Listening to for the second time - I wish I hadn't bothered!

Previously read as paper back (pre-2010), listened to audio - 3-Stars - January 2002

I have a number of unheard Lincoln Rhyme audiobooks, so I thought I would re-listen to the first of the series before moving on.
I was disappointed with the Rhyme character (his general rudeness and grouchiness, to any and all) and I didn't much enjoy the narration by Jeff Harding.
Audiobook 12:48 hours - DNF at 2:30 hours

It kept my interest. It’s a good escape. I enjoyed watching smart, talented people. I liked the relationship development.

STORY BRIEF:
Lincoln is a modern day Sherlock-Holmes-type police detective in New York City. He is an expert with collecting and analyzing evidence. He can tell where someone has been by the dirt on their clothes. He was in charge of forensic investigations until he was injured by a falling roof beam, hitting his neck. Now a quadriplegic, he can only move his neck, head, and one finger. He has not worked for a few years.

A serial killer, obsessed with bones, kidnaps two people, buries one of them near a railroad track with a hand sticking out of the dirt, and then calls in the location to the cops. Amelia is a nearby patrol cop assigned to search the area. She climbs down a dirt hill rather than use the installed ladder. She stops a coming train. She stops traffic. All this to preserve the crime scene. Lon is a detective who used to work with Lincoln. Although Lincoln is retired, Lon asks for Lincoln’s help. Lincoln is reluctant until he sees the report showing clues left by the killer: a pile of asbestos, an iron bolt, and two pieces of paper with 3:30 and 823 printed on them. From these Lincoln realizes where the next victim may be. He calls Lon and agrees to work on the case, but he wants Amelia working with him. He wants her in charge of collecting evidence at the crime scenes. He likes her instincts about preserving the crime scene. The killer continues to grab victims, set them up for death, and leave clues.

REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This is a well done crime suspense thriller. I enjoyed and was impressed with Lincoln’s amazing evidence analysis, deduction, and intuition. I enjoyed the developing relationship with Amelia. I liked her abilities, smarts, and her story as well. The ending is a feel good ending. For a while I had some disbelief about a serial killer purposely leaving clues for the police. Each set of clues was about how and when he would kill the next victim. This seemed a bit contrived. It felt like a scavenger hunt. But by the end of the book, it made sense. So try not to question the believability, just go with. I doubt this kind of thing would happen in real life, but it’s an entertaining story. (No stupidity.) There are some gruesome scenes which might bother some, for example, rats eating someone alive who is tied up and cut open.

This was made into a movie. I think I saw it, but I forget how I felt about it.tt

DATA:
Story length: 416 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual content: none. Setting: current day New York City, NY. Copyright: 1997. Genre: crime suspense thriller. Ending: feel good and smiling

Having watched the movie before reading the book, it wasn't difficult to get through. However, the forensics as it is written can get pretty confusing. I kept thinking if the forensics were this easy we'd never have a problem solving a murder. I was given the impression by several readers that Rhyme was a 'whiner' and a 'disabled' asshole. Meh, no more than what was shown in the movie. Now having read what Rhyme was going through, I'd have seriously thought of assisted suicide myself. No human or animal should suffer needlessly, ever. No wonder he was such an ass. I suppose I did have a hard time not thinking of Denzel Washington while reading this novel and really wished some other actor played the part in the movie. I don't much care for Denzel. Never have.

I really enjoyed the plot, though it was confusing sometimes. It seems a little more clinical to me than other thrillers and with no way to get to know the victims or the killer in a simple way. The suspense is there, but when you have to concentrate on the in's and out's of forensics, you can lose some of the anticipation that is supposed to build. I found myself so wrapped up in trying to understand the forensics that I became frustrated with certain parts and had to skip them. The writer is certainly brilliant though and I would pick up the next in the series, if I can just remind myself to visualize a different actor.

A serial killer is on the loose in New York City, and it is up to quadriplegic forensic specialist Lincoln Rhyme and his unwilling assistant Amelia Sachs to comb the crime scenes for clues that can bring the killer to justice. Despite the unrealistic behavior of the killer - whose ability to pull off a series of complicated kidnappings and murders is almost supernatural - and the silly ending, the plot remains compelling due to the fascinating crime scene analysis as well as the friction and heat generated by Rhyme and Sachs. The abysmal film version turned Rhyme from Caucasian to African-American (assumedly to bring more contrast to the main characters) which was the only improvement it made over the far superior source material.

First time reader of this author and now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative series. i was hooked after the first page.

The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.

i would highly recommend this author and this series.

في بعض الأحيان لا يمكنك أن تكون كما كنت، كما قد لا يمكنك الحصول على ما كان لديك
لهذا قد تحتاج يوما: لغريب؛ذكي؛سيتحول لعينيك؛ ليديك؛و لابد ان تثق به كنفسك

المخلوق البشري مذهل للغاية،لكن تذكر دائما انه مجرد:{مخلوق}حيوان ضاحك،خطير؛ذكي خائف ، لكنه تصرفاته دايمآ {لسبب}لدافع: يدفع الوحش نحو رغباته

An excellent book, written by a very clever person. The plot is attractive and twists in the final, the characters are strong, Deaver seems to know a lot about forensic and psychology.
only for stars for three reasons:
- the forensic is a little too morbid (Rhyme's suicidal story, the pattern of the assassin) and quite technical for the average reader
- the cops are fighting to avoid murders, only to concede forensic in the final pages
- Sachs escapes too narrowly from being buried, also the little girl from being eaten by the dogs.

Creepy yet fascinating it takes forensic crime stories to a new level

It's not often a character like Lincoln Rhyme is created. Paralyzed from the neck down, his encyclopedic brain coughs up remarkable forensic and historical elements associated with the crime. Battling with his inner demon, he's focused on ending his life until the bone collector surfaces in the form of a cab driver. A tour de force, the story engages at many levels and like all well crafted mysteries explodes with momentum towards the end. Having seen the Denzel Washington film, the book adds more depth, details, victims, characters and forensic crime solving details making it a more evocative experience. As it turns out, the screenplay flip flops the ethnicity of both Lincoln Rhyme and his caretaker and like many films, leaves out important plot elements. Regardless, Jeffrey Deaver is a master crime novelist and worth reading.

I am always looking for a new mystery author. Just found one! I really enjoyed the format of the book and the play of the cast off of each other. It sure was a surprise ending!

I gobbled up this book in a day and can’t wait to read the next in this series! Love this author’s work!

I did actually quite enjoy this. It was a straight forward crime book but it was somehow different to others I’ve read.

Lincoln Rhyme, once a brilliant criminologist is left a quadriplegic after an accident. Leaving him physically and emotionally shattered. A serial killer is on the loose in New York. Rhyme, with his partner Detective Ameila Sachs must follow a labyrinth of clues that reaches back to a dark chapter in the city's past along with the clues the killer leaves behind after each murder leading Rhyme and Sachs to the killers next victim. A little late getting started on this series but better late than never. A series I will finish that may become a favorite.