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Kathryn Dance#2
Roadside Crosses
From the author People magazine has hailed the New York Times bestselling author as “a master of ticking-bomb suspense,” comes the third addition to the Kathryn Dance series, a chilling tale of a vigilante seeking revenge—in both the cyber world…and the real.The Monterey Peninsula is rocked when a killer begins to leave roadside crosses beside local highways—not in memoriam, but as announcements of his intention to kill. And to kill in particularly horrific and efficient using the personal details about the victims that they've carelessly posted in blogs and on social networking websites. The case lands on the desk of Kathryn Dance, the California Bureau of Investigation's foremost kinesics—body language-expert. She and Deputy Michael O'Neil follow the leads to Travis Brigham, a troubled teenager whose role in a fatal car accident has inspired vicious attacks against him on a popular blog, The Chilton Report. As the investigation progresses, Travis vanishes. Using techniques he learned as a brilliant participant in MMORPGs—Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games—he easily eludes his pursuers and continues to track his victims, some of whom Kathryn is able to save, some not. Among the obstacles Kathryn must hurdle are politicians from Sacramento, paranoid parents, and the blogger himself, James Chilton, whose belief in the importance of blogging and the new media threatens to derail the case and potentially Dance's career. It is this threat that causes Dance to take desperate and risky measures... With Jeffery Deaver's signature style, Roadside Crosses is filled with dozens of plot twists, cliff-hangers, and heartrending personal subplots that take a searing look at the accountability of blogging and life in the online world.
578 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2009
About the author
Jeffery Deaver
375books10.9kfollowers#1 international bestselling author of over thirty novels and three collections of short stories. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. His first novel featuring Lincoln Rhyme,The Bone Collector,was made into a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. He's received or been shortlisted for a number of awards around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,041 reviews
September 28, 2021
3.5 stars
In this 2nd book in the 'Kathryn Dance' series, the kinesics expert investigates a case stemming from bullying on social media. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Online bullying can have unfortunate consequences, up to and including murder. When a high school boy named Travis Bingham is blamed for the death of two girls in a highway accident on California's Monterey Peninsula, the bullying blogosphere goes stratospheric.....and bad things result.
It all starts with a post from righteous crusader James Chilton, on his blog 'The Chilton Report.' Chilton merely questions the quality of road maintenance on the Peninsula - not even mentioning Travis - and the resulting comments soon turn to the boy. Before long Travis is being called every kind of foul name and being accused of all manner of disgusting behavior.
This leads to the attempted murder of a high school girl named Tammy Foster, who posted nasty comments about Travis. The incident was foreshadowed by a cross being placed along the highway, decorated with rose petals and bearing the date of the crime.
The case falls to Agent Kathryn Dance of the California Bureau of Investigation. Kathryn is the foremost kinesics (body language) expert in the state, and can tell when people are lying. This is useful when Kathryn and her partner, Deputy Michael O'Neill, interview suspects, witnesses, or other persons of interest.
Kathryn speaks to Travis Bingham about the attack on Tammy, but the agent lacks direct evidence and doesn't arrest the boy. Travis then disappears and another blog bully is attacked.....followed by the murder of several people. By now, anyone who posts anything on The Chilton Report is a murder target, and each crime is heralded by a wooden cross and rose petals.
Kathryn is frustrated by the terrible crimes, by Travis's elusiveness, and by the fact that Chilton won't cooperate by shutting down his blog. The agent has other serious concerns as well. Her mother Edie, a nurse, has been arrested for euthanizing a badly burned patient. The prosecutor - a zealot who sees this as an opportunity to make a name for himself - has accused Edie of first degree murder and may even go for the death penalty.
While Kathryn works on the roadside crosses case, Deputy O'Neill is called away for another investigation. So Kathryn is assisted by a college professor who's knowledgeable about computers and a talented young cop with good instincts.
On the downside, Kathryn is frustrated by a self-serving, publicity-seeking boss and an ombudsman from the governor's office who's ethically challenged.
The book's main plot is augmented by side issues such as the environmental impact of desalination plants; political corruption; family interactions; multiplayer online role-playing games; and more.
I enjoyed the book, and liked Kathryn's analyses of body movements that signal deception. (This is very reminiscent of the old television series 'Lie to Me', starring Tim Roth.) I do have a quibble with the book however. Deaver likes to end chapters with a cliff hanger that leads to a surprise. After this happens once or twice it becomes predictable and is no longer a twist.
Deaver has a deft hand with mystery/thrillers and I'd recommend the book to fans of the genre.
You can follow my reviews athttps://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
August 13, 2022
I really enjoyed this book, was my first Jeffery Deaver book and I enjoyed it a lot.
I was hooked from the first chapter.
Great story line and fast moving!
Four stars.
I was hooked from the first chapter.
Great story line and fast moving!
Four stars.
December 1, 2022
Autorul este cunoscut pentru seria de romane ce ii au in prim-plan pe Lincoln Rhyme si Amelia Sachs. Unul dintre aceste romane, "Colectionarul de oase" a fost ecranizat cu Angelina Jolie si Denzel Washington in rolurile principale.
Cartea de fata debuteaza cu o nota de autor foarte interesanta in care ni se spune ca anumite linkuri si adrese web ce apar in roman pot fi cautate pe internet si ne pot fi de ajutor in solutionarea misterului. Mi s-a parut o metoda inedita si binevenita in care sa implici cititorul intr-o ancheta criminalistica. Suntem de asemenea avertizati ca intram pe propriul risc pe aceste pagini deoarece continutul lor ar putea sa ne tulbure (nu e cazul pentru ca majoritatea nu mai functioneaza, iar restul nu sunt mai deloc infricosatoare).
Cartea face parte din seria Kathryn Dance si in ceea ce priveste actiunea ne aflam in Peninsula Monterey unde politia descopera pe Autostrada 1 niste cruci memoriale. Acestea sunt fabricate de mana, au la baza un trandafir si fiecare are o placuta cu data accidentului. Straniu este faptul ca zona aceea a autostrazii este linistita, acolo neavand loc accidente. Socant este insa ca data de pe cruci este din viitor, ca si cum ar anunta moartea cuiva.
Atunci cand o adolescenta este gasita aproape moarta se declanseaza o isterie generala si toata lumea vorbeste despre cruci si faptas. Subiectul este intens dezbatut si online pe blogul "The Chilton Report" unde se pare ca lumea stie cine este de vina nominalizand un tanar baiat.
Kathryn Dance si echipa ei investigheaza cazul fiind nevoita sa porneasca tocmai din mediul virtual pentru a-l solutiona.
Romanul este interesant, destul de antrenant si m-a amuzat ca regasim majoritatea trendurilor verbale de pe retelele de socializare si gaming pe care tinerii le folosesc cum ar fi urmatoarele exprimari: "omg", "looser", "lol", "fr43r", "noob", "thread", etc.
In ceea ce priveste site-urile si blogurile mentionate in carte am incercat sa le caut:
- thechiltonreport.com - continutul acestuia pare sa nu mai existe, domeniul fiind de vanzare, nefiind astfel de ajutor in ancheta.
- ourWorld - un site de socializare si jocuri online -a fost inchis in 2021.
- Second Life - o platforma care simuleaza realitatea virtuala in care iti faci un avatar si interactionezi cu ceilalti fiind ca un joc multiplayer pe modelul "Sims". Exista si in ziua de azi, inscrierea e gratuita si pare destul de interesant.
- Dimension Quest - ni se spune in roman ca ar fi un joc MMORPG. Pe internet n-am gasit nimic de genul asta, probabil ca este inventat.
In concluzie mi-a placut romanul, mai ales prin prisma subiectului, probabil nu este cel mai bun din seria cu agenta Dance insa este agreabil. Mi-a placut descrierea ultimului joc si toate referirile la bloguri, site-uri, viata virtuala si pericolele peste care putem da acolo. Pentru a spori misterul era o idee ca povestea sa patrunda in dark web pentru ca acolo lucrurile sunt dintre cele mai obscure.
Cartea de fata debuteaza cu o nota de autor foarte interesanta in care ni se spune ca anumite linkuri si adrese web ce apar in roman pot fi cautate pe internet si ne pot fi de ajutor in solutionarea misterului. Mi s-a parut o metoda inedita si binevenita in care sa implici cititorul intr-o ancheta criminalistica. Suntem de asemenea avertizati ca intram pe propriul risc pe aceste pagini deoarece continutul lor ar putea sa ne tulbure (nu e cazul pentru ca majoritatea nu mai functioneaza, iar restul nu sunt mai deloc infricosatoare).
Cartea face parte din seria Kathryn Dance si in ceea ce priveste actiunea ne aflam in Peninsula Monterey unde politia descopera pe Autostrada 1 niste cruci memoriale. Acestea sunt fabricate de mana, au la baza un trandafir si fiecare are o placuta cu data accidentului. Straniu este faptul ca zona aceea a autostrazii este linistita, acolo neavand loc accidente. Socant este insa ca data de pe cruci este din viitor, ca si cum ar anunta moartea cuiva.
Atunci cand o adolescenta este gasita aproape moarta se declanseaza o isterie generala si toata lumea vorbeste despre cruci si faptas. Subiectul este intens dezbatut si online pe blogul "The Chilton Report" unde se pare ca lumea stie cine este de vina nominalizand un tanar baiat.
Kathryn Dance si echipa ei investigheaza cazul fiind nevoita sa porneasca tocmai din mediul virtual pentru a-l solutiona.
Romanul este interesant, destul de antrenant si m-a amuzat ca regasim majoritatea trendurilor verbale de pe retelele de socializare si gaming pe care tinerii le folosesc cum ar fi urmatoarele exprimari: "omg", "looser", "lol", "fr43r", "noob", "thread", etc.
In ceea ce priveste site-urile si blogurile mentionate in carte am incercat sa le caut:
- thechiltonreport.com - continutul acestuia pare sa nu mai existe, domeniul fiind de vanzare, nefiind astfel de ajutor in ancheta.
- ourWorld - un site de socializare si jocuri online -a fost inchis in 2021.
- Second Life - o platforma care simuleaza realitatea virtuala in care iti faci un avatar si interactionezi cu ceilalti fiind ca un joc multiplayer pe modelul "Sims". Exista si in ziua de azi, inscrierea e gratuita si pare destul de interesant.
- Dimension Quest - ni se spune in roman ca ar fi un joc MMORPG. Pe internet n-am gasit nimic de genul asta, probabil ca este inventat.
In concluzie mi-a placut romanul, mai ales prin prisma subiectului, probabil nu este cel mai bun din seria cu agenta Dance insa este agreabil. Mi-a placut descrierea ultimului joc si toate referirile la bloguri, site-uri, viata virtuala si pericolele peste care putem da acolo. Pentru a spori misterul era o idee ca povestea sa patrunda in dark web pentru ca acolo lucrurile sunt dintre cele mai obscure.
October 15, 2024
You might want to check your privacy settings on Facebook!
Most thriller fans will pick up a Michael Connelly novel expecting that it's going to be about Harry Bosch. Similarly, most Jeffrey Deaver fans (and I expect there's a whole pile of crossover), will pick up one of his novels expecting a story about Lincoln Rhyme and his erstwhile lover, Amelia Sachs. So it's a very pleasant and unexpected surprise to be treated to a new heroine in Kathryn Dance, an investigator with the California Bureau of Investigation who is known for her near psychic interrogation skills, Kathryn Dance is a master of kinesics, the ability to read body language, facial tics, changes in skin tone, key words, intonation and the hundreds of other tiny indicators that let a skilled questioner know whether a subject is lying, uncomfortable, attempting to mislead, frightened or, in some other fashion, is simply avoiding the truth.
Kathryn Dance first debuted as a side character inTHE COLD MOONconsulting with our long-time friend, Lincoln Rhyme. Appearing solo for the first time inTHE SLEEPING DOLL,Dance now stars in a second successful outing which I'm sure Deaver's fans will enjoy.
When a rather offbeat murder attempt fails (the victim is left in the trunk of a car that had been driven into the ocean), Kathryn Dance's starts her investigation with an amateurish roadside cross left at the scene of the attempted crime (like those popping up as poignant memorials at the scene of many fatal road accidents). The bizarre clues lead her to a teenager, Travis Brigham, who everyone thinks has snapped. The world is convinced that Brigham is acting out and wreaking a grisly revenge for having been the victim of cyber-bullying. In an interesting side plot evolving from a thread first started inTHE SLEEPING DOLL,Dance's mother is charged with murder in the mercy killing of a terminal patient at a hospital. Between finding herself a potential target for cyber-stalker and young murderer, Travis Brigham, and dealing with the emotional impact of her mother being in the dock for capital murder, Kathryn Dance's plate is obviously filled to capacity.
IfROADSIDE CROSSESdoesn't give you serious pause to consider how much information you reveal about yourself on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter and if you don't shudder a little over the ever present possibility of identity theft and cyber-stalking, then your eyes are closed behind rose-coloured glasses and you are naïvely living on a different planet than the one I see every day. A little love and romance, a little family life, politics, a dash of corporate intrigue and a topic that is all too current and very close to home makesROADSIDE CROSSESan intense and entirely realistic thriller.
Paul Weiss
Most thriller fans will pick up a Michael Connelly novel expecting that it's going to be about Harry Bosch. Similarly, most Jeffrey Deaver fans (and I expect there's a whole pile of crossover), will pick up one of his novels expecting a story about Lincoln Rhyme and his erstwhile lover, Amelia Sachs. So it's a very pleasant and unexpected surprise to be treated to a new heroine in Kathryn Dance, an investigator with the California Bureau of Investigation who is known for her near psychic interrogation skills, Kathryn Dance is a master of kinesics, the ability to read body language, facial tics, changes in skin tone, key words, intonation and the hundreds of other tiny indicators that let a skilled questioner know whether a subject is lying, uncomfortable, attempting to mislead, frightened or, in some other fashion, is simply avoiding the truth.
Kathryn Dance first debuted as a side character inTHE COLD MOONconsulting with our long-time friend, Lincoln Rhyme. Appearing solo for the first time inTHE SLEEPING DOLL,Dance now stars in a second successful outing which I'm sure Deaver's fans will enjoy.
When a rather offbeat murder attempt fails (the victim is left in the trunk of a car that had been driven into the ocean), Kathryn Dance's starts her investigation with an amateurish roadside cross left at the scene of the attempted crime (like those popping up as poignant memorials at the scene of many fatal road accidents). The bizarre clues lead her to a teenager, Travis Brigham, who everyone thinks has snapped. The world is convinced that Brigham is acting out and wreaking a grisly revenge for having been the victim of cyber-bullying. In an interesting side plot evolving from a thread first started inTHE SLEEPING DOLL,Dance's mother is charged with murder in the mercy killing of a terminal patient at a hospital. Between finding herself a potential target for cyber-stalker and young murderer, Travis Brigham, and dealing with the emotional impact of her mother being in the dock for capital murder, Kathryn Dance's plate is obviously filled to capacity.
IfROADSIDE CROSSESdoesn't give you serious pause to consider how much information you reveal about yourself on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter and if you don't shudder a little over the ever present possibility of identity theft and cyber-stalking, then your eyes are closed behind rose-coloured glasses and you are naïvely living on a different planet than the one I see every day. A little love and romance, a little family life, politics, a dash of corporate intrigue and a topic that is all too current and very close to home makesROADSIDE CROSSESan intense and entirely realistic thriller.
Paul Weiss
October 6, 2019
So much about computer games and blogs. And I don't think that people are that much foolish to misunderstand the difference between the real world and the computer games.
However, Kathryn Dance's character and her talent in body language was very well written. Her character was depicted in two perspectives; her professional life and her personal life. While she was hunting for the killer she had to make her mother come clean from the murder charges. She was torn between the two lives.
Recommended for those who love thrillers and mystery.
However, Kathryn Dance's character and her talent in body language was very well written. Her character was depicted in two perspectives; her professional life and her personal life. While she was hunting for the killer she had to make her mother come clean from the murder charges. She was torn between the two lives.
Recommended for those who love thrillers and mystery.
July 4, 2010
Disappointing Kathryn Dance sequel -- little mystery, way too much blogging
We thoroughly enjoyed Deaver's new character Kathyrn Dance, a specialist in kinesics (body language), who helped solve the mystery in the author's Lincoln Rhyme novel "Cold Moon". She then "starred" in her own first complete story, "Sleeping Doll", which we found highly entertaining. Unfortunately, the author missed the mark completely in "Crosses", her third appearance, and this time again in charge of an investigation as leading lady.
The premise was actually engaging - someone is leaving a series of roadside crosses to predict a death, not commemorate one. However, that thread was virtually abandoned, as was Dance's claim to fame (kinetic analysis) as 90% of the book was Deaver railing about the dominance of blogging in today's internet sphere, and how dangerous and silly that "unregulated" activity can be. The plot was poorly crafted, the bulk of the story was boring, and Dance has no better skills at running a "straight" investigation than the average reader.
We are longtime Deaver fans, even of his early works under his pseudonym William Jeffries. But we conclude from this mediocre outing that Dance as a supporting helper is far more interesting than having her trudge through an entire case only rarely using her unique talents. Moreover, we don't need Deaver to labor over an expose of blogging or anything else on the internet - we see enough of that stuff (willingly or not!) online, we don't need it in our books!!
We thoroughly enjoyed Deaver's new character Kathyrn Dance, a specialist in kinesics (body language), who helped solve the mystery in the author's Lincoln Rhyme novel "Cold Moon". She then "starred" in her own first complete story, "Sleeping Doll", which we found highly entertaining. Unfortunately, the author missed the mark completely in "Crosses", her third appearance, and this time again in charge of an investigation as leading lady.
The premise was actually engaging - someone is leaving a series of roadside crosses to predict a death, not commemorate one. However, that thread was virtually abandoned, as was Dance's claim to fame (kinetic analysis) as 90% of the book was Deaver railing about the dominance of blogging in today's internet sphere, and how dangerous and silly that "unregulated" activity can be. The plot was poorly crafted, the bulk of the story was boring, and Dance has no better skills at running a "straight" investigation than the average reader.
We are longtime Deaver fans, even of his early works under his pseudonym William Jeffries. But we conclude from this mediocre outing that Dance as a supporting helper is far more interesting than having her trudge through an entire case only rarely using her unique talents. Moreover, we don't need Deaver to labor over an expose of blogging or anything else on the internet - we see enough of that stuff (willingly or not!) online, we don't need it in our books!!
April 23, 2020
The second in the Dance series of a woman detective who can tell by interviewing people and understand their body language whether they are lying. It is well written thrown in with a couple of sub plots including whether Kathryn’s mother a nurse did a mercy killing for a badly burnt patient.
The main plot is around a blog site and to be careful what you say online. Someone is killing people and leaving roadside crosses. Is it Travis a teenager heavily involved in gaming and bullied online?
It’s a fast paced thriller with lots of twists and turns. Kathryn has a lazy media driven boss, has to deal with a corrupt fixer and also she wants a love life but the one she really wants is married. The blogger who runs the blog site, James Chilton is also unwilling to compromise his beliefs about the role and importance of blogging and the new media.
Overall a solid read and 3.5. Parts of it read like a soap opera and illogical such as a civilian computer consultant working with Kathryn trying to be a hero with a possible killer. The motive also for the murders also seems to me a bit far fetched and complicated.
The main plot is around a blog site and to be careful what you say online. Someone is killing people and leaving roadside crosses. Is it Travis a teenager heavily involved in gaming and bullied online?
It’s a fast paced thriller with lots of twists and turns. Kathryn has a lazy media driven boss, has to deal with a corrupt fixer and also she wants a love life but the one she really wants is married. The blogger who runs the blog site, James Chilton is also unwilling to compromise his beliefs about the role and importance of blogging and the new media.
Overall a solid read and 3.5. Parts of it read like a soap opera and illogical such as a civilian computer consultant working with Kathryn trying to be a hero with a possible killer. The motive also for the murders also seems to me a bit far fetched and complicated.
March 29, 2021
Deaver non mi delude mai!
Purtroppo per mancanza di tempo mi sono ritrovata a iniziare questa nuova serie con protagonista Kathryn Dance, dal secondo libro.
E inevitabilmente mi sarò spoilerata qualcosa sul caso del primo libro ma vabbè ormai è fatta.
Siamo in California lungo la Higway 1, dove misteriosamente cominciano a comparire delle croci come quelle che vengono poste sul luogo di un incidente. Queste però sono diverse, perché hanno la data del giorno successivo e non hanno foto o nomi ma solo un mazzo di fiori.
Il giorno indicato dalla prima viene ritrovata una ragazza chiusa nel portabagagli di un’auto lasciata andare alla deriva nell’Oceano.
Gli indizi sembrano portare a Travis, un ragazzino un po’ nerd che viene preso in giro da tutti, attaccato animosamente su un famoso blog a causa della sua presenza nell’auto che è incorsa in un incidente in cui hanno trovato la morte tre delle due ragazzine che viaggiavano con lui.
Dopo averlo interrogato però Dance, esperta di prossemica, e il collega O’ Neil, non riescono più a rintracciarlo.
Intanto continuano a verificarsi omicidi di persone legate al blog e al post relativo all’incidente e il ragazzo è diventato introvabile se non nel mondo virtuale dove passa la maggior parte delle proprie giornate, impegnato in giochi di ruolo che stanno a poco a poco sostituendo la sua realtà.
Nel frattempo la madre della detective viene fermata con l’accusa di eutanasia nei confronti del collega ricoverato in fin di vita nel corso del caso precedente, per gravi ustioni.
Questo thriller tocca due temi quanto mai attuali, della libertà di parola vigente su social e blog, dove chiunque pensa di esser libero di poter dire quel che gli pare solo perché si nasconde dietro a una tastiera e uno schermo, e il ricorso sempre maggiore e non solo dei giovani alla realtà virtuale, isolandosi e fuggendo dalla vita sociale reale.
Importante quesito che viene sollevato è quello di quanto la violenza nei videogiochi influisca nel rendere violenti i ragazzi. Viene affrontato nel modo più corretto possibile, riportando quelli che sono i risultati degli studi reali, che non dimostrano tale correlazione, soddisfacendomi come sempre nei libri di Deaver. Se lo sviluppo dell’individuo è nella norma, non diventa pericoloso ma al massimo si assuefà alla violenza.
Viene sottolineata l’importanza delle informazioni diffuse, soprattutto della verifica della loro veridicità, perché non è per niente automatico che la pubblicazione su social o blog le renda autentiche, anzi, la pubblicazione fa sentire autorizzato chiunque a dire la propria opinione come se fosse una verità assoluta, anche quando parla solo per sentito dire.
Troppo spesso però quelle opinioni creano dei circoli viziosi scatenando dei veri e propri casi mediatici che possono distruggere le persone prese di mira, fino a condurle al suicidio, come è accaduto in diversi casi.
Inoltre viene evidenziato anche come il confine tra universi sintetici e reali, per la maggior parte dei ragazzi, stia diventando piuttosto labile e non evidente. Vengono trascorse sempre più ore al giorno in quei mondi, decine di milioni anche l’intera giornata, e gli avatar vengono creati secondo modalità genitoriali e permettono addirittura in tanti casi di guadagnare qualcosa.
Questi mondi vengono oggi studiati da economisti, da psicologi e addirittura anche come modelli virtuali per la diffusione delle epidemie come modello per la reazione degli organismi viventi.
Viene ricostruito anche come, i creatori di blog e di correnti di opinioni online siano diventati man mano sempre più politicamente orientati e tesi ad influenzare, e sempre meno tecnici o semplici scrittori.
Questa nuova protagonista mi piace un sacco, è decisa e forte, ma anche delicata e si astiene dal giudizio provando a immedesimarsi in chi interroga e a mettersi nei suoi panni, per capire dai suoi movimenti ed atteggiamenti, se stia dicendo la verità, se nasconda qualcosa, ma è anche impulsiva, spinta dalle sue emozioni, e qualche volta arriva a reazioni spropositate per difendere qualcuno che ama o qualcosa in cui crede.
Ama le scarpe, di cui ha tantissime paia, perlopiù acquistate in saldo, e la sua passione è la musica, a cui dedica il tempo libero con l’amica Martine, con cui ha fondato un sito su cui caricano pezzi di musica underground registrati in giro per l’America, che chiunque può scaricare a prezzi modici.
O’Neil non mi ha convinta davvero, fin dall’inizio, e infatti facevo il tifo per Boiling. Mi è piaciuto tanto come sia stato capace di interagire con Wes e Maggie, i figli di Dance.
Anche Reinhold, il giovane agente molto promettente e volenteroso mi è piaciuto da subito, e spero che a conclusione voglia far intendere che lo rivedremo nei casi successivi.
Il rapporto della protagonista con la madre e il padre mi ha intenerita, anche se a tratti mi rendeva nervosa il fatto che non potesse fare più di tanto per aiutare la madre. Questa poi si dimostra molto sensibile e intelligente, laddove altre donne avrebbero potuto reagire in maniera molto più irrazionale.
Il caso è magistrale. Anche se avevo dei sospetti su chi non fosse il colpevole, nonostante gli indizi apparentemente fossero chiari, non avrei mai immaginato chi potesse essere il colpevole, anzi i colpevoli, visto il colpo di scena tessuto magistralmente.
Certo il movente di uno sarebbe stato davvero di difficile intuizione, ma proprio perché in realtà niente avrebbe potuto far supporre che ci fosse tale coinvolgimento, dato che tutto durante il libro spinge a far credere che il colpevole non lo sia ma sia una persona credibile e degna di fiducia.
Perfino lo stesso assassino ne è convinto.
E qui emerge un altro doloroso e spaventoso tema: la dipendenza da internet e da quella che finisce per essere sentita come una vera e propria missione di diffondere il proprio Verbo nelle menti e nei cuori di persone di tutto il mondo, pensando che per la gente sia indispensabile.
Curioso il fatto che nella traduzione venga usata spesso l’espressione Essì, e che sia stato tradotto più volte “affatto” seguito da un aggettivo, per indicare esattamente il contrario.
Complessivamente, pur non riuscendo ad eguagliare per ora almeno, il livello di Rhyme e Sachs, questa nuova coppia conquista senza dubbio e con tutti gli onori del caso, il secondo posto.
“Sai, Katie, un genitore non sa mai se fa la cosa giusta oppure no. Sarà capitato anche a te.”
“Og mi capita dieci volte al giorno.”
“Speri sempre di poter dare ai figli quello di cui hanno bisogno, l’atteggiamento giusto, il coraggio. Perché, in fondo, non dobbiamo combattere per loro, ma prepararli a combattere le loro battaglie. Dobbiamo insegnar loro a pensare e giudicare con la propria testa.”
“Ma quando ti ho vista mettere in discussione quello che stavo dicendo e valutare in autonomia come potevano essere andate le cose, ho capito che avevo fatto bene il mio mestiere di madre, abituandoti a ragionare con la tua testa. I pregiudizi accecano, l’odio acceca. Ma anche devozione e amore lo fanno. Tu però non sei cieca: tu cerchi la verità.”
Purtroppo per mancanza di tempo mi sono ritrovata a iniziare questa nuova serie con protagonista Kathryn Dance, dal secondo libro.
E inevitabilmente mi sarò spoilerata qualcosa sul caso del primo libro ma vabbè ormai è fatta.
Siamo in California lungo la Higway 1, dove misteriosamente cominciano a comparire delle croci come quelle che vengono poste sul luogo di un incidente. Queste però sono diverse, perché hanno la data del giorno successivo e non hanno foto o nomi ma solo un mazzo di fiori.
Il giorno indicato dalla prima viene ritrovata una ragazza chiusa nel portabagagli di un’auto lasciata andare alla deriva nell’Oceano.
Gli indizi sembrano portare a Travis, un ragazzino un po’ nerd che viene preso in giro da tutti, attaccato animosamente su un famoso blog a causa della sua presenza nell’auto che è incorsa in un incidente in cui hanno trovato la morte tre delle due ragazzine che viaggiavano con lui.
Dopo averlo interrogato però Dance, esperta di prossemica, e il collega O’ Neil, non riescono più a rintracciarlo.
Intanto continuano a verificarsi omicidi di persone legate al blog e al post relativo all’incidente e il ragazzo è diventato introvabile se non nel mondo virtuale dove passa la maggior parte delle proprie giornate, impegnato in giochi di ruolo che stanno a poco a poco sostituendo la sua realtà.
Nel frattempo la madre della detective viene fermata con l’accusa di eutanasia nei confronti del collega ricoverato in fin di vita nel corso del caso precedente, per gravi ustioni.
Questo thriller tocca due temi quanto mai attuali, della libertà di parola vigente su social e blog, dove chiunque pensa di esser libero di poter dire quel che gli pare solo perché si nasconde dietro a una tastiera e uno schermo, e il ricorso sempre maggiore e non solo dei giovani alla realtà virtuale, isolandosi e fuggendo dalla vita sociale reale.
Importante quesito che viene sollevato è quello di quanto la violenza nei videogiochi influisca nel rendere violenti i ragazzi. Viene affrontato nel modo più corretto possibile, riportando quelli che sono i risultati degli studi reali, che non dimostrano tale correlazione, soddisfacendomi come sempre nei libri di Deaver. Se lo sviluppo dell’individuo è nella norma, non diventa pericoloso ma al massimo si assuefà alla violenza.
Viene sottolineata l’importanza delle informazioni diffuse, soprattutto della verifica della loro veridicità, perché non è per niente automatico che la pubblicazione su social o blog le renda autentiche, anzi, la pubblicazione fa sentire autorizzato chiunque a dire la propria opinione come se fosse una verità assoluta, anche quando parla solo per sentito dire.
Troppo spesso però quelle opinioni creano dei circoli viziosi scatenando dei veri e propri casi mediatici che possono distruggere le persone prese di mira, fino a condurle al suicidio, come è accaduto in diversi casi.
Inoltre viene evidenziato anche come il confine tra universi sintetici e reali, per la maggior parte dei ragazzi, stia diventando piuttosto labile e non evidente. Vengono trascorse sempre più ore al giorno in quei mondi, decine di milioni anche l’intera giornata, e gli avatar vengono creati secondo modalità genitoriali e permettono addirittura in tanti casi di guadagnare qualcosa.
Questi mondi vengono oggi studiati da economisti, da psicologi e addirittura anche come modelli virtuali per la diffusione delle epidemie come modello per la reazione degli organismi viventi.
Viene ricostruito anche come, i creatori di blog e di correnti di opinioni online siano diventati man mano sempre più politicamente orientati e tesi ad influenzare, e sempre meno tecnici o semplici scrittori.
Questa nuova protagonista mi piace un sacco, è decisa e forte, ma anche delicata e si astiene dal giudizio provando a immedesimarsi in chi interroga e a mettersi nei suoi panni, per capire dai suoi movimenti ed atteggiamenti, se stia dicendo la verità, se nasconda qualcosa, ma è anche impulsiva, spinta dalle sue emozioni, e qualche volta arriva a reazioni spropositate per difendere qualcuno che ama o qualcosa in cui crede.
Ama le scarpe, di cui ha tantissime paia, perlopiù acquistate in saldo, e la sua passione è la musica, a cui dedica il tempo libero con l’amica Martine, con cui ha fondato un sito su cui caricano pezzi di musica underground registrati in giro per l’America, che chiunque può scaricare a prezzi modici.
O’Neil non mi ha convinta davvero, fin dall’inizio, e infatti facevo il tifo per Boiling. Mi è piaciuto tanto come sia stato capace di interagire con Wes e Maggie, i figli di Dance.
Anche Reinhold, il giovane agente molto promettente e volenteroso mi è piaciuto da subito, e spero che a conclusione voglia far intendere che lo rivedremo nei casi successivi.
Il rapporto della protagonista con la madre e il padre mi ha intenerita, anche se a tratti mi rendeva nervosa il fatto che non potesse fare più di tanto per aiutare la madre. Questa poi si dimostra molto sensibile e intelligente, laddove altre donne avrebbero potuto reagire in maniera molto più irrazionale.
Il caso è magistrale. Anche se avevo dei sospetti su chi non fosse il colpevole, nonostante gli indizi apparentemente fossero chiari, non avrei mai immaginato chi potesse essere il colpevole, anzi i colpevoli, visto il colpo di scena tessuto magistralmente.
Certo il movente di uno sarebbe stato davvero di difficile intuizione, ma proprio perché in realtà niente avrebbe potuto far supporre che ci fosse tale coinvolgimento, dato che tutto durante il libro spinge a far credere che il colpevole non lo sia ma sia una persona credibile e degna di fiducia.
Perfino lo stesso assassino ne è convinto.
E qui emerge un altro doloroso e spaventoso tema: la dipendenza da internet e da quella che finisce per essere sentita come una vera e propria missione di diffondere il proprio Verbo nelle menti e nei cuori di persone di tutto il mondo, pensando che per la gente sia indispensabile.
Curioso il fatto che nella traduzione venga usata spesso l’espressione Essì, e che sia stato tradotto più volte “affatto” seguito da un aggettivo, per indicare esattamente il contrario.
Complessivamente, pur non riuscendo ad eguagliare per ora almeno, il livello di Rhyme e Sachs, questa nuova coppia conquista senza dubbio e con tutti gli onori del caso, il secondo posto.
“Sai, Katie, un genitore non sa mai se fa la cosa giusta oppure no. Sarà capitato anche a te.”
“Og mi capita dieci volte al giorno.”
“Speri sempre di poter dare ai figli quello di cui hanno bisogno, l’atteggiamento giusto, il coraggio. Perché, in fondo, non dobbiamo combattere per loro, ma prepararli a combattere le loro battaglie. Dobbiamo insegnar loro a pensare e giudicare con la propria testa.”
“Ma quando ti ho vista mettere in discussione quello che stavo dicendo e valutare in autonomia come potevano essere andate le cose, ho capito che avevo fatto bene il mio mestiere di madre, abituandoti a ragionare con la tua testa. I pregiudizi accecano, l’odio acceca. Ma anche devozione e amore lo fanno. Tu però non sei cieca: tu cerchi la verità.”
July 18, 2024
Mr. Deaver is one of my favorite writers and certainly he will remain in this position, but Roadside Crosses is below his usual average.
The plot is an ordinary one, Travis seems so guilty that his innocence looks obvious, some passages about blogging are too technical. The characters are not the most likeable ones, coincidences are at home, the second plot about Dance's mother looks too much in addition, the final is somehow dull. So, three stars mostly for Mr. Deaver's reputation...
The plot is an ordinary one, Travis seems so guilty that his innocence looks obvious, some passages about blogging are too technical. The characters are not the most likeable ones, coincidences are at home, the second plot about Dance's mother looks too much in addition, the final is somehow dull. So, three stars mostly for Mr. Deaver's reputation...
December 20, 2013
Wow. Just wow.
Deaver, you have done it again. But this time, it was even better thanThe Sleeping Doll, Kathryn Dance #1.
I'm almost at a loss for words to write this review. Deaver can weave a tale so meticulously, when I thought I had it figured out, he completely messed with my mind. He changed gears, made me throw my suspicions out the window, and I had to just hold on for the ride while Deaver steered.
The story, or in this instance the case, which is followed in this second installment of the Kathryn Dance series was so interesting, so real, and poses a lot of questions for the reader. But not only is there the new case involving roadside crosses, there is another case which involves Dance and occupies her time and mind. This case began in the first book,The Sleeping Doll,and is carried over intoRoadside Crosses.I won't spoil the case for a potential reader, but I have to admit, it threw me for a loop as well. So for this novel, there are two story lines to read about, but it is not confusing to the reader. I think writing this novel this way, gave a realism to the story, and ultimately, just gave it something much more.
Deaver does an excellent job at creating the new case, which involves roadside crosses. We are brought into a world where we learn about the blurred lines between reality and the internet. In this instance, Deaver calls it the "synth world", and we learn some people, such as serious gamers, have blurred the lines between reality and the synth world so much, they never even leave this synth world. It is a scary thought the way Deaver writes about this behavior, and it made me question a lot of things about the internet, Facebook, and even Goodreads. I found the way Deaver wrote all of this part very interesting and even a bit engaging.
Deaver also has a gift at creating and writing characters, and not just characters you like, but characters you hate. But, he also takes those characters you love, and makes you hate them. Then, he takes the characters you hate, and makes you love them. Deaver manipulates your thoughts on characters and the story, it makes me give up trying to figure out, "What the heck is going on?!" As I said before, I just give up trying to figure it all out, and just hang on tight.
What I also really, really enjoyed about this next installment of Kathryn Dance's life is, her character is even more developed in this novel. Having read the first book already, it was nice to already be familiar with her, her job, and just her overall situation. Though Deaver does reintroduce you to Kathryn Dance, her specialty, and some of the law enforcement terms in the beginning ofRoadside Crosses,I felt like he really let Dance's character take off and become more of a real character. I love she isn't perfect, her life isn't perfect, and even at times, she's almost at a loss of what to do next. But then, through her strength, she gains control of the situation or the case, and even when she's steps behind, she catches up, and gets several steps ahead.
I always get very nervous when authors have so much going on in a novel or storyline. I worry they will forget to complete a thought, and I will be wondering, "What happened to?" Or, "What about X?" But when it comes to Deaver, he has impressed me so much in two novels. As I said before, his storytelling is so tight, well-weaved, fluid, and even though he left a bit of a cliffhanger inThe Sleeping Doll,he carried it over and executed all of this brilliantly. He completes his thoughts, and I'm never left with any questions.
If you have never read a Jeffery Deaver novel, you should do yourself a favor, and pick up this series. It has been the best introduction, for me, into the mystery/suspense/thriller genre.
Deaver, you have done it again. But this time, it was even better thanThe Sleeping Doll, Kathryn Dance #1.
I'm almost at a loss for words to write this review. Deaver can weave a tale so meticulously, when I thought I had it figured out, he completely messed with my mind. He changed gears, made me throw my suspicions out the window, and I had to just hold on for the ride while Deaver steered.
The story, or in this instance the case, which is followed in this second installment of the Kathryn Dance series was so interesting, so real, and poses a lot of questions for the reader. But not only is there the new case involving roadside crosses, there is another case which involves Dance and occupies her time and mind. This case began in the first book,The Sleeping Doll,and is carried over intoRoadside Crosses.I won't spoil the case for a potential reader, but I have to admit, it threw me for a loop as well. So for this novel, there are two story lines to read about, but it is not confusing to the reader. I think writing this novel this way, gave a realism to the story, and ultimately, just gave it something much more.
Deaver does an excellent job at creating the new case, which involves roadside crosses. We are brought into a world where we learn about the blurred lines between reality and the internet. In this instance, Deaver calls it the "synth world", and we learn some people, such as serious gamers, have blurred the lines between reality and the synth world so much, they never even leave this synth world. It is a scary thought the way Deaver writes about this behavior, and it made me question a lot of things about the internet, Facebook, and even Goodreads. I found the way Deaver wrote all of this part very interesting and even a bit engaging.
Deaver also has a gift at creating and writing characters, and not just characters you like, but characters you hate. But, he also takes those characters you love, and makes you hate them. Then, he takes the characters you hate, and makes you love them. Deaver manipulates your thoughts on characters and the story, it makes me give up trying to figure out, "What the heck is going on?!" As I said before, I just give up trying to figure it all out, and just hang on tight.
What I also really, really enjoyed about this next installment of Kathryn Dance's life is, her character is even more developed in this novel. Having read the first book already, it was nice to already be familiar with her, her job, and just her overall situation. Though Deaver does reintroduce you to Kathryn Dance, her specialty, and some of the law enforcement terms in the beginning ofRoadside Crosses,I felt like he really let Dance's character take off and become more of a real character. I love she isn't perfect, her life isn't perfect, and even at times, she's almost at a loss of what to do next. But then, through her strength, she gains control of the situation or the case, and even when she's steps behind, she catches up, and gets several steps ahead.
I always get very nervous when authors have so much going on in a novel or storyline. I worry they will forget to complete a thought, and I will be wondering, "What happened to?" Or, "What about X?" But when it comes to Deaver, he has impressed me so much in two novels. As I said before, his storytelling is so tight, well-weaved, fluid, and even though he left a bit of a cliffhanger inThe Sleeping Doll,he carried it over and executed all of this brilliantly. He completes his thoughts, and I'm never left with any questions.
If you have never read a Jeffery Deaver novel, you should do yourself a favor, and pick up this series. It has been the best introduction, for me, into the mystery/suspense/thriller genre.
July 2, 2009
I have GOT to stop buying this guy's books. He used to be so good, but, like P. Cornwell, he's marched right down I'm Too Important For An Editor Avenue and crossed over onto My Readers Will Love Me No Matter What I Write Boulevard. (In this book? Entire chapters about these newfangled "internet blogs." Oh, I tell ya, Marge, kids these days with their FaceSpace and Twatters.) If I ever slip and buy another one of his books, I want all my friends here to come over and punch me in the head.
August 17, 2011
Roadside crosses. Roadside memorials. Those crosses along the highway. Those sad and forlorn images at the side of the road marking the places where sudden and unexpected deaths happened. Places where the person was last seen alive. Places where parents went to in the middle of the night or in the wee hours of the morning after receiving a call from the police. Where they shed tears. Where dreams ended.
Jeffery Deaver(born 1950) is an American mystery/crime writer. He is a journalist, novelist and a practicing lawyer. Many of his books promote “lateral thinking” that is a way to solve problems using an indirect and creative approach using reasoning that is not immediately obvious and involving ideas that may not be obtainable by using only traditional step-by-step logic. Compared with “critical thinking” that is primarily concerned with judging the true value of statements and seeking errors, lateral thinking is more concerned with the movement value of statements and ideas. A person who thinks laterally moves from one unknown idea to create a new idea. The term “lateral thinking” was coined by Edward de Bono (born 1933) in his bookNew Think: The Use of Lateral Thinkingpublished in 1967. Three Deaver’s novels have been turned into films:The Bone Collector(1999),A Maiden’s Graveas the TV filmDead Silence(1997) andThe Devil’s Teardropin 2010, another TV film.
Deaver made use of both “roadside crosses” and “lateral thinking” in this book,Roadside Crosses(published 2009), the second novel in hisKathryn Danceseries. Kathryn Dance is an agent with the California Bureau of Investigation, which is similar to that of the FBI. She’s a young widow of a former FBI agent and the mother of two children, Wes and Maggie. She is an expert ofKinesisor body language and in interrogation and interviewing witnesses and suspects.
In this book, Detective Dance and his deputyMichael O’Neilare tasked to solve the killings associated with roadside crosses along the road in Monterey Peninsula. The roadside crosses are clues on the killing as they bear the date after it is installed. In other words, if the duo see the cross today, the killing will happen tomorrow because it has a date on when the killer intend to kill. The killer even has a style: he kills his victim based on the details the victim carelessly posted in blogs and other social networking websites, e.g., Facebook, Twitter, etc. For example, if the victim wrote in his blog that he has a phobia on snakes, then the killer will have an anaconda swallow the person until he dies. These are the two unique ingredients of this book’s milleau: the crosses and the blogs and Deaver effectively used both to engage his readers. The plot is a typical whodunit but it is hard to second-guess Deaver and it is definitely impossible to be two steps ahead of him in the game. In other words, you may be able to say thatoh, I knew that was comingif you are just a paragraph ahead of the revelation but it is impossible to predict what will happen at the end if you are just in the middle of the book.
The moral lesson of the book is not the usualdon’t drink and drivewhich is more often than not the reason why you have those roadside crosses. Rather, it is to be careful in sharing personal things about yourself in the cyberspace. You just don’t know how some screwed and loony people could use those against you or your loved ones. Oh well, my reviews tend to be personal and I oftentimes share personal events but I am not using our real and complete names and I am no longer using my real picture. Even my birthday is already hidden. No, Joyzi, I have no criminal record at the NBI or something. I am just being careful and I hope that everyone will do the same.
Jeffery Deaver(born 1950) is an American mystery/crime writer. He is a journalist, novelist and a practicing lawyer. Many of his books promote “lateral thinking” that is a way to solve problems using an indirect and creative approach using reasoning that is not immediately obvious and involving ideas that may not be obtainable by using only traditional step-by-step logic. Compared with “critical thinking” that is primarily concerned with judging the true value of statements and seeking errors, lateral thinking is more concerned with the movement value of statements and ideas. A person who thinks laterally moves from one unknown idea to create a new idea. The term “lateral thinking” was coined by Edward de Bono (born 1933) in his bookNew Think: The Use of Lateral Thinkingpublished in 1967. Three Deaver’s novels have been turned into films:The Bone Collector(1999),A Maiden’s Graveas the TV filmDead Silence(1997) andThe Devil’s Teardropin 2010, another TV film.
Deaver made use of both “roadside crosses” and “lateral thinking” in this book,Roadside Crosses(published 2009), the second novel in hisKathryn Danceseries. Kathryn Dance is an agent with the California Bureau of Investigation, which is similar to that of the FBI. She’s a young widow of a former FBI agent and the mother of two children, Wes and Maggie. She is an expert ofKinesisor body language and in interrogation and interviewing witnesses and suspects.
In this book, Detective Dance and his deputyMichael O’Neilare tasked to solve the killings associated with roadside crosses along the road in Monterey Peninsula. The roadside crosses are clues on the killing as they bear the date after it is installed. In other words, if the duo see the cross today, the killing will happen tomorrow because it has a date on when the killer intend to kill. The killer even has a style: he kills his victim based on the details the victim carelessly posted in blogs and other social networking websites, e.g., Facebook, Twitter, etc. For example, if the victim wrote in his blog that he has a phobia on snakes, then the killer will have an anaconda swallow the person until he dies. These are the two unique ingredients of this book’s milleau: the crosses and the blogs and Deaver effectively used both to engage his readers. The plot is a typical whodunit but it is hard to second-guess Deaver and it is definitely impossible to be two steps ahead of him in the game. In other words, you may be able to say thatoh, I knew that was comingif you are just a paragraph ahead of the revelation but it is impossible to predict what will happen at the end if you are just in the middle of the book.
The moral lesson of the book is not the usualdon’t drink and drivewhich is more often than not the reason why you have those roadside crosses. Rather, it is to be careful in sharing personal things about yourself in the cyberspace. You just don’t know how some screwed and loony people could use those against you or your loved ones. Oh well, my reviews tend to be personal and I oftentimes share personal events but I am not using our real and complete names and I am no longer using my real picture. Even my birthday is already hidden. No, Joyzi, I have no criminal record at the NBI or something. I am just being careful and I hope that everyone will do the same.
March 7, 2017
The only reason why I gave this book two stars is honestly because I was kind of fascinated by how Deaver looks at internet blogs, comments on those blogs, and how you can start to see how something that he looked back at when this book was published has morphed into what it is today with a lot of people on the internet claiming to be experts on something or how easy it is to spread a rumor about somebody with no factual basis and how it could be picked up and be counted as real news. Other than that the book lost me on multiple levels.
In book two "Roadside Crosses" we have Kathryn Dance still dealing with the fallout from the events of book number one. It appears that this book takes place a couple weeks after those events. Dance and her colleague and friend, Mike O'Neill or off to give a deposition about what transpired in book number one. He and Dance are determined to make an agent who they believed murdered people pay. They are called back from an oddly arranged romantic interlude and are brought in on an abduction of a young girl who was placed in a trunk of a car. Dance and O'Neil find themselves trying to use a local blogger for clues to what could be behind this abduction and what appears to be planned murders of people.
Dance and her skills definitely take a backseat in this one. I think that there were only two times that she got to use her skills as a body language expert and the rest of the time was just her flailing around and listening to men give her lectures on what the internet is and gaming. I found myself really bored by her character and she doesn't seem like the strong smart woman that she was in "Cold Moon." And I don't know what Deaver's deal is with having every man that comes across Dance be a potential love interest, but I really hope that stops in the next book. I thought it was a little bit weird and odd that she seems to be developing friends feelings for her married colleague but also was attracted to a professor that they just met who was called in to help out on this case. And I maybe I wouldn't say anything except the last guy that she liked turned out to be a murderer so maybe her sense of who's a good person to date is just flawed.
A really big problem with what I think pushed me away from Dance this time though was the fact she's in her late thirties and has two kids, one of who is 12 and she seemed completely baffled by the internet. She did not seem to understand how to use it, what blogs were, etc. I mean I don't work with computers for a living but even I know about all that stuff so I thought that was very far-fetched. Especially since Dance has her own website. We find out in this book and I think that's it in the last one as well that Dance and a friend of hers go about recording what's considered folk music songs and record it and sell it on her website. So if she does that she has to be able to use a computer.
I can't really speak about any other characters. Everyone else was very paper-thin and we didn't really get a chance to get into other characters mindset.
Dance's partner O'Neill was missing in action for half of the book but every time he and Dance are in the same room together it was awkward.
There was also something involving Dance's mother that I had a hard time with and I don't know why it was even introduced in this book. I think Deaver was going for some intrigue but it totally totally lost me. If you read the first book you know that a colleague of Dance's died after being injured on the first case. We find out in this book that somebody did a mercy killing because he would not have lived long. Dance's mother is accused of this. There doesn't seem to be any real evidence why she would have did this and I thought it was a big stretch. But I think that that really got me there was that Dance is completely oblivious to the problems and trouble her mother is in and even has a dinner party to have people come over and insist that her mother and father come over after she's (the mom) been arrested for murder. I kind of scratched my head at that one.
I also rolled my eyes at Dance and her mother questioning O'Neill's wife parenting cause she dared to travel.
Say something nice. It was interesting how Deaver tied the book into the internet with actual links that a reservation could go to and read. I think he wanted to make it as immersive as possible. Unfortunately I don't think he thought about what happened a if you're not reading on an e-reader or computer though. I assume hardback or paperback readers just were out of luck.
I do think that Deaver's description of gamers was off the mark though.
The flow was pretty awful in this one. Every chapter seemed to hang on a mini cliffhanger and we get some twists thrown our way that don't work. Ot of nowhere we have the solution to who is behind these abductions, but wait, here's a twist. And the twist didn't even make any sense. Same goes for Dance's mother's arrest.
The book ends on an odd note with it looking like Dance may be torn between two men.
In book two "Roadside Crosses" we have Kathryn Dance still dealing with the fallout from the events of book number one. It appears that this book takes place a couple weeks after those events. Dance and her colleague and friend, Mike O'Neill or off to give a deposition about what transpired in book number one. He and Dance are determined to make an agent who they believed murdered people pay. They are called back from an oddly arranged romantic interlude and are brought in on an abduction of a young girl who was placed in a trunk of a car. Dance and O'Neil find themselves trying to use a local blogger for clues to what could be behind this abduction and what appears to be planned murders of people.
Dance and her skills definitely take a backseat in this one. I think that there were only two times that she got to use her skills as a body language expert and the rest of the time was just her flailing around and listening to men give her lectures on what the internet is and gaming. I found myself really bored by her character and she doesn't seem like the strong smart woman that she was in "Cold Moon." And I don't know what Deaver's deal is with having every man that comes across Dance be a potential love interest, but I really hope that stops in the next book. I thought it was a little bit weird and odd that she seems to be developing friends feelings for her married colleague but also was attracted to a professor that they just met who was called in to help out on this case. And I maybe I wouldn't say anything except the last guy that she liked turned out to be a murderer so maybe her sense of who's a good person to date is just flawed.
A really big problem with what I think pushed me away from Dance this time though was the fact she's in her late thirties and has two kids, one of who is 12 and she seemed completely baffled by the internet. She did not seem to understand how to use it, what blogs were, etc. I mean I don't work with computers for a living but even I know about all that stuff so I thought that was very far-fetched. Especially since Dance has her own website. We find out in this book and I think that's it in the last one as well that Dance and a friend of hers go about recording what's considered folk music songs and record it and sell it on her website. So if she does that she has to be able to use a computer.
I can't really speak about any other characters. Everyone else was very paper-thin and we didn't really get a chance to get into other characters mindset.
Dance's partner O'Neill was missing in action for half of the book but every time he and Dance are in the same room together it was awkward.
There was also something involving Dance's mother that I had a hard time with and I don't know why it was even introduced in this book. I think Deaver was going for some intrigue but it totally totally lost me. If you read the first book you know that a colleague of Dance's died after being injured on the first case. We find out in this book that somebody did a mercy killing because he would not have lived long. Dance's mother is accused of this. There doesn't seem to be any real evidence why she would have did this and I thought it was a big stretch. But I think that that really got me there was that Dance is completely oblivious to the problems and trouble her mother is in and even has a dinner party to have people come over and insist that her mother and father come over after she's (the mom) been arrested for murder. I kind of scratched my head at that one.
I also rolled my eyes at Dance and her mother questioning O'Neill's wife parenting cause she dared to travel.
Say something nice. It was interesting how Deaver tied the book into the internet with actual links that a reservation could go to and read. I think he wanted to make it as immersive as possible. Unfortunately I don't think he thought about what happened a if you're not reading on an e-reader or computer though. I assume hardback or paperback readers just were out of luck.
I do think that Deaver's description of gamers was off the mark though.
The flow was pretty awful in this one. Every chapter seemed to hang on a mini cliffhanger and we get some twists thrown our way that don't work. Ot of nowhere we have the solution to who is behind these abductions, but wait, here's a twist. And the twist didn't even make any sense. Same goes for Dance's mother's arrest.
The book ends on an odd note with it looking like Dance may be torn between two men.
March 26, 2018
Number two in the Kathryn Dance series.
I enjoyed this on two different levels.
Level one. The thriller. As thrillers go this is highly entertaining. It's fast paced with lots of twists and turns.
Kathryn is up against it on two fronts. The roadside cross killer needs to be stopped and soon. On top of that, Kathryn's mother has been charged with murder. Kathryn is torn between her professional life and supporting her mother in her time of need.
Whilst the roadside killer takes priority Kathryn tries to give what help she can to her mother. But as hard as Kathryn tries to help, the district prosecutor, who is responsible for bringing the charges against Kathryn's mother, is determined that Kathryn is excluded from the investigation.
Level two. Blogging and social media. The book takes a good look at how public opinion can be manipulated by social media and bloggers. A young man is accused, by faceless cyber bullies, of being the roadside killer. The cyber campaign is so unrelenting it makes the young man runs off and hide. As a result he is now a fugitive from the law.
Entertaining and instructive I gave this book a 4 star recommendation
I enjoyed this on two different levels.
Level one. The thriller. As thrillers go this is highly entertaining. It's fast paced with lots of twists and turns.
Kathryn is up against it on two fronts. The roadside cross killer needs to be stopped and soon. On top of that, Kathryn's mother has been charged with murder. Kathryn is torn between her professional life and supporting her mother in her time of need.
Whilst the roadside killer takes priority Kathryn tries to give what help she can to her mother. But as hard as Kathryn tries to help, the district prosecutor, who is responsible for bringing the charges against Kathryn's mother, is determined that Kathryn is excluded from the investigation.
Level two. Blogging and social media. The book takes a good look at how public opinion can be manipulated by social media and bloggers. A young man is accused, by faceless cyber bullies, of being the roadside killer. The cyber campaign is so unrelenting it makes the young man runs off and hide. As a result he is now a fugitive from the law.
Entertaining and instructive I gave this book a 4 star recommendation
September 9, 2019
Jeffrey Deaver always brings it with a good story, but while this is a decently good read, it's not one of his best.
Kathryn Dance is the kinesics, or “body language” expert for the California Bureau of Investigation. She can “read” people and tell if they are lying, AND what kind of liar they are. She uses this in her investigations and especially interrogations. The case to which she's just been assigned is a serial killer who is leaving crosses at the roadsides, with the date of the death—BEFORE he kills them.
The clues lead Kathryn and her team to Travis Brigham, a teen obsessed with online role-playing games. Travis was involved in a car accident where two girls died. Although he was not cited for a criminal act (no drinking involved, appeared to have simply lost control of the vehicle), the community is against him and baying for blood. A popular local blog calls for more investigation into the incident, especially for officials to look into road safety in that area—and it turns into a no-holds-barred attack on Travis from multiple posters. Everyone has heard rumors that they KNOW are true: Travis is a Satanist, he stalks women, he's crazy. When Travis disappears and the killings and attempted killings ramp up, Kathryn knows she must find him before it's too late. But how do you find someone who has spent 8 hours a day online, studying fighting and survival and advanced evasion techniques?
One of the reasons that this book is not quite as good as most of Deaver's work is not really the book's fault—it has a lot of information about blogs and online gaming and like any fiction book that has the internet as part of the plot, it is VERY dated. When one character carefully explains to Kathryn what blogs are, how they were invented, their history, etc, it completely ruins the building tension of the storyline because it's sooo not necessary to explain that to anyone in the world reading this book. “Oh my gosh, a “blog” you say? Short for “weblog”? And people write stuff and post it online? And anyone can read it? How crazy and innovative!” Lol. There was information about how there was a huge war going on between computer blog purists who thought all blogs should be about computers, and the other bloggers, who thought blogs should be about anything you want. Also the blogger in this story was considered incredibly influential because he posted his opinion on things like highway safety, new construction projects, etc. And he refused to take it down even though the people commenting were being killed. This all was hard to believe. Sort of a plot hole that if his motivation was that his egotistical thoughts were sooo important that his message must go out—why not just close the posts to comments? Problem solved! Pretty sure that all blog software that lets people post comments also has the option of NOT letting them. The last part that was sort of hard to believe was that all the teenagers would be reading his blog and commenting on it. Yes, because teens love nothing more than posting on adults' blogs about new construction and stuff.
When I'm reading a book, I want to believe what's happening, it needs to be believable while I'm reading the book. I want to be lost in the story. So it's annoying when something comes along that throws me out of the story, and that happens a lot in this book because of the outdated technology.
The other problem I had with the book was that Deaver tried to cram too much into the last bit—the first 7/8 of the book is building up suspense and then it's like he realized it was going to finish at too many pages, or he ran out of time or something. The last few chapters were like “and then this happened. And then THIS happened. And THIS!” So it seemed sort of unfulfilling and almost cobbled together.
Overall, it was still a book that mostly held my attention, just the ending didn't quite live up to the rest.
Kathryn Dance is the kinesics, or “body language” expert for the California Bureau of Investigation. She can “read” people and tell if they are lying, AND what kind of liar they are. She uses this in her investigations and especially interrogations. The case to which she's just been assigned is a serial killer who is leaving crosses at the roadsides, with the date of the death—BEFORE he kills them.
The clues lead Kathryn and her team to Travis Brigham, a teen obsessed with online role-playing games. Travis was involved in a car accident where two girls died. Although he was not cited for a criminal act (no drinking involved, appeared to have simply lost control of the vehicle), the community is against him and baying for blood. A popular local blog calls for more investigation into the incident, especially for officials to look into road safety in that area—and it turns into a no-holds-barred attack on Travis from multiple posters. Everyone has heard rumors that they KNOW are true: Travis is a Satanist, he stalks women, he's crazy. When Travis disappears and the killings and attempted killings ramp up, Kathryn knows she must find him before it's too late. But how do you find someone who has spent 8 hours a day online, studying fighting and survival and advanced evasion techniques?
One of the reasons that this book is not quite as good as most of Deaver's work is not really the book's fault—it has a lot of information about blogs and online gaming and like any fiction book that has the internet as part of the plot, it is VERY dated. When one character carefully explains to Kathryn what blogs are, how they were invented, their history, etc, it completely ruins the building tension of the storyline because it's sooo not necessary to explain that to anyone in the world reading this book. “Oh my gosh, a “blog” you say? Short for “weblog”? And people write stuff and post it online? And anyone can read it? How crazy and innovative!” Lol. There was information about how there was a huge war going on between computer blog purists who thought all blogs should be about computers, and the other bloggers, who thought blogs should be about anything you want. Also the blogger in this story was considered incredibly influential because he posted his opinion on things like highway safety, new construction projects, etc. And he refused to take it down even though the people commenting were being killed. This all was hard to believe. Sort of a plot hole that if his motivation was that his egotistical thoughts were sooo important that his message must go out—why not just close the posts to comments? Problem solved! Pretty sure that all blog software that lets people post comments also has the option of NOT letting them. The last part that was sort of hard to believe was that all the teenagers would be reading his blog and commenting on it. Yes, because teens love nothing more than posting on adults' blogs about new construction and stuff.
When I'm reading a book, I want to believe what's happening, it needs to be believable while I'm reading the book. I want to be lost in the story. So it's annoying when something comes along that throws me out of the story, and that happens a lot in this book because of the outdated technology.
The other problem I had with the book was that Deaver tried to cram too much into the last bit—the first 7/8 of the book is building up suspense and then it's like he realized it was going to finish at too many pages, or he ran out of time or something. The last few chapters were like “and then this happened. And then THIS happened. And THIS!” So it seemed sort of unfulfilling and almost cobbled together.
Overall, it was still a book that mostly held my attention, just the ending didn't quite live up to the rest.
July 8, 2010
As with most Jeffrey Deaver books that educate readers about a certain topic (i.e. how electricity works, what dirt is composed of), Roadside Crosses also attempts to teach, in this case, a myriad of topics about the computer and the internet. Deaver covers blogging, virtual reality gaming, erasing and restoring hard drives, tracking IP addresses and a whole lot of other computer-based subjects, some much better than others. However, where this book FAILED for me was that Katherine Dance, whom I actually like as the main investigator and series central character, did some really stupid things in the book. I find it really really hard to believe that an intelligent, educated female investigator would go off into dark, shady woods at night to investigate something phoned in by an anonymous caller, refusing back-up assistance when it's offered. That whole scene really bothered me as a clear plot.....what?.... distraction and it's the first time I've read a Deaver book and thought, "Hmmm, that was totally unnecessary." And this ongoing implied mad attraction between Dance and her partner, O'Neil, with whom she is contemplating a vroom-vroom, despite the fact that he is married, could be based on something that really does happen in life, but is it something that the series is building up towards? Otherwise why is that necessary to the story? to the character development? The actual mystery, the whodunnit plot, was alright, but it was obvious, way more obvious than in some of Deaver's books, that so-and-so was not really so-and-so as presented. Anyway, I still intend to read book 4 in the Katherine Dances' series, but I hope it's a better novel than this one.
June 14, 2012
It felt like time for some light reading, and my favorite light reading is the crime novel. So I picked up a Jeffrey Deaver hardback from a used book stand for a couple of dollars--and was glad I hadn't forked out more. I first encountered Deaver a few years ago through The Bone Collector, with its appealing quadriplegic forensic genius Lincoln Rhyme (marvelously played in a film version by Denzel Washington.) I sped through the book, as I have done other books by Deaver since, with considerable enjoyment. I think that Roadside Crosses will be my last.
I'm a sucker for stories. I always want to know what happens next, and Deaver is one of those writers who knows how to keep you turning the pages. So I kept reading to the end. But I have begun to find his characters emotionally unconvincing. Their back-stories seem contrived, their emotional responses too convenient to the author's purposes. He pays too much on the jeopardy of vulnerable characters; the gut is always telling us that the jeopardy is fake. And there's a narrative trick he resorts to time and again, to the point of straining both credulity and good will. He arrives at a climactic moment--the death, let's say, of one of the characters--only to revise it a few pages on: the character was not dead, after all, but reduced in the nick of time by the (implausible) ingenuity of the investigator. Ah, so it only seemed as though the character succumbed. More fool us, for having been so duped.
We should not feel duped by a crime story writer. We may be duped by his characters, but not by the writer. We make an implicit contract with him, and feel cheated when he breaks it. I may weaken and pick up another Deaver one day at a garage sale, when I'm looking for light fare. But I hope that I remind myself not to! One star, from me, for the page-turning thing.
I'm a sucker for stories. I always want to know what happens next, and Deaver is one of those writers who knows how to keep you turning the pages. So I kept reading to the end. But I have begun to find his characters emotionally unconvincing. Their back-stories seem contrived, their emotional responses too convenient to the author's purposes. He pays too much on the jeopardy of vulnerable characters; the gut is always telling us that the jeopardy is fake. And there's a narrative trick he resorts to time and again, to the point of straining both credulity and good will. He arrives at a climactic moment--the death, let's say, of one of the characters--only to revise it a few pages on: the character was not dead, after all, but reduced in the nick of time by the (implausible) ingenuity of the investigator. Ah, so it only seemed as though the character succumbed. More fool us, for having been so duped.
We should not feel duped by a crime story writer. We may be duped by his characters, but not by the writer. We make an implicit contract with him, and feel cheated when he breaks it. I may weaken and pick up another Deaver one day at a garage sale, when I'm looking for light fare. But I hope that I remind myself not to! One star, from me, for the page-turning thing.
May 2, 2011
Jeffrey Deaver's ROADSIDE CROSSES is the first of the Deaver books that has not kept my attention. I found that it wasn’t as captivating as I thought it would be. I know the area where the story took place having spent much of my life in the Salinas/Monterey/Carmel area. I enjoyed listening to the descriptions of the region but the characters seemed shallow and did not captivate me. I was particularly bothered by the way that Kathryn Dance’s relationship with her mother was treated. That piece seemed way out of context and unreal.
The story started well with the ROADSIDE CROSSES, which we have all seen in our travels was a good hook but this time in wasn’t up to Deaver’s usual level of detail. Bringing in the idea of blogging and it’s place in our society is well chose for our times but again left me feeling a bit unreal about the possibility of the adult characters being as involved as they were portrayed to be. For me, it was just an adequate novel of mystery but not high on my reading list and I am a Deaver fan.
The story started well with the ROADSIDE CROSSES, which we have all seen in our travels was a good hook but this time in wasn’t up to Deaver’s usual level of detail. Bringing in the idea of blogging and it’s place in our society is well chose for our times but again left me feeling a bit unreal about the possibility of the adult characters being as involved as they were portrayed to be. For me, it was just an adequate novel of mystery but not high on my reading list and I am a Deaver fan.
October 7, 2015
Blogs, bullies, cyber crime, hacking, stalking, gaming and roadside crosses. I blog about books and my love for books and never have I looked at being on the computer as more scary than to read this title. The bullies are everywhere and being anonymous on line lets individuals run their mouths beyond the freedom of speech. Words these days are more vicious than they have ever been... This book leads the reader down a lot of roads and into all the categories I mention above. No one is safe... teenagers and adults are victims of the crimes committed. This is the second title in the Kathryn Dance series and thus a warning... There is a small portion from the first book that leaks into this story. Kathryn's family and others we first met are along for the ride plus a few new characters. What begins as one theme in the title, will venture into a realm of gaming, revenge, absolute greed and an overpowering ego. Hang on tight, everyone is suspect.
December 14, 2018
Deutliche Steigerung gegenüber dem ersten Band der Reihe ausf. Rezi später.
June 20, 2020
In this book published in 2009, someone is placing handmade crosses on the highway, not as a memorial to someone who died there, but to announce a death will occur. Kathryn Dance, a body language expert with the California Bureau of Investigations and her team investigate.
Blog posts are a main part of the story. Cyber bullying occurs online currently and apparently the same type was happening over 10 years ago. In the story, people are attacking others online with their hateful comments. Vicious. Cruel. Nasty. Seemingly mass hysteria sets in due to false comments that are repeated and taken as truth. Sounds like mob mentality. Does this sound familiar in the news and social media? Sure does to me.
Due to Dance's expertise, there's a lot of information on reading body signals and how people communicate lying with tone, pitch, gestures, glances, breathing, tics, etc. I also learned about video gaming. The story contained many red herrings. The action picked up in the second half.
Blog posts are a main part of the story. Cyber bullying occurs online currently and apparently the same type was happening over 10 years ago. In the story, people are attacking others online with their hateful comments. Vicious. Cruel. Nasty. Seemingly mass hysteria sets in due to false comments that are repeated and taken as truth. Sounds like mob mentality. Does this sound familiar in the news and social media? Sure does to me.
Due to Dance's expertise, there's a lot of information on reading body signals and how people communicate lying with tone, pitch, gestures, glances, breathing, tics, etc. I also learned about video gaming. The story contained many red herrings. The action picked up in the second half.
November 25, 2012
3.5 stars
Kathryn Dance was first introduced in Lincoln Rhyme's series -- and I liked the first Dance book enough that I bought this one back when it was first released in 2009. However, I wasn't able to really sit down and read until today.
The crime in this book was a bit unsettling for me. Why? Because it was related to cyberbullying -- how the posts and comments in online blogs could take lives of their own, becoming more viscious and more outlandish. How people could came up with over-the-top lies that could destroy innocent lives.
If I read this one back in 2009, I probably wouldn't be too upset about it -- I didn't really notice such thing back then. I was just joining Goodreads for about a year, wasn't too involved with Twitter as well. However, for the past year, I witnessed how it could happen easily -- what with the attacks against reviewers, the horrible comments that happen here in Goodreads from both reviewers and authors and friends of authors. It was troubling -- and reading this book just brought that back. How fragile our lives are online.
So all throughout the book, I got that image in the back of my mind. When Mr. Deaver presented the twist,all I wanted was for the character to survive.
As always, Mr. Deaver's writing could be very technical -- and he was doing it here too, with the talks about computer and MMORPG and synth world. I didn't have any problem with that, though. It wasn't as complicated and technical as his Lincoln Rhyme's series.
Characters wise, I wasn't really warming up to Dance, even after two books. I guess my issue with her was that unlike Rhyme, Dance's strength was more in observation. She was a kinesic expert while Rhyme was a forensic expert. Dance wasn't moving as fast in cases, because she needed to study the people. While Rhyme could analyze crime scene and forensic evidences to track the perp. Also, I wasn't really sure on the way of the two men that seemed to be in Dance's love live in this book: Michael O'Neill and Jonathan Boling.
Having said that, I think I would like to check book #3 in this series -- especially since that one was released this year.
PS: Just a note, again Indonesia (my country) was portrayed as terrorist because we are the biggest Islamic country. I could really do nothing about perceptions from foreign countries about my country, but still, I get annoyed with this portrayal whenever I stumble upon it. I guess I can imagine what the people from Russia/Eastern Europe feels about the portrayal of their countries back during Cold War *sigh*
Kathryn Dance was first introduced in Lincoln Rhyme's series -- and I liked the first Dance book enough that I bought this one back when it was first released in 2009. However, I wasn't able to really sit down and read until today.
The crime in this book was a bit unsettling for me. Why? Because it was related to cyberbullying -- how the posts and comments in online blogs could take lives of their own, becoming more viscious and more outlandish. How people could came up with over-the-top lies that could destroy innocent lives.
If I read this one back in 2009, I probably wouldn't be too upset about it -- I didn't really notice such thing back then. I was just joining Goodreads for about a year, wasn't too involved with Twitter as well. However, for the past year, I witnessed how it could happen easily -- what with the attacks against reviewers, the horrible comments that happen here in Goodreads from both reviewers and authors and friends of authors. It was troubling -- and reading this book just brought that back. How fragile our lives are online.
So all throughout the book, I got that image in the back of my mind. When Mr. Deaver presented the twist,all I wanted was for the character to survive.
As always, Mr. Deaver's writing could be very technical -- and he was doing it here too, with the talks about computer and MMORPG and synth world. I didn't have any problem with that, though. It wasn't as complicated and technical as his Lincoln Rhyme's series.
Characters wise, I wasn't really warming up to Dance, even after two books. I guess my issue with her was that unlike Rhyme, Dance's strength was more in observation. She was a kinesic expert while Rhyme was a forensic expert. Dance wasn't moving as fast in cases, because she needed to study the people. While Rhyme could analyze crime scene and forensic evidences to track the perp. Also, I wasn't really sure on the way of the two men that seemed to be in Dance's love live in this book: Michael O'Neill and Jonathan Boling.
Having said that, I think I would like to check book #3 in this series -- especially since that one was released this year.
PS: Just a note, again Indonesia (my country) was portrayed as terrorist because we are the biggest Islamic country. I could really do nothing about perceptions from foreign countries about my country, but still, I get annoyed with this portrayal whenever I stumble upon it. I guess I can imagine what the people from Russia/Eastern Europe feels about the portrayal of their countries back during Cold War *sigh*
September 8, 2010
This book was good for some fluffy beach (ok, rainy day on the couch) reading. Interesting concept, with the killer leaving crosses to announce an attack, interesting main character.
The story falls short of being interesting when Deaver takes time out to explain blogs and online role-playing games as if this were 1997 and no one had heard of them. I am willing to suspend disbelief, but for a 40-something(?) law enforcement agent (with a website of her own) in 2009 to need long, drawn out explanations of this here interweb thingy pushes credibility a little far. Also, we are encouraged to check out any URLs we "happen" to come across in the book (yes, it actually says "happen" to come across even though they're front and center, in italics, and kind of hard to miss). Yay for interactive stuff, but I really don't want to get off my comfy couch and pull out my computer in the middle of a book to go check out a fake blog - or any blog, really. I didn't really get that. After awhile the URL insertions seemed a little desperate.
The "suspense" got old after the first two times Deaver pulled the M Knight Shayamalan so-desperate-for-you-to-believe-this-but-it's-really-thisact. It started to feel like "Gotcha! Right? Right? RIGHT?RIGHT?Until I just started thinking "the police got there just in time. Oh! Look! They got there just in time! Again! Again! Ag-oh, that one's dead, oh - that one too - Just in time! Again! Again! Yawn.
One last tiny, nitpicky thing: In the "About the Author" section of the book, Deaver's many accolades are listed, as well as his former careers. Nowhere does it say he has spent much time around law enforcement agents (and I didn't care enough to research him further). My point is this: I have police officers in the family. I worked with police officers. I have friends who are police officers. I've been in several roll calls, and on several ride-alongs. I did an unscientific survey of my police officer family and acquaintances, and the results are in: not once have I heard, nor have they ever used, nor have they heard their colleagues use, "perp"."Suspect "or" subject ", yes."Perp"?TV. 500 pages of"perp"starts to sound like nails on a chalkboard, even in my own head. Stop it!
The story falls short of being interesting when Deaver takes time out to explain blogs and online role-playing games as if this were 1997 and no one had heard of them. I am willing to suspend disbelief, but for a 40-something(?) law enforcement agent (with a website of her own) in 2009 to need long, drawn out explanations of this here interweb thingy pushes credibility a little far. Also, we are encouraged to check out any URLs we "happen" to come across in the book (yes, it actually says "happen" to come across even though they're front and center, in italics, and kind of hard to miss). Yay for interactive stuff, but I really don't want to get off my comfy couch and pull out my computer in the middle of a book to go check out a fake blog - or any blog, really. I didn't really get that. After awhile the URL insertions seemed a little desperate.
The "suspense" got old after the first two times Deaver pulled the M Knight Shayamalan so-desperate-for-you-to-believe-this-but-it's-really-thisact. It started to feel like "Gotcha! Right? Right? RIGHT?RIGHT?Until I just started thinking "the police got there just in time. Oh! Look! They got there just in time! Again! Again! Ag-oh, that one's dead, oh - that one too - Just in time! Again! Again! Yawn.
One last tiny, nitpicky thing: In the "About the Author" section of the book, Deaver's many accolades are listed, as well as his former careers. Nowhere does it say he has spent much time around law enforcement agents (and I didn't care enough to research him further). My point is this: I have police officers in the family. I worked with police officers. I have friends who are police officers. I've been in several roll calls, and on several ride-alongs. I did an unscientific survey of my police officer family and acquaintances, and the results are in: not once have I heard, nor have they ever used, nor have they heard their colleagues use, "perp"."Suspect "or" subject ", yes."Perp"?TV. 500 pages of"perp"starts to sound like nails on a chalkboard, even in my own head. Stop it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2013
I am totally blown away by this man's talent! This could very well be my favorite read for the year, or at least one of the top. I enjoyed this one even more that the first in the Kathryn Dance series,The Sleeping Doll,if that is even possible. I have also readXO,but I read it out of order and I do plan on revisiting that book soon to complete this series so far.
These books do in fact need to be read in order because certain parts of the story lines do carry over into the next book. So I feel it is important to follow them in the order that they come. I was glad to see that Deaver touched on the Juan Millar case in this installment of the series, because it was left 'unfinished' in the first book. So that was nice to get some closure on that case.
There were quite a few 'WHOA "moments for me in this book. The kind that just kinda makes you stop and think for a moment because you just discovered you have been suckered in believing the obvious, and Deaver just steered you into a whole new direction! And then you say" Wow I did not even see that coming! "I love that aspect of reading a good mystery/suspense! And Deaver is one of the greats!
Deaver's characters are exquisite IMO. They are so well developed, so realistic, and so believable. He makes it easy to love the protagonist and hate the antagonist. And he does not stop there, he gives you so many more than one each! Kathryn Dance is a beautiful character. She is strong willed and confident, yet she is flawed and hard on herself as well. She is one of my favorite detective/FBI/CBI agents now. She is definitely someone I would want on my side if it ever came to that! Jon Boling is another of my favorites and I hope to see him show up in XO as well.
Overby, Kathryn's boss was a character I can do without. He is a good/bad guy in affect. He is pretty arrogant and I really don't feel he has much faith in Dance's abilities. He is one of those types who would say "It's my way or the highway." pretty much and those kind of people are annoying to me. He would not hesitate to throw you under the bus if it is good for him. Deaver created him well that is for sure. he sure did rub me the wrong way on more than one occasion!
This is a solid 5 star read for me and I look forward to reading many, many, more Deaver books in the future! I know there are a lot more to read!
These books do in fact need to be read in order because certain parts of the story lines do carry over into the next book. So I feel it is important to follow them in the order that they come. I was glad to see that Deaver touched on the Juan Millar case in this installment of the series, because it was left 'unfinished' in the first book. So that was nice to get some closure on that case.
There were quite a few 'WHOA "moments for me in this book. The kind that just kinda makes you stop and think for a moment because you just discovered you have been suckered in believing the obvious, and Deaver just steered you into a whole new direction! And then you say" Wow I did not even see that coming! "I love that aspect of reading a good mystery/suspense! And Deaver is one of the greats!
Deaver's characters are exquisite IMO. They are so well developed, so realistic, and so believable. He makes it easy to love the protagonist and hate the antagonist. And he does not stop there, he gives you so many more than one each! Kathryn Dance is a beautiful character. She is strong willed and confident, yet she is flawed and hard on herself as well. She is one of my favorite detective/FBI/CBI agents now. She is definitely someone I would want on my side if it ever came to that! Jon Boling is another of my favorites and I hope to see him show up in XO as well.
Overby, Kathryn's boss was a character I can do without. He is a good/bad guy in affect. He is pretty arrogant and I really don't feel he has much faith in Dance's abilities. He is one of those types who would say "It's my way or the highway." pretty much and those kind of people are annoying to me. He would not hesitate to throw you under the bus if it is good for him. Deaver created him well that is for sure. he sure did rub me the wrong way on more than one occasion!
This is a solid 5 star read for me and I look forward to reading many, many, more Deaver books in the future! I know there are a lot more to read!
July 14, 2015
I believe I am liking Kathyrn Dance better than Lincoln Rhyme. Is that blasphemy? Well, even Amelia Sachs has here moments of reading people and giving credence to witness accounts.
This book is about the internet and how it affects people's lives. There are bloggers, gamers, social networkers, and many are cyber bullies. So much time can be spent on the internet that people are no longer functioning in the world of reality, but the world they have created for themselves in the online universe. This is true of a few characters in this book. I was amazed to learn certain facts about the effects of this anonymous, or seemingly anonymous, world has on young people especially. I am very glad the internet did not exist when I was a teenager.
The story begins with a tragic car accident. Four teens in the car, two are killed instantly. The driver and front passenger survive. It was ruled an accident. No toxins in the bloodstream of the driver, Travis. A blogger mentions this accident on his page, wondering about the state's role in this accident. Could it be that the road was indeed hazardous? Maybe the signs along the way weren't visible. The comments to the thread become vicious. Kids who go to school with the boy and know him are saying it was his fault. Saying "I heard"...just making stuff up and demonizing this poor kid. Then, one by one, the people who attacked Travis online begin being attacked in the real world. The comments only get worse. Is it Travis getting revenge for the things being said about him? It seems so.
I love Deaver in that there are always so many twists and turns; detours in the information. His books are a giant puzzle that the reader must try to piece together before law enforcement does, which is no easy task.
There is also a side plot in this book that deals with the matter of assisted suicide. I found it very interesting to see the debate from both sides of the coin.
This book was very well written. I am a Deaver fan for life!
This book is about the internet and how it affects people's lives. There are bloggers, gamers, social networkers, and many are cyber bullies. So much time can be spent on the internet that people are no longer functioning in the world of reality, but the world they have created for themselves in the online universe. This is true of a few characters in this book. I was amazed to learn certain facts about the effects of this anonymous, or seemingly anonymous, world has on young people especially. I am very glad the internet did not exist when I was a teenager.
The story begins with a tragic car accident. Four teens in the car, two are killed instantly. The driver and front passenger survive. It was ruled an accident. No toxins in the bloodstream of the driver, Travis. A blogger mentions this accident on his page, wondering about the state's role in this accident. Could it be that the road was indeed hazardous? Maybe the signs along the way weren't visible. The comments to the thread become vicious. Kids who go to school with the boy and know him are saying it was his fault. Saying "I heard"...just making stuff up and demonizing this poor kid. Then, one by one, the people who attacked Travis online begin being attacked in the real world. The comments only get worse. Is it Travis getting revenge for the things being said about him? It seems so.
I love Deaver in that there are always so many twists and turns; detours in the information. His books are a giant puzzle that the reader must try to piece together before law enforcement does, which is no easy task.
There is also a side plot in this book that deals with the matter of assisted suicide. I found it very interesting to see the debate from both sides of the coin.
This book was very well written. I am a Deaver fan for life!
August 24, 2009
There is so much going on in this book and it is very satisfying on many levels. Jeffrey Deaver, yet another retired attorney, lays out a very complicated plot and keeps it all finely balanced to the real end. I lost count of the false trails and conclusions he leads us on.
Mr. Deaver, who has also created over 25 other novels featuring quadriplegic criminalist Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs or California Bureau of Investigation kinesics expert Kathryn Dance and Monterey County Sheriff's office detective Michael O'Neil has another international best sell in this book.
Once again we find teens caught up in the unreal game world, unable finally to tell reality from the on-line game. Can our top police experts stop the continued killings?
Deaver chose one of the most beautiful areas of the California coast as the site of all this terror. There are very insightful descriptions of the locale, including the poverty as well as extremely rich parts. His characters are believable, their dialogue spot on.
Mr. Deaver, who has also created over 25 other novels featuring quadriplegic criminalist Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs or California Bureau of Investigation kinesics expert Kathryn Dance and Monterey County Sheriff's office detective Michael O'Neil has another international best sell in this book.
Once again we find teens caught up in the unreal game world, unable finally to tell reality from the on-line game. Can our top police experts stop the continued killings?
Deaver chose one of the most beautiful areas of the California coast as the site of all this terror. There are very insightful descriptions of the locale, including the poverty as well as extremely rich parts. His characters are believable, their dialogue spot on.
January 15, 2011
Plenty of others have already supplied a description of the book, so I won't do that. All I will do is tell you that thatRoadside Crosses,the second in Deaver's Kathryn Dance series, is almost impossible to put down. But that's probably more true if you have an interest in or follow the minutiae of how the entire blogging community works — and the power that it has, particularly for vulnerable young people. Much of the novel's core storyline hinges on that, but even if all things tech summon little more than a yawn, you might still like this for two reason:
(1) Deaver invariably writes compelling characters; this novel is no exception;
(2) Kathryn Dance's specialty in kinesics, though popularized by now in several TV shows, is intriguing because of its depth.
Deaver is good. He's very, very good, and that's as true in this story as in all the others. I can never wait to get my hands on the next one, even if his concentration is in part now on Kathryn Dance, not his long-time character Lincoln Rhyme.
(1) Deaver invariably writes compelling characters; this novel is no exception;
(2) Kathryn Dance's specialty in kinesics, though popularized by now in several TV shows, is intriguing because of its depth.
Deaver is good. He's very, very good, and that's as true in this story as in all the others. I can never wait to get my hands on the next one, even if his concentration is in part now on Kathryn Dance, not his long-time character Lincoln Rhyme.
November 28, 2012
This book was not as good as the first in the series--too much about MMORPGs and blogging and not enough of Kathryn Dance plying her specialty (kinesics - the reading of body language).
The main plot was also diluted by sub-plots (one about Kathryn's mother and one about a sneaky investigator) that thinned further a plot already thinned by the digressions into MMORPGs and blogging mentioned above. Both were werapped up a little too quickly and neatly. The one involving Kathryn's mother could have supported a novel on its own if properly developed.
Kathryn's 'on the verge of going beyond platonic' friendship with a Sheriff's Office Detective took a too convenient turn near the end of the novel. I saw it coming the first time the two crossed paths in the book, it was just a matter of waiting until it happened.
All in all, a so-so effort from Mr. Deaver.
I will read the next book in the series, but if it isn't any better than this one, it will be the last Deaver book I read.
The main plot was also diluted by sub-plots (one about Kathryn's mother and one about a sneaky investigator) that thinned further a plot already thinned by the digressions into MMORPGs and blogging mentioned above. Both were werapped up a little too quickly and neatly. The one involving Kathryn's mother could have supported a novel on its own if properly developed.
Kathryn's 'on the verge of going beyond platonic' friendship with a Sheriff's Office Detective took a too convenient turn near the end of the novel. I saw it coming the first time the two crossed paths in the book, it was just a matter of waiting until it happened.
All in all, a so-so effort from Mr. Deaver.
I will read the next book in the series, but if it isn't any better than this one, it will be the last Deaver book I read.
July 22, 2009
Hmmm. Well, Jeffery Deaver must think his audience doesn't know what blogs are, and that teenagers walk around saying "epic" all the time. Other than kids that spend all their time playing WoW (and I doubt it in that case, too), I find that hard to believe based on my interactions with high school students. And the excessive descriptions threads and blogging were insulting to me. I started skipping over them, and I never skip in his books.
So: The rest of the book. I kind of enjoyed the Myers-Briggs stuff, and the types of liars. I suppose I like the Kathryn Dance series. I guess Lincoln and Amelia are getting some time off.
He kept the twists to a minimum this time around, too.
So: The rest of the book. I kind of enjoyed the Myers-Briggs stuff, and the types of liars. I suppose I like the Kathryn Dance series. I guess Lincoln and Amelia are getting some time off.
He kept the twists to a minimum this time around, too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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