The Empty Chair

Rating:
Summary: Wonder why he didn't title it "The Hornet's Nest".
Review: Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs return again and get into more trouble than you can possibly imagine. During the course of the book you will be convinced that Amelia will (1) go to jail for a long time (2) be murdered on more than one occasion and (3)need to be fitted for a straight jacket. You will also conclude at different times that Lincoln will (1) be murdered on more than one occasion (2) has lost his touch (3) has lost Thorn. What makes this book work is that Deaver is so capable of writing illusionally. You are sure that you read something that makes what follows impossible. When you go back and check you see that you filled in a blank that Mr. Deaver didn't. This book is a maserful exercise in mystery writing. There are times that it seems a bit tedious and confusing, but that is what the writer intends, for reasons that you will see as you continue through it. I do wonder why he titled it The Empty Chair, although there is a plausable explanation for it when you link that psychological technique to what turns out to be a very important memory by one of the characters. Read it and enjoy the delicious attention to detail and devious turns and twists that this writer has clearly mastered. A great read!

Rating:
Summary: Another GREAT Lincoln Rhyme story
Review: THE EMPTY CHAIR
AUTHOR: Jeffery Deaver
PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster
REVIEWED BY: Barbara Rhoades

BOOK REVIEW: Are you a fan of Jeffery Deaver's character, Lincoln Rhyme? If so, you don't want to miss the book, The Empty Chair. In this story, Lincoln has decided to have surgery performed that may give him more movement. When Lincoln and Amelia, his right-hand gal and soul mate, arrive at the University of North Carolina, they are asked by the sheriff of Tanner's Corner to help them locate two girls that have been abducted.

Putting aside his need to be ready for the surgery, Lincoln agrees to help. Between them, they determine that the Insect Boy is the culprit but when he is apprehended, he refuses to tell where one of the girls is being held. Amelia begins to believe Garrett, AKA the Insert boy, is not guilty. Lincoln disagrees. Pitting their wits against each other, each tries to prove he is right.

Mr. Deaver's writes with a knowledge of local color that is superb and keeps the reader on the edge of his chair until the last word is read. He also gives the plot several unexpected twists that add to the story. Be sure to get a copy for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: Not nearly as good as the first two books in the series
Review: If you know Deaver's series about quadriplegic forensic investigator Lincoln Rhyme and his love affair/sidekick ex-model-turned-into-cop Amelia Sachs, you'll realise "The empty chair" has all elements to give continuity to one of the best thriller series I know: a murder, kidnapping, interesting forensic details, Rhyme and Sachs running against time, etc. But this third book is not nearly as good as the first two, "The bone collector" and " The coffin dancer".

Why is that? In my opinion, one of the greatest things about Lincoln and Amelia is the feeling of closeness the reader gets when reading about the crippled investigator. Lincoln is always in his state-of-the-art medical bed, surrounded by latest technology forensic equipment, and Amelia is Lincoln's eyes and legs. This combination prooved to be very good and adequate in the first two books.

In "The empty chair", Lincoln and Amelia are not in New York anymore. They have traveled to North Carolina, where Rhyme will undergo a cirurgy that may restore some of his nerve connections. But while wating the cirurgy, the local sheriff asks Lincoln to help him in a murder-kidnapp case. From there, Deaver gives the reader his usually competent plot. The problem is, in this book character development is way below average. It's full of stereotypes. Even Rhyme and Sachs are a little worn out. Other characters are flat and I often confused one with another in the first pages of the book. The final solution of the mistery is simply ridiculous, when you think in Jeffery Deaver's terms. It's the kind of solution used in bad first-books by unknown authors in the eighties. Deaver disappointed me badly with the last hundred pages of "The empty chair".

I hope "The stone monkey" is much better than this one, because Rhyme and Sachs are too good a team to be forsaken.

Grade 6.3/10

Rating:
Summary: POSITIVELY AN "A-1 FANTASTIC THRILLER!"
Review: Jeffery Deaver's, "The Empty Chair", ranks at the top of the list with James Patterson's earlier books, "Along Came a Spider," "Jack and Jill," and "Kiss the Girls." If you have not already done so, you should read Deaver's, "The Bone Collector" and "Coffin Dancer" prior to this one. Each is independent of the other, but some of the same characters will appear, such as NYPD detective and renowned criminalist, Lincoln Rhymes and his protege, Officer Amelia Sachs. This novel involves kidnapping, murder and a mountain of suspense and intrigue. Through mayhem and fast-paced action, "The Empty Chair" is one of those sought after, "can't put it down" thrillers, you anxiously search for on bookshelves.

Deaver boldly writes with flair, passion, style, and charisma; his books are filled with top-notch psychological suspense. He knows how to develop a strong plot that will please and captivate his readers. To date, he has not let us down. The only disappointment was not how the book ended, but the fact it had to end at all. It leaves the reader wishing there was another new Deaver novel at hand to pick up just as this one concluded. Suspense fans should not be disappointed in this fantastic, edge-of-your-seat thriller.

Rating:
Summary: A Rip-Roaring Read
Review: Quadriplegic criminologist, Lincoln Rhyme, is back in a can't-put-it-down story with more twists than a slinky toy. Seems Lincoln, in North Carolina to undergo a highly experimental and risky surgical procedure that might give him more mobility, is talked into assisting the locals in finding a troubled, insect loving teen aged boy who killed another teenager and kidnapped two women. The teen, dubbed "Insect Boy" by the folks who live in his small town, has been wonderfully depicted by Deaver. The insect lore is quite fascinating, as are the forensic deductions made by Rhyme from his observations of trace physical evidence taken from the primary and secondary crime scenes. I liked Deaver's portrayal of the women in the story as strong and resourseful, rather than helpless victims. He's very good at developing characters the reader can understand and emphathize with. And the plot is a roller coaster ride of action and suspense. Just when it seems over, it heats up again, and takes off on a new tangent. I have only one complaint, and that is that the locals are portrayed just a little too red-necky for my taste. Otherwise it's a fine thriller that is guaranteed to keep you reading.

Rating:
Summary: Oh puhleeease!
Review: Oh! There aren't enough words to say how dreadful this novel is! Implausible story! Embarrassingly stereotypical characters! Emotionally challenged women, super-macho men! How impossible that so many people in such a small town could ALL be involved in murder! I physically cringed when, in the middle of a stand-off, as a man is lying on the floor bleeding from a gunshot wound, the person who goes to his aid is told, "One thing, he's gay. He's been tested, but.." How outrageous is that! Just because a man is gay, you're supposed to automatically assume he might have AIDS?! Several times I wanted to throw the book away, but I just had to know if the story redeemed itself in the end. No, it didn't! Avoid this trainwreck of a book!

Rating:
Summary: Is the "Insect Boy," Really A Killer?
Review: Lincoln Rhyme, the renowned criminalist from the Bone Collector and the Coffin Dancer, will fcae his ultimate opponent: a kidnapper and murderer dubbed the Insect Boy. But Rhyme is in for a surprise when he learns that catching a criminal is one thing; keeping him is quite another. Now Rhyme finds himself hunting a ruhtless killer in the heart of a southern swampland-and going head-to-head with his protege, Amelia Sachs. This is a rivalry that will test both the limits of their expertise and their love.

The book will keep you in suspense.

Rating:
Summary: Another Lincoln Rhyme Super Thriller
Review: Lincoln Rhyme, crime solving quadriplegic, follows medical advances, hoping to improve his condition. This quest leads him and his assistant Amelia Sachs to the University of North Carolina Medical Center for some experimental surgery. Upon his arrival the local sheriff seeks his aide in catching a teenager, nicknamed Insect Boy, who is the leading suspect in a murder and the abduction of two girls. Rhyme and Amelia catch the kid, but Amelia believe he's innocent and helps him escape. Now Lincoln must use his forensic skill against his protégé.

This, like all of Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme stories, is one heck of a page turning read and it gets five stars from me. Just a super thriller.

Reviewed by Vesta Irene

Rating:
Summary: Simply Too Much
Review: I'm a new fan of the Lincoln Rhyme series and started with The Stone Monkey -- a terrific book which had me at the book store within 24 hours to pick up the other Rhyme novels. I have to say that The Empty Chair is not very good -- nowhere near the calibre of The Bone Collector or Coffin Dancer. There are simply too many plot twists and the basic premise of the novel (town becomes toxic waste dump) has been done to death. This part of the plot can be figured out in the first 100 pages.

The interaction between Sachs & Rhyme is still good - even Thom gets to be involved a little more - but the story is simply over the top in terms of who the villains actually are and how the heroes save the day. The reader is also expected to believe that charges against Amelia for manslaughter are dropped because the victim was dirty? Implausible to say the least. Also, the author's technique of having a "personal crisis" in the relationship between Sachs & Rhyme end one chapter and then begin the next chapter with the villain's actions is getting a little tired. The author should have more faith that his work is intriguing enough to get the reader to actually want to finish the book without resorting to gimmicks and chapter-ending cliffhangers.

This book is a disappointment and clearly the weakest in the series...not bad enough to ruin the entire series, however. I'll still read the Rhyme novels -- overall, the series is very, very good!

Rating:
Summary: Quite good, but not Deaver at his very best
Review: When I read this book, I was kind of dissapointed. Sure, the plotline was well-contructed and suspenseful, and it did keep me up all night to the very last page, but for some reason it is more unpolished than his other works. There are many useless characters, comments and ideas that tend to mix the reader up. Still, it was enjoyable, but somewhat unsettling.