Rating: 
Summary: I can't even sleep
Review: OMG, this is the best book ever. I loved it, it kept my interest from page to page. I can re-read this and still find it so interesting. The characters seems so real and it almost feels like as you are reading you can see the scenes. It was just awesome.
Rating: 
Summary: Rhyme and Sachs in a Hornet's Nest
Review: Like the other two Lincoln Rhyme/Amelia Sachs offerings from Deaver, "The Empty Chair" is almost too suspenseful to bear. There were times when I had to put it down, only to snatch it up again because the tension of leaving the story was too great. Now THAT'S a book!The story begins with the unlikely duo traveling to North Carolina, where Rhyme is scheduled to undergo a risky and largely experimental surgical procedure that may restore some of his ability to move. As a paraplegic who can only move his head and one finger, it's worth the risk. To Sachs, who loves him just the way he is, it's folly. Before their separate views on the subject can explode, however, the two are asked into a local case involving a very strange teenaged murderer/kidnapper known as "Insect Boy" for very good reason. Where are the two women he has kidnapped? Are they alive, and if so, for how long? How deadly is the boy whose best friends live in hornets' nests? Rhyme, as usual, cannot forego a good forensic mystery. And, as usual, Sachs acts as his "legs" at the various crime scenes. But Sachs sees more to the Insect Boy than anybody else--enough to uncharacteristically drop her guard. Can Rhyme save her in time? Or is his own life in danger? Those near and dear to him are in terribly grave danger (no pun intended) and only his brilliant mind can save them--and himself. I gave this book four stars after much thought, because I thought it was a bit slower to build. But once it did--whew! Another fabulous page-turner from Deaver.
Rating:
Summary: Still a good Lincoln Rhyme novel
Review: If I haven't read Bone Collector or Coffin Dancer, I may give this a 5-star rating. This book maintains all the elements or a good fast thriller - distinguishable characters, tight plot, unexpected twisted, that will keep you to flip the book like crazy. But this one lacks the tightly woven complicated plot as in Bone Collector, or the much further character development (for Lincoln and Amelia I am refering to) as in Coffin Dancer.
Some reviewers argued that in the beginning, you have already known who the killer was. But if you are a veteran Deavers fan, you should know that Mr. Deaver will keep giving you surprises in his books. In fact, I think because I have become used to expect the unexpected, so that soft some of the excitement in reading his books lately. But there is seldom any author nowadays that can create such tension as Mr. Deaver does, so I still recommend this as to all thriller lovers.
Rating:
Summary: Another 5-Star effort -- but not as good as Coffin Dancer
Review: I would never have guessed that reading a book absolutely LOADED with forensic details would interest me -- but I am VERY pleased that I took the gamble with Jeffery Deaver. Like many, I was first introduced to Deaver's work when I saw 'The Bone Collector' and figured that even though it was an entertaining movie, that Hollywood (as usual) took enough liberties with the plot to have rendered it not nearly as good as the book -- which in fact was the case. Lincoln's first adventure was simply stunning. I next went to one of my all-time favorite murder/mysteries, 'The Coffin Dancer'...a novel loaded with Deaver's trademark twists & turns and provided me with just about the best surprise ending I have read to date. After that truly amazing literary stunt, I was absolutely hooked on Deaver. I couldn't tell you how much I looked forward to his next voyage with Lincoln and Amelia. 'The Empty Chair' is pretty much everything Deaver has helped us expect out of a seriously scientific-driven murder mystery. Lincoln, who is preparing for a risky surgery which may or may not help give him additional minor mobility gets the call to help locate the Insect Boy, who has kidnapped and is presumably getting ready to kill a young woman. The really interesting thing about 'The Empty Chair' to me was the fact that as brilliant as Lincoln is, being out of New York -- anywhere out of New York, puts him entirely out of his element. Knowing as much about your specific environment is what helps him solve crimes...but down South is about as far away from his comfortable surroundings as Lincoln CAN be. This however does not stop him from his insatiable addiction to taking charge and working with whatever is available to him to solve a crime-in-progress. Some may be turned off with the incredible detail of what looks to be the smallest most insignificant physical evidence, but Deaver's sheer narrative force MAKES it interesting -- if not downright fun. I LOVE this kind of attention to seemingly tiny details, and a story featuring Lincoln & Amelia is chock full of it. Personally I didn't find the commonly used twists & turns to be as all-out surprising as in his previous stories, but Deaver certainly IS a genius at taking note of things that us average arm-chair criminologists gloss over. The best part is after he brings up the tiny stuff, you almost immediately realize just how important it is to the ultimate solving of the crime -- you can't always piece it together, but don't worry, Mr. Deaver does that just fine by himself. All in all, 'The Empty Chair' failed to entertain me as fully as 'The Bone Collector' and 'The Coffin Dancer' but I certainly have to give Deaver his due for all of the HUGE amount of research he absolutely MUST perform in order to tie it all together forensically tiny bit by tiny bit. Take note: IF you enjoy the show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, pick up one of Deaver's books featuring Lincoln Rhyme, the absolute OPPOSITE of what we have come to expect out of a Hero Crime Investigator. Just plain FUN, and HIGHLY recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: It's all about the money.......
Review: First thing I want to say is, that The Coffin Dancer and The Bone Collector are better books from Deaver. The idea is set up pretty good. Two girls are missing and kidnapped by The Insect boy. If you've read the first two books of the series, you know, those took place in New York. This book has a total different setting. A small southern community called Panaquenoke. There are a lot of twists, to my opinion to many. And the end is pretty weak. I hope The Stone Monkey is better, I will keep reading the Licoln Rhyme series. 3 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Your chair wont be empty
Review: I just got done reading "Empty Chair".. this was the first Deaver book, I read and I if he writes like this in other books he's going to be my new favorite author! Growing up I alwasy thought reading was boring. (I'd rather watch TV) But then in college I got hooked on Agatha Christie novels. I hadnt read any crime novels in many years after that, prefering history and non-fiction. A few months ago, I was browsing in the bookstore late one night and came across Harlan Coban's "Tell No One." I was blown away and it became my favorite book. Then last week I went to the movies and saw a preview for the new "Silence of the Lambs" movie and wanted to read the book before the movie. I breezed right through that book. I wanted to read more, another crime novel. I hoped on to Amazon.com and came across an author named Jeffrey Deaver. I read some reviews, and picked out "Empty Chair".. I've always had this thing for teenage tales--books with a teen character. This book fit that bill.
I began reading it the day I bought it... it starts off slow. ANd then it builds and builds, and BUILDS, and then I would say that 1/4th of the book is a wild roller coaster ride (ok I know that sounds cliched) but it true! Its a free fall with so many twists and turns, I was breathless and could just sit there exclaiming "oh my god!"
Deaver goes into forensic eveidence pretty deeply and I emjoyed that. (though most of it seems like common sense--move a victim away from a crime scene and then land the medivac helicopter)..duh! :) Deaver describes the land of Carolina very well and I can picture the bogs and bays, the swamps etc very clearly. I felt the characters were very well developed and I enjoyed the play between the cold and calculating Rhyme and the loose fast and free Sachs. They make a good team.
I'd definately recommend this book to anyone but be warned your chair wont be empty because you'll be glued to it reading this book ;)
Rating:
Summary: I Could Not Put It Down!
Review: This is the first book I have read by Jeffrey Deaver. It was EXTREMELY difficult to stop reading once I picked it up. I started at 1:00 AM on a night when I was very restless, and I tore through the first "section" before I knew what time it was (and remembered I needed to go to work later that morning). The plot is very engaging, particularly at the beginning of the book. The plot takes some almost rediculous twists near the end, but Deaver's writing makes the plot compelling and believable, and it certainly keeps you on the edge of your seat. The reading is light and it goes very quickly. I have recommended the book to several friends who agreed that it is very difficult to stop reading it. Deaver is a very talented writer, and my first taste of his writing only makes me want to read more of it. I am going back to "The Bone Collector" and looking forward to reading the series from the beginning.
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: Deaver at his best, again
Review: Deaver does such an excellent job with his main characters that it's hard to say one is best. Lincoln Rhyme, Amelia Sachs and Thom are involved in yet another crime investigation that twists and turns to keep you on your toes right to the end. And don't try to out guess Rhyme because you will be wrong! If you say you did and were right, then you should write one of your own books to prove yourself.This time, quad Rhyme is in North Carolina to have experimental surgery done on his spinal cord to gain some use of his body. His cohort , Amelia, for reasons of her own does not want the operation done. Thom. his personal aide is there to do his job for his impatient, nit picking, nasty and sarcastic employer, being his same efficient, enduring self. He alone seems to understand Rhyme's frustration with his physical and emotional difficulties. But there is nothing wrong with Rhyme's brain and his powers of deductionas as he investigates crimes and points to the guilty ones for the law enforcers to arrest. Having to depend on others to collect the evidence for him to evaluate is hard enough but here in the backwaters of NC swamplands he feels like a fish out of water.He is used to NY City and all his sophisticated equipment and experts. But he agrees to help out the locals (20 miles from the hospital) while he waits for test results. Two women have been kidnapped by a strange 16 yr. old boy who also is accused of killing a man. Evidence points to the "Insect Boy" but he outwits his pursuers until he is caught. Amelia springs him from jail and goes with him to rescue his victims. Amelia believes he is innocent and frustrates Rhyme even more. In the end, almost everyone is fooled but not until several more people are killed. And why are there so many luxury cars and homes in this area but hardly any children? Rhyme has his work cut out for him and he is sorely taxed to solve this cliff hanger. It's another page turner you won't put down easily and at the end you,too will say, "WOW". And you will also have learned some interesting facts about the insect world that will surprise you. Read this one for sure! And find out why the boy is considered "strange".
Rating:
Summary: Amelia Bugs Out with the Insect Boy
Review: That is my humorous subtitle for this suspenseful thriller that takes place near the Great Dismal Swamp in North Carolina. Rhyme leaves his beloved New York City hoping for a successful experimental surgery that will give him a small bit of independence. While he is waiting for the surgery, he is asked by the local sheriff to help in the search for a local teenager nicknamed the "Insect Boy" for his sole interest--a love of insects. Garrett Hanlon, the teenager, is accused of kidnapping two women and killing a student who tries to stop him. Hanlon escapes into the swamp and Rhyme enlists local experts to sift though the forensic evidence to find out where he is going. Despite the hopelessness of the situation, the clues do result in the capture of Hanlon. The novel's title refers to a psychiatric technique of having the patient, in this case Hanlon, project his feelings by imagining the empty chair is someone they want to talk to. Since one of the kidnapped women is still missing, they try to have him talk to her so they can find out where she is. Of course the plot thickens and as Amelia Sachs gets to know the boy, she becomes convinced that he is innocent. Fearing his mistreatment by inmates in the state prison, she "breaks him out" of the local jail. There are lots of very thrilling chase scenes as Lincoln Rhyme tries to outwit Amelia Sachs who is on the lam with the Insect Boy. Hanlon also is very clever and confuses his pursuers with false leads. The bad guys are not all wearing black hats and its hard to tell the good guys from the bad. You aren't sure who you want to find Amelia and Hanlon. THere are some very scary, nail-biting scenes, with lots of suprises in the end. Sprinkled among the exciting scenes are some personal scenes where we find out how much Amelia longs to have a child and when she bonds with a local policewoman. We also find out why she does not want Lincoln to have the operation. Just when things seem like they are drawing to an end is another big surprise as one of the main characters is prosecuted for a murder that occurs during the chase. Everything is tied up in the end in a logical way, making this an exciting and rewarding read.
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