Status
Available
Call number
Call number
F Dea
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Pocket Books (1999), Edition: Reprint, 560 pages
Description
A cat-and-mouse game between New York police and a killer, hired to eliminate a trio of witnesses in a trial. He has already killed one and detectives Lincoln Rhyme, a quadriplegic, and Amelia Sachs have to catch him before he kills the other two. By the author of The Bone Collector.
Subjects
Original publication date
1998
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User reviews
LibraryThing member bragan
A ruthless professional killer is hired to eliminate three witnesses set to testify at an arms dealer's grand jury trial. He's already gotten one of them, and it's up to Lincoln Rhyme, a brilliant forensics expert who hasn't let the accident that paralyzed him keep him from his job, to catch him
I don't think I can call this a good book. If I'm being extremely charitable, I might describe the writing as "unpretentious," and even then I'd have to admit that it's full of infodump-y and often strangely repetitive exposition, especially in the earlier chapters. There are a few Hollywood-style cliches here, too. And some of the characters strike me as rather gimmicky. I particularly have trouble getting past the gorgeous ex-model-turned-cop. I mean... seriously? Although I'm honestly not sure whether the fact that she's also into sport shooting and drag racing makes it better or worse. I did like the main character, though. He's got a slightly gruff, very focused personality that somehow appeals to me. Or at least potentially does, anyway; he's not really developed all that strongly here. Maybe he gets a better introduction in the first book, which I haven't read.
The plot's not bad, though, being a decently constructed little cat-and-mouse game with an interesting (if slightly odd) twist or two along the way. Ultimately, I found the book much more readable and entertaining than it seemed like it ought to be. If nothing else, it did a pretty good job of keeping me awake through a couple of otherwise boring night shifts. Honestly, reading it was a lot like snacking through a big bag of cheap potato chips. You know there are much better things you could be consuming, but the sheer act of munching through it feels kind of good.
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before he kills the other two.I don't think I can call this a good book. If I'm being extremely charitable, I might describe the writing as "unpretentious," and even then I'd have to admit that it's full of infodump-y and often strangely repetitive exposition, especially in the earlier chapters. There are a few Hollywood-style cliches here, too. And some of the characters strike me as rather gimmicky. I particularly have trouble getting past the gorgeous ex-model-turned-cop. I mean... seriously? Although I'm honestly not sure whether the fact that she's also into sport shooting and drag racing makes it better or worse. I did like the main character, though. He's got a slightly gruff, very focused personality that somehow appeals to me. Or at least potentially does, anyway; he's not really developed all that strongly here. Maybe he gets a better introduction in the first book, which I haven't read.
The plot's not bad, though, being a decently constructed little cat-and-mouse game with an interesting (if slightly odd) twist or two along the way. Ultimately, I found the book much more readable and entertaining than it seemed like it ought to be. If nothing else, it did a pretty good job of keeping me awake through a couple of otherwise boring night shifts. Honestly, reading it was a lot like snacking through a big bag of cheap potato chips. You know there are much better things you could be consuming, but the sheer act of munching through it feels kind of good.
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LibraryThing member Deejaytee
This was my first Deaver novel, and probably not my last. Again I have strayed from my beloved Horror genre, to sample the writings of the action/thriller and made it through to tell the tale. I liked it, but didn't love it. It was good enough to keep me interested and the ending was amazing but I
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found my interest falter from time to time. I found most of the characters uninteresting, with the exception of Amelia Sachs and Lincoln Rhyme. Which is okay considering they are the main players. but I really didn't care whether or not everyone else got killed. With that said I would like to say that Deavers writing style is excellent, I really enjoy how he gets to the point without a whole lot of nonsense, the flashbacks and character building that was there was just right so that you got to know the characters without actually losing site of the main storyline. I would like to read another Lincoln Rhyme novel before I completely commit to an opinion of this series, perhaps The Bone Collector ? it sounds more my style of book anyway. I rate this book at 3 stars out of 5. Show Less
LibraryThing member ctfrench
A bomb used to murder a federal witness convinces criminologist Lincoln Rhyme that the Coffin Dancer has returned to New York. Rhyme would like nothing more than to arrest the Coffin Dancer, who murdered several of his team members years before. But the Coffin Dancer is a master of disguise and
This second book in the Lincoln Rhyme mystery series confirms this is a series that will be around for awhile. Deaver offers his reader a thrilling mystery packed with forensic science. Rhyme and Sachs are a winning combination and Deaver delves a little deeper into their personas and attraction to one another. A page turner that will hold the reader vested throughout.
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always seems to stay one step ahead of the police. The two remaining targeted federal witnesses are taken into protective custody but the killer manages to infiltrate their safe houses each time the witnesses are moved. Amelia Sachs conducts a physical investigation while Rhyme, a quadriplegic, investigates from his own lab, both working against a forty-eight hour time frame. This second book in the Lincoln Rhyme mystery series confirms this is a series that will be around for awhile. Deaver offers his reader a thrilling mystery packed with forensic science. Rhyme and Sachs are a winning combination and Deaver delves a little deeper into their personas and attraction to one another. A page turner that will hold the reader vested throughout.
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LibraryThing member riverwillow
A clever tightly plotted thriller which is full of surprises - I really wasn't expecting the final twist in the Coffin Dancer's identity, one which felt very plausible within the world of the book. In creating Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs Deaver has come up with two compelling characters whose
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attraction and weaknesses drive the plot and their mutual affection and who also make the forensics accessible to the reader. Show Less
LibraryThing member mawshimp
When a well-written mystery can keep me engaged and yet totally surprise me ... I am very impressed! Second in this series and LOVING it!
LibraryThing member JechtShot
Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs are paired together again to uncover the identify of the mysterious Coffin Dancer. The Coffin Dancer is a hit man with a knack for getting the job done, leaving no evidence behind and for being about three steps ahead of the police. Enter Lincoln Rhyme. Lincoln has
The story is action packed and keeps you guessing throughout and my only complaint is the love interest that is brewing between the main characters. In my opinion the story can do without the romance. In my mind Rhyme and Sachs have more a father/daughter or teacher/student relationship and the budding romance feels a tad incestuous.
Jeffrey Deaver once again delivers a police thriller/mystery with an ending that is sure to delight.
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dealt with the Coffin Dancer in the past and lost, now it is time to turn the tide.The story is action packed and keeps you guessing throughout and my only complaint is the love interest that is brewing between the main characters. In my opinion the story can do without the romance. In my mind Rhyme and Sachs have more a father/daughter or teacher/student relationship and the budding romance feels a tad incestuous.
Jeffrey Deaver once again delivers a police thriller/mystery with an ending that is sure to delight.
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LibraryThing member Neverwithoutabook
Well, Book two in the Lincoln Rhyme series did not disappoint! I enjoyed The Coffin Dancer every bit as much as The Bone Collector. The action is fast paced and the setting was particularly interesting since I love planes and flying. Once again, the story keeps you going, thinking you know who
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dunit and you find out in the end....well....you wouldn't really want me to tell you...would you? ;) If there's a movie of this book, I'll be watching it. I'm looking forward to the third installment in this series and can't wait! That should tell you all you really need to know! Show Less
LibraryThing member barpurple
I found this one to be an ok read. Didn't blow me away.
LibraryThing member CentralCaliGrrrl
Am I the only person who's upset that Mr. Deaver ended The Bone Collector with a “cliffhanger”, i.e. bomber, Carole Ganz (along with her young daughter, Pammy), blowing up the UN conference...and then NOTHING?
I started The Coffin Dancer thinking that it would continue where The Bone Collector
WTF?!
Other than that, The Coffin Dancer was a good, stand-alone thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. I'm looking forward to reading The Empty Chair (Lincoln Rhyme #3).
3 1/2 stars
I started The Coffin Dancer thinking that it would continue where The Bone Collector
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left off, so you can imagine my disappointment when I realized that nothing was going to be resolved at all.WTF?!
Other than that, The Coffin Dancer was a good, stand-alone thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. I'm looking forward to reading The Empty Chair (Lincoln Rhyme #3).
3 1/2 stars
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LibraryThing member ctmsmihe
This book was about a guy that goes around killing a bunch of people. That is all I really know about the book because I only read 35 pages.
I only read 35 pages because I could not understand what was going on in the story and there were a lot of words that I didn't understand and I had a hard
When I first heard about this book I was really into it because it was about CSI and things like that. So I would recommend this book to people that are into CSI and that are really strong readers.
I only read 35 pages because I could not understand what was going on in the story and there were a lot of words that I didn't understand and I had a hard
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time reading some of the words also. I didn’t really understand what was going on cause things that you didn’t expect to happen was happening so I had a really hard time following what was going on. When I first heard about this book I was really into it because it was about CSI and things like that. So I would recommend this book to people that are into CSI and that are really strong readers.
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LibraryThing member ctmsludu
The Coffin Dancer wasn't the normal book by Jeffery Deaver. It wasn't a stomach turning, gut wrenching horror but a spine tingling thriller.
The cons about the book were that it wasn't the norm for Deaver and some parts made my stomach turn. The pros were that it kept me on the edge of my seat
The cons about the book were that it wasn't the norm for Deaver and some parts made my stomach turn. The pros were that it kept me on the edge of my seat
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always wanting to read on.Also an unsuspected twist keeps you wondering whats gonna happen next. Show Less
LibraryThing member br13miwh
I never really liked series. I do not know why I thought this book would be any different. I didn’t read the entire thing. All I know is “The Coffin Dancer” follows the same characters as “The Bone Collector”. This time they are back to solve the case of a bomb attached to a commercial
To be honest I don’t know why I dropped this. Maybe because it was I could get the same thrill that this book delivers from an episode of “NCIS”. Maybe because this book focuses more on Amelia and Lincoln’s personal life (at least thats how I felt) which I could care less about. Overall I was very disappointed with this book.
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airplane carrying medical equipment that killed two people. The murder in which the police call the “Coffin Dancer” (hence the title) is attempting to kill two other people. I honestly don’t remember why. Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs have to stop him before he succeeds in doing this.To be honest I don’t know why I dropped this. Maybe because it was I could get the same thrill that this book delivers from an episode of “NCIS”. Maybe because this book focuses more on Amelia and Lincoln’s personal life (at least thats how I felt) which I could care less about. Overall I was very disappointed with this book.
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LibraryThing member Jeyra
Excellent, particularly if you are a fan of somewhat twisted forensic mysteries. Both main characters are unique and brilliantly written. Contains language and violence.
LibraryThing member Suzannie1
I loved this book and found it compelling to read , the quadriplegic Lincoln Rhyme bring the mastermind forensic investigator with Amelia Sachs as his partner .
LibraryThing member piersanti
Another well-written book in the series from this author.
LibraryThing member LibraryCin
2.5 stars
Lincoln Rhyme is a quadriplegic detective. He works with Amelia Sachs. The “Coffin Dancer” is a killer for hire who has killed a number of people. This time he’s after two women (after having killed the one woman’s husband already). While others try to keep the women safe, Rhyme
I listened to the audio for this one, and I’m not sure if it was due to the narrator (Joe Mantegna, from Criminal Minds) that I lost focus so much, due to the story, or due to the poor quality of the audio. There was white noise in the background and it sounded kind of like an echo; I think there was something cut off at at least one point, as well).
I really liked the first in the series, and part of what I liked was the interplay between Rhyme and Sachs, but I didn’t “feel” that at all in this one. Again, not sure if it was the audio or something else for that. Surprising to me (this doesn’t happen often), I found myself paying more attention to the sections that focused on the killer. I will likely read the 3rd in the series to decide whether or not I want to continue on, but I will try to remember to avoid the audio. Oh, crap! I’m looking closer to see that I got an abridged version. Sigh… Wonder if that made a difference?
Lincoln Rhyme is a quadriplegic detective. He works with Amelia Sachs. The “Coffin Dancer” is a killer for hire who has killed a number of people. This time he’s after two women (after having killed the one woman’s husband already). While others try to keep the women safe, Rhyme
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and Sachs are trying to catch the killer. I listened to the audio for this one, and I’m not sure if it was due to the narrator (Joe Mantegna, from Criminal Minds) that I lost focus so much, due to the story, or due to the poor quality of the audio. There was white noise in the background and it sounded kind of like an echo; I think there was something cut off at at least one point, as well).
I really liked the first in the series, and part of what I liked was the interplay between Rhyme and Sachs, but I didn’t “feel” that at all in this one. Again, not sure if it was the audio or something else for that. Surprising to me (this doesn’t happen often), I found myself paying more attention to the sections that focused on the killer. I will likely read the 3rd in the series to decide whether or not I want to continue on, but I will try to remember to avoid the audio. Oh, crap! I’m looking closer to see that I got an abridged version. Sigh… Wonder if that made a difference?
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LibraryThing member herebedragons
A decent serial-killer crime novel.
LibraryThing member AdonisGuilfoyle
I managed to re-read The Bone Collector a couple of years back without vomiting, so I thought I would try a sequel - never again! Why are these novels so INSUFFERABLY SMUG? Hey there reader, did you forget how stunningly beautiful Amelia Sachs is, with her shampoo ad red hair and 'Julia Roberts'
I will say that that the twist in the tale was a corker which hooked me again, but - HOLY HELL - the steaming pile of cliches I had to wade through to get to that point was not worth the reading time. And if the characters aren't beautiful or handsome, with movie star features, then they are patronised to within an inch of their life. Poor Percey, the serial killer's intended victim, has her ugliness - I'm guessing she would just be an average looking woman in any book but this - hammered home, from the 'troll' nicknames she remembers from school to being called 'plucky'. Because if a woman can't be a supermodel, then the next best compliment is that she acts like a man - unless she's Amelia Sachs, of course, who is both a stunner and a ballsy mechanic/driver/crack shot (*yawn*).
So anyway, buried underneath all the Hollywood hype, there is a Columbo-style forensic puzzle to solve, in which we know the killer - the chapters alternate between him and Lincoln's d*cks - and forget that we're supposed to be cheering on the plucky widowed pilot and actual want the Coffin Dancer to finish off the good guys, especially Sachs. Or was that just me?
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lips? Or how incredibly handsome Lincoln Rhyme is, with his 'Tom Cruise' nose (why on God's green earth would anyone choose Tom Cruise as the epitome of a good looking nose?) And how none of the detectives they work with are merely good at their jobs, but almost supernaturally talented at whatever they do? Then let Jeffrey Deaver remind you! On. Every. Single, Page.I will say that that the twist in the tale was a corker which hooked me again, but - HOLY HELL - the steaming pile of cliches I had to wade through to get to that point was not worth the reading time. And if the characters aren't beautiful or handsome, with movie star features, then they are patronised to within an inch of their life. Poor Percey, the serial killer's intended victim, has her ugliness - I'm guessing she would just be an average looking woman in any book but this - hammered home, from the 'troll' nicknames she remembers from school to being called 'plucky'. Because if a woman can't be a supermodel, then the next best compliment is that she acts like a man - unless she's Amelia Sachs, of course, who is both a stunner and a ballsy mechanic/driver/crack shot (*yawn*).
So anyway, buried underneath all the Hollywood hype, there is a Columbo-style forensic puzzle to solve, in which we know the killer - the chapters alternate between him and Lincoln's d*cks - and forget that we're supposed to be cheering on the plucky widowed pilot and actual want the Coffin Dancer to finish off the good guys, especially Sachs. Or was that just me?
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LibraryThing member TheCriticalTimes
A while ago I read a short novel by Mr. Deaver and had to put it down about a quarter in. At the time I couldn't figure out why I couldn't continue. About a week ago I watched The Bone Collected, the first Lincoln Rhyme story and thought: why not pick up the sequel to the movie. This time around I
Every novel uses a theme or a mechanism that situates the book and sets the tone. For example, in the case of Harry Potter it's the existence of a magical world, in the case of Agatha Christie it's mystery and suspense. In the case of Mr. Deaver it's sadism. I can take one or two occurrences of Sadism if it's justified in the context of the novel, but in the case of these books you're confronted with it within the first few pages and it doesn't relent. No matter the context or the situation, the foundation of a scene is some form of sadism, including tender moments between Lincoln Rhyme and his love interest, which seems to revolve more about control than respect. At some point you really have to wonder about the mindset of the author.
Although the writing is qualitatively high, needless to say these books are not for me.
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made it to just over half way. But at least I can now verbalize what bothers me about Mr. Deaver's writing. Every novel uses a theme or a mechanism that situates the book and sets the tone. For example, in the case of Harry Potter it's the existence of a magical world, in the case of Agatha Christie it's mystery and suspense. In the case of Mr. Deaver it's sadism. I can take one or two occurrences of Sadism if it's justified in the context of the novel, but in the case of these books you're confronted with it within the first few pages and it doesn't relent. No matter the context or the situation, the foundation of a scene is some form of sadism, including tender moments between Lincoln Rhyme and his love interest, which seems to revolve more about control than respect. At some point you really have to wonder about the mindset of the author.
Although the writing is qualitatively high, needless to say these books are not for me.
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LibraryThing member Stahl-Ricco
“He’s got - or had, at least - a tattoo on his upper arm: the Grim Reaper dancing with a woman in front of a coffin.” The ‘Dance Macabre’.
He is a killer extraordinaire , who hears a militaristic voice commanding him in his head, and he’s afraid of ‘worms’ (they make him feel
Good read and good second book featuring Lincoln Rhyme! I really liked the back and forth “chess match” between Lincoln and ‘The Dancer’! Great moves and counter moves by both till the end, and ending that I didn't see coming at all! ‘The Dancer’ is one heck of a bad guy! I already have the next book on my shelf!
“In the valley of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.”
He is a killer extraordinaire , who hears a militaristic voice commanding him in his head, and he’s afraid of ‘worms’ (they make him feel
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“cringey”). And Lincoln and his crew have to stop him - at all costs! Lincoln the Worm.Good read and good second book featuring Lincoln Rhyme! I really liked the back and forth “chess match” between Lincoln and ‘The Dancer’! Great moves and counter moves by both till the end, and ending that I didn't see coming at all! ‘The Dancer’ is one heck of a bad guy! I already have the next book on my shelf!
“In the valley of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.”
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LibraryThing member Linyarai
A great read by one of my favorite authors.
LibraryThing member buffalogr
Good read. The “Coffin Dancer” is a killer for hire who has killed a number of people. What I liked was the interplay between quadriplegic detective Rhyme and Sachs, his assistant. It was fast paced and kept my interest. Not a page turner, but enough to keep me reading and not put it down in
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disgust. Some of the book was not very truthful. Overall, enough to try book #3 of 14 in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member ShreeJan
I had to compulsively finish this book off! It was so fast paced that I was left wondering if I had really read the book. The ending honestly was a super surprise. It one the books that got me to the edge of the seat. But then I felt at certain places the writing could have been better.
LibraryThing member Linyarai
A great read by one of my favorite authors.
Pages
560