The Coffin Dancer

I managed to re-read The Bone Collector a couple of years back without vomiting, so I thought I would try a sequel - never again! Why are these novels so INSUFFERABLY SMUG? Hey there reader, did you forget how stunningly beautiful Amelia Sachs is, with her shampoo ad red hair and 'Julia Roberts' lips? Or how incredibly handsome Lincoln Rhyme is, with his 'Tom Cruise' nose (why on God's green earth would anyone choose Tom Cruise as the epitome of a good looking nose?) And how none of the detectives they work with are merely good at their jobs, but almost supernaturally talented at whatever they do? Then let Jeffrey Deaver remind you! On. Every. Single, Page.

I will say that that the twist in the tale was a corker which hooked me again, show more but - HOLY HELL - the steaming pile of cliches I had to wade through to get to that point was not worth the reading time. And if the characters aren't beautiful or handsome, with movie star features, then they are patronised to within an inch of their life. Poor Percey, the serial killer's intended victim, has her ugliness - I'm guessing she would just be an average looking woman in any book but this - hammered home, from the 'troll' nicknames she remembers from school to being called 'plucky'. Because if a woman can't be a supermodel, then the next best compliment is that she acts like a man - unless she's Amelia Sachs, of course, who is both a stunner and a ballsy mechanic/driver/crack shot (*yawn*).

So anyway, buried underneath all the Hollywood hype, there is a Columbo-style forensic puzzle to solve, in which we know the killer - the chapters alternate between him and Lincoln's dicks - and forget that we're supposed to be cheering on the plucky widowed pilot and actual want the Coffin Dancer to finish off the good guys, especially Sachs. Or was that just me? show less

A while ago I read a short novel by Mr. Deaver and had to put it down about a quarter in. At the time I couldn't figure out why I couldn't continue. About a week ago I watched The Bone Collected, the first Lincoln Rhyme story and thought: why not pick up the sequel to the movie. This time around I made it to just over half way. But at least I can now verbalize what bothers me about Mr. Deaver's writing.

Every novel uses a theme or a mechanism that situates the book and sets the tone. For example, in the case of Harry Potter it's the existence of a magical world, in the case of Agatha Christie it's mystery and suspense. In the case of Mr. Deaver it's sadism. I can take one or two occurrences of Sadism if it's justified in the context of show more the novel, but in the case of these books you're confronted with it within the first few pages and it doesn't relent. No matter the context or the situation, the foundation of a scene is some form of sadism, including tender moments between Lincoln Rhyme and his love interest, which seems to revolve more about control than respect. At some point you really have to wonder about the mindset of the author.

Although the writing is qualitatively high, needless to say these books are not for me. show less

Against expectations - I only picked this up because I couldn't find anything else to read - I was hooked. The book features a quadraplegic detective, Rhyme, his able bodied - and able - assisant Amelia Sachs, a top-of-the-range killer who has an inner voice in the form of an army officer, and an exciting, time-limited plot: the action takes place within 45 hours. The villain is almost unbelievably talented, Rhyme almost unbelievable in his ability to second-guess the villain's moves. But I did suspend disbelief, and was thoroughly sucked in to the plot, rooting for all the characters, even from time to time, the villain. I have a reason for not using his name. Read it and you'll find out why.

The Coffin Dancer is the second book in the Lincoln Rhymes series by Jeffery Deaver originally published in 1998 is still packs a punch today as it did then.

The most dangerous and elusive hitman Rhyme has ever come across is back in New York and his last visit cost Rhyme some members of his team. Rhyme wants to end his murderous rampage across the world.

When Edmund Carney takes off in his Lear Jet from New York on its way to Chicago never would he have thought he was not coming home again. On its final approach to Chicago the Lear Jet is blown up killing him and his company’s chances of staying afloat. An example of the Coffin Dancers handiwork. It seems he has been hired to kill three key witnesses about to indict his client at a show more federal grand jury. Rhyme and Sachs need to find the killer and quickly.

The Coffin Dancer leaves nothing to chance he knows how to gather intelligence on his subjects. Nowhere is impossible for him to breach it does not matter how secure the safe house the Coffin Dancer will still get his targets.

Deaver is the master of the double twist when you least at expect it. This book is a brilliant thriller and there are plenty of surprises thrown in. show less

Non assegno 5 stelle perché l'ho letto dopo "Il collezionista di ossa" e come tutti i seguiti l'ho trovato un po' inferiore. Nonostante la trama alla fine risulti un tantino eccessiva, quasi rasentando il surreale, ha un fantastico ritmo e ti tiene appiccicato alle pagine fino a che non giri l'ultima. Un marchio di garanzia, quello di Jeffery Deaver. Soprattutto perché ha una competenza tecnica ammirevole.

An assassin is trying to kill 3 witnesses, before they can testify at a Grand Jury, on behalf of the accused. The quadriplegic Lincoln Rhymes, with a team of experts and the backing of police and FBI try to discover the identify of the killer and capture him before he achieves his goal. A tight storyline filled with forensic and aeronautical technicalities that distract a bit but with an interesting twist at the end. Will read more of his books.

The Bone Collector was this reader’s introduction to paralyzed Detective Lincoln Rhyme, and Amelia Sachs, who became his pupil in scene-of-the-crime gathering of evidence. While the first book was a very enjoyable thriller, the second entry in the series, might have been better.

Coffin Dancer is about a killer who has eluded Rhyme, a fact which haunts the detective. He became known as Coffin Dancer during the slayings because of a tattoo of the Grim Reaper dancing near a casket. In this entry, the hitman has returned after a long absence. Rhyme must once again use Amelia as his legs in this quickly paced and complex thriller. Rhyme’s personal connection with a woman involved in the case forces Amelia to confront her feelings for show more Rhyme, changing their personal landscape by the end of the narrative.

Through the streets of New York, from airports to subways, the narrative has Rhyme and Amelia moving swiftly through a complex maze, toward a surprise few readers will see coming. The familiar characters from the first entry are back, but not all of them will survive their last waltz with Coffin Dancer. I eventually ceased following the series, as I found later entries disappointing. But Coffin Dancer is an excellent read, full of atmosphere and character development as Rhyme and Amelia become closer. This is a fine book in the genre and worth reading. show less