It was a "million-dollar bullet," a sniper shot delivered from over a mile away. Its victim was no ordinary mark: he was a United States citizen, targeted by the United States government, and assassinated in the Bahamas.
The nation's most renowned investigator and forensics expert, Lincoln Rhyme, is drafted to investigate. While his partner, Amelia Sachs, traces the victim's steps in Manhattan, Rhyme leaves the city to pursue the sniper himself. As details of the case start to emerge, the pair discovers that not all is what it seems.
When a deadly, knife-wielding assassin begins systematically eliminating all evidence-including the witnesses-Lincoln's investigation turns into a chilling battle of wits against a cold-blooded killer.
PARTICULARS OF THE BOOK :
Published by: Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Publishing
Pages: 496
Genre: Fiction/Suspense
Author: Jeffrey Deaver
Purchase your copy: Barnes & Noble or Amazon
ABOUT THE AUTHOR :
Jeffery Deaver is the #1 international bestselling author of more than thirty novels, two collections of short stories, and a nonfiction law book. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. He's received or been shortlisted for a number of awards around the world. A former journalist, folksinger, and attorney, he was born outside of Chicago and has a bachelor of journalism degree from the University of Missouri and a law degree from Fordham University. You can visit his website at www.JefferyDeaver.com.
Born just outside Chicago in 1950 to an advertising copywriter father and stay-at-home mom, Jeffery Deaver was a writer from the start, penning his first book (a brief tome just two chapters in length) at age 11. He went on to edit his high school literary magazine and serve on the staff of the school newspaper, chasing the dream of becoming a crack reporter.
Upon earning his B.A. in journalism from the University of Missouri, Deaver realized that he lacked the necessary background to become a legal correspondent for the high-profile publications he aspired to, such as The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal, so he enrolled at Fordham Law School. Being a legal eagle soon grew on Deaver, and rather than continue on as a reporter, he took a job as a corporate lawyer at a top Wall Street firm. Deaver's detour from the writing life wasn't to last, however; ironically, it was his substantial commute to the law office that touched off his third -- and current -- career. He'd fill the long hours on the train scribbling his own renditions of the kind of fiction he enjoyed reading most: suspense.
The Bookish Dame Reviews :Voodoo, a supernatural thriller, and Always a Thief, an art-theft caper, were Deaver's first published novels. Produced by the now-defunct Paperjacks paperback original house, the books are no longer in print, but they remain hot items on the collector circuit. His first major outing was the Rune series, which followed the adventures of an aspiring female filmmaker in the power trilogy Manhattan Is My Beat (1988), Death of a Blue Movie Star (1990), and Hard News (1991). Deaver's next series, this one featuring the adventures of ace movie location scout John Pellam, featured the thrillers Shallow Graves (1992), Bloody River Blues (1993), and Hell's Kitchen (2001). Written under the pen name William Jefferies, the series stands out in Deaver's body of work, primarily because it touched off his talent for focusing more on his vivid characters than on their perilous situations.
In fact, it is his series featuring the intrepid and beloved team of Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs that showcases Deaver at the top of his game. Confronting enormous odds (and always under somewhat gruesome circumstances), the embittered detective and his feisty partner and love interest made their debut in 1991's grisly caper The Bone Collector, and hooked fans for four more books: The Coffin Dancer (1998), The Empty Chair (2000), The Stone Monkey (2002), and The Vanishing Man(2003). Of the series, Kirkus Reviews observed, "Deaver marries forensic work that would do Patricia Cornwell proud to turbocharged plots that put Benzedrine to shame."
On the creation of Rhyme, who happens to be a paraplegic, Deaver explained to Shots magazine, "I wanted to create a Sherlock Holmes-ian kind of character that uses his mind rather than his body. He solves crimes by thinking about the crimes, rather than someone who can shoot straight, run faster, or walk into the bar and trick people into giving away the clues."
As for his reputation for conjuring up some of the most unsavory scenes in pop crime fiction, Deaver admits on his web site, "In general, I think, less is more, and that if a reader stops reading because a book is too icky then I've failed in my obligation to the readers."
Good To Know
Deaver revises his manuscripts "at least 20 or 30 times" before his publishers get to even see a version.Two of his books have been made into major feature films. The first was A Maiden's Grave (the film adaptation was called Dead Silence), which starred James Garner and Marlee Matlin. The Bone Collector came next, starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie.
In addition to being a bestselling novelist, Deaver has also been a folksinger, songwriter, music researcher, and professional poet.
In our interview with Deaver, he reveals, "My inspiration for writing is the reader. I want to give readers whatever will excite and please them. It's absolutely vital in this business for authors to know their audience and to write with them in mind."
Hot damn! Jeffrey Deaver is back in town!!! And, this newest novel from him is kickin'! I was up until 3:45 AM finishing the read. I still couldn't put all the pieces together and I was jumping in my skin trying to do it as fast as I read. He is the master manipulator in this genre! Awesome book... All of Deaver's fans will not be disappointed in "The Killing Room."
I found his "specialist" character as creepy as any I've ever encountered. Only Deaver can create a monster like this one and make you eager to read more about him. Sophisticated and clever, you want him to be caught, and; yet, you can't wait to read what he's going to do next. It's the "going to the horror show and peeking at it from behind your fingers" syndrome! This character is even a gourmet chef who has fabulous recipes... Ugh, tasty and tasteless at the same time... perfection in suspense novels.
Lincon Rhyme and Amelia Sachs are in usual form as my favorite high end forensic duo. Rhyme is sarcastic and cynical, but still sweet on Amelia underneath it all. I love this tough and tender man. Deaver has created the perfect foil for criminal minds in the Rhyme/Sachs crew, as well. Each of the officers and FBI connections is an engaging and interesting character who adds dimension to the story. In fact all of Deaver's characters are stellar and vivid. He is a master in this.
Frankly, I never know what to expect when I open a Jeffrey Deaver book. Except I know in advance I'm going to be going on a roller coaster ride. There will be high jinks, horrors, and twisters like nobody else can take me on; and, I know that I won't ever be able to fit all the pieces of the puzzle together by myself until he solves it in the end. This is the fun of one of his novels. It's the thing that catches me every time... Just when you think the case/mystery is solved, another wrench is thrown in. Assume nothing!
Of course, I highly recommend "The Killing Room" to everyone I know. If you haven't read one of Mr. Deaver's books before, I have to wonder if you've been living under a rock! Crawl out and get this one, fast!
5 stars Deborah/TheBookishDame
