The Empty Chair by Jeffery Deaver

Emily | Marlboro High School, Grade 11

Rating: ****

Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs’ newest adventure is not in their typical setting. They travel to North Carolina for a medical procedure that might restore some of Rhyme’s functions. Crime seems to follow them everywhere as they are asked to help in a kidnapping case. Their goal is to find the Insect Boy, the known perpetrator. He is a sixteen year-old notorious for being a teenage outcast in the small town of Tanners Corner. No teenager can outrun Rhyme and Sachs, but the case is far from over when they track him down. The Insect Boy doesn’t seem so bad when the police are faced with a more complex mystery to unravel.

Initially, I felt that the novel was slow-paced. I think this was done on purpose, suiting the rural town setting. However, the plot thickened so quickly that I was shocked. I loved this book because it makes you question all of your beliefs. You might think you know the details of the crime, but you have no idea what’s beyond the surface. The novel incorporated a ton of new characters and crime scenes. I also gained new insight into old characters, learning about Sach’s passion for children. This book was unique from the other two in the series, but it still had the same qualities that make an excellent crime novel.