The Midnight Lock (Lincoln Rhyme Novel)

Another stellar Lincoln Rhyme thriller from Jeffrey Deaver. Rhyme has just had his testimony picked apart in a case against a big time mobster, and the mobster is found not-guilty, Rhyme is fired as consultant to the NYPD, and his associates are forbidden to discuss cases with him henceforth. Meanwhile, a serial...breaker-inner calling himself The Locksmith is making his way into unsuspecting women's apartments while they sleep, disturbing things, taking souvenirs, and leaving behind the same page of an issue of a tabloid newspaper with the word "Consequences" written on it. As his exploits increase in potential danger, Rhyme, Sachs and crew know they are the ones who need to figure out the Locksmith's plans and stop him before he escalates to violence. Surreptitiously, they continue to investigate behind the scenes, all while trying to avoid the police and mayor, a gangster out for revenge and the Locksmith himself. This was one of the better Rhyme books, full of twists throughout 2 main plot lines, some of which I was sure I had figured out, but as it turned out, I had not. Deaver keeps you guessing on this one, and pulls out a lot of surprises. 4.5/5*

I discovered (and started) the Lincoln Rhyme Series this last Feb. '22, and just now finished Book #15 (the last one... 🙁💔)

From the very start of "The Bone Collector" to the last few pages of "The Midnight Lock", Jeffery Deaver somehow manages to never allow for a single moment of common, blasé, boredom, or mediocrity. He's never obvious, conspicuous or simple, and even when you're absolutely SURE you've got it all figured out - Well, those are the moments when he brilliantly rocks your world w/ a sudden new direction that you never saw coming. Even after twist, after twist - when there's just no way to take the storytelling any higher - somehow, he manages to manifest (in the reader) an even more intense captivation in (& entrancement w/) the characters - who they are & their epic adventures. When you finally make it to the end of each book, all those individual twists & turns, & layers & levels & depths you traveled along the way, come together - A perfect harmony, and moment of crystal clear clarity and comprehension - Finally able to see, experience, and appreciate the bigger picture he'd been creating the whole time. Truly, an amazing artist & author 🥰❤️👍🏻

This book has more twists and turns in it that hair in cornrows!. As always, Deaver's books are well-written, with the usual cast of characters, doing their jobs well...add a new guy to the team: Spencer, a former cop, and private security guy, who makes a spectacular save that you won't want to miss. And the twist, at the end surprised even me, a long-term Deaver fan! Read it now! A++

Lincoln Rhyme is banned from police work! At a trial, his lab was shown to provide inaccurate information. Meanwhile, someone is entering apartments and firghtening -- but not physically harming -- women. At he same time, a gangster is continuing his nefarious career, and a false prophet is garnering followers on the internet. This is a book right out of the headlines. The plot is complex with many interesting characters. The only reason I didn't give this book five stars is that it spends a lot of time discussing the intricate workings of various types of locks. I found this information too technical and too plentiful. Of course, Lincoln triumphs in the end.

MIDNIGHT LOCK is similar to Deaver’s Watchman novels in that the suspect is an intelligent foil for Lincoln and Amelia. The Watchman is still at large and Lincoln at various points in the plot thinks the perpetrator may actually be him.

The Locksmith is also obsessed with locks as the Watchman had a fetish for watches and clocks.

The Locksmith has been breaking into the apartments of various women by picking their locks. He moves their stuff around the apartment and watches them sleep. He also takes a knife from the apartment, which bothers Lincoln; he thinks the perp could become murderous before they can catch him.

Lincoln must also deal with an ambitious mayor who has plans to run for governor and wants credit for capturing the Locksmith. Lincoln appears to fumble an important case against a mafia don. The mayor uses that excuse to ban Lincoln’s participation in the case, as well as his partners on the police force, including Amelia who is now his wife.

There are lots of suspects. Number one seems to be the son of a notorious tabloid syndicate who is estranged from the family. A perceptive mystery reader will recognize a red herring when he/she sees one.

There is also a conspiracy theorist, much like QAnon, who insists that Lincoln belongs to THE HIDDEN, a substitute deep state who fumbled the mafia case on purpose.

The mafia stuff gets in the way of Lincoln’s drive to catch the villain (although this is really foreshadowing in respect to the resolution). Anyway, I thought there were too many characters, and when we do find out who the Locksmith is, the unrealistic conspiracy person gets in the way.

There’s also a showdown towards the end between Lincoln and the Locksmith who had caught Lincoln alone and picked the lock on his apartment, of course. The reader almost has to laugh at that conflict. Is Deaver going to kill off his hero? Furthermore, is he going to kill off Amelia in another showdown?

The Lincoln Rhymes series has been one of my favorites ever since THE BONE COLLECTOR. This one doesn’t measure up.