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Lincoln Rhyme #10
The Kill Room
It was a "million-dollar bullet," a sniper shot delivered from over a mile away. Its victim was no ordinary mark: he was a United States citizen, targeted by the United States government, and assassinated in the Bahamas.
The nation's most renowned investigator and forensics expert, Lincoln Rhyme, is drafted to investigate. While his partner, Amelia Sachs, traces the victim's steps in Manhattan, Rhyme leaves the city to pursue the sniper himself. As details of the case start to emerge, the pair discovers that not all is what it seems.
When a deadly, knife-wielding assassin begins systematically eliminating all evidence--including the witnesses--Lincoln's investigation turns into a chilling battle of wits against a cold-blooded killer.
The nation's most renowned investigator and forensics expert, Lincoln Rhyme, is drafted to investigate. While his partner, Amelia Sachs, traces the victim's steps in Manhattan, Rhyme leaves the city to pursue the sniper himself. As details of the case start to emerge, the pair discovers that not all is what it seems.
When a deadly, knife-wielding assassin begins systematically eliminating all evidence--including the witnesses--Lincoln's investigation turns into a chilling battle of wits against a cold-blooded killer.
456 pages, Hardcover
First published June 20, 2013
About the author
Jeffery Deaver
374 books10.8k followers#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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,233 reviews
February 5, 2022
Dacă vă cade în mînă acest thriller (dar numai dacă vă cade), e bine să-l lăsați să cadă mai departe. Traducerea e infernal de proastă.
Nu știu ce înseamnă Graal Soft (poate e un program de traducere, ca Google translate, poate e numele unui grup de tălmăcitori isteți, habar n-am), dar traduce extrem de prost: fraze lipsite de sens, fraze cu o topică strîmbă, termeni englezi românizați (subnec*). Un astfel de produs nu e o eroare, ci o oroare editorială. Graal Soft crede, printre altele, că femininul de la „procuror” e „procuroră”. Totul e făcut în disprețul cititorilor, care, în opinia editurii RAO, pot înghiți orice.
Să vin și la compoziția lui Jeffery Deaver. E din seria cu Lincoln Rhyme și Amelia Sachs, cuplul de polițiști din Colecționarul de oase. Acțiunea se petrece mereu în contra logicii elementare. Un exemplu. Cineva (nu contează cine) ucide un om și pentru a șterge urmele și a curăța locul, mai ucide un om, dar constată, firește, că nu a șters destul și mai ucide unul. Și, tot așa, la infinit. Dacă ar fi un serial killer, aș mai înțelege, e mînat de instinctul ucigaș, dar misiunea lui e să elimine un martor. Atît. Din păcate pentru criminal, există întotdeauna un martor în plus.
În acest roman, genialitatea lui Rhymes nu rezultă de nicăieri și tot greul cade pe umerii sărmanei Amelia Sachs. Deși bolnavă de artrită, cu dureri înfiorătoare, ea urmărește, ea prinde, ea trage cu pistolul, ea dă cu șișul, ea se ia la trîntă cu nelegiuiții. Mi se pare firesc ca, la sfîrșit, s-o lăsăm într-un spital. Impresia de irealitate și neverosimil e copleșitoare.
În schimb, pentru a construi iluzia de real, Jeffery Deaver oferă mereu amănunte de maximă precizie. Oamenii beau vin roșu Rhône, poartă ochelari de soare Maui Jims, folosesc cuțite de bucătărie Kai Shun Premier de 23 de centimetri. Lama cuțitului are „un miez de oțel VG-10 și 32 de straturi de oțel de Damasc”. Pentru a-l ascuți e nevoie, desigur, de o tocilă Dan’s Black Hard Arkansas etc. O fi la mișto?
Acțiunea romanului e atît de încîlcită, încît nu v-o pot povesti. Și așa am scris prea mult :)
* Bănuiesc că pluralul este subneci. În engleză „unsub” este definit ca „the unknown perpetrator / author of a crime”.
Nu știu ce înseamnă Graal Soft (poate e un program de traducere, ca Google translate, poate e numele unui grup de tălmăcitori isteți, habar n-am), dar traduce extrem de prost: fraze lipsite de sens, fraze cu o topică strîmbă, termeni englezi românizați (subnec*). Un astfel de produs nu e o eroare, ci o oroare editorială. Graal Soft crede, printre altele, că femininul de la „procuror” e „procuroră”. Totul e făcut în disprețul cititorilor, care, în opinia editurii RAO, pot înghiți orice.
Să vin și la compoziția lui Jeffery Deaver. E din seria cu Lincoln Rhyme și Amelia Sachs, cuplul de polițiști din Colecționarul de oase. Acțiunea se petrece mereu în contra logicii elementare. Un exemplu. Cineva (nu contează cine) ucide un om și pentru a șterge urmele și a curăța locul, mai ucide un om, dar constată, firește, că nu a șters destul și mai ucide unul. Și, tot așa, la infinit. Dacă ar fi un serial killer, aș mai înțelege, e mînat de instinctul ucigaș, dar misiunea lui e să elimine un martor. Atît. Din păcate pentru criminal, există întotdeauna un martor în plus.
În acest roman, genialitatea lui Rhymes nu rezultă de nicăieri și tot greul cade pe umerii sărmanei Amelia Sachs. Deși bolnavă de artrită, cu dureri înfiorătoare, ea urmărește, ea prinde, ea trage cu pistolul, ea dă cu șișul, ea se ia la trîntă cu nelegiuiții. Mi se pare firesc ca, la sfîrșit, s-o lăsăm într-un spital. Impresia de irealitate și neverosimil e copleșitoare.
În schimb, pentru a construi iluzia de real, Jeffery Deaver oferă mereu amănunte de maximă precizie. Oamenii beau vin roșu Rhône, poartă ochelari de soare Maui Jims, folosesc cuțite de bucătărie Kai Shun Premier de 23 de centimetri. Lama cuțitului are „un miez de oțel VG-10 și 32 de straturi de oțel de Damasc”. Pentru a-l ascuți e nevoie, desigur, de o tocilă Dan’s Black Hard Arkansas etc. O fi la mișto?
Acțiunea romanului e atît de încîlcită, încît nu v-o pot povesti. Și așa am scris prea mult :)
* Bănuiesc că pluralul este subneci. În engleză „unsub” este definit ca „the unknown perpetrator / author of a crime”.
January 4, 2017
This is the 10th book in the series involving Lincoln Rhyme a retired captain from the NYPD. He now works as a consultant due to an accident that left him paralyzed and wheelchair bound. By his side, as always is his girlfriend and muse Amelia Sachs. A beautiful policewoman with health issues of her own. As Lincoln makes a decision on whether to have surgery, to increase function in his upper extremities, he is pulled in by a New York ADA to investigate the murder of Robert Monero an expat murdered in the Bahamas.
Could the government behind the murder? Lincoln and Amelia put themselves and their team in danger to bring the responsible party to justice.
A slow start. Not my favorite in the series. I love the main characters Lincoln and Amelia, but I struggled with the story itself. Political murders, conspiracies and cover ups. Just not my thing.
3.5*
Could the government behind the murder? Lincoln and Amelia put themselves and their team in danger to bring the responsible party to justice.
A slow start. Not my favorite in the series. I love the main characters Lincoln and Amelia, but I struggled with the story itself. Political murders, conspiracies and cover ups. Just not my thing.
3.5*
January 2, 2023
“Don’t you get tired of being in a good mood all the time, Lincoln?”
LOL, … definitely not! From the point of view of continuing character development in a long-running, immensely successful series, the acerbic Lincoln Rhyme is a masterwork. A wheelchair bound quadriplegic, he continues to recover the tiniest modicum of motor function in his right arm and hand while at the same time, his love interest, Amelia Sachs, suffers from a debilitating onset of arthritis that threatens to sideline her role as an active homicide detective in the SFPD. And, for the first time that I recall in the entire series, Rhyme tries his hand (perhaps a particularly appropriate turn of phrase in this story) at on-site forensic investigation and discovers a dollop of humanity and pleasure, not to mention the extent of his love for his partner.
THE KILL ROOM is a provocative story of government over-reach and possible criminality at the highest levels of the administration, the blackest of black operations and unsanctioned assassinations of US citizens who dare to oppose US conduct and international policy. The National Intelligence and Operations Service (NIOS), its director and two of its operatives are under investigation for murder and conspiracy in the sniper shooting of an avowed left-wing expatriate.
Interesting stuff indeed and, for my money, more than a little prophetic of the global opinion of a certain Donald J Trump, the current right-wing neo-fascist version of the Republican Party, and (in my opinion, at least) the hapless, slow motion non-efforts of Merrick Garland's Department of Justice to indict and prosecute the ex-president for his part in the January 6th insurrection. Consider this interesting little tidbit (written, by the way, in 2013, a full three years before Trump’s ascendancy to the Oval Office):
“I’m sure that every target killing requires the president’s okay. But I’m not pursuing him.”
“Jesus, I hope not,” Lon Sellitto said with a laugh that sounded like a stifled sneeze. “That’s more than a political land mine; it’s a fucking nuke”.
Then there were these left-wing opinions expressed by the newest NIOS target for elimination without prejudice, in short, assassination:
“Rashid believed in his heart he was right. Remove the cancer and the world will right itself.”
“The metastasizing cells were, of course, the United States of America. From the subprime crisis, to Iraq, to the insulting carrot of foreign aid, to the racist diatribes of Christian preachers and politicians, to the deification of consumer goods, the country was a sea anchor on the progress of civilization.”
High speed, gripping, compelling, thrilling stuff. Just a few too many twists and turns in a very byzantine and tortuous final resolution to the plot that held me back from awarding a fifth star. Nevertheless, no problem with a solid recommendation to those readers who enjoy political thrillers and forensic police investigation procedurals.
Paul Weiss
LOL, … definitely not! From the point of view of continuing character development in a long-running, immensely successful series, the acerbic Lincoln Rhyme is a masterwork. A wheelchair bound quadriplegic, he continues to recover the tiniest modicum of motor function in his right arm and hand while at the same time, his love interest, Amelia Sachs, suffers from a debilitating onset of arthritis that threatens to sideline her role as an active homicide detective in the SFPD. And, for the first time that I recall in the entire series, Rhyme tries his hand (perhaps a particularly appropriate turn of phrase in this story) at on-site forensic investigation and discovers a dollop of humanity and pleasure, not to mention the extent of his love for his partner.
THE KILL ROOM is a provocative story of government over-reach and possible criminality at the highest levels of the administration, the blackest of black operations and unsanctioned assassinations of US citizens who dare to oppose US conduct and international policy. The National Intelligence and Operations Service (NIOS), its director and two of its operatives are under investigation for murder and conspiracy in the sniper shooting of an avowed left-wing expatriate.
Interesting stuff indeed and, for my money, more than a little prophetic of the global opinion of a certain Donald J Trump, the current right-wing neo-fascist version of the Republican Party, and (in my opinion, at least) the hapless, slow motion non-efforts of Merrick Garland's Department of Justice to indict and prosecute the ex-president for his part in the January 6th insurrection. Consider this interesting little tidbit (written, by the way, in 2013, a full three years before Trump’s ascendancy to the Oval Office):
“I’m sure that every target killing requires the president’s okay. But I’m not pursuing him.”
“Jesus, I hope not,” Lon Sellitto said with a laugh that sounded like a stifled sneeze. “That’s more than a political land mine; it’s a fucking nuke”.
Then there were these left-wing opinions expressed by the newest NIOS target for elimination without prejudice, in short, assassination:
“Rashid believed in his heart he was right. Remove the cancer and the world will right itself.”
“The metastasizing cells were, of course, the United States of America. From the subprime crisis, to Iraq, to the insulting carrot of foreign aid, to the racist diatribes of Christian preachers and politicians, to the deification of consumer goods, the country was a sea anchor on the progress of civilization.”
High speed, gripping, compelling, thrilling stuff. Just a few too many twists and turns in a very byzantine and tortuous final resolution to the plot that held me back from awarding a fifth star. Nevertheless, no problem with a solid recommendation to those readers who enjoy political thrillers and forensic police investigation procedurals.
Paul Weiss
November 5, 2021
In this 10th book in the 'Lincoln Rhyme' series, the quadriplegic forensic scientist is on the trail of a sadistic killer. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
The head of the National Intelligence and Operations Service (NIOS) in New York commissions the assassination of Robert Moreno, a suspected American terrorist doing business in the Bahamas.
Moreno is killed by a rifle bullet through his hotel window and his body guard and a journalist are "collateral damage", killed by flying glass.
A New York prosecutor, Nance Laurel, believes the head of NIOS has no business ordering murders and plans to prosecute him on a conspiracy charge.
Lincoln Rhyme, a quadriplegic forensic genius, and his partner Amelia Sachs, a New York cop, are asked to help procure evidence for the prosecution. Unfortunately, someone REALLY doesn't want evidence and witnesses found and embarks on a spree of torture, murder, bombing, and theft to eliminate them.
The perp apparently has inside information and always seems to be a step ahead of Lincoln and Amelia (who are a little slow on the uptake here in my opinion, willy nilly using cell phones, etc.). Of course Lincoln and Amelia carry on and unravel a very complex plot with a LOT of surprises (nuff said if you don't want spoilers).
Meanwhile, Amelia's worsening arthritis leads to problems on the job and she fears suspension or worse. The book is a page turner with a horrific chef/murderer bad guy that will make you cringe. Good addition to the Rhyme/Sachs saga.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/
August 4, 2013
okay first let me say that I am a huge Deaver fan ....love his writing but this clunker stands out as his weakest to date. Everyone is entitled to their opinions but come on sheeple this is not a great book far from it. 4 star and 5 star reviews for this are ludicruous. Boring boring boring where do I start....I'll put is in point form because I;m feeling lazy
- long winded story with a meandering plot
- a billion chapters dead giveaway of a book with no single purpose
- the endless rehashing of clues in a giant list ...started off relatively small then 12 to 14 pages of rehash that I skip now instead of reading
- there was almost no suspense at all ( don't buy what the sheeple say this was weak
- too many characters I could care less about
I could go on and on about the boring dialogue but I wont
now you might think okay this guy is ranting on but I just finished reading a Real novel not this garbage ...Dennis Lehane's - Live by Night and The Given day both fantastic books he has got it all going on here ..suspense believable dialogue and exciting gritty action scenes
I cant even compare that to this
think about The Broken Chair, The Twelveth Card and The Cold Moon all excellent novels
then compare them to this Mediocre novel of non suspense you will come up with same conclusion I did....better luck next time Deaver you got better ideas in that head of yours
dont be fooled by the 4 and 5 star cattle that love anything he does...this is NOT a great book in fact its not even a good one
save your money read a Lehane book first you wont regret the decision
Update just read some absurd reviews that gave this 5 stars ...come on people this is deceiving people this is barely a 2 star book
read the The Cold Moon and compare it to this
enough I am only getting upset reading other sheeples review on here
- long winded story with a meandering plot
- a billion chapters dead giveaway of a book with no single purpose
- the endless rehashing of clues in a giant list ...started off relatively small then 12 to 14 pages of rehash that I skip now instead of reading
- there was almost no suspense at all ( don't buy what the sheeple say this was weak
- too many characters I could care less about
I could go on and on about the boring dialogue but I wont
now you might think okay this guy is ranting on but I just finished reading a Real novel not this garbage ...Dennis Lehane's - Live by Night and The Given day both fantastic books he has got it all going on here ..suspense believable dialogue and exciting gritty action scenes
I cant even compare that to this
think about The Broken Chair, The Twelveth Card and The Cold Moon all excellent novels
then compare them to this Mediocre novel of non suspense you will come up with same conclusion I did....better luck next time Deaver you got better ideas in that head of yours
dont be fooled by the 4 and 5 star cattle that love anything he does...this is NOT a great book in fact its not even a good one
save your money read a Lehane book first you wont regret the decision
Update just read some absurd reviews that gave this 5 stars ...come on people this is deceiving people this is barely a 2 star book
read the The Cold Moon and compare it to this
enough I am only getting upset reading other sheeples review on here
November 11, 2016
There was a time I though Deaver the most reliable of all mystery writers. Most of the Lincoln Rhyme series, the Rune and Pelham books and many of his stand alone novels offered up plausible but surprising stories. There were twists a plenty and unusually resourceful criminals abounded. A joy! But of late I've found that when I open the pages of a new novel it's as likely I'll find a turkey served up as it is the fabulous fare of old. So where does his latest offering sit? More turkey than fillet steak, is the honest answer.
I do like Rhyme but I'm beginning to tire of the customary rants about the nano detail of trace evidence found at the crime scenes. And the plot in this tale stretches credibility beyond the point I personally am able to accept. Ok, it's still good fun and the second half of the book is better than the first and it's all tied up quite neatly. But here's another problem I have with it: it could have finished fifty pages earlier had some implausible loose ends not been left dangling, forcing us to labour on to see our crime stopper close down every last thread.
I may have been a bit harsh in my summing up of this book but I genuinely feel that Deaver has done better work. If in doubt seek out Garden of the Beasts, you'll see what I mean.
I do like Rhyme but I'm beginning to tire of the customary rants about the nano detail of trace evidence found at the crime scenes. And the plot in this tale stretches credibility beyond the point I personally am able to accept. Ok, it's still good fun and the second half of the book is better than the first and it's all tied up quite neatly. But here's another problem I have with it: it could have finished fifty pages earlier had some implausible loose ends not been left dangling, forcing us to labour on to see our crime stopper close down every last thread.
I may have been a bit harsh in my summing up of this book but I genuinely feel that Deaver has done better work. If in doubt seek out Garden of the Beasts, you'll see what I mean.
June 7, 2013
I try to be completely unbiased with my reviews but when it comes to my favorite authors I can't help but boast of their brilliance a little more than normal. I place my favorites on a pedestal that is sometimes wavering. Sure the book may not be that great or genre bending but it's still necessary for the collection. Now that I'm done with my rant I will get to The Kill Room by one of my favorite authors Jeffery Deaver.
Rhyme and Sachs are asked by the ADA Jance to investigate a case under the most secret circumstances. A high ranking official in the government may have ordered a hit on Robert Moreno. Intel suggested Moreno was planning a terrorist attack on a U.S. oil company but it was not true. Rhyme's travels to the Bahamas in search of a crime scene that does not exist while Sachs tracks down leads in New York. There is tons of danger and suspense lurking aroud the corner for each of them.
What I loved most about this novel is that it is classic Deaver. There is no stopping the action and pages just seem to fly by. Each time I think the unsub is found out I am drastically wrong. The classic whiteboard is featured as well so keep track of all the evidence and info. The only glaring fact remains much of the novel that the unsub is doing his damnded to make sure there is no crime scene to investigate. Fans of this series will need to add The Kill Room to their collection because it's only necessarary.
I'm a huge fan of Deaver's but I am not blind to the fact that this series is to be savored over time. It becomes a little formulaic after a while. This being the 10th novel in the series is no exception. But I continue to read these novels because they are well written, interesting, and just a fun quick read for any occasion.
Although my above rant may imply that The Kill Room wasn't genre bending I only wanted to warn any readers that this is not totally without bias the review they are reading. Overall, Deaver supplies readers with all that we love about the Lincoln Rhyme's series. We have Rhyme's serious attitude problem coupled with a brilliance most leading characters in thrillers do not have. We're also graced with Amelia's fearlessness in the face of every obstacle such as arthritis and jealousy. There's even the lovely Thom who is Rhyme's punching bag... I mean well-paid nurse. All these characters we expect to see as we journey through the pages with our favorite forensic consultant.
Rhyme and Sachs are asked by the ADA Jance to investigate a case under the most secret circumstances. A high ranking official in the government may have ordered a hit on Robert Moreno. Intel suggested Moreno was planning a terrorist attack on a U.S. oil company but it was not true. Rhyme's travels to the Bahamas in search of a crime scene that does not exist while Sachs tracks down leads in New York. There is tons of danger and suspense lurking aroud the corner for each of them.
What I loved most about this novel is that it is classic Deaver. There is no stopping the action and pages just seem to fly by. Each time I think the unsub is found out I am drastically wrong. The classic whiteboard is featured as well so keep track of all the evidence and info. The only glaring fact remains much of the novel that the unsub is doing his damnded to make sure there is no crime scene to investigate. Fans of this series will need to add The Kill Room to their collection because it's only necessarary.
I'm a huge fan of Deaver's but I am not blind to the fact that this series is to be savored over time. It becomes a little formulaic after a while. This being the 10th novel in the series is no exception. But I continue to read these novels because they are well written, interesting, and just a fun quick read for any occasion.
Although my above rant may imply that The Kill Room wasn't genre bending I only wanted to warn any readers that this is not totally without bias the review they are reading. Overall, Deaver supplies readers with all that we love about the Lincoln Rhyme's series. We have Rhyme's serious attitude problem coupled with a brilliance most leading characters in thrillers do not have. We're also graced with Amelia's fearlessness in the face of every obstacle such as arthritis and jealousy. There's even the lovely Thom who is Rhyme's punching bag... I mean well-paid nurse. All these characters we expect to see as we journey through the pages with our favorite forensic consultant.
June 22, 2021
A Good entry into the Rhyme series as Lincoln and Amelia investigate a murder in the Bahamas. As usual good investigation wins out. There are just a few too many obligatory plot "surprises" that do detract from the overall feel of the book. A good new character is introduced in the person of Nance Laurel. Recommended, especially to Rhyme fans.
March 11, 2014
Deaver is certainly not the writer he used to be and this is the last one of his that i'll read.
The book seemed thrown together haphazardly, new scenes being added with the 'surprise, I just thought of this' method. One of the characters is mocked for his language yet Deaver puts 'datamine' in every possible sentence he can fit it in. The plot does not follow, the characters act stupidly and irrationally, and info is dumped on the reader in internal monologues.
I was also struck by the persistent references to Lincoln's disability. I realise he has one and that this is important to his character, but previously I was impressed that Deaver focused on Lincoln as a person, overcoming hardships certainly, but as a capable, intelligent detective. In this novel, the disability seems emphasised. If he feels something, like excitement, he only feels it in his upper body because the lower is 'insensate' (which is ridiculous anyway-feeling excitement is not purely a physical reaction). If he touches Amelia, we're told he can't feel it. If someone looks at him, it's with pity. When he gets on a plane, his the amount of equipment and baggage he needs is highlighted, along with the need for someone to sort his bowel issues. Is this who Lincoln is? I realise this may be an attempt to add realism but I want to see Rhyme as a man, not as a body.
The book seemed thrown together haphazardly, new scenes being added with the 'surprise, I just thought of this' method. One of the characters is mocked for his language yet Deaver puts 'datamine' in every possible sentence he can fit it in. The plot does not follow, the characters act stupidly and irrationally, and info is dumped on the reader in internal monologues.
I was also struck by the persistent references to Lincoln's disability. I realise he has one and that this is important to his character, but previously I was impressed that Deaver focused on Lincoln as a person, overcoming hardships certainly, but as a capable, intelligent detective. In this novel, the disability seems emphasised. If he feels something, like excitement, he only feels it in his upper body because the lower is 'insensate' (which is ridiculous anyway-feeling excitement is not purely a physical reaction). If he touches Amelia, we're told he can't feel it. If someone looks at him, it's with pity. When he gets on a plane, his the amount of equipment and baggage he needs is highlighted, along with the need for someone to sort his bowel issues. Is this who Lincoln is? I realise this may be an attempt to add realism but I want to see Rhyme as a man, not as a body.
June 15, 2020
This book was a little different from the previous books; Lincoln visits the crime scene to gather the evidence unlike the previous books.
Deaver was able to do a sudden change to the flow of the story and its appreciated.
Deaver was able to do a sudden change to the flow of the story and its appreciated.
March 1, 2015
Lincoln Rhyme and Detective Amelia Sachs suddenly found themselves in the middle of an intensely secure case which they would have preferred they didn’t have. Deeply political, the assassination of an American citizen involved the US government and a group called NIOS (National Intelligence and Operations Service); Robert Moreno was killed by a highly skilled sniper in the Bahamas with collateral damage being his bodyguard and a reporter who had been interviewing him at the time. Thought to be a terrorist, Moreno’s life was immediately under intense scrutiny by Assistant DA, Nance Laurel and the team – Laurel was after the head of NIOS, the volatile Shreve Metzger.
With Sachs investigating the last time Moreno had set foot on US soil, and tracing his steps to try to understand his agenda, Rhyme, after getting no satisfaction over the phone, decided he needed to go to the crime scene in Nassau. Accompanied by his carer Thom, and Ron Pulaski of the NYPD, they had no idea the wall they would encounter on arrival; as well as the intense danger.
Meanwhile, unbeknown to anyone, the team members had been identified and were heading into trouble. Was the sniper eliminating witnesses? The frustration of Rhyme and Sachs was intense with very little evidence but violence at every turn. And nothing appeared to be as it seemed. What was going on? Would they solve the case; would justice be served?
This was another gripping ride by author Jeffery Deaver – an intense thriller and #10 in the Lincoln Rhyme/Amelia Sachs series. I had a little trouble getting into it, but the pace moved along nicely once I did. I felt the story was a little drawn out in places with an overabundance of facts, which did detract a little. But that said, I have no hesitation in recommending this novel to thriller lovers, especially lovers of this author.
With thanks to TRR and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
With Sachs investigating the last time Moreno had set foot on US soil, and tracing his steps to try to understand his agenda, Rhyme, after getting no satisfaction over the phone, decided he needed to go to the crime scene in Nassau. Accompanied by his carer Thom, and Ron Pulaski of the NYPD, they had no idea the wall they would encounter on arrival; as well as the intense danger.
Meanwhile, unbeknown to anyone, the team members had been identified and were heading into trouble. Was the sniper eliminating witnesses? The frustration of Rhyme and Sachs was intense with very little evidence but violence at every turn. And nothing appeared to be as it seemed. What was going on? Would they solve the case; would justice be served?
This was another gripping ride by author Jeffery Deaver – an intense thriller and #10 in the Lincoln Rhyme/Amelia Sachs series. I had a little trouble getting into it, but the pace moved along nicely once I did. I felt the story was a little drawn out in places with an overabundance of facts, which did detract a little. But that said, I have no hesitation in recommending this novel to thriller lovers, especially lovers of this author.
With thanks to TRR and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
February 23, 2024
Overall Rating : B
"Of course they don't call it that, a kill order. That's shorthand. The term is 'STO,' a Special Task Order."
A little preachy than the other books in the series but the twists were twisting so, points for that.
Basic moral of the story : Even when America is right, it's wrong, but it's also always right. *Cue eagle screech*
"Of course they don't call it that, a kill order. That's shorthand. The term is 'STO,' a Special Task Order."
A little preachy than the other books in the series but the twists were twisting so, points for that.
Basic moral of the story : Even when America is right, it's wrong, but it's also always right. *Cue eagle screech*
July 8, 2022
Another Rhyme adventure, another gripping story, with a renegade secret wing of the federal government, taking extreme prejudice to terror suspects. All the usual cast are present and correct, for another thrilling story with Sachs and Rhyme putting the clues together, not without serious risk to themselves. Weaver on form, page turning entertainment! Recommended.
November 15, 2015
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
A copy of The Kill Room was provided to me by Grand Central Publishing for review purposes.
Once again, Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs have been asked to help investigate a crime, yet this is one of their hardest to date. The victim is a United States citizen that had been recently targeted by the U.S. Government and is found to be assassinated in the Bahamas. The biggest problem they face is the complete lack of evidence and the fact that someone appears to be two steps ahead of them and is going back and covering up their tracks by destroying evidence and eliminating witnesses.
'He didn't believe he'd ever had a case like this, where the evidence was so fragmentary and sparse. Bits, scraps, observations, 180-degree changes in direction. Nothing else...'
As is common with Jeffery Deaver novels, the mystery is intricate and detailed and unfurls slowly building in intensity with each turned page. These details may seem superfluous but are simply small pieces of a very large puzzle. I really loved the complexity of this mystery though and how despite the lack of major evidence even the smallest pieces inevitably helped solve the mystery regardless. The Kill Room focuses mainly on political reasoning and while I wasn't completely sold on the premise, it still was an impressively detailed mystery.
'I have a bad feeling about this one, Rhyme...'
While I thoroughly enjoy having the story told from the point-of-view of Lincoln Rhyme as his ability to solve crimes based on seemingly inconsequential evidence is uncanny, the switch-up in points-of-view between him and the man they're hunting for was the perfect touch. It definitely added an unsettling touch as this 'bad guy' is incredibly disturbing.
Yet another palpable mystery from an incredibly talented crime writer, The Kill Room proves that this series is far from losing steam.
A copy of The Kill Room was provided to me by Grand Central Publishing for review purposes.
Once again, Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs have been asked to help investigate a crime, yet this is one of their hardest to date. The victim is a United States citizen that had been recently targeted by the U.S. Government and is found to be assassinated in the Bahamas. The biggest problem they face is the complete lack of evidence and the fact that someone appears to be two steps ahead of them and is going back and covering up their tracks by destroying evidence and eliminating witnesses.
'He didn't believe he'd ever had a case like this, where the evidence was so fragmentary and sparse. Bits, scraps, observations, 180-degree changes in direction. Nothing else...'
As is common with Jeffery Deaver novels, the mystery is intricate and detailed and unfurls slowly building in intensity with each turned page. These details may seem superfluous but are simply small pieces of a very large puzzle. I really loved the complexity of this mystery though and how despite the lack of major evidence even the smallest pieces inevitably helped solve the mystery regardless. The Kill Room focuses mainly on political reasoning and while I wasn't completely sold on the premise, it still was an impressively detailed mystery.
'I have a bad feeling about this one, Rhyme...'
While I thoroughly enjoy having the story told from the point-of-view of Lincoln Rhyme as his ability to solve crimes based on seemingly inconsequential evidence is uncanny, the switch-up in points-of-view between him and the man they're hunting for was the perfect touch. It definitely added an unsettling touch as this 'bad guy' is incredibly disturbing.
Yet another palpable mystery from an incredibly talented crime writer, The Kill Room proves that this series is far from losing steam.
October 18, 2018
Somehow I finished it!
As a big fan of the Lincoln Rhyme series, this was one big disappointment. This just so flat, going through the motions. I really hope that it is just a blip. The previous book was a masterpiece even by his standard. I already have the next 3 books so really hope they return to the normal high standard.
I really wanted to give at least 3 stars, for old times sake, but in the end, I struggled to give 2 stars.
As a big fan of the Lincoln Rhyme series, this was one big disappointment. This just so flat, going through the motions. I really hope that it is just a blip. The previous book was a masterpiece even by his standard. I already have the next 3 books so really hope they return to the normal high standard.
I really wanted to give at least 3 stars, for old times sake, but in the end, I struggled to give 2 stars.
November 17, 2013
I am a big fan of the Lincoln Rhyme novels but this story left me feeling a little flat & cheated. Not one of Jeffrey Deaver's best
September 13, 2017
The Kill Room is book ten of the Lincoln Rhyme series by Jeffery Deaver. In The Kill Room, Lincoln Rhyme and his partners were asked to investigate a murder of witnesses for the New York District Attorney's Office. However, the case was not as straight forward as Lincoln and Amelia Sachs thought. The readers of The Kill Room will continue to follow the twist and turns in Lincoln and Amelia investigation until the explosive ending of this book.
I love reading the books in the Lincoln Rhyme series. Jeffery Deaver again did not disappoint me The Kill room was fantastic. I like Jeffery Deaver portrayals of his characters, especially Lincoln Rhymes. Also, I like the interactions between Lincoln and his aide Thom. I like the way, Jeffery Deaver describes the plots and entwines all his characters throughout The Kill Room.
Readers of The Kill Room will learn about forensics investigation and how it helps law enforcements. Also, the readers of The Kill Room will start to think about how we treat people with disability and how it affects them. The Kill Room highlights that you can achieve things even when you have a disability.
I recommend this book.
I love reading the books in the Lincoln Rhyme series. Jeffery Deaver again did not disappoint me The Kill room was fantastic. I like Jeffery Deaver portrayals of his characters, especially Lincoln Rhymes. Also, I like the interactions between Lincoln and his aide Thom. I like the way, Jeffery Deaver describes the plots and entwines all his characters throughout The Kill Room.
Readers of The Kill Room will learn about forensics investigation and how it helps law enforcements. Also, the readers of The Kill Room will start to think about how we treat people with disability and how it affects them. The Kill Room highlights that you can achieve things even when you have a disability.
I recommend this book.
June 14, 2013
I couldn't wait to get my hands on this, the 10th and latest adventure of top investigator and forensics expert Lincoln Rhyme (who happens to be a quadriplegic) and Amelia Sachs, his work and life partner. As usual, I expected to sail through this one and not want to put it down before I'd reached the last page.
It begins when Rhyme and his team are called in to investigate the murder of a U.S. citizen who was in the Bahamas and shot by a sniper from an almost unbelievable distance. Apparently, though, the kill order came from someone in the U.S. government who considered the man to be a terrorist threat. But the fallout from the shot resulted in the deaths of two other individuals who were in the room with him, and the possibility arises that the man presented no threat at all.
Aided by their ever-present whiteboard on which evidence collected is written (updates are provided every so often in the book so readers see what Rhyme and Sachs see), they learn early on that all isn't what it appears to be. Then, much of the evidence and witnesses are systematically wiped out (the latter by an assassin who has a love of fine food and very expensive knives).
The case then takes off on an even more deadly direction that sends Rhyme and his tricked-out wheelchair to the Bahamas while Sachs stays home to learn more about the primary victim. In the Bahamas, Rhyme goes head to head with uncooperative (and possibly corrupt) law enforcement officials, and the recent surgery that restored some function in one hand ends up being both a blessing and a curse.
Of course, the case gets solved, but not without several twists, turns, life-threatening adventures and a couple of personal decisions by Rhyme and Sachs that could alter the course of their lives - all making for good reading. But In the end, I gave this one 4 stars instead of 5 - in part because the smooth sailing I'd expected turned out to be a bit choppy with a bit of a convoluted plot and hard-to-keep-straight characters. Especially near the end, everything seemed almost too contrived. Yes, Rhyme has an uncanny way of seeing and interpreting evidence others miss - a big part of the character's appeal, after all - but what happens here (just in the nick of time, of course) is a bit hard to swallow.
Still, it's classic Deaver, and even if in my opinion it's not the best of his Rhyme books, I really didn't want to put it down. And once again, Deaver shows his versatility; in XO, his most recent thriller featuring Kathryn Dance, he wrote a bunch of country songs and actually produced a CD. In this one (ever-so-slight spoiler alert here), he's put together recipes for dishes mentioned in the book and posted them on his website.
It begins when Rhyme and his team are called in to investigate the murder of a U.S. citizen who was in the Bahamas and shot by a sniper from an almost unbelievable distance. Apparently, though, the kill order came from someone in the U.S. government who considered the man to be a terrorist threat. But the fallout from the shot resulted in the deaths of two other individuals who were in the room with him, and the possibility arises that the man presented no threat at all.
Aided by their ever-present whiteboard on which evidence collected is written (updates are provided every so often in the book so readers see what Rhyme and Sachs see), they learn early on that all isn't what it appears to be. Then, much of the evidence and witnesses are systematically wiped out (the latter by an assassin who has a love of fine food and very expensive knives).
The case then takes off on an even more deadly direction that sends Rhyme and his tricked-out wheelchair to the Bahamas while Sachs stays home to learn more about the primary victim. In the Bahamas, Rhyme goes head to head with uncooperative (and possibly corrupt) law enforcement officials, and the recent surgery that restored some function in one hand ends up being both a blessing and a curse.
Of course, the case gets solved, but not without several twists, turns, life-threatening adventures and a couple of personal decisions by Rhyme and Sachs that could alter the course of their lives - all making for good reading. But In the end, I gave this one 4 stars instead of 5 - in part because the smooth sailing I'd expected turned out to be a bit choppy with a bit of a convoluted plot and hard-to-keep-straight characters. Especially near the end, everything seemed almost too contrived. Yes, Rhyme has an uncanny way of seeing and interpreting evidence others miss - a big part of the character's appeal, after all - but what happens here (just in the nick of time, of course) is a bit hard to swallow.
Still, it's classic Deaver, and even if in my opinion it's not the best of his Rhyme books, I really didn't want to put it down. And once again, Deaver shows his versatility; in XO, his most recent thriller featuring Kathryn Dance, he wrote a bunch of country songs and actually produced a CD. In this one (ever-so-slight spoiler alert here), he's put together recipes for dishes mentioned in the book and posted them on his website.
January 14, 2018
Number 10 in Lincoln Rhyme series.
This another well paced thriller from Jeffery Deaver but the series feels like it's become a bit formula driven. Don't get me wrong, I gave it 4 stars, it's still an exciting read. You just get the feeling that you may have read this before although you know you haven't.
Lincoln Rhyme and his fellow cohorts have to solve the unsolvable with next to no information or clues. With this limited information they start to uncover what seems to be sanctioned murders by government agencies. Put a psychopath in charge of an legitimate agency and then hold your breath.
It was good to see Jeffery Deaver put the covert arm of government under the microscope, even if it is a fictional microscope.
If you have enjoyed the past Rhyme books you'll enjoy this.
This another well paced thriller from Jeffery Deaver but the series feels like it's become a bit formula driven. Don't get me wrong, I gave it 4 stars, it's still an exciting read. You just get the feeling that you may have read this before although you know you haven't.
Lincoln Rhyme and his fellow cohorts have to solve the unsolvable with next to no information or clues. With this limited information they start to uncover what seems to be sanctioned murders by government agencies. Put a psychopath in charge of an legitimate agency and then hold your breath.
It was good to see Jeffery Deaver put the covert arm of government under the microscope, even if it is a fictional microscope.
If you have enjoyed the past Rhyme books you'll enjoy this.
September 11, 2021
Îmi era dor de Lincoln și Amelia, dar în acest volum mi s-a părut că nu au evoluat deloc, relația dintre personaje a căzut pe planul trei, patru în prioritățile autorului. Cazul a prins contur greu, multe piste false, ca mai apoi soluția să apară din senin. Autorul a excelat în descrierea criminalului, motivației, tehnicii de atac și tot ce a ținut de partea întunecată a romanului, ceea ce mi-a captat atenția pe parcursul romanului. Cel mai probabil voi citi legat toate romanele până la sfârșitul seriei, căci autorul nu mai pare atât de generos în a construi relația dintre personaje și se pierde din farmecul poveștii.
June 8, 2018
I struggled to read it. There was nothing new or interesting here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2013
Book Review
It would be a spoiler if I were to relate to potential readers the subject matter of The Kill Room. Suffice it to say it's been in the news.
I'm giving this book a slightly lower star rating for two reasons:
First: The hook that compels the 5 star ratings I've been giving this series relies on watching Lincoln Rhyme's forensic mind at work against a formidable foe. Deaver takes a different track in this story and actually brings Rhyme out into the field while diminishing scenes where he is actually at work in his lab. Furthermore, the formidable foe is not really formidable. I think it was a mistake, to attempt to move away from what we've all come to know and love about the Lincoln Rhyme series. The ending as a result seemed hurried though still packed with sensational reveals not easily guessed at. And perhaps the author agrees, for at the conclusion we come across Linc admitting field work is perhaps not such a good idea:
"'A man's got to know his limitations.'"
"Clint Eastwood." Thom considered this. "It's true but you could also say, 'A man's got to know his strengths."
"You're such a goddamn opimist." Rhyme lifted his right hand and gazed at his fingers. Lowered the limb. "This is enough."
Second: in my opinion the characterization of our killer was off. It seemed somewhat contrived. And I say this with some trepidation because this is part of Deaver's hook into this series...such excellent, clever and evil antagonists!
------------------------------------------------------------------
Series Review
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 novels 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.
It would be a spoiler if I were to relate to potential readers the subject matter of The Kill Room. Suffice it to say it's been in the news.
I'm giving this book a slightly lower star rating for two reasons:
First: The hook that compels the 5 star ratings I've been giving this series relies on watching Lincoln Rhyme's forensic mind at work against a formidable foe. Deaver takes a different track in this story and actually brings Rhyme out into the field while diminishing scenes where he is actually at work in his lab. Furthermore, the formidable foe is not really formidable. I think it was a mistake, to attempt to move away from what we've all come to know and love about the Lincoln Rhyme series. The ending as a result seemed hurried though still packed with sensational reveals not easily guessed at. And perhaps the author agrees, for at the conclusion we come across Linc admitting field work is perhaps not such a good idea:
"'A man's got to know his limitations.'"
"Clint Eastwood." Thom considered this. "It's true but you could also say, 'A man's got to know his strengths."
"You're such a goddamn opimist." Rhyme lifted his right hand and gazed at his fingers. Lowered the limb. "This is enough."
Second: in my opinion the characterization of our killer was off. It seemed somewhat contrived. And I say this with some trepidation because this is part of Deaver's hook into this series...such excellent, clever and evil antagonists!
------------------------------------------------------------------
Series Review
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 novels 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.
July 17, 2013
Maybe it was because I'm 8.5 months pregnant and read most of this book in a state of complete exhaustion, but I definitely felt like it lacked the usual verve of the Lincoln Rhyme books. Usually I overlook the less-than-perfect writing style because the plot is so gripping and I have to find out WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, but that was definitely not the case here. All the little narrative tricks Deaver used to create tension seemed obvious. I had no problem stopping at the end of a chapter.
Because it lacked the usual grip, I found myself nitpicking the writing style. My first point of irritation is the fact that with every book it seems to take Deaver longer to set up the actual story... the first 30% of the book just feels like filler. Boring.
Secondly, this is the case with all of the Rhyme books, but the "personal" stuff is all separated out from the "plot" stuff. Like, Rhyme and Amelia have some private time and discuss private stuff. Scene or chapter end. Then we see Rhyme and Amelia working the case. There's no overlap, and it's weird. So the structure of the book is mostly "Intro personal issue, leave it hanging. Plot. Interrupt mid-plot to insert bit of personal stuff. Wrap up plot. Conclude personal stuff. The end." It just feels really inorganic and forced. Usually it doesn't bother me, but because I wasn't reeled in by the plot it just stuck out.
Finally, this is my first time reading a Deaver book as it came out - I read all of the other Rhyme books a few months back in one straight sprint. I'm wondering if reading them in retrospect helped... it made the "outdated" tech bits seem totally reasonable. This time, I experienced Deaver doing what he does, which is take an issue from the cutting edge of technology or news media and spin it into a story. I don't know if it's the currency of the topic or the specific way he treated it (trying to avoid spoilers here), but I just found myself annoyed. It felt a little pedantic and obvious.
Will I read the next Lincoln Rhyme book? Yeah, probably. Deaver's got enough good credit built up with me that one disappointment isn't going to bump him off my "auto-read" list. But I'm kinda glad I bought this one on Kindle rather than a physical copy for my shelf.
Because it lacked the usual grip, I found myself nitpicking the writing style. My first point of irritation is the fact that with every book it seems to take Deaver longer to set up the actual story... the first 30% of the book just feels like filler. Boring.
Secondly, this is the case with all of the Rhyme books, but the "personal" stuff is all separated out from the "plot" stuff. Like, Rhyme and Amelia have some private time and discuss private stuff. Scene or chapter end. Then we see Rhyme and Amelia working the case. There's no overlap, and it's weird. So the structure of the book is mostly "Intro personal issue, leave it hanging. Plot. Interrupt mid-plot to insert bit of personal stuff. Wrap up plot. Conclude personal stuff. The end." It just feels really inorganic and forced. Usually it doesn't bother me, but because I wasn't reeled in by the plot it just stuck out.
Finally, this is my first time reading a Deaver book as it came out - I read all of the other Rhyme books a few months back in one straight sprint. I'm wondering if reading them in retrospect helped... it made the "outdated" tech bits seem totally reasonable. This time, I experienced Deaver doing what he does, which is take an issue from the cutting edge of technology or news media and spin it into a story. I don't know if it's the currency of the topic or the specific way he treated it (trying to avoid spoilers here), but I just found myself annoyed. It felt a little pedantic and obvious.
Will I read the next Lincoln Rhyme book? Yeah, probably. Deaver's got enough good credit built up with me that one disappointment isn't going to bump him off my "auto-read" list. But I'm kinda glad I bought this one on Kindle rather than a physical copy for my shelf.
October 19, 2021
I used to love this series and still have most of the early books. Haven't read any books by this author in almost a decade until this one. I found it boring, slow-moving, overly full of American propaganda (I'm not American) and many of the characters rude and judgemental (read our ‘hero’s’ description of Nance Laurel at the start of chapter 3). Laboured through the first quarter then skipped to the end.
Might need to revisit the early books again to see whether it's the writing that dropped off or my reading tastes that have changed… might be able to free up some bookshelf space!!
Might need to revisit the early books again to see whether it's the writing that dropped off or my reading tastes that have changed… might be able to free up some bookshelf space!!
February 14, 2016
Excepțional. Un criminal inteligent, care pare discipolul lui Hannibal.
Bonus: am învățat câteva rețete noi.
Bonus: am învățat câteva rețete noi.
March 31, 2013
I've been reading Jeffery Deaver's books since A MAIDEN'S GRAVE in 1995, and I've been a fan of quadriplegic criminologist Lincoln Rhyme since THE BONE COLLECTOR in 1997. Rhyme is a wonderful character - he's brilliant, fanatical about the English language, and a true ace at sifting through evidence (even through the eyes of his partner - and lover - Amelia Sachs). He's also a totally believable character.
THE KILL ROOM is the tenth Lincoln Rhyme novel Deaver has given us, and it reminded me a bit of that first one. Rhyme is still battling his disabilities, he's still debating his medical options, and he's still in love with Amelia Sachs. But this time around Amelia has some issues of her own (also very believable), which allows her feelings for Rhyme (and his for her) to be subtly highlighted. Deaver is a master at revealing his characters' emotions through a glance, a careful touch, or a word or two of dialogue. This is what it would really be like to love someone you're working with. Or to love someone who's in a wheelchair.
The plot of THE KILL ROOM centers on a CIA-style government agency called the National Intelligence and Operations Service (NIOS), which may have ordered a hit on an innocent American citizen. Robert Moreno is known for his vocal opposition to US foreign policy, but was he really planning a terrorist attack? Or was he targeted by the NIOS chief, who just didn't like Moreno's anti-American rhetoric? And who actually fired the "million dollar bullet" into Moreno's hotel room in the Bahamas? Was it the same person who has been torturing and murdering potential witnesses? When ADA Nance Laurel decides to prosecute both the shooter and the NIOS chief for Moreno's murder, she calls in Rhyme and Sachs to work the evidence.
At the heart of the story is a complex debate over whether it's ethical to order drone strikes against American citizens who may or may not be dangerous to the safety of the country. It may be easy in our current technological world to kill a man from thousands of miles away, but is it right to kill someone before he's actually committed any crime? And what about the "collateral damage," people inevitably caught in the cross-fire? Is the "good of the country" worth the lives of the innocent?
THE KILL ROOM is a tightly plotted, well-written novel that will keep you guessing - and thinking - for most of its four hundred pages. My only criticism (thus the four star rating) is that Deaver manipulates things a bit too much at the end to let the government (and those responsible for the Moreno hit) off the hook. There are a lot of very difficult issues here, which we Americans need to consider and address, but Deaver stops short of really confronting them. That was disappointing. Additionally, I found one of the bad guys in THE KILL ROOM - enigmatic hit man Jacob Swann - to be a bit over-the-top in a novel that is otherwise entirely timely and believable. Swann is a gourmet cook who wields his pricy chef's knives with a grotesque skill reminiscent of Hannibal Lecter. I found him to be a distraction - albeit a chillingly disturbing one - from the real horrors of the crimes Laurel, Rhyme, and Sachs are investigating.
Overall, THE KILL ROOM is a great read. Deaver still delivers, and Lincoln Rhyme is still - after ten books - my favorite investigator. I recommend this highly to Deaver's fans. If you're new to Deaver, you might want to read THE BONE COLLECTOR first, since that's where Rhyme and Sachs are first introduced. But this one actually could stand alone. There's enough background here to make the novel accessible to newcomers. If you like intelligent, fast-paced thrillers, THE KILL ROOM won't disappoint.
THE KILL ROOM is the tenth Lincoln Rhyme novel Deaver has given us, and it reminded me a bit of that first one. Rhyme is still battling his disabilities, he's still debating his medical options, and he's still in love with Amelia Sachs. But this time around Amelia has some issues of her own (also very believable), which allows her feelings for Rhyme (and his for her) to be subtly highlighted. Deaver is a master at revealing his characters' emotions through a glance, a careful touch, or a word or two of dialogue. This is what it would really be like to love someone you're working with. Or to love someone who's in a wheelchair.
The plot of THE KILL ROOM centers on a CIA-style government agency called the National Intelligence and Operations Service (NIOS), which may have ordered a hit on an innocent American citizen. Robert Moreno is known for his vocal opposition to US foreign policy, but was he really planning a terrorist attack? Or was he targeted by the NIOS chief, who just didn't like Moreno's anti-American rhetoric? And who actually fired the "million dollar bullet" into Moreno's hotel room in the Bahamas? Was it the same person who has been torturing and murdering potential witnesses? When ADA Nance Laurel decides to prosecute both the shooter and the NIOS chief for Moreno's murder, she calls in Rhyme and Sachs to work the evidence.
At the heart of the story is a complex debate over whether it's ethical to order drone strikes against American citizens who may or may not be dangerous to the safety of the country. It may be easy in our current technological world to kill a man from thousands of miles away, but is it right to kill someone before he's actually committed any crime? And what about the "collateral damage," people inevitably caught in the cross-fire? Is the "good of the country" worth the lives of the innocent?
THE KILL ROOM is a tightly plotted, well-written novel that will keep you guessing - and thinking - for most of its four hundred pages. My only criticism (thus the four star rating) is that Deaver manipulates things a bit too much at the end to let the government (and those responsible for the Moreno hit) off the hook. There are a lot of very difficult issues here, which we Americans need to consider and address, but Deaver stops short of really confronting them. That was disappointing. Additionally, I found one of the bad guys in THE KILL ROOM - enigmatic hit man Jacob Swann - to be a bit over-the-top in a novel that is otherwise entirely timely and believable. Swann is a gourmet cook who wields his pricy chef's knives with a grotesque skill reminiscent of Hannibal Lecter. I found him to be a distraction - albeit a chillingly disturbing one - from the real horrors of the crimes Laurel, Rhyme, and Sachs are investigating.
Overall, THE KILL ROOM is a great read. Deaver still delivers, and Lincoln Rhyme is still - after ten books - my favorite investigator. I recommend this highly to Deaver's fans. If you're new to Deaver, you might want to read THE BONE COLLECTOR first, since that's where Rhyme and Sachs are first introduced. But this one actually could stand alone. There's enough background here to make the novel accessible to newcomers. If you like intelligent, fast-paced thrillers, THE KILL ROOM won't disappoint.
January 4, 2015
The Kill Room is the tenth full-length novel in the Lincoln Rhyme series by American author, Jeffery Deaver. Lincoln Rhyme, Amelia Sachs and the team are asked to assist in the case of an assassination, but the case has political implications. Assistant DA, Nance Laurel is determined to get a conviction against Shreve Metzger, the head of the Washington-sanctioned National Intelligence and Operations Service, for authorising the shooting of an out-spoken anti-American activist in his hotel room in the Bahamas on insufficient evidence of potential threat.
With no crime scene to examine, and virtually no cooperation from the Bahamian Police, Rhyme and Sachs find it difficult to make progress. And keeping their investigation under wraps is difficult as the NIOS seems to have inside information: possible witnesses and sources are being eliminated even as the team are on their way to investigate, and soon, it seems, members of the team themselves are also in danger.
This instalment touches on several topical themes: the ethics of pe-emptive strike; anger management; the selective dissemination of information; and the use of unmanned aerial vehicles. Deaver has Rhyme travelling to the Bahamas, but handles this much more realistically than Patterson’s excursion to Africa for Alex Cross. There is a wealth of information about knives, guns and bullets, as well as quite a bit on recipes and cooking.
Deaver will need to have his own legal team at the ready: there are so many twists and turns in both plot and characters that some reader is bound to sue for whiplash injury. He gives the reader several exciting climaxes and a truly ruthless killer, but nothing is quite what it first seems in this Deaver page-turner.
With no crime scene to examine, and virtually no cooperation from the Bahamian Police, Rhyme and Sachs find it difficult to make progress. And keeping their investigation under wraps is difficult as the NIOS seems to have inside information: possible witnesses and sources are being eliminated even as the team are on their way to investigate, and soon, it seems, members of the team themselves are also in danger.
This instalment touches on several topical themes: the ethics of pe-emptive strike; anger management; the selective dissemination of information; and the use of unmanned aerial vehicles. Deaver has Rhyme travelling to the Bahamas, but handles this much more realistically than Patterson’s excursion to Africa for Alex Cross. There is a wealth of information about knives, guns and bullets, as well as quite a bit on recipes and cooking.
Deaver will need to have his own legal team at the ready: there are so many twists and turns in both plot and characters that some reader is bound to sue for whiplash injury. He gives the reader several exciting climaxes and a truly ruthless killer, but nothing is quite what it first seems in this Deaver page-turner.
June 16, 2013
This is Jeffery Deaver’s 30th novel, and his 10th in the Lincoln Rhyme series. So what should you expect? High psychological tension, loads of action and memorable characters – although it would pay for fans to be aware that parts of this novel are more visceral than some of his previous books. In The Kill Room criminalist Lincoln Rhyme and NYPD detective Amelia Sachs are drafted into investigate the murder of Robert Moreno, an American citizen, who was shot in the Bahama’s by a sniper. They learn that the killing was commissioned by the U.S. government after intelligence showed that Moreno was a terrorist who was going to attack a U.S. oil company headquarters. But the intelligence is faulty and it turns out Robert Moreno ordered not an attack, but a peaceful protest.
Sachs traces Moreno’s steps in New York, while Rhyme travels to the Bahama’s to look at the crime scene first hand. But the sniper is still at large, and he seems intent on cleaning up any lose ends, with many innocent people now in danger. And as Rhyme and Sachs investigate they discover the case is not what they originally thought, as shadowy government departments try to stop their investigation, and nothing is as it first appeared. In the midst of all the suspense, quadriplegic Rhyme is preparing for more experimental surgery, but Sachs is having her own health problems that people are starting to notice – problems that might end up putting her behind a desk.
Deaver is the master of misdirection, and The Kill Room showcases his trademark style. Electrifying stuff!
Sachs traces Moreno’s steps in New York, while Rhyme travels to the Bahama’s to look at the crime scene first hand. But the sniper is still at large, and he seems intent on cleaning up any lose ends, with many innocent people now in danger. And as Rhyme and Sachs investigate they discover the case is not what they originally thought, as shadowy government departments try to stop their investigation, and nothing is as it first appeared. In the midst of all the suspense, quadriplegic Rhyme is preparing for more experimental surgery, but Sachs is having her own health problems that people are starting to notice – problems that might end up putting her behind a desk.
Deaver is the master of misdirection, and The Kill Room showcases his trademark style. Electrifying stuff!
April 4, 2018
I read this for the "A book with over 600 pages" part of my 2018 reading challenge. I love the Lincoln Rhyme novels and this one certainly did not disappoint. It was interesting and suspenseful the entire way through, and I love how the characters develop throughout the series.
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