The Coffin Dancer by Jeffrey Deaver
I love Deaver’s series on quadripelegic (right spelling?) criminalist Lincoln Rhyme and his partner cum lover Amelia Sachs. For those who don’t read Deaver and don’t know what the hell I’m talking about, perhaps you will recall the movie “The Bone Collector” starring Denzel Washington as Lincoln Rhyme and the stunning Angelina Jolie as Amelia Sachs. Ohhhhhhhh - rings a bell now? (Aside note: Rhyme in the book is a WHITE man, but Denzel Washington carries his role beautifully that I will forever associate him with my ideal Rhyme).
So far, I have read the following Lincoln Rhyme books:
- The Stone Monkey
- The Vanished Man
- The Empty Chair
-The Devil’s Teardrop
and now The Coffin Dancer
These are fabulous books. If you want the true blue thriller, that requires lots of brainwork that at the end of the day, the author still manages to pull the carpet away from you at the very last second - the Lincoln Rhyme books are it. If you are an avid follower of CSI, Rhyme is also your man. What makes a very scientific, well thought through, blood and gore detective novel are its main characters Rhyme and Sachs which anchor the storyline throughout the series. The slow but sure development of their relationship, and how it revolves around the hard-to-crack cases are smartly written by Deaver. Rhyme is not your typical hero, being totally crippled from neck down save for a tiny finger; and Sachs not your typical heroine - she drives fast, repairs cars, shoot like a man, bites her nails, has athritis (oh but she’s very beautiful too) - well you generally get the idea.
The Coffin Dancer like other Lincoln Rhyme books is a classic. The Coffin Dancer, being the perpetrator here, who eludes the police and goes on killing sprees - the fun is in the chase as Rhyme cracks his marvellous brain to catch the murderer, the bonus in the satisfactory ending as the “perp” is outwitted (as usual), and Rhyme and Sachs relationship reaches the next level.
These are difficult books to review here - with all the numerous twists and turns, and fast paced action, but a highly recommended read for your weekends.
Rating: 4.5 boos out of 5
Hi Mrs Boo like you I have just started a blog page and am wondrring what the bloody hell i am going to say then i wonder who will be interested. Then i think what the hey and think of it as a diary for me. The whole thing was my fella’s idea bless.
Comment by missnaughty — July 12, 2005 @ 1:38 pm
Sounds intriguing. Actually I’m trying to imagine how a quadriplegic who can only move his tiny finger can make love to the gorgeous Amelia Sachs. Do they describe this in any detail in the book?. I can’t decide if his condition makes it incredibly sexy or incredibly frustrating….Har har har, sorry lah, Mrs Boo… okay will try to be serious. I’m a little sick of all the tedious thrillers that start with - They found her body in the … so will read this book since it promises to be different and entertaining… Mrs Poons
Comment by Mrs Poons — July 13, 2005 @ 3:04 pm
Mrs Poons - you are totally fixated with the idea of sex!!! But hmmm, think about the late Christopher Reeve and his wife, and how they got it on… well you’ve got to read this book then, but don’t expect too many details - this is afterall, a thriller, not some thrashy romance.
Comment by Administrator — July 14, 2005 @ 8:14 am