Status
Available
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Pocket Books (2001), 512 pages
Description
From the bestselling author of The Bone Collector and Devil's Teardrop comes this spine-chilling new thriller that pits renowned criminalist Lincoln Rhyme against the ultimate opponent -- Amelia Sachs, his own brilliant protege. A quadriplegic since a beam crushed his spinal cord years ago, Rhyme is desperate to improve his condition and goes to the University of North Carolina Medical Center for high-risk experimental surgery. In a twenty-four hour period, the sleepy Southern outpost of Tanner's Corner has seen a local teen murdered and two young women abducted. And Ryhme and Sachs are the best chance to find the girls alive. The prime suspect is a teenaged truant known as the Insect Boy, so nicknamed for his disturbing obsession with bugs. Rhyme agrees to find the boy while awaiting his operation. Rhyme's unsurpassed analytical skills and stellar forensic experience, combined with Sachs's exceptional detective legwork, soon snare the perp.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member markatread
In the 1920’s through the 1950’s, most mystery writers that wrote long running series with the same hero in each of the novels did not do a lot of character development with their heroes. All of the books could be read in almost any order you wanted because the hero stayed pretty much the same.
Lincoln Rhyme has gone to North Carolina to have a very risky operation done on his spinal cord. He is a quadriplegic and wants to take the risk that he may turn out in worse shape medically for the chance that he may get better. A great deal of his struggle is expressed though out the book as is his assistant/partner/lover’s dismay over the possible ramifications of this same surgery Lincoln wants to have performed. There is a secondary character, Lucy that develops thorough out the book as well. All of this is done well.
But the mystery/thriller part of the book is almost laughably ridiculous. The action in this book is driven by one of two things; 1) what appear to be very smart people do very stupid things, or 2) very dumb people do even stupider things. Raymond Chandler (I think) once said that if you are writing a mystery and you reach a place where you are stuck for what is to happen next, kill somebody. It is obvious that this author, Jeffery Deaver, has a corollary to that axiom – if you are stuck in your book, just have one of your characters do something really stupid – in fact the stupider the better.
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Agatha Christie’s Poroit or Miss Marple does not change much from the first novel until the last one. The same is true for Ross MacDonald’s Lew Archer or Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe. The modern mystery novelist is different in that the main character develops and changes from the first novel through out the series. In fact some of the best writing in these series is now the development that we watch the main character go through as the series progresses. From that perspective, The Empty Chair is quite good.Lincoln Rhyme has gone to North Carolina to have a very risky operation done on his spinal cord. He is a quadriplegic and wants to take the risk that he may turn out in worse shape medically for the chance that he may get better. A great deal of his struggle is expressed though out the book as is his assistant/partner/lover’s dismay over the possible ramifications of this same surgery Lincoln wants to have performed. There is a secondary character, Lucy that develops thorough out the book as well. All of this is done well.
But the mystery/thriller part of the book is almost laughably ridiculous. The action in this book is driven by one of two things; 1) what appear to be very smart people do very stupid things, or 2) very dumb people do even stupider things. Raymond Chandler (I think) once said that if you are writing a mystery and you reach a place where you are stuck for what is to happen next, kill somebody. It is obvious that this author, Jeffery Deaver, has a corollary to that axiom – if you are stuck in your book, just have one of your characters do something really stupid – in fact the stupider the better.
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LibraryThing member jepeters333
A quadriplegic since a beam crushed his spinal cord years ago, Rhyme is desperate to improve his condition and goes to the University of North Carolina Medical Center for high-risk experimental surgery. But he and Sachs have hardly settled in when the local authorities come calling. In a
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twenty-four-hour period, the sleepy Southern outpost of Tanner's Corner has seen a local teen murdered and two young women abducted. And Rhyme and Sachs are the best chance to find the girls alive. Show Less
LibraryThing member wispywillow
This book captivated me and made me an instant fan of Jeffery Deaver. The story was intense, the characters complex, and the plot kept me guessing until the end.
LibraryThing member MarkKeeffe
Fairly good read but I've had nmough of this character and this author, in fact this whole genre of American crime fiction. It's getting a bit of sameness to it. Like it's written to a formula.
LibraryThing member PermaSwooned
This is a Lincoln Rhyme book that I had missed up to this point. It has a nice twist in that Amelia Sachs is really the lead character in this particular story. It's a good mystery, a captivating read, with some interesting psychological twists. Recommended.
LibraryThing member riverwillow
This is another very good instalment in the Lincoln Rhyme, Amelia Sachs series of novels. Amelia comes more centre-stage in this one, which is good, as she and Thom travel with Lincoln to North Carolina so that Lincoln can have an operation which may improve his mobility, or kill him. Its nice to
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see the characters in a strange environment, helping local law enforcement track down a psychotic teenager. nicknamed Insect Boy, who has already murdered one boy and abducted two women. Although these novels are fairly formulaic thrillers don't let that put you off as they are tightly plotted and full of misdirection and interesting characters. Show Less
LibraryThing member ctfrench
Quadriplegic, criminalist Lincoln Rhyme, accompanied by his lover, investigator Amelia Sachs and his assistant Thom, is in Avery, North Carolina, where he hopes to undergo experimental surgery to aid with spinal cord regeneration. His first day there, Rhyme is visited by Jim Bell, sheriff of
Rhyme and Sachs are two very likable characters who mesh well together. Rhyme, frustrated with the physical limitations he is forced to endure, seeks a way to become whole again while Sachs secretly wants him to remain a quadriplegic, fearing he will not want her once he is mobile. As with each book in the series, the forensics investigation is fascinating. The mystery of Garrett and his reason for kidnapping the women is well-done, as is the suspense as Sachs and Garrett are pursued.
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Paquenoke County, where two women have been kidnapped and a young man killed by 16-year-old Garrett Hanlon, nicknamed the Insect Boy because of his interest in bugs. Garrett’s on the run and Bell wants Rhyme to help find him before he kills the two women he kidnapped. Sachs talks Rhyme into looking into the case and the two begin their unique investigating: Rhyme examining the forensic evidence in a lab with Sachs doing the legwork. They eventually track Garrett through forensics and he is arrested but refuses to reveal the whereabouts of the two women. Sachs thinks there is more to what’s going on than they’ve been told, so she lets Garrett go under the condition he will lead her to the two women. Now Sachs is in a world of trouble with the law and Rhyme’s trying to trace her whereabouts, fearing she will be shot either by Garrett or law enforcement.Rhyme and Sachs are two very likable characters who mesh well together. Rhyme, frustrated with the physical limitations he is forced to endure, seeks a way to become whole again while Sachs secretly wants him to remain a quadriplegic, fearing he will not want her once he is mobile. As with each book in the series, the forensics investigation is fascinating. The mystery of Garrett and his reason for kidnapping the women is well-done, as is the suspense as Sachs and Garrett are pursued.
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LibraryThing member mashley
Lots of twists and turns. The protagonists have a slightly more human side than usual.
LibraryThing member jblackowicz
The first time I was exposed to this book it was a sample through my beloved eReader on my old PDA. I was quickly hooked and buying the full copy to read. It wasn't long until I was determined to have the actual book for my collection. It's a brilliant book that leaves you guessing to the last
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chapter. Show Less
LibraryThing member chrissywest
This series are amazing. The Empty Chair starts out a little slow, but once the action starts, look out. Jeffery Deaver is a amazing writter. This book was full of well developed characters. Because it took place away from New York, Lincoln and Amelia had to work with a different forensic team.
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There are tons of killers, nasty people, plot twists and turns. I really enjoyed the characters Garrett, and Lucy, both victims of the evil in Paquenoke County, North Carolina. I hope they will show up in future books. What I like most about the books in this series is, just when you think all the killers are caught, you get another surprise. Show Less
LibraryThing member JechtShot
Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs are at it again in this page-turning mystery thriller. The Empty Chair is Deaver's first Rhyme novel that deviates from the comforts of Manhattan. Sachs and Rhyme find themselves in North Carolina where they are pitted against "The Insect Boy" and a group of rogue
I was a bit hesitant at first when I discovered the book was centered around a killer known as "The Insect Boy". I assumed the shark had been jumped and that this would be my last adventure with Lincoln Rhyme. Somehow Deaver made it work. His character building is superb and the end result was well worth my time.
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moonshiners. However, everything is not as it seems in this small town and the book will keep you guessing until the last few pages.I was a bit hesitant at first when I discovered the book was centered around a killer known as "The Insect Boy". I assumed the shark had been jumped and that this would be my last adventure with Lincoln Rhyme. Somehow Deaver made it work. His character building is superb and the end result was well worth my time.
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LibraryThing member watertiger
I have always made a habit of reading only one book per year by certain novelists. On that list include my favorite "treats"; Patricia Cornwall, Stephen King, John Grisham, Jonathan Kellerman ... just to name a few. I really enjoy the books by these authors, but reading too many of their in a short
I feel bad about this but, Jeffery Deaver is going to have to go on my occasional "treats" list.
My husband and I discovered his books over the past year, and I read a bunch of them in a short time. Unfortunately, when you do that with a mystery author... you get to know the writing style a little too well.
So THE EMPTY CHAIR will be really absorbing for those of you new to the Lincoln Rhyme series. In my opinion, this is not one of the best. I felt that I had to go through 300 pages until things really got humming along.
Just a bit of advice... do try the BONE COLLECTOR if your are new to Lincoln Rhyme and his lovely red haired companion, Amelia Sachs. You'll get all the backs story you need to get you started.
ENJOY!
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span can be like too much cheesecake. You can love the cheesecake, but one slice usually does the trick. I feel bad about this but, Jeffery Deaver is going to have to go on my occasional "treats" list.
My husband and I discovered his books over the past year, and I read a bunch of them in a short time. Unfortunately, when you do that with a mystery author... you get to know the writing style a little too well.
So THE EMPTY CHAIR will be really absorbing for those of you new to the Lincoln Rhyme series. In my opinion, this is not one of the best. I felt that I had to go through 300 pages until things really got humming along.
Just a bit of advice... do try the BONE COLLECTOR if your are new to Lincoln Rhyme and his lovely red haired companion, Amelia Sachs. You'll get all the backs story you need to get you started.
ENJOY!
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LibraryThing member Neverwithoutabook
Keep you guessing until the last chapter....even the last page! That seems to be Jeffery Deaver's modus operandi. It works. Although I wasn't as taken with "The Empty Chair" as I have been with the first two books in this series, it was still an enjoyable book. I'll be picking up the next in the
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series for sure! No disappointment here. Show Less
LibraryThing member she_climber
Lots of twists and turns, numerous times I thought, how are they going to get out of this one, but they always did. Definitely a page-turner.
LibraryThing member kimmy0ne
A continuing step in the Rhyme saga.
LibraryThing member MrsHillReads
Great dectective story, full of action. Deaver is very popular with my better male readers...they even read him for fun (gasp!).
LibraryThing member ShreeJan
Typical Jeffery Deaver Stuff.Three Books by him and I have grow to anticipate any twist in the plot. But his writing motto seems to be keep it short. But the final twist of Lydia trying to murder Rhyme as totally unexpected!
LibraryThing member devenish
Swamp/ Insects/ Forest/ Renegades/ Red-necks. Mix well and there you have it.
Lincoln Rhyme has little to do until late in the book,indeed seems rather baffled for much of the time. Amelia takes on the main role in this one.An exciting read,if rather too much of the wilderness in it for me.Not one
Lincoln Rhyme has little to do until late in the book,indeed seems rather baffled for much of the time. Amelia takes on the main role in this one.An exciting read,if rather too much of the wilderness in it for me.Not one
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of the better cases in the series,but by no means the worst. Show Less
LibraryThing member nilbett
As usual Lincoln Rhyme uses his brilliant mind to solve the most baffling cases. In this case he is not in New York, his normal hunting ground. This makes the case a lot harder, but challenging. Many twists and turns in this one, which adds to a great story. Well done Mr Deaver!
LibraryThing member nospi
Well-written thriller but implausible actions on part of one of the main characters makes it impossible to rate higher.
Listened with audible/read with kindle. Good narrator
Listened with audible/read with kindle. Good narrator
LibraryThing member brokenangelkisses
The Empty Chair
I love reading about forensics.
Catching a criminal because of tell-tale threads of fibres or revealing smears of vital DNA is at the heart of shows like CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) and many a crime novel. There's something so compellingly CERTAIN about forensic evidence...even
So I was looking forward to reading more about Lincoln Rhyme and his protégée Amelia Sachs, who I have met once before and who I remember as being very much evidence driven investigators.
What's it about?
Rhyme and Sachs are in North Carolina so that the renowned consultant criminalist can undergo some experimental surgery aimed at minimally improving his physical abilities. (Rhyme is a former police officer and quadriplegic who relies on other investigators to get him the evidence he needs to interpret.)
Almost as soon as they arrive in town the local sherriff, Jim Bell, visits them to ask for their help in a local case where time is of the essence: a damaged young man nicknamed 'The Insect Boy' has kidnapped two local women and no one has any idea where he's taken them or what he plans to do with them. Can Rhyme and Sachs help to track him through his native habitat?
Sachs is keen for them to get involved, if only to delay Rhymes' surgery, and Rhyme agrees to commit a few hours of his pre-surgery time, but catching The Insect Boy will soon be the least of their concerns...
What's it like?
Twisty. Gripping. Well-paced.
This is fun to read and it zips along apace, from kidnapping to death to betrayal to, er, more death and betrayal.
Readers of the 'Lincoln Rhyme investigates' series will doubtless enjoy the interplay between Sachs and Rhyme as they each consider the potential implications of the surgery and examine the evidence against The Insect Boy.
Newcomers to Lincoln Rhyme rest assured: this works perfectly as a standalone book, despite some musing about the future of Rhyme and Sach's relationship. The storyline is strongly focused on the existing case, which quickly develops into a more complicated and interesting crime than may initially appear.
The major plot twists begin appearing about halfway through the book - then just keep on coming. This leads to my one complaint: after a series of shocking but convincing twists, the shocks just kept coming until I, personally, wasn't really convinced anymore, especially since Super Sachs and Remarkable Rhyme repeatedly turn out to be one step ahead of the (increasing) number of Bad Guys.
That said, all the reveals work if you read back over what happened in earlier chapters, I just began to feel a little punch-drunk with all the Surprise! moments. I was still enjoying it though, until the ending jolted me with one twist too many.
Surprise! Bang, bang!
It seems Deaver couldn't resist throwing in that classic trope from popular horror films: that bit right at the end where you think the villain is dead then - aargh! - they're alive! and they're trying to kill you! so you shoot them! and then they're REALLY dead, phew! Obviously this is NOT what happens at the end of 'The Empty Chair', as that would be a giant spoiler; however, what DOES happen is akin to such a scene in that it's a scene added for shock value that just makes the reader jump, rather than adding anything to the story or characterisation or sense of resolution. It might well make your heart race; it might give you a few extra moments of spine tingling suspense; or, if you're like me, it might just jolt you right out of the fictional world and force you to return to the beginning of the book to search for clues that this was really a likely outcome for this character.
Also, I dislike it when previously sane characters suddenly turn out to be completely doolally. Give me a cold-hearted, money-seeking, self-aggrandising sadist over an apparently fluffy-hearted but actually semi-psychotic villain any day.
Final thoughts
This was an enjoyable, fast-paced story with plenty of attention to forensic detail and doses of black humour. I liked the way the story developed and became more intriguing than simply "oddball suddenly goes super-odd", even if by the end the tentacles spread further than I might have expected.
I particularly liked reading about The Insect Boy's enthusiasm for insects and seeing how that learning could be used to help protect / attack other people.
The 'empty chair' concept was interesting, too, and I really liked that this questioning technique drew out details which did become important later on.
I will definitely be reading another Lincoln Rhyme thriller and am also tempted to try one of Jeffrey Deaver's other crime novels featuring Catherine Dance.
I love reading about forensics.
Catching a criminal because of tell-tale threads of fibres or revealing smears of vital DNA is at the heart of shows like CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) and many a crime novel. There's something so compellingly CERTAIN about forensic evidence...even
Show More
when competing criminalists are arguing that a piece of evidence supports two completely contradictory hypotheses, forensic science demands consideration. The evidence means SOMETHING.So I was looking forward to reading more about Lincoln Rhyme and his protégée Amelia Sachs, who I have met once before and who I remember as being very much evidence driven investigators.
What's it about?
Rhyme and Sachs are in North Carolina so that the renowned consultant criminalist can undergo some experimental surgery aimed at minimally improving his physical abilities. (Rhyme is a former police officer and quadriplegic who relies on other investigators to get him the evidence he needs to interpret.)
Almost as soon as they arrive in town the local sherriff, Jim Bell, visits them to ask for their help in a local case where time is of the essence: a damaged young man nicknamed 'The Insect Boy' has kidnapped two local women and no one has any idea where he's taken them or what he plans to do with them. Can Rhyme and Sachs help to track him through his native habitat?
Sachs is keen for them to get involved, if only to delay Rhymes' surgery, and Rhyme agrees to commit a few hours of his pre-surgery time, but catching The Insect Boy will soon be the least of their concerns...
What's it like?
Twisty. Gripping. Well-paced.
This is fun to read and it zips along apace, from kidnapping to death to betrayal to, er, more death and betrayal.
Readers of the 'Lincoln Rhyme investigates' series will doubtless enjoy the interplay between Sachs and Rhyme as they each consider the potential implications of the surgery and examine the evidence against The Insect Boy.
Newcomers to Lincoln Rhyme rest assured: this works perfectly as a standalone book, despite some musing about the future of Rhyme and Sach's relationship. The storyline is strongly focused on the existing case, which quickly develops into a more complicated and interesting crime than may initially appear.
The major plot twists begin appearing about halfway through the book - then just keep on coming. This leads to my one complaint: after a series of shocking but convincing twists, the shocks just kept coming until I, personally, wasn't really convinced anymore, especially since Super Sachs and Remarkable Rhyme repeatedly turn out to be one step ahead of the (increasing) number of Bad Guys.
That said, all the reveals work if you read back over what happened in earlier chapters, I just began to feel a little punch-drunk with all the Surprise! moments. I was still enjoying it though, until the ending jolted me with one twist too many.
Surprise! Bang, bang!
It seems Deaver couldn't resist throwing in that classic trope from popular horror films: that bit right at the end where you think the villain is dead then - aargh! - they're alive! and they're trying to kill you! so you shoot them! and then they're REALLY dead, phew! Obviously this is NOT what happens at the end of 'The Empty Chair', as that would be a giant spoiler; however, what DOES happen is akin to such a scene in that it's a scene added for shock value that just makes the reader jump, rather than adding anything to the story or characterisation or sense of resolution. It might well make your heart race; it might give you a few extra moments of spine tingling suspense; or, if you're like me, it might just jolt you right out of the fictional world and force you to return to the beginning of the book to search for clues that this was really a likely outcome for this character.
Also, I dislike it when previously sane characters suddenly turn out to be completely doolally. Give me a cold-hearted, money-seeking, self-aggrandising sadist over an apparently fluffy-hearted but actually semi-psychotic villain any day.
Final thoughts
This was an enjoyable, fast-paced story with plenty of attention to forensic detail and doses of black humour. I liked the way the story developed and became more intriguing than simply "oddball suddenly goes super-odd", even if by the end the tentacles spread further than I might have expected.
I particularly liked reading about The Insect Boy's enthusiasm for insects and seeing how that learning could be used to help protect / attack other people.
The 'empty chair' concept was interesting, too, and I really liked that this questioning technique drew out details which did become important later on.
I will definitely be reading another Lincoln Rhyme thriller and am also tempted to try one of Jeffrey Deaver's other crime novels featuring Catherine Dance.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Carol420
Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs are back, and they get pulled into a North Carolina murder/kidnapping investigation. Out of their element in this strange land, Rhyme and Sachs nevertheless persevere to help local authorities track the Insect Boy who is thought responsible for some creative and
The forensics are fascinating, and the characters are well-developed. The "empty chair" symbol takes on various meanings throughout the novel. We've waited a while to see Rhyme and Sachs back in action, and this one is worth the wait.
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vicious murders as well as the recent kidnappings of two young women. Will they track down the Insect Boy in time to save his victims? The forensics are fascinating, and the characters are well-developed. The "empty chair" symbol takes on various meanings throughout the novel. We've waited a while to see Rhyme and Sachs back in action, and this one is worth the wait.
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LibraryThing member LibraryCin
Two teenage girls have been kidnapped just after a boy was murdered in a small town. It’s not long before they know who they are looking for.
Sorry, not much of a summary. I listened to the audio, the abridged audio. Only because it was the only option for this book from the library. I often have
Sorry, not much of a summary. I listened to the audio, the abridged audio. Only because it was the only option for this book from the library. I often have
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a harder time listening to a male narrator, even if they are good. The narrator was Joe Mantegna (from Criminal Minds), but it was easy to lose focus. Of course, abridged doesn’t help, either. I paid attention to enough to get the gist of what was happening, so the plot was fine. Overall, I’m rating it ok, but it likely would have been better to read it myself and if it was unabridged. Show Less
LibraryThing member susandennis
This is the third in the Lincoln Rhymes series. Lincoln, Thom and Amelia are in North Carolina for surgery that might help Lincoln's quadriplegic situation. They are asked by the local police to help find two missing girls and their kidnapper. As with all Deaver stories, this one is complicated and
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has about a dozen endings. Just when you think they have wrapped it up, it comes unwrapped again. The character of Lincoln Rhymes had been wearing a little thin on me. I have not seen the recent movie of The Bone Collector but I swear having Denzel Washington in mind as playing the part made him a bit more palatable this time! Show Less
LibraryThing member Stahl-Ricco
Lincoln is back, but this time he’s in North Carolina for surgery, accompanied by Amelia Sachs and Thom, of course. And, also of course, there are a series of murders nearby, and the trio join the local police to try to catch the suspect, the Insect Boy! I enjoyed this read, but I think I prefer
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Lincoln and Co. in New York. The 'fish out of water' thing got tired after awhile. Still, all of the twists and turns kept me entertained! And, I had a big ol’ “aaaaaahhhhhh!” moment, literally out loud after reading page 424! And I love the topic of Roanoke - I have always been fascinated by the story of the Lost Colony of Roanoke! So, not as good as the first two, but good enough that I'm done for number four! Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2000
Physical description
512 p.; 4.19 inches
ISBN
0671026011 / 9780671026011