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For years, author Jeffery Deaver has thrilled readers with books filled with several illusions and misdirection. There was a devious serial killer in THE DEVIL’S TEARDROP and a big secret in a small town in THE EMPTY CHAIR. You think the story is going in one direction, but before you know it WHOA! You are somewhere else. It was bound to happen that sooner or later the author was going to create a clever murderer who is also a master illusionist. This is what Jeffery Deaver does in the fifth installment of the popular series featuring paraplegic criminal scene investigator Lincoln Rhyme and his protégée, Amelia Sachs. A serial killer is using well-known master illusions to kill his victims. All of his deaths are inspired by Harry Houdini as well as other celebrated escape artists. Only instead of it all being make-believe, the criminal who calls himself Malerick makes them all too real. Lincoln and Amelia have no problem figuring out how he slays his victims, but they have trouble finding a motive or a link to the dead bodies. They also find themselves a bit out of their league with this professional magician, so they need to create some magic of their own. During the course of the investigation they meet Kara, a magician apprentice and an expert quick-change artist. She has her own story and the author will take his time in telling it. Kara will assist the police in tracking the killer they have named ‘The Conjurer’ and show them how he thinks. In the end, she will also provide some surprises of her own. Anyone who picks a Jeffery Deaver novel does it for one reason – to be entertained. THE VANISHED MAN gives you your money’s worth plus a bit extra. The book has a lot of action and suspense with surprises a-plenty. There are several scenes that cause the story to go into overkill, but WHO CARES? Newcomers might become exasperated with some of the plot’s incredulous situations but that is something you get used to. Aside from the action scenes, character development plays a key role in understanding the players. Kara has her own personal conflicts that she is trying to come to turns to and this case will either make or break her. Malerick has some motives of his own, shown bit by bit. If you want to know more, pick up the book. It is stories like this that make reading fun, especially for those who do not like to read. With a book like this, it may help to change their minds.
Reviewed by Angel L. Soto, June 2003
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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