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Lincoln Rhyme #1
The Bone Collector
Book by Jeffery Deaver
404 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 1997
3892 people are currently reading
122820 people want to read
About the author
Jeffery Deaver
513 books11.8k 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 4,191 reviews
May 27, 2020
DISGUSTING, YET RIVETING!
The Bone Collector is a police procedural/thriller about a sick and twisted serial killer and the criminologist who brings him down.
There are over 2,500 reviews and over 150,000 ratings of this book on Goodreads, so mine doesn’t really matter at this point, but I will post one anyway!
This is a complex, intricately plotted sick and twisted tale with intelligent MC’s and a sick and twisted killer. I have read some later books in the series, so it was interesting to read the first book. I was able to gain some insight into how this series and relationships developed, especially the relationship between Sachs and Rhyme. Like some of the later books, the plot is complicated and has many threads. I enjoyed seeing all of the threads come together.
I did not enjoy the level of detail included in the killer’s scenes. This sick individual cut people down to the bone, essentially skinning them alive. There is one scene involving rats feasting on a victim that caused me to put this book down for several days. And the final scene with the killer being taken down was absolutely disgusting!
However, by the time I got to the most brutal of passages, I was hooked which compelled me to pick this book up again but had I not been, I don’t know if I could have done it. I read some sick and twisted books, but this book takes things to another level.
Trigger Warnings: Almost everything imaginable!
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway!
The Bone Collector is a police procedural/thriller about a sick and twisted serial killer and the criminologist who brings him down.
There are over 2,500 reviews and over 150,000 ratings of this book on Goodreads, so mine doesn’t really matter at this point, but I will post one anyway!
This is a complex, intricately plotted sick and twisted tale with intelligent MC’s and a sick and twisted killer. I have read some later books in the series, so it was interesting to read the first book. I was able to gain some insight into how this series and relationships developed, especially the relationship between Sachs and Rhyme. Like some of the later books, the plot is complicated and has many threads. I enjoyed seeing all of the threads come together.
I did not enjoy the level of detail included in the killer’s scenes. This sick individual cut people down to the bone, essentially skinning them alive. There is one scene involving rats feasting on a victim that caused me to put this book down for several days. And the final scene with the killer being taken down was absolutely disgusting!
However, by the time I got to the most brutal of passages, I was hooked which compelled me to pick this book up again but had I not been, I don’t know if I could have done it. I read some sick and twisted books, but this book takes things to another level.
Trigger Warnings: Almost everything imaginable!
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway!
December 3, 2012
This is my all time favorite book. When I was in high school I hated to read. The only books I would read were the cheesy movie knock off books. I read Mission: Impossible, Batman and Robin, and The Saint. My mom had said this was going to be a movie and the movie paperback edition had just come out. I read this book in record time for me and was captivated. No book had ever held my attention, or kept me up at night with a flash light because I had to find out what happened next.
Jeffery Deaver was the first real author I had ever read and he left an impression on me that has caused me to be the avid reader I am today. I have read every one of his books, some of those haven’t been in print for years and never will be again. I searched so hard years later to find a hardback first edition of this book and found one. Last year I met Deaver for the first time and had him sign my copy.
This is the first Lincoln Rhyme novel and it made me love the character so much I began to study forensics when I got to college. The Bone Collector is a vicious killer who leaves clues to his next victim at the crime scene. The victims are left in some of the most grisly situations and the suspense is so intense I had a hard time sitting still. I couldn’t read fast enough. This book and the writing style of Jeffery Deaver brought the joy of reading into my life, and helped me expand my horizons to find some of the best authors I have ever read.
Jeffery Deaver was the first real author I had ever read and he left an impression on me that has caused me to be the avid reader I am today. I have read every one of his books, some of those haven’t been in print for years and never will be again. I searched so hard years later to find a hardback first edition of this book and found one. Last year I met Deaver for the first time and had him sign my copy.
This is the first Lincoln Rhyme novel and it made me love the character so much I began to study forensics when I got to college. The Bone Collector is a vicious killer who leaves clues to his next victim at the crime scene. The victims are left in some of the most grisly situations and the suspense is so intense I had a hard time sitting still. I couldn’t read fast enough. This book and the writing style of Jeffery Deaver brought the joy of reading into my life, and helped me expand my horizons to find some of the best authors I have ever read.
June 13, 2021
This is an outstanding, (but trigger laden), dark detective crime thriller, from the highly recommended (by my friends), Jeffery Deaver. A quadriplegic, former near genius forensic criminal-ist Lincoln Rhyme is considering suicide; beat cop Amelia Sachs, daughter of a well liked and well known lifelong beat cop is considering jacking in her 'uniform' role and moving to police communications; being at the wrong place at the right time and internal police politics brings these two together to investigate, crime scene by crime scene, a seemingly deranged, but very forensic savvy kidnapper-killer on a spree, a killer so confident/deranged that he leaves clues to his next murder at his crime scenes. The case is a race against time as the rocky partnership of Rhymes and Sachs use detailed forensics, research and data gathering to try and save lives and stop the killing spree!
A truly compelling and thrilling book, with multiple pages of surprisingly interesting forensic search and analysis! What Deaver seems to excel at is making forensics interesting, to an extent using the quadriplegic Rhyme's disabilities to force the forensic investigation to almost 100% people talking and discussing issues aloud and in conversation. There have been probably hundreds of thousands of crime detective books published of which the vastly majority appear to be formulaic, is must have been a blast a fresh air when this series kicked off with it's thunderous debut. The only negative, in my opinion was the need for Amelia Sachs so beautiful, as it added nothing to the book; although Deaver could argue it might have been one of the drivers that got Hollywood to option his work and make a film from it! 8.5 out of 12., up 1.5 points since my last reading of this.
A truly compelling and thrilling book, with multiple pages of surprisingly interesting forensic search and analysis! What Deaver seems to excel at is making forensics interesting, to an extent using the quadriplegic Rhyme's disabilities to force the forensic investigation to almost 100% people talking and discussing issues aloud and in conversation. There have been probably hundreds of thousands of crime detective books published of which the vastly majority appear to be formulaic, is must have been a blast a fresh air when this series kicked off with it's thunderous debut. The only negative, in my opinion was the need for Amelia Sachs so beautiful, as it added nothing to the book; although Deaver could argue it might have been one of the drivers that got Hollywood to option his work and make a film from it! 8.5 out of 12., up 1.5 points since my last reading of this.
November 18, 2017
Fantastic series! an engrossing,entertaining,fast-paced,plot-twister of a series..Lincoln Rhyme is just stunning in this mystery,with all his brain power than he has to rely on..action-pact (paperback!)
July 5, 2017
I think I found a new favorite series. Rhymes mind is crazy brilliant. And I love the dynamics between him and Sachs. They make a great team, they're ingenious together.
September 29, 2017
I can't believe I haven't read anything by this author before - was I in a fugue? I read this as part of - The Lincoln Rhyme Collection books 1 - 4. Because I seen the movie first - a myriad of times - I couldn't help but visualise Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie in their respective roles. Bad idea. In the book, Rhyme is Caucasian and Amelia Sachs' is a fiery redhead. So that took some getting used to.
There's a killer on the loose - and ex IRD (Investigation and Resource Division) head, Lincoln Rhyme (a C4 Quadriplegic), has two unwelcome visitors, Lon Sellitto and Jerry Banks, requesting his assistance on a case. Rhyme' is in a very dark place and has a date with Dr. Berger of the Lethe Society (death doctor) - and he's adamant that nothing is going to change his mind.
He gradually gets interested (though he still wants to die), and requests the officer who found the first victim, Amelia Sachs, be brought in - as she showed ingenuity - by sealing off the crime scene. Although, not everyone is impressed, when she stops the traffic, whilst the UN conference is in town.
The first two victims were passengers in a taxi, John Ulbercht and T.J. Colfax. Sachs' was the officer who found Ulbercht - and now it's a race against time to try and find/save the second kidnap victim, Tammie Jean Colfax. The killer leaves clues, so...it's just a case of deciphering what the unsub is telling them.
Rhyme' lives in a Gothic style townhouse on the Upper West Side of the city, overlooking Central Park - and his bedroom on the second floor, soon becomes the CP (Command Post) - which is bustling with activity. Thom, his aide, is designated the task of adding annotations to a poster, basically detailing what they know about Unsub 823 (Unknown Subject) - so far. Mel Cooper, turns Rhyme's bedroom into a mini lab, so he does a lot of tests on the samples collected by Sachs' from different crime scenes. The Hardy Boys, Bedding and Saul - do the canvassing, and they're skillful in interviewing people who live close to crime scenes - and Sachs' is Rhymes eyes and ears - and isn't too pleased about it; as she was supposed to be transferring to Public Affairs at noon, for a training session - and she's been waiting eight months for this reassignment.
I really enjoyed the book - though some of the authors/characters dialect was a bit antiquated. You've got words like: Limo'd, brother'd, whatta, myself'd, this's, offa (off of), figger (figure), grounds're, dincha (didn't you), he'd've, ever'body, to've, etc. So that took some getting used to, as well. There's a few acronyms throughout, though most of those are explained in the following sentence/paragraph via the author or character: COC ( Chain Of Custody), CI (Confidential Informant), ESU (Emergency Services Unit), PERT (Physical Evidence Response Team), ALS (Alternative Light Source.) The appendix at the end, explains some of them in more detail.
In summation: This was very good. I liked the forensic work, which was done in minute detail, at times, with Sachs' walking the grid: north/south - then perpendicular - east to west - looking for clues, in the hope of catching the killer, as well as finding the location of the next victim. There's a lot of humour and banter throughout, so that was quite amusing, too.
There's a killer on the loose - and ex IRD (Investigation and Resource Division) head, Lincoln Rhyme (a C4 Quadriplegic), has two unwelcome visitors, Lon Sellitto and Jerry Banks, requesting his assistance on a case. Rhyme' is in a very dark place and has a date with Dr. Berger of the Lethe Society (death doctor) - and he's adamant that nothing is going to change his mind.
He gradually gets interested (though he still wants to die), and requests the officer who found the first victim, Amelia Sachs, be brought in - as she showed ingenuity - by sealing off the crime scene. Although, not everyone is impressed, when she stops the traffic, whilst the UN conference is in town.
The first two victims were passengers in a taxi, John Ulbercht and T.J. Colfax. Sachs' was the officer who found Ulbercht - and now it's a race against time to try and find/save the second kidnap victim, Tammie Jean Colfax. The killer leaves clues, so...it's just a case of deciphering what the unsub is telling them.
Rhyme' lives in a Gothic style townhouse on the Upper West Side of the city, overlooking Central Park - and his bedroom on the second floor, soon becomes the CP (Command Post) - which is bustling with activity. Thom, his aide, is designated the task of adding annotations to a poster, basically detailing what they know about Unsub 823 (Unknown Subject) - so far. Mel Cooper, turns Rhyme's bedroom into a mini lab, so he does a lot of tests on the samples collected by Sachs' from different crime scenes. The Hardy Boys, Bedding and Saul - do the canvassing, and they're skillful in interviewing people who live close to crime scenes - and Sachs' is Rhymes eyes and ears - and isn't too pleased about it; as she was supposed to be transferring to Public Affairs at noon, for a training session - and she's been waiting eight months for this reassignment.
I really enjoyed the book - though some of the authors/characters dialect was a bit antiquated. You've got words like: Limo'd, brother'd, whatta, myself'd, this's, offa (off of), figger (figure), grounds're, dincha (didn't you), he'd've, ever'body, to've, etc. So that took some getting used to, as well. There's a few acronyms throughout, though most of those are explained in the following sentence/paragraph via the author or character: COC ( Chain Of Custody), CI (Confidential Informant), ESU (Emergency Services Unit), PERT (Physical Evidence Response Team), ALS (Alternative Light Source.) The appendix at the end, explains some of them in more detail.
In summation: This was very good. I liked the forensic work, which was done in minute detail, at times, with Sachs' walking the grid: north/south - then perpendicular - east to west - looking for clues, in the hope of catching the killer, as well as finding the location of the next victim. There's a lot of humour and banter throughout, so that was quite amusing, too.
May 28, 2020
uma obra-prima da literatura policial.
conte comigo para tudo, amelia sachs.
conte comigo para tudo, amelia sachs.
April 30, 2009
It's a page-turner, and to Deaver's credit, the extensive scenes about collecting and analyzing crime scene trace evidence rarely get boring.
Unfortunately, it's also pretty far-fetched. I'm willing to accept the elaborate murder methods, the exacting evidence collection, and the rapid clue-solving because they're the point of the novel. I accept that Lincoln Rhyme is a superhuman genius up against a larger-than-life serial killer because that's what makes this worth reading. I can ALMOST accept that all this happened in a day or two for the same reason.
But the killer is presented both as a psycho with a bone fetish and also as a man driven insane by trauma and personal vendetta, and the two personas don't quite match up. Then there's the climax (including a revelation whose essence I saw coming but whose details I didn't, which was a nice bit of misdirection), in which Lincoln Rhyme does something I still can't imagine being possible for a human being let alone a quadriplegic.
It's a good airplane book.
Unfortunately, it's also pretty far-fetched. I'm willing to accept the elaborate murder methods, the exacting evidence collection, and the rapid clue-solving because they're the point of the novel. I accept that Lincoln Rhyme is a superhuman genius up against a larger-than-life serial killer because that's what makes this worth reading. I can ALMOST accept that all this happened in a day or two for the same reason.
But the killer is presented both as a psycho with a bone fetish and also as a man driven insane by trauma and personal vendetta, and the two personas don't quite match up. Then there's the climax (including a revelation whose essence I saw coming but whose details I didn't, which was a nice bit of misdirection), in which Lincoln Rhyme does something I still can't imagine being possible for a human being let alone a quadriplegic.
It's a good airplane book.
December 14, 2017
Awesome start to a new crime detective series for me!
Lots of plot twists and I really loved the characters of Lincoln Rhyme, Amelia Sachs and Thom. I definitely plan on continuing with the books.
The forensics was excellent and very detailed in this book along with the clues to catch "The Bone Collector". The action was gripping and the suspense of the book was great.
I loved the whole cat and mouse chase of this book to get to the next victim. The ending was epic with who the killer was and the beginning of another search for the next impending disaster.
Excellent writing, characters and unforgettable plot twists! Kudos Jeffery Deaver for adding another fan to your fanbase!
Lots of plot twists and I really loved the characters of Lincoln Rhyme, Amelia Sachs and Thom. I definitely plan on continuing with the books.
The forensics was excellent and very detailed in this book along with the clues to catch "The Bone Collector". The action was gripping and the suspense of the book was great.
I loved the whole cat and mouse chase of this book to get to the next victim. The ending was epic with who the killer was and the beginning of another search for the next impending disaster.
Excellent writing, characters and unforgettable plot twists! Kudos Jeffery Deaver for adding another fan to your fanbase!
April 12, 2021
TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR SUICIDAL REFERENCES IN THIS BOOK AND THROUGHOUT MY REVIEW.
This is the first instalment in the Lincoln Rhyme series.
Lincoln Rhymes was once a genius in the field of criminology, often finding tiny clues that others have overlooked and seeing each crime scene from his own, unique perspective. Now he wants to die. It has been three years since the accident that resulted in his incapacitated state and the burden of living his life beholden to others has become too much for him. Assisted suicide feels like his only future option, but he is urged to aid in the capture of one more criminal before the final deed is done.
This book was penned quite a few years ago and so there was the inclusion of a few lines that were in a tasteless or pointless style. These made me wince and served no purpose to the plot or in the creation of a character. The repeated references to the body size of one side-character was just one such instance and resulted in my four, instead of five, star rating.
This, however, was my only source of discontent within this blood-soaked and brutally-rendered storyline. It was as gripping as it was entertaining and I quickly became as plagued by the need to hunt down this serial killer as the police tasked to do just that. I believe that the multiple insights to his victims' suffering aided in aligning me so completely with Lincoln and his team, and also ensured it intimately delivered the horror of his actions.
I was unprepared for the criminal's perspective to feature, which also brought with it an abundance of harrowing and tragic scenes of torture from his own delighted viewpoint. But not even when those solving the case were left to examine the remains he left behind was the reader spared any of the intricate details about the horrors he inflicted . Deaver repeatedly brought each scene to harrowing and sickening vividity!
Asides from this being an entirely engrossing thriller, the two characters who centred it were provided with their own intriguing side-plots. Lincoln's emotional and physical struggles plagued him every single day and I thought Deaver handled these with sensitivity but also authenticity. Here, too, he did not shy away from presenting suffering with anything but the harsh glare of stark reality and, despite only having read one book from him, this feels like his signature style.
Amelia is the individual working underneath Lincoln and the one burdened with bearing his harsh retorts and acting out his hard demands. She was provided with her own personal character arc and I enjoyed seeing her blossom as she continued to come ever closer to both the man she sought and also the man who aided her in capturing him.
This is the first instalment in the Lincoln Rhyme series.
Lincoln Rhymes was once a genius in the field of criminology, often finding tiny clues that others have overlooked and seeing each crime scene from his own, unique perspective. Now he wants to die. It has been three years since the accident that resulted in his incapacitated state and the burden of living his life beholden to others has become too much for him. Assisted suicide feels like his only future option, but he is urged to aid in the capture of one more criminal before the final deed is done.
This book was penned quite a few years ago and so there was the inclusion of a few lines that were in a tasteless or pointless style. These made me wince and served no purpose to the plot or in the creation of a character. The repeated references to the body size of one side-character was just one such instance and resulted in my four, instead of five, star rating.
This, however, was my only source of discontent within this blood-soaked and brutally-rendered storyline. It was as gripping as it was entertaining and I quickly became as plagued by the need to hunt down this serial killer as the police tasked to do just that. I believe that the multiple insights to his victims' suffering aided in aligning me so completely with Lincoln and his team, and also ensured it intimately delivered the horror of his actions.
I was unprepared for the criminal's perspective to feature, which also brought with it an abundance of harrowing and tragic scenes of torture from his own delighted viewpoint. But not even when those solving the case were left to examine the remains he left behind was the reader spared any of the intricate details about the horrors he inflicted . Deaver repeatedly brought each scene to harrowing and sickening vividity!
Asides from this being an entirely engrossing thriller, the two characters who centred it were provided with their own intriguing side-plots. Lincoln's emotional and physical struggles plagued him every single day and I thought Deaver handled these with sensitivity but also authenticity. Here, too, he did not shy away from presenting suffering with anything but the harsh glare of stark reality and, despite only having read one book from him, this feels like his signature style.
Amelia is the individual working underneath Lincoln and the one burdened with bearing his harsh retorts and acting out his hard demands. She was provided with her own personal character arc and I enjoyed seeing her blossom as she continued to come ever closer to both the man she sought and also the man who aided her in capturing him.
February 5, 2020
“You work too hard. Amie, this case of yours ... it wasn’t dangerous, was it?
“I was just doing the technical stuff, Mom. Crime scene. It doesn’t get any safer than that.”
On her last day as a street cop, before moving to a desk job, Amelia Sachs is sent to investigate a reported murder near the train tracks in a derelict New York suburb. What she discovers there is definitely not for the squeamish, and very soon Amie will be engaged in one of the most urgent and most dangerous manhunts the metropolis has ever witnessed. Which makes her quaint remark on the phone to her mother rather funny. In the darkest shades of black available in print.
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This was my second in a row airplane read, after “To Catch a Thief” , and also my very first foray into Jeffery Deaver. I must say: I’m impressed! I went in with rather low expectations, as I prefer classic hardboiled or noir crime novels to the modern high octane offerings. I now believe Deaver is simply one of the best writers in the subgenre, based so far on my first encounter with his lead detective Lincoln Rhyme.
Something was nagging at Rhyme. An infuriating itch – the curse of all quads – though in this case it was an intellectual itch. The kind that had plagued Rhyme all his life.”
A quad is a quadriplegic patient, somebody who lost all muscle control bellow the neck. Rhyme, the former chief forensic expert on the New York police force, got his injuries in the line of duty, when a heavy timber frame fell on his head at a crime scene. Now, after three years of hospital beds, chronic pain and humiliating daily mishaps, Lincoln Rhyme is only interested in how to get a doctor to assist him in ending his life. Then his former colleagues on the force come to him with the case Amelia Sachs investigated, and Rhyme discovers that he may have lost everything, but he still has his passion for solving puzzles. The unknown perpetrator of the murder has intentionally left clues at the crime scene that seem to lead to his next victim. It seems he wants to be stopped, if only the cops manage to decrypt his messages in time.
Together, the bedridden forensic expert and the glamorous redhead, are poring over the mysterious artifacts in a race against time to put a stop to this crime spree. What makes Deaver stand out from a crowded field of would-be bestsellers is his rigorous approach to the scientific angle of a crime scene investigation (I actually believe the TV series CSI was inspired by the Lincoln Rhyme series) , the richness of detail regarding the city and the real clever developments in the plot, put there not only for their shocking value, but as an illustration of the salient points in the police procedures described. Oh, and did I mention this is a true-blood page-turner, the kind that keeps you awake until morning in order to finally find out whodunit?
A criminalist is a renaissance man.
He’s got to know botany, geology, ballistics, medicine, chemistry, literature, engineering. If he knows facts – that ash with a high strontium content probably came from a highway flare, that ‘facta’ is Portuguese for knife, that Ethiopian diners use no utensils and eat with their right hands exclusively, that a slug with five land-and-groove rifling marks, right twist, could not have been fired from a Colt pistol – if he knows these things he may just make the connection that places an unsub* at the crime scene.
* unsub = unknown subject
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Revising my notes a couple of weeks after finishing the novel, I felt the need to curb my enthusiasm a little, down to 4 stars. I still believe this is one of the best modern thrillers I’ve read, but I wonder how truly memorable the plot is? Yes, it makes for a gripping, edge of your seat experience, but it is also limited by the conventions of the genre: the timeline is just too tightly compressed, with too many murders taking place over just a couple of days, too many Hollywood-style narrow escapes, while the ending is just a tad too smart for its own good, with one too many reversals to make it credible.
But I will say this: I want to read more from Deaver, and that’s high praise considering how fast my TBR pile is growing.
October 25, 2022
4,5
This forensic thriller story was dark and often disgustingly vivid and horrendous but at the same time it was exciting and a real page turner. All the elaborate details of the crime scenes and the whole collecting the physical evidence process never got boring.
The characters were okay. My favourite was Lincoln's caretaker Thom. He and Rhyme have a weirdly respectful and sarcastic friendship?-work?ship? It was understandable why Rhyme was difficult and hard to please but Thom handled him extremely well.
Oh, but how marvellous would it be to have a brain like our criminologist Lincoln has...also, sarcastic curmudgeonly types of characters are always right up my alley!
Some things, especially the motives of the killer were a little bit too far fetched for me but still intriguing, because the main focus here is on the technical parts of the crime investigation and not the psychological parts that spur our culprit so I wasn't too harsh in my rating.
This forensic thriller story was dark and often disgustingly vivid and horrendous but at the same time it was exciting and a real page turner. All the elaborate details of the crime scenes and the whole collecting the physical evidence process never got boring.
The characters were okay. My favourite was Lincoln's caretaker Thom. He and Rhyme have a weirdly respectful and sarcastic friendship?-work?ship? It was understandable why Rhyme was difficult and hard to please but Thom handled him extremely well.
Oh, but how marvellous would it be to have a brain like our criminologist Lincoln has...also, sarcastic curmudgeonly types of characters are always right up my alley!
Some things, especially the motives of the killer were a little bit too far fetched for me but still intriguing, because the main focus here is on the technical parts of the crime investigation and not the psychological parts that spur our culprit so I wasn't too harsh in my rating.
November 10, 2019
Libro muy ameno y entretenido. Mucho más bueno que la película. Está muy bien documentado. La parte del análisis de la escena del crimen se puede hacer un poco pesada para quién no disfrute de estos temas. Me han gustado mucho los personajes de Sacks y Rhyme, aunque no he podido dejar de ver a Jolie y Washington durante la lectura. Me ha resultado imposible.
Atrapa mucho. La segunda parte me la he leído muy rápido. No podía dejarlo.
El final, un poco flojo.
Very entertaining book. Much better than the movie. It is very well documented. The crime scene analysis part can be a bit heavy for those who do not enjoy these issues. I really liked the characters of Sacks and Rhyme, although I could not help seeing Jolie and Washington during the reading. I found it impossible.
Catch a lot. I read the second part very quickly. I could not leave it.
The end, a bit weak.
Atrapa mucho. La segunda parte me la he leído muy rápido. No podía dejarlo.
El final, un poco flojo.
Very entertaining book. Much better than the movie. It is very well documented. The crime scene analysis part can be a bit heavy for those who do not enjoy these issues. I really liked the characters of Sacks and Rhyme, although I could not help seeing Jolie and Washington during the reading. I found it impossible.
Catch a lot. I read the second part very quickly. I could not leave it.
The end, a bit weak.
August 17, 2025
My first Jeffrey Deaver read and though not perfect it was not that bad. Mr. Deaver came on my radar when reading the kudos section of a Chris Carter novel saying Carter was coming into the realm of Jeffrey Deaver. This implied Deaver to be a class above Carter so I just had to read him as Carter is one of my favourites.
My choice though is quite dated written in the late 90s so Deaver likely has not hit his stride at that time. The Bone Collector is quite original indeed. A quadriplegic detective, like that's something different. And the language, like wow, referring to himself as a crip and mocking himself for being "a quad", Deavers words. Like how I miss those times, when you could actually use harsh and explicative words to offend someone because that's what you actually set out to do - offend! And said NYPD former detective (Lincoln Rhyme) wants to end his life as he feels his struggles with life are just not worth it. He is completely paralyzed except for his finger. Rhyme started out as what he refers to as a criminalist and worked his way up to being a detective prior to his on the job injury which left him paralyzed. A criminalist is not really a term I am familiar with but it is basically a forensic specialist so think along the lines of CSI. Rhyme was such an expert at collecting and processing evidence he wrote a book on it.
The book starts out pretty quick with a kidnapping and a killing. We are introduced to constable Amelia Sachs who discovers the body and then actually goes about stopping a train and shutting down huge sections of New York so as to just preserve the scene. Very exaggerated actions indeed. Can you imagine police really doing that every time there is a big crime in a big city? So Sachs is chastised for her actions but when the lead detective wants Rhyme to work on the case and review the crime scene reports Rhyme in fact takes a liking to Sachs and how she handled the scene as it was truly a thing of beauty in his eyes. He insists the lowly constable be added to his team.
So our killer The Bone Collector is something quite original indeed. As he kills one victim he has another held hostage waiting to be killed. At his current kill and crime scene he actually leaves the detectives clues and physical evidence re his coming next kill. It is quite cool and original and this process occurs numerous times. I really liked the fact it occurred numerous times because if there is one fault with this book its the obsession of crime scene evidence. Like there is a lot and it is detailed and yet all well explained. Deaver delves into police talk quite well with all kinds of acronyms and if you know anything at all about policing its that we have acronyms for everything for some damn reason. I think it makes us think we are smart. At the rear of the book there is appendix of all the acronyms used as well as other terms and their meaning and Deaver tells us this in the foreward which is great because I have come upon such sections at the end of the book never knowing they were there which would have been very helpful in knowing.
So if you are a forensic fan or like that kind of thing this is an easy five star book. I really do not. I have spent far too much time at crime scenes listening to these guys talk about maggots and insects and the like and what that tells you about the crime. It's science and to me not that exciting. I remember one expert going in to detail after detail at a body found in a field and having been there for some time. When we finally escaped him my partner was so thrilled by it all he started repeating everything to me again. I'm like shut up, hearing it once was enough. And trust me I get the value in it all. On one call I had a girl in her early teens claimed to have been raped. My partner did not believe her as she did not wish to go home at all and called from a friends house. My partner suspected there was an issue in her not wanting to go home and just made the call up. I, however, did believe her. She explained that it happened after getting off the bus and cutting through a school yard and it happened there. It was dark at 6pm due to the winter months. Two of our sexual assault female detectives called asking about our call. No doubt looking for overtime money. I told them I wanted to take her to the crime scene. The one detective went nuts on me asking if I had any idea what the victim had gone through. I said I could tell by looking at the victim and then said she will never forget what happened and live and relive it for her whole life so we should do what we need to do and that our victim would eventually appreciate our efforts. So we all met at the school. At the school I asked her where it occurred and we went to the area. I asked how she was approached, was she just tackled? She said no he yelled up to her having been behind her and that as he closed the gap he tossed his cigarette. Lets just say that cigarette solved the case and this story gets way more complicated but I'll leave it at that. So this book brought all that back to me as well as a smile because that forensic expert who bored the hell out of me earlier gave a detailed account to our whole force in a training segment naming us with regard to the call and how our actions were key. It was so cool to hear and my partner was like that was all on him as I didn't even believe the victim to begin with. Turns out this call and the publicity behind it nailed a serial rapist who in total sexually assaulted over 15 young women. All due to processing the crime scene. It is so vital indeed. Just love it when a book brings you into a place you can identify with!!
Again the forensic aspect here is quite a lot and quite detailed but in my opinion just overdone. Thankfully the serial killer and his actions kept me interested throughout. It was kind of a balancing act by Deaver but again just a bit heavy on the forensic side.
So in working the case Rhyme uses Sachs as an extension of himself. He has her process the scenes the way he would via radio communication. This of course leads to quite a bit of conflict and Sachs comes to dislike Rhyme and how he works, especially when he wants her to saw off the hands of a dead victim so as to preserve the handcuffs used in binding her exactly as they were put on the victim. That was a bit much for Sachs, lol.
There are so many twists and turns though and so much excitement as the cops are very good in what they do and so very close to always coming to the rescue of the next serial killers victim. And the serial killer. Like at times you think the guy is mentally ill as he is hooked into a New York book set in the 1800s and living his current life through the eyes of a serial killer from the 1800s. We see the bone collector reading excerpts from this old book and it is kind of weird but cool in another way. Oh and I found this funny too. Dealing with reading....... when at one of the crime scenes, Sachs takes an image of what looks like a side of the shoe imprint at a scene. Rhyme concludes the bone collector was in fact reading while at the crime scene. When Sachs asks how he could possibly know that he has Sachs start reading a book and as she is sitting and getting comfortable reading Rhyme tells her to look at her feet which are now ankle over ankle with the sides of her shoes on edge like what she found at the crime scene. As I finished reading this I laughed so hard because my feet were in that position as I was reading and when I looked over at my wife in her chair in our outside reading nook her feet were in the same position. So like is this a universal thing when we read in a seated position in a normal chair? Like wow. So that's an example of the kind of detail Rhyme can pick up. In fact as I type this my feet are in that position, lmao.
In the end Sachs comes to really admire Rhyme and gets quite disappointed when she finds out he wants to kill himself even though he is clearly useful as an investigator. The book does deal with that subject and being written in the late 90s when Kevorkian was in full swing and bringing to the table the rights of the ill to die it was noteworthy to touch on the various aspects involved.
Just an enjoyable read with some really good crimes encountered and so many surprises you just don't see coming. I have to admit I really struggled with the first half due to all the forensic stuff but as the story moved along and the need to catch the serial killer becomes the focus it becomes more along the lines of a good police procedural thriller. I hope that in the coming books Deaver eases up on the forensic stuff as he clearly has shown Rhyme to be the expert that he is and no need for overkill. I fully expect some more forensic stuff but hopefully not to this degree. At our used bookstore all of this series is there, in hardcover, at great prices. I got the second one and through the first half of this book regretted getting it but after finishing no regrets at all. And oh, I should clarify that re the forensics its reading about it. On TV I am a big fan of forensic dramas with Bones being my favourite. Watching tv dramas on forensics is very cool and quite enjoyable, reading about it, not really for me.
And the ending. My oh my. Can't really imagine anyone seeing it coming. So four stars for me and if you really like the forensic side of things this would be an easy five star.
My choice though is quite dated written in the late 90s so Deaver likely has not hit his stride at that time. The Bone Collector is quite original indeed. A quadriplegic detective, like that's something different. And the language, like wow, referring to himself as a crip and mocking himself for being "a quad", Deavers words. Like how I miss those times, when you could actually use harsh and explicative words to offend someone because that's what you actually set out to do - offend! And said NYPD former detective (Lincoln Rhyme) wants to end his life as he feels his struggles with life are just not worth it. He is completely paralyzed except for his finger. Rhyme started out as what he refers to as a criminalist and worked his way up to being a detective prior to his on the job injury which left him paralyzed. A criminalist is not really a term I am familiar with but it is basically a forensic specialist so think along the lines of CSI. Rhyme was such an expert at collecting and processing evidence he wrote a book on it.
The book starts out pretty quick with a kidnapping and a killing. We are introduced to constable Amelia Sachs who discovers the body and then actually goes about stopping a train and shutting down huge sections of New York so as to just preserve the scene. Very exaggerated actions indeed. Can you imagine police really doing that every time there is a big crime in a big city? So Sachs is chastised for her actions but when the lead detective wants Rhyme to work on the case and review the crime scene reports Rhyme in fact takes a liking to Sachs and how she handled the scene as it was truly a thing of beauty in his eyes. He insists the lowly constable be added to his team.
So our killer The Bone Collector is something quite original indeed. As he kills one victim he has another held hostage waiting to be killed. At his current kill and crime scene he actually leaves the detectives clues and physical evidence re his coming next kill. It is quite cool and original and this process occurs numerous times. I really liked the fact it occurred numerous times because if there is one fault with this book its the obsession of crime scene evidence. Like there is a lot and it is detailed and yet all well explained. Deaver delves into police talk quite well with all kinds of acronyms and if you know anything at all about policing its that we have acronyms for everything for some damn reason. I think it makes us think we are smart. At the rear of the book there is appendix of all the acronyms used as well as other terms and their meaning and Deaver tells us this in the foreward which is great because I have come upon such sections at the end of the book never knowing they were there which would have been very helpful in knowing.
So if you are a forensic fan or like that kind of thing this is an easy five star book. I really do not. I have spent far too much time at crime scenes listening to these guys talk about maggots and insects and the like and what that tells you about the crime. It's science and to me not that exciting. I remember one expert going in to detail after detail at a body found in a field and having been there for some time. When we finally escaped him my partner was so thrilled by it all he started repeating everything to me again. I'm like shut up, hearing it once was enough. And trust me I get the value in it all. On one call I had a girl in her early teens claimed to have been raped. My partner did not believe her as she did not wish to go home at all and called from a friends house. My partner suspected there was an issue in her not wanting to go home and just made the call up. I, however, did believe her. She explained that it happened after getting off the bus and cutting through a school yard and it happened there. It was dark at 6pm due to the winter months. Two of our sexual assault female detectives called asking about our call. No doubt looking for overtime money. I told them I wanted to take her to the crime scene. The one detective went nuts on me asking if I had any idea what the victim had gone through. I said I could tell by looking at the victim and then said she will never forget what happened and live and relive it for her whole life so we should do what we need to do and that our victim would eventually appreciate our efforts. So we all met at the school. At the school I asked her where it occurred and we went to the area. I asked how she was approached, was she just tackled? She said no he yelled up to her having been behind her and that as he closed the gap he tossed his cigarette. Lets just say that cigarette solved the case and this story gets way more complicated but I'll leave it at that. So this book brought all that back to me as well as a smile because that forensic expert who bored the hell out of me earlier gave a detailed account to our whole force in a training segment naming us with regard to the call and how our actions were key. It was so cool to hear and my partner was like that was all on him as I didn't even believe the victim to begin with. Turns out this call and the publicity behind it nailed a serial rapist who in total sexually assaulted over 15 young women. All due to processing the crime scene. It is so vital indeed. Just love it when a book brings you into a place you can identify with!!
Again the forensic aspect here is quite a lot and quite detailed but in my opinion just overdone. Thankfully the serial killer and his actions kept me interested throughout. It was kind of a balancing act by Deaver but again just a bit heavy on the forensic side.
So in working the case Rhyme uses Sachs as an extension of himself. He has her process the scenes the way he would via radio communication. This of course leads to quite a bit of conflict and Sachs comes to dislike Rhyme and how he works, especially when he wants her to saw off the hands of a dead victim so as to preserve the handcuffs used in binding her exactly as they were put on the victim. That was a bit much for Sachs, lol.
There are so many twists and turns though and so much excitement as the cops are very good in what they do and so very close to always coming to the rescue of the next serial killers victim. And the serial killer. Like at times you think the guy is mentally ill as he is hooked into a New York book set in the 1800s and living his current life through the eyes of a serial killer from the 1800s. We see the bone collector reading excerpts from this old book and it is kind of weird but cool in another way. Oh and I found this funny too. Dealing with reading....... when at one of the crime scenes, Sachs takes an image of what looks like a side of the shoe imprint at a scene. Rhyme concludes the bone collector was in fact reading while at the crime scene. When Sachs asks how he could possibly know that he has Sachs start reading a book and as she is sitting and getting comfortable reading Rhyme tells her to look at her feet which are now ankle over ankle with the sides of her shoes on edge like what she found at the crime scene. As I finished reading this I laughed so hard because my feet were in that position as I was reading and when I looked over at my wife in her chair in our outside reading nook her feet were in the same position. So like is this a universal thing when we read in a seated position in a normal chair? Like wow. So that's an example of the kind of detail Rhyme can pick up. In fact as I type this my feet are in that position, lmao.
In the end Sachs comes to really admire Rhyme and gets quite disappointed when she finds out he wants to kill himself even though he is clearly useful as an investigator. The book does deal with that subject and being written in the late 90s when Kevorkian was in full swing and bringing to the table the rights of the ill to die it was noteworthy to touch on the various aspects involved.
Just an enjoyable read with some really good crimes encountered and so many surprises you just don't see coming. I have to admit I really struggled with the first half due to all the forensic stuff but as the story moved along and the need to catch the serial killer becomes the focus it becomes more along the lines of a good police procedural thriller. I hope that in the coming books Deaver eases up on the forensic stuff as he clearly has shown Rhyme to be the expert that he is and no need for overkill. I fully expect some more forensic stuff but hopefully not to this degree. At our used bookstore all of this series is there, in hardcover, at great prices. I got the second one and through the first half of this book regretted getting it but after finishing no regrets at all. And oh, I should clarify that re the forensics its reading about it. On TV I am a big fan of forensic dramas with Bones being my favourite. Watching tv dramas on forensics is very cool and quite enjoyable, reading about it, not really for me.
And the ending. My oh my. Can't really imagine anyone seeing it coming. So four stars for me and if you really like the forensic side of things this would be an easy five star.
July 24, 2025
M-am tot gândit dacă să citesc acest volum dat fiind faptul că am văzut ecranizarea, dar acum înțeleg de ce toată lumea critică filmul. Primul volum este unul dintre cele mai bune thriller citite de mine, credeam că nu o să mă surprindă cu nimic, dar efectiv nu am putut lăsa cartea jos.
5 stele curate.
5 stele curate.
May 26, 2020
This is a past paced murder mystery with a clever serial killer, but an even smarter criminalist leading the investigation. Ex Detective Lincoln Rhyme was a top criminalist with the NYPD before becoming a quadriplegic due to an accident at a crime scene. Confined to bed and able only to move his head and a single finger, he is looking for someone to assist his euthanasia, when the NYPD asks him to help find a kidnapping victim who may still be alive.
Choosing to make his principal detective quadriplegic seems a risky choice but one that works well as Rhyme's mind as is sharp as ever. Using rookie cop Amelia Sachs as his legs to work the crime scene and collect evidence, they forge a strong partnership, but frustratingly remain one step behind the killer. I enjoyed all the detail of the forensic search of the crime scene and the setting up of a forensic lab in Rhyme's bedroom (although I'm not sure how realistic this is as I'm guessing a lot of the tests would need a clean, dust free environment but I still like the idea). Both Rhyme and Sachs have a great depth of character and the plot is fast and furious with the identity of the killer impossible to guess and an unexpected twist at the end that no one saw coming. 4.5★
Choosing to make his principal detective quadriplegic seems a risky choice but one that works well as Rhyme's mind as is sharp as ever. Using rookie cop Amelia Sachs as his legs to work the crime scene and collect evidence, they forge a strong partnership, but frustratingly remain one step behind the killer. I enjoyed all the detail of the forensic search of the crime scene and the setting up of a forensic lab in Rhyme's bedroom (although I'm not sure how realistic this is as I'm guessing a lot of the tests would need a clean, dust free environment but I still like the idea). Both Rhyme and Sachs have a great depth of character and the plot is fast and furious with the identity of the killer impossible to guess and an unexpected twist at the end that no one saw coming. 4.5★
July 17, 2024
Reading Jeffery Deaver's first novel featuring criminalist Lincoln Rhyme for the fourth time feels as fresh as when I first read it many years ago.
Deaver skillfully weaves together an excellent plot, peopled with well drawn characters & enchances this with his descriptions of New York City. This 25th anniversary edition features an introduction by the author in which he tells how he used Sherock Holmes & his methods of deduction as a basis for the character of Lincoln Rhyme. Despite having read all of the Holmes & Rhyme stories over the years I'd never noticed this connection before.
This was an ideal read before my wife & I visit New York for our September holiday. However, based on the opening chapter of The Bone Collector, I don't think we'll get into a yellow cab when we leave JFK Airport!
Deaver skillfully weaves together an excellent plot, peopled with well drawn characters & enchances this with his descriptions of New York City. This 25th anniversary edition features an introduction by the author in which he tells how he used Sherock Holmes & his methods of deduction as a basis for the character of Lincoln Rhyme. Despite having read all of the Holmes & Rhyme stories over the years I'd never noticed this connection before.
This was an ideal read before my wife & I visit New York for our September holiday. However, based on the opening chapter of The Bone Collector, I don't think we'll get into a yellow cab when we leave JFK Airport!
September 16, 2023
Mr Deaver is a clever author who writes in depth murder thrillers. No fault to be found with The Bone Collector and worthy of all the stars. 10 of 10 stars
October 15, 2018
I absolutely love Jeffery Deaver, his writing style just keeps you hooked and makes you think of the book even when you aren't reading it.
I never watched the film for this book and I am so glad that I didn't as I don't think that it could live up to what my imagination went through while I was reading this book. The twists and turns in this book were not what I expected at all, the characters and settings are so well described you can close your eyes and picture yourself watching them, seeing exactly what they are doing.
I have read other Jeffery Deaver books before but thought I'd finally read this one, I have been meaning to read it for awhile and just couldn't wait any longer (also helped that I had a great reading buddy to enjoy the experience with), if you haven't read any Jeffery Deaver books then I would recommend this one, not just because it is the introduction of Lincoln Rhyme (who is just an amazing character) but because it sends you on a journey while reading it, one that no film could ever compare too and I don't really think anyone could explains what happens in the book and make it as good as it is.
I will always love his books and his writing style, to me it is like no one else, I can easily read his books so quickly, because they are fast paced and they make you want to read on, make you want to miss some sleep just so you can read some more of it.
Hopefully my enthusiastic review will make you want to read this book if you haven't before, and if you have watched the film, I would still recommend reading the book as to me films just cant capture what a book can do!
I never watched the film for this book and I am so glad that I didn't as I don't think that it could live up to what my imagination went through while I was reading this book. The twists and turns in this book were not what I expected at all, the characters and settings are so well described you can close your eyes and picture yourself watching them, seeing exactly what they are doing.
I have read other Jeffery Deaver books before but thought I'd finally read this one, I have been meaning to read it for awhile and just couldn't wait any longer (also helped that I had a great reading buddy to enjoy the experience with), if you haven't read any Jeffery Deaver books then I would recommend this one, not just because it is the introduction of Lincoln Rhyme (who is just an amazing character) but because it sends you on a journey while reading it, one that no film could ever compare too and I don't really think anyone could explains what happens in the book and make it as good as it is.
I will always love his books and his writing style, to me it is like no one else, I can easily read his books so quickly, because they are fast paced and they make you want to read on, make you want to miss some sleep just so you can read some more of it.
Hopefully my enthusiastic review will make you want to read this book if you haven't before, and if you have watched the film, I would still recommend reading the book as to me films just cant capture what a book can do!
June 11, 2012
Well, it was certainly better than the movie...but not by nearly as comfortable a margin as I would have expected. What's surprising is just how far-fetched and borderline ridiculous so much of this novel is. Despite the fact that author Jeffery Deaver obviously did his research down to the slightest detail, very little of the plot comes across as even remotely believable. The last fifty pages made my eyes hurt from rolling them so much. My favorite thing about THE BONE COLLECTOR is that the main detective character is quadriplegic--a very creative notion and certainly a first for the genre. But Deaver ruins it by somehow managing to make him completely unsympathetic despite his handicap. He also grants him such a vast array of collected knowledge and superhuman powers of deduction that he could probably out-fox Sherlock Holmes. And when you invent a character who can solve crimes better than Sherlock Holmes, that's when you know you went too far. And if you think that his being a quadriplegic jackass will stop him from getting the girl in the end...well, just you wait and see. THE BONE COLLECTOR was entertaining (though way too CSI-heavy for my taste), but its cheesy dialog and overall implausibility make me more likely to dump my ragged, old copy in the wastebasket rather than give it away to one of my friends or coworkers.
March 13, 2015
My #6 Read of 2014
Awesome, Awesome, Awesome - 5 Stars
I contemplated adding a few more Awesomes to the review heading but I didn't want to overdo it. I read this as part of Book Pal challenge in one of my Goodreads groups. I have a tendency to read crime and mystery fiction written outside of North America or by lesser known authors. Given that I am apparently some pretentious snob, I assume that the more popular an author is, the more watered down and crowd pleasing the story will be. Jeffery Deaver shattered that assumption with this book.
You don't need a plot summary from me or a long review. I know I am late to this party. At this point you have either seen the movie or read the book. Suffice to say, it is compelling read that fuses an exciting mystery while touching on some compelling social issues.
The story's protagonist is Lincoln Rhyme, a criminalist/Crime Scene Investigator/Forensic Expert. Years prior to the events of this story, he was injured at a crime scene and as a result, he is a quadriplegic. He has the movement of his head and neck as well as a single finger. He is called on to help solve a gruesome string of crimes and as result, comes to work with the responding officer and beat cop, Amelia Sachs.
Right from the outset, the book makes it clear that it is going to deal with some issues that contentions moral and social issues. Specifically, the issues surrounding assisted suicide. While this book was written in 1997, the issue is as contentious as is was in the days of Jack Kevorkian. Having lived my whole live in Canada near the border of Detroit, Michigan, I clearly recall the obsession with Jack Kevorkian a.k.a. Dr. Death and the ongoing discussion of assisted suicide. In the Bone Collector, we have a brilliant mind that is a locked within a body that cannot be used. In this novel, Lincoln Rhymes in on a quest to have his own suicide assisted and we are privy to the characters mindset and internal struggle in getting to that point. Neither the book nor the author make bold declarations as to whether there should be a "right to die" but it does give food for thought. Personally, I found this subplot to be fascinating and as equaling compelling as the main story line.
In addition to a well written story, the characters of Rhyme and Sachs are dynamite. They are both complex, well drawn and there is superb character development. The dynamic between the characters is unique as Sachs is essentially the eyes, ears and hands for Rhymes who can no longer walk a crime scene. There is great potential in this duo and I look forward to future novels.
If I have any complaint, it is that Rhymes is to "all knowing". He has a what seems to be an encyclopedic knowledge of just about everything but I was so engrossed in the story and the characters that I just didn't care.
Again, this novel is superb. If you enjoy strong characterization or great crime thriller plots, pick this one up today.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations. When reviewing language, mild obscenities are words like, shit, hell or damn. Religious exclamations are words such as Christ or Jesus when used as profanity.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 1.5
There is some discussion about Rhymes desire and ability to engage is sex given his disability. There is some sexual tension but nothing graphic.
Language
Mild Obscenities - 122 F-Words - 87 Religion Exclamations - 42 Turns out there was far more adult language than I thought. I can say that in this one I did not seem as if there was as much language. It may have been that I was so taken up in reading the book that I did not notice adult language.
Violence - 3.5
There are multiple murders/attempts. Given the bad guy and his predilections, this could have been much more graphic. There are some graphic elements that some people will find disturbing but I would consider it to moderately graphic.
Awesome, Awesome, Awesome - 5 Stars
I contemplated adding a few more Awesomes to the review heading but I didn't want to overdo it. I read this as part of Book Pal challenge in one of my Goodreads groups. I have a tendency to read crime and mystery fiction written outside of North America or by lesser known authors. Given that I am apparently some pretentious snob, I assume that the more popular an author is, the more watered down and crowd pleasing the story will be. Jeffery Deaver shattered that assumption with this book.
You don't need a plot summary from me or a long review. I know I am late to this party. At this point you have either seen the movie or read the book. Suffice to say, it is compelling read that fuses an exciting mystery while touching on some compelling social issues.
The story's protagonist is Lincoln Rhyme, a criminalist/Crime Scene Investigator/Forensic Expert. Years prior to the events of this story, he was injured at a crime scene and as a result, he is a quadriplegic. He has the movement of his head and neck as well as a single finger. He is called on to help solve a gruesome string of crimes and as result, comes to work with the responding officer and beat cop, Amelia Sachs.
Right from the outset, the book makes it clear that it is going to deal with some issues that contentions moral and social issues. Specifically, the issues surrounding assisted suicide. While this book was written in 1997, the issue is as contentious as is was in the days of Jack Kevorkian. Having lived my whole live in Canada near the border of Detroit, Michigan, I clearly recall the obsession with Jack Kevorkian a.k.a. Dr. Death and the ongoing discussion of assisted suicide. In the Bone Collector, we have a brilliant mind that is a locked within a body that cannot be used. In this novel, Lincoln Rhymes in on a quest to have his own suicide assisted and we are privy to the characters mindset and internal struggle in getting to that point. Neither the book nor the author make bold declarations as to whether there should be a "right to die" but it does give food for thought. Personally, I found this subplot to be fascinating and as equaling compelling as the main story line.
In addition to a well written story, the characters of Rhyme and Sachs are dynamite. They are both complex, well drawn and there is superb character development. The dynamic between the characters is unique as Sachs is essentially the eyes, ears and hands for Rhymes who can no longer walk a crime scene. There is great potential in this duo and I look forward to future novels.
If I have any complaint, it is that Rhymes is to "all knowing". He has a what seems to be an encyclopedic knowledge of just about everything but I was so engrossed in the story and the characters that I just didn't care.
Again, this novel is superb. If you enjoy strong characterization or great crime thriller plots, pick this one up today.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations. When reviewing language, mild obscenities are words like, shit, hell or damn. Religious exclamations are words such as Christ or Jesus when used as profanity.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 1.5
There is some discussion about Rhymes desire and ability to engage is sex given his disability. There is some sexual tension but nothing graphic.
Language
Mild Obscenities - 122 F-Words - 87 Religion Exclamations - 42 Turns out there was far more adult language than I thought. I can say that in this one I did not seem as if there was as much language. It may have been that I was so taken up in reading the book that I did not notice adult language.
Violence - 3.5
There are multiple murders/attempts. Given the bad guy and his predilections, this could have been much more graphic. There are some graphic elements that some people will find disturbing but I would consider it to moderately graphic.
December 19, 2022
في بعض الأحيان لا يمكنك أن تكون كما كنت، كما قد لا يمكنك الحصول على ما كان لديك
لهذا قد تحتاج يوما: لغريب؛ذكي؛سيتحول لعينيك؛ ليديك؛و لابد ان تثق به كنفسك
المخلوق البشري مذهل للغاية،لكن تذكر دائما انه مجرد:{مخلوق}حيوان ضاحك،خطير؛ذكي خائف ، لكنه تصرفاته دايمآ {لسبب}لدافع: يدفع الوحش نحو رغباته
لهذا قد تحتاج يوما: لغريب؛ذكي؛سيتحول لعينيك؛ ليديك؛و لابد ان تثق به كنفسك
المخلوق البشري مذهل للغاية،لكن تذكر دائما انه مجرد:{مخلوق}حيوان ضاحك،خطير؛ذكي خائف ، لكنه تصرفاته دايمآ {لسبب}لدافع: يدفع الوحش نحو رغباته
March 6, 2019
It’s been quite a while since I’ve found a book worthy of a five star rating, and I’m so happy to have found my first of hopefully many for the year! Jeffrey Deaver’s writing is intelligent and detailed. I enjoyed the protagonists in the story, and how their differing personalities quickly come together. I hope to find this much enjoyment as I continue through the series.
March 15, 2008
Everyone was right... the book is waaaaay better than the movie. I adored the characters very much. All of the down-to-earth in their own sort of way, including Lincoln. I don't know how Deaver did it, but you really feel what it's like to be his character; all trials and tribulations. I do have to admit that, after watching the movie, I believe that Denzel and Angelina played their characters very well.
The novel isn't just fast-paced, it's lightening speed! Hell, you get as much sleep as the characters do in a 24 hour period, LMAO! So many twists, turns, suspense and action, you can't help reading it until waaay after the midnight hour. What I loved about this book is the details! Whether it's the crime scene, evidence or the cop lingo (terminology of forensics)... everything is well put together, and you don't miss a beat. Snap, snap, snap, one thing right after another. This is one of the best novels I've read. Can't wait to read more of Deaver's work!
The novel isn't just fast-paced, it's lightening speed! Hell, you get as much sleep as the characters do in a 24 hour period, LMAO! So many twists, turns, suspense and action, you can't help reading it until waaay after the midnight hour. What I loved about this book is the details! Whether it's the crime scene, evidence or the cop lingo (terminology of forensics)... everything is well put together, and you don't miss a beat. Snap, snap, snap, one thing right after another. This is one of the best novels I've read. Can't wait to read more of Deaver's work!
September 10, 2017
4.5 Stars
I've read several of novels in Jeffery Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme Series, but never The Bone Collector. Here we meet the brilliant, impatient, and rude Criminologist.
Lincoln Rhyme was a genius in Forensics when he worked for NYPD until a serious accident left him a cripple (Rhyme's word). He can move everything above his shoulders and his left pinkie finger. He has lost interest in everything and is awaiting a doctor that may give him what he's been praying for - help to kill himself. The doctor is late and a former colleague stops by his brownstone about noon on a Friday with a horrific case. Rhyme can't himself. He's hooked.
His bedroom becomes a war room of detectives and forensic equipment. They must catch Unsub 823 before he kills again. The only clues they have are the ones that "the bone collector" leaves. The evidence points to another victim and place without much time to save the innocent soul.
Amelia Sachs is his eyes and legs. She walks the grid of each crime scene. And she really doesn't want to. She'd rather be anywhere and she doesn't particularly like the former detective. When she goes to a supervisor about Rhyme and what she's doing, the Feds come and jerk the case. Oops. But the case returns to Rhyme and his team and now it's a race to stop "the bone collector."
I really enjoyed the book and it's so much different than the movie, thank goodness. The pace of the novel is heart pounding fast for both the reader and characters. The novel only covers the weekend and into Monday. So I was surprised that the characters were so well developed. And I loved that we got to see "the bone collector's" POV. Deaver uses italics when we see him and delve into his deteriorating mind. This villain is intelligent and deliciously evil. And I love Lincoln Rhyme the most! And I thank Deaver for giving us a complex flawed protagonist who just happens to be disabled.
I've read several of novels in Jeffery Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme Series, but never The Bone Collector. Here we meet the brilliant, impatient, and rude Criminologist.
Lincoln Rhyme was a genius in Forensics when he worked for NYPD until a serious accident left him a cripple (Rhyme's word). He can move everything above his shoulders and his left pinkie finger. He has lost interest in everything and is awaiting a doctor that may give him what he's been praying for - help to kill himself. The doctor is late and a former colleague stops by his brownstone about noon on a Friday with a horrific case. Rhyme can't himself. He's hooked.
His bedroom becomes a war room of detectives and forensic equipment. They must catch Unsub 823 before he kills again. The only clues they have are the ones that "the bone collector" leaves. The evidence points to another victim and place without much time to save the innocent soul.
Amelia Sachs is his eyes and legs. She walks the grid of each crime scene. And she really doesn't want to. She'd rather be anywhere and she doesn't particularly like the former detective. When she goes to a supervisor about Rhyme and what she's doing, the Feds come and jerk the case. Oops. But the case returns to Rhyme and his team and now it's a race to stop "the bone collector."
I really enjoyed the book and it's so much different than the movie, thank goodness. The pace of the novel is heart pounding fast for both the reader and characters. The novel only covers the weekend and into Monday. So I was surprised that the characters were so well developed. And I loved that we got to see "the bone collector's" POV. Deaver uses italics when we see him and delve into his deteriorating mind. This villain is intelligent and deliciously evil. And I love Lincoln Rhyme the most! And I thank Deaver for giving us a complex flawed protagonist who just happens to be disabled.
January 28, 2019
In this first book in the series, Lincoln Rhyme, a quadraplegic due to a work related accident, is approached by his former colleague, Detective Sellitto to assist with the investigation of a serial killer. Before his accident Lincoln was an expert on crime scene investigation. Through a police officer Amelia Sachs (a feisty redhead) Lincoln rediscovers his passion for working a crime scene, while plotting his own suicide to end the tedium of his condition.
Gripping, gory and thoroughly intriguing! I am looking forward to reading more in this series.
Gripping, gory and thoroughly intriguing! I am looking forward to reading more in this series.
January 15, 2013
According the number of feathers I found in my yard Sunday, a neighborhood cat stalked, caught and killed what appeared to be a seagull. Its feathers looked like a gull and I’m close to Matanzas Bay and although not an expert on birds, I can surely identify a gull’s feathers.
As I was inspecting the ‘crime scene’ I looked at my feet and thought, “oh my God, I’m contaminating the scene of the crime!” I don’t think I’ll ever look at such scenes the same after reading about Lincoln Rhyme’s keen eye for evidence even though he’s a quadriplegic. His reluctant ‘sidekick’ is a beautiful patrolwoman, soon to be moved to public affairs. Simply not beautiful but model (which she was) gorgeous.
My friend Sandy is passing Jeffery Deaver books to me regularly saying you’ve got to read him and I thought I had but no, this is my first Deaver but certainly not my last.
Deaver’s storyline was exceptional and his characters, including Rhyme, were top notch. I felt as though I knew them, knew them well.
Although I’m not one to try to figure out the ‘who dun it’ I was about three quarters though, and I’m thinking the guy has to be a character already introduced. Came up with a zero guess though.
It would be my guess that Deaver read Sherlock Holmes over and over because Rhyme’s sleuthing abilities reminds me of Holmes, with Holmes flat on his back, of course.
Some of Deaver’s favorite writers/poets which I found on his Web site are: J.R.R. Tolkien, Mark Helprin, Saul Bellow, John Updike, Ian Fleming, Gabriel Marquez, John LeCarre, Thomas Harris, Rober Heinlein, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle(no surprise), John Cheever, John Fowles, Robert Frost, Kenneth Robeson, Harper Lee, Truman Capote and Theodore White. Quite a list of authors but few surprises.
Deaver has been nominated for seven Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America, an Anthony Award and a Gumshoe Award. I tend towards reading Edgar Award nominees and winners. That list just seems to be getting longer because the bar seems to be setting higher and higher each year. Writers are getting better and better with more intricate storylines and well-drawn characters which are a must for readers. (I must add that for as many good/great writers, there are an equal number of not so good writing, due in part, to self publishing of ebooks, I believe.)
And surprise, folks, I have another protagonist to put on my list of series I’m reading, Detective (retired) Lincoln Rhyme and gratefully, there are only six or so. I say greatfully because I’m running quite a few series and characters I’m reading, checking them off one by one, slowly but surely. I've read some more than others. For instance I can only read Vachss infrequently because of the subject and his writing which is very vivid and strong with a sensative subject.
Here’s my updated latest list:
• Raymond Chandler (Philip Marlowe),
• Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch)
• Robert B. Parker (Spenser)
• Ross Macdonald (Lew Archer)
• John Lescroart (Dismas Hardy)
• John Sandford (Virgil Flowers/Lucas Davenport)
• Ed McBain (Matthew Hope)
• Lawrence Block (Matthew Scudder)
• Andrew Vachss (Burke)
• Sara Parasky (Victoria Iphigenia "V. I. or Vic" Warshawski)
• Jeffery Deaver (Lincoln Rhyme)
I need to do myself a favorite and just stop adding authors/protags to the list and finish up the ones I’ve already started. Anyone have any ideas on how I should go about doing that, let me know. Or I could just stop it and determine that I'm reading a series to the end. I love anticipating the reading of any one of these guys, the characters; no the guys are real to me!
As I was inspecting the ‘crime scene’ I looked at my feet and thought, “oh my God, I’m contaminating the scene of the crime!” I don’t think I’ll ever look at such scenes the same after reading about Lincoln Rhyme’s keen eye for evidence even though he’s a quadriplegic. His reluctant ‘sidekick’ is a beautiful patrolwoman, soon to be moved to public affairs. Simply not beautiful but model (which she was) gorgeous.
My friend Sandy is passing Jeffery Deaver books to me regularly saying you’ve got to read him and I thought I had but no, this is my first Deaver but certainly not my last.
Deaver’s storyline was exceptional and his characters, including Rhyme, were top notch. I felt as though I knew them, knew them well.
Although I’m not one to try to figure out the ‘who dun it’ I was about three quarters though, and I’m thinking the guy has to be a character already introduced. Came up with a zero guess though.
It would be my guess that Deaver read Sherlock Holmes over and over because Rhyme’s sleuthing abilities reminds me of Holmes, with Holmes flat on his back, of course.
Some of Deaver’s favorite writers/poets which I found on his Web site are: J.R.R. Tolkien, Mark Helprin, Saul Bellow, John Updike, Ian Fleming, Gabriel Marquez, John LeCarre, Thomas Harris, Rober Heinlein, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle(no surprise), John Cheever, John Fowles, Robert Frost, Kenneth Robeson, Harper Lee, Truman Capote and Theodore White. Quite a list of authors but few surprises.
Deaver has been nominated for seven Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America, an Anthony Award and a Gumshoe Award. I tend towards reading Edgar Award nominees and winners. That list just seems to be getting longer because the bar seems to be setting higher and higher each year. Writers are getting better and better with more intricate storylines and well-drawn characters which are a must for readers. (I must add that for as many good/great writers, there are an equal number of not so good writing, due in part, to self publishing of ebooks, I believe.)
And surprise, folks, I have another protagonist to put on my list of series I’m reading, Detective (retired) Lincoln Rhyme and gratefully, there are only six or so. I say greatfully because I’m running quite a few series and characters I’m reading, checking them off one by one, slowly but surely. I've read some more than others. For instance I can only read Vachss infrequently because of the subject and his writing which is very vivid and strong with a sensative subject.
Here’s my updated latest list:
• Raymond Chandler (Philip Marlowe),
• Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch)
• Robert B. Parker (Spenser)
• Ross Macdonald (Lew Archer)
• John Lescroart (Dismas Hardy)
• John Sandford (Virgil Flowers/Lucas Davenport)
• Ed McBain (Matthew Hope)
• Lawrence Block (Matthew Scudder)
• Andrew Vachss (Burke)
• Sara Parasky (Victoria Iphigenia "V. I. or Vic" Warshawski)
• Jeffery Deaver (Lincoln Rhyme)
I need to do myself a favorite and just stop adding authors/protags to the list and finish up the ones I’ve already started. Anyone have any ideas on how I should go about doing that, let me know. Or I could just stop it and determine that I'm reading a series to the end. I love anticipating the reading of any one of these guys, the characters; no the guys are real to me!
August 31, 2015
THERE WILL BE SPOILERS THROUGHOUT THIS REVIEW
18/8 - I have seen the movie a number times so I know who the killer is, but I can't remember his exact motive, so at least there'll be one surprise for me at the end. I really enjoyed the movie and was always disappointed that there weren't further instalments in the series. For me, Angelina Jolie is Amelia and Denzel Washington is Lincoln Rhyme (funny that they've both got American president's names), they are now inextricably linked. I will never be able to think about Rhyme or Sachs without seeing them as the actor's portrayals of them.
I'm loving the extra details I'm getting from the book that weren't included in the movie due to time constraints. More details about the first two victims (who are completely different people in the movie), more background on both Sachs and Rhyme, including Rhyme's connections in the police force. It's funny what details get left by the wayside on the journey between a book and the movie/tv show. In the movie Amelia's last name is changed from Sachs to Donaghy (I never get the reasons behind name changes, they seem so arbitrary and pointless) and her arthritis is no longer a contributing factor in her desire to leave Patrol. In fact if I remember rightly there's no mention of her wanting to leave Patrol, she just does spontaneously in order to help Rhyme and solve the case. To be continued...
21/8 - Bloody review-eating website! I can't remember all of what I wrote before it got eaten, but it went something like this. Now that I've finished the book it turns out that the movie is quite different from the book - everyone except Lincoln has had their name changed (or their race, or gender), the killer and his motives are different, the victims are all different as are whether or not they survive, what he does to the victims and the clues he leaves are different. Only Lincoln and the general idea of the story are carried over from the book to the movie.
I really enjoyed the frantic pace injected into the 'evidence examining' scenes by the constant pressure of getting to the victims before they die. In my head I could see the camera flicking from one character to another as Rhyme fires off questions or instructions regarding some bit of evidence or other. I think I might enjoy the next book even more than this one, not having any preconceived notions of the plot, except for what Rhyme and Amelia look like.
PopSugar 2015 Reading Challenge: A Mystery of Thriller
18/8 - I have seen the movie a number times so I know who the killer is, but I can't remember his exact motive, so at least there'll be one surprise for me at the end. I really enjoyed the movie and was always disappointed that there weren't further instalments in the series. For me, Angelina Jolie is Amelia and Denzel Washington is Lincoln Rhyme (funny that they've both got American president's names), they are now inextricably linked. I will never be able to think about Rhyme or Sachs without seeing them as the actor's portrayals of them.
I'm loving the extra details I'm getting from the book that weren't included in the movie due to time constraints. More details about the first two victims (who are completely different people in the movie), more background on both Sachs and Rhyme, including Rhyme's connections in the police force. It's funny what details get left by the wayside on the journey between a book and the movie/tv show. In the movie Amelia's last name is changed from Sachs to Donaghy (I never get the reasons behind name changes, they seem so arbitrary and pointless) and her arthritis is no longer a contributing factor in her desire to leave Patrol. In fact if I remember rightly there's no mention of her wanting to leave Patrol, she just does spontaneously in order to help Rhyme and solve the case. To be continued...
21/8 - Bloody review-eating website! I can't remember all of what I wrote before it got eaten, but it went something like this. Now that I've finished the book it turns out that the movie is quite different from the book - everyone except Lincoln has had their name changed (or their race, or gender), the killer and his motives are different, the victims are all different as are whether or not they survive, what he does to the victims and the clues he leaves are different. Only Lincoln and the general idea of the story are carried over from the book to the movie.
I really enjoyed the frantic pace injected into the 'evidence examining' scenes by the constant pressure of getting to the victims before they die. In my head I could see the camera flicking from one character to another as Rhyme fires off questions or instructions regarding some bit of evidence or other. I think I might enjoy the next book even more than this one, not having any preconceived notions of the plot, except for what Rhyme and Amelia look like.
PopSugar 2015 Reading Challenge: A Mystery of Thriller
December 8, 2018
4.5
Devo decisamente rivalutare i thriller che ho letto fino ad ora, questo è di un altro livello.
Devo decisamente rivalutare i thriller che ho letto fino ad ora, questo è di un altro livello.
August 22, 2017
This book is taking me longer to read because I am enjoying looking up criminologist terms I do not know. This helps with the proper pronunciation and function of the word. I saw this movie a long time ago starring Denzel Washington as Lincoln Rhyme and was fascinated with the technology and science. But, reading about it is slow going.
The entire NYPD and eventually the FBI is looking for the Bone Collector. He is a madman living out a fantasy from another century. The rat scene with Morella was horrible. Amela Sachs has been pulled into the field of forensics. She is getting better at walking the gird (crime scene). As for Lincoln Rhyme, for a man who only has use of his mind, one finger, head, and shoulders, he has it going on. What can I say? A mind is a terrible thing to waste and Lincoln Rhyme is not wasting his. Education Counts.
Quotes:
Sellitto said delicately, "Borrowing federal evidence is one thing. Destroying it? I don't know 'bout that, Lincoln. If there's a trial ...."
She continued quickly, "I only took that call this morning because someone was home sick. I didn't plan on it." "Yes, well I had other plans too," Lincoln Rhyme said, "Now, let's look at some evidence."
"Cover you? Wait a minute. I don't do that."
The entire NYPD and eventually the FBI is looking for the Bone Collector. He is a madman living out a fantasy from another century. The rat scene with Morella was horrible. Amela Sachs has been pulled into the field of forensics. She is getting better at walking the gird (crime scene). As for Lincoln Rhyme, for a man who only has use of his mind, one finger, head, and shoulders, he has it going on. What can I say? A mind is a terrible thing to waste and Lincoln Rhyme is not wasting his. Education Counts.
Quotes:
Sellitto said delicately, "Borrowing federal evidence is one thing. Destroying it? I don't know 'bout that, Lincoln. If there's a trial ...."
She continued quickly, "I only took that call this morning because someone was home sick. I didn't plan on it." "Yes, well I had other plans too," Lincoln Rhyme said, "Now, let's look at some evidence."
"Cover you? Wait a minute. I don't do that."
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