Barb's Book Reviews: Review of "The Broken Window: A Lincoln Rhyme Mystery" by Jeffery Deaver

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Review of "The Broken Window: A Lincoln Rhyme Mystery" by Jeffery Deaver

	In this eighth book in the 'Lincoln Rhyme' series, the quadriplegic criminalist and his partner, detective Amelia Sachs, are drawn into the investigation when Lincoln's cousin is accused of murder. The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the characters is a bonus. ***** When Lincoln Rhyme's cousin Arthur Rhyme is arrested for murder, Lincoln and his team soon discover that the real murderer is a serial rapist/murderer who uses personal information from a data mining company to lure his victims and to plant evidence so innocent people are arrested for the crimes. The source of the personal data used by the perpetrator seems to be an information collection company called Strategic Systems Datacorp (SSD). When Lincoln's team starts to investigate SSD, the murderer - dubbed "522" - realizes that his plan has been discovered. Enraged, he cooks up schemes to get the detectives off his trail so he can continue his crime spree. Deavers is a master at this type of story and the book zips along at a brisk pace and holds your interest. Aside from the plot I was very interested to learn how much information about us is collected and collated by professional "data collectors." They apparently itemize the kinds and brands of products we use, our educational history, what kind of vacations we take, what restaurants we favor, where we get our hair cut, etc. etc. Ditto for all our relatives, friends, and acquaintances. In the book, the murderer makes use of this kind of information to plot his crimes. Rating: 3 stars

In this eighth book in the 'Lincoln Rhyme' series, the quadriplegic criminalist and his partner, detective Amelia Sachs, are drawn into the investigation when Lincoln's cousin is accused of murder.

The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the characters is a bonus.

*****

When Lincoln Rhyme's cousin Arthur Rhyme is arrested for murder, Lincoln and his team soon discover that the real murderer is a serial rapist/murderer who uses personal information from a data mining company to lure his victims and to plant evidence so innocent people are arrested for the crimes.

The source of the personal data used by the perpetrator seems to be an information collection company called Strategic Systems Datacorp (SSD).

When Lincoln's team starts to investigate SSD, the murderer - dubbed "522" - realizes that his plan has been discovered. Enraged, he cooks up schemes to get the detectives off his trail so he can continue his crime spree.

Deavers is a master at this type of story and the book zips along at a brisk pace and holds your interest.

Aside from the plot I was very interested to learn how much information about us is collected and collated by professional "data collectors." They apparently itemize the kinds and brands of products we use, our educational history, what kind of vacations we take, what restaurants we favor, where we get our hair cut, etc. etc. Ditto for all our relatives, friends, and acquaintances.

In the book, the murderer makes use of this kind of information to plot his crimes.

Rating: 3 stars

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Leading up to and during World War II, some Jewish children in Europe were hidden with Christian families, or in convents, or in monasteries, or in churches, etc., to protect the youngsters from the Nazis. The idea was for Jewish survivors to retrieve the children after the war. Author Jennifer Rosner, who did extensive research on the subject, and interviewed many people, addresses this topic in her fiction book 'Once We Were Home.' I heard Rosner speak about her novel, and she emphasized the difficult situations that sometimes arose from secreting Jewish children (which only saved a tiny percentage of Jewish kids, by the way). Some 'foster parents' came to love the children as their own and vice versa; some church organizations baptized the children and refused to return them; some Jewish kids came to think of themselves as Christian; etc. For the decimated Jewish population, getting these children back after the war was of paramount importance. Jewish survivors would use bribes, payoffs, lawsuits, or even kidnapping to bring the kids home. Some children were reunited with European families, and some were taken to Israel, to live on kibbutzim. Rosner, who has a Ph.D. in philosophy, observes there wasn't always a 'right thing to do,' as shown in this novel. ***** There are several 'displaced' characters in 'Once We Were Home.' Roger: During World War II, Roger is a smart, inquisitive French schoolboy living in the Convent Sainte Marie de Sion. Roger likes to write stories; enjoys sharing jokes and riddles with his best friend Henri; goes to prayer services morning and evening; attends the convent school; and has a favorite teacher, Sister Brigitte, who encourages Roger to ask questions. Roger's sponsor, a woman named Madame Mercier, tells Roger his Jewish parents took the 'wrong road' and arranges for the boy to be baptized. Roger doesn't comprehend what the 'wrong road' is and wonders about his Jewish family. When World War II is over, Roger's aunt wants him back. The church, determined to save Roger's soul, sends him on the run with a monk, who takes Roger over the snowy mountains (on foot) to Spain. Meanwhile, Roger's aunt petitions the church and the courts again and again and again......

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Barb's Book Reviews

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Review of "The Broken Window: A Lincoln Rhyme Mystery" by Jeffery Deaver

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