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Lincoln Rhyme #9
The Burning Wire
Lincoln Rhyme is back, on the trail of a killer whose weapon of choice cripples New York City with fear.
The weapon is invisible and omnipresent. Without it, modern society grinds to a halt. It is electricity. The killer harnesses and steers huge arc flashes with voltage so high and heat so searing that steel melts and his victims are set afire.
When the first explosion occurs in broad daylight, reducing a city bus to a pile of molten, shrapnel-riddled metal, officials fear terrorism. Rhyme, a world-class forensic criminologist known for his successful apprehension of the most devious criminals, is immediately tapped for the investigation. Long a quadriplegic, he assembles NYPD detective Amelia Sachs and officer Ron Pulaski as his eyes, ears and legs on crime sites, and FBI agent Fred Dellray as his undercover man on the street. As the attacks continue across the city at a sickening pace, and terrifying demand letters begin appearing, the team works desperately against time and with maddeningly little forensic evidence to try to find the killer. Or is it killers...?
Meanwhile, Rhyme is consulting on another high-profile investigation in Mexico with a most coveted quarry in his crosshairs: the hired killer known as the Watchmaker, one of the few criminals to have eluded Rhyme's net.
Juggling two massive investigations against a cruel ticking clock takes a toll on Rhyme's health. Soon Rhyme is fighting on yet another front - and his determination to work despite his physical limitations threatens to drive away his closest allies when he needs them most...
The weapon is invisible and omnipresent. Without it, modern society grinds to a halt. It is electricity. The killer harnesses and steers huge arc flashes with voltage so high and heat so searing that steel melts and his victims are set afire.
When the first explosion occurs in broad daylight, reducing a city bus to a pile of molten, shrapnel-riddled metal, officials fear terrorism. Rhyme, a world-class forensic criminologist known for his successful apprehension of the most devious criminals, is immediately tapped for the investigation. Long a quadriplegic, he assembles NYPD detective Amelia Sachs and officer Ron Pulaski as his eyes, ears and legs on crime sites, and FBI agent Fred Dellray as his undercover man on the street. As the attacks continue across the city at a sickening pace, and terrifying demand letters begin appearing, the team works desperately against time and with maddeningly little forensic evidence to try to find the killer. Or is it killers...?
Meanwhile, Rhyme is consulting on another high-profile investigation in Mexico with a most coveted quarry in his crosshairs: the hired killer known as the Watchmaker, one of the few criminals to have eluded Rhyme's net.
Juggling two massive investigations against a cruel ticking clock takes a toll on Rhyme's health. Soon Rhyme is fighting on yet another front - and his determination to work despite his physical limitations threatens to drive away his closest allies when he needs them most...
414 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2010
About the author
Jeffery Deaver
376 books10.9k followers#1 international bestselling author of over thirty novels and three collections of short stories. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. His first novel featuring Lincoln Rhyme, The Bone Collector, was made into a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. He's received or been shortlisted for a number of awards around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,055 reviews
October 18, 2023
Es ist leider schon ein paar Jahre her, dass ich ein Buch von Jeffery Deaver gelesen habe. Daher habe ich mich sehr gefreut, als ich diesen Kurzkrimi entdeckte und er mich sozusagen an Deaver erinnerte.
Der Kurzkrimi hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Für die Kürze ist er unterhaltsam, auch spannend und mit einem wichtigen Thema.
Ich sollte wieder mehr von Deaver lesen! :)
Der Kurzkrimi hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Für die Kürze ist er unterhaltsam, auch spannend und mit einem wichtigen Thema.
Ich sollte wieder mehr von Deaver lesen! :)
October 23, 2010
Yawn. I have been a fan of Deaver's for years. His "The Blue Nowhere" might be one of the best mystery stories that I have ever read. And more recently, I've looked forward to his newest e-books, which Brian and I find to be a great way to pass the miles driven back and forth on I-95 visiting the kids.
This one was a disappointment.
All the usual elements are there, Sachs, Rhyme, crime details, suspense -- but these Sachs-Ryme stories are beginning to sound uncomfortably the same. A crime occurs, Rhyme is pulled into the case, Sachs walks the grid, Rhyme gets cranky with Tom - a lot, Rhyme drinks single malt scotch, Sachs walks the grid, several twists and turns, details, details, pedantic recitation of details, Rhyme gets cranky and fights with Tom, Rhyme drinks scotch, Sachs walks the grid, Rhyme, a quadraplegic dependent on multiple gadgets and electronic equipment to sustain his post spinal cord injury, is implausibley left alone (yeah right) and almost gets knocked off, drinks scotch and on and on.
Even IF the details are familiar to Deaver fans, THIS book lacked zip and suspense. I think Deaver needs to change his focus. He is such an incredible writer, but his books are becoming formulaic. He can do much better than this last effort.
This one was a disappointment.
All the usual elements are there, Sachs, Rhyme, crime details, suspense -- but these Sachs-Ryme stories are beginning to sound uncomfortably the same. A crime occurs, Rhyme is pulled into the case, Sachs walks the grid, Rhyme gets cranky with Tom - a lot, Rhyme drinks single malt scotch, Sachs walks the grid, several twists and turns, details, details, pedantic recitation of details, Rhyme gets cranky and fights with Tom, Rhyme drinks scotch, Sachs walks the grid, Rhyme, a quadraplegic dependent on multiple gadgets and electronic equipment to sustain his post spinal cord injury, is implausibley left alone (yeah right) and almost gets knocked off, drinks scotch and on and on.
Even IF the details are familiar to Deaver fans, THIS book lacked zip and suspense. I think Deaver needs to change his focus. He is such an incredible writer, but his books are becoming formulaic. He can do much better than this last effort.
October 10, 2018
I would rather give this 3.5 stars, but Goodreads doesn't allow 1/2 stars. This was a standard Lincoln Rhyme story. The main problem was that I figured out who was the bad guy way early and the story kinda slowed down after that. I've never been comfortable around electricity and now I hope my coffee pot doesn't get me someday. Recommended to Rhyme fans.
April 12, 2021
Jeffery Deaver once again brings back his tag-team Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs, who return to face their deadliest adversary yet, who just may prove to be unstoppable!
When a deadly explosion rocks the city of New York, destroying a city bus and killing many people, officials believing it to be terrorism. Rhyme, one of the worlds, (if not the worlds) best forensic specialists, is immediately assigned to the investigation along with Amelia Sachs, Rookie Ron Pulaski and his Forensics team, with FBI operative Fred Dellray posing as Rhyme's undercover man on the streets.
As more attacks take place across the city, Rhyme realizes the killer (or is it killers) has been using the power of electricity to target his victims, writing demand letters, and always seeming to be one step ahead of Rhyme and the authorities. Rhyme and his team are now in the fight for their lives and they may finally be pushed to their breaking point.
Rhyme is also assisting in another high-profile investigation in Mexico, trying to apprehend the hired killer the Watchmaker, whom we were introduced to in
, and who was able to elude Rhyme's trap, being one of the very few to do so.
The story was engaging and suspenseful, but I felt it drag in some places, still a good read though, and great addition to the beloved Lincoln Rhyme series!
When a deadly explosion rocks the city of New York, destroying a city bus and killing many people, officials believing it to be terrorism. Rhyme, one of the worlds, (if not the worlds) best forensic specialists, is immediately assigned to the investigation along with Amelia Sachs, Rookie Ron Pulaski and his Forensics team, with FBI operative Fred Dellray posing as Rhyme's undercover man on the streets.
As more attacks take place across the city, Rhyme realizes the killer (or is it killers) has been using the power of electricity to target his victims, writing demand letters, and always seeming to be one step ahead of Rhyme and the authorities. Rhyme and his team are now in the fight for their lives and they may finally be pushed to their breaking point.
Rhyme is also assisting in another high-profile investigation in Mexico, trying to apprehend the hired killer the Watchmaker, whom we were introduced to in
The story was engaging and suspenseful, but I felt it drag in some places, still a good read though, and great addition to the beloved Lincoln Rhyme series!
June 10, 2020
A new way to murder humans using electricity...
Deaver always manage to create mysteries with unexpected twists.
Deaver always manage to create mysteries with unexpected twists.
July 15, 2024
Not my favorite Deaver book-- too many threads and even though they tie together (a tad too neatly), I think it reduced suspense!
I will say, I’ll never think about electricity the same again!
(Reviewed 11/13/10)
I will say, I’ll never think about electricity the same again!
(Reviewed 11/13/10)
March 10, 2018
Un libro ad alta tensione, di quelli non a corrente alternata, ma a corrente continua, è proprio il caso di dirlo.
E con tutti i tempi giusti... preciso come un... orologio!
Bravo Lincoln (cioè, bravo Deaver!)...
E con tutti i tempi giusti... preciso come un... orologio!
Bravo Lincoln (cioè, bravo Deaver!)...
April 17, 2022
I've been a Jeffrey Deaver fan for years; I particularly like the Lincoln Rhyme series. The idea of a paralysed man solving murders for his bedroom is far fetched. However Deaver's novels are written with a skill that makes it believable. Rhymes character, as a tetchy, frustrated, slightly intolerant criminal scientist is brilliant.
I will not spoil the story by referring to the plot, other to say twenty years ago it would have been ridiculous, the fact that it is possible adds to the pace of the book.
The book is, as with all Deaver's novels, good, well constructed and gallops along, with a brilliant twist in the tale.
I refer to the book, however this was an audio book, I feel I cannot give a review of the story without commenting on the reader. Kerry Shale is an excellent reader; the variety of tones, dialects and accents is superb. All in all a jolly good read (or listen)
I will not spoil the story by referring to the plot, other to say twenty years ago it would have been ridiculous, the fact that it is possible adds to the pace of the book.
The book is, as with all Deaver's novels, good, well constructed and gallops along, with a brilliant twist in the tale.
I refer to the book, however this was an audio book, I feel I cannot give a review of the story without commenting on the reader. Kerry Shale is an excellent reader; the variety of tones, dialects and accents is superb. All in all a jolly good read (or listen)
July 25, 2018
Loved this story from the start. I don't particularly consider myself very technically minded, but I loved all the descriptions of how the crimes were carried out.
Personally this was probably one of the best in the series so far, great characters, old and new, fiendish plot with the usual misdirection. There was obviously a lot of research done for this and it is explained in an understandable method.
Can't wait to read the next book.
Personally this was probably one of the best in the series so far, great characters, old and new, fiendish plot with the usual misdirection. There was obviously a lot of research done for this and it is explained in an understandable method.
Can't wait to read the next book.
August 31, 2018
A few suspenseful moments, but otherwise this was very much more of the same. My memory's not that great, but I certainly did feel like this was "The Bone Collector", but with electricity. I think Deaver struggled a lot with finding the ploy this time and he certainly isn't all that comfortable around electricity. That is mirrored in the characters too: Rhyme, that we thought knew a lot about everything, seems quite lost in the world of conductivity, resistance, Amps, Watts and Volts. Refreshing perhaps that he doesn't know everything, but he should possibly know the most easily accessible (tried Google?) information.
September 8, 2022
This is Crime/Mystery. I like this author and I like this series. What I love the most are the creative twists that seem to come out of nowhere. I love that because it keeps me continually guessing about the "who did it" in the story. The author does that well. So I'll read eventually read every book in this series.
What I don't like so much is how dangerously close this author gets to "fantasy land" with some of these details and twists. Some are far too convenient to be considered organic or natural progression. Not a deal breaker because there are so many things here that go into the plus column. So 3 stars.
What I don't like so much is how dangerously close this author gets to "fantasy land" with some of these details and twists. Some are far too convenient to be considered organic or natural progression. Not a deal breaker because there are so many things here that go into the plus column. So 3 stars.
March 13, 2011
This is one of those authors where I ask myself, "WHY do you bother?" I don't have the answer. Habit, I suppose. Another "junk read" for me and Deaver's in the mid-range of those writers, with Lee Child and Dennis Lehane being on top. With so many of these crime-thriller-mystery writers, they now focus in on a topic (in this case, electricity,) research it to death a la Tom Clancy, then toss in some interesting "facts" to tempt the reader's interest. Here's one: it one takes one-tenth of one amp to kill a human, and the average hair blow dryer runs on ten amps. Think about that the next time you are drying your hair over a sink.
I really don't care for these accumlating forensic lists Deaver seems addicted to. They don't add much to the story other than a quirky visual diversion. He does raise the obvious concern we are all aware of: the addiction to electric and what it provides us, and how our lives can ground to a halt when it is not available. He notes that nothing much has changed "all that much" since Thomas Edison's time.
I'll tell you what I enjoyed the most about this book. The quotes by Edison scattered throughout. Here's one: "I haven't failed. I've just found ten thousand ways that won't work." ~~ Thomas Alva Edison. If anything, this book made me want to read more about Edison and electricity.
I really don't care for these accumlating forensic lists Deaver seems addicted to. They don't add much to the story other than a quirky visual diversion. He does raise the obvious concern we are all aware of: the addiction to electric and what it provides us, and how our lives can ground to a halt when it is not available. He notes that nothing much has changed "all that much" since Thomas Edison's time.
I'll tell you what I enjoyed the most about this book. The quotes by Edison scattered throughout. Here's one: "I haven't failed. I've just found ten thousand ways that won't work." ~~ Thomas Alva Edison. If anything, this book made me want to read more about Edison and electricity.
September 5, 2018
a must read. Deaver writting is a page turner and this one is great with a killer and his unique weapon. enjoyed it a lot
March 16, 2017
Thank goodness "The Burning Wire" rebounded from a lackluster 8th book (The Broken Window). This one is also not as long as previous reads so that was much appreciated. In this 8th book, Rhyme and Sachs get called in when a mysterious figure is set on attacking the people of New York with electricity. No this isn't Shocker. But honestly, you start thinking of this book that way when you get the POV of the man who is set on killing people due to his obsession with electricity.
We begin with Rhyme being bored since he has no cases to work on at the moment. Since the last book when we went into Rhyme doing more rehab, he had gained a little bit of movement, but that is it. Rhyme is still focused on catching his nemesis, The Watchmaker (see Cold Moon) so we do get updates about that character via another character this series introduced, Kathryn Dance (also see Cold Moon). When a bus nearby is damaged due to an explosion because of burning wire connected to a plant nearby, Rhyme and Sachs are called in to assist. Due to the NYPD and FBI being afraid of a missed terrorist connection, the clock is ticking for Rhyme and his usual companions to track down the person or persons responsible.
I can honestly say this is the most I liked Rhyme since around the first book. We get his vulnerability when he has a medical setback and also the book does a nice callback to how suicidal Rhyme used to be in The Bone Collector (Lincoln Rhyme #1). Rhyme knows that being able to still work cases and also his relationship with Amelia Sachs is what brought him back to the other side. Rhyme's encyclopedia knowledge of most things science does not extend much to electricity, so we have to get more information about that via the bad guy's POV and also what characters tell Sachs.
Sachs besides her POV working the scene here and there we don't get much time with. I am not complaining though. I think the last book with her and the nonsense with Pammy was a bit too much for me. I do wish we had seen Sachs interact with her mother more though. She's always this faceless character to me and that's about it.
We also go to Ron Pulaski's POV in this one. And either Deaver needs to toughen this character up, or just devote more of the POV to Sachs. I feel like Pulaski has not changed one iota since he was first introduced. I also find it odd that Rhyme's dream is one day that Sachs and Pulaski run the Crime Scene department or whatever it was referred to in this book. I wonder if Sachs and Pulaski even know about his dream or would agree with it. There was an interesting development regarding Pulaski in this one that I would have been more favorable to if Deaver wasn't so interested in resolving it by the end of the book. It could have been nice to follow up with it in the next book.
We also get Fred Dellray's POV which I liked a lot. We get to see him struggling with the changing nature of the FBI and what place if any he has in it anymore.
We also get the bad guy's POV and his obsession with electricity though seems at odds with his mission in this book. I won't get into it in the review otherwise I will have spoiled what I considered a great reveal.
I thought it was interesting in this one that we get a sense of the characters moving on with their lives between books which is nice. We get a reference to Rhyme and Sachs visiting Rhyme's cousin Arthur (see The Broken Window) who I still don't care for much. But also we get references to Sachs getting a new car and working on it with her pseudo niece Pammy. We get references to one of the characters still doing his ballroom dancing and everyone else asking about it.
The flow of the book works in this one though once again I have to say the little bits we get about the Watchmaker messes with things. I get why Deaver did that when I got towards the end, but I started to get tired of Dance and Rhyme talking via phone while Rhyme was trying to work the case in New York and another one elsewhere.
The book ends on a good note. Deaver tries to set up another twist but I wasn't fooled by it for a second. I guess if I was reading this book when it first came out, I would have been worried, but since I know other books follow this one I just went eh interesting.
We begin with Rhyme being bored since he has no cases to work on at the moment. Since the last book when we went into Rhyme doing more rehab, he had gained a little bit of movement, but that is it. Rhyme is still focused on catching his nemesis, The Watchmaker (see Cold Moon) so we do get updates about that character via another character this series introduced, Kathryn Dance (also see Cold Moon). When a bus nearby is damaged due to an explosion because of burning wire connected to a plant nearby, Rhyme and Sachs are called in to assist. Due to the NYPD and FBI being afraid of a missed terrorist connection, the clock is ticking for Rhyme and his usual companions to track down the person or persons responsible.
I can honestly say this is the most I liked Rhyme since around the first book. We get his vulnerability when he has a medical setback and also the book does a nice callback to how suicidal Rhyme used to be in The Bone Collector (Lincoln Rhyme #1). Rhyme knows that being able to still work cases and also his relationship with Amelia Sachs is what brought him back to the other side. Rhyme's encyclopedia knowledge of most things science does not extend much to electricity, so we have to get more information about that via the bad guy's POV and also what characters tell Sachs.
Sachs besides her POV working the scene here and there we don't get much time with. I am not complaining though. I think the last book with her and the nonsense with Pammy was a bit too much for me. I do wish we had seen Sachs interact with her mother more though. She's always this faceless character to me and that's about it.
We also go to Ron Pulaski's POV in this one. And either Deaver needs to toughen this character up, or just devote more of the POV to Sachs. I feel like Pulaski has not changed one iota since he was first introduced. I also find it odd that Rhyme's dream is one day that Sachs and Pulaski run the Crime Scene department or whatever it was referred to in this book. I wonder if Sachs and Pulaski even know about his dream or would agree with it. There was an interesting development regarding Pulaski in this one that I would have been more favorable to if Deaver wasn't so interested in resolving it by the end of the book. It could have been nice to follow up with it in the next book.
We also get Fred Dellray's POV which I liked a lot. We get to see him struggling with the changing nature of the FBI and what place if any he has in it anymore.
We also get the bad guy's POV and his obsession with electricity though seems at odds with his mission in this book. I won't get into it in the review otherwise I will have spoiled what I considered a great reveal.
I thought it was interesting in this one that we get a sense of the characters moving on with their lives between books which is nice. We get a reference to Rhyme and Sachs visiting Rhyme's cousin Arthur (see The Broken Window) who I still don't care for much. But also we get references to Sachs getting a new car and working on it with her pseudo niece Pammy. We get references to one of the characters still doing his ballroom dancing and everyone else asking about it.
The flow of the book works in this one though once again I have to say the little bits we get about the Watchmaker messes with things. I get why Deaver did that when I got towards the end, but I started to get tired of Dance and Rhyme talking via phone while Rhyme was trying to work the case in New York and another one elsewhere.
The book ends on a good note. Deaver tries to set up another twist but I wasn't fooled by it for a second. I guess if I was reading this book when it first came out, I would have been worried, but since I know other books follow this one I just went eh interesting.
June 8, 2010
Details , details, details, opening the pages of the novel, you get a ton of them. Lincoln Ryhme is back and seeing the details and the minutia others over look. He is a modern Sherlock Hemlock. Sorry , that is Sherlock Holmes, I have been watching too many Sesame Street episodes with my grandson. None the less or more , depending on how you look at it, Ryhme works his magic.
Jeffrey Deaver does what many others fail to do. He educates us; he makes us look at the world through a different set of circumstances, he makes us look at the little things. Stuff that may seem unimportant, unrelated, and totally incongruent to others. I think that is at the crux of my enjoyment of his work. His process and his ability to tie many little pieces together to make the puzzle not just fit but seem like it was there the entire time. He doesn’t hide facts, or evidence, there is very little that is revealed after the conclusion for us to say, hey if I had known that I would have solved the mystery. He lays it all out there for us to read;, the rest is for us to put together.
I think the interplay between all the characters in The Burning Wire is his best to date. I will accept any argument you will make , but it is my position that Lincoln Ryhme has turned a corner here that I don’t think any of us saw coming. Thom was given more ink than in the past, Sachs was front & center as well as a host of other favs. I think that this is Deaver’s most complete work yet , and I find that hard to fathom. I have certainly enjoyed his other novels, but was amazed at the way he created an entirely different world that we as a people and a consumer take for granted, the electrical energy system. As long as the lights turn on, we are totally oblivious to its origin and how it gets there. An amazing plot plan again, how does he do it? I guess that is part of what makes him rock.
I was fortunate to get this as it was released. If you don’t have this in your reading plan for this month, try to make some room for it. The pace was quick; the microcosm created by Deaver is first rate, the details are intense. He basically makes you think twice before turning on the light switch. Excellent novel, a great read . I have a feeling this will find its way into our top ten this year. Put this in your Goodreads –to read- list, but make sure it is at the top.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter and visit us on Book Blogs. Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Jeffrey Deaver does what many others fail to do. He educates us; he makes us look at the world through a different set of circumstances, he makes us look at the little things. Stuff that may seem unimportant, unrelated, and totally incongruent to others. I think that is at the crux of my enjoyment of his work. His process and his ability to tie many little pieces together to make the puzzle not just fit but seem like it was there the entire time. He doesn’t hide facts, or evidence, there is very little that is revealed after the conclusion for us to say, hey if I had known that I would have solved the mystery. He lays it all out there for us to read;, the rest is for us to put together.
I think the interplay between all the characters in The Burning Wire is his best to date. I will accept any argument you will make , but it is my position that Lincoln Ryhme has turned a corner here that I don’t think any of us saw coming. Thom was given more ink than in the past, Sachs was front & center as well as a host of other favs. I think that this is Deaver’s most complete work yet , and I find that hard to fathom. I have certainly enjoyed his other novels, but was amazed at the way he created an entirely different world that we as a people and a consumer take for granted, the electrical energy system. As long as the lights turn on, we are totally oblivious to its origin and how it gets there. An amazing plot plan again, how does he do it? I guess that is part of what makes him rock.
I was fortunate to get this as it was released. If you don’t have this in your reading plan for this month, try to make some room for it. The pace was quick; the microcosm created by Deaver is first rate, the details are intense. He basically makes you think twice before turning on the light switch. Excellent novel, a great read . I have a feeling this will find its way into our top ten this year. Put this in your Goodreads –to read- list, but make sure it is at the top.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter and visit us on Book Blogs. Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
July 22, 2020
Il Filo che brucia è il nono romanzo con protagonista Lincoln Rhyme, capitano nel dipartimento di polizia di New York che un incidente sul lavoro ha reso quadriplegico.
Rhyme, diventano in seguito criminologo e consulente dello stesso dipartimento di polizia, risolve i casi attraverso l'analisi delle prove sfruttando la mobilità di un solo suo dito.
La rete elettrica di Manhattan è sotto attacco, gli ascensori un autobus e le porte di un hotel diventano trappole mortali.
Nel giro di poco crescono le vittime e le minacce
Dai primi rilevamenti sembrerebbe opera di un gruppo di eco terroristi, ma c’è ben poco di ideologico in questi attacchi: per la mente criminale che guida il gioco la posta è molto più alta.
Quasi simultaneamente, un altro caso inquieta il criminologo e la sua squadra ( composta dagli immancabili Amelia Sachs, Dellray e Sellitto).
L’Orologiaio è tornato.
Uno dei pochi criminali riuscito a sfuggire a Lincoln Rhyme, è stato appena avvistato in Messico. Per rintracciarlo, Rhyme chiede aiuto a Kathryn Dance, una specialista del linguaggio del corpo. L'Orologiaio ha già scelto il suo obiettivo ed è solo una questione di tempo prima che colpisca. Per catturare il criminale nella sua stessa trappola, i due investigatori intraprendono una corsa contro il tempo, che ha velocità di una miccia che brucia
Dopo dopo un centinaio di pagine piuttosto lente per via dei tecnicismi, l'indagine assume una dimensione più vivace e completamente nuova.
Rhyme, diventano in seguito criminologo e consulente dello stesso dipartimento di polizia, risolve i casi attraverso l'analisi delle prove sfruttando la mobilità di un solo suo dito.
La rete elettrica di Manhattan è sotto attacco, gli ascensori un autobus e le porte di un hotel diventano trappole mortali.
Nel giro di poco crescono le vittime e le minacce
Dai primi rilevamenti sembrerebbe opera di un gruppo di eco terroristi, ma c’è ben poco di ideologico in questi attacchi: per la mente criminale che guida il gioco la posta è molto più alta.
Quasi simultaneamente, un altro caso inquieta il criminologo e la sua squadra ( composta dagli immancabili Amelia Sachs, Dellray e Sellitto).
L’Orologiaio è tornato.
Uno dei pochi criminali riuscito a sfuggire a Lincoln Rhyme, è stato appena avvistato in Messico. Per rintracciarlo, Rhyme chiede aiuto a Kathryn Dance, una specialista del linguaggio del corpo. L'Orologiaio ha già scelto il suo obiettivo ed è solo una questione di tempo prima che colpisca. Per catturare il criminale nella sua stessa trappola, i due investigatori intraprendono una corsa contro il tempo, che ha velocità di una miccia che brucia
Dopo dopo un centinaio di pagine piuttosto lente per via dei tecnicismi, l'indagine assume una dimensione più vivace e completamente nuova.
January 6, 2024
"Potevi bloccare l'elettricità, la potevi incanalare, ma non la potevi fregare. Una volta creata, la corrente avrebbe fatto per istinto tutto il possibile per tornare a terra e, se la strada più diretta comportava il sacrificio di una vita umana al suo passaggio, lo faceva, letteralmente, in un lampo. La corrente non aveva coscienza, né sensi di colpa".
Bel libro con la corrente elettrica al centro della storia… e per il sottoscritto è stato anche come fare un viaggio indietro nel tempo, visto che negli anni '80, tra alti e bassi, ho studiato proprio elettronica. Romanzo con mille colpi di scena, alcuni prevedibilissimi altri meno, e tensione (scusate il gioco di parole) alle stelle perché, anche se i personaggi sono già noti, non sai mai in cosa si imbatteranno o a cosa debbano stare attenti.
Storia, in puro stile Deaver, piena zeppa di citazioni, dettagli e nozioni tecniche a più non posso… ma non sempre facili da seguire. Ottimo il finale che lascia aperti un bel po' di temi, e situazioni (come la tetraplegia di Lincoln Rhyme), da affrontare nelle mie successive letture di Jeffery Deaver.
[https://lastanzadiantonio.blogspot.co...]
Bel libro con la corrente elettrica al centro della storia… e per il sottoscritto è stato anche come fare un viaggio indietro nel tempo, visto che negli anni '80, tra alti e bassi, ho studiato proprio elettronica. Romanzo con mille colpi di scena, alcuni prevedibilissimi altri meno, e tensione (scusate il gioco di parole) alle stelle perché, anche se i personaggi sono già noti, non sai mai in cosa si imbatteranno o a cosa debbano stare attenti.
Storia, in puro stile Deaver, piena zeppa di citazioni, dettagli e nozioni tecniche a più non posso… ma non sempre facili da seguire. Ottimo il finale che lascia aperti un bel po' di temi, e situazioni (come la tetraplegia di Lincoln Rhyme), da affrontare nelle mie successive letture di Jeffery Deaver.
[https://lastanzadiantonio.blogspot.co...]
July 28, 2015
The 9th book in the Lincoln Rhyme series by Jeffery Deaver.
Lincoln Rhyme is a former NYPD Homicide Detective who is now a Forensic Consultant since he became a quadriplegic. He is partnered with Amelia Sachs who acts as his eyes as she walks crime scenes.
I have now all of this excellent series and remains as fresh as ever. There are also very good spin off series from this series.
Lincoln Rhyme is a former NYPD Homicide Detective who is now a Forensic Consultant since he became a quadriplegic. He is partnered with Amelia Sachs who acts as his eyes as she walks crime scenes.
I have now all of this excellent series and remains as fresh as ever. There are also very good spin off series from this series.
May 2, 2016
PROTAGONIST: Lincoln Rhyme, forensic criminologist
SETTING: New York
SERIES: #9 of 9
RATING: 4.0
All of us are acutely aware of the techniques that terrorists use, such as suicide bombers, snipers, explosives in shoes, and so forth. We expect that our national security leaders will protect us against these threats as much as possible. But what if the terrorist uses an omnipresent force as its weapon? What if a villain could harness the power of electricity? Think of the danger that would pose, of how much damage could be done by a voltage surge into a populated area. Invisible and ubiquitous, electricity could serve as a deadly killing tool, causing horrible deaths to thousands.
It’s New York City. The first attack occurs when an arc of electricity is aimed at a city bus and reduces it to a pile of molten metal. Fortunately, there is only one fatality. Further attacks follow, one at a busy hotel where there are many deaths, the victims hideously maimed. The evildoer appears to be on a short timetable; he begins to send letters demanding that the power company shut down various stations or he will strike again. Meeting these demands is impossible. First of all, he only provides a few hours notice. Secondly, shutting down any part of the electrical grid would cause national havoc.
The NYPD calls in forensic specialist and quadriplegic Lincoln Rhyme to view the evidence and help to thwart the madmen before there is epic damage. There is almost no forensic evidence. Rhyme assembles a team to investigate, which includes detective Amelia Sachs (also Lincoln’s significant other) and her partner, Ron Pulaski. They have the unenviable task of investigating the threats as they come in, exposing themselves to possible electrocution at every turn.
In addition to the terrorist investigation, Rhyme is closely following a situation involving his nemesis, The Watchmaker, who is under surveillance by FBI kinesics expert Kathryn Dance and the Mexican authorities. I found myself impatient with this sub-plot because it kept pulling the reader away from the main story. Ultimately, there was a good reason for this thread to be included in the book, although I didn’t find its resolution totally satisfactory.
At the same time, Rhyme’s precarious health situation is deteriorating which added another layer of terror to the tale. He treasures the minimal mobility that he has, being able to use a finger to be independent is huge. He’s decidedly unsentimental about his life—suicide is an option that he has seriously considered in the past.
THE BURNING WIRE is an extremely suspenseful book due to the danger posed by the invisible electrical hazard. Every time one of the players entered a situation to investigate the latest threat and faced the fact that they could be instantly killed by accidentally touching metal or water was unbearably tense. Deaver did an exceptional job of explaining exactly how the electrical current worked without ever becoming pedantic.
Even though the book is the ninth in the series, it stands alone well. Strong characterization and expert plotting make THE BURNING WIRE a must-read for fans of thrillers. Be forewarned that you will need to prepare to abdicate all of your responsibilities before you pick up this book—it’s a real page turner that you won’t be able to put down.
SETTING: New York
SERIES: #9 of 9
RATING: 4.0
All of us are acutely aware of the techniques that terrorists use, such as suicide bombers, snipers, explosives in shoes, and so forth. We expect that our national security leaders will protect us against these threats as much as possible. But what if the terrorist uses an omnipresent force as its weapon? What if a villain could harness the power of electricity? Think of the danger that would pose, of how much damage could be done by a voltage surge into a populated area. Invisible and ubiquitous, electricity could serve as a deadly killing tool, causing horrible deaths to thousands.
It’s New York City. The first attack occurs when an arc of electricity is aimed at a city bus and reduces it to a pile of molten metal. Fortunately, there is only one fatality. Further attacks follow, one at a busy hotel where there are many deaths, the victims hideously maimed. The evildoer appears to be on a short timetable; he begins to send letters demanding that the power company shut down various stations or he will strike again. Meeting these demands is impossible. First of all, he only provides a few hours notice. Secondly, shutting down any part of the electrical grid would cause national havoc.
The NYPD calls in forensic specialist and quadriplegic Lincoln Rhyme to view the evidence and help to thwart the madmen before there is epic damage. There is almost no forensic evidence. Rhyme assembles a team to investigate, which includes detective Amelia Sachs (also Lincoln’s significant other) and her partner, Ron Pulaski. They have the unenviable task of investigating the threats as they come in, exposing themselves to possible electrocution at every turn.
In addition to the terrorist investigation, Rhyme is closely following a situation involving his nemesis, The Watchmaker, who is under surveillance by FBI kinesics expert Kathryn Dance and the Mexican authorities. I found myself impatient with this sub-plot because it kept pulling the reader away from the main story. Ultimately, there was a good reason for this thread to be included in the book, although I didn’t find its resolution totally satisfactory.
At the same time, Rhyme’s precarious health situation is deteriorating which added another layer of terror to the tale. He treasures the minimal mobility that he has, being able to use a finger to be independent is huge. He’s decidedly unsentimental about his life—suicide is an option that he has seriously considered in the past.
THE BURNING WIRE is an extremely suspenseful book due to the danger posed by the invisible electrical hazard. Every time one of the players entered a situation to investigate the latest threat and faced the fact that they could be instantly killed by accidentally touching metal or water was unbearably tense. Deaver did an exceptional job of explaining exactly how the electrical current worked without ever becoming pedantic.
Even though the book is the ninth in the series, it stands alone well. Strong characterization and expert plotting make THE BURNING WIRE a must-read for fans of thrillers. Be forewarned that you will need to prepare to abdicate all of your responsibilities before you pick up this book—it’s a real page turner that you won’t be able to put down.
June 28, 2022
It's been a really long time since I last read a book in this series, but it really didn't matter. I guess even with all the references to earlier cases, they really are stand-alones.
I like to remember Lincoln always having a witty remark, but they weren't as prominent here, maybe there were good reasons for that, considering, but I still missed them.
Also, I feel like I have stopped falling for the illusion of a character being killed or incapacitated, when others are deliberately being vague and omnious. None of the plot-twists really shocked me.
But still entertaining, and I've hung around these people for a long time now, I'm invested.
I like to remember Lincoln always having a witty remark, but they weren't as prominent here, maybe there were good reasons for that, considering, but I still missed them.
Also, I feel like I have stopped falling for the illusion of a character being killed or incapacitated, when others are deliberately being vague and omnious. None of the plot-twists really shocked me.
But still entertaining, and I've hung around these people for a long time now, I'm invested.
November 20, 2016
So so read. At 489 pages far too long. Story was running out of gas entire second half of novel. Bad guy(s) far too stiff and developed about as thick as cardboard. It seems with author Jeffery Deaver's Rhyme/ Sachs series it's feat or famine. Some reads are really good where others mope like, "The Burning Wire" did. Being generous with three stars out of a possible five stars on this tale. I'd leave it on the shelf and find something else- unless there wasn't much else to pick from.
October 31, 2024
Die Stadt New York reagiert geschockt, als eines Morgens ein Anschlag auf einen Linienbus verübt wird, bei dem ein Mann ums Leben kommt. Das Opfer starb auf besonders grausame Weise: es wurde von einem bewusst erzeugten Lichtbogen – einer starken elektrischen Entladung – getroffen und durch die enorme Spannung auf einen Schlag praktisch ausgelöscht. Das betroffene Umspannwerk, das zu diesem Zweck vom Täter überlastet wurde, gehört zur Algonquin Inc., einem der größten Energieerzeuger des Landes. Als dieser eine Computermanipulation in seinem Verbundsnetz feststellt, wird das FBI eingeschaltet und der Fall landet somit auch beim gelähmten Ermittler Lincoln Rhyme und seiner Partnerin Amelia Sachs, die mittlerweile auch seine Lebensgefährtin ist.
Kurze Zeit nach dem ersten Anschlag geht ein Erpresserschreiben bei der Algonquin Inc. ein, in dem weitere Terrorakte angekündigt werden, sollte der Stromversorger den gestellten Forderungen nicht nachkommen. Die ersten Spuren der Ermittler führen zu einer bisher unbekannten Gruppe Öko-Aktivisten, die offenbar zusammen mit arabischen Extremisten gemeinsame Sache machen. Als wenig später weitere Unschuldige sterben müssen, verdichten sich jedoch die Anzeichen, dass es sich bei den Verantwortlichen um jemanden mit Insiderkenntnissen über die Algonquin Inc. handeln muss, denn der Täter kennt sich anscheinend bestens mit der Konzern selbst und dessen Versorgungsnetz aus…
„Opferlämmer“ ist der mittlerweile neunte Teil der Erfolgsreihe des amerikanischen Autors Jeffery Deaver rund um den Ermittler Lincoln Rhyme. Wer schon ein Buch aus der Reihe gelesen oder gehört hat, dürfte wissen, dass dieser seit einem Arbeitsunfall vom Hals abwärts gelähmt und deshalb die meiste Zeit ans Bett gefesselt ist. Mittlerweile kann er sich jedoch auch mithilfe eines speziellen Rollstuhls fortbewegen, seitdem er wieder einen seiner Finger minimal kontrollieren kann. Trotz seiner Behinderung wird Rhyme immer wieder vom FBI oder der New Yorker Polizei angefordert, weil er nach wie vor als herausragender Ermittler und als einer der besten Forensiker des Landes gilt. Ihm zur Seite steht natürlich auch in diesem Fall wieder Polizistin und Freundin Amelia Sachs, welche die Tatortuntersuchung und Zeugenbefragung übernimmt, während Rhyme von seiner Wohnung aus die Ermittlungen koordiniert.
In ihrem neuesten Fall bekommen es die beiden mit einem besonders gnadenlosen Killer zu tun, der zudem auf eine ungewöhnliche Waffe zurückgreift: Strom. Mittels gezielter Manipulation sorgt der Täter für extreme Entladungen an gut besuchten Orten und verursacht dadurch eine hohe Opferzahl. Durch diese ungewöhnliche Mordmethode sind Rhyme und Co. gezwungen, sich näher mit der Materie selbst sowie dem Versorgungsnetz New Yorks auseinanderzusetzen und ermitteln so vorrangig im Umfeld der Algonquin. Um die physikalischen Prozesse zu erklären, ist zwangsläufig eine Menge an Erklärungen notwendig, damit der Leser wichtige Elemente wie z.B. die eingangs erwähnten Lichtbögen versteht und sich vorstellen kann. Leider ist diese Einführungsphase sehr ausgedehnt und stellenweise äußerst langatmig, sodass der Einstieg in das Hörbuch eher zäh verläuft.
Das ändert sich jedoch kurz vor Mitte der Geschichte, als nämlich die Identität des Täters enthüllt wird. Fortan geht es darum, die betreffende Person in Gewahrsam zu nehmen, bevor weitere Anschläge verübt werden können. Ab diesem Zeitpunkt nimmt das Tempo dramatisch zu und „Opferlämmer“ weiß in gewohnter Deaver-Manier zu fesseln. Es entwickelt sich immer mehr ein packendes Katz-und-Maus-Spiel mit überraschenden Wendungen, die für ein enormes Spannungsniveau sorgen. Besonders die letzten zwei Stunden sind wirklich grandios und bieten alles, was man sich von einem guten Thriller erhofft.
Wie man es von der Rhyme/Sachs-Reihe gewohnt ist, wird auch diesmal wieder viel Wert auf die Untersuchung von Hinweisen und auf forensische Detailarbeit gelegt. Wer also auf CSI-ähnliche Spurensuche steht, dürfte auch bei dem neuesten Deaver wieder auf seine Kosten kommen. Besonders gelungen finde ich die für die Serie typischen „Beweistafeln“. Auf diesen werden alle wichtigen Spuren, Personen und Tatorte vermerkt und von Zeit zu Zeit aktualisiert, sodass man alle handlungsrelevanten Infos immer wieder aufgefrischt bekommt. Wen diese wiederholten Zusammenfassungen nerven, der kann das Kapitel ja einfach überspringen, ich jedenfalls weiß diese Passagen sehr zu schätzen, weil man beim Nebenbeihören gerne mal das ein oder andere wichtige Detail verpasst…
Neben der Haupthandlung gibt es noch weitere kleine Nebenstränge, welche für willkommene Abwechslung sorgen. So steht Lincoln Rhyme während der gesamten Ermittlungen ständig in Kontakt zu den Behörden in Mexiko, wo der „Uhrmacher“ – ein von Rhyme in der Vergangenheit gejagter Serienmörder – vermutlich seinen nächsten Auftragsmord begehen wird. Gespannt verfolgt Lincoln die Fortschritte der Mexikaner, wonach der gesuchte Killer kurz vor der Ergreifung steht. Zudem spielt auch die Behinderung des genialen Forensikers wieder eine größere Rolle, so wird er diesmal mit einer Organisation konfrontiert, die sich vehement für Sterbehilfe einsetzt. Weil diese den gelähmten Ermittler als prominenten Fürsprecher für sich gewinnen wollen, macht sich auch Rhyme heimlich Gedanken über dieses Thema und den Sinn seines eigenen Lebens. Für mein persönliches Highlight sorgt jedoch der kleine Handlungsstrang um einen verdeckten Ermittler, der in den Straßen New Yorks nach Spuren der gesuchten Öko-Terrorgruppe fahndet und dazu teilweise dubiose Quellen anzapfen muss. Dieser Fahnder steht permanent im Wettstreit mit einem Kollegen, der bevorzugt neue Medien wie das Internet für die Nachforschungen einsetzt und ständig von der wichtigen Rolle des „digitalen Umfelds“ spricht. Dieser Zwist wird von Jeffery Deaver absolut großartig aufgelöst, ohne hier aber zu viel verraten zu wollen. Nur so viel: Ich hatte nach der entsprechenden Passage ein breites Grinsen auf meinem Gesicht.
Zum Sprecher:
Wie die meisten Vorgänger wird auch der neueste Lincoln Rhyme-Roman wieder von Dietmar Wunder gelesen, dessen Stimme man zum Beispiel von den Synchronisierungen von Daniel Craig, Don Cheadle, Adam Sandler oder Edward Norton kennen dürfte. Wunder liest routiniert und weiß auch in diesem Hörbuch wieder voll zu überzeugen. Ob besessener Psychopath, nörgelnder Lincoln Rhyme, besorgte Amelia Sachs – der Sprecher findet stets den richtigen Ton und trägt so einen großen Teil zum positiven Eindruck des Titels bei. Insgesamt eine absolut tadellose Vorstellung.
Mein Fazit:
Zugegeben, der neue Rhyme-Thriller braucht eine Weile, bis er in Fahrt kommt. Der Anfang mit seinen langen physikalischen Erläuterungen und ausführlichen Beschreibungen der Organisation des Energiekonzerns strapaziert die Geduld des Hörers schon recht stark. Wer dranbleibt, wird jedoch dafür vollends entschädigt. Sobald der Täter enthüllt ist und es praktisch „nur noch“ um dessen Ergreifung geht, fackelt Deaver ein wahres Feuerwerk ab. Hochspannung (im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes), überraschende Wendungen, Dramatik – die zweite Hälfte ist nahezu perfekt. Vor allem das große Finale ist absolut fantastisch gelungen. Für Jeffery Deaver-Fans und Freunde akribischer Spurenermittlung ein Pflichtkauf, Einsteigern sei vielleicht eher das frisch erschienene Hörbuch „Der Knochenjäger“ (der erste Teil der Serie) ans Herz gelegt, in dem die Anfänge der Zusammenarbeit von Rhyme und seiner Partnerin thematisiert werden.
Kurze Zeit nach dem ersten Anschlag geht ein Erpresserschreiben bei der Algonquin Inc. ein, in dem weitere Terrorakte angekündigt werden, sollte der Stromversorger den gestellten Forderungen nicht nachkommen. Die ersten Spuren der Ermittler führen zu einer bisher unbekannten Gruppe Öko-Aktivisten, die offenbar zusammen mit arabischen Extremisten gemeinsame Sache machen. Als wenig später weitere Unschuldige sterben müssen, verdichten sich jedoch die Anzeichen, dass es sich bei den Verantwortlichen um jemanden mit Insiderkenntnissen über die Algonquin Inc. handeln muss, denn der Täter kennt sich anscheinend bestens mit der Konzern selbst und dessen Versorgungsnetz aus…
„Opferlämmer“ ist der mittlerweile neunte Teil der Erfolgsreihe des amerikanischen Autors Jeffery Deaver rund um den Ermittler Lincoln Rhyme. Wer schon ein Buch aus der Reihe gelesen oder gehört hat, dürfte wissen, dass dieser seit einem Arbeitsunfall vom Hals abwärts gelähmt und deshalb die meiste Zeit ans Bett gefesselt ist. Mittlerweile kann er sich jedoch auch mithilfe eines speziellen Rollstuhls fortbewegen, seitdem er wieder einen seiner Finger minimal kontrollieren kann. Trotz seiner Behinderung wird Rhyme immer wieder vom FBI oder der New Yorker Polizei angefordert, weil er nach wie vor als herausragender Ermittler und als einer der besten Forensiker des Landes gilt. Ihm zur Seite steht natürlich auch in diesem Fall wieder Polizistin und Freundin Amelia Sachs, welche die Tatortuntersuchung und Zeugenbefragung übernimmt, während Rhyme von seiner Wohnung aus die Ermittlungen koordiniert.
In ihrem neuesten Fall bekommen es die beiden mit einem besonders gnadenlosen Killer zu tun, der zudem auf eine ungewöhnliche Waffe zurückgreift: Strom. Mittels gezielter Manipulation sorgt der Täter für extreme Entladungen an gut besuchten Orten und verursacht dadurch eine hohe Opferzahl. Durch diese ungewöhnliche Mordmethode sind Rhyme und Co. gezwungen, sich näher mit der Materie selbst sowie dem Versorgungsnetz New Yorks auseinanderzusetzen und ermitteln so vorrangig im Umfeld der Algonquin. Um die physikalischen Prozesse zu erklären, ist zwangsläufig eine Menge an Erklärungen notwendig, damit der Leser wichtige Elemente wie z.B. die eingangs erwähnten Lichtbögen versteht und sich vorstellen kann. Leider ist diese Einführungsphase sehr ausgedehnt und stellenweise äußerst langatmig, sodass der Einstieg in das Hörbuch eher zäh verläuft.
Das ändert sich jedoch kurz vor Mitte der Geschichte, als nämlich die Identität des Täters enthüllt wird. Fortan geht es darum, die betreffende Person in Gewahrsam zu nehmen, bevor weitere Anschläge verübt werden können. Ab diesem Zeitpunkt nimmt das Tempo dramatisch zu und „Opferlämmer“ weiß in gewohnter Deaver-Manier zu fesseln. Es entwickelt sich immer mehr ein packendes Katz-und-Maus-Spiel mit überraschenden Wendungen, die für ein enormes Spannungsniveau sorgen. Besonders die letzten zwei Stunden sind wirklich grandios und bieten alles, was man sich von einem guten Thriller erhofft.
Wie man es von der Rhyme/Sachs-Reihe gewohnt ist, wird auch diesmal wieder viel Wert auf die Untersuchung von Hinweisen und auf forensische Detailarbeit gelegt. Wer also auf CSI-ähnliche Spurensuche steht, dürfte auch bei dem neuesten Deaver wieder auf seine Kosten kommen. Besonders gelungen finde ich die für die Serie typischen „Beweistafeln“. Auf diesen werden alle wichtigen Spuren, Personen und Tatorte vermerkt und von Zeit zu Zeit aktualisiert, sodass man alle handlungsrelevanten Infos immer wieder aufgefrischt bekommt. Wen diese wiederholten Zusammenfassungen nerven, der kann das Kapitel ja einfach überspringen, ich jedenfalls weiß diese Passagen sehr zu schätzen, weil man beim Nebenbeihören gerne mal das ein oder andere wichtige Detail verpasst…
Neben der Haupthandlung gibt es noch weitere kleine Nebenstränge, welche für willkommene Abwechslung sorgen. So steht Lincoln Rhyme während der gesamten Ermittlungen ständig in Kontakt zu den Behörden in Mexiko, wo der „Uhrmacher“ – ein von Rhyme in der Vergangenheit gejagter Serienmörder – vermutlich seinen nächsten Auftragsmord begehen wird. Gespannt verfolgt Lincoln die Fortschritte der Mexikaner, wonach der gesuchte Killer kurz vor der Ergreifung steht. Zudem spielt auch die Behinderung des genialen Forensikers wieder eine größere Rolle, so wird er diesmal mit einer Organisation konfrontiert, die sich vehement für Sterbehilfe einsetzt. Weil diese den gelähmten Ermittler als prominenten Fürsprecher für sich gewinnen wollen, macht sich auch Rhyme heimlich Gedanken über dieses Thema und den Sinn seines eigenen Lebens. Für mein persönliches Highlight sorgt jedoch der kleine Handlungsstrang um einen verdeckten Ermittler, der in den Straßen New Yorks nach Spuren der gesuchten Öko-Terrorgruppe fahndet und dazu teilweise dubiose Quellen anzapfen muss. Dieser Fahnder steht permanent im Wettstreit mit einem Kollegen, der bevorzugt neue Medien wie das Internet für die Nachforschungen einsetzt und ständig von der wichtigen Rolle des „digitalen Umfelds“ spricht. Dieser Zwist wird von Jeffery Deaver absolut großartig aufgelöst, ohne hier aber zu viel verraten zu wollen. Nur so viel: Ich hatte nach der entsprechenden Passage ein breites Grinsen auf meinem Gesicht.
Zum Sprecher:
Wie die meisten Vorgänger wird auch der neueste Lincoln Rhyme-Roman wieder von Dietmar Wunder gelesen, dessen Stimme man zum Beispiel von den Synchronisierungen von Daniel Craig, Don Cheadle, Adam Sandler oder Edward Norton kennen dürfte. Wunder liest routiniert und weiß auch in diesem Hörbuch wieder voll zu überzeugen. Ob besessener Psychopath, nörgelnder Lincoln Rhyme, besorgte Amelia Sachs – der Sprecher findet stets den richtigen Ton und trägt so einen großen Teil zum positiven Eindruck des Titels bei. Insgesamt eine absolut tadellose Vorstellung.
Mein Fazit:
Zugegeben, der neue Rhyme-Thriller braucht eine Weile, bis er in Fahrt kommt. Der Anfang mit seinen langen physikalischen Erläuterungen und ausführlichen Beschreibungen der Organisation des Energiekonzerns strapaziert die Geduld des Hörers schon recht stark. Wer dranbleibt, wird jedoch dafür vollends entschädigt. Sobald der Täter enthüllt ist und es praktisch „nur noch“ um dessen Ergreifung geht, fackelt Deaver ein wahres Feuerwerk ab. Hochspannung (im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes), überraschende Wendungen, Dramatik – die zweite Hälfte ist nahezu perfekt. Vor allem das große Finale ist absolut fantastisch gelungen. Für Jeffery Deaver-Fans und Freunde akribischer Spurenermittlung ein Pflichtkauf, Einsteigern sei vielleicht eher das frisch erschienene Hörbuch „Der Knochenjäger“ (der erste Teil der Serie) ans Herz gelegt, in dem die Anfänge der Zusammenarbeit von Rhyme und seiner Partnerin thematisiert werden.
February 2, 2020
I like the main character in this series, but found this book to be less intriguing than previous installments.
2.5 stars
2.5 stars
December 7, 2023
Overall Rating : B+
"Electricity keeps people honest."
"Electricity keeps people honest."
May 26, 2021
In this go around, Rhyme, Sachs, and company are trying to catch a killer who uses electricity as the murder weapon. Is it some kind of eco terrorism or green mafia? And why electricity? What's the connection with Earth Day?
All those questions, and more are tracked down by the team as they go on a city wide hunt to stop any more people from getting fried. A good read, though a bit too heavy on the science of electricity for me. I've read nine of these so far, and plan on continuing, so 'nuff said!
All those questions, and more are tracked down by the team as they go on a city wide hunt to stop any more people from getting fried. A good read, though a bit too heavy on the science of electricity for me. I've read nine of these so far, and plan on continuing, so 'nuff said!
July 6, 2017
Deaver deixou algumas situações mal explicadas e outras sem solução, e por isso, apenas por isso, o livro não recebeu 5. No resto, é ótimo.
January 20, 2018
This book was a disappointment in comparison to the couple other Jeffrey Deaver/Lincoln Rhyme stories I've read. I found the pace a bit slow most of the time and some of the repetition had me flipping pages just to get on with it.
The author puts a new spin on terrorism to keep things interesting, but draws out the double ending way too long.
I expected more from a "bestseller."
The author puts a new spin on terrorism to keep things interesting, but draws out the double ending way too long.
I expected more from a "bestseller."
September 26, 2010
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".
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".
July 14, 2015
#9 of the Lincoln Rhyme series, the quadriplegic criminalist. This was another great work by Deaver. The subject is electricity. Deaver obviously does a lot of research. It was interesting. I always learn something when I read a Deaver book. This is one of my favorite series. In this one, Rhyme and Sacks and their team is on a case involving someone who is diverting electricity to electrocute people in NYC. The manipulation revolves around Algonquin Electric, the major electric company in the city. In the background, Rhyme is also on the tail of another criminal. Someone who slipped thru their fingers in one of the previous cases. This book is also a turning point for Rhyme’s personal life. I am looking forward to the next book in the series to learn more about it. I highly recommend this series. I don’t think I’ve rated any of these books lower than a 4.
January 1, 2016
Rhyme, Sachs & the usual team investigate a series of attacks by a man using electricity to kill random people as a way to punish a large power company.
I didn't enjoy this as much as the previous books, there was way more boring detail about electricity than I cared to read, and the plot twists have become overly familiar: every time one of our heroes is put in mortal peril, you know they'll be fine because Lincoln will have figured it out ahead of time, unlike the poor new characters who are generally introduced briefly so they can be killed off in horrible ways soon after. I guess I learned a but about the power system but I'm more interested in the forensics and there was nothing new here. I will keep reading the series, there are only a couple left before I'm up to date, but not in any rush.
I didn't enjoy this as much as the previous books, there was way more boring detail about electricity than I cared to read, and the plot twists have become overly familiar: every time one of our heroes is put in mortal peril, you know they'll be fine because Lincoln will have figured it out ahead of time, unlike the poor new characters who are generally introduced briefly so they can be killed off in horrible ways soon after. I guess I learned a but about the power system but I'm more interested in the forensics and there was nothing new here. I will keep reading the series, there are only a couple left before I'm up to date, but not in any rush.
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