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Kathryn Dance, a specialist in interrogation and kinesics – body language – has a special prisoner to interview. Seven years previously, Daniel Pell, who apparently was obsessed with Charles Manson and whom the papers dubbed 'Son of Manson' was sentenced to life for murder. He and an accomplice murdered four members of a family and then Pell killed his accomplice. One family member, a young girl, was upstairs asleep; thus, the sleeping doll. Pell is brought from a 'super max' prison site to a secure interview room at the County courthouse in Salinas, California. Kathryn, a California Bureau of Investigation officer is often called a human lie detector. She soon realizes that Pell is pretty good at reading body language too and in controlling his. He is a fascinating subject to her but his subtle threats are upsetting. What is the worst thing that could happen now? Well, it happens and Pell escapes. From the distractions that were engineered to foil the officers it’s obvious that he had help. Now Kathryn and her fellow agents from the CBI and the deputies from the County Sheriff’s office accept help from an FBI agent who is a cult expert. He explains that the Family that Pell had surrounded himself with – the three women and one man – was similar to a cult. Pell has no conscience and is a remorseless killer. Leaving several dead bodies in his wake, he is also an expert in intimidating those witnesses he leaves alive by threatening their families. He understands the human psyche all too well. Jeffery Deaver writes wonderful procedural novels. The book is rich in detail and description of the police work and the agencies involved. Kathryn’s field of kinesics is fascinating and while it may sound a little like voodoo, it nevertheless works. Anyone she talks with – her children, witnesses, her friends – she knows if they are being truthful or if they have something to hide. Kathryn is a widow with two children; she has family in the area and has a full life, but misses her husband terribly. She would not mind a relationship but her 14-year-old son is adamantly against her seeing anyone; he doesn’t say that to her, but a person would not need to be an expert in kinesics to realize that. Deaver is the much-acclaimed writer of the Lincoln Rhyme novels. Kathryn was introduced in THE COLD MOON when she briefly assisted Lincoln and Amelia on a case. She is “all about the people” and Lincoln is “all about the science”. The author is well known for the twists and turns that his novels take and this one is no exception. There are lots of surprises and plot twists up to the last page.
Reviewed by Lorraine Gelly, April 2007
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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