Der Insektensammler

Lincoln Rhyme #3

by Jeffery Deaver

Ein neuer spannender Fall des Ermittler-Duos Lincoln Rhyme und Amelia Sachs. Seit einem Dienstunfall ist Lincoln Rhyme, das Superhirn der New Yorker Polizei, fast vollständig gelähmt. Neue Hoffnung auf Heilung macht ihm eine komplizierte Operation. Dazu reist er mit seiner Assistentin Amelia Sachs nach North Carolina in eine Spezialklinik. Fest entschlossen sich der Operation zu unterziehen, wird Rhyme unversehens in die Ermittlungen in einem Entführungsfall, im nahe gelegenen Paquenoke-Sumpf, hineingezogen.

Garett Hanlon, ein 16-jähriger Außenseiter, hat ein Mädchen entführt und ist mit ihr in die Sümpfe geflohen. Garrett, der absonderliche Teenager wird im Ort nur "der Insektensammler" genannt, weil er sich wie besessen mit giftigen Insekten beschäftigt und diese auch als tödliche Waffe einzusetzen weiß. Der örtliche Sheriff Jim Bell ist überfordert mit dem Fall und deshalb hocherfreut, als er von Rhyme Unterstützung erhält. Mit der gewohnten strategischen Vorgehensweise machen sich Rhyme und Sachs an die Arbeit, und schon bald gelingt es ihnen, Garrett ausfindig zu machen. Der Junge kommt ins Gefängnis, gibt jedoch den Aufenthaltsort seiner Geisel nicht preis. Sachs gelingt es, sich mehr und mehr in den jungen Straftäter hineinzuversetzen. Schon bald ahnt sie, dass hinter dessen Verhalten weniger brutaler Wahnsinn als vielmehr panische Angst steckt. Als eine Bürgerwehr versucht, die Sache in die Hand zu nehmen und gewaltsam gegen Garrett vorgeht, flieht Amelia Sachs kurz entschlossen mit Garrett in die Sümpfe zurück. Auf der Flucht vor der Bürgerwehr und vor der Polizei, auf der Suche nach der Wahrheit. Rhyme bleibt ratlos zurück. Was hat Amelia vor? Die Antwort scheint im Unfalltod von Garretts Eltern zu liegen. Rhymes Beschäftigung mit den vergangenen Ereignissen gleicht jedoch dem Stochern in einem Wespennest, und plötzlich lauert tödliche Gefahr.

Spätestens seit Die Assistentin (verfilmt unter dem Titel Der Knochenjäger ist auch in Deutschland das "Jeffery-Deaver-Feaver" ausgebrochen. Das Team Rhyme/Sachs ist unschlagbar! Rhymes gelegentliche Anfälle von Selbstgefälligkeit werden durch seine absolute Genialität wettgemacht. Amelia Sachs, nicht weniger brillant, ist Rhymes starkes weibliches Pendant.

Wie auch bei Die Tränen des Teufels ist der Beginn von Der Insektensammler ein bisschen chaotisch: Jede Menge Personen tauchen genauso schnell auf wie sie wieder verschwinden. Doch plötzlich ist man mittendrin! Deavers Detailgenauigkeit, kombiniert mit seiner Fähigkeit, Spannung aufzubauen und seinen Figuren Lebendigkeit zu verleihen, lassen den Leser nicht mehr los. Und eines ist immer garantiert: Die Deaver'sche Wendung der Ereignisse, die am Schluss alles noch einmal in ein anderes Licht rückt. Ein neuer packender Super-Thriller. Vorsicht! Zeit sollte man haben -- denn man wird das Buch erst wieder aus der Hand legen, wenn man auf der letzten Seite angelangt ist. --Ursula Kohaupt

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Audiobook

544 pages, Hardcover

First published May 9, 2000

About the author

#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.

Reviews

[RedemptionDenied · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[*TANYA* · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Olga · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a suprisingly good, multi-layered story including mystery, thriller and psychological drama. At some points the novel kept me on the edge of my seat and there were some tense moments when I had to even put the book aside for several minutes.
The story is informative, too, especially in terms of the work of the forensic experts.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

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?

[Mihaela Abrudan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deși ști de la începutul volumului că nimic nu e ceea ce pare, răsturnările de situație și dezvăluirile care apar în timpul anchetei te surprind exact atunci când crezi că totul s-a rezolvat. Niciun personaj nu e atât de inocent sau de vinovat cum pare la începutul anchetei. Jeffery Deaver, un autor cum nu am mai întâlnit, reușește să evite tiparele și să te țină în tensiune de la prima la ultima pagină.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story irks until the plot twists at the end. A bit convoluted while doing little to the strengthen it. 3 of 10 stars

[Jim C · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Ardent Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Daniel C · Rating 1 out of 5]

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.

[Kylie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeffrey Deaver has always interested me. I find his writing quite addictive and devoured the first few novels. Once a well-established and sought after criminalist with the NYPD, all this changed for Lincoln Rhyme when a workplace accident left him a C4 quadriplegic. While he has spent time trying to reassemble what pieces are left of his life, Rhyme wants solutions, which leads him to seek a high-risk medical procedure in North Carolina. Before long, the local authorities learn he is present and reach out for assistance on an emergent case. The town of Tanner’s Corner has had a young man murdered and two women abducted. The suspect is a teen himself, highly isolated from others to the point that some call him Insect Boy. Rhyme and his protégée, Amelia Sachs, agree to search for the boy and the missing women, providing their skills with forensics to see things that others would miss. Rhyme and Sachs intuit where to find the boy and have him arrested. However, things take a turn and Sachs is in the middle of it all. With a potentially ruthless killer on the loose and a woman for whom he cares a potential next victim, Rhyme must act swiftly or face significant heartbreak. In a series that keeps getting better, Jeffrey Deaver delivers!

I have come to really enjoy Jeffery Deaver’s abilities. The narrative jumps from the opening pages and seeks a successful outcome. The story stands out and things gain momentum as a killer causes issues. Lincoln Rhyme uses an approach to forensics unlike other protagonists and the story reflects this uniqueness, alongside well-flowing chapters. Deaver pulls the reader in, not giving up until the final page turn.

Characters flavour the story effectively and keep things tense. Lincoln Rhyme is a highly unique protagonist and one who stands apart from others I have seen in a thriller series. Rhyme keeps things intriguing with his own sentiments and case management perspectives. The reader gets well-paced character development from the outset, ensuring an ongoing connection. The perspective of the killer/antagonist is well-developed and serves to lure the reader into the darker side of the story. Deaver crafts a number of strong secondary characters, both returning and new faces, who flavour the story well. This includes a blossoming Amelia Sachs, whose development is key to parts of the story. Deaver impresses readers with this aspect of the story sure to add depth to the series.

Plot points create a successful thriller in the right hands. This third novel provides numerous surprises, ensuring nothing is predictable. Numerous twists and surprises create tension that will keep the reader excited. The ideas keep the reader full of curiosity, lulling them in story a sense a calm, with underlying tones. I canno wait to see what twists await, especially with some of the things that came at the end of this novel.

Kudos, Mr. Deaver, for impressing me greatly.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Kasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ Ten tom nie wciągnął mnie aż tak, jak poprzednie, chociaż to nadal świetna rozrywka.

[Mery_B · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Alan Cotterell · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Sophie Narey (Bookreview- aholic) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Obsidian · Rating 1 out of 5]

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.

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[The Girl with the Sagittarius Tattoo · Rating 2 out of 5]

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 Amelia busts Garrett out of police custody and takes him through the lowlands to recover the missing kidnap victim. Along the way, she shoots and kills one of the officers hunting them down. 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.

[Stephanie ((Strazzybooks)) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"'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.

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 2 out of 5]

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...

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Thomas Stroemquist · Rating 2 out of 5]

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...

[Mauoijenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great one by Deaver!

[Janie Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lincoln Rhyme #3: The quadriplegic criminologist and his scene of crime officer side-kick Amelia Sachs are in North Carolina for Rhyme to have an operation to give him some partial movement and end up in a hornet's nest of a town. Although literary not as good a Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus mysteries, the Lincoln Rhyme series are one of the best story-wise as the twists keep on coming and make sense, as in not being overplayed. Three out of three great cases for Lincoln Rhyme! 7 out of 12

[Heidi (on slight hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

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)

[Erth · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!