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Here are comments from our group of Advance Readers about Jeffery Deaver's THE VANISHED MAN.
gwenstevens@msn.com
Printing a copy of the investigator's evidence chart refreshes the reader and actually allows the reader to participate in the investigative process. They should, however, be kept separate for each crime, and not constantly repeated in total. Save the all inclusive chart for just prior to apprehension.
After reading this book, not only was I entertained, but I had learned a lot about the art and performance of magic.
The quote on the title page of each part was a good touch. It all relates to how a magician sets up and affects the mind of the audience.
As always it was hard to put the book down once I began. A TRUE DEAVER HAPPENING!
Thanks for the preview book!!
Halobear1@aol.com
I am really enjoying this book. I am trying to get it finished but work obligations have gotten in the way of my pleasure reading. (The nerve!) Deaver has really developed his characters in this story and it is great to see familiar characters brought to life once again. Typical Deaver --- edge of your seat, suspenseful, read to the wee hours of the night book!!!
Joyka234@aol.com
Well, Jeffery Deaver has done it again! The beloved Lincoln Rhyme --- all mind and no body --- and the wonderfully conflicted Amelia Sachs --- always in touch with her arthritic body --- and a truly creepy villain join in THE VANISHED MAN to provide the mystery-loving reader with an absorbing experience. Deaver's writing is smooth and powerful, and the book's beginning, in which the sadistic murderer of a music student literally vanishes into thin air, really pulls the reader in. True to his style in previous books, Deaver reveals enough detail about his characters so they become real to the reader --- yet his descriptions and asides never detract from the plot. I picked up the book and before I knew it, it was 2:00 AM! Can't wait to finish.
anneaustex@austin.rr.com
Watching Lincoln Rhyme solve a murder is almost like putting a jigsaw puzzle together while leaving the pieces upside down. You only see the picture when a piece fits into place. This time, Rhyme's mystery is compounded because the perpetrator is a magician, an illusionist, a mentalist, an escapist, a ventriloquist, knows sleight of hand, lockpicking and more. But each time Rhyme and the team get close to the killer they learn a little piece of information and the reader gets to see another bit of the picture.
Rhyme always gathers his team of experts when he's called upon to assist his friends at the police department and this time it includes Kara, a young, coffee-addicted student of magic. Kara looks at the killer's profile on Rhyme's white board and sees the technique of classic performances like Cutting a Woman in Half, The Water Torture Cell, and The Vanishing Man. Only this time the magic doesn't work and the victims end up dead, or nearly dead.
Join the audience as the performer prepares for his next illusion while Rhyme and his team work their own sort of magic revealing the mystery one page at a time.
P_lipkowitz@westcomp.com
I thought it was an amazing book. It was not as scary as THE BONE COLLECTOR but using illusion, escape artistry and magic as the premise for the story it kept my interest until I finished it. In fact I read it in one day on the beach during my vacation which is something I never do. As in THE BONE COLLECTOR the author's twist and turns kept you guessing throughout the book as to what would be happening next up until the very last page. Great job!
JUTTZ@aol.com
The new Jeffery Deaver book, THE VANISHED MAN, is so far one of the best he has written. I have only read a third of the book and I can't seem to put it down. I'm sure that the rest of the book is not going to disappoint me.
Akstone@aol.com
I was intrigued just as Lincoln Rhyme about the magic community's habit of turning intransitive verbs such as "vanish" and "materialize" into transitive ones. Was this arrogance, a wish for control, or knowledge and skill bordering on the supernatural? These questions propel Rhyme as he studies the effects and methods of this perpetrator's illusions and tries to discover where this villain plans to entertain his "revered audience." Jeffery Deaver does not disappoint his audience of readers as he puts his star detectives, Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs, through a fast paced search for a serial killer obsessed his own magical talent.
fezabel@attbi.com
I greatly enjoyed the new Jeffrey Deaver novel, THE VANISHED MAN. Lincoln Rhyme is continually one of my favorite characters as is Amelia Sachs. These characters are always well-developed in each book and I look forward to reading about them. However, they are almost secondary to the plot this time. It is a very good book with an excellent plot and a unique murderer. Thank you!
stevenpace@worldnet.att.net
Jeffery Deaver returns with another great addition to his Lincoln Rhyme series. Once again, Lincoln and his partner, Amelia Sachs, have to use their full repertoire of talent to unmask their latest villain.
In his latest novel, THE VANISHED MAN, Mr. Deaver pits his two heroes up against a villain who has many magical surprises up his sleeve. With the ability to transform into various characters, the killer sends Lincoln and Amelia in a million different directions all at once. Just when they feel as though they have him stuck in a corner, the killer seems to all but vanish into thin air. Our has he?
The amount of detail and research that has been put into this book really shows. You will come out of this feeling like you have been apart of Deaver's Revered Audience. The way he delivers his plots is truly a work of magic.
For the reader, this book will take you on a ride that will have you guessing what is coming next until the very last page. Just when you feel that you are beginning to figure out everything, Deaver will turn the table around on you and leave you shocked.
Any fan of Jeffery Deaver will truly adore his latest effort. There is surely enough suspense and intrigue to satisfy all readers.
Like any of Jeffery Deaver's novels, if you not too careful, all of the pages in THE VANISHED MAN will disappear before you know it.
fran1999@webtv.net
When a music student, makeup artist, and an attorney die how will Lincoln Rhyme, the quadriplegic detective, tie this together?
With Amelia Sachs and a wannabe, in-training magician, Kara, they struggle against a magician that disappears before their eyes and can escape from handcuffs in seconds.
Amelia walks the murder scenes' grids for Rhyme and they start to piece together the few clues left. But how does the murderer leave the scene against impossible odds?
This is where Kara, the budding magician, enters the picture and shows them the tricks of the trade and how they are being misdirected and constantly fooled by the seemingly impossible.
As they get closer it becomes more dangerous for them as the conjurer leaves them in a maze with no clear direction to hunt him and he can strike at them any time.
There are enough twists and turns to satisfy any Deaver's fan and with amazing magic feats explained well enough to make your next magic show not so magical.
My question is when will there be another Lincoln Rhyme movie?
D9o7l5p@aol.com
Thank you for the advance copy of THE VANISHED MAN. It is my introduction to Jeffery Deaver and you have made a believer of me in his genius!
Although I have yet to finish last 1/4 of this novel (probably tonight), it has been difficult to put down when reading because you just don't want to stop. I have since obtained a copy of THE STONE MONKEY so I can get more of Deaver's writing.
Magic and vanishing acts have always held the public's interest and right now we need lots of escapism plots in the U.S. with tensions over war high. The one things I am curious about is how the relationship between Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs began, so I hope to investigate your author section or read an earlier novel of his for more background on origins of this mentor-protegee team.
I also like the Evidence Chart idea to round out the way detectives may organize clues to "flesh out" the perp's identity, motives, crime scenes, etc. I haven't encountered this particular tool in other books.
With all the Cirque de'Soleil on TV currently, THE VANISHED MAN should receive a welcome ovation from general public.
DStegmanCrawford@aol.com
Thank you so much for the advance reader's copy of Jeffery Deaver's THE VANISHED MAN.
What a ride! It grabs hold, mesmerizes, and won't let go --- just like the "conjurer" in this twisted tale. Reading Jeffery Deaver is similar to taking an intensive course in whatever subject the plot centers on, for example, in THE STONE MONKEY it was illegal Chinese smuggling --- in this wonderful book, it is magic, illusion, and the world of those who practice it. I found all the details and information very interesting. Of course Deaver regales us with the minutiae of crime investigation, gas chromatography and other procedures, which always piques my curiosity. I was happy to read about the main characters in the Lincoln Rhyme series: Lincoln himself, cantankerous, cynical, brilliant. Not even remotely a pitiful character regardless of his quadriplegia --- one forgets that he can only move a ring finger! Amelia --- ambitious, loyal, and the protege/girlfriend who takes Lincoln out of his townhouse to crime scenes and beyond. Thom --- compassionate and humorous keeps Lincoln tethered --- I like them all!!!
This newest novel in the Lincoln Rhyme series is fabulous. The flashes to the criminal mastermind, the devious nature of his plans and escapes --- one minute an unobtrusive janitor outside a locked room, the next he's an old lady holding open a door. Fast changes, makeup, magic, illusion, and murder.....a great book. Sure to be acknowledged as one of the best in the Rhyme collection! No question about it, we'll be seeing it rise on the bestseller lists as soon as it is released.
Thank you again for providing this great book for my reading pleasure.
INroo@aol.com
Deaver sets the stage with psychological tension right from the beginning. What could be more freighting than deception from something you trust? What seems safe should be questioned. This book will make you double-take your own shadow long after finishing.
Thanks for the opportunity to read in advance.
rojosho@hotmail.com
THE VANISHED MAN is a thriller with a different perspective. The twists and turns have you puzzled up to the climax. Due to the unusual subject matter it is full of detail regarding magical lore, tricks, and expert magicians whose expertise is called upon throughout this thriller. The plot is set a a frantic pace and is loaded with descriptive detail. Forensic information is clearly a much required ingredient. The characterization is neatly given. The plot line is deeply involved and subplots are neatly integrated. This thriller has you enthralled from the onset.
DStar44@aol.com
Mr. Deaver does everything but pull a rabbit out of his hat in his latest Lincoln Rhyme thriller, as an apparent psycho magician plays games with the New York City police department. Misdirection hardly begins to describe the shocks and surprises found in this roller coaster novel. You won't want to put it down, as the Conjurer could be right behind you, blowing in your ear.
If Hannibal Lechter had spent his time working on his mentalism, escapism, sleight of hand, and other magic tricks instead of eating people he might have been the mysterious Malerick, the greatest illusionist since Houdini. Starting with his first trick, the Vanished Man, in which an unsuspecting music student is killed, through his signature Burning Mirror, no one can predict where he is, where he's going, or even what he'll look like next. As they say, it just gets mysteriouser and mysteriouser.
Which is all quite confounding to the master criminalist, Lincoln Rhyme, and his erstwhile partner, Amelia Sachs. They keep gathering evidence, making educated guesses and closing the net, but each time they think they have their man, poof, he's gone. And each time he seems to be one, or maybe two or three, steps ahead of them, misdirecting and toying with their expectations. One time Lincoln is face to face with the perp, but can't do anything to stop him. Another time Sachs is looking right at her man, but doesn't even see him. So they bring in a consultant, the spunky apprentice illusionist, Kara, who educates Rhyme about more than just the magic arts. Between the three of them they manage to win the day, but not before each of them nearly loses his life.
This book feels like watching a really good movie. The pacing is perfect, the tension irresistible, and the surprises will make you jump out of your seat. Even though it fits neatly into its genre, what happens next is never apparent. It plays with the reader's expectations just like the Conjurer plays with everyone's who's chasing him. The story draws you in and the characters make you care. The all-knowing, malevolent villain makes you squirm, while the all-seeing and somewhat curmudgeonly Rhyme gives you hope and the tough, determined, yet concerned Sachs shows you the difficulty of success. Even minor characters live vividly on the page.
I thought it started with a bit too much police procedural detail, but that ended up providing the basics for the petal to the metal pacing of the last two-thirds of the story. The question of whether this was just a murder mystery or a political thriller provided a welcome depth without losing itself in complications. The history of magic and related tidbits worked great to fill out the story. My few complaints were minor, like the recurrent detailing of the evidence board was completely unnecessary, and what was the point of Balzac's unknown visitor? The ending was heart warming if a little too long, but maybe that was needed to come down from such a breakneck ride through the twisted world of evil magic.
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