Synopses & Reviews
The New York Times bestselling author of The Stone Monkey is back with a brilliant thriller that pits forensic criminologist Lincoln Rhyme and his partner, Amelia Sachs, against an unstoppable killer with one final, horrific trick up his sleeve.The Los Angeles Times calls his novels "thrill rides between covers." The New York Times hails them as "dazzling," and The Times of London crowns him "the best psychological thriller writer around." Now Jeffery Deaver, America's "master of ticking-bomb suspense" (People) delivers his most electrifying novel yet.
It begins at a prestigious music school in New York City. A killer flees the scene of a homicide and locks himself in a classroom. Within minutes, the police have him surrounded. When a scream rings out, followed by a gunshot, they break down the door. The room is empty.
Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs are brought in to help with the high-profile investigation. For the ambitious Sachs, solving the case could earn her a promotion. For the quadriplegic Rhyme, it means relying on his protégée to ferret out a master illusionist they've dubbed "the conjurer," who baits them with gruesome murders that become more diabolical with each fresh crime. As the fatalities rise and the minutes tick down, Rhyme and Sachs must move beyond the smoke and mirrors to prevent a terrifying act of vengeance that could become the greatest vanishing act of all.
Review
"Fans of Deaver know that he works storytelling magic in his thrillers....[A] giddily entertaining story....[T]he storyline twists and twists and twists, through Deaver's masterful sleight of hand....This is prime Deaver." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
Review
"Wake up, Scarpetta fans Lincoln Rhyme is here to blast you out of your stupor." Entertainment Weekly
Review
"Often, it's the details that help solve crimes, and no one does detail better than Deaver....Well-researched and exciting, this has all the elements of good crime fiction: likable leads, a colorful supporting cast, fascinating scientific analysis, and a look at the secrets of an otherwise unknown world. A sure hit." Mary Frances Wilkens, Booklist
Review
"[I]nfernally ingenious....There is, of course, a great master design to these elegantly executed illusions, and Deaver is clever enough to string it out to almost unbearable limits of suspense." Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review
Review
"Deaver tries his best to outdo himself and brother, does it show....[T]he staggering pile of red herrings Deaver tosses in to misdirect his fans and, more improbably, the cops...eventually loses its sheen, and the manhunt ends in a sprawling, anticlimactic third act....All the prodigious energy and ingenuity of a canny performer who just doesnt know when to quit." Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Jeffery Deaver is the New York Times bestselling author of eighteen novels of suspense, including The Bone Collector, which was made into a feature film. A two-time recipient of the Ellery Queen Reader's Award for Best Short Story of the Year, he has been nominated for four Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America and an Anthony Award. Mr. Deaver lives in California and Virginia.