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Deaver's latest novel brings to the forefront the right to privacy versus the ability of both government and private industry to know the whereabouts, habits, ideas, and personal traits of its citizen. As Lincoln begins to look at the case he also starts to feel that perhaps his cousin has been framed, as well as several other people over a period of time by an ingenious serial killer who uses data collection technology, identity theft, and manipulated crime scene evidence to ruin the lives of innocent people.As Lincoln Rhyme digs deeper into the case he comes into contact with a company called SSD, a data collection provider, and soon realizes how easily lives can be watched and manipulated by an unknown and unseen third party. If it's on a computer file then it must be true. Jeffery Deaver's "The Broken Window" comes at you like a train coming out of a tunnel. There are frequent references to George Orwell's "1984," and Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World." If you have never read either of these novels then you have missed two of the most chilling and true visionary tales ever written He finds himself thrown into a murder case that involves his cousin Arthur Rhyme, somebody that he used to be close to but for some reason both men eventually distanced themselves from each other. His protagonist, Lincoln Rhyme, while trying to prevent a murder in England and catch an elusive hitman is suddenly thrust into a scenario that brings him closer to home and reveals some detail about Rhyme's earlier years as a teenager. Arthur has been accused of murder and the circumstantial evidence is overwhelming; in fact, too overwhelming and too circumstantial.
In Jeffery Deaver novel The Broken Window, we are shown the underground world of identity theft. Once again Linc is forced into the savior role and Amelia once again finds herself in trouble.
The characters are well-developed and believable and the story flows as smooth as a high-speed Internet connection. The writing is top-notch.
Ever feel as though you are be watched. The story revolves around forensic science and tracing computers to solve the case and track down the bad guy.who has ties to Rhyme's past.
I would also highly recommend reading Ashes Divide by Clarence Cage: Ashes Divide my favorite novel of 2009. Ever wonder if someone was collecting personal information about you.
Jeff Deav explains in pain-staking detail what these creeps look for, how they access your info, the amount of time required to do such acts, and more.
Great suspense; I literally couldn't put it down. I'm never disappointed by Jeffrey Deaver and this is one of his best. Real-life identity theft issues are woven seamlessly into the plot.
Stay away at all costs. I can't believe I wasted my time on this drivel. This book is 350 pages too long.
As always, all the loose ends are tied up; as always, not before there's one final surprise. And we learn more about Lincoln's origins; in a couple of places he reminisces about his cousin. Deaver opts for more of a whodunit than he has in the past--there are plenty of suspects, plus the usual surprises.
This time it's the unsub known as 522 (for May 22 the date he committed the crime that drew Lincoln's attention to him)--a man expert at id theft. Soon, we meet the killer himself--who speaks of his victims as "sixteens" (you'll learn why, of course), and crimes as transactions.You'll also be introduced to the rather spooktastic world of a data mining company--and maybe you'll share that frisson of claustrophobia Amelia does when she visits the area where the data are stored. In "The Broken Window," Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs, as usual, are on the trail of a serial killer.
And: characters from past novels turn up to once again make your acquaintance.Mr. Rhymeistas should be well pleased.Notes and asides: Those of "a certain age" will really feel ancient when they see that the author has found it necessary to explain who Joe Friday was; you'll probably skim over the material on pages 509-522 in order to get on with the tale, but when you've finished, the suggestion here is to go back and reread those pages. Rhyme sets aside the case he's been working on when his cousin is framed for murder in order to take this one.
He quickly discovers that the killer has used data files to frame at least three other people, and the chase begins.
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