Against expectations - I only picked this up because I couldn't find anything else to read - I was hooked. The book features a quadraplegic detective, Rhyme, his able bodied - and able - assisant Amelia Sachs, a top-of-the-range killer who has an inner voice in the form of an army officer, and an exciting, time-limited plot: the action takes place within 45 hours. The villain is almost unbelievably talented, Rhyme almost unbelievable in his ability to second-guess the villain's moves. But I did suspend disbelief, and was thoroughly sucked in to the plot, rooting for all the characters, even from time to time, the villain. I have a reason for not using his name. Read it and you'll find out why. ( )

A great read by one of my favorite authors. ( )

The Bone Collector was this reader’s introduction to paralyzed Detective Lincoln Rhyme, and Amelia Sachs, who became his pupil in scene-of-the-crime gathering of evidence. While the first book was a very enjoyable thriller, the second entry in the series, might have been better.

Coffin Dancer is about a killer who has eluded Rhyme, a fact which haunts the detective. He became known as Coffin Dancer during the slayings because of a tattoo of the Grim Reaper dancing near a casket. In this entry, the hitman has returned after a long absence. Rhyme must once again use Amelia as his legs in this quickly paced and complex thriller. Rhyme’s personal connection with a woman involved in the case forces Amelia to confront her feelings for Rhyme, changing their personal landscape by the end of the narrative.

Through the streets of New York, from airports to subways, the narrative has Rhyme and Amelia moving swiftly through a complex maze, toward a surprise few readers will see coming. The familiar characters from the first entry are back, but not all of them will survive their last waltz with Coffin Dancer. I eventually ceased following the series, as I found later entries disappointing. But Coffin Dancer is an excellent read, full of atmosphere and character development as Rhyme and Amelia become closer. This is a fine book in the genre and worth reading. ( )

Many years ago, I read a lot of books in this series. Unfortunately, it was before Goodreads (for me), and I don't remember if i read this one. But thanks to Goodreads, I've discovered a lot of better books, so I think it's time to stop wondering and move on. Perhaps one day, I'll read more, after I get to the end of my tbr list. ha ha, hope I live to be 150.

The intracacy of the evidence, leading to conclusions based on many assumptions continues apace. A raucous story with the classic Deaver twists and turns. ( )