The Broken Window: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel Mass Market Paperback – April 28, 2009

I am a big fan of Jeffery Deaver and specifically of his Lincoln Rhyme series, so I always look forward to reading one. I have read nearly all of the Rhyme series except for the newest books in the series, so I have seen Rhyme face some incredibly creepy villains (usually serial killers). This time, the killings may not have quite the shock value of, say, The Bone Collector, which was so graphically violent, but the killer and his methods are just as scary/creepy due to the insidiousness of the villain.You see, this villain doesn't just kill people. First, he steals your identity, then he kills someone, then he plants evidence from his crime in YOUR home and gets YOU arrested for a murder you did not commit. No one will listen to you because, well, the evidence doesn't lie--nor does the computer, which the killer uses to manipulate the data to make the case seem air tight.They call him "the man who knows everything" because he somehow knows that you bought a new pair of sneakers last week--what brand and what size--the prints of which will show up at a murder scene...or that you bought duct tape two days before a murder involving a victim being duct taped. You have no idea what he knows about you, and how he may use it to frame you for his crime.How do you fight a villain who is always several steps ahead of you? That's what Lincoln Rhyme and his team must figure out. They've never faced a killer like this before and they'll have to rewrite the rulebook to catch him...before more innocent people end up dead--or in jail for a murder they did not commit.I found the book very interesting but maddening--I guess it's the Libra in me that was more upset about innocent people being framed for the killer's murders than about the murders themselves. It definitely makes you think about how reliant our society has become on computer data and how there may be a lot more about you that is publicly available than you ever suspected.I didn't find this book as exciting, perhaps, as some of the other Rhyme stories, but it was certainly interesting and I was invested in seeing this killer stopped and the people whose lives he had ruined vindicated. The very nature of the story created so much frustration in me, and perhaps that's why I wasn't quite as WOW'd by it as I often am by Deaver's books. Still, an excellent read.

Our modern world may have conquered the wild beasts who once threatened us, but we have a new kind of predator who uses our technology against us, in ways that can destroy us just as surely as being ripped apart by a hungry carnivore.Broken Window is another in the Lincoln Rhymes series, where the brilliant and wheelchair-bound detective from the Bone Collector matches wits with a killer who causally destroyed a man's life by stealing his identity, just to see what it would be like. From there, the killer, known as 522, moves on to killing people in order to steal from their collections to add to his own.Lincoln Rhymes can only use his mind to catch killers, since his back from broken in the line of duty, yet he manages to do his job as well, or better than most able bodied law enforcement officers. With the help of Amelia Sachs, the police officer he used to help him catch the killer in the Bone Collector(a movie made with Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie), Lincoln immerses himself into the world of information, and is shocked at how pervasive it is on our lives. Lincoln finds that Sachs finds has 500 pages of information on her, as if she can have no secrets in today's world.How do you catch a killer who can trace you through IFD tags(sewn into clothes to keep track of them in stores) GPS on phones, and in cars, savings cards that supermarkets use to track their customers buying choices, and of course credit cards that show where we are and what we buy. The killer that Lincoln faces has access to all of a person's information which he uses to draw his victims in close, before they realize that they really don't know him.What makes this book so chilling is that it could easily happen to anyone at any time. As tied into technology as we are, having your identity stolen can literally destroy your lives in no time. George Orwell's Brave New World is here now.While all the information on technology was fascinating, the repeating of the facts grew tedious after awhile, which is why I only gave this novel 4 stars instead of 5.

I read this book even thought I really didn't want to read a depressing book and wanted some fun chick lit but unfortunately there was none to be found. Aside from this I did actually enjoy this book. Working in IT the technical side of it really interested me and the fact that there is so much information held about you really fascinates me.Although this book was verging on a bit too long, and the fact that some parts had me more hooked than others it still was a thrilling read. This is a book in the Lincoln Rhyme series and fitting with the same style it is another triumph. The story is about Lincoln's cousin who gets accused of murder but he swears blind that he didn't do it. Pretty early on, Lincoln discovers that his cousin didn't commit the murder but he can't seem to catch the real culprit as he is always one step ahead of them with the power of computers.Learning all about the data the government holds on their citizens is probably enough to scare you or at least make you think and this book did proper freak me out, but in a good way.The book was incredibly fast paced and there was no end to the suspense which was good but was rather irritating when you assumed it was going to end soon but in reality there was another 35 chapters to go.Overall it was a good book with a great story. You could probably edit out a good 100 pages and also there were 2 side stories along with the main story, one which I couldn't follow and one which was a bit out of place which could also have been edited out. I believe this happens in Deaver's books a lot so I did expect it. I will probably pass it on with warning that it needs your full attention and it is rather eerie at the best of times but it is a great story with good meaning behind it.

The latest installment in the Lincoln Rhyme series, 'The Broken Window' is a case a little closer to home in that it involves a close relation being the main (if not only suspect) in a murder.Rhyme quickly deduces that this is the work of a master criminal who's MO includes making sure he has a fall guy set up. 'The Broken Window' is fascinating in terms of the realism of the world it describes, with the whole big brother fear brought to the forefront. The tendency to this means there is less high octane, heart pounding tension of the previous books in the series.Definitely worth reading for hardcore fans or first timers alike though I suggest the later start with the older books first for some background. At the very least I suggest reading (re-reading if you have already) the previous book in the series as it is heavily referenced in this story. I found myself struggling to remember the details of the last plot which made certain aspects of the book less interesting.

This was one of the best novels by Jeffery Deaver, in the Lincoln Rhyme series. The storyline, the twists and turns, it captivated me from start to finish. Roll on book nine!

This Deaver book is brilliant. Just like his previous books, Deaver has you on the edge of you seat. Through-out the book you are left guessing as to who the 'baddie' is. The research gone into this book has also paid off - the new technological dangers are both realistic and well explained. I truly wondered if such is currently happening ~ is this a book of; fiction, fact or prediction? I just did not know. When all is revealed at the end, you are truly in for a suprise - a very cleverly constructed story twist! In addition to this great story line, you are treated to an account of Rhyme's younger life. These accounts truly make Rhyme more believeable and realistic. Superb!

Deaver does it again in an exciting intricate plot involving the legendary Lincoln Rhyme, and his feisty assistant, Amelia Sachs. This is the 8th book in the series; and one of the best. A notorious killer has access to peoples information via computers and data miners - using this information, he manipulates and kills his prey.The usual descriptive and simple-to-read language adopted by Deaver is present here and allows the book to flow smoothly and simply, whilst enjoying the ride. He doesn't disappoint and neither does the story; if you are a Lincoln Rhyme fan, Deaver fan, or just like great books, read this series.. and this book!