THE BONE COLLECTOR
By Jeffery Deaver
Penguin Books USA
www.penguin.com
ISBN: 0-670-86871-X
Hardback, 424 pages, $22.95 US
Genre: Mystery/Thriller

I saw the movie first, then read the book. Both are very good, but the book is superior simply because there is so much more information offered regarding forensic investigation. A former renowned criminalist, Lincoln Rhyme is a quadriplegic confined to his bed. With the ability to move his head, neck and one finger, Lincoln has the best technical support at hand but has lost his zest for life and is looking forward to an assisted death. But he's drawn into the search for a man who snatches hostages and then stages their death, copying crimes committed by a former serial killer. Patrol officer Amelia Sachs is first on the scene at a particularly grueling murder - a man has been buried alive, the only indication of his whereabouts, his bloody hand rising from the earth. Lincoln is impressed by her efforts to protect the crime scene and insists Amelia be the one to walk the grid at subsequent scenes, following his directions. Although Amelia is reluctant at first, she begins to respect the process and Lincoln's frantic efforts to find the bone collector. She and Lincoln team up, never knowing that the killer's ultimate intention is to murder both of them.

A gripping read, filled with plenty of information about forensics for those so interested, with a plot that moves along at a fast pace. There is a tease of attraction between Amelia and Lincoln, which this reader hopes will carry forward through the series. In essence, this is one of those books that's hard to put down and stays with you after the read.