general

Just when I thought Jeffery Deaver couldn't put any more twists and turns into his Lincoln Rhyme books, his villian is an illusionist whose expertise is twists and turns. The story begins with a violent death which only serves to accelerate the reader into a continually frenetic journey as Rhyme and Amelia Sachs try to discern reality from illusion as they chase the Conjurer - quite possibly the best villian yet in the Lincoln Rhyme series.

Readers will also love Kara, a fledgling illusionist herself, who Rhyme has enticed into helping the quadripeligic forensic detective and his partner/lover. Just like Sonny Li in The Stone Monkey, Kara holds her own against Rhyme and adds her own illusionary twists in the quest to capture the Conjurer.

The Vanished Man quickly jumped up my personal list of the best all-time reads. The book is 400 pages of frenzy and chaos. Just when you know the direction that the book is taking, you have to take an about face and start sprinting in the exact opposite direction. What great fun! Keep up the great work, Mr. Deaver...but you definitely have your work cut out for you to meet or eclipse The Vanished Man.

Of all the series characters I have read so far I wait for none so eagerly as I do Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs. They are well developed, likeable and utterly original. Lincoln is all bluster and frustration that he is only able to move his head and one finger, and Amelia Sachs is a strong and powerful woman who will try almost anything to solve a crime.

In this story the theme is magic - the people who practise it for both good and evil and how it can be manipulated in many ways. A new character is introduced for this part of the series - a young magicians apprentice called Kara. I really liked this woman and empathised with her.

As usual with Jeffrey Deaver books the plot twists like a snake and keeps you on your toes. The murderer here is an elusive and creative 'magician' who sees the murders he commits as performances to his 'revered audience'. The characters also face new challenges. Amelia, for example, is trying to become a Sergeant and this provides Deaver with the chance to write something very thought provoking and realistic about the way in which bureaucracy is often unfair and biased.

Overall The Vanished Man is a great new instalment in the ongoing Rhyme/Sachs series. I urge anyone who loves crime and is looking for something new and fresh to start with The Bone Collector and work their way through the series. I wait eagerly for the next book and any stand alone fiction Deaver produces.

JoAnne

This was my 2nd Deaver novel. I forgot the first one I started, but that should be no surprise. I didn't finish that one either!
This plot is so far-fetched, so convoluted, so full of cardboard characters that I gave up on it after 175 pages. Too bad. It started out promising, a nice twist on tracking down a killer(s): He/she always had magic incorporated into the scheme. But this story just went on far too long (keep in mind, I didn't even finish it) and got so unconvincing and outrageous that I had to move on. So many books, so little time. I think my Deaver days are over. Give me Crais or Coben or David Ellis anyday.