The Midnight Lock

Lincoln Rhyme #15

by Jeffery Deaver

When a woman arrives home to her Manhattan apartment to find that her personal items have been rearranged while she slept, police initially dismiss her complaint. Nothing was stolen, and there's no sign of breaking and entering. But when the same woman turns up dead, Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs are brought in to investigate the murder. The soon learn that the murderer calls himself "the Locksmith." He is obsessed with locks, slipping into homes in the dead of night and tying his victims up with knots or locks, ultimately strangling them.

Their hunt for the killer is interrupted when an internal investigation in the police force uncovers what seems to be a crucial mistake in one of Rhyme's previous cases. He is removed from the case, and must investigate the Locksmith in secret to untangle the mysteries behind the psychotic killer before he can set his ultimate trap.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

Audio CD

First published November 25, 2021

About the author

#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.

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to The Midnight Lock, let’s face it, Jeffery Deaver is right up there with the best, but sadly it just didn’t gel with me.

It started off well, and I was enjoying it, but I soon found my mind wandering, and just lost interest. There were some really clever forensics involved, but on the other hand, it felt like it held the storyline back at times, and I just wanted it to get back to the plot. Also, I couldn’t connect with the characters, and that’s never a good thing for me. Other reviewers on Netgalley have enjoyed it more, so maybe it’s me, or wrong book wrong time.

*Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having never read Jeffery Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme series but watched a couple of films, I was looking forward to this. Rhymes is a wheelchair bound quadraplegic consulting criminalist to NYPD with his own forensic lab in his home, which he shares with his wife, NYPD Detective Amelia Sachs. They and their close knit team of young Ron Pulaski, Lon Sellitto, Detective Mel Cooper, and Lincoln's aide, Thom, work well together here, despite the obstacles they face. There are a number of threads in this thriller, Rhyme is a forensic expert testifying at the trial of mobster Victor Buryak, charged with the murder of Leon Murphy. However, with Rhyme's forensics integrity being questioned, Buryak walks free to the dismay of NYPD, and with the upcoming mayoral elections, politics means that Rhyme finds himself dropped as a police consultant.

There is a fake news and conspiracy blogger, Verum, claiming that American institutions are under threat from The Hidden, a movement of which Rhyme is apparently a member. A content moderator spends his days watching videos on ViewNow, with the power to delete whatever he deems breaks the guidelines. Annabelle Talese is a social media fashion influencer, she wakes up one morning to the chilling experience of knowing someone has broken into her home and moved things around, leaving behind a message of a reckoning written in lipstick on a page of the Daily Herald, a notorious tabloid newspaper. She is but one of numerous victims of the killer known as The Locksmith, there is no lock he cannot get past, with no incriminating evidence, the police are left frustrated. Rhyme and Amelia are to find themselves in deadly danger as they become targets.

Deaver is an accomplished and experienced crime writer, I have enjoyed many books by him, and the plotting, twists and connections in this novel are terrific. However, I have to say that his many heavy information dumps in the story on, for example, the details of different locks, are clumsy and badly managed, affecting the flow of the narrative and slowing the pace down considerably. I was able to overlook this to some extent because the rest of the book is wonderfully entertaining and engaging, with plenty of suspense and tension, and the various threads come together well. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

[Ceecee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lincoln Rhymes #15

Annabelle Talese, a fashion influencer is hung over but hyper aware that a number of things in her apartment are off kilter, especially when she finds a note in her underwear drawer which reads ‘Reckoning - The Locksmith’. Meanwhile, Lincoln is being interrogated in court at the trial of Viktor Buryak and his answers are frustrating the defence lawyer. In a packed plot we also have a conspiracy blogger site ‘The Hidden’ where Verum, truth, spouts forth various theories. How too, does a moderator of ViewNow (think YouTube) fit into the storyline?

First of all the positives. The Locksmith storyline is extremely creepy and chilling, just the thought of how the perpetrator is able to get into locked apartments in the way that he does sends shivers down the spine. There are plenty of twists, turns and changes of direction, misdirection, curved balls and red herrings especially towards the end which is good and unexpected.

However, unfortunately this book never grabs me fully. The chapters are not always easy to follow as there are several plot threads that becomes confusing and dizzying. Although it’s obviously very well researched the depth and detail on locks is not of great interest to me, as is some of the minute forensic detail, important though that is in the plotting. The pace rises and falls too much and it thus loses momentum and also my attention.

Overall, elements of this are extremely good but there’s just too much going on for me.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, Harper Fiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

[Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. Definitely not vintage Lincoln Rhyme.

It’s been awhile since we had a Rhyme book. The last one was in 2018.

This Rhyme offering is full of useless and boring information regarding every lock ever made, their construction and their history.

There are so many things happening in this story it’s hard to keep track. It’s not just about the locks. In fact the lock guy seemed to be a secondary character. I like suspense with a twist but this book has multiple plots and twists that get really confusing and therefore not enjoyable.

This is the first Rhyme book that is getting less than 4 or 5 stars from me.

If this is your first Lincoln Rhyme book I can see why you would be put off – but really, the early books were GREAT!!!

[Alan Cotterell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank Net Galley and Harper Collins for supplying an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Now I was really looking forward to reading this as I have loved this series, having read 12 of the previous 14 books. The other 2 books are waiting to be read. But sadly, this one well short of his usual high standard.

Lincoln Rhymes is an unusual character and very different from other sleuths. Formerly a NYPD Homicide Detective who since an accident at a crime scene is now a a quadriplegic, but that doesn’t stop him working as Forensic Consultant. The other main character, Amelia Sachs a NYPD detective acts as his eyes as she walks crime scenes and much more. There are a growing number of other recurring characters, that work in the background.

This book starts quite well, and I was enjoying it, and enjoying getting re acquainted with the “cast”. But then I realised that my mind had wandered off somewhere and I had lost interest. I tried to pull it back, but no avail. There were points where I could have even just given up on it. I really struggled to connect with the characters and the plot was … shall I say not up to the usual standard.

Looking at the average score, I am probably in the minority. Wrong book at the wrong time? Maybe. I will read the other 2 books in the series and will try the next one. Hopefully a one-off slump!

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Because I killed it. Do you know buy and bury?"
"No."
"It's when a newspaper or TV station buys the rights to a story with no intention of running it. Basically they lock up the story and the subject forever. You can't sell it anywhere. That's what we did with Charlotte." (PG. 179)

This is my first Jeffery Deaver and the last book in the series. I didn't realize it was a series until I picked it up to read. It should say #15 somewhere in the cover but here I am. LOL. I think it was okay to read as a standalone but there is the argument that to know the main character's backstory one should always start at the beginning. Oh well. They've never met me.

I really enjoyed the writing of Deaver. He lays a well thought out plot and a memorable cast of characters. I was definitely surprised Deaver did not include Harry Houdini as one of the most remarkable lock pickers for the Locksmith's heroes but that was actually a breath of fresh air. It's good to have a little diversity and not the same cliche read over and over.

I liked Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs. They are a great husband and wife team. The story flowed nicely and had many twists and turns especially in the political realm. The forensic evidence was also new to me. Rhyme went in depth to finding DNA or evidence that linked a thief into the current scene. It went over my head but I still found it fascinating. He didn't let his disability bring him down.

I would recommend for anyone looking for a good murder mystery. And I should probably get to #1 in the series at some point. Lol.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

A protagonist with a mind so brilliant, he's smarter that the authorities. Where's the joy in that? 4 of 10 stars

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeffery Deaver has outdone himself with this one. His character "The Locksmith" breaks into the apartments of women in New York, simply by just easily picking their locks. Once he is in, he moves their belongings around and sits and watches them sleep. Then he takes a single knife from each of the apartments. This we learn, "bothers Lincoln". Yeah, Lincoln... do you think??? It more than bothered me! Lincoln believes that the perp could eventually escalate to murder before he can be stopped. With this installment with Lincoln Rhymes, Jeffery Deaver has created a tense, exciting and mystery packed story in which nothing is as it appears, and deception and treachery are the main part of the game. Creepy doesn't begin to describe the feeling you get reading about what these women find when they awake and find that someone was a close as sitting in a chair by your bed, watching every breath you take. The sense of threat, is overwhelming, producing a scenario that has your pulse pounding without anyone having to even take a step. The "Locksmith" delights in knowing that he can ruin everything for his victims and leave them with only fear as a companion. There is of course a threat to their lives, but what he does and how he makes them feel is maybe far worse. The ideas and possibilities of how easy home invasion, stalking, and potential threat to life actually is, will have you locking and double locking doors and checking them all twice as this story stays with you long after the last word on the page. One of the best stories to come out of the 15 Lincoln Rhymes books.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3.5 stars.

"The Locksmith" picks the locks into a woman's apartment while she sleeps and rearranges a few things for her, eats a bit, leaves a note in her lingerie drawer, all to let her know he has been there. Oh, he had to disable her alarm system too. I'm already scared.

Criminalist Lincoln Rhyme is testifying in a trial in his role as consultant to the NYPD. He is providing evidence against a mob figure. The guy gets off due to a minor mistake Lincoln made and NYPD fires him - the best person they ever had helping the force, how dumb. But you know Lincoln is not going to let his cases go.

So we have the locksmith and the mobster stories playing out in the book. There is a lot of information about locks here and most of it went right over my head. But as I already said, I can't think of too much that's more frightening to me than thinking of someone breaking into my house while I'm unaware.

The Locksmith narrates some of the chapters in 1st person but readers don't know who he is. For me, this tale was not a gripping one due to some of the technicalities, but if you love forensics, that's what this series is about. Although it does have a few action scenes, it's mostly methodical investigating and forensics analysis, which is what Lincoln is top notch at. There are some good twists near the end.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Locksmith is one of Jeffery Deaver's most intriguing creations. The Locksmith can defeat any lock & security system to gain access to a home, but when he gets in he just moves items around & eats or drinks. He then goes, leaving the victim with the knowledge that someone has entered their home & may return at any time.
Jeffery Deaver smoothly juggles three plotlines in the 15th thriller featuring criminalist Lincoln Rhyme. Deaver is renowned for novels with multiple twists, but after 15 Rhyme novels it gets harder to fool his readers....although he still manages to trick me!
The problem I have with The Midnight Lock is that it has all the right ingredients, but it doesn't really work for me. It's certainly entertaining, but it feels like the author is just going through the motions of writing a thriller. His previous Lincoln Rhyme novel, The Cutting Edge, was superb. Let's hope the next one gets back on track.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 15th book in the Lincoln Rhyme series by author Jeffery Deaver. I have loyally followed this series from the very start and in most cases thoroughly entertained. Lincoln Rhymes is a great character and very different from other literacy sleuths. Lincoln Rhyme is a former NYPD Homicide Detective who is now a Forensic Consultant since he became a quadriplegic. He is partnered with Amelia Sachs who is now his wife and acts as his eyes as she walks crime scenes.

The book started strong and I was happy to be back reading this excellent series but for me the story didn’t keep me gripped and if I am completely honest lost interest. Love the characters but the plot just didn’t hold my attention throughout.

A woman has her personal items rearranged while she is sleeping but nothing is stolen and there are no signs of a break in. The police show little interest in her complaint but when the same woman turns up dead, Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs are brought in to investigate the murder. The murderer is obsessed with locks, breaking into peoples homes and tying them up before strangling them. He calls himself “the Locksmith.” for obvious reasons.

I would like to thank both Net Galley and Harper Collins for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 How could I have forgotten what a terrific, wonderful thriller Deaver is. Especially his Lincoln Rhyme character - forensic criminalist. Alongside the character Amelia Sachs.
Unputdownable

[Bruce Hatton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The latest novel from the master of misdirection and multiple twists features his most enduring protagonist, quadriplegic criminalist Lincoln Rhyme.
Lincoln is the prosecution expert witness in a murder case against crime boss, Viktor Buryak. When the case goes south and Buryak is acquitted, the New York major decides Lincoln will be the fall guy and terminates his contract in assisting the NYPD. This comes at a difficult time as Lincoln is hunting for “The Locksmith”, a master burglar who seemingly can break through any domestic security system. Thankfully, Lincoln’s wife, Amelia Sachs and his other regulars, Mel Cooper, Lon Selitto and Ron Pulaski are willing to put their careers on the line to provide him with evidence from the Locksmith case. They know he is far more likely to solve it than the official police forensics team in Queens.
This being a Deaver novel, hardly anything is exactly how it initially appears and the plot twists and turns with each new revelation. We are treated to a whole host of corrupt politicians, corrupt cops, conspiracy theorists, media misinformation.
I’ve been an avid reader of the author’s novels since I first picked up “A Maiden’s Grave” back in the 1990s. This is another excellent addition to his large body of work.

[Uhtred · Rating 3 out of 5]

Books starring Lincoln Rhyme are always very enjoyable, and this one is no exception. The story is well thought out, the plots are multiple and well intertwined, the protagonists are well defined and the writing style is fluid and suitable for the context.
This time Rhyme, a forensic scientist employed as a consultant to the NYPD is engaged on two main fronts; the one about Buryak, a "traditional" delinquent and the one about the "Locksmith" a rather unconventional delinquent, a super-expert in locks, able to force any kind of lock in order to enter the homes of young women to observe them while they sleep and scare them by moving their objects. But in the course of the book we will see that things are not that simple and the final twist is not as trivial as it might seem. In fact, there are many "double-dealing" aspects that will upset the reader's certainties a little. All in all, therefore, a good book, which you can read with pleasure and without ever getting bored, even if some parts are a bit too slow and even if around Rhyme and his wife, Amelia Sachs, NYPD detective, always hovers a little too much the air of the "perfects", perhaps a little too much beautiful, just, correct, intelligent, winning. But still three well-earned stars, also because the parts in which the Locksmith describes the sensations he feels when he manages to pick a lock deemed impregnable, are really well written.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The biggest surprise in this book was that it ended with a thirty page ish short story where I based upon the page count was wondering what twists Deaver was ready to throw at me the reader.
This Lincoln Rhyme story shows us that the criminalist is in disgrace with the powers that be. After being on the witness box in a trail the accused walks out a free man. So the mayor in election time decides that civilian contractors no longer have a place in the criminal justice system.
Just as a new criminal terrorizes the Big Apple one who enters womans' appartements at will. This Locksmith brings fear in the hearts of normal citizens and does scare the politicians alike albeit both for different reasons.
And then there is a revolution going on the internet in which fake news is ruling rampant.
So here is Rhyme, his wife and his team are no longer allowed to excist and yet they track various cases into a satisfactory solution with some unexpected twists as expected by now.
And the short story is kinda fun.

Deaver delivers once again an excellent story, easy to read and often different than you expectations. Hé still knows how to bring a good tale and well written.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the way you can be away from a Lincoln Rhyme book for a very long time but as soon as you have read the first chapter you feel the familiar style come back and are excited to be apart of the investigation and try to figure out who did it..

The book is great at creating suspense and Deaver’s detailed descriptions of lock-picking and his knack for explaining complex forensics is impressive. The pacing is fast, with plenty of twists to keep you engaged despite the many references to formulas and elements. The villains motives are ‘intriguing’ but lack the depth needed to make him as memorable as others. I did enjoy the fact that you could experience what they were thinking and feeling. However, some subplots felt a bit unnecessary and I found myself wondering why they were there.

Overall an enjoyable, well-researched thriller that delivers what Deaver’s fans expect. While it doesn't break new ground, it offers a satisfying mix of tension and clever investigative work. Newcomers and loyal readers will find it worth the read, though it’s not the strongest in the series..

[Stephen Robert Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Black Ironside returns, here is different Rhyme he is mostly in the background because he is in trouble he has been removed from all cases in New York by the Mayor.He messed up in court and is now paying the piper.
Meanwhile the Locksmith is telling his story in great detail he talks about his love of locks, Deaver must done lot of research because he goes into historical detail on locks.His reason for voyeurism.
All the clues are leading up to who he is I worked it out but......
An utter twister.
In my copy different cover is short A Perfect Plan 35 pages long as an extra story I don't know if all copies have it.My first book of 2022

[Monnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read and loved every single book featuring criminalist Lincoln Rhyme (this is the 15th), and I'm pretty sure of one thing: I probably wouldn't like him a lot - he's more than a little bit on the arrogant side. That said, there's no one I'd rather have investigating a case in which I'm an innocent suspect than the master of evidence. This book did nothing to change that opinion and maybe enhanced it given the restraints that are placed on him and his team of experts.

Testifying for the prosecution in a case involving a known gangster, the defense attorney drills holes in Rhyme's evidence-collection skills and the accused is acquitted. When that happens, the powers-that-be put the blame squarely on Rhyme and declare that the department no longer has need of his consulting services. That presents a bit of a dilemma since his current case - involving a break-in artist known as the Locksmith, a person who slips into residences and rearranges things while the victims are sleeping - is just starting to get interesting.

Needless to say, Rhyme and his team, which includes police Detective Amelia Sachs (also his wife), have no intention of shutting down, but they do need to be careful not to run afoul of the police muckity-mucks. For those who have followed the series for a while, there are several references and comparisons to the Watchman, another Rhyme nemesis, who is believed to still be "out there" somewhere.

I will say that the story has several threads that make it a little harder to follow than some of the others (including an incognito conspiracy theorist and a mega-wealthy family that owns a highly successful "sensationalist" newspaper), and some of the explanations - such as how locks work - tend to get a little tiresome at times. But Rhyme's thought process, and Sachs's instincts, more than make up for those transgressions. One scene in particular is one of the most nail-biting I've experienced in many, many books (thank goodness it didn't last longer than it did - I couldn't have held my breath much longer).

In the end, most things are resolved with a few surprises thrown in, setting Rhyme's team up for their next adventure (for the record, I'm hoping that one character new to this book gets tapped for more). I'm more than ready, so bring it on. Meantime, many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for once again allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one. Good job!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Midnight lock by Jeffery Deaver is the latest offering in the Lincoln Rhymes series and the first one that I have read. But have seen the Tv series so aware of what the series entails.
The story starts with a woman waking after a big night out slightly hungover, trying to grab her slippers but they are not where she left them. She also tries to grab her phone that is supposed to be charging but it is missing. She thinks that there has been a break in but when she checks her front door lock it is still locked. When another similar incident happens the know they are hunting a killer called the Locksmith.
Thank you, Harper Collins, for a copy of ‘The Midnight lock.’ I found this have a great storyline with lots of twists and turns and great for fans of the series. But than it started to get a bit too much technical for me and by the last third of this book I started losing interest. 3.5 stars from me.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edit: Re-reading na začátku roku 2024. Á, tenhle díl je dokonalý. Takže ne, že se blíží mým nejoblíbenějším dílům od Jefferyho Deavera jako je Iluze a Rozbité okno, ale už se mezi ně hrdě řadí :) 

Za poskytnutí recenzního výtisku děkuji Albatros Media:

Mladá žena se probudí a uvědomí si, že zatímco spala, byl někdo u ní v bytě, hrabal se jí ve věcech, nechal jí podivný vzkaz a následně beze stopy zmizel, protože dveře jsou pořád zamčené bezpe��nostním zámkem a alarm zapnutý. K podivnému případu je přivolaný věhlasný kriminalista Lincoln Rhyme společně se svojí partnerkou, inspektorkou Amélií Sachsovou.

V New Yorku řádí šílenec zvaný Zámečník, který překonává i ty nejsložitější zámky a bezpečností opatření. Zaměřuje se na osamělé ženy, kterým v bytě ukradne nože a spodní prádlo a nechá jim tam konkrétní stránku z bulvárních novin Daily Herald. Podaří se ho Lincolnu Rhymovi a newyorské policii dopadnout, když po sobě nezanechává skoro žádné stopy?
To ale není jediný problém Lincolna Rhyma. Byl to právě on, respektive důkaz, který objevil, kdo dostal před soud obávaného gangstera Viktora Buryaka. Jenže to bylo taky Lincolnovo svědectví, které nakonec způsobilo, že byl Buryak zproštěn viny a propuštěn. A ten se teď chce pomstít… A právě kvůli Buryakově případu je uprostřed vyšetřování Rhyme zbaven své pozice konzultanta newyorské policie. A šance na dopadení Zámečníka se zdá nulová.

Noční návštěvník je už patnáctým případem ze série o kriminalistovi Lincolnu Rhymovi, který je po nehodě při ohledávání místa činu ochrnutý od krku dolů. Takže tady najdeme všechno, co máme v knihách od Jefferyho Deavera rádi. Neskutečně čtivý, chytlavý a návykový příběh, od kterého se nedá odtrhnout. Několik vzájemně se proplétajících dějových linií a množství odborných informací přirozeně zakomponovaných do textu, takže děj působí velmi reálně. U každé knihy od Jefferyho Deavera přemýšlím, jak je něco takového vůbec možné zrešeršovat. Nechybí ani známé postavy jako jsou detektiv Lon Sellitto, policista Ron Pulasky, laboratorní technik Mel Cooper nebo Rhymův ošetřovatel Tom. Všichni už jsou po těch letech jako staří dobří známí, se kterýma se vždycky ráda setkám. A opět trochu nahlédneme i do soukromého života Rhyma a Sachsové, kteří jsou partnery nejenom v práci, ale i v osobním životě.
Poznávacím znamením knih od Jefferyho Deavera jsou neskutečné zvraty a překvapivá odhalení, protože v jeho knihách nikdy nic není takové, jak se na první pohled zdá. A v Nočním návštěvníkovi to autor dotáhl k dokonalosti, protože každý zvrat ještě postaví vzhůru nohama a následně obrátí naruby. Občas čtenáře ukolébá k pocitu, že aspoň tušíte, jak to je, ale ani náhodou. Vždycky vám nakonec vytře zrak. Noční návštěvník je jeden z dílů, který je založený právě na zvratech a odhaleních, nikoliv na mrtvolách a podrobných popisech děsivých míst činu. Milovníci drsného Jefferyho Deavera možná budou trochu zklamáni, ale Noční návštěvník je zase vhodný i pro ty, co temnější thrillery nemusí.

Mně Noční návštěvník neskutečně sedl, zhltla jsem ho za dva dny a jen jsem zírala nad těmi zvraty. Mými nejoblíbenějšími díly ze série s Lincolnem Rhymem pořád zůstávají Iluze a Rozbité okno, ale Noční návštěvník se jim blíží. Takže Nočního návštěvníka moc doporučuju (stejně jako celou sérii s Lincolnem Rhymem a vlastně skoro všechny knihy od Jefferyho Deavera 😊

A pomalu začínám pátrat, kdy v českém překladu vyjde šestnáctý díl série s Lincolnem Rhymem s názvem The Watchmaker’s Hand, v něm se Lincoln opět utká se svým úhlavním nepřítelem Hodinářem, zločincem stejně geniálním jako sám kriminalista. Už se nemůžu dočkat.

[Ivana Richards · Rating 1 out of 5]

At the start of this set, Deaver's central villains were interesting enough to carry the whole plot - but no longer. This book has so much going on that The Locksmith seems almost sidelined and I lost interest. This book also suffers from the same problem the previous one had - far too much pointless and utterly boring information. Last time it was diamonds, this time we get every stupid detail about locks you never wanted to know. I love books with lots of detail, when used properly - with historical fiction , all the tiny details ( food, clothing etc) serve to build the world the author is recreating. However, endlless details of locks doesn't do anything for the plot apart from make the book really tedious. I skim-read lots of these sections. If anyone wants to read great books by Deaver ( and there are lots of them) buy the early Rhyme novels instead of this rubbish.

[Isabella Maldonado · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a former forensics commander, I loved the details in The Midnight Lock! Fans of Lincoln Rhyme will love this brand new outing from a true master. Jeffery Deaver does not disappoint with this long-awaited installation.

After Rhyme is unceremoniously ousted from his consulting gig at the NYPD, he is forced to go into stealth mode while he investigates a bizarre and creepy series of burglaries committed by The Locksmith, who can defeat any lock or security system.

Deaver's portrayal of a complicated villain, a conflicted hero, and twists with interwoven plots kept me on the edge of my seat. LOVED this book! Highly recommend.

[Jannelies (living between hope and fear) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read a Lincoln Rhyme story (so many books, too little time) so I was very happy to read this one and - again - feel how much I like reading about this great character. And of course, his wife and friends.
As usual, we are confronted with strange things happening (women who discover somebody entered their home without waking them up), and awful things happening (Rhyme gets caught between political games) and really gruesome things happening (read the book for an example) and surprising things happening (my favourite scene is the one in https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... burning building!).
There is lots of information coming the way of the reader, and I can understand why some people feel this is just too much. On the other hand, the information about the locks has, in my opinion, a certain purpose and thus I had not problems with it. (See my review of Over My Dead Body for an example of too much useless information.)
I think the story flowed very well and the 'surprises' were cleverly found and added to the plot. The only thing I just failed to understand was the political twist, but as a European, it's still very hard to understand US politics. There is even a new character introduced which I hope we will read more about in the next Lincoln Rhyme adventure.
Funny enough, how many books I read in this series, I keep seeing Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie when reading about Lincoln and Amelia.

[Ermocolle · Rating 3 out of 5]

La collaudata coppia Lincoln/Amelia, ora coniugi, è alle prese con una nuova sfida con lo psicopatico di turno.

Questa volta il narcisista che si crede speciale e inarrestabile ha la mania delle serrature: le studia, le manipola e le viola senza problemi.

È proprio la violazione della proprietà privata, l'intrusione nella vita altrui per togliere il sonno e inculcare paura eterna che lo stimola.

E sicuramente è altrettanto angosciante, per le vittime, sapere che il rito privato di rincasare la sera, chiudere fuori il mondo a chiave, possa rappresentare soltanto un'illusione di sentirsi al riparo. Qualcuno là fuori potrebbe avere altri progetti...

Il lettore si trova nuovamente alle prese tra il cacciatore e la sua preda, tra l'inseguito e gli inseguitori a colpi di azione e reazione fino alla quadratura finale del cerchio.

Consigliato agli appassionati del genere e a chi conosce Deaver e il suo stile.

[Aniruddha M · Rating 4 out of 5]

A long-awaited Lincoln Rhyme novel is finally here.. The Midnight Lock introduces another genius antagonist in the series – The Locksmith. Like Rhyme’s perpetual nemesis The Watchmaker, this one is also interested in the mechanics of tools and locks. He invades homes of single women but doesn’t do anything to them, just rearranges their things, takes a couple of souvenirs, and leaves, leaving behind a cryptic message and a totally messed up homeowner.
But Rhyme is sure that it’s only a matter of time before it all devolves into something more sinister and violent. With his miraculous intuitive power and scientific genius, Rhyme has to figure out his next victim and stop him before it disintegrates into a more violent crime. But the Locksmith has become aware of Rhyme’s involvement, and plans to turn the tables on him…

Please read my detailed review from the link below:

https://www.aniblogshere.com/books-re...

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[Dolceluna ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Il ritorno a uno dei miei primi amori del genere, il maestro del thriller americano, Jeffery Deaver. Era da parecchio che non leggevo nulla di lui e ho deciso di riprenderlo in mano con questo suo ultimo romanzo, la cui trama si preannunciava interessante.
Quella del “Fabbro”, uno psicopatico che si intrufola, di notte, nelle case di donne sole e si limita a spostare degli oggetti e a lasciare un segno del suo passaggio. Un visitatore notturno, disturbato e pericoloso, capace di scassinare qualsiasi serratura e dunque di entrare dove vuole. Quando la faccenda di tinge di rosso, si fa ancora più seria. E Amelia e Rhyme, ormai sposati, ci si buttano a capofitto, nonostante le restrizioni giunte dall' “alto” che vorrebbero allontanare lui, a causa dell’errore giudiziario in un altro caso parallelo che lo ha visto protagonista.
Tante parole, tante. E tante azioni e scoperte volte a descriverci a tuttotondo la realtà degli ambienti polizieschi dell’America dei giorni nostri. In tale completezza, modernità e realismo, Deaver è davvero un maestro narrativo. Tuttavia, la vicenda thriller in sé, tolti i passaggi che vedono il “Fabbro” in azione in prima persona, non ha lo smalto e la tensione dei suoi primi romanzi e alla lunga risulta ridomandante e senza attrattiva.
Più che sufficiente nel complesso ma forse non valeva l’acquisto per poter essere letto subito.

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Midnight Lock (G.P. Putnam's Sons 2021), the fifteenth installment of Jeffrey Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme series, the paraplegic forensic scientist is again at his best. He only takes cases that intrigue him and this one--where a criminal who calls himself the Locksmith breaks into homes with the safest locks in the industry and does nothing more than move things around--catches his attention. The impossibility of the act inspires most of victims--all females--to abandon their homes and move somewhere that is as far as possible from this madman. Just prior to being asked to assist with this case, Rhyme is outsmarted in court--something that has never before happened--and a nasty drug lord is set free. The NYPD bosses blame Rhyme and strip him of his consultancy status, decommission his home-based lab, and reassign his crack team. Which--no surprise--barely slows him down. When he's cerebrally intrigued, he can't be stopped. What starts as the typical Lincoln rhyme crime solving case becomes so much more. In fact I could barely put it down even when I had to.

Highly recommended for lovers of who-dunnits and detective crimes.

[Elaine and Tess the Springer. I won’t be on GR for a bit. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

As usual with Lincoln Rhyme and his wife Amelia when I start his book it’s impossible to put down and
The Midnight Lock is no exception. There is a lot going on in this book and I found I had to really concentrate or I would lose the thread. There are so many twists and turns some that were kind of expected but a couple that seemed to be plucked from nowhere. It was a superb read and as usual the main characters are what make it enjoyable. I would definitely recommend reading it. Thank you Jeffery Deaver for another amazing book.

[Ronny · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF
Haven’t liked Jeffery Deaver in the past, mistakenly gave him another try. Lincoln Rhyme is an arrogant narcissist. His wife not much better . When you hope the protagonists lose, time stop reading.

[hans · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first encounter with Rhyme in a book. Told in multiple perspectives, the plot ranges from Rhyme's brought forward cases (a shot to death, and robbed and stabbed to death cases) to a puzzling new villain in town who is obsessed with locks, slipping into homes in the dead of night, rearranged personal items, and stealing knifes in the intention to hurt the victims.

Not really a fan to the plot perhaps due to the entangled cases. The execution feels a bit off to me with its switching POVs, changing plot in mid-sentence and cramping storyline to cater all the cases-- thrilling yet too messy and sometimes it feels like the narrative was fully hard to grab.

As this was my first of the Rhyme series, I can't commented much on the central characterization (their flex and growth) but to look personally into this standalone, I am pretty much invested with Rhyme's character. Brilliant and tough despite his inability, love his way in presenting the crime analysis, intriguing forensic details, also his relation with both Sachs and other detectives were quite admirable too.

The 'locksmith' chapters were my most fav part-- secretive, vile yet so poignantly written. He was morally disturbing but also an interesting character to discover. I like that his narrative highlighted the compelling social media concern on misusing someone's online posts to stalk and abuse them-- quite spooky and alarming. Several twists and suspense but if you follow the hints well, you'd probably can make a guess on his identity.

Bit stirring conspiracy on political matters which did not excite me that much; same ol' bureaucracy and procedural related. Though the ending was expected I still love how Rhyme unravel the truth and way of him dealing with the system so it'll still profited him and the team; "If you want it, we'll make it work." I hope Spencer would join them in next book (if any)!

3.5 stars to be exact and thank you Times Reads for sending me the ARC!