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Lincoln Rhyme #8
The Broken Window
Lincoln Rhyme and partner/paramour Amelia Sachs face a criminal whose ingenious staging of crimes is enabled by a terrifying access to information.... Rhyme's cousin Arthur has been arrested on murder charges, and the evidence against the relative Lincoln hasn't seen in years is perfect--too perfect. When Rhyme and his crew look into the strange set of circumstances surrounding his cousin's alleged crime, they discover tangential connections to a company that specializes in collecting and analyzing consumer data. Further investigation leads them to a tragedy from Rhyme's adolescence and some startlingly Orwellian revelations: Big Brother is watching your every move and could be a homicidal maniac.
Lincoln and his partner, Amelia Sachs, piece together a deadly pattern of similarly vicious frame-ups that leads them to the imposing Strategic Systems Datacorp and a master of identity theft and manipulation known only as "522". And when "522" learns the identities of the crime fighting team, the hunters become the hunted.
Lincoln and his partner, Amelia Sachs, piece together a deadly pattern of similarly vicious frame-ups that leads them to the imposing Strategic Systems Datacorp and a master of identity theft and manipulation known only as "522". And when "522" learns the identities of the crime fighting team, the hunters become the hunted.
528 pages, Paperback
First published June 10, 2008
1221 people are currently reading
9341 people want to read
About the author
Jeffery Deaver
500 books11.7k followers#1 international bestselling author of over thirty novels and three collections of short stories. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. His first novel featuring Lincoln Rhyme, The Bone Collector, was made into a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. He's received or been shortlisted for a number of awards around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,349 reviews
March 27, 2025
Cu fiecare carte Jeffery Deaver dovedește că este cel mai bun autor de thriller, iar volumul acesta e dovada talentului său. Fereastra spartă arată cât de fragila este intimitatea noastă într-o lume dominată de computere, de monitorizarea exagerată, iar în mâinile unui infractor putem deveni în ochii autorităților niște criminali fără să fi făcut nimic ilegal. Dacă informațiile arată că ai făcut o infracțiune atunci restul nu mai contează...
December 8, 2022
George Orwell and Aldous Huxley are spinning in their graves!
1984 and Brave New World gave us a brief glimpse of the world they feared we were creating but The Broken Window takes it over the top. Every reader will shiver as they come to grips with the realization of just how much the state likely knows about their life.
In The Broken Window, Jeffrey Deaver has pitted Lincoln Rhyme, his famous paraplegic forensic consultant, against his most elusive foe to date - "Unsub 522", a deeply disturbed obsessive-compulsive hoarder, an ingenious data-miner, a psychopathic serial killer and "the man who knows everything". The chilling theme of this novel is data - information, storage and retrieval, tracking, privacy, identity and just who has access to what. Unsub 522 is an ingenious master of the dreaded crime of the 21st century - identity theft! He steals data, reconstructs people's lives, destroys some information, rearranges the rest and is even capable of planting legitimate evidence framing an unsuspecting victim for his own brutal serial murders. Arthur Rhyme, Lincoln's estranged cousin, is one of these victims. When he is arrested, his wife pleads with Lincoln to investigate. She and Lincoln both know that, despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Arthur is not the killer that the police suspect him to be.
If you have ever experienced a frisson of paranoia about who is looking over your shoulder, you might want to think twice about reading The Broken Window. If you insist on reading Deaver's novel despite my warning, your little shiver will blossom into a full blown fear that will sit in the pit of your stomach and keep you awake at nights wondering who is looking into the metaphorical windows of your life.
In short, The Broken Window is a first rate thriller with a gut-wrenching theme. But Deaver has also gone above and beyond the call of duty as an author and has brought his protagonists into the real world with a characterization and history that almost brought tears to my eyes. We learn the story of Lincoln Rhyme's father and his brilliant uncle. We discover why he hasn't spoken to his cousin for years. And have you ever wondered about the idea of a paraplegic having sex? In an absolutely fabulous sidebar that doesn't have the slightest scintilla of prurient voyeurism about it, Deaver explains how a paraplegic is capable of a loving relationship that includes a fully functional sexual relationship.
Highly recommended and then some!
Paul Weiss
1984 and Brave New World gave us a brief glimpse of the world they feared we were creating but The Broken Window takes it over the top. Every reader will shiver as they come to grips with the realization of just how much the state likely knows about their life.
In The Broken Window, Jeffrey Deaver has pitted Lincoln Rhyme, his famous paraplegic forensic consultant, against his most elusive foe to date - "Unsub 522", a deeply disturbed obsessive-compulsive hoarder, an ingenious data-miner, a psychopathic serial killer and "the man who knows everything". The chilling theme of this novel is data - information, storage and retrieval, tracking, privacy, identity and just who has access to what. Unsub 522 is an ingenious master of the dreaded crime of the 21st century - identity theft! He steals data, reconstructs people's lives, destroys some information, rearranges the rest and is even capable of planting legitimate evidence framing an unsuspecting victim for his own brutal serial murders. Arthur Rhyme, Lincoln's estranged cousin, is one of these victims. When he is arrested, his wife pleads with Lincoln to investigate. She and Lincoln both know that, despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Arthur is not the killer that the police suspect him to be.
If you have ever experienced a frisson of paranoia about who is looking over your shoulder, you might want to think twice about reading The Broken Window. If you insist on reading Deaver's novel despite my warning, your little shiver will blossom into a full blown fear that will sit in the pit of your stomach and keep you awake at nights wondering who is looking into the metaphorical windows of your life.
In short, The Broken Window is a first rate thriller with a gut-wrenching theme. But Deaver has also gone above and beyond the call of duty as an author and has brought his protagonists into the real world with a characterization and history that almost brought tears to my eyes. We learn the story of Lincoln Rhyme's father and his brilliant uncle. We discover why he hasn't spoken to his cousin for years. And have you ever wondered about the idea of a paraplegic having sex? In an absolutely fabulous sidebar that doesn't have the slightest scintilla of prurient voyeurism about it, Deaver explains how a paraplegic is capable of a loving relationship that includes a fully functional sexual relationship.
Highly recommended and then some!
Paul Weiss
October 17, 2021
In this eighth book in the 'Lincoln Rhyme' series, the quadriplegic criminalist and his partner, detective Amelia Sachs, are drawn into the investigation when Lincoln's cousin is accused of murder.
The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the characters is a bonus.
*****
When Lincoln Rhyme's cousin Arthur Rhyme is arrested for murder, Lincoln and his team soon discover that the real murderer is a serial rapist/murderer who uses personal information from a data mining company to lure his victims and to plant evidence so innocent people are arrested for the crimes.
The source of the personal data used by the perpetrator seems to be an information collection company called Strategic Systems Datacorp (SSD).
When Lincoln's team starts to investigate SSD, the murderer - dubbed "522" - realizes that his plan has been discovered. Enraged, he cooks up schemes to get the detectives off his trail so he can continue his crime spree.
Deavers is a master at this type of story and the book zips along at a brisk pace and holds your interest.
Aside from the plot I was very interested to learn how much information about us is collected and collated by professional "data collectors." They apparently itemize the kinds and brands of products we use, our educational history, what kind of vacations we take, what restaurants we favor, where we get our hair cut, etc. etc. Ditto for all our relatives, friends, and acquaintances.
In the book, the murderer makes use of this kind of information to plot his crimes.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
January 15, 2023
Prezentul volum face parte din seria criminalistilor Lincoln Rhyme si Amelia Sachs pe care ii gasim si in "The bone collector", "The cold moon", "The stone monkey" etc.
Celebrul Lincoln Rhyme este imobilizat intr-un scaun cu rotile cercetand din locuinta sa un caz privind un asasin profesionist din America. El primeste un telefon in care este anuntat ca varul sau Arthur Rhyme a fost arestat pentru crima si jaf. Acesta era acuzat ca ar fi ucis o tanara femeie si ar fi furat de la ea un valoros tablou.
Amelia si Lincoln decid sa investigheze insa dovezile sunt solide si par sa-l incrimineze din ce in ce mai mult pe varul sau. Lincoln observa totusi ca acestea sunt ciudat de incriminatorii ca si cum ar fi fost plasate si aranjate cu buna stiinta. Pasii ii vor conduce spre un criminal in serie extrem de versat, un geniu al informatiilor si datelor personale furate din diferite surse.
Povestea il va face pe cititor sa se gandeasca de 2 ori inainte de a mai semna o hartie, de a-si trece parola sau de a da Enter la orice fereastra.
Mi-a placut ca Rhyme are un panou pe care scrie si lipeste dovezile si notitele din cazuri asa cum am vazut in multe din filmele politiste si care e reprodus in carte, astfel ca cititorul poate vizualiza intregul caz foarte bine si are acces la toate informatiile in acelasi moment cu detectivul. Este o idee foarte buna de a implica citiorul pasiv in poveste facandu-l activ si dornic de a rezolva cazul cot la cot cu Rhyme. E foarte interesant sa-l ai pe el ca partener de investigatii.
De-a lungul cartii gasim foarte multe informatii tehnice in legatura cu furtul si mineritul de date. Pe unele le-am inteles, pe altele mai putin.
Mi-au placut referintele la unele filme si personaje precum Batman, Darth Vader, Atractie fatala, Zona crepusculara, Scream, Vineri 13 etc.
In concluzie avem de-a face cu un thriller destul de interesant si bine documentat si iata si cateva citate pe care le-am retinut:
"Dupa ce trupul dispare, asa cum se intampla cu toate trupurile, datele supravietuiesc vesnic. Si daca asta nu-i definitia sufletului nemuritor, atunci nu stiu care este."
"Fac cumparaturi doar in paravalii sau in magazine cu vechituri; eBay e amuzant ca sa te uiti prin el, dar sa cumperi ceva online? Trebuie sa fii nebun. Pentru moment, banii gheata sunt inca buni. Insa vor ajunge curand sa fie urmariti ca orice altceva. Identificatori prin radiofrecventa inclusi in bancnote. Chestia asta se face deja in unele tari. Banca va sti ce bancnote de 20 de dolari ti-au fost date, si de care banca sau bancomat. Iar ei vor sti daca ai cheltuit banii pe o Coca-Cola sau pentru un sutien pentru amanta ta - sau ca avans pentru un ucigas platit. Ma gandesc uneori ca ar trebui sa revenim la aur. Afara. Din. Retea."
Celebrul Lincoln Rhyme este imobilizat intr-un scaun cu rotile cercetand din locuinta sa un caz privind un asasin profesionist din America. El primeste un telefon in care este anuntat ca varul sau Arthur Rhyme a fost arestat pentru crima si jaf. Acesta era acuzat ca ar fi ucis o tanara femeie si ar fi furat de la ea un valoros tablou.
Amelia si Lincoln decid sa investigheze insa dovezile sunt solide si par sa-l incrimineze din ce in ce mai mult pe varul sau. Lincoln observa totusi ca acestea sunt ciudat de incriminatorii ca si cum ar fi fost plasate si aranjate cu buna stiinta. Pasii ii vor conduce spre un criminal in serie extrem de versat, un geniu al informatiilor si datelor personale furate din diferite surse.
Povestea il va face pe cititor sa se gandeasca de 2 ori inainte de a mai semna o hartie, de a-si trece parola sau de a da Enter la orice fereastra.
Mi-a placut ca Rhyme are un panou pe care scrie si lipeste dovezile si notitele din cazuri asa cum am vazut in multe din filmele politiste si care e reprodus in carte, astfel ca cititorul poate vizualiza intregul caz foarte bine si are acces la toate informatiile in acelasi moment cu detectivul. Este o idee foarte buna de a implica citiorul pasiv in poveste facandu-l activ si dornic de a rezolva cazul cot la cot cu Rhyme. E foarte interesant sa-l ai pe el ca partener de investigatii.
De-a lungul cartii gasim foarte multe informatii tehnice in legatura cu furtul si mineritul de date. Pe unele le-am inteles, pe altele mai putin.
Mi-au placut referintele la unele filme si personaje precum Batman, Darth Vader, Atractie fatala, Zona crepusculara, Scream, Vineri 13 etc.
In concluzie avem de-a face cu un thriller destul de interesant si bine documentat si iata si cateva citate pe care le-am retinut:
"Dupa ce trupul dispare, asa cum se intampla cu toate trupurile, datele supravietuiesc vesnic. Si daca asta nu-i definitia sufletului nemuritor, atunci nu stiu care este."
"Fac cumparaturi doar in paravalii sau in magazine cu vechituri; eBay e amuzant ca sa te uiti prin el, dar sa cumperi ceva online? Trebuie sa fii nebun. Pentru moment, banii gheata sunt inca buni. Insa vor ajunge curand sa fie urmariti ca orice altceva. Identificatori prin radiofrecventa inclusi in bancnote. Chestia asta se face deja in unele tari. Banca va sti ce bancnote de 20 de dolari ti-au fost date, si de care banca sau bancomat. Iar ei vor sti daca ai cheltuit banii pe o Coca-Cola sau pentru un sutien pentru amanta ta - sau ca avans pentru un ucigas platit. Ma gandesc uneori ca ar trebui sa revenim la aur. Afara. Din. Retea."
July 26, 2024
Excellent. Love listening to Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs go about their sleuthing. Both have totally different philosophies and approaches, and yet, both demonstrate sheer ingenuity and epic mastery in their respective professional arenas. Goes to show there is more than one way to get to the solution.
December 4, 2013
oh my lord. i haven't been this creeped out by a book in like, forever. and now i'm totally bothered by the fact that there is all this information that *I'VE* put on the internet about myself and my book tastes and now there's all this CRAZY ASS INFORMATION that EVERYONE can find out about me.
i love ron pulaski, almost more than amelia. i love watching him grow over the series - i love lincoln, i love lon, and mel, and the crazy computer techs.
this writing is tight and plotty and crazy-brilliant. i didn't want it to end. plus there's mention of the unsub from The Cold Moon and i do love me some follow-up.
i can't recommend this one enough. it's utterly wonderful and brilliant. i'm ticked i'll have to wait until 2009 for the next book from Jeffery Deaver. it will be kathryn dance, though, and i do love her. so.
the book made me want to burn my computer and never get on the internet again. that's saying a lot.
i love ron pulaski, almost more than amelia. i love watching him grow over the series - i love lincoln, i love lon, and mel, and the crazy computer techs.
this writing is tight and plotty and crazy-brilliant. i didn't want it to end. plus there's mention of the unsub from The Cold Moon and i do love me some follow-up.
i can't recommend this one enough. it's utterly wonderful and brilliant. i'm ticked i'll have to wait until 2009 for the next book from Jeffery Deaver. it will be kathryn dance, though, and i do love her. so.
the book made me want to burn my computer and never get on the internet again. that's saying a lot.
October 25, 2024
Another solid book with a creepy bad guy... already looking foward to the next Lincoln Ryhme book.
(Reviewed 9/1/08)
(Reviewed 9/1/08)
April 26, 2022
Good read. The story made sense with lots of red herrings. The plot using data mining and how vulnerable people are too hacking is relevant in todays digital world. Interesting about how metadata leaves a time stamp. Its definitely a brave new world.
Lincoln investigates his estranged cousin Arthur’s arrest for murder. The SSD company is at the heart of the evidence and drives his investigation with Sachs and his assistants. The hoarder killer and evidence to find him is something Rhyme does well.
All in all an enjoyable read.
Lincoln investigates his estranged cousin Arthur’s arrest for murder. The SSD company is at the heart of the evidence and drives his investigation with Sachs and his assistants. The hoarder killer and evidence to find him is something Rhyme does well.
All in all an enjoyable read.
December 30, 2022
Because I wanted to end the year with a 5-star book I went back to a book I read long ago with one of my favourite characters: Lincoln Rhyme. This is #8 in the series.
Lincoln and his cousin Arthur were as close as brothers when they were growing up until that closeness was broken and they have not seen each other since college days.
We learn something of Lincoln’s background, his father, his uncle and what caused the cousins closeness to disintegrate.
Now Arthur has been arrested and accused of murder, even so he refuses to call on Lincoln, but his wife, Judy, desperate to clear her husband’s name goes to Lincoln for help. While Lincoln is reluctant what with his other case going on he cannot say no to at least looking into Arthur’s predicament.
Lincoln and his team find themselves sliding down a rabbit hole of computer data collection that is as frightening as anything they have encountered before. And will probably be as frightening as anyone reading this book has encountered before. If you think “Big Brother” is watching you, you are probably right!
This book was published in 2008 but what it portrays is as scary today as it was then.
“People believe what computers tell us.” “We believe the data; we don’t care about the truth.” (Pg.95)
If you're looking for suspense you'll find it in this book.
Lincoln and his cousin Arthur were as close as brothers when they were growing up until that closeness was broken and they have not seen each other since college days.
We learn something of Lincoln’s background, his father, his uncle and what caused the cousins closeness to disintegrate.
Now Arthur has been arrested and accused of murder, even so he refuses to call on Lincoln, but his wife, Judy, desperate to clear her husband’s name goes to Lincoln for help. While Lincoln is reluctant what with his other case going on he cannot say no to at least looking into Arthur’s predicament.
Lincoln and his team find themselves sliding down a rabbit hole of computer data collection that is as frightening as anything they have encountered before. And will probably be as frightening as anyone reading this book has encountered before. If you think “Big Brother” is watching you, you are probably right!
This book was published in 2008 but what it portrays is as scary today as it was then.
“People believe what computers tell us.” “We believe the data; we don’t care about the truth.” (Pg.95)
If you're looking for suspense you'll find it in this book.
June 8, 2020
I had some minor confusions about some of the characters but overall its great like the other books.
The most interesting part of the story was the professional data collectors; about how they have collected personal information about each and every person without their knowing.
This explains how little personal life we have without us realizing that somebody collects every single data on our life...
The most interesting part of the story was the professional data collectors; about how they have collected personal information about each and every person without their knowing.
This explains how little personal life we have without us realizing that somebody collects every single data on our life...
November 26, 2019
Another Lincoln Rhyme/Amelia Sachs novel, this time with focus on identitiy theft and data collectors.
--------------------------------------------
Ein weiterer Roman mit Lincoln Rhyme und Amelia Sachs.
Dieses Mal geht es um Identitäts Diebstahl und Datensammler.
Der Kriminalfall ist spannend und phantasievoll, wenn auch streckenweise zu perfekt und weit hergeholt.
Die Besonderheit dieses Buches sind die vielen Hintergrundinfos zur Datenverarbeitung, die einem das Blut in den Adern gefrieren lassen.
Von mir gibt es 3 Sterne für einen spannenden Thriller und einen weiteren Stern für das für die Wirklichkeit immens wichtige Kernthema dieses Romans.
--------------------------------------------
Ein weiterer Roman mit Lincoln Rhyme und Amelia Sachs.
Dieses Mal geht es um Identitäts Diebstahl und Datensammler.
Der Kriminalfall ist spannend und phantasievoll, wenn auch streckenweise zu perfekt und weit hergeholt.
Die Besonderheit dieses Buches sind die vielen Hintergrundinfos zur Datenverarbeitung, die einem das Blut in den Adern gefrieren lassen.
Von mir gibt es 3 Sterne für einen spannenden Thriller und einen weiteren Stern für das für die Wirklichkeit immens wichtige Kernthema dieses Romans.
February 2, 2025
Deaver is certainly one of my favourites, mostly for his writing skills and genuine intelligence. Somehow you have the tendency to forgive and forget some unfitting facts or too coincidental ones because of how he thinks.
By any standards, this novel isn't his best, but comparing to similar ones, its place is a high one, perhaps more 4+ than a simply 4. The plot is ok, there are many twists, you can feel some of the characters, although the old junk collection for 522 seems quite strange. and finally, the Orwellian message: a weird society "takes care" of yourself and knows about you more than you do...
By any standards, this novel isn't his best, but comparing to similar ones, its place is a high one, perhaps more 4+ than a simply 4. The plot is ok, there are many twists, you can feel some of the characters, although the old junk collection for 522 seems quite strange. and finally, the Orwellian message: a weird society "takes care" of yourself and knows about you more than you do...
July 30, 2023
Overall Rating : B
"Do you know the concept of the broken window in social philosophy?...In order to improve society you should concentrate on the small things. If you control those - or fix them - then the bigger changes will follow."
Rhyme and Sachs are on the case! Someone is using online information to kill people, and then they put the blame on innocent ones. From identity theft, to rape and murder, this man is a master of manipulation and data mining. And it'll take everything Rhyme and Sachs have to stay one step ahead and catch him before someone else falls for his crimes - or dies.
Started out slow but definitely picked up in the middle. And this book could definitely make you a conspiracy theorist for anything stored "online". Makes you almost paranoid and it's a sign of a good plot that it makes you feel that way.
Halfway done with the series, on to more!
"Do you know the concept of the broken window in social philosophy?...In order to improve society you should concentrate on the small things. If you control those - or fix them - then the bigger changes will follow."
Rhyme and Sachs are on the case! Someone is using online information to kill people, and then they put the blame on innocent ones. From identity theft, to rape and murder, this man is a master of manipulation and data mining. And it'll take everything Rhyme and Sachs have to stay one step ahead and catch him before someone else falls for his crimes - or dies.
Started out slow but definitely picked up in the middle. And this book could definitely make you a conspiracy theorist for anything stored "online". Makes you almost paranoid and it's a sign of a good plot that it makes you feel that way.
Halfway done with the series, on to more!
July 8, 2024
Identity theft is a terrifying prospect, and, according to statistics, rather prevalent. (https://blog.incogni.com/identity-the...)
I've never had it happen to me, but I have friends to whom it has happened, and it is, by their accounts, a harrowing and utterly horrific experience. Think about it: what if someone could gain access to your bank accounts, medical records, credit history, consumer history, etc?
The truth is, someone already can, and has. They are apparently called data snatchers, and they work for major corporations to find out about consumers, namely you and me. For the most part (hopefully), these companies use the information for pretty innocuous things, but the big question that lingers is "What if?.."
A whole lot of terrifying scenarios are brought to fictional life in Jeffrey Deaver's novel "The Broken Window", the eighth book in the Lincoln Rhyme series.
Lincoln's estranged cousin, Arthur, is accused of a vicious rape and murder. He claims to be innocent, but there is an abundance of evidence placing him at the scene of the crime. Lincoln, who holds a nasty grudge against his cousin, nevertheless believes him and takes the case. Lincoln and his team of investigators soon uncover a series of crimes in which the perpetrator, using information found through data-hacking, frames randomly-chosen innocent people for the crimes.
"The Broken Window" is an exciting thriller, and Deaver (this is the first time I have ever read anything by him) is a masterful storyteller. Using logic, deductive reasoning, and the latest in high-tech crime scene technology, Deaver tells a fascinating tale, all the more terrifying because it is extremely plausible.
I will definitely read another Lincoln Rhyme novel. (By the way, the Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie movie "The Bone Collector" is based on the Deaver novel of the same name. It introduces Lincoln Rhyme and some of the major characters in the series.)
I've never had it happen to me, but I have friends to whom it has happened, and it is, by their accounts, a harrowing and utterly horrific experience. Think about it: what if someone could gain access to your bank accounts, medical records, credit history, consumer history, etc?
The truth is, someone already can, and has. They are apparently called data snatchers, and they work for major corporations to find out about consumers, namely you and me. For the most part (hopefully), these companies use the information for pretty innocuous things, but the big question that lingers is "What if?.."
A whole lot of terrifying scenarios are brought to fictional life in Jeffrey Deaver's novel "The Broken Window", the eighth book in the Lincoln Rhyme series.
Lincoln's estranged cousin, Arthur, is accused of a vicious rape and murder. He claims to be innocent, but there is an abundance of evidence placing him at the scene of the crime. Lincoln, who holds a nasty grudge against his cousin, nevertheless believes him and takes the case. Lincoln and his team of investigators soon uncover a series of crimes in which the perpetrator, using information found through data-hacking, frames randomly-chosen innocent people for the crimes.
"The Broken Window" is an exciting thriller, and Deaver (this is the first time I have ever read anything by him) is a masterful storyteller. Using logic, deductive reasoning, and the latest in high-tech crime scene technology, Deaver tells a fascinating tale, all the more terrifying because it is extremely plausible.
I will definitely read another Lincoln Rhyme novel. (By the way, the Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie movie "The Bone Collector" is based on the Deaver novel of the same name. It introduces Lincoln Rhyme and some of the major characters in the series.)
February 24, 2017
Well after a kick butt book #7, I had high hopes for book #8, instead this one floundered a lot IMHO. We also have Sachs in my opinion being a total nitwit for how she handles an inappropriate relationship with someone she is close to. And I have to say that this book was highly repetitive from beginning to end. I think that Deaver was trying to tell three stories in this one, and they all get pretty lost. The ending I found to be off and just setting things up for the next book in the series. At least I got off my butt and put out a hold request for the first book in the Kathryn Dance series though.
In "The Broken Window" we have Rhyme focused on a mysterious case in London. No you will have no idea at all what that is about until the end of the book so feel free to skim any references to that, I know I did. Of course I guessed at the reveal though of why Rhyme was so interested in this case, I just don't know why Deaver hid it (badly) from readers.
When Ryhme's cousin's wife (his cousin's name is Arthur) comes to visit him though, Sachs and Rhyme agree to look into Rhyme's cousin's arrest for a rape and murder he claims that he is innocent of. Within a few short chapters readers are then made hip to that fact as well. Though of course, Rhyme reveals something about his cousin that calls that all into question (not for readers though since we all get a POV of the guilty party in this one). This is what I mean by the book floundering.
It would have been cool to not reveal the POV of the killer in this one. It would have been nice if Deaver had the book segue back from the team investigating (Rhyme, Sachs, Pulaski) and Rhyme's cousin Arthur who is in detention and is pretty close to a nervous breakdown. Then readers can wonder about Arthur once we have Rhyme revealing something to Sachs about why Rhyme has not been in contact with his cousin in 10 years. The rush to show that Arthur is clearly being set up and Rhyme and Sachs just trying to catch the bad guy made the book boring to me.
We get the killer's POV in this one, and honestly I had a hard time with it. Besides being a murder and rapist he seems off the reservation entirely. I don't know how a person like this is able to do what he does in this book without anyone being able to stop him. I know that "The Broken Window" is a cautionary tale by Deaver about how everything is being digitized and if someone wanted to they could ruin your life, but this was way too much like "The Net" for me, but somehow more terrible....and yep, going to lower the star rating on this one again as I sit and think about that.
We also have the POV of the character of Pam in this one (and please let this be the last time). This is the teen that Rhyme and Sachs have a connection to due to the events in "The Bone Collector." Sachs has taken the girl under her wing and even though Pam has a foster family, she practically lives with Rhyme and Sachs at both of their places and Sachs looks on her like a daughter (a daughter that badly needs a lot of therapy). The story-line could have been okay, but when we find out that Pam is involved with a 40 year old man she loves and Sachs doesn't have the fool arrested I just shook my head. Readers definitely understand Pam's past, but I had a hard time with her telling this grown man that she would see him if he got divorced from his wife. He has two kids younger than Pam and ugh, I just maybe banged my head there and I have to move on. This whole story-line ticked me off and wrecked the flow of the book.
The writing got way too repetitive for me while reading. You will read a lot of references to Kathryn Dance in this one. I started to want her to make an appearance since I was sick of Rhyme talking about how Dance has shown him how to look at people to tell if they are lying. Also Pulaski is a fav or mine, but I am getting really tired of reading about how his ears burn when he gets upset or embarrassed. I really want to see some growth with this character. We get echoes of it here and there, but his POV's ultimately started getting on my nerves.
The ending just kind of happens and then of course jumps back to the case that Rhyme was interested in going on in London. I hope the next book brings things back up a notch.
In "The Broken Window" we have Rhyme focused on a mysterious case in London. No you will have no idea at all what that is about until the end of the book so feel free to skim any references to that, I know I did. Of course I guessed at the reveal though of why Rhyme was so interested in this case, I just don't know why Deaver hid it (badly) from readers.
When Ryhme's cousin's wife (his cousin's name is Arthur) comes to visit him though, Sachs and Rhyme agree to look into Rhyme's cousin's arrest for a rape and murder he claims that he is innocent of. Within a few short chapters readers are then made hip to that fact as well. Though of course, Rhyme reveals something about his cousin that calls that all into question (not for readers though since we all get a POV of the guilty party in this one). This is what I mean by the book floundering.
It would have been cool to not reveal the POV of the killer in this one. It would have been nice if Deaver had the book segue back from the team investigating (Rhyme, Sachs, Pulaski) and Rhyme's cousin Arthur who is in detention and is pretty close to a nervous breakdown. Then readers can wonder about Arthur once we have Rhyme revealing something to Sachs about why Rhyme has not been in contact with his cousin in 10 years. The rush to show that Arthur is clearly being set up and Rhyme and Sachs just trying to catch the bad guy made the book boring to me.
We get the killer's POV in this one, and honestly I had a hard time with it. Besides being a murder and rapist he seems off the reservation entirely. I don't know how a person like this is able to do what he does in this book without anyone being able to stop him. I know that "The Broken Window" is a cautionary tale by Deaver about how everything is being digitized and if someone wanted to they could ruin your life, but this was way too much like "The Net" for me, but somehow more terrible....and yep, going to lower the star rating on this one again as I sit and think about that.
We also have the POV of the character of Pam in this one (and please let this be the last time). This is the teen that Rhyme and Sachs have a connection to due to the events in "The Bone Collector." Sachs has taken the girl under her wing and even though Pam has a foster family, she practically lives with Rhyme and Sachs at both of their places and Sachs looks on her like a daughter (a daughter that badly needs a lot of therapy). The story-line could have been okay, but when we find out that Pam is involved with a 40 year old man she loves and Sachs doesn't have the fool arrested I just shook my head. Readers definitely understand Pam's past, but I had a hard time with her telling this grown man that she would see him if he got divorced from his wife. He has two kids younger than Pam and ugh, I just maybe banged my head there and I have to move on. This whole story-line ticked me off and wrecked the flow of the book.
The writing got way too repetitive for me while reading. You will read a lot of references to Kathryn Dance in this one. I started to want her to make an appearance since I was sick of Rhyme talking about how Dance has shown him how to look at people to tell if they are lying. Also Pulaski is a fav or mine, but I am getting really tired of reading about how his ears burn when he gets upset or embarrassed. I really want to see some growth with this character. We get echoes of it here and there, but his POV's ultimately started getting on my nerves.
The ending just kind of happens and then of course jumps back to the case that Rhyme was interested in going on in London. I hope the next book brings things back up a notch.
February 3, 2016
Anscheinend muss jemand Jeffery Deaver nach der Lektüre des gehetzten Uhrmachers darauf hingewiesen haben, dass die Spannung eines Gefahrenmoments auch mal eine halbe Seite überschreiten darf und dass durchaus mal was kaputt gehen kann, was seinen Helden lieb und teuer ist. Im Rahmen dieses Krimis um die Gefahren des Identitätsdiebstahls lässt er den Täter auch den von Papa geerbeten und über 40 Jahre akribisch gepflegten Camaro von Amelia Sachs unwiderruflich verschrotten. Tatsächlich hatte ich bis zuletzt damit gerechnet, dass sich der Blechwürfel zuletzt doch noch irgendwie entfaltet und Amelia mit ihrem Ziehkind auf dem Highway in den Sonnenuntergang fährt.
Keine Sorge, mehr wird hier nicht gespoilert, denn die literarische Qualität ist nicht so über alle Maßen, dass das Überraschungsmoment keine allzu große Rolle spielt. Immerhin entwertet Deaver sein Hauptkapital dieses mal nicht immer bei erster Gelegenheit. Er beliefert seine Leser zwar früh mit in der Ich-Perspektive geschriebenen Innenansichten des Täuschers, hält dessen wahre Identität aber bis zum Showdown geheim. Ich wäre nicht drauf gekommen, auch wenn die Rechnung im Rückblick, bis zum ersten als Kind begangenen und einem anderen untergeschobenen Verbrechen aufgeht. Da das Buch neben dem kindlichen Leid des bei Pflegeeltern aufgewachsenen Täters auch die frühen Triumphe und Verletzungen des seinerzeit ausgetricksten Lincoln Rhyme beleuchtet, ist der achte Teil eine einigermaßen lohnenswerte Lektüre.
Seinerzeit neuartiges Thema und eine Fülle von überraschenden Wendungen heben den Schnitt auf vier Sterne, auf sprachlicher Ebene ist das Buch näher am unteren Drittel, das kann aber auch dr Übersetzung geschuldet sein. David Ellis las sich im Original deutlich besser als in der vom Heyne-Verlag veranstalteten Übersetzung. Auf der von mir bevorzugten 100er-Skala bekommt der Täuscher 73/100.
Keine Sorge, mehr wird hier nicht gespoilert, denn die literarische Qualität ist nicht so über alle Maßen, dass das Überraschungsmoment keine allzu große Rolle spielt. Immerhin entwertet Deaver sein Hauptkapital dieses mal nicht immer bei erster Gelegenheit. Er beliefert seine Leser zwar früh mit in der Ich-Perspektive geschriebenen Innenansichten des Täuschers, hält dessen wahre Identität aber bis zum Showdown geheim. Ich wäre nicht drauf gekommen, auch wenn die Rechnung im Rückblick, bis zum ersten als Kind begangenen und einem anderen untergeschobenen Verbrechen aufgeht. Da das Buch neben dem kindlichen Leid des bei Pflegeeltern aufgewachsenen Täters auch die frühen Triumphe und Verletzungen des seinerzeit ausgetricksten Lincoln Rhyme beleuchtet, ist der achte Teil eine einigermaßen lohnenswerte Lektüre.
Seinerzeit neuartiges Thema und eine Fülle von überraschenden Wendungen heben den Schnitt auf vier Sterne, auf sprachlicher Ebene ist das Buch näher am unteren Drittel, das kann aber auch dr Übersetzung geschuldet sein. David Ellis las sich im Original deutlich besser als in der vom Heyne-Verlag veranstalteten Übersetzung. Auf der von mir bevorzugten 100er-Skala bekommt der Täuscher 73/100.
June 18, 2020
OMG, after finishing this book, and with the plot revolving around identity theft and fraud, I was almost hesitant to write a review with fear of my account being hacked, (HAHA just kidding)! Seriously though, scary shit.
When quadriplegic Forensics expert Lincoln Rhyme's estranged cousin Arthur is framed for murder, and with no alibi, the crime scene is searched and forensic evidence all points to Arthur, it was almost the perfect murder. But after some convincing from Arthur's wife, Rhyme and Sachs agree to investigate the case. They soon realize they're up against a deadly master criminal whom they dub 522, who has the power to manipulate the computer systems, he knows where his victims go, what they do, every second of every day, he's the man who knows everything.
The case leads Rhyme and his Forensic team to a highly top-level information service company known as Strategic Systems Datacorp (SSD), who seem to know more than they're letting on about 522 and what he's after. As the case intensifies, Rhyme and Sachs realize that they're not only hunting 522, but when he learns the identity of his pursuers, the hunters become the hunted. Rhyme and Sachs are in the fight of their lives.
Scary and suspenseful at the same time, makes you want to be careful what you do on your electronic devices, and in the authors note at the end of the book Deaver even says, and I quote, Be sure to keep an eye on your identity, if you don't, there's plenty of other people out there who will.
When quadriplegic Forensics expert Lincoln Rhyme's estranged cousin Arthur is framed for murder, and with no alibi, the crime scene is searched and forensic evidence all points to Arthur, it was almost the perfect murder. But after some convincing from Arthur's wife, Rhyme and Sachs agree to investigate the case. They soon realize they're up against a deadly master criminal whom they dub 522, who has the power to manipulate the computer systems, he knows where his victims go, what they do, every second of every day, he's the man who knows everything.
The case leads Rhyme and his Forensic team to a highly top-level information service company known as Strategic Systems Datacorp (SSD), who seem to know more than they're letting on about 522 and what he's after. As the case intensifies, Rhyme and Sachs realize that they're not only hunting 522, but when he learns the identity of his pursuers, the hunters become the hunted. Rhyme and Sachs are in the fight of their lives.
Scary and suspenseful at the same time, makes you want to be careful what you do on your electronic devices, and in the authors note at the end of the book Deaver even says, and I quote, Be sure to keep an eye on your identity, if you don't, there's plenty of other people out there who will.
February 17, 2022
Don't pick it up unless you have time to finish it.!
April 28, 2016
The best reason for rereading a book is getting it in a better edition, in this case a Hard covered version which meant that the paperback has been retired.
This is a Lincoln Rhyme novel that delves into the world of data-mining and during this story he certainly does not pull his punches when it comes to giving a moral judgement over this industry.
Hidden in this book is a thriller and whodunit, the murder of a woman gets Rhymes cousin into trouble being used as a sacrificial lamb for a horrible murder and theft. Which triggers Rhymes attention and starts him on a road about identity theft and loss of privacy in the face of modern society and its needs.
In this book we learn a wee bit more about Rhymes past and how he started on the road towards America's biggest crime-scene technician. And it does contain some surprising moments.
Not the greatest book in the Rhymes series, at times it felt like it was cruising along at cruise-control, but for the continuity fans the book has a new and a recurring baddie who really takes your breath away when it comes to being totally immoral.
Worth your while reading.
This is a Lincoln Rhyme novel that delves into the world of data-mining and during this story he certainly does not pull his punches when it comes to giving a moral judgement over this industry.
Hidden in this book is a thriller and whodunit, the murder of a woman gets Rhymes cousin into trouble being used as a sacrificial lamb for a horrible murder and theft. Which triggers Rhymes attention and starts him on a road about identity theft and loss of privacy in the face of modern society and its needs.
In this book we learn a wee bit more about Rhymes past and how he started on the road towards America's biggest crime-scene technician. And it does contain some surprising moments.
Not the greatest book in the Rhymes series, at times it felt like it was cruising along at cruise-control, but for the continuity fans the book has a new and a recurring baddie who really takes your breath away when it comes to being totally immoral.
Worth your while reading.
August 14, 2009
Scared me spitless, yet here I sit sharing information about my reading preferences on the web.
February 18, 2018
Disturbing
A story about the amount of data on each and every one of us and how it can be used in the right hands and in the wrong. Can't say much more without spoilers. Once again am excellent story with a brilliant protagonist. Unfortunately once again there seemed to me, that there was a large chunk of fairly slow story line in the middle. But either side of this was very fast paced. For this reason I am awarding 4 not 5 stars.
A story about the amount of data on each and every one of us and how it can be used in the right hands and in the wrong. Can't say much more without spoilers. Once again am excellent story with a brilliant protagonist. Unfortunately once again there seemed to me, that there was a large chunk of fairly slow story line in the middle. But either side of this was very fast paced. For this reason I am awarding 4 not 5 stars.
November 7, 2011
I gave this 3 stars. Mostly because I have big issues with an author using lazy words (or technically fake words) like 'people've' and 'might'v've'. I don't care who you are, putting 'v've at the end of a word is simply not acceptable.
There was a lot of this book that I thoroughly enjoyed and couldn't wait to read in bed at night, but as the book went on, something didn't feel right. The writing was not so great in parts, only it wasn't that. I think I can only do a spoiler and all those who haven't read it look away (this spoiler won't tell you who the killer was, but it will tell you a little of the plotline) - .
Another one of those books that a half star would be handy for as, in actuality, I would give this 3.5 stars.
There was a lot of this book that I thoroughly enjoyed and couldn't wait to read in bed at night, but as the book went on, something didn't feel right. The writing was not so great in parts, only it wasn't that. I think I can only do a spoiler and all those who haven't read it look away (this spoiler won't tell you who the killer was, but it will tell you a little of the plotline) - .
Another one of those books that a half star would be handy for as, in actuality, I would give this 3.5 stars.
December 4, 2013
Another crime solved by the great criminalist Lincoln Rhyme and his partner Amelia Sachs. This one was a creepy story about identity theft at its very worst - the big problem for me is that I can totally see this happening in the world today - makes me want to throw away all my store club cards and credit cards and live "off the grid." We also get some interesting family history for Lincoln this time.
Highly recommended for fans of the series and those who enjoy criminal mysteries.
Highly recommended for fans of the series and those who enjoy criminal mysteries.
March 31, 2020
Review to follow
August 29, 2020
Es la primera novela que leo del autor y me ha gustado especialmente por la temática. Sin embargo, no puedo decir que ha sido una historia que me haya atrapado.
La novela se inicia cuando acusan al primo de Rhyme (criminalista que dirige el caso) de haber matado a una mujer. Todo parece indicar que ha sido él, pues todas las pistas lo apuntan directamente. Sin embargo, el criminalista, junto a la detective Amelia Sachs, tratarán de desmontar las evidencias.
El número de personajes me ha parecido excesivo, llegando a no ser capaz de identificarlos en algunos momentos. No sé si ha sido por ser nombres extranjeros, por nombrarlos unas veces por sus nombres y otras por sus apellidos o porque no he conseguido crear un perfil preciso de cada uno de ellos. De todos estos personajes tengo que destacar a Amelia Sachs. Es una detective que tendrá un papel fundamental en el desarrollo y en el desenlace de la novela.
La temática de la novela me ha resultado muy novedosa, pues nunca había leído una historia sobre el robo de la identidad a través de Internet. No somos conscientes de la cantidad de información que queda guardada sobre nosotros en la red (compras, contactos, interacciones en redes sociales, visitas a páginas webs, etc.). Con todos esos datos, una persona que tenga acceso a ellos puede crearse un perfil muy preciso de nosotros, con los riesgos que ello puede conllevar.
Se trata de una novela relativamente larga (569 páginas) que se articula en 53 capítulos de extensión variable. La forma de escribir del autor es sencilla, lo que hace que se lea de forma ágil (lo único que ha ralentizado mi lectura ha sido el número de personajes).
En definitiva, es una lectura bastante recomendable y novedosa en cuanto a su temática.
La novela se inicia cuando acusan al primo de Rhyme (criminalista que dirige el caso) de haber matado a una mujer. Todo parece indicar que ha sido él, pues todas las pistas lo apuntan directamente. Sin embargo, el criminalista, junto a la detective Amelia Sachs, tratarán de desmontar las evidencias.
El número de personajes me ha parecido excesivo, llegando a no ser capaz de identificarlos en algunos momentos. No sé si ha sido por ser nombres extranjeros, por nombrarlos unas veces por sus nombres y otras por sus apellidos o porque no he conseguido crear un perfil preciso de cada uno de ellos. De todos estos personajes tengo que destacar a Amelia Sachs. Es una detective que tendrá un papel fundamental en el desarrollo y en el desenlace de la novela.
La temática de la novela me ha resultado muy novedosa, pues nunca había leído una historia sobre el robo de la identidad a través de Internet. No somos conscientes de la cantidad de información que queda guardada sobre nosotros en la red (compras, contactos, interacciones en redes sociales, visitas a páginas webs, etc.). Con todos esos datos, una persona que tenga acceso a ellos puede crearse un perfil muy preciso de nosotros, con los riesgos que ello puede conllevar.
Se trata de una novela relativamente larga (569 páginas) que se articula en 53 capítulos de extensión variable. La forma de escribir del autor es sencilla, lo que hace que se lea de forma ágil (lo único que ha ralentizado mi lectura ha sido el número de personajes).
En definitiva, es una lectura bastante recomendable y novedosa en cuanto a su temática.
November 27, 2020
Vào một ngày đẹp trời, bạn nhận được một cuộc gọi từ một đầu số lạ, đầu dây bên kia tự xưng là công ty tài chính cho vay tiêu dùng, nói rành mạch tên tuổi, số CMND, nơi ở và công việc hiện tại của bạn, tên một vài người thân trong gia đình....Điều bất ngờ hơn là việc thông báo một khoản vay lớn sắp đến hạn thanh toán, nếu trả chậm trễ họ sẽ phải đưa bạn ra trước pháp luật. Sững sốt, ngỡ ngàng, hoang mang là trạng thái của bạn lúc đó vì trước giờ có vay mượn chỗ nào đâu sao bây giờ lại trở thành con nợ vô tội vạ như thế.
Trong thời đại công nghệ phát triển như vũ bão hiện nay thì những câu chuyện dở khóc dở cười như trên không còn xa lạ đối với chúng ta nữa. Việc bảo mật thông tin hay bị đánh cắp dự liệu cá nhân luôn là một vấn đề gây đau đầu không ít người. Sự dễ dãi, thiếu kiến thức vô hình trung khiến chúng ta trở thành con mồi ngon cho những kẻ xấu trục lợi. Chưa kể, thông tin cá nhân còn là nguồn tài nguyên dồi dào cho các công ty, tập đoàn tối đa khai thác, mua bán vì lợi nhuận béo bở mà nó mang lại.
Jeffery viết cuốn sách này năm 2008 nhưng nó vẫn không tỏ ra lỗi thời, trái lại phản ánh tính thời sự nóng hổi dù có ở thời đại nào đi nữa thì vấn đề quyền riêng tư cá nhân của mỗi người luôn được bảo vệ, không để bị xâm hại.
Tác phẩm lần này của ông không đặt nặng sự đấu trí cân não như thường lệ nên bạn nào thích kiểu trinh thám điều tra gây cấn hồi hộp thì sẽ cảm thấy không hay, đọc dễ gây nhàm chán. Phong độ có lúc lên lúc xuống mà, tài năng của Jeffery Deaver thì không thể chối bỏ và ông luôn có chỗ đứng trong lòng mình
Trong thời đại công nghệ phát triển như vũ bão hiện nay thì những câu chuyện dở khóc dở cười như trên không còn xa lạ đối với chúng ta nữa. Việc bảo mật thông tin hay bị đánh cắp dự liệu cá nhân luôn là một vấn đề gây đau đầu không ít người. Sự dễ dãi, thiếu kiến thức vô hình trung khiến chúng ta trở thành con mồi ngon cho những kẻ xấu trục lợi. Chưa kể, thông tin cá nhân còn là nguồn tài nguyên dồi dào cho các công ty, tập đoàn tối đa khai thác, mua bán vì lợi nhuận béo bở mà nó mang lại.
Jeffery viết cuốn sách này năm 2008 nhưng nó vẫn không tỏ ra lỗi thời, trái lại phản ánh tính thời sự nóng hổi dù có ở thời đại nào đi nữa thì vấn đề quyền riêng tư cá nhân của mỗi người luôn được bảo vệ, không để bị xâm hại.
Tác phẩm lần này của ông không đặt nặng sự đấu trí cân não như thường lệ nên bạn nào thích kiểu trinh thám điều tra gây cấn hồi hộp thì sẽ cảm thấy không hay, đọc dễ gây nhàm chán. Phong độ có lúc lên lúc xuống mà, tài năng của Jeffery Deaver thì không thể chối bỏ và ông luôn có chỗ đứng trong lòng mình
February 8, 2021
It's been a couple of years since I delved into the mystery world of Lincoln Rhymes. The Broken Window is the 8th book in this excellent series. This book starts when Lincoln finds out that his cousin Arthur has been arrested for under suspicion of raping and murdering a young woman. This is based on convincing forensic evidence of his guilt. Arthur's wife asks Rhyme for assistance. It quickly becomes evident that the forensic clues may have been planted. Thus begins a fascinating, scary story of data manipulation and leads Rhyme and his team to other cases where other people may have been falsely accused and sentenced for other crimes.
The core of their investigation involve a 'data-mining' company in New York, SSD. This company basically gathers data on millions of US citizens (purchases, banking, credit card info, etc.) They investigate one man, Robert Jorgenson, whose life has been turned upside down & destroyed by manipulation of his data; false mortgages, criminal abuse, etc. Jorgenson is basically living off the grid, trying to hide from the 'killer' (the suspect is designated 522). A terrifying story about how data on the internet can be stolen to destroy lives.
The investigation revolves around SSD and the main suspects are the upper echelons who are the only ones who have access to all of the data stored on their computers. It's a fascinating story. This whole concept of how our data can be manipulated negatively is already a scary concept but this villain takes it to such a degree so 'he' can commit horrific crimes and then pass off guilt to someone else made for an even scarier story. There is also a whole sub-story involving hoarding that adds to the richness of the story. It's a long book but it still flows along nicely, with the tension rising; close calls where the suspect is almost captured, more murders. The characters are all well-defined. We learn more about Rhymes' past life, especially that involved with his cousin. The other main characters; Amelia, Lon Selitto, the 'rookie' Pulaski, CSU expert Melvin Cooper all add to the richness of the story. They also bring in computer expert Rodney Szarnek (*sp*) to help in their investigation of SSD, to gather data, test their security, etc. He's a fun, unique character.
All in all, I enjoyed the story so much. There was a point near the end where it veered somewhat to the left (I'll just say DHS) that I thought wasn't really necessary but in the end, even that bit tied in nicely. Of course Deaver also made reference to previous books and possibly future Rhyme mysteries. All in all, a long but so entertaining story. (4.5 stars)
The core of their investigation involve a 'data-mining' company in New York, SSD. This company basically gathers data on millions of US citizens (purchases, banking, credit card info, etc.) They investigate one man, Robert Jorgenson, whose life has been turned upside down & destroyed by manipulation of his data; false mortgages, criminal abuse, etc. Jorgenson is basically living off the grid, trying to hide from the 'killer' (the suspect is designated 522). A terrifying story about how data on the internet can be stolen to destroy lives.
The investigation revolves around SSD and the main suspects are the upper echelons who are the only ones who have access to all of the data stored on their computers. It's a fascinating story. This whole concept of how our data can be manipulated negatively is already a scary concept but this villain takes it to such a degree so 'he' can commit horrific crimes and then pass off guilt to someone else made for an even scarier story. There is also a whole sub-story involving hoarding that adds to the richness of the story. It's a long book but it still flows along nicely, with the tension rising; close calls where the suspect is almost captured, more murders. The characters are all well-defined. We learn more about Rhymes' past life, especially that involved with his cousin. The other main characters; Amelia, Lon Selitto, the 'rookie' Pulaski, CSU expert Melvin Cooper all add to the richness of the story. They also bring in computer expert Rodney Szarnek (*sp*) to help in their investigation of SSD, to gather data, test their security, etc. He's a fun, unique character.
All in all, I enjoyed the story so much. There was a point near the end where it veered somewhat to the left (I'll just say DHS) that I thought wasn't really necessary but in the end, even that bit tied in nicely. Of course Deaver also made reference to previous books and possibly future Rhyme mysteries. All in all, a long but so entertaining story. (4.5 stars)
August 20, 2022
This is Crime/Mystery and it is book #8 in the Lincoln Rhyme series. I've read a few of these and I'm glad that sequential order isn't a necessity. I liked this one. It had a nice ebb and flow that kept me completely in.
I listened to the audio and I liked the narrator. Well done. So 4 stars.
I listened to the audio and I liked the narrator. Well done. So 4 stars.
September 11, 2021
This was fine but it spent too much time on unnessary details, flashbacks and long drawn out explanations that just made me want to put i down. I powered through though.
November 7, 2019
THE BROKEN WINDOW BY JEFFERY DEAVER
My Review Five Stars*****
I finished reading this eighth Lincoln Rhyme novel in the wee hours of this morning on Halloween Eve, nearly 11 years to the day since its publication date in 2008. It is more fitting to categorize this book as a "serial killer thriller" than simply a "crime thriller". It also falls into the genre of police procedurals but not in any classic sense because Rhyme is a private citizen utilizing his own home as a base of operations and his small task force consists of those detectives and consultants who are adept at the skills needed for tracking a specific target. I mention the genres because in my opinion Deaver did an incredible job of crafting an original, chilling, and particularly horrifying serial murderer in this particular outing. Right at the outset, I will acknowledge that this book was a more compelling read, and that I enjoyed it appreciably more than the two prior books in the Lincoln Rhyme series.
Last Fall I decided that it might be interesting to focus on my favorite authors, reading their books again in order of publication, not skipping the inevitable re-reads, but just alternating between the fictional heroes whose exploits I had loved in the past. Jeffery Deaver has been one of my all time favorite writers, so naturally reading all of the Lincoln Rhyme books was a must.
In this past Summer's heat wave, "killer hot" for my sliver of rural SW Ohio, I somehow found myself reading THE TWELFTH CARD (2005) and THE COLD MOON (2006) back-to-back. Gotta say, not a good idea. It was an exhausting rather than a fun experience. The period that spans the space of time between Rhyme's initial notification that an Unsub exists, to the actual solving of the crime and apprehension of the villain(s) is characteristically brief. Rhyme tracking down and capturing his prey therefore always takes place within the confines of a compressed time frame. Deaver is a master story teller and hooks the reader from the first page. The pressured, claustrophobic pace and escalating momentum of his psychological thrillers tend to produce a kind of frantic, pulse-pounding, hold-your-breath tension that leaves the reader cerebrally "winded". That's why I noted that "double" Deaver is not the guaranteed relaxing bit of reading you might "think" (pun intended).
This frantic, pulse racing, heart pounding relentless pace and roller coaster worthy escalating momentum has become one of the trademarks of Deaver's Detective Rhyme books. I mention this fact because THE BROKEN WINDOW did not exact the same level of sustained intellectual energy-drain. It was only gradually that I became aware that I was reading this novel at an almost leisurely pace while easily compartmentalizing the mental push-ups and cerebral chin-ups that comprise his unique narrative style of story telling. This book just didn't make me feel like that I was "running out of time" like a member of his team gazing at Rhyme's black eyes with their expression of urgency. THE BROKEN WINDOW was an unusually easy to read story yet simultaneously with Deaver's tight, complex plot and predictable plot twists and surprising revelations. Yes, I admit I had tried as usual to figure out the identity of the killer, but failed miserably as always.
I found THE BROKEN WINDOW to be thought provoking, genuinely interesting on multiple levels, and a relaxing, enjoyable reading experience. The case follows Rhyme, Sachs, and "company" (Lon, Pulaski, Roland Bell, Thom, and of course the genius at the microscope Mel Cooper) as they find themselves confronting "the man who knows everything". This anonymous purveyor of death has been operating and raping, stealing, and killing with impunity for literally years without detection. An estranged cousin of Lincoln's is arrested for a brutal rape and murder which prompts his wife to seek Rhyme's help. Thus, a merciless narcissistic sociopath whose playground is like a fish bowl consisting of all the clueless inhabitants of New York City, finds himself in the cross-hairs of the brilliant and relentless Rhyme. The killer's access to the knowledge of his victims is baffling and stretches credibility until the team begins to learn the rules of the game. The perverted serial killer uses online personal data to find and rape, rob and then viciously murder his innocent prey. The genius of his MO is to attribute the deaths to unsuspecting individuals, whose privacy he has similarly invaded, but for the purpose of planting not only bloody weapons but also a laundry list of incriminating forensic data unique to the accused.
Readers who remember George Orwell's classic "1984" should be fascinated by the fictional tale that Deaver weaves about "Big Brother Is Watching" , especially because much of the technology that the author illuminates and that comes to light in the narrative is very much fact-based. Add a dash of creativity and paranoia and you have yourself a fictional crime novel that may very well give many people nightmares. The topical nature of the internet and its growing possibilities makes the plot line infinitely compelling. However, what I enjoyed even more was the back story about a young Lincoln and his relationship with his first cousin Arthur, and his own father and uncle. I am a huge fan of Deaver's fiction, certainly his Lincoln Rhyme books, but also his other series, standalone novels, and outstanding collections of short stories. Pursuant to Rhyme, this was the first intimate glimpse into Lincoln's adolescence, his aspirations at that time, and his family life.
Deaver published this well researched and fascinating glimpse into the world of computer science and data collection over a decade ago, but I found it fascinating. The author references BRAVE NEW WORLD (1932) Aldous Huxley’s futuristic novel about the loss of individual identity in a supposedly utopian society. Most readers, however, will likely be better acquainted with the classic penned by George Orwell ("1984"). The concept of the birth and metastasis of a private company such as SSD [Strategic Systems Datacorp] is at once intellectually stimulating (or more like numbing dependent on the reader) and simultaneously unsettling if not outright chilling. Predictive analytics was a concept, no, a reality, when Deaver decided to develop a plot line that would expose the road at the end of the line as not an enchanting rainbow but rather the biggest horror of our modern, enlightened existence.
The CEO of the fictional company in the novel (SSD) is a power hungry megalomaniac named Andrew Sterling who objected to Amelia's references to "data mining", much like an insulted toddler. He preferred to call SSD a "knowledge service provider", KSP, drawing an analogy with an "internet service provider". The details of how the massive data collection agency was staffed and structured was colorful, intriguing, and made for interesting reading, particularly the unique language deployed by the organization and its infinite power to sift through every thread that comprised the fabric of a human being's physical and emotional existence. The euphemism for a living, breathing person was a "sixteen". The data for each person's life (from one's sexual preferences, the music they prefer, to the brand of toothpaste and after shave they buy---not to mention educational, employment, financial, and government records--- was clever indeed ("closet").
But it isn't just the parlance of the monolith SSD, which incidentally is subject to one of Deaver's trademark plot twists and assumes an almost omniscient characterization will dazzle and stun the unwary reader. I also loved the title of the book [THE BROKEN WINDOW] which we discover is based on the concept of the broken window in social philosophy.
There are SO many aspects to like about these 628 pages of prose from an absolute master of the psychological thriller (I already mentioned the back-story about Lincoln and Arthur, but I didn't mention how much I also liked the thought-provoking commentary from Sachs about "The Butterfly Effect"); there are brilliant deductions made about the serial killer and the narrative includes some profiler inputs involving abnormal psychology such as obsession with collecting accompanied by astute insights into the relationship between hoarding and OCD.
My Review Five Stars*****
I finished reading this eighth Lincoln Rhyme novel in the wee hours of this morning on Halloween Eve, nearly 11 years to the day since its publication date in 2008. It is more fitting to categorize this book as a "serial killer thriller" than simply a "crime thriller". It also falls into the genre of police procedurals but not in any classic sense because Rhyme is a private citizen utilizing his own home as a base of operations and his small task force consists of those detectives and consultants who are adept at the skills needed for tracking a specific target. I mention the genres because in my opinion Deaver did an incredible job of crafting an original, chilling, and particularly horrifying serial murderer in this particular outing. Right at the outset, I will acknowledge that this book was a more compelling read, and that I enjoyed it appreciably more than the two prior books in the Lincoln Rhyme series.
Last Fall I decided that it might be interesting to focus on my favorite authors, reading their books again in order of publication, not skipping the inevitable re-reads, but just alternating between the fictional heroes whose exploits I had loved in the past. Jeffery Deaver has been one of my all time favorite writers, so naturally reading all of the Lincoln Rhyme books was a must.
In this past Summer's heat wave, "killer hot" for my sliver of rural SW Ohio, I somehow found myself reading THE TWELFTH CARD (2005) and THE COLD MOON (2006) back-to-back. Gotta say, not a good idea. It was an exhausting rather than a fun experience. The period that spans the space of time between Rhyme's initial notification that an Unsub exists, to the actual solving of the crime and apprehension of the villain(s) is characteristically brief. Rhyme tracking down and capturing his prey therefore always takes place within the confines of a compressed time frame. Deaver is a master story teller and hooks the reader from the first page. The pressured, claustrophobic pace and escalating momentum of his psychological thrillers tend to produce a kind of frantic, pulse-pounding, hold-your-breath tension that leaves the reader cerebrally "winded". That's why I noted that "double" Deaver is not the guaranteed relaxing bit of reading you might "think" (pun intended).
This frantic, pulse racing, heart pounding relentless pace and roller coaster worthy escalating momentum has become one of the trademarks of Deaver's Detective Rhyme books. I mention this fact because THE BROKEN WINDOW did not exact the same level of sustained intellectual energy-drain. It was only gradually that I became aware that I was reading this novel at an almost leisurely pace while easily compartmentalizing the mental push-ups and cerebral chin-ups that comprise his unique narrative style of story telling. This book just didn't make me feel like that I was "running out of time" like a member of his team gazing at Rhyme's black eyes with their expression of urgency. THE BROKEN WINDOW was an unusually easy to read story yet simultaneously with Deaver's tight, complex plot and predictable plot twists and surprising revelations. Yes, I admit I had tried as usual to figure out the identity of the killer, but failed miserably as always.
I found THE BROKEN WINDOW to be thought provoking, genuinely interesting on multiple levels, and a relaxing, enjoyable reading experience. The case follows Rhyme, Sachs, and "company" (Lon, Pulaski, Roland Bell, Thom, and of course the genius at the microscope Mel Cooper) as they find themselves confronting "the man who knows everything". This anonymous purveyor of death has been operating and raping, stealing, and killing with impunity for literally years without detection. An estranged cousin of Lincoln's is arrested for a brutal rape and murder which prompts his wife to seek Rhyme's help. Thus, a merciless narcissistic sociopath whose playground is like a fish bowl consisting of all the clueless inhabitants of New York City, finds himself in the cross-hairs of the brilliant and relentless Rhyme. The killer's access to the knowledge of his victims is baffling and stretches credibility until the team begins to learn the rules of the game. The perverted serial killer uses online personal data to find and rape, rob and then viciously murder his innocent prey. The genius of his MO is to attribute the deaths to unsuspecting individuals, whose privacy he has similarly invaded, but for the purpose of planting not only bloody weapons but also a laundry list of incriminating forensic data unique to the accused.
Readers who remember George Orwell's classic "1984" should be fascinated by the fictional tale that Deaver weaves about "Big Brother Is Watching" , especially because much of the technology that the author illuminates and that comes to light in the narrative is very much fact-based. Add a dash of creativity and paranoia and you have yourself a fictional crime novel that may very well give many people nightmares. The topical nature of the internet and its growing possibilities makes the plot line infinitely compelling. However, what I enjoyed even more was the back story about a young Lincoln and his relationship with his first cousin Arthur, and his own father and uncle. I am a huge fan of Deaver's fiction, certainly his Lincoln Rhyme books, but also his other series, standalone novels, and outstanding collections of short stories. Pursuant to Rhyme, this was the first intimate glimpse into Lincoln's adolescence, his aspirations at that time, and his family life.
Deaver published this well researched and fascinating glimpse into the world of computer science and data collection over a decade ago, but I found it fascinating. The author references BRAVE NEW WORLD (1932) Aldous Huxley’s futuristic novel about the loss of individual identity in a supposedly utopian society. Most readers, however, will likely be better acquainted with the classic penned by George Orwell ("1984"). The concept of the birth and metastasis of a private company such as SSD [Strategic Systems Datacorp] is at once intellectually stimulating (or more like numbing dependent on the reader) and simultaneously unsettling if not outright chilling. Predictive analytics was a concept, no, a reality, when Deaver decided to develop a plot line that would expose the road at the end of the line as not an enchanting rainbow but rather the biggest horror of our modern, enlightened existence.
The CEO of the fictional company in the novel (SSD) is a power hungry megalomaniac named Andrew Sterling who objected to Amelia's references to "data mining", much like an insulted toddler. He preferred to call SSD a "knowledge service provider", KSP, drawing an analogy with an "internet service provider". The details of how the massive data collection agency was staffed and structured was colorful, intriguing, and made for interesting reading, particularly the unique language deployed by the organization and its infinite power to sift through every thread that comprised the fabric of a human being's physical and emotional existence. The euphemism for a living, breathing person was a "sixteen". The data for each person's life (from one's sexual preferences, the music they prefer, to the brand of toothpaste and after shave they buy---not to mention educational, employment, financial, and government records--- was clever indeed ("closet").
But it isn't just the parlance of the monolith SSD, which incidentally is subject to one of Deaver's trademark plot twists and assumes an almost omniscient characterization will dazzle and stun the unwary reader. I also loved the title of the book [THE BROKEN WINDOW] which we discover is based on the concept of the broken window in social philosophy.
There are SO many aspects to like about these 628 pages of prose from an absolute master of the psychological thriller (I already mentioned the back-story about Lincoln and Arthur, but I didn't mention how much I also liked the thought-provoking commentary from Sachs about "The Butterfly Effect"); there are brilliant deductions made about the serial killer and the narrative includes some profiler inputs involving abnormal psychology such as obsession with collecting accompanied by astute insights into the relationship between hoarding and OCD.
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