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Kathryn Dance #1
The Sleeping Doll [Paperback] [Jan 01, 2007] Deaver, Jeffery
A tight clean softcover, no markings \n\nDaniel Pell is a contemporary Charles Manson. A petty criminal with a history of antisocial behavior and obsession with controlling other people, he had a group of women living with him in a quasi cult in central California. Eight years ago, he and another man viciously slaughtered a family for no apparent reason, though the three women in his 'Family' were absolved of any part in the deaths. Now, present day, Pell has escaped and Kathryn Dance, the famed interrogator and kinesic analyst (body language) and her team, must find out where he is and why he's staying near the prison he escaped from. She brings together the three women, now leading normal lives, to help her find out where Pell is and what he's up to. Pell, for his part, and a young woman he has manipulated to help him, tries to outguess the police and fulfill his mission, as he learns that Kathryn Dance is perhaps his most dangerous opponent. \n\nThis is a typical cat and
432 pages, Paperback
First published June 5, 2007
843 people are currently reading
9882 people want to read
About the author
Jeffery Deaver
509 books11.7k 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 1,259 reviews
March 18, 2023
Introducing Kathryn Dance, an exciting new female investigator!
Most thriller fans will pick up a Michael Connelly novel expecting that it's going to be about Harry Bosch. Similarly, most Jeffery Deaver fans (and I expect there's a whole pile of crossover), will pick up one of his novels expecting a story about Lincoln Rhyme and his erstwhile lover, Amelia Sachs. So it's a very pleasant and unexpected surprise to be treated to a new heroine in Kathryn Dance, an investigator with the California Bureau of Investigation who is known for her near psychic interrogation skills, Kathryn Dance is a master of kinesics, the ability to read body language, facial tics, changes in skin tone, key words, intonation and the hundreds of other tiny indicators that let a skilled questioner whether a subject is lying, uncomfortable, attempting to mislead, frightened or, in some other fashion, is simply avoiding the truth.
The Sleeping Doll is the story of Daniel Pell, a modern day Charles Manson serving life in a maximum security institution for the brutal, gruesome slaughter of the Carmel family - everyone in the family, that is, except for the little girl who was asleep in her bed when the murders took place. Now the "sleeping doll", as she was dubbed by the media when her family was taken from her is a teenager and Kathryn Dance needs her help and her distant memories to re-capture Daniel Pell who has engineered a daring escape from custody and looks to be on the killing warpath again!
As a thriller, The Sleeping Doll is certainly workmanlike and quite compelling. The plot is exciting and there are more than sufficient twists and turns to keep a reader well glued to the pages. But it doesn't leap off the pages and stick in one's reading memory or have that deep down gut-wrenching shock value that would put it into a league with Thomas Harris' Silence of the Lambs, for example.
The most enjoyable feature of The Sleeping Doll is actually the serious discussion of the science (or art) of kinesics. Deaver has also done a yeoman's job putting us into the very creepy mind of a serial killer in those sections where he has placed Daniel Pell into the role of a first person narrator.
I'll look forward to Kathryn Dance's return performance in her next novel Roadside Crosses. Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
Most thriller fans will pick up a Michael Connelly novel expecting that it's going to be about Harry Bosch. Similarly, most Jeffery Deaver fans (and I expect there's a whole pile of crossover), will pick up one of his novels expecting a story about Lincoln Rhyme and his erstwhile lover, Amelia Sachs. So it's a very pleasant and unexpected surprise to be treated to a new heroine in Kathryn Dance, an investigator with the California Bureau of Investigation who is known for her near psychic interrogation skills, Kathryn Dance is a master of kinesics, the ability to read body language, facial tics, changes in skin tone, key words, intonation and the hundreds of other tiny indicators that let a skilled questioner whether a subject is lying, uncomfortable, attempting to mislead, frightened or, in some other fashion, is simply avoiding the truth.
The Sleeping Doll is the story of Daniel Pell, a modern day Charles Manson serving life in a maximum security institution for the brutal, gruesome slaughter of the Carmel family - everyone in the family, that is, except for the little girl who was asleep in her bed when the murders took place. Now the "sleeping doll", as she was dubbed by the media when her family was taken from her is a teenager and Kathryn Dance needs her help and her distant memories to re-capture Daniel Pell who has engineered a daring escape from custody and looks to be on the killing warpath again!
As a thriller, The Sleeping Doll is certainly workmanlike and quite compelling. The plot is exciting and there are more than sufficient twists and turns to keep a reader well glued to the pages. But it doesn't leap off the pages and stick in one's reading memory or have that deep down gut-wrenching shock value that would put it into a league with Thomas Harris' Silence of the Lambs, for example.
The most enjoyable feature of The Sleeping Doll is actually the serious discussion of the science (or art) of kinesics. Deaver has also done a yeoman's job putting us into the very creepy mind of a serial killer in those sections where he has placed Daniel Pell into the role of a first person narrator.
I'll look forward to Kathryn Dance's return performance in her next novel Roadside Crosses. Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
February 10, 2018
This book introduces us to Special Agent Katherine Dance of California Bureau of Investigation. She is an expert on interrogation and kinesics - the study of the way in which certain body movements and gestures serve as a form of non-verbal communication.
The book starts with an interrogation scene where Dance is interrogating Daniel Pell – cult leader, master manipulator and cold-blooded murderer. Pell is serving a life sentence for murdering an entire family. Only a little girl – asleep in her bed and hidden by her dolls survived the massacre.
Anyway, some new evidence has come to light which can implicate Pell in another murder. Thus, the interrogation! But Pell has other tricks up his sleeves and flees, not before killing or grievously injuring some cops. And thus begins the battle of wits between Pell and Dance.
The characters are pretty fleshed out. Katherine Dance is not a super-agent, she is also a widow who is raising two kids on her own. She misses her late husband, struggles with her loneliness and also grapples with her son’s hostility towards any man who the kid fears will take the place of his father.
Daniel Pell is a very chilling character – control freak, ruthless and knows how to fight. What makes him more dangerous is his intelligence, attention to details and meticulous planning. The author has done a good job of portraying how Pell manipulates vulnerable people, especially young women, and moulds them into ideal “followers”.
The interaction between Pell’s previous “family members” was also nicely portrayed.
I liked the fact that a few characters in the novel were book lovers and collectors.
The story has plenty of action, suspense, excitement and tension. Be prepared for Deaver’s trademark twists. How devious the human mind can be! Can you really trust someone?
Oh! I forgot to mention – Deaver’s other creation – Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs would play a “cameo” in the novel.
Overall it is a very enjoyable read. I have read and enjoyed quite a few of the author’s Lincoln Rhyme and stand-alone novels: his books usually never disappointment. But you need to keep in mind that this book is just a thriller which promises to entertain. Do not expect anything more and you won’t be disappointed.
I would recommend it to all thriller lovers. By the way, I had read the second book in the series a long time back. It is pretty good too.
The book starts with an interrogation scene where Dance is interrogating Daniel Pell – cult leader, master manipulator and cold-blooded murderer. Pell is serving a life sentence for murdering an entire family. Only a little girl – asleep in her bed and hidden by her dolls survived the massacre.
Anyway, some new evidence has come to light which can implicate Pell in another murder. Thus, the interrogation! But Pell has other tricks up his sleeves and flees, not before killing or grievously injuring some cops. And thus begins the battle of wits between Pell and Dance.
The characters are pretty fleshed out. Katherine Dance is not a super-agent, she is also a widow who is raising two kids on her own. She misses her late husband, struggles with her loneliness and also grapples with her son’s hostility towards any man who the kid fears will take the place of his father.
Daniel Pell is a very chilling character – control freak, ruthless and knows how to fight. What makes him more dangerous is his intelligence, attention to details and meticulous planning. The author has done a good job of portraying how Pell manipulates vulnerable people, especially young women, and moulds them into ideal “followers”.
The interaction between Pell’s previous “family members” was also nicely portrayed.
I liked the fact that a few characters in the novel were book lovers and collectors.
The story has plenty of action, suspense, excitement and tension. Be prepared for Deaver’s trademark twists. How devious the human mind can be! Can you really trust someone?
Oh! I forgot to mention – Deaver’s other creation – Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs would play a “cameo” in the novel.
Overall it is a very enjoyable read. I have read and enjoyed quite a few of the author’s Lincoln Rhyme and stand-alone novels: his books usually never disappointment. But you need to keep in mind that this book is just a thriller which promises to entertain. Do not expect anything more and you won’t be disappointed.
I would recommend it to all thriller lovers. By the way, I had read the second book in the series a long time back. It is pretty good too.
May 27, 2016
Τούτος ο συγγραφέας πραγματικός δεξιοτέχνης μυστηρίου,αγωνίας,φρίκης και ανελέητων ανατροπών.
Αυτό το μεγάλο σε όγκο σελίδων ψυχολογικό θρίλερ ειναι πολύ καλοδουλεμένο λεπτομερειακά αλλα και ανεξάντλητο απο άποψη πλοκής και εξέλιξης.
Μέχρι να συνέλθεις απο το ένα χτύπημα αλλαγής δεδομένων και καταστάσεων σου έρχεται το άλλο που φυσικά κάπου πιο πριν είχε αναφερθεί ως λεπτομέρεια στην ιστορια μας αλλα λόγω της αγωνίας δεν του είχε δωθεί η πρέπουσα σημασία. Και αυτό το κάνει απόλυτα ενδιαφέρον μέχρι τέλους.
Ειναι πολύ σημαντικό τελικά ο συγγραφέας-τέτοιου είδους βιβλίων-να βγάζει με την πένα του μια μαύρη ιδιοφυΐα σε ότι αφορά το έγκλημα - παντός είδους- και η εξιχνίαση μαζί με την έρευνα και τους πρωταγωνιστες να σε κάνουν να αισθάνεσαι συνυπεύθυνος ως αναγνώστης,αφού εκεί που κορυφώνεται το γεγονός και φαινομενικά η πλοκή διασταυρώνεται με την έρευνα, δεν σταθηκες στο ύψος των περιστάσεων και δεν κατάλαβες πως ολα αυτά που συμβαίνουν προετοιμάζουν το χειρότερο που έρχεται.
Ο Ντιβερ χειραγωγεί τον αναγνώστη με αυτό τον τροπο. Γνωρίζει τέλεια τι κάνει και πως το κάνει. Αυτή η ευφυΐα του με κέρδισε περισσότερο στο βιβλίο απο την ίδια την αφήγηση και εξέλιξη της υπόθεσης.
Αληθοφανή στοιχεία - σασπένς - βία - ρεαλιστικά έξυπνοι χαρακτηρες - έλλειψη σχεδον ολοκληρωτική ανούσιων περιγραφών - μυστήριο - επιμορφωτικές αναφορές σε θέματα ψυχολογίας και κινηματολογίας.
Καλή ανάγνωση !
Αυτό το μεγάλο σε όγκο σελίδων ψυχολογικό θρίλερ ειναι πολύ καλοδουλεμένο λεπτομερειακά αλλα και ανεξάντλητο απο άποψη πλοκής και εξέλιξης.
Μέχρι να συνέλθεις απο το ένα χτύπημα αλλαγής δεδομένων και καταστάσεων σου έρχεται το άλλο που φυσικά κάπου πιο πριν είχε αναφερθεί ως λεπτομέρεια στην ιστορια μας αλλα λόγω της αγωνίας δεν του είχε δωθεί η πρέπουσα σημασία. Και αυτό το κάνει απόλυτα ενδιαφέρον μέχρι τέλους.
Ειναι πολύ σημαντικό τελικά ο συγγραφέας-τέτοιου είδους βιβλίων-να βγάζει με την πένα του μια μαύρη ιδιοφυΐα σε ότι αφορά το έγκλημα - παντός είδους- και η εξιχνίαση μαζί με την έρευνα και τους πρωταγωνιστες να σε κάνουν να αισθάνεσαι συνυπεύθυνος ως αναγνώστης,αφού εκεί που κορυφώνεται το γεγονός και φαινομενικά η πλοκή διασταυρώνεται με την έρευνα, δεν σταθηκες στο ύψος των περιστάσεων και δεν κατάλαβες πως ολα αυτά που συμβαίνουν προετοιμάζουν το χειρότερο που έρχεται.
Ο Ντιβερ χειραγωγεί τον αναγνώστη με αυτό τον τροπο. Γνωρίζει τέλεια τι κάνει και πως το κάνει. Αυτή η ευφυΐα του με κέρδισε περισσότερο στο βιβλίο απο την ίδια την αφήγηση και εξέλιξη της υπόθεσης.
Αληθοφανή στοιχεία - σασπένς - βία - ρεαλιστικά έξυπνοι χαρακτηρες - έλλειψη σχεδον ολοκληρωτική ανούσιων περιγραφών - μυστήριο - επιμορφωτικές αναφορές σε θέματα ψυχολογίας και κινηματολογίας.
Καλή ανάγνωση !
November 16, 2022
Lots of moving parts and not always easy to follow. At times it's difficult to distinguish between character A and character B, especially near the end. 6 of 10 stars
November 25, 2014
This was my first book by Jeffery Deaver and I enjoyed it very much. I really liked his main character, Kathryn Dance. She is strong and smart and able to out think all the baddies including the ones who were supposed to be on her own side. Most crime novels finish straight after the death or capture of the main criminal. This one went on for a couple more very interesting chapters as ends were tied up and twist followed twist to the story. A great incentive to read more of his books.
March 31, 2025
Kathryn Dance, un detectiv atipic cu capacități opuse lui Lincon Rhyme este protagonista unei alte serii reușite a lui Jeffery Deaver. Ceea ce îmi place în mod special la autor este că nu lasă nicio latură a povestii neacoperită, fiecare aspect cât de mic al anchetei este rezolvat. Păpușa adormită este un caz despre manipulare și control, indiferent dacă ești criminal, detectiv, mamă, iubită, victimă sau agresor.
November 17, 2013
I am not all that familiar with Deaver's work, but one thing I liked most about this book is the way that is flowed. There was none of that long drawn out unnecessary hoopla. I love that. Deaver is very good at stringing his readers along to feel as though a mystery has finally been solved. But when the reader gets comfortable with that, they discover that one mystery runs straight into another keeping the reader constantly guessing and constantly turning the pages. I also love that as well. When I read a mystery, I want there to be A LOT of mystery going on. Deaver gave me that in large doses with this book.
The premise of the story was great. It was a constant race to figure out what was going to happen, and who was gonna be involved, and who would come out on top. And then right when I would say 'oh that is what is happening' I would be proved wrong time and time again. And something totally different would come from it. The twists in the book were amazing. Some of them really got to me, and Deaver included them at just the right moments. I absolutely loved the way this story unfolded and came to life.
The sleeping doll part of the story was not anything that I expected it to be. From the start you come to find out that she is a survivor of Daniel Pell's work. She is a teenager and she was apparently sleeping while her family was murdered. Hence the name of the book. When it finally came into play in its totality it turned out to much more than I expected. I loved that because it opened yet more mystery to the story.
I really enjoy the Kathryn Dance character. I like her strength, determination, and the fact that she does not let anyone push her around. I think her job as a kinesics expert is quite interesting and I love that she was referred to as a walking lie detector. I did however feel that her ability to deduce what is going to happen next is a little unrealistic at times, but not enough to take away from the plot of the story.
Our antagonist was very well developed as well. The reader gets to learn just about everything about Daniel Pell, the expert controller, and what makes him tick. You figure he is the normal serial killer who has to be in control of every situation, but to me there was so much more to him than that, which truly unfolds near the end of the book. He was also very determined and very smart. And he always seemed to be one step ahead almost every step of the way.
There is one part of the book near the end that I hope gets addressed in the next book Roadside Crosses, having to do with Juan Miller. I think it was Deaver's way of keeping us interested and hooked. I look forward to the next book and I will probably read XO again as well.
The premise of the story was great. It was a constant race to figure out what was going to happen, and who was gonna be involved, and who would come out on top. And then right when I would say 'oh that is what is happening' I would be proved wrong time and time again. And something totally different would come from it. The twists in the book were amazing. Some of them really got to me, and Deaver included them at just the right moments. I absolutely loved the way this story unfolded and came to life.
The sleeping doll part of the story was not anything that I expected it to be. From the start you come to find out that she is a survivor of Daniel Pell's work. She is a teenager and she was apparently sleeping while her family was murdered. Hence the name of the book. When it finally came into play in its totality it turned out to much more than I expected. I loved that because it opened yet more mystery to the story.
I really enjoy the Kathryn Dance character. I like her strength, determination, and the fact that she does not let anyone push her around. I think her job as a kinesics expert is quite interesting and I love that she was referred to as a walking lie detector. I did however feel that her ability to deduce what is going to happen next is a little unrealistic at times, but not enough to take away from the plot of the story.
Our antagonist was very well developed as well. The reader gets to learn just about everything about Daniel Pell, the expert controller, and what makes him tick. You figure he is the normal serial killer who has to be in control of every situation, but to me there was so much more to him than that, which truly unfolds near the end of the book. He was also very determined and very smart. And he always seemed to be one step ahead almost every step of the way.
There is one part of the book near the end that I hope gets addressed in the next book Roadside Crosses, having to do with Juan Miller. I think it was Deaver's way of keeping us interested and hooked. I look forward to the next book and I will probably read XO again as well.
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October 7, 2025
1-Star DNF @ 17% for "The Sleeping Doll" -
I was not liking it!
I don't think I have the legs to continue with this Jeffery Deaver oldie. It lacks probability and plausibility and to repeat, yes, I know it's fiction🙄!
Commenced: October 4, 2025
October 4, 2025 @ 7%: "Kathryn Dance is a senior investigator at the CBI (California Bureau of Investigation) and a specialist in kinesics (the interpretation of 'body language'). At 15:40 hours (c450 pages) long, it has started with some interesting action!"
October 4, 2025 @ 14%: "I heard another hour last night but now I am a little disturbed about implausibility... and yes, I know it's fiction🙄!"
I was not liking it!
I don't think I have the legs to continue with this Jeffery Deaver oldie. It lacks probability and plausibility and to repeat, yes, I know it's fiction🙄!
Commenced: October 4, 2025
October 4, 2025 @ 7%: "Kathryn Dance is a senior investigator at the CBI (California Bureau of Investigation) and a specialist in kinesics (the interpretation of 'body language'). At 15:40 hours (c450 pages) long, it has started with some interesting action!"
October 4, 2025 @ 14%: "I heard another hour last night but now I am a little disturbed about implausibility... and yes, I know it's fiction🙄!"
September 28, 2021
Per me questo nome è una garanzia!
Adoro questo autore e leggere i suoi libri è per me sempre un piacere.
In questo libro facciamo la conoscenza di Kathryn Dance, esperta di cinesica del CBI di Sacramento, vedova con due bambini e tre cani, che cura nel tempo libero un sito di condivisione di musica di autori indipendenti.
Il caso in cui la ritroviamo è uno dei più difficili, con un personaggio enigmatico e carismatico, Daniel Pell, in prigione per diverse accuse per reati perpetrati con i membri della setta che guidava, che riesce ad evadere e a nascondere le proprie tracce abilmente per un po’.
Ad aiutarla interviene l’FBI con il suo esperto di sette, Kellogg, uomo affascinante che ricorda alla protagonista il marito Bill.
Per risolvere il caso gli agenti saranno costretti a risalire al primo omicidio dell’uomo, il caso Croyton, quello che gli è costato la galera, per poter comprendere meglio le motivazioni che lo guidano.
La bambola che dorme è infatti la figlia Theresa, unica superstite della famiglia Croyton, apparentemente sfuggita alla morte perché addormentata in mezzo alle bambole, per una delle quali poteva essere facilmente scambiata.
Temevo di restarci male cambiando protagonista della serie ed invece Dance mi piace tantissimo!
In questo thriller si ritrovano gli elementi vincenti dei libri di Deaver: colpi di scena continui, caccia al colpevole con lettura degli indizi, un protagonista che è un comune essere umano che non è per niente perfetto ma che ha una capacità speciale che conduce alla soluzione.
La narrazione fa scorrere via veloci oltre 500 pagine, alla lettura della psicologia delle sette, con una sfida al difficile compito di stabilire il confine tra la giustizia e la vendetta.
Curiosità: incontriamo per pochi minuti Rhyme, dato che i due, detective e criminologo, sembrano andare molto d’accordo dopo le prime difficoltà iniziali della conoscenza, tanto da comparire l’uno nelle indagini dell’altro.
Adoro questo autore e leggere i suoi libri è per me sempre un piacere.
In questo libro facciamo la conoscenza di Kathryn Dance, esperta di cinesica del CBI di Sacramento, vedova con due bambini e tre cani, che cura nel tempo libero un sito di condivisione di musica di autori indipendenti.
Il caso in cui la ritroviamo è uno dei più difficili, con un personaggio enigmatico e carismatico, Daniel Pell, in prigione per diverse accuse per reati perpetrati con i membri della setta che guidava, che riesce ad evadere e a nascondere le proprie tracce abilmente per un po’.
Ad aiutarla interviene l’FBI con il suo esperto di sette, Kellogg, uomo affascinante che ricorda alla protagonista il marito Bill.
Per risolvere il caso gli agenti saranno costretti a risalire al primo omicidio dell’uomo, il caso Croyton, quello che gli è costato la galera, per poter comprendere meglio le motivazioni che lo guidano.
La bambola che dorme è infatti la figlia Theresa, unica superstite della famiglia Croyton, apparentemente sfuggita alla morte perché addormentata in mezzo alle bambole, per una delle quali poteva essere facilmente scambiata.
Temevo di restarci male cambiando protagonista della serie ed invece Dance mi piace tantissimo!
In questo thriller si ritrovano gli elementi vincenti dei libri di Deaver: colpi di scena continui, caccia al colpevole con lettura degli indizi, un protagonista che è un comune essere umano che non è per niente perfetto ma che ha una capacità speciale che conduce alla soluzione.
La narrazione fa scorrere via veloci oltre 500 pagine, alla lettura della psicologia delle sette, con una sfida al difficile compito di stabilire il confine tra la giustizia e la vendetta.
Curiosità: incontriamo per pochi minuti Rhyme, dato che i due, detective e criminologo, sembrano andare molto d’accordo dopo le prime difficoltà iniziali della conoscenza, tanto da comparire l’uno nelle indagini dell’altro.
April 22, 2017
Βιβλίο θητείας #4
Readathon 2017 [4/13]: Ένα βιβλίο που θα αγοράσετε με λιγότερα από €5
Ο Deaver για άλλη μια φορά έκανε το θαύμα του. Ένα ατμοσφαιρικό αστυνομικό/ψυχολογικό θρίλερ με πρωταγωνίστρια την πράκτορα και κινηματολόγο (ω ναι) Κάθριν Ντανς, η "κοιμισμένη κούκλα" στάθηκε στα ύψη των προσδοκιών και μου μετέφερε κύματα ανατριχίλας από τις ανατροπές διαβάζοντας την εν ώρα μεταμεσονύκτιων υπηρεσιών.
Όλα ξεκινούν όταν μέσω μιας επεισοδιακής ανάκρισης ο Ντάνιελ Πελ, μεγάλο κακοποιό στοιχείο, καταφέρνει να δραπετεύσει σκορπώντας το θάνατο στο πέρασμα του. Η Κάθριν αναλαμβάνοντας το ανθρωποκηνυγητό καλεί στο πλευρό της τα πρώην μέλη της Οικογένειας -μιας περιθωριακής ομάδας με αρχηγό τον Πελ- μα και την Κοιμισμένη Κούκλα που είναι η μόνη επιζούσα από τα θύματα του...
Δεξιοτεχνική γραφή, με ανατροπές εκεί που η αγωνία φαινομενικά κορυφώνεται που απλά προετοιμάζουν το έδαφος για κάτι μεγαλύτερο μέχρι τέλους. Ιδιοφυέστατο.
★★★★½
Readathon 2017 [4/13]: Ένα βιβλίο που θα αγοράσετε με λιγότερα από €5
Ο Deaver για άλλη μια φορά έκανε το θαύμα του. Ένα ατμοσφαιρικό αστυνομικό/ψυχολογικό θρίλερ με πρωταγωνίστρια την πράκτορα και κινηματολόγο (ω ναι) Κάθριν Ντανς, η "κοιμισμένη κούκλα" στάθηκε στα ύψη των προσδοκιών και μου μετέφερε κύματα ανατριχίλας από τις ανατροπές διαβάζοντας την εν ώρα μεταμεσονύκτιων υπηρεσιών.
Όλα ξεκινούν όταν μέσω μιας επεισοδιακής ανάκρισης ο Ντάνιελ Πελ, μεγάλο κακοποιό στοιχείο, καταφέρνει να δραπετεύσει σκορπώντας το θάνατο στο πέρασμα του. Η Κάθριν αναλαμβάνοντας το ανθρωποκηνυγητό καλεί στο πλευρό της τα πρώην μέλη της Οικογένειας -μιας περιθωριακής ομάδας με αρχηγό τον Πελ- μα και την Κοιμισμένη Κούκλα που είναι η μόνη επιζούσα από τα θύματα του...
Δεξιοτεχνική γραφή, με ανατροπές εκεί που η αγωνία φαινομενικά κορυφώνεται που απλά προετοιμάζουν το έδαφος για κάτι μεγαλύτερο μέχρι τέλους. Ιδιοφυέστατο.
★★★★½
April 22, 2014
Jeffery Deaver is a great crime novelist and the heroin in this series, Kathryn Dance, is an interesting character. I think the stand out for me in this story was the villain and the mystery behind who was the true villain.
July 2, 2023
I've always said that Mr. Deaver is one of the most gifted thriller-writers. That is the case with our book: the characters are strong, intelligent and lively, the twists of the plot are hard to predict, almost every little fact has a proper explanation. A very good novel, perhaps the best from Dance series, with only a few facts I've liked less: the great number of casualties, the first part of the final (too bloody and harsh, almost rude, for my taste...) and the adjacent story of agent Juan Millar, which made me feel embarrassed as a reader...
September 12, 2012
An absolute let-down from the stables of Jeffery Deaver. In the Sleeping Doll, Mr. Deaver starts off his series with Kathryn Dance, an expert in "kinesics" based investigation. Unfortunately, Mr. Deaver's depth of knowledge in kinesics falls totally short when compared to his expertise in forensics with the Lincoln Rhyme series.
Having said so, Kathryn Dance is a character who turns to be to be nothing more than an endearing individual, a CBI agent, a widow and a mother of two. She is nowhere close to a menacing investigator or a relentless pursuer.
This book is more of a mega mun-hunt than an tight investigative journey. Laced with numerous "lucky breaks", this man-hunt simply fails to deliver. It has no pace, no looking forward to what's going to happen next and completely devoid of any OMG moments. Mr. Deaver does attempt to cook up a few twists towards the end of the book but it's far from the twists that we have experienced in the Lincoln Rhyme series. Moreover, the twists are extremely predictable and just does not live up to the promise of a Jeffery Deaver novel.
Unfortunately, I have already bought the next book in the series "Roadside Crosses" and therefore, have no choice but to read it. But based on "The Sleeping Doll", I am definitely going to take off "XO", the latest Kathryn Dance novel off the list.
I had picked up "The Sleeping Doll" based on the brief appearance made by Kathryn Dance in the Lincoln Rhyme novel "The Cold Moon" (which was an absolute stunner) and this book simply does not live up to what was promised to us by Mr. Deaver in the form of Kathryn Dance.
Overall - this is a book you can sure miss.
Having said so, Kathryn Dance is a character who turns to be to be nothing more than an endearing individual, a CBI agent, a widow and a mother of two. She is nowhere close to a menacing investigator or a relentless pursuer.
This book is more of a mega mun-hunt than an tight investigative journey. Laced with numerous "lucky breaks", this man-hunt simply fails to deliver. It has no pace, no looking forward to what's going to happen next and completely devoid of any OMG moments. Mr. Deaver does attempt to cook up a few twists towards the end of the book but it's far from the twists that we have experienced in the Lincoln Rhyme series. Moreover, the twists are extremely predictable and just does not live up to the promise of a Jeffery Deaver novel.
Unfortunately, I have already bought the next book in the series "Roadside Crosses" and therefore, have no choice but to read it. But based on "The Sleeping Doll", I am definitely going to take off "XO", the latest Kathryn Dance novel off the list.
I had picked up "The Sleeping Doll" based on the brief appearance made by Kathryn Dance in the Lincoln Rhyme novel "The Cold Moon" (which was an absolute stunner) and this book simply does not live up to what was promised to us by Mr. Deaver in the form of Kathryn Dance.
Overall - this is a book you can sure miss.
March 6, 2017
I was really intrigued by the character of Kathryn Dance in "Cold Moon." Having a character that uses kinesics in order to get witnesses and suspects to open up and or confess.
In "The Sleeping Doll" we get more information on the character of Kathryn Dance. She works at the California Bureau of Investigation (think of a state office set up like the FBI) and is about to interrogate a man who murdered a family decades earlier (Daniel Pell). Pell is seen as similar to Charles Manson due to having his own family (teenage girls) who he commanded to steal from stores and homes in order to support the family. When new information comes up linking Pell to a murder Dance is set in to break him and get him to confess. Too late Dance realizes that Pell is up to something and then he escapes. This books follows Dance's efforts to track down and stop Pell as well as following Pell as he continues to wreck havoc.
There are multiple POVs in this book per usual for a Deaver book. We get Dance, Pell, and some of the teens (now older women) who came under Pell's spell decades earlier. We also get a POV from a writer who is going to write about the family that was murdered and the lone survivor of that murder (the so called Sleeping Doll). Deaver manages to do a good job shifting from each POV. I was honestly surprised since I thought it be too much.
I can say I wanted more of Dance though. Deaver was slow to reveal details about Dance, but at least I had questions answered about her from "Cold Moon." Due to Dance being a widow she has a lot of trouble trying to establish a new relationship without dealing with her kids disapproval. And because of Dance's special abilities she does a lot of analysis of her friends and family. It's kind of like being around a human version of a Vulcan.
Deaver gets a bit too in depth at times when explaining Dance's methods when interrogating cooperative and uncooperative witnesses. We also get to see how Pell manipulates people around him. And we definitely focus more on people's motivations, thought processes, and even body movements. I found this whole thing pretty fascinating.
The flow worked nicely in this one and of course we get typical Deaver twists, though they work in this one. Unlike with the Rhyme books I didn't feel like these were meant to shock. If you're paying attention you realize that Deaver was giving clues all along the way.
The setting of this one takes place in California. What I wish we had gotten more details about is the areas near Dance. Deaver provides details on Dance's home and her deck (which features prominently in this book) but I would have liked the same attention of detail regarding the history of the state and town they are in like he does in the Rhyme books.
The ending left me with some questions regarding Dance, her romantic relationships, and her family. I can't wait for the next one.
In "The Sleeping Doll" we get more information on the character of Kathryn Dance. She works at the California Bureau of Investigation (think of a state office set up like the FBI) and is about to interrogate a man who murdered a family decades earlier (Daniel Pell). Pell is seen as similar to Charles Manson due to having his own family (teenage girls) who he commanded to steal from stores and homes in order to support the family. When new information comes up linking Pell to a murder Dance is set in to break him and get him to confess. Too late Dance realizes that Pell is up to something and then he escapes. This books follows Dance's efforts to track down and stop Pell as well as following Pell as he continues to wreck havoc.
There are multiple POVs in this book per usual for a Deaver book. We get Dance, Pell, and some of the teens (now older women) who came under Pell's spell decades earlier. We also get a POV from a writer who is going to write about the family that was murdered and the lone survivor of that murder (the so called Sleeping Doll). Deaver manages to do a good job shifting from each POV. I was honestly surprised since I thought it be too much.
I can say I wanted more of Dance though. Deaver was slow to reveal details about Dance, but at least I had questions answered about her from "Cold Moon." Due to Dance being a widow she has a lot of trouble trying to establish a new relationship without dealing with her kids disapproval. And because of Dance's special abilities she does a lot of analysis of her friends and family. It's kind of like being around a human version of a Vulcan.
Deaver gets a bit too in depth at times when explaining Dance's methods when interrogating cooperative and uncooperative witnesses. We also get to see how Pell manipulates people around him. And we definitely focus more on people's motivations, thought processes, and even body movements. I found this whole thing pretty fascinating.
The flow worked nicely in this one and of course we get typical Deaver twists, though they work in this one. Unlike with the Rhyme books I didn't feel like these were meant to shock. If you're paying attention you realize that Deaver was giving clues all along the way.
The setting of this one takes place in California. What I wish we had gotten more details about is the areas near Dance. Deaver provides details on Dance's home and her deck (which features prominently in this book) but I would have liked the same attention of detail regarding the history of the state and town they are in like he does in the Rhyme books.
The ending left me with some questions regarding Dance, her romantic relationships, and her family. I can't wait for the next one.
August 3, 2022
"All'aggressione è sopravvissuta solo una bambina, Theresa, di nove anni, sfuggita a Pell perché addormentata nel suo lettino, nascosta tra i giocattoli. Per questo è stata soprannominata - La bambola che dorme -."
March 13, 2018
Number 1 in the Kathryn Dance series.
Kathryn Dance is a special agent for the CBI, California Bureau of Investigation, specialising in kinesics. This is the science of reading body language, used in interrogations to discern whether a interviewee is telling the true or not. Kathryn is one of the few people that can do this and so is in high demand.
Nine years ago a family is callously murdered, baring the youngest child, The Sleeping Doll of the story, by a Manson like family. The leader, Daniel Pell, of the family is arrested and convicted to serve a life sentence in prison. New information comes to light that he may have caused an other murder and is brought from maximum security to a small detention center to be interview by Agent Dance. Pell makes a successful daring escape, with the help of a female accomplice, and kills a number of police officers in the process. I turns out that there was no other murder and this was a just a ruse by Pell for the purpose of escaping.
Pell leave a trail of death and destruction in his wake.
The hunt is on to apprehend Pell before he kills anybody else. The CBI bring in an FBI agent, expert on cults, to help track down Pell.
This a fast paced, exciting read. The characters are all intriguing , especially Kathryn Dance, who comes across as a strong, independent woman who has to juggle being a single parent and a career as a law enforcer.
To add to the suspense there is more than one ending, just when you think, that's it, it's not.
Great entertainment. I gave a four star recommendation.
Kathryn Dance is a special agent for the CBI, California Bureau of Investigation, specialising in kinesics. This is the science of reading body language, used in interrogations to discern whether a interviewee is telling the true or not. Kathryn is one of the few people that can do this and so is in high demand.
Nine years ago a family is callously murdered, baring the youngest child, The Sleeping Doll of the story, by a Manson like family. The leader, Daniel Pell, of the family is arrested and convicted to serve a life sentence in prison. New information comes to light that he may have caused an other murder and is brought from maximum security to a small detention center to be interview by Agent Dance. Pell makes a successful daring escape, with the help of a female accomplice, and kills a number of police officers in the process. I turns out that there was no other murder and this was a just a ruse by Pell for the purpose of escaping.
Pell leave a trail of death and destruction in his wake.
The hunt is on to apprehend Pell before he kills anybody else. The CBI bring in an FBI agent, expert on cults, to help track down Pell.
This a fast paced, exciting read. The characters are all intriguing , especially Kathryn Dance, who comes across as a strong, independent woman who has to juggle being a single parent and a career as a law enforcer.
To add to the suspense there is more than one ending, just when you think, that's it, it's not.
Great entertainment. I gave a four star recommendation.
March 16, 2009
This wasn't a bad book, just overly long. It has sufficient, credible twists and turns, but ultimately, it began suffering from the very first scene when the reader infers that the prisoner (Pell) might, at some point, go after Dance's kids. Authors take note: keep the families of the investigators out of it - it's an unnecessary (re: cheap) ploy successfuly NOT used by many, many fine thriller writers. It rarely adds anything, and in this case, Deaver doesn't seem to want the plot to build its own momentum, so he introduces this to "goose" the plot. What it does is overwhelm the plot before it ever gets started. For myself, I wanted a mystery and not a worry-fest.
This part of my criticizm is for the audiobook. Read by Maggi-Meg Reed, her reading is slow and plodding, largely lifeless (and for a thriller, that's bad) with little or no change in nuance when different characters are speaking. She really zapped the thrill out of it, and I really couldn't wait for this one to be over. And given the lackluster stories I've gotten from Deaver lately, I think this is my last of his, too.
This part of my criticizm is for the audiobook. Read by Maggi-Meg Reed, her reading is slow and plodding, largely lifeless (and for a thriller, that's bad) with little or no change in nuance when different characters are speaking. She really zapped the thrill out of it, and I really couldn't wait for this one to be over. And given the lackluster stories I've gotten from Deaver lately, I think this is my last of his, too.
November 21, 2013
The Sleeping Doll was my first Jeffery Deaver read, and I was not disappointed. I'm on a mission now to read all of Deaver's work.
This book has so many twists and turns, several, "OH MY GOSH!" moments. I really enjoyed being surprised and shocked by many events which took place, but I also appreciated the fact with all of the twists and turns, they all made sense, fit together, and were well done.
Since this was my first Jeffery Deaver, I didn't really know what to expect. Two of my best Goodreads friends, Janie and Chris, are the ones who turned me on to Deaver after expressing my interest in trying out the mystery/thriller/suspense genre. After finishing The Sleeping Doll, I'm so glad they did. Deaver's writing flows so well, and has the perfect amount of description so you can see what is going on in your head, but it doesn't bog down the story. You have feelings for and thoughts about the characters, and are shockingly surprised sometimes people don't turn out to be who you thought they were. I love when an author can surprise me, and Deaver has so many surprises written in this novel.
I really like Kathryn Dance, the main character, and whom the series is named after and follows. She is strong, brilliant, and is written like a real woman in her position would be presumed to be. She is real, and even though the story follows a prison escapee convicted of murder, we do get to see what Kathryn's life is like outside of her law enforcement career. Deaver makes her have her own life as a single mother, and her own struggles. Kathryn's expertise in kinesics was fascinating. I loved how she could read people and they didn't even have to say a word. I actually learned a bit about reading people, and the things I learned weren't written to be educational and boring. They were written in a fascinating way.
The main story in this first volume in the Kathryn Dance series, was really interesting. Daniel Pell was interesting as a villain, and the things he did were believable and evil. The manipulation, the lies, the deceit, the evil, and the sum of the whole package of Daniel Pell and the events involved in The Sleeping Doll read like something you might actually see on the news.
The mystery surrounding this "Sleeping Doll" was compelling, and what we learn about who she is and her story, was at times interesting and even shocking. The events she reveals were such a surprise to me, I kept saying, "Oh my gosh! No way!" I didn't see ANY of what she revealed coming my way. I loved Deaver did this to me.
Overall, for an almost 600 page book, The Sleeping Doll doesn't read like a 600 page novel. It's fast-paced, and even the "down-time" parts were interesting because they revealed things about Kathryn and her life, so I was never left bored.
A very solid, four-star, fantastic novel, especially for my first Jeffery Deaver!
This book has so many twists and turns, several, "OH MY GOSH!" moments. I really enjoyed being surprised and shocked by many events which took place, but I also appreciated the fact with all of the twists and turns, they all made sense, fit together, and were well done.
Since this was my first Jeffery Deaver, I didn't really know what to expect. Two of my best Goodreads friends, Janie and Chris, are the ones who turned me on to Deaver after expressing my interest in trying out the mystery/thriller/suspense genre. After finishing The Sleeping Doll, I'm so glad they did. Deaver's writing flows so well, and has the perfect amount of description so you can see what is going on in your head, but it doesn't bog down the story. You have feelings for and thoughts about the characters, and are shockingly surprised sometimes people don't turn out to be who you thought they were. I love when an author can surprise me, and Deaver has so many surprises written in this novel.
I really like Kathryn Dance, the main character, and whom the series is named after and follows. She is strong, brilliant, and is written like a real woman in her position would be presumed to be. She is real, and even though the story follows a prison escapee convicted of murder, we do get to see what Kathryn's life is like outside of her law enforcement career. Deaver makes her have her own life as a single mother, and her own struggles. Kathryn's expertise in kinesics was fascinating. I loved how she could read people and they didn't even have to say a word. I actually learned a bit about reading people, and the things I learned weren't written to be educational and boring. They were written in a fascinating way.
The main story in this first volume in the Kathryn Dance series, was really interesting. Daniel Pell was interesting as a villain, and the things he did were believable and evil. The manipulation, the lies, the deceit, the evil, and the sum of the whole package of Daniel Pell and the events involved in The Sleeping Doll read like something you might actually see on the news.
The mystery surrounding this "Sleeping Doll" was compelling, and what we learn about who she is and her story, was at times interesting and even shocking. The events she reveals were such a surprise to me, I kept saying, "Oh my gosh! No way!" I didn't see ANY of what she revealed coming my way. I loved Deaver did this to me.
Overall, for an almost 600 page book, The Sleeping Doll doesn't read like a 600 page novel. It's fast-paced, and even the "down-time" parts were interesting because they revealed things about Kathryn and her life, so I was never left bored.
A very solid, four-star, fantastic novel, especially for my first Jeffery Deaver!
December 4, 2020
Nu stiu cum mi-a scapat acest autor pana acum, insa thrillerul lui psihologic mi-a placut foarte, foarte mult! Personaje complexe, o actiune care te tine cu sufletul la gura, multe rasturnari de situatie si dorinta de a citi seria in continuare, imediat ce ai dat ultima pagina a cartii. Ma bucur ca l-am descoperit si ca are multe carti scrise, am de unde alege.
May 22, 2009
I've always loved the Amelia Sachs and Lincoln Rhyme series, but I think I liked Kathryn Dance just as much... I sure hope that Mr. Deaver writes another one... great mystery, suspenseful and lots of false endings... overall great read.
November 14, 2018
Erster Solo-Streich mit der im gehetzten Uhrmacher vorgestellten Kinesiologin Kathryn Dance, gleichbedeutend mit einem gewissen Aufwand für den persönlichen Hintergrund der Hauptperson, der klar auf Kosten der Spannung geht. Bei den Lincoln-Rhyme/Amalia-Sachs-Krimis bot die Kombination paraplegisches Forensik-Genie und Ex-Model im Polizeidienst ausreichend Reizpunkte. Für das Familienleben der zweifachen Mutter und FBI-Witwe, deren Kinder ihre Beziehungswünsche sabotieren, opfert Jeffery Deaver lange Zeit seine Stärken und zündet erst spät sein übliches Feuerwerk. Die Hörbuchversion eliminiert zwar ein paar Familientermine, aber derartige Szenen sind definitiv nicht JDs Stärke. Von daher wirkt die Menschenleserin irgendwie mit Pflichtübungen in fachfremden Genres zugemüllt. Da bei den Rhyme-Krimis oft zwei Fälle parallel laufen, ist permanent was los. Die Innenansichten des lange Zeit namenlosen Täters, dessen Vorgeschichte parallel von Rhyme-Sachs und Co ermittelt wird sorgt für zusätzliche Spannung. Dieser Faktor fehlt ebenfalls, da der Roman ja mit dem Ausbruch des charismatischen Sektenführers Daniel Pell beginnt. Da der letztlich gelinkte Psychopath permanent den zweiten Erzählstrang belegt, entsteht eine eher müde Verfolgungsjagd. Die Sex- und Psychospielchen Pells mit seiner Befreiungshelferin wirken eher ermüdend.
Das finale furioso reißt noch mal einiges raus, sogar ins Familienleben kommt noch mal etwas Spannung, mehr als zwei Sterne sind aber nicht drin. Zumal die Menschenleserin in ihrem Fach nicht annähernd dieselben Aufschlüsse wie Rhyme in Sachen Forensik. Kathryn Dance bekommt noch mal eine zweite oder auch dritte Chance, aber ihr erster Fall ist ähnlich schwach wie der zuvor entstandene gehetzte Uhrmacher, in dem Deavers Verwirrspielautomatik Amok läuft. Beide Bücher sind extrem schlecht motiviert.
Das finale furioso reißt noch mal einiges raus, sogar ins Familienleben kommt noch mal etwas Spannung, mehr als zwei Sterne sind aber nicht drin. Zumal die Menschenleserin in ihrem Fach nicht annähernd dieselben Aufschlüsse wie Rhyme in Sachen Forensik. Kathryn Dance bekommt noch mal eine zweite oder auch dritte Chance, aber ihr erster Fall ist ähnlich schwach wie der zuvor entstandene gehetzte Uhrmacher, in dem Deavers Verwirrspielautomatik Amok läuft. Beide Bücher sind extrem schlecht motiviert.
July 3, 2013
Chosen from my Goodreads recommendations list, this book had the elements of a interesting story but dragged on and on. At least 3 times did I expect (and want) the book to end and it continued to add (I don't want to say twists) but additional parts that I really couldn't get excited about. If you enjoy reads that tries to tie up every loose end possible you would like this book. Oh wait! No you wouldn't because it adds an additional 4th bit at the very end that leaves things open. This book was a bit too much of everything.
March 9, 2019
“De slaappop - Jeffery Deaver”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fantastisch verhaal!
Zo ongelooflijk soms, maar toch niet over the top.
Ik vond het vlot lezen, verrassend en het hield mijn aandacht vast gedurende het hele boek.
Ik probeerde dit boek 2 jaar geleden al eens, maar ben toen afgehaakt op pagina 90.
Ik merkte nu wel, dat ik soms ook opnieuw moest doorbijten de eerste 100 pagina's. De volgende 308 pagina's gingen er echter vlotjes door!
Het enige minpuntje is de vertaling. Dit boek is echt enorm slecht vertaald (inclusief een hoop 'typ'fouten). Ik stoor me daar meestal niet echt aan, maar in dit boek irriteerde het me mateloos met momenten.
Een topverhaal! Spannend tot het einde!
Voor mensen die vlotjes Engels lezen, misschien lees je dit boek beter in het Engels :)
Mijn Engels / concentratie is hier helaas onvoldoende voor :)
Een aanrader! ❤️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fantastisch verhaal!
Zo ongelooflijk soms, maar toch niet over the top.
Ik vond het vlot lezen, verrassend en het hield mijn aandacht vast gedurende het hele boek.
Ik probeerde dit boek 2 jaar geleden al eens, maar ben toen afgehaakt op pagina 90.
Ik merkte nu wel, dat ik soms ook opnieuw moest doorbijten de eerste 100 pagina's. De volgende 308 pagina's gingen er echter vlotjes door!
Het enige minpuntje is de vertaling. Dit boek is echt enorm slecht vertaald (inclusief een hoop 'typ'fouten). Ik stoor me daar meestal niet echt aan, maar in dit boek irriteerde het me mateloos met momenten.
Een topverhaal! Spannend tot het einde!
Voor mensen die vlotjes Engels lezen, misschien lees je dit boek beter in het Engels :)
Mijn Engels / concentratie is hier helaas onvoldoende voor :)
Een aanrader! ❤️
December 11, 2018
This is the first Jeffrey Deaver book I've read and I can't say that I'll be in a hurry to find any further books written by him. Whilst the premise was intriguing, the execution left a lot to be desired and I found that the first half of the book dragged to a degree that I was forcing myself onwards. It did pick up somewhat in the second half and there were some interesting twists that I hadn't seen coming, but it doesn't save this from itself.
Deaver spends far too much time in the first half of the book talking down to his reader; Agent Dance is an interrogation agent who specialises in kinesics, otherwise known as body language I guess. It's all about the non-verbal communication and how to spot stress factors or lies or uncertainties and it should be right up my alley. But Deaver doesn't allow you to figure out anything by yourself and he doesn't even lead you to it gently through the agents thought processes. He just drops entire paragraphs of text into the novel, explaining why a certain gesture is a sure fire sign that the suspect is lying. There's no pretence at subtlety, Deaver instead utilises a giant sledge hammer and whacks you round the head with it a few hundred times.
The first half of the book also goes nowhere fast and even when it starts to pick up pace, it reads more like a cop chase than a well structured investigation. It's not as though Dance is trying to figure out who killed anybody; the answer is the man she's trying to hunt down after he escaped from prison. Yes, there are some interesting moments and some of the characters are reasonably well written, but nothing here made me leap out of my seat or sneak off to the bathroom for some extra time with the book. You could see where the base of the narrative line had to go from the very start; the question was really who would get killed in the process. The answer by the way is nobody particularly interesting. The same tactics kept being used again and again and again, and whilst I understand that this is partly the nature of the perpetrator; this cult leader is meant to be incredibly intelligent. He didn't really act it.
Overall, I found this a disappointing read. I wasn't enamoured with the writing style and whilst the narrative was reasonable it was nothing special. I will admit that I didn't see many of the twists coming, I also found several of them to be rather obvious in hindsight and surely cliches of the genre. I suspect the only reason I didn't see them coming is that this isn't really my typical genre and I don't read a huge amount of novels within it.
Deaver spends far too much time in the first half of the book talking down to his reader; Agent Dance is an interrogation agent who specialises in kinesics, otherwise known as body language I guess. It's all about the non-verbal communication and how to spot stress factors or lies or uncertainties and it should be right up my alley. But Deaver doesn't allow you to figure out anything by yourself and he doesn't even lead you to it gently through the agents thought processes. He just drops entire paragraphs of text into the novel, explaining why a certain gesture is a sure fire sign that the suspect is lying. There's no pretence at subtlety, Deaver instead utilises a giant sledge hammer and whacks you round the head with it a few hundred times.
The first half of the book also goes nowhere fast and even when it starts to pick up pace, it reads more like a cop chase than a well structured investigation. It's not as though Dance is trying to figure out who killed anybody; the answer is the man she's trying to hunt down after he escaped from prison. Yes, there are some interesting moments and some of the characters are reasonably well written, but nothing here made me leap out of my seat or sneak off to the bathroom for some extra time with the book. You could see where the base of the narrative line had to go from the very start; the question was really who would get killed in the process. The answer by the way is nobody particularly interesting. The same tactics kept being used again and again and again, and whilst I understand that this is partly the nature of the perpetrator; this cult leader is meant to be incredibly intelligent. He didn't really act it.
Overall, I found this a disappointing read. I wasn't enamoured with the writing style and whilst the narrative was reasonable it was nothing special. I will admit that I didn't see many of the twists coming, I also found several of them to be rather obvious in hindsight and surely cliches of the genre. I suspect the only reason I didn't see them coming is that this isn't really my typical genre and I don't read a huge amount of novels within it.
February 5, 2022
En el año 1999 Daniel Pell comete un terrible asesinato múltiple por el que será condena a prisión. El asesino mata a toda una familia en su casa, a excepción de una niña que se escondía entre sus muñecos. El caso se hace muy mediático y a la pequeña a la apodan: "la muñeca dormida".
La novela empieza años después, con la fuga de la cárcel del asesino condenado, de cuya búsqueda y captura tendrá que hacerse cargo Kathryn Dance, una agente especial experta en análisis del lenguaje corporal. Pero Daniel Pell no es un asesino cualquiera y la necesidad de atraparlo antes de que cometa cualquier atrocidad hace que la novela tome un ritmo más acelerado.
Los personajes marcan polos muy opuestos: el asesino es un malo muy malo que además es capaz de influenciar, persuadir y manipular con toda facilidad. Nos muestra la parte oscura del ser humano y se le atribuye cierto paralelismo con Charles Manson.
Por otra parte, Kathryn Dance es una mujer fuerte e inteligente que no da su brazo a torcer. Y algún que otro personaje que sale más adelante también tiene una personalidad muy definida que encaja muy bien en el juego de perfiles psicológicos que se establece durante toda la trama.
Recomendable? Sí, aunque por el título esperaba que la historia se basara en "La muñeca dormida" y ciertamente no es así, se trata de un thriller psicológico que narra persecución del asesino. Y lo hace en 600 y pico páginas así que ocurren cosas, pero tampoco es el libro más sorprendente y adictivo del mundo. No se hace largo pero tiene partes un poco llanas.
Jeffery Deaver es conocido también por ser el autor de "El coleccionista de huesos".
Y también escribió "Cruces en el camino", posterior a "La muñeca dormida" y también con Kathryn Dance de protagonista. Lo tengo pendiente, como tantísimos otros.
La novela empieza años después, con la fuga de la cárcel del asesino condenado, de cuya búsqueda y captura tendrá que hacerse cargo Kathryn Dance, una agente especial experta en análisis del lenguaje corporal. Pero Daniel Pell no es un asesino cualquiera y la necesidad de atraparlo antes de que cometa cualquier atrocidad hace que la novela tome un ritmo más acelerado.
Los personajes marcan polos muy opuestos: el asesino es un malo muy malo que además es capaz de influenciar, persuadir y manipular con toda facilidad. Nos muestra la parte oscura del ser humano y se le atribuye cierto paralelismo con Charles Manson.
Por otra parte, Kathryn Dance es una mujer fuerte e inteligente que no da su brazo a torcer. Y algún que otro personaje que sale más adelante también tiene una personalidad muy definida que encaja muy bien en el juego de perfiles psicológicos que se establece durante toda la trama.
Recomendable? Sí, aunque por el título esperaba que la historia se basara en "La muñeca dormida" y ciertamente no es así, se trata de un thriller psicológico que narra persecución del asesino. Y lo hace en 600 y pico páginas así que ocurren cosas, pero tampoco es el libro más sorprendente y adictivo del mundo. No se hace largo pero tiene partes un poco llanas.
Jeffery Deaver es conocido también por ser el autor de "El coleccionista de huesos".
Y también escribió "Cruces en el camino", posterior a "La muñeca dormida" y también con Kathryn Dance de protagonista. Lo tengo pendiente, como tantísimos otros.
May 6, 2024
the best way i can describe this book is that it is beautiful. i know given the genre, it is an odd description but that's the only word that comes to mind when i think about it. when i was done, i just held it for some time. i have never felt that way about a mystery/ thriller book so this is new for me.
there is so much i liked about this book, for starters the main character katherine, what a lady. i like her so much. she is smart, a great mum, thoughtful, good at her job... she just felt very human to me. very real. in a way she reminded me of another katherine from a mystery tv show that i like and that's kate beckett from the show castle. as i got to know this katherine more, i felt this is how beckett would be if she were a mum. i am such a fan.
in fact, i really liked the characters in this, they just felt fleshed out and well thought out. even the villain despite his crimes. deaver really did a great job here.
as to the plot, i liked how slow it moved. i liked that even though there was a case being investigated, focus was also given to the other aspects of the characters lives like katherine's relationship with her kids.
gosh, ok i like this book. definitely one of my favorites for 2024.
there is so much i liked about this book, for starters the main character katherine, what a lady. i like her so much. she is smart, a great mum, thoughtful, good at her job... she just felt very human to me. very real. in a way she reminded me of another katherine from a mystery tv show that i like and that's kate beckett from the show castle. as i got to know this katherine more, i felt this is how beckett would be if she were a mum. i am such a fan.
in fact, i really liked the characters in this, they just felt fleshed out and well thought out. even the villain despite his crimes. deaver really did a great job here.
as to the plot, i liked how slow it moved. i liked that even though there was a case being investigated, focus was also given to the other aspects of the characters lives like katherine's relationship with her kids.
gosh, ok i like this book. definitely one of my favorites for 2024.
August 15, 2018
Viele sagen das Buch sei "lahm", was ich auch irgendwie nachvollziehen kann. Das Tempo ist schon sehr gemächlich, was mich bei Deavers Liebe zum Detail aber nicht weiter überrascht.
Dance ist unglaublich interessant, analysiert Körpersprache und ist auf der Jagd nach dem flüchtigen Mörder Pell, den sie kurz vor dessen Flucht verhört hat. Nebenbei ist sie aber auch Witwe und Mutter.
Pell ist irre intelligent, den Ermittlern immer mindestens einen Schritt voraus und wird mit Charles Manson verglichen.
Wegen der Lincoln Rhyme Bücher habe ich tolle Charaktere erwartet und wurde auch nicht enttäuscht. Ermittler, Täter, Komplizen - alle unglaublich gut gezeichnet.
Deaver schreibt sehr umschweifend, beschreibt Charaktere, deren Privatleben und Vergangenheit und Nebenhandlungen detailliert, ähnlich wie King.
Darunter leidet zwar die Spannung, dafür ist viel Action dabei. Die Story bleibt interessant, komplex und anspruchsvoll, nur eben weniger rasant.
Dance ist unglaublich interessant, analysiert Körpersprache und ist auf der Jagd nach dem flüchtigen Mörder Pell, den sie kurz vor dessen Flucht verhört hat. Nebenbei ist sie aber auch Witwe und Mutter.
Pell ist irre intelligent, den Ermittlern immer mindestens einen Schritt voraus und wird mit Charles Manson verglichen.
Wegen der Lincoln Rhyme Bücher habe ich tolle Charaktere erwartet und wurde auch nicht enttäuscht. Ermittler, Täter, Komplizen - alle unglaublich gut gezeichnet.
Deaver schreibt sehr umschweifend, beschreibt Charaktere, deren Privatleben und Vergangenheit und Nebenhandlungen detailliert, ähnlich wie King.
Darunter leidet zwar die Spannung, dafür ist viel Action dabei. Die Story bleibt interessant, komplex und anspruchsvoll, nur eben weniger rasant.
May 2, 2013
This isn't the best ever crime thriller. The writing is good, not great; the story is interesting but not quite nail-biting; and the characters are borderline cliché. Still, something pulls it back from being average. I can honestly say that by the end I genuinely cared for the characters and the plot twists managed to surprise me right to the last page (well, nearly). Worth reading but don't go out of your way to find it perhaps.
August 11, 2013
I forced myself to finish this book. The characters were terrible and you can't relate to them. They use phrases that are unrealistic and make unrealistic assumptions. This book was terrible. I did not like Kathryn Dance character at all. I hated that as soon as she met someone she started using a short form of their name. For example, Theresa she just called Tare. All the time!!,! No good plot line. Was very predictable.
March 24, 2020
Review to follow.
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