Deaver's new thriller ‘The Kill Room’ interesting read

Jeffery Deaver's new thriller starring recurring character Lincoln Rhyme is an interesting read.

On one hand, the architecture of the “The Kill Room” (Grand Central Publishing, 484 pages, $28) is frequently and distractingly on display. On the other, the book is filled with striking, well-rounded characters and a brisk plot that doesn't bog down despite the book's length. I found myself turning pages rapidly even when I thought Deaver tipped his hand too much or relied too heavily on structural maneuvers to build suspense.

Lincoln Rhyme is a forensic scientist and a quadriplegic whose brilliance is only rivaled by his prickliness. His partner - both in crime fighting and in life - is Amelia Sachs, a dedicated detective struggling with a physical challenge of her own. When an assistant district attorney engages them to help pursue conspiracy charges against government officials involved in assassinations, both protagonists find danger.

Rhyme and Sachs are well drawn. Deaver gives us insight into their doubts, prejudices, complex histories, physical struggles in ways that ring true, even to a reader who hasn't read earlier entries. Occasionally a heavy-handed trope comes into play, such as ending a chapter with a cliffhanger that the reader can easily spot as misdirection, and his stage management is too explicit at times. Still, “The Kill Room” is a satisfying book, and I am likely to seek out other books featuring Rhyme and Sachs.