THE BROKEN WINDOW: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel
Jeffery Deaver
Simon & Schuster
Thriller
ISBN: 9781416549970

• Read an Excerpt

Jeffery Deaver never disappoints. His latest work, THE BROKEN WINDOW, marks the return of Lincoln Rhyme, one of the most unique characters in contemporary thriller fiction, as he battles a serial murderer who has the advantage of knowing everything. About everyone.

Lincoln’s adversary in THE BROKEN WINDOW is not so much invisible as indiscernible, hiding in plain sight and using cyberspace, particularly all of the information contained within it to carry out his plans. He is able to get close to his murder victims by gaining access to the most intimate and minute details of their lives and then killing them --- and more --- when they are at their most vulnerable. The additional aspect of his crime, which is equally frightening, is that, after committing a murder, he leaves detailed clues that inexorably lead the police, who have an airtight case, to the front door of an innocent and quickly bewildered party.

Lincoln becomes aware of the fiend’s existence only indirectly when a rape and murder is pinned on Arthur, his cousin. Lincoln and Arthur, once close as brothers, have been estranged for many years, and Lincoln is drawn into the case only with great reluctance after being contacted by Arthur’s wife, who is profoundly convinced of her husband’s innocence. Lincoln examines the case against his cousin and is convinced that it is almost too perfect. Researching similar murder cases in which the police seemed to have been pointed to a particular suspect, Lincoln discerns the existence of a hidden hand behind the killings, one that commits the crime while diverting suspicion elsewhere. Dubbing the unknown subject “522”, Lincoln realizes that the unknown mastermind has to have an almost universal knowledge of not only his victim but also his diversionary target.

The investigation ultimately leads to Strategic Systems Datacorp (SSD), a data mining company with an Orwellian ability to gather, collate and interpret data on anyone and everyone, for the purposes of reporting both an individual’s historical behavior and their future performance. Several clocks are kept ticking throughout Deaver’s fast-paced narrative: Arthur is in dire straits in prison, a fish out of water; 522 continues his crime spree; and Lincoln’s own office and its personnel, including his lover, Amelia Sachs, are at risk from a criminal who can strike at them from anywhere at anytime, without even having to leave his room.

Deaver continues to impress, dazzle, delight and, perhaps most significantly, frighten. While Lincoln’s not-inconsiderable handicap is certainly present in the narrative, it is not the author’s primary focus. Lincoln’s intellect, combined with his multi-abled team and ever-present technology, result in a swift-paced, if not always sure, pursuit of 522. Deaver also provides some background information concerning Lincoln’s past, some of it bittersweet but all of it realistic. And, as with his other works, THE BROKEN WINDOW is meticulously researched, to the point that one comes away from reading it with the feeling that someone, somewhere, knows everything about everyone and can gather it just at the push of a button.

If you weren’t paranoid before reading THE BROKEN WINDOW, then you will be afterward.

    --- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

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