The Skin Collector

Soooo thrilling, I think I'm still recovering from the shell-shock. Amazing characters, well-done pace, and some unbelievable twists in the end. You kind of have to suspend your disbelief, when a common patrol officer Amelia Sachs gets to do everything from crime scene to tactical without being reprimanded, but that's not even an issue. Lincoln Rhyme is a great spin on your typical badass detective, and the rest of the cast is unique too! Thom! The Hardy Boys! You name it. I can't wait to read the entire series, if the first book is any indicator to the quality of Deaver's writing.

★★★★ This-is-the-beginning-of-a-binge-reading-spree 4.5 Stars This was wayyyy better than the movie! Although the version I saw when I was little (with Denzel and Angie) has stuck with me for years and years (as a result of letting a 7-year-old watch a gore crime thriller movie, thanks to my country and their poor sense of movie rating and censorship). Well, I'm glad I picked this up. A bit lagging at times (the readers are forced to familiarize themselves with endless lectures on scientific and forensics knowledge, but I'm okay with that) but otherwise, I love the writing (albeit the unrealistic glorification of Sachs, but I mean, what could one expect from an old school male writer?). I even re-watched the movie again and UGHHH how awful was that film...They got it all wrong! The thrill, the riddles, the crime itself, and the chase were much much better in the book. AND now that I know what they ACTUALLY look like, here's the Sachs and Rhyme I have envisioned: YESSSSSS Anyway, I haven't read a crime thriller this good in ages (the most recent one was from the ever-amazing Ms. Karin Slaughter). The crimes were creepy and so fucking violent (and quite creative to be honest). I had to stop to catch my breath during the steam pipe scene and the infamous rat scene. And oh my friggin god, the plot twist! I didn't see that coming at all. The last 30 pages were WILD. I love Rhyme and Sachs - the dynamics between them were amazing. The supporting characters gave a great nuance to the stories. I didn't think I would say this, but I ended up liking Fred Dellrey more than I thought I would. And well, most of all, Thom was such a dreamboat. Why the heck would they turn him into Queen Latifah??? (not only they gender-bended him, they also ethnic-bended AND age-bended him, *le sigh*). To summarize: the movie didn't do this story justice at all. They miss all the important details. I wish it was directed by David Fincher, or the visual-demigod Denis Villeneuve, or the ever-sophisticated Tom Ford. I know I can only wish. Please read the book, and forget everything about that movie. As of today (a week after I finished this) I'm on Book 5 already. We can be crazy like that sometimes.

I read The Bone Collector after watching the 1999 film of the same name staring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie, so I went in with characters already in my head, despite the descriptions in the book being different to both actors. The other day I was discussing with a friend the different kinds of books you get, and I'm not talking genres. This book is a 'rip-roaring' read, in that, it's quick, fast-paced, full of tension and excitement. But once you've read it, it doesn't stay with you. Some of my favourite books I can remember great chunks of, I can clearly see images in my head, but this isn't the same with The Bone Collector. I don't think Jeffrey Deaver is a bad writer at all. In fact, I think he's a great writer, for keeping up the suspense. I remember reading the book eagerly, each crime scene that Amelia Sachs processes and investigates is very descriptive and almost graphic in detail. I also remember being surprised at the ending, which is different from the film, and the person responsible for the crimes was a shock, which I always like to be at the end of a mystery. Overall, I enjoyed it, and would probably read some more by Jeffrey Deaver when in need of some quick thrills!

I loves this book so good!