The Collateral Heart

complicated and dangerous in Deaver’s latest Lincoln Rhyme thriller. In the remains of the fire is a box with the number 1 on it. Soon, more fires and more boxes reveal a suspect, a history expert with his own podcast. Each box corresponds to a chapter in one of his books. While forensic criminalist Lincoln Rhyme, who is quadriplegic, and detective Amelia Sachs are tracking down the mysterious arsonist, the murder of a young woman in Long Island has a detective from the area determined to get Rhyme’s help. The two cases collide, forcing the perpetrators to up their game to stay one step ahead. The criminals are familiar with Rhyme and his methods and plan to keep him out of the way while their behavior escalates. This series continues to reign supreme, and Deaver’s creation, Lincoln Rhyme, still fascinates with his superior intellect trapped in a body that cannot move. Like all Deaver novels, the storyline and details are never straightforward, and the twists and turns will keep any reader wondering what’s really happening up to the very last word.—Jeff Ayers