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Lincoln Rhyme #3
The Empty Chair
From the bestselling author of The Bone Collector and The Devil's Teardrop comes this spine-chilling new thriller that pits renowned criminalist Lincoln Rhyme against the ultimate opponent -- Amelia Sachs, his own brilliant protégée.
A quadriplegic since a beam crushed his spinal cord years ago, Rhyme is desperate to improve his condition and goes to the University of North Carolina Medical Center for high-risk experimental surgery. But he and Sachs have hardly settled in when the local authorities come calling. In a twenty-four-hour period, the sleepy Southern outpost of Tanner's Corner has seen a local teen murdered and two young women abducted. And Rhyme and Sachs are the best chance to find the girls alive.
The prime suspect is a strange teenaged truant known as the Insect Boy, so nicknamed for his disturbing obsession with bugs. Rhyme agrees to find the boy while awaiting his operation. Rhyme's unsurpassed analytical skills and stellar forensic experience, combined with Sachs's exceptional detective legwork, soon snare the perp. But even Rhyme can't anticipate that Sachs will disagree with his crime analysis and that her vehemence will put her in the swampland, harboring the very suspect whom Rhyme considers a ruthless killer. So ensues Rhyme's greatest challenge -- facing the criminalist whom he has taught everything he knows in a battle of wits, forensics, and intuition. And in this adversary, Rhyme also faces his best friend and soul mate.
A quadriplegic since a beam crushed his spinal cord years ago, Rhyme is desperate to improve his condition and goes to the University of North Carolina Medical Center for high-risk experimental surgery. But he and Sachs have hardly settled in when the local authorities come calling. In a twenty-four-hour period, the sleepy Southern outpost of Tanner's Corner has seen a local teen murdered and two young women abducted. And Rhyme and Sachs are the best chance to find the girls alive.
The prime suspect is a strange teenaged truant known as the Insect Boy, so nicknamed for his disturbing obsession with bugs. Rhyme agrees to find the boy while awaiting his operation. Rhyme's unsurpassed analytical skills and stellar forensic experience, combined with Sachs's exceptional detective legwork, soon snare the perp. But even Rhyme can't anticipate that Sachs will disagree with his crime analysis and that her vehemence will put her in the swampland, harboring the very suspect whom Rhyme considers a ruthless killer. So ensues Rhyme's greatest challenge -- facing the criminalist whom he has taught everything he knows in a battle of wits, forensics, and intuition. And in this adversary, Rhyme also faces his best friend and soul mate.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published May 9, 2000
About the author
Jeffery Deaver
377 books10.9k followers#1 international bestselling author of over thirty novels and three collections of short stories. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. His first novel featuring Lincoln Rhyme, The Bone Collector, was made into a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. He's received or been shortlisted for a number of awards around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,193 reviews
October 19, 2017
Even five hundred miles from Manhattan, Rhyme' can't catch a break. He's in North Carolina - at the Neurological Research Institute (Medical Centre of the University of North Carolina in Avery) for high-risk medical treatment - with Thom and Sachs' in tow - and its not long before the local authority comes calling asking for his assistance.
A boy, Billy Stail, has been murdered and a young woman, Mary Beth McConnell, has been abducted at Blackwater Landing. She had been doing a class project - digging for old Indian artifacts at the time of her kidnapping and its believed that Stail was trying to stop Mary Beth' from being abducted - when he was killed - with a shovel. The suspect in the murder/abduction is sixteen year old, Garrett Hanlon (The Insect Boy). He's an encyclopedia of information when it comes to his specialised subject: insects.
The following day, an Ontology nurse, Lydia Johansson is visiting the crime scene to lay flowers, when she is taken by the same suspect whilst a deputy is in close proximity. He (Jesse Corn) hears her screams but, by the time he reaches the primary crime scene; she's gone. Poof.
Rhyme, Sachs and Thom are taken to the County Building (Sheriff's Office) where an impromptu lab is set-up. Sachs, Lucy and Jesse go back to the primary crime scene - to search for clues - and Thom gets to add annotations when they learn something new about the suspect, that will hopefully help them find Lydia Johansson. Alive.
Nothing is what it seems. You think you know who the good/bad guys are (as it seems obvious) - but Tanners Corner is a small town with a myriad of dark secrets and Rhyme is a fish out of water.
At some juncture, Rhyme and Sachs' have a disagreement about something - and Sachs' goes AWOL - and this is where it gets more intriguing.
Virginia Dare: the first English child born on Roanoke Island is mentioned. I wonder what happened to her and the rest of The Lost Colony? Poof. John White (artist) was her grandfather and Elenor Dare was her mother and she was a member of the Roanoke Colony, too.
In summation: I'm still enjoying this series - though, I was slightly distracted whilst reading this novel; mainly because, at the end of the first book (The Bone Collector) - the author did a sleight of hand with the plot - and I kept wondering if it's going to be expanded on? I hope so. Maybe in a later novel or a (Rhyme) novella? Anyway, this is just as good as the first two books in the series. I wish it was better formatted for phones, though.
A boy, Billy Stail, has been murdered and a young woman, Mary Beth McConnell, has been abducted at Blackwater Landing. She had been doing a class project - digging for old Indian artifacts at the time of her kidnapping and its believed that Stail was trying to stop Mary Beth' from being abducted - when he was killed - with a shovel. The suspect in the murder/abduction is sixteen year old, Garrett Hanlon (The Insect Boy). He's an encyclopedia of information when it comes to his specialised subject: insects.
The following day, an Ontology nurse, Lydia Johansson is visiting the crime scene to lay flowers, when she is taken by the same suspect whilst a deputy is in close proximity. He (Jesse Corn) hears her screams but, by the time he reaches the primary crime scene; she's gone. Poof.
Rhyme, Sachs and Thom are taken to the County Building (Sheriff's Office) where an impromptu lab is set-up. Sachs, Lucy and Jesse go back to the primary crime scene - to search for clues - and Thom gets to add annotations when they learn something new about the suspect, that will hopefully help them find Lydia Johansson. Alive.
Nothing is what it seems. You think you know who the good/bad guys are (as it seems obvious) - but Tanners Corner is a small town with a myriad of dark secrets and Rhyme is a fish out of water.
At some juncture, Rhyme and Sachs' have a disagreement about something - and Sachs' goes AWOL - and this is where it gets more intriguing.
Virginia Dare: the first English child born on Roanoke Island is mentioned. I wonder what happened to her and the rest of The Lost Colony? Poof. John White (artist) was her grandfather and Elenor Dare was her mother and she was a member of the Roanoke Colony, too.
In summation: I'm still enjoying this series - though, I was slightly distracted whilst reading this novel; mainly because, at the end of the first book (The Bone Collector) - the author did a sleight of hand with the plot - and I kept wondering if it's going to be expanded on? I hope so. Maybe in a later novel or a (Rhyme) novella? Anyway, this is just as good as the first two books in the series. I wish it was better formatted for phones, though.
July 5, 2017
My favorite thus far in the series, I loved it. The story was fantastic, I kept going back and forth of who the culprit was. And the ending, if I had read this book back when it was released I would have gone crazy waiting for the next release. Lol.
May 7, 2023
The twists and turns.
Lincoln Rhyme goes to The University Of North Carolina Medical Center for a high-risk-experimental surgery with the hope it will improve his condition. But before he has the surgery Lincoln is summoned to Tanner's Corner by Sheriff Jim Bell. In a twenty-four-hour period there has been a local teen murdered and two young women abducted.
The prime suspect is a strange local teen known as the Insect Boy, Garrett Hanlon.
Rhyme agrees to look into the case along with his partner Amelia Sachs. And together they uncover a much bigger hornets nest than either of them could have predicted. Including kidnapping, murder, dirty cops.
Is Garrett guilty or just a misunderstood teenage boy? And just who should Lincoln and Ameila trust? Another excellent installment in the series. Through most of the book I was at four stars but the twists and turns at the end pushed the rating up to five stars.
Asking the question again just who can Lincoln Rhyme trust?
Lincoln Rhyme goes to The University Of North Carolina Medical Center for a high-risk-experimental surgery with the hope it will improve his condition. But before he has the surgery Lincoln is summoned to Tanner's Corner by Sheriff Jim Bell. In a twenty-four-hour period there has been a local teen murdered and two young women abducted.
The prime suspect is a strange local teen known as the Insect Boy, Garrett Hanlon.
Rhyme agrees to look into the case along with his partner Amelia Sachs. And together they uncover a much bigger hornets nest than either of them could have predicted. Including kidnapping, murder, dirty cops.
Is Garrett guilty or just a misunderstood teenage boy? And just who should Lincoln and Ameila trust? Another excellent installment in the series. Through most of the book I was at four stars but the twists and turns at the end pushed the rating up to five stars.
Asking the question again just who can Lincoln Rhyme trust?
May 26, 2021
This story irks until the plot twists at the end. A bit convoluted while doing little to the strengthen it. 3 of 10 stars
February 1, 2021
This is the third book of a series but it can read as a standalone. In this one, Lincoln and Sachs travel to North Carolina for a surgery for Lincoln. While there they are asked to help in the search of a teenage boy who has kidnapped two girls.
I absolutely loved the first two books of this series. While this was still an enjoyable read I did think that it was a step down. There were things that I did love and some not so much. I liked the change of venue and having Lincoln out of his element. Also, while reading a Jeffrey Deaver novel, one expects twist after twist and this book was true to that reputation. A novel by this author will probably be never in linear form. While I enjoy the twists I did think there might have been a couple too many. It got to be a little silly with all the twists. Sometimes an author tries to be too clever and I believe this is one of those times. My main gripe with this novel is the actions of Sachs and the convenient plot device that was used to alleviate her from these actions. I didn't really care for it as I felt it didn't fit her character.
I liked this book but it is not my favorite. The aspect I really enjoy about these books is they use their intelligence for their investigations and is a vital part of the overall process. These books don't insult the reader and I respect that. I don't think this particular book stayed true to one the characters and it did affect my rating.
I absolutely loved the first two books of this series. While this was still an enjoyable read I did think that it was a step down. There were things that I did love and some not so much. I liked the change of venue and having Lincoln out of his element. Also, while reading a Jeffrey Deaver novel, one expects twist after twist and this book was true to that reputation. A novel by this author will probably be never in linear form. While I enjoy the twists I did think there might have been a couple too many. It got to be a little silly with all the twists. Sometimes an author tries to be too clever and I believe this is one of those times. My main gripe with this novel is the actions of Sachs and the convenient plot device that was used to alleviate her from these actions. I didn't really care for it as I felt it didn't fit her character.
I liked this book but it is not my favorite. The aspect I really enjoy about these books is they use their intelligence for their investigations and is a vital part of the overall process. These books don't insult the reader and I respect that. I don't think this particular book stayed true to one the characters and it did affect my rating.
December 19, 2021
Intriguing
Lincoln Rhyme once again solves a case that is so entwined with difficult scientific evidence. The suspects in this book abound with mounting surprise. Another book with action and adventure and a page turner.
Jeffrey Deaver knows how to make this addition to the series come alive!
Lincoln Rhyme once again solves a case that is so entwined with difficult scientific evidence. The suspects in this book abound with mounting surprise. Another book with action and adventure and a page turner.
Jeffrey Deaver knows how to make this addition to the series come alive!
August 31, 2012
Ok, so i've read The Bone Collector, The Coffin Dancer and now The Empty Chair in quick succession. Honestly i'm in awe of how absolutely great these books have been. This though has been my favourite one so far, and i was wondering how the preceding books could have been bettered but bloody hell they were! The relationship between Lincoln and Amelia continuing to be the backdrop framing, and increasing, the tension of the cat and mouse chase to discover the truth. The feel and images of the locations have just simply burnt their way on to my minds eye, as if i had seen them with my own eyes, such is the quality of the writing. I can't speak highly enough of this book but i would say probably in my top five of all time!
May 12, 2020
This will be my favorite book so far in the series.
While reading I thought that I had figured all the things out and eventually found that I was so wrong. And trust me, the ending is not what we think the end will be.
The story has it's own climax.
While reading I thought that I had figured all the things out and eventually found that I was so wrong. And trust me, the ending is not what we think the end will be.
The story has it's own climax.
January 30, 2021
This is book 3 in the Lincoln Rhyme series and sees a departure from New York. Rhyme, Sachs and Thom have travelled south to Carolina for Rhyme to undergo experimental surgery to hopefully improve upon his current quadriplegic status. While waiting for the surgical work-up Rhyme receives a request from a small local Sheriff's office to assist with finding a kidnapped young woman.
Rhyme and Sachs soon find themselves drawn into the pursuit of a local boy known as 'Insect Boy' who uses insects such as hornets as a weapon to kill people.
Set in a desolate swamp land the location and the people are far different for Rhyme and Sachs who are used to big cities. However, as the story unfolds things turn around and soon Sachs and Rhyme find themselves pitting their skills against each other.
Hard to put down, this certainly was a great instalment, now looking forward to book 4.
Rhyme and Sachs soon find themselves drawn into the pursuit of a local boy known as 'Insect Boy' who uses insects such as hornets as a weapon to kill people.
Set in a desolate swamp land the location and the people are far different for Rhyme and Sachs who are used to big cities. However, as the story unfolds things turn around and soon Sachs and Rhyme find themselves pitting their skills against each other.
Hard to put down, this certainly was a great instalment, now looking forward to book 4.
February 28, 2012
Okay, okay, okay. Deaver is not out to win any writing awards. I had to struggle with that at first. He wrote this novel the way some of us write comments on a co-worker's birthday card. We keep it short, try to be witty, and rarely use complete sentences. Perhaps I was disappointed because I read The Devil's Teardrop first. Also by Deaver, Teardrop is a fantastic example of a hardboiled forensic thriller that doesn't cop-out and doesn't resort to stunted writing in order to keep the pace lively.
Will you think the plot to The Empty Chair is silly? Yes. There were so many people involved in the story, so many characters that ended up lumped into the Bad Guy column that at one point I was giggling uncontrollably. But you know what? I kept reading. I moved right along. Because I wasn't expecting an insightful or challenging story. Deaver's story twists are like those on a circus pretzel: they're big, obvious, and filling. I didn't mind that.
Will you think the characters are silly? Absolutely. Only Rhyme and Sachs have any depth here, and that's because they've already had two books to develop into something resembling actual people (and even Rhyme is still 2-D at a lot of points). Most notably, Insect Boy, the book's primary villian (or IS he? oooooh!) is a horrible charicature of a lonely and socially challenged teen. Deaver peppers his dialogue with an abundance of "like"s and makes him a horny little kid (we get to read about his erections at least four or five times), but he is also, if you can believe it, a calculating genius. Go figure.
Is the action contrived? You betcha! The shoot outs, the escapes, the reveals, the fights, and the suspense are all paper-thin and about as cheesy as a wheel of chedder. In fact, the one thing that makes the action endurable and readable is the one thing that ultimately destroys any value the novel might have:
The writing. Deaver's stylism here is absolutely worthless. The dialogue is all stilted. The exposition is all clunky and awkward and ill-placed. The interal analysis of characters and events is pointless, hollow, and uninteresting. In fact, the only interesting thing about the book was wondering just how many twists Deaver was planning on putting in this particular pretzel. For those of you waiting for a plane or for the tide to come in, this book may just be interesting enough.
For the rest of you, try the Devil's Teardrop. Empty Chair is just TOO empty.
Will you think the plot to The Empty Chair is silly? Yes. There were so many people involved in the story, so many characters that ended up lumped into the Bad Guy column that at one point I was giggling uncontrollably. But you know what? I kept reading. I moved right along. Because I wasn't expecting an insightful or challenging story. Deaver's story twists are like those on a circus pretzel: they're big, obvious, and filling. I didn't mind that.
Will you think the characters are silly? Absolutely. Only Rhyme and Sachs have any depth here, and that's because they've already had two books to develop into something resembling actual people (and even Rhyme is still 2-D at a lot of points). Most notably, Insect Boy, the book's primary villian (or IS he? oooooh!) is a horrible charicature of a lonely and socially challenged teen. Deaver peppers his dialogue with an abundance of "like"s and makes him a horny little kid (we get to read about his erections at least four or five times), but he is also, if you can believe it, a calculating genius. Go figure.
Is the action contrived? You betcha! The shoot outs, the escapes, the reveals, the fights, and the suspense are all paper-thin and about as cheesy as a wheel of chedder. In fact, the one thing that makes the action endurable and readable is the one thing that ultimately destroys any value the novel might have:
The writing. Deaver's stylism here is absolutely worthless. The dialogue is all stilted. The exposition is all clunky and awkward and ill-placed. The interal analysis of characters and events is pointless, hollow, and uninteresting. In fact, the only interesting thing about the book was wondering just how many twists Deaver was planning on putting in this particular pretzel. For those of you waiting for a plane or for the tide to come in, this book may just be interesting enough.
For the rest of you, try the Devil's Teardrop. Empty Chair is just TOO empty.
April 26, 2021
En el caso de un secuestro sexual generalmente se tienen veinticuatro horas para encontrar a la víctima; después, ésta se deshumaniza a los ojos del secuestrador, que puede matarla sin darle importancia al hecho.
August 15, 2018
This was an unusual story from many aspects. Initially it was different in that it was n't set in New York, but that was acceptable. The main surprise was how my rating went up, I started off thinking 3 - 3.5, then went up to 4 and so it crept up and up until it was an easy 5 stars.
I loved the way the characters developed during this book, and not just the recurring central characters but the interaction with the locals as well. Lots of surprises, I wish I had read this before book 4 and more, but can't win them all. Didn't spoil too much.
I loved the way the characters developed during this book, and not just the recurring central characters but the interaction with the locals as well. Lots of surprises, I wish I had read this before book 4 and more, but can't win them all. Didn't spoil too much.
April 16, 2014
7/10
Not quite up to the standard of the previous two books in the series but still a decent read overall. The events unfold in North Carolina which added both good and bad points. A new setting meant new ideas could be explored and different places viewed with new people added into the mix. But it did feel like Deaver had picked up Redneck 101 and just put a couple of generic characters in there to add to the different location feel.
This was the same usual style as all other Deaver books in that it had a quick pace, plenty of short chapters which all end on a mini cliffhanger and, lets not forget, the numerous red herrings leading us astray. It has got to the point now in these books where I'm second guessing everything and looking for the twist long before it occurs, maybe this is also something to do with the lower level of enjoyment this time round.
My massive gripe though was something near the end which is quite hard to spell out without spoilers so I won't mention it. What I will say is it felt like the author had a deadline to meet and wrote himself into a corner and then backed out with a big fat cop-out. I guess for want of a better description a "Deus ex Machina". Pah, as a reader it leaves me perturbed!!
That aside, I did like this story overall and it was good whilst I was reading it. I will probably forget I've read this in a few months time though but that is more down to the nature of these types of series.
If you like this try: "Knots & Crosses" by Ian Rankin
Not quite up to the standard of the previous two books in the series but still a decent read overall. The events unfold in North Carolina which added both good and bad points. A new setting meant new ideas could be explored and different places viewed with new people added into the mix. But it did feel like Deaver had picked up Redneck 101 and just put a couple of generic characters in there to add to the different location feel.
This was the same usual style as all other Deaver books in that it had a quick pace, plenty of short chapters which all end on a mini cliffhanger and, lets not forget, the numerous red herrings leading us astray. It has got to the point now in these books where I'm second guessing everything and looking for the twist long before it occurs, maybe this is also something to do with the lower level of enjoyment this time round.
My massive gripe though was something near the end which is quite hard to spell out without spoilers so I won't mention it. What I will say is it felt like the author had a deadline to meet and wrote himself into a corner and then backed out with a big fat cop-out. I guess for want of a better description a "Deus ex Machina". Pah, as a reader it leaves me perturbed!!
That aside, I did like this story overall and it was good whilst I was reading it. I will probably forget I've read this in a few months time though but that is more down to the nature of these types of series.
If you like this try: "Knots & Crosses" by Ian Rankin
October 3, 2019
Wow..... just wow...this book completely captured my attention, I took it everywhere with me so I could read it at any chance that I got. This is another brilliant novel written by the amazing Jeffery Deaver.
We follow Lincoln and Amelia on another thriller to find out what happened, I will admit I got it completely wrong as to what happened I thought that I had it all figured out and then it turns out that I knew nothing, it just took over my mind completely. The way he describes the crime scenes and the characters you can close your eyes and follow them, see what they see in your mind. I can't praise Jeffery Deaver enough another amazing novel!
Onward to book 4!
We follow Lincoln and Amelia on another thriller to find out what happened, I will admit I got it completely wrong as to what happened I thought that I had it all figured out and then it turns out that I knew nothing, it just took over my mind completely. The way he describes the crime scenes and the characters you can close your eyes and follow them, see what they see in your mind. I can't praise Jeffery Deaver enough another amazing novel!
Onward to book 4!
August 9, 2016
Please note that I gave this book half a star, but I rounded it up to 1 star on Goodreads.
I loved books #1 and #2 and this book I would rather pretend just doesn't exist. This was bad. Not even haha bad like maybe I can find some humor in it. I mean it was bad to the point that I saw people jumping sharks in my head.
We have Lincoln, Sachs, and Lincoln's aide Thom going to North Carolina for an experimental treatment for Lincoln. Sachs is reluctant for Lincoln to have it due to reasons (a lot of them just nonsensical at this point) and while there they are asked to assist by a local man who has connections to one of their NYPD contacts.
This book was terrible. I am just going to be murmuring that in my head as I recall the very bad plot and logic gaps all through this book.
Lincoln is Lincoln, but not the ever knowing person he was due to his mind drifting to his surgery. Except when he is Lincoln and supposedly has the powers that other mere mortals do not and can surmise things that even the reader doesn't know in order to wrap up a plot.
Sachs sucks. I don't even want to get into what goes down with her in this book. But after the ending I wonder how she and Lincoln get back to any type of partnership. How would this impact her job? Cause I have a hard time believing a defendant wouldn't bring up her mess at every trial she is connected to.
The additional characters in this one are not developed at all. The so-called Insect Boy that is behind kidnappings may as well carry a sign that says "All I Need is Love". Nothing really works, and the back and forth between characters and Lincoln and Sachs was too much.
There is not enough science in this one. Instead most of the book is discussing the habits of bugs and no thank you. I thought the writing was not up to par with the first two books at all. Also I cannot believe that the book pretty much glosses over one character who I think was going to rape another one, but somehow that got patted down to him being unexpectedly aroused and he wasn't going to do anything? I don't know. I think I blacked out from sheer rage at that point. The issue was there were a ton of plot holes in this whole book and that's why it didn't work at all. I feel like the author was focused on telling a cool story and not on how that story would work for readers.
The flow was awful. I stopped counting the shifting POVs once I got to 5 (Lincoln, Sachs, kidnapped girl, kidnapped woman, law enforcement woman who called Sachs her Judas, etc.)
The setting of this small town in North Carolina was a sad joke. I don't think the things that were going on really could be carried off to such a large scale, but that is just me.
The ending. Ugh. It made absolutely no sense and I even checked with one of my lawyer friends who called BS on the whole thing. So that was funny. His exact words, "That's not a thing" so who knows.
I loved books #1 and #2 and this book I would rather pretend just doesn't exist. This was bad. Not even haha bad like maybe I can find some humor in it. I mean it was bad to the point that I saw people jumping sharks in my head.
We have Lincoln, Sachs, and Lincoln's aide Thom going to North Carolina for an experimental treatment for Lincoln. Sachs is reluctant for Lincoln to have it due to reasons (a lot of them just nonsensical at this point) and while there they are asked to assist by a local man who has connections to one of their NYPD contacts.
This book was terrible. I am just going to be murmuring that in my head as I recall the very bad plot and logic gaps all through this book.
Lincoln is Lincoln, but not the ever knowing person he was due to his mind drifting to his surgery. Except when he is Lincoln and supposedly has the powers that other mere mortals do not and can surmise things that even the reader doesn't know in order to wrap up a plot.
Sachs sucks. I don't even want to get into what goes down with her in this book. But after the ending I wonder how she and Lincoln get back to any type of partnership. How would this impact her job? Cause I have a hard time believing a defendant wouldn't bring up her mess at every trial she is connected to.
The additional characters in this one are not developed at all. The so-called Insect Boy that is behind kidnappings may as well carry a sign that says "All I Need is Love". Nothing really works, and the back and forth between characters and Lincoln and Sachs was too much.
There is not enough science in this one. Instead most of the book is discussing the habits of bugs and no thank you. I thought the writing was not up to par with the first two books at all. Also I cannot believe that the book pretty much glosses over one character who I think was going to rape another one, but somehow that got patted down to him being unexpectedly aroused and he wasn't going to do anything? I don't know. I think I blacked out from sheer rage at that point. The issue was there were a ton of plot holes in this whole book and that's why it didn't work at all. I feel like the author was focused on telling a cool story and not on how that story would work for readers.
The flow was awful. I stopped counting the shifting POVs once I got to 5 (Lincoln, Sachs, kidnapped girl, kidnapped woman, law enforcement woman who called Sachs her Judas, etc.)
The setting of this small town in North Carolina was a sad joke. I don't think the things that were going on really could be carried off to such a large scale, but that is just me.
The ending. Ugh. It made absolutely no sense and I even checked with one of my lawyer friends who called BS on the whole thing. So that was funny. His exact words, "That's not a thing" so who knows.
July 4, 2012
By far, Jeffery Deaver is the one author with that uncanny ability to develop plot twists and very complex characters that leave you stunned to the end. If you've seen the movie, trust me, the books are far more ingenious and developed as compared to what we were presented with on the silver screen. The Bone Collector is a series novel starring Lincoln Rhyme, our famous forensics expert bound to his bed and mobile wheelchair.
Reading this novel I am reminded to never commit a crime. The art of forensics as described by Deaver leaves one little doubt as to trace evidence left behind at a crime scene. Of course, this leaves Deaver no choice but to create such stunning criminal minds that they are indeed a match for our hero Lincoln Rhyme...that the possibility does exist to get away with it in spite of Mr. Rhyme's calculating mind.
But it's not just about the crime...primarily Deaver takes his time as he develops his cast of characters across a whole series of ingenious books...enveloping all of the primary human emotions within such characters: from romance, to jealousy, to hatred, to loyalty, betrayal, and so forth.
P.S. Same review for the whole series. If you've read this review of Lincoln Rhyme, you've read them all.
Reading this novel I am reminded to never commit a crime. The art of forensics as described by Deaver leaves one little doubt as to trace evidence left behind at a crime scene. Of course, this leaves Deaver no choice but to create such stunning criminal minds that they are indeed a match for our hero Lincoln Rhyme...that the possibility does exist to get away with it in spite of Mr. Rhyme's calculating mind.
But it's not just about the crime...primarily Deaver takes his time as he develops his cast of characters across a whole series of ingenious books...enveloping all of the primary human emotions within such characters: from romance, to jealousy, to hatred, to loyalty, betrayal, and so forth.
P.S. Same review for the whole series. If you've read this review of Lincoln Rhyme, you've read them all.
October 4, 2021
I didn't like it. And who made it a requirement for 90's crime novels to always portray local cops as either dirty or total rubes? It's as predictable as sunup.
In this one, Lincoln and Amelia Sachs are hunting the Virginia backwoods for Garrett, a teen known as the Insect Boy. His hobby is decidedly creepy, and he's suspected of murdering a teen boy and kidnapping two young women. Most of the novel is the hunt for Garrett, with Amelia in the field calling in clues to Lincoln who puts his big brain to work analyzing them. Eventually Garrett is found with a nurse he kidnapped, but Sachs isn't convinced of his guilt after watching his interview at the station.
The book jumps the shark when I don't care how you plot your way out of that situation, there's no way on earth Amelia Sachs would be reinstated for police work after that.
I don't remember being as disappointed in the first two novels as I was with this one. I'm going to give the series another book or two and see if it recovers from this flop.
In this one, Lincoln and Amelia Sachs are hunting the Virginia backwoods for Garrett, a teen known as the Insect Boy. His hobby is decidedly creepy, and he's suspected of murdering a teen boy and kidnapping two young women. Most of the novel is the hunt for Garrett, with Amelia in the field calling in clues to Lincoln who puts his big brain to work analyzing them. Eventually Garrett is found with a nurse he kidnapped, but Sachs isn't convinced of his guilt after watching his interview at the station.
The book jumps the shark when I don't care how you plot your way out of that situation, there's no way on earth Amelia Sachs would be reinstated for police work after that.
I don't remember being as disappointed in the first two novels as I was with this one. I'm going to give the series another book or two and see if it recovers from this flop.
April 16, 2020
"'This town ... it's a nest of hornets. I don't know who to trust."'
*definite Ozark vibes.*
You're telling me! This book was wild. 4.5/5 rounded up for that crazy second half, and I rarely give 5 stars.
I haven’t read a book this genuinely twisty in awhile. And the twists actually made sense in the plot! What!
In the 3rd Lincoln Rhyme novel, Rhyme and Amelia Sachs travel south to help a small town with an investigation.
The main suspect is a teen boy obsessed with insects, who is now kidnapping girls in the town.
The book is a little dated, especially with the north vs south and male vs female stereotypes, but the storyline definitely made up for it. The action comes from all angles and you have no idea whom you can trust. This is definitely a town with dark secrets and leave it to Lincoln Rhyme to figure them out.
Looking forward to the 4th one in the series.
*definite Ozark vibes.*
You're telling me! This book was wild. 4.5/5 rounded up for that crazy second half, and I rarely give 5 stars.
I haven’t read a book this genuinely twisty in awhile. And the twists actually made sense in the plot! What!
In the 3rd Lincoln Rhyme novel, Rhyme and Amelia Sachs travel south to help a small town with an investigation.
The main suspect is a teen boy obsessed with insects, who is now kidnapping girls in the town.
The book is a little dated, especially with the north vs south and male vs female stereotypes, but the storyline definitely made up for it. The action comes from all angles and you have no idea whom you can trust. This is definitely a town with dark secrets and leave it to Lincoln Rhyme to figure them out.
Looking forward to the 4th one in the series.
October 7, 2010
This was the one that ended my Jeffery Deaver/Lincoln Rhyme period. Not as well constructed, somewhat (forgive me) contrived the book lost me early on and just never got me back. I felt like the characters didn't stay true to themselves and this Lincoln Rhyme wasn't the same Lincoln Rhyme I'd met earlier. He somehow didn't come across with the same attitude toward the law or his place in enforcing it.
May pick others up at a later date...
May pick others up at a later date...
September 7, 2009
Quadriplegic, criminalist Lincoln Rhyme, accompanied by his lover, investigator Amelia Sachs and his assistant Thom, is in Avery, North Carolina, where he hopes to undergo experimental surgery to aid with spinal cord regeneration. His first day there, Rhyme is visited by Jim Bell, sheriff of Paquenoke County, where two women have been kidnapped and a young man killed by 16-year-old Garrett Hanlon, nicknamed the Insect Boy because of his interest in bugs. Garrett’s on the run and Bell wants Rhyme to help find him before he kills the two women he kidnapped. Sachs talks Rhyme into looking into the case and the two begin their unique investigating: Rhyme examining the forensic evidence in a lab with Sachs doing the legwork. They eventually track Garrett through forensics and he is arrested but refuses to reveal the whereabouts of the two women. Sachs thinks there is more to what’s going on than they’ve been told, so she lets Garrett go under the condition he will lead her to the two women. Now Sachs is in a world of trouble with the law and Rhyme’s trying to trace her whereabouts, fearing she will be shot either by Garrett or law enforcement.
Rhyme and Sachs are two very likable characters who mesh well together. Rhyme, frustrated with the physical limitations he is forced to endure, seeks a way to become whole again while Sachs secretly wants him to remain a quadriplegic, fearing he will not want her once he is mobile. As with each book in the series, the forensics investigation is fascinating. The mystery of Garrett and his reason for kidnapping the women is well-done, as is the suspense as Sachs and Garrett are pursued.
Rhyme and Sachs are two very likable characters who mesh well together. Rhyme, frustrated with the physical limitations he is forced to endure, seeks a way to become whole again while Sachs secretly wants him to remain a quadriplegic, fearing he will not want her once he is mobile. As with each book in the series, the forensics investigation is fascinating. The mystery of Garrett and his reason for kidnapping the women is well-done, as is the suspense as Sachs and Garrett are pursued.
September 21, 2015
Slow and uninteresting (and silly at times, a manhunt in a remote area is not handled by helicopters, dogs or search parties, but Rhyme tries to find out where the suspect is going by putting soil samples through a GC.....) at the start of the book, picks up pace in the middle to disappoint in the end. Characters are out of chararcter, plot twists are not very believable. I'm guessing writers block on this one, not recommended...
October 18, 2024
Not a bad mystery but definitely one of my least favorites in the Lincoln Rhyme series.
PS—Clearly I was in my “less is more” phase of book reviewing—this tells me nothing except clearly it wasn’t a favorite! 😂
(Reviewed 4/1/08)
PS—Clearly I was in my “less is more” phase of book reviewing—this tells me nothing except clearly it wasn’t a favorite! 😂
(Reviewed 4/1/08)
March 2, 2016
Another great one by Deaver!
December 5, 2014
This installment of the Lincoln Rhyme series was a little better than The Coffin dancer, although I still had some issues with the story. For the most part it was enjoyable and easy to get through. I feel as though I may be getting a little burned out on Lincoln Rhyme though.
In this book a teenager, Garrett, is accused of murdering one male and kidnapping 2 females. Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs are called in to help solve the crime and find the missing girls, before time runs out. And of course other things begin to get in the way and the search becomes more difficult for one of the girls.
The story was engaging and somewhat exciting but I found it to be a bit more predictable than the past 2 books I read so far. I also did not like where the author took Amelia Sach's role in this installment because it made the story a bit unrealistic for me since it was pretty much out of character for Amelia.
There was a decent twist in the end of the story that I had not expected so that was good. Overall it was ok. I just thought it could have been a little less predictable in parts and more believable in others. I will not continue with this series, mainly because of the way Deaver is writing Sach's character.
In this book a teenager, Garrett, is accused of murdering one male and kidnapping 2 females. Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs are called in to help solve the crime and find the missing girls, before time runs out. And of course other things begin to get in the way and the search becomes more difficult for one of the girls.
The story was engaging and somewhat exciting but I found it to be a bit more predictable than the past 2 books I read so far. I also did not like where the author took Amelia Sach's role in this installment because it made the story a bit unrealistic for me since it was pretty much out of character for Amelia.
There was a decent twist in the end of the story that I had not expected so that was good. Overall it was ok. I just thought it could have been a little less predictable in parts and more believable in others. I will not continue with this series, mainly because of the way Deaver is writing Sach's character.
May 24, 2021
Is Lincoln Rhyme going to be a successful criminalist in North Carolina where he knows nothing of the land customs or people? Will he have the operation he traveled there to have? Does Amelia Sachs, his partner and assistant, fall by the wayside in this strange little backwater of a village on the edge of the dismal swamp. The characters are wonderfully eccentric from the insect loving teenager Garrett to the good old boys in the Sheriff's department and the lone female deputy Lucy Kerr. Then when everything seems resolved there's still more twists in the story. Great story!
December 25, 2018
OMG! Jeffery Deaver I think just gave the term twists and turns a new name, he hit the ball right out of the park with this one!!
Quadriplegic Forensic Specialist Lincoln Rhyme has traveled to North Carolina with his partner Amelia Sachs, to receive experimental spine surgery hoping to improve his paralysis, even though there are risks. While waiting to be operated on, Rhyme and Sachs are approached by the local Sheriff, who needs his assistance in a missing person case. The suspect is a young local orphan boy named Garrett, who is believed to be involved in a number of other murders and assaults, and nicknamed the Insect Boy due to his love and obsession with insects.
Garrett has abducted a Nurse, where she was visiting the area of Garrett's first kidnap victim Mary Beth, who is still missing. Rhyme and Sachs become involved in the case and Sachs searches the area with the North Carolina Sheriff's Department, once again being Rhyme's eyes, arms and legs, checking the crime scenes, also discovering more about Garrett's dark past and upbringing, and then realizing as the case deepens she and Rhyme are drawn into a sinister cover-up, everything is not as it seems, and no one can be trusted.
It's amazing how Deaver can put so many twists and turns into one book on the last 50 or so pages, towards the end I didn't know which end was up! I loved the different setting in North Carolina, where Rhyme's books normally take place in New York! A great murder/mystery with plenty of surprises and thrills!
Quadriplegic Forensic Specialist Lincoln Rhyme has traveled to North Carolina with his partner Amelia Sachs, to receive experimental spine surgery hoping to improve his paralysis, even though there are risks. While waiting to be operated on, Rhyme and Sachs are approached by the local Sheriff, who needs his assistance in a missing person case. The suspect is a young local orphan boy named Garrett, who is believed to be involved in a number of other murders and assaults, and nicknamed the Insect Boy due to his love and obsession with insects.
Garrett has abducted a Nurse, where she was visiting the area of Garrett's first kidnap victim Mary Beth, who is still missing. Rhyme and Sachs become involved in the case and Sachs searches the area with the North Carolina Sheriff's Department, once again being Rhyme's eyes, arms and legs, checking the crime scenes, also discovering more about Garrett's dark past and upbringing, and then realizing as the case deepens she and Rhyme are drawn into a sinister cover-up, everything is not as it seems, and no one can be trusted.
It's amazing how Deaver can put so many twists and turns into one book on the last 50 or so pages, towards the end I didn't know which end was up! I loved the different setting in North Carolina, where Rhyme's books normally take place in New York! A great murder/mystery with plenty of surprises and thrills!
April 22, 2022
REVIEW OF RELISTEN: APRIL 22, 2022
I've been relistening to some old series and Lincoln Rhyme is one of them.
I did find this installment a little slow in the first half but the second half picked up considerably. The last 25% made up for the slow half. While it's not quite a 5-star book, I enjoyed it enough to leave the rating as it is.
REVIEW OF AUDIOBOOK; SEPT 23; 2015
Narrator: Richard Turner
I enjoyed this very much but don't want to say too much for fear spoilers. It's one of those books you just have to read for yourself. For the last quarter, I just couldn't see how Deaver was going to get Amelia out of the jam she'd gotten herself into but he did and I was happy with the way he did it.
Narrator: Turner was okay but I didn't like his voice for Garret - it was too feminine. Even Amelia sounded more masculine than Garrett.
I've been relistening to some old series and Lincoln Rhyme is one of them.
I did find this installment a little slow in the first half but the second half picked up considerably. The last 25% made up for the slow half. While it's not quite a 5-star book, I enjoyed it enough to leave the rating as it is.
REVIEW OF AUDIOBOOK; SEPT 23; 2015
Narrator: Richard Turner
I enjoyed this very much but don't want to say too much for fear spoilers. It's one of those books you just have to read for yourself. For the last quarter, I just couldn't see how Deaver was going to get Amelia out of the jam she'd gotten herself into but he did and I was happy with the way he did it.
Narrator: Turner was okay but I didn't like his voice for Garret - it was too feminine. Even Amelia sounded more masculine than Garrett.
June 26, 2017
Too many twists, everyone in town is a criminal.
November 9, 2011
I hate to say it because I am a Jeffery Deaver fan and I really love the character of Lincoln Rhyme (and Amelia Sachs) but I really didn't like this one. Maybe it is because a city girl like me finds it hard to stomach the southern hick theme. Ugh.
Essentially, the story involved Lincoln Rhyme going to northeastern North Carolina with his partner Amelia Sachs and his caregiver Thom to have an experimental surgery that might help improve his situation- if it doesn't kill him. There is police corruption in the area but Roland Bell's brother (Roland lives in and works with Lincoln sometimes in New York city)comes to ask him for help. One boy is dead and two women have been kidnapped by a really creepy teen they call The Insect Boy. The descriptions of how he looks, acts, and smells sent shivers of nausea through me. Amelia comes to believe that he is innocent and hides him and one of the missing comes to try to kill Lincoln during his surgery.
I grew up in the south in Atlanta, GA then moved to Los Angeles and then on to San Francisco. I am a city girl through and through and find hillbilly country life really repulsive so I just couldn't get into this at all.
Essentially, the story involved Lincoln Rhyme going to northeastern North Carolina with his partner Amelia Sachs and his caregiver Thom to have an experimental surgery that might help improve his situation- if it doesn't kill him. There is police corruption in the area but Roland Bell's brother (Roland lives in and works with Lincoln sometimes in New York city)comes to ask him for help. One boy is dead and two women have been kidnapped by a really creepy teen they call The Insect Boy. The descriptions of how he looks, acts, and smells sent shivers of nausea through me. Amelia comes to believe that he is innocent and hides him and one of the missing comes to try to kill Lincoln during his surgery.
I grew up in the south in Atlanta, GA then moved to Los Angeles and then on to San Francisco. I am a city girl through and through and find hillbilly country life really repulsive so I just couldn't get into this at all.
June 16, 2020
I like Jeffery Deaver. He writes unique characters. The MC is also so different than the majority of MCs in this same genre. It is nice to be introduced to something new.
The author also put in some great twists that keep things in motion. A nice pace is always appreciated. I also liked the way the lose threads were all tied up at the end. And it's not like super obvious threads...certain things felt wrong through out the story and by the end, it all made sense. So 3 stars.
The author also put in some great twists that keep things in motion. A nice pace is always appreciated. I also liked the way the lose threads were all tied up at the end. And it's not like super obvious threads...certain things felt wrong through out the story and by the end, it all made sense. So 3 stars.
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