Customer Reviews

The Burning Wire: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel (Lincoln Rhyme Novels)

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I have read all of Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme books and have long felt that the duo of Rhyme and Sachs is one of the best in crime fiction. Having said that up front, I have to admit this was not one of my favorites. The author's infamous attention to detail and his trademark methods of ratcheting up the suspense were still there, and there were parts of this book that I really enjoyed. One of the big attractions of this series for me has always been the relationship between Rhyme and Sachs and their interactions with each other. This was pretty much gone from this book. These characters experience no change or growth; Sachs was a ghost flitting through the book just going wherever Rhyme pointed. Rhyme has more interaction with Thom, his caregiver than he does with Sachs and that interaction was always virtually identical to what we have seen in previous books. How many times do we have to argue about whiskey? There are a couple of efforts to advance the personal aspect of the story, but they seem token attempts at best and are only there to set up a teaser ending.

It's a common problem in series fiction that authors often spend too much time writing for readers that aren't familiar with the characters. I can see their reasoning, but it doesn't make things any less frustrating. I swear some of the dialogue in this book (in the beginning at least) is taken word for word from some of the previous books. The author spends alot of time going over things that followers of the series will already know. I'm not talking just about characters, I'm also talking about forensic basics I'd already learned from Lincoln Rhyme before! I don't remember this being such an issue with earlier Rhyme books, but maybe that's just my selective memory.

All of the information about electricity was certainly interesting. I learned quite a bit, however I sometimes felt that I was being lectured to by the characters. While I am a fan of learning, I am a bigger fan of a good strong narrative. The lectures and the narrative did not fit well together. Some of the dialogue here just did not work and had me shaking my head in disbelief. I wanted the characters to quit explaining things to me and talk to each other.

One thing that I felt was missing through most of this story was the presence of a truly creepy villain. A lot of the "drama" felt overwrought and manufactured; although on the flipside there were a couple of memorable moments at the end that I won't spoil here. I can't speak to the ending much except to say I was rather disappointed in the neat little package. Everything got tied up with a pretty little bow, but there is a teaser at the end that is sure to keep Rhyme fans coming back for the next one. I'm just not sure if I'll be back for the next one or not. It barely gets a three star from me just because I have loved this series for such a long time. Proceed at your own risk!

I really wanted to like this. I've been a fan of the Rhyme novels, but the past few have had the "same feeling" to them. Someone kills someone else, Sachs goes and walks the crime scene. I've noticed that the crime scenes are getting longer and longer to read about. I mean, we're again treated to the reason why Sachs and whoever is with her has to wear bands on their shoes and again it's explained how and why they walk the grid (crime scene) the way they do. Do we needs this over and over and over again? I could only read a few pages at a time, then I'd get really bored reading it, and that's not a good sign.

I will admit that it was interesting to see electricity as a weapon, very interesting, and I did like that part about the book. It was a nice touch, and the only thing I liked about it.

For me, it was "more of the same"

I have loved the Lincoln Rhyme books for years. They were sharp, exciting, cerebral and made perfect use of forensic data to solve puzzles that ultimately undid the bad guy. Deaver was on my A+ list which is comprised of about 3 authors whose books I buy in hard cover. The books have been slowly getting worse and this one probably knocked him off my A+ list. Rather than being a hair ahead, Rhymes seems oddly distracted and ineffectual. And then there is the ending. Without giving anything away, it entails an enormous suspension of disbelief to buy the motive for all this mayhem. Far too complex. I gave it three stars out of product loyalty, but if it had been a new author for me it would have gotten less.

I'm no electrical engineer but I can't even count the number of technical errors in this book. It is a compelling storyline but totally impossible.
Example:
Sachs theorizes that a construction site is a target because the ironwork might be electrified. The problem is that, the ironwork is, essentially, grounded. If a high voltage line were bussed to the ironwork, the only thing that would happen would be to trip breakers somewhere or, depending on what was used to make the connection, the wire itself might simply burn away.

Shortly after evacuating the scene, Sachs is told by a utility company employee that this isn't a likely target because the workers are all wearing work boots and gloves which would insulate them. An inch or two of rubber won't do anything to stop 100KV. It is like the idea that the rubber tires on your car protect you from lightning. Electricity (lightning) that travels through miles of air isn't stopped by an inch of rubber. You are safe in the car because it is a Faraday Cage. Skin effect protects you, not the tires.

Another example was the statement that, the longer length transmission lines (over 500 miles) were DC because it was more efficient. That is exactly opposite of the truth. AC is used for long distances because, by raising the voltage, there is less loss. It can then be stepped down at the destination.

Finally in the first "incident" with the bus, the voltage wouldn't go up when the demand (load) increased. The CURRENT would go up.

I usually look forward to Deaver's work but this just had too many holes to be believable. It had a lot of promise but didn't deliver on it. A little fact checking by someone with some electrical knowledge would have made all the difference.

I have to echo the sentiments of others who've been disappointed by this book. I am a huge fan and, like most, have read everything by Deaver. He ranks as one of my top 5 authors. Soon in, it, strangely struck me that Deaver may not have authored it alone; it just doesn't sound right. His interesting, biting, heretofore snarky dead-on observations now sound whiney and mean. I can't let go of the sense that Deaver isn't really present. Rhyme here is just not very interesting or appealing.

Readers (and for that matter moviegoers) familiar with Deaver's earlier work, particularly "The Bone Collector" will be delighted at the return of Lincoln Rhyme. There is simply no other major character in a thriller series like Lincoln Rhyme. A brillant forensic criminologist (who just happens to be a quadriplegic) Rhyme's assembles a crack team of investigators (including Amelia Sachs)to deal with the sabotage of an electricity grid substation, the subsequent lethal explosion and the threat of further, similiar acts of terror. At the same time Lincoln is deeply involved in tracking down an old adversary, an asassin known as the "Watchman".

Deavers main gift as a writer is an ability to show the intricacies of a detailed complex investigation, including a substantial amount of fascinating background information without letting the story pace suffer. The subtleties of characterization are secondary to the action line. In saying this, I do NOT mean to suggest they are simple cardboard figures. I mean the underlying success of this book is the driving urgency of the plot.

Although a long time fan of Lincoln Rhyme another Deaver character, Kathryn Dance, comes in a very close second to him. If you have not already met her I highly recommend the previous two Kathryn Dance books The Sleeping Doll: A Novel and the most recent Roadside Crosses: A Kathryn Dance Novel. I have read that the Deaver's next novel will feature her as the main character.

I would not hesitate to recommend this book to all thriller lovers. The book would translate effortlessly onto the Big Screen just as the "Bone Collector" did, fingers crossed to seeing in on a movie marquee in the future. My only question, who would play Lincoln? Would Denzil reprise the role?

Two other great summer thriller reads: Caught, not Myron Bolitar but absolutely terrific. If you are a Jack Reacher fan, try Lee Child's newest 61 Hours: A Reacher Novel (Jack Reacher Novels).

Enjoy the read!

If a fast moving, exciting suspense thriller is what you're seeking, steer clear of Jeffrey Deaver's latest offering THE BURNING WIRE.

The ingredients necessary to infuse the story with drama are there. We have Lincoln Rhymes, a quadriplegic criminalist who lives in his mind once again matching wits with his nemesis, The Watchmaker. There is also a perpetrator attempting to bring an electrical company to its knees using electricity and arc flashes as his weapon of choice (particularly frightening when one considers that he attacks at random and his weapon (electricity) is in every home, office and commercial building). Added to the mix are some fairly interesting secondary characters like FBI agent Fred Dellray and inventor Charlie Sommers. Unfortunately, the story is cluttered with a plethora of peripheral information that inhibits its flow. Subjects like the electrical system in New York City, the use of regional grids, the symptoms and treatment of autonomic dysreflexia associated with spinal cord injuries, the pros and cons of "green energy", not to mention the repeated and never-ending practice of "walking the grid" and reviewing of evidence. Granted, little background information is always helpful, but Mr. Deaver has taken it to the extreme. After reading this book I could probably re-wire my house plus give a half way decent presentation on the care of spinal cord injury patients and the various treatments available to them.
Mr. Deaver in the future please give us more story and less instructional "filler". 2 1/2 stars

See book summaries above.
I believe this is the ninth in the series. It brings back all the players you've grown to like; Lincoln Rhyme, Amelia Sachs, Ron Pulaski, and of course Thom. This book didn't break any new ground.
Somehow this one didn't pull me in as did the previous Rhyme novels. It was mentioned by others about the somewhat repetitive writing that describes the basic forensics we've read about over and over. I agree. While the writing style was still good and the storyline entertaining and educational (electricity and it's dangers), I still see this as an average effort by an otherwise very talented author.

I enjoy Deaver and Lincoln Rhyme novels very much. This one was a bit of a let down. Fairly slower pace than usual with weak charactor development. I found aspects of the story interesting but over all was a bit disappointed. I would rate this a three star and suggest you read other Deaver Rhyme novels first, leaving this one for later.

Police consultant and criminologist Lincoln Rhyme is a quadriplegic who uses his partner in life and work Amelia Sachs as his field eyes and ears. As a team they have solved more cases than healthy cops. His biggest issue is boredom, which is the state he is in right now; wishing he was in Mexico City where his nemesis Richard "Watchmaker" Logan is giving authorities a merry chase.

Rhyme's ennui ends when he asks to consult on another case. A substation of Algonquin Consolidated Power and Light goes off line and the computer tries to get it running by diverting power from other locales. When another substation goes black, power is diverted to the original substation that went off line. That happens several times until a wire hanging out of a substation hits a bus destroying it and killing a passenger. This was an act of sabotage and it happens two more times. With the evidence so far gathered, Lincoln thinks a disgruntled employee performed the deed as the culprit is able to control substations. HSD and FBI believe terrorists are at work due to the electronic tech they find. When Lincoln reaches the end game, he realties how wrong he has been, but has no time to wallow as he must find a way to rectify his mistake.

Series fan will want to read Rhyme's latest police procedural because he allows the audience to get close and personal with his inner most feelings; as he must decide between euthanasia, experimental surgery or the status quo. The mystery is cleverly executed and the suspense remains high throughout with the enthralled audience consistently kept off guard. The Burning Wire is Lincoln at his most complete best.

Harriet Klausner