The Devil's Teardrop

Rating:
Summary: Sadistic unfeeling killer.
Review: This was my first Jeff Deaver novel and I loved it. Mr. Deaver is the best at turning things around on you just when you think you have it figured out. The "Digger" is a perfect character for an assassin. He has no feelings, no remorse.

Having to solve the puzzle of when and where does the "Digger" strike next on the basis of a ransom note was fabulous. A novel idea in a warehouse of thrillers.

Take a trip with "Parker Kincaid" and see what happens.

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Summary: Not for first time Deaver readers
Review: I am a total fan of J Deaver, however, I would not recommend this book to first time readers as unfortunately it has not lived up to his previous novels. Not a bad read, however

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Summary: Far Below Deaver Standards
Review: What disappointed me about this book is that I have seen how very much better Mr. Deaver can write.I found Teardrop far below his capabilities. His past efforts---particularly, A Maiden's Grave and The Bone Collector---were superbly written, full of interesting characters, fascinating forensic science and real suspense. By contrast, it was obvious to me that Teardrop was written hastily, and without any attention to how, or whether, the pieces fit together. Kincaid is utterly unappealing; he's a wimpy, tentaive Mr.Mom who looks good only in contrast to his uncaring ex-wife. Kincaid has none of the color, the energy or the depth of Lincoln Rhyme, a genuinely interesting and appealing character, and hero of The Bone Collector. The reader gets the imnpression that Mr. Deaver wrote Teardrop a paragraph at a time, rushing to get it done, and not caring much about plot development. The story is far-fethched, contradictory and thoroughly unsatisfying. I won't stop reading Deaver's work, but I hope that this book will serve him as a reminder that his talent should not be sacrificed as it was here.

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Summary: more than one twist
Review: I thought that this book was a great read-- I did not want to put it down. Just when you think the end is near there's a twist--and then another!

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Summary: Twists for twists sake
Review: A great premise is spoilt somewhat by some contrived twists, unbelievable coincidences, and some inexplicable instances where the characters' actions just don't live up to their thought processes. Early in the book I was left wondering how the FBI knew that the John Doe in the morgue was the man who left the ransom note. No explanation is given. You know a twist or two is coming because as the story appears to reach its climax you can still feel several chapters in your right hand. The twists, which I won't reveal, require far too much explanation which tends to slow everything down to a crawl, and the final twist is just plain silly. Despite blatent maniplulation of the reader by the author, this is still an exciting read, and as usual the forensic analysis is fascinating. I just wish JD would concentrate on the believable. Twists are great but they only work when reader clicks his finger and says "Of course!" They don't work when the reader has to wade through page after page of tedious explanation. In "The Bone Collector" by comparison the twist worked brilliantly because all the necessary explanations came before the twist, so when the twist came all the pieces of the puzzle fell beautifully into place.

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Summary: Different from his other books, but a knockout mystery.
Review: I've read many of Jeffrey Deaver's books in spite of the fact Itend to stay away from those books whose authors insist on using a lotof swearing (yeah I know corny and at odds with the rest of the world). However, Deaver writes so well, I tend to overlook his use of foul language. The Devil's Teardrop was his cleanest to date, and though his other books are great, I found myself drawn to this particular character/protagonist because he was a family man who tried to put his family first. In this cynical day and age, it is rare to find that in books. The plot was excellent, especially for those of us who are aware of the kind of damage the brain can do peripherally. I enjoyed learning more about forensic writing, and I hope Deaver chooses to use this character in other stories. Karen L. Sadler, Science Educator, University of Pittsburgh, [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Deaver fantastic again
Review: If you are looking for a fast paced action packed thrill ride, look no further. Deaver grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go until the last page. However, as with most of his novels, you must be willing to suspend reality at times. There is nothing outright unbelievable, but there are lots of very improbable occurences. This is easy to overlook though due to the heart stopping suspense and racing plot. Deaver also adds to the quality of the novel with intriging characters that are very well developed. And of course there are plenty of twists as readers of Deaver have come to expect. Unfortunately anyone familiar with Deaver will probably see the what, if not the who, of the main twist coming well ahead of time. Overall, a fantastic thriller that you will find hard to put down.

Rating:
Summary: devilishly twisted!
Review: The abridged audio version was well-read, exciting, and kept me wondering what was going to happen next. The villains were terrifying. This fast-paced, race the clock thriller never lets up. It's packed with more surprises than a piñata!

Rating:
Summary: A little over the top
Review: Deaver is usually quite good about keeping events within the realm of possibility (extraordinary, but possible). Some of the events in this book seem to go over the top on believability. Still a very good read, but centers more towards science fiction type events, rather than more mainstream ficton.

Rating:
Summary: Great Read but not as great as Bone Collector
Review: I loved this book in it's detail about forensics when it came to documents. Mr. Deaver has a talent at fooling the reader to provide a good twist! Looking forward to the "Empty Chair"!