrous ends. But these people never banked on a highly trained FBI agent willing to go rogue - and become the nation's most wanted fugitive - in order to derail their plans. Driven by love for her lost husband and by fear for the five-year-old son she has sent into hiding, Jane Hawk has become an unstoppable predator. Those she is hunting will have nowhere to run when her shadow falls across them.
Next Recommended Book

The House At The End Of The World

Book #2020.3 of 524 in Series

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for deep lore fans.

Order Confidence

high Confidence

Why this order?

Our team of curators analyzes publication history, author interviews, and internal narrative continuity to establish the definitive reading sequence. This ensures zero spoilers and maximum narrative impact.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Standalone Novels conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I skip reading Secret Forest?

This is a companion work that enriches the lore but is not strictly necessary to follow the main plot.

Can I read Secret Forest before Devoted?

Yes. Secret Forest is an optional side story and can be read at any time without spoiling the main series plot.

Is Secret Forest required reading for the Standalone Novels?

No, it is a companion work that enriches the lore but is not essential to the central storyline.

What comes after Secret Forest in the reading order?

The next recommended book after Secret Forest is The House At The End Of The World (Book #2020.3).