THE BURNING WIRE
Jefffrey Deaver
Hodder & Stoughton - NZ$38.99
416pp 

I reviewed this title with  Kathryn Ryan on Radio NZ National's Nine to Noon programme this morning.

 Jeffrey Deaver is of course the man who Ian Fleming's Estate has recently invited to write a new James Bond title. He is unquestionably one of the  most highly regarded contemporary crime fiction writers with his books being translated into 25 languages and available in 150 countries. He has won or been shortlisted for almost every crime fiction award known to man, he is a former attorney and journalist and The Burning Wire is his 26th novel, the ninth featuring  the brilliant quadraplegic forensic police investigator Lincoln Rhyme.

Crime fiction is my reading of choice for relaxation, escapism and or travel. But it is a difficult genre to review without giving away too much of the story. Sometimes even a brief summary of the story can be too much. Never mind let's see what I can do without spoiling it for potential readers.

As you might surmise from the title the story is about electricity, specifically it is about the New York electricity grid being used as a weapon of mass destruction. Early in the story a high voltage arc destroys a city bus and shortly after are being electrocuted in their homes and offices and before long the city is paralysed with fear.

Enter Lincoln Rhyme, long-time quadraplegic renowned for his solving of cases featuring the most clever and devious of criminals, his professional and personal partner NYPD detective Amelia Sachs and the usual Jeffrey Deaver cast of cops and FBI agents whom regular readers of the Lincoln Rhyme boolks will recognise - Fred Dellray, Mel Cooper, Parker Kincaid and others several of whom have thir own subplots which adds to the enjoyment of the book.

Rhyme's NY apartment  doubles as a highly sophisticated forensic laboratory so as evidence is gathered it is analysed and dealt with on the spot. Rhyme is something of a hot-tempered scientfically-minded genius and often recognises vital evidence that others miss. He was paralysed because of an accident at a crime scene in a subway station years ago.

Rhyme and his team soon identify a staff member of Algonquin Power & Light, NY's main electricity supplier, who would have all the technical nous to pull off the series of highly sophisticated electrical attacks. He has gone awol from work is suffering from leukemia which he blames on the company and his threats by letter and e-mail seem to suggest he is after revenge as well as seeing his actions as a form of eco-terrorism. His modus operandi is to demand that power be cut off in a certain part of the city or state and if not he then creates mayhem using electricity in all sorts of devious ways to kill people and create terror.

Deaver must have done a huge amount of research into the New York grid and the production and distribution of electricity in order to write this book and my only criticism would be that at times there is a bit too much detail about various aspects of electricity. Having said that however I must say that it is fast-moving, filled with brilliant plot twists and a totally unputdownable read. Also most enjoyable is the story of Lincoln Rhyme's private life which underpins and adds to the story most effectively. It is a ripper and I will not be at all surprised if eventually it is made into a Hollywood movie, I just hope that it doesn't provide any real-life terrorists with new ideas.

Deaver's other main book series  features Kathryn Dance, a Californian special agent who is a brilliant interrogator and body language expert and Deaver is presently alternating his series featuring her , she will make her appearances in odd-number years, with that starring Lincoln Rhyme, who will appear in even.

That's organisation for you!


About the Author (taken from the back of the book)


A former journalist, folksinger and attorney, Jeffery Deaver is an international number-one bestselling author. His novels have appeared on bestseller lists around the world, including The New York Times, The
Times of London, Italy’s Corriere della Serra, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Los Angeles Times. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages.
 The author of twenty-six novels, two collections of short stories and a nonfiction law book, he’s received or been shortlisted for a number of awards around the world. His The Bodies Left Behind was named Novel of the Year by the International Thriller Writers Association, and his Lincoln Rhyme thriller The Broken Window was also nominated for that prize. He has been awarded the Steel Dagger and Short Story Dagger from the British Crime Writers’ Association and the Nero Wolfe Award, and he is a three-time recipient of the Ellery Queen Reader’s Award for Best Short Story of the Year and a winner of the British Thumping Good Read Award.
The Cold Moon was recently named the Book of the Year by the Mystery Writers Association of Japan, as well as by Kono Mystery Wa Sugoi magazine. In addition, the Japanese Adventure Fiction Association awarded the book their annual Grand Prix award.
Deaver has been nominated for six Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America, an Anthony Award and a Gumshoe Award. He was recently shortlisted for the ITV3 Crime Thriller Award for Best International Author.
His book A Maiden’s Grave was made into an HBO movie starring James Garner and Marlee Matlin, and his novel The Bone Collector was a feature release from Universal Pictures, starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. His most recent books are Roadside Crosses, The Bodies Left Behind, The Broken Window, The Sleeping Doll and More Twisted: Collected Stories, Volume II. And, yes, the rumors are true, he did appear as a corrupt reporter on his favorite soap opera, As the World Turns.

Deaver was born outside Chicago and has a bachelor of journalism degree from the University of Missouri and a law degree from Fordham University.

Readers can visit his website at www.jefferydeaver.com.