Customer Reviews

The Sleeping Doll

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(30)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

There can be no doubt Deaver is a master of plot twists. In the past, his novels have kept me guessing throughout the story. Unfortunately, somewhere along the line he became known as a "plot twist writer", and started adding more and more to each story. In "The Sleeping Doll", I'm afraid he's gone so far as to almost seem a parody of himself. There are so many plot twists in the story that the only plot twist would be if what LOOKED LIKE was going to happen actually DID.

Let me say it like this (and none of this happens in the book so I'm not giving anything away, but it happens LIKE this): The victim is home helpless as the killer sneaks into her house...he raises a knife to kill her...BUT the victim knew the killer was coming so it's actually a cop dressed as her waiting to stop the killer...BUT the killer knew the victim would be ready for him, so he waited outside while sending in a flunky to do the actual murder...BUT the FBI knew he'd do this so they waited outside to catch him...BUT he figured someone would be watching so he... You get the idea.

Books like "The Vanishing Man" and of course, "The Bone Collector" showcase Deaver's style at his best. His two short story collections are perfect examples of suspense fiction. But lately it seems like his editors have been wanting him to focus more on the twists, and now the entire story is nothing more than one after the other.

The last five minutes of "The Sixth Sense" took your breath away because of the plot twist ending you should have seen coming but never did. If the whole movie had been that same way, you'd have walked out of the theater in frustration because nothing at all is as it seems at any point in time during the story as the rules keep changing every few minutes. That's the same way "The Sleeping Doll" plays out. While there were a few moments that I honestly didn't see coming and found pleasantly surprising, most of the things happening in the book lost their impact after the first few chapters as you realized everything you THOUGHT was going to happen, actually wasn't.

I'm sure Deaver will trim things back a little for his next story. But even with all the twists in this one, it still makes for a good novel. It's by no means bad...just not at the same level as his previous books.

I think Deaver has done us all a good turn by turning away from the Lincoln Rhyme novels. Kathryn Dance is an interesting character on her own and when combined with Deaver's rather deep reserve of storylines you have a sure-fire stable of future bestsellers.

In Sleeping Doll we're introduced to Daniel Pell, a killer of terrible repute. Having been convicted of the murder of four members of the Croyton family, Pell is serving his time. Kathryn Dance an investigator with the California Bureau of Investigation wants to interrogate Pell for another unsolved murder that predates his conviction. Instead of going to where Pell is serving his time, he is brought to Dance. This sets up his escape and also starts his murder spree and launches you on a read you're sure to remember.

Deaver is a master of ingenious plots, twists and turns as he leads the reader through his stories. The Sleeping Doll is a winner. Great characters with terrific development through the book, fast paced, you won't want this read to end but you won't be able to keep from devouring each line.

With Deaver, you always can expected the unexpected, and The Sleeping Doll is no exception. Riveted with tricks, turns, and things which are not what they seem, heroine Katherine Dance must use her abilities to see through the lies and deception to catch Daniel Pell. Pell is possibly the most chilling villain Deaver has ever created. With Lincoln Rhyme is an expert at forensic evidence and Katherine Dance at body language, Pell is a master in the art of manipulation and control of people. Deaver expertly gives a look into the dark mind of a ruthless control freak.

In short, the book is a Deaver classic, and it is not to be missed.

Kinesics - reading every little movement, smile, grimace and eyebrow askew. That part was scary - a Charles Manson character and how he gages others is totally frightening - knowing how many nuts are "out there" now. The book - not so much scary - the ending -- flat and totally NOT like Deaver. He must be getting tired of writing. Not a bad read --- but definately NOT a good Deaver read. Read in between your other "good" books.

I have enjoyed all of Deaver's past books. This is the first one that is disappointing. The book bogs down in unnecessary (and difficult to follow) subplots and plot twists. There are too many irrelevant minor characters who drag the story down even further. By the time I was finished with the first half of the book I just wished it would be over.

This new series with Kathryn Dance (introduced in the last Lincoln Rhyme novel) is like a rocket blast. Usually the 'surprises' are finished in most crime novels a few chapters before the end and both story and characters ride off into the sunset.

Not here! I did not return to normal breathing until the very last word was read.The characters : Dance and her family, O'Neil ( a favorite of mine) and Dances long-time best bud and side-kick, and just loved TJ too, another co-hort of hers. They just seem to be in each others' heads and are so human and true to life.

They are up against Daniel Pell, a convicted murderer/ cult leader who butchered a family of four (leaving behind a young daughter sleeping in an upstairs bedroom...thus THE SLEEPING DOLL). Pell escapes after Dance ( a kinesics expert) interviews him. He seems to almost always be one step ahead of everyone. But the close calls are thrilling.

A feebie is brought in to help. Winston Kellogg; shrewd, intelligent, cunning, bringing in one of the many sub-plots that make this novel one of, if not THE BEST of Deaver's contributions to the world of crime fiction.

Jeffrey Deavers' brilliant mind shines through all the intrigue and unwinding of the plot which is written in his usual flawless prose-etic style.

Thanks for another great one!

We were introduced to Kathryn Dance in Deaver's The Cold Moon - we saw a brilliant agent from California who helped Lincoln and Sachs with the Clockmaker - Here in Doll, she is on her own turf. And she has her hands full - A young man, Daniel Pell, a Charles Manson wannabee, escaped prison shortly after Kathryn interviewed him. We see her analytical interviewing skills - super body language that makes her a 'human lie detector'. Pell goes on a rampant killing spree, getting even with people who hurt him. Kathryn works with her California Bureau of Investigation buds to capture him and anticipate his next moves. It is a fascinating read. Kathryn Dance is a great character - she's vibrant, a great Mom, has great parents, two kids who love her, and she's a straight shooter. There is nothing on her agenda - she does what she loves and is an expert at. The interaction between Pell and Dance and other agents makes for a great book. It will keep you involved until the last sentence.

One hopes Deaver will continue Dance's story in future books. There looks to be a 'Kay Scarpetta/Benton Wesley' type of relationship/flirtation forming - It did not work for Patricia Cornwell. One hopes Deaver will not even go there for Dance. There are plenty of characters for her to interplay with, and not muddy the waters where she works.

Although Lincoln Rhyme is Deaver's mainstay, Kathryn Dance is a wonderful character, whether on her own or a collaboration with her New York friends.

Jeffrey Deaver has shown some degree of aptitude with his writing in the past, but this particular story has all the signs of an author cranking out pulp to the masses just to make a buck.

The story was so uneven as to be painful. I love a good mystery/thriller/crime drama and the well written ones just flow into your brain as you read them. I have rarely had to concentrate and interpret the meaningfulness to the main story line the frequent divergent paths onto which this book steers the reader.

This story could have been told in half the number of pages and would probably have been at least doubly increased in quality.

I have never not finished a book that I have started, and this one was truly an effort of endurance. I am usually disappointed as I approach the end of a good paperback to find a preview of the author's next offering as opposed to continuation of the story I am enjoying so much.

By the time I neared the end of this book, I was praying for a lengthy preview attached to the end so that the number of pages I had yet to endure to conclude the primary tale would be reduced.

Daniel Pell is known as "The Son of Manson" because of his magnetic personality and the group of followers he had gathered before his arrest for the murders of the Croyton family several years back - missing only the youngest daughter, because she was in bed and hidden among her toys and stuffed animals. Serving a life sentence in a very high security prison, Pell has now been fingered in a newly discovered murder and Kathryn Dance - with the California Bureau of Investigation - is both excited and frightened to have the chance to interview him.

So Pell is transported from the Capitola super-prison to the Monterey County Courthouse so that Dance can interview him - but things don't work out like she had planned; Pell escapes, leaving a trail of bodies behind him. Now she finds herself in charge of a manhunt, after one of the most cunning and vicious criminal minds she has ever faced. She turns to the past to try to figure out what Pell might do - she finds the three women who were part of his entourage, and also tracks down the surviving Croyton daughter. But can she unravel the twisting threads of the past in time to stop Pell?

Full of the plot twists that Deaver is so terribly fond of, "The Sleeping Doll" tends to move more slowly than many of his other books because this book is highly character-driven. The plot is about the characters, their interactions and their purposes. Some of the more hard-core adrenaline junkies might be put off by this, but I rather enjoyed it as a break from the more evidence and hard science-oriented books featuring Lincoln Rhyme - you know we all love him, but he can be rather trying at times and Kathryn Dance is like a breath of fresh air. I would like to see them teamed up again at some point (she appeared with him in The Cold Moon: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel (Lincoln Rhyme Novels)), because their opposite ways of dealing with investigations complemented one another nicely. I think that folks who are fans of Deaver will like this book, as well as those who enjoy a thriller with a more character-driven plot. Don't miss this one!

Kathryn Dance an investigator with the California Bureau of Investigation specializes in interrogation, and she's got a studied knack for knowing when someone's lying. That's why she smells a rat while she's interviewing a cold blooded killer, the so-called "Son of Manson." But he smells one, too: Kathryn. And he reacts. And people die. And now the Son of Manson is on the loose.

Jeffrey Deaver has scored a ten as his opening gambit in this new series. I couldn't put it down. Kathryn Dance is instructive and thorough, yet human. I never thought I'd like a character as much as Amelia Sachs and Lincoln Rhyme. But move over gang, Kathryn Dance is playing too. Bravo!