Title:	The Skin Collector
	Author:	Jeffrey Deaver
	Published:	2014, Grand Central Publishing
	No. of Pages:	448
	Cover Price:	$28.00 Hardcover; $16.00 Paperback; $12.74 Kindle US

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Jeffrey Deaver's popular character, Lincoln Rhyme – quadriplegic Detective, is back, along with Amelia Sachs, et. al. in The Skin Collector. Lincoln's nemesis, The Watchmaker, has died in prison, and, although Rhyme doesn't plan on going to the funeral, he assigns Ron Pulaski to find out who is claiming the ashes. Rhyme is called in to investigate what is turning out to be a serial murderer who is kidnapping victims, forcing them into basements or underground tunnels, and tattooing them with poison instead of ink, making them suffer excruciating pain while dying. The unsub has a fascination with poisonous plants and grows them in his workshop, then extracts the poison in doses strong enough to kill in a very short time. No one on Lincoln's team is exempt from the danger of the poison, since the unsub uses it on the evidence he leaves at scenes, putting the investigators in danger.

This unsub is dangerous, since he not only kills the victims of his choosing, but also anyone who gets in his way or tries to stop him. Somehow he is able to get vital information about the case that only those working with Rhyme should know, and that puts Rhyme's life in danger, as well as Amelia's and others. Jeffrey Deaver is famous for his unexpected twists and turns; this book is no exception, and has enough to keep readers guessing from start to finish. The story is classic Deaver, and is well-written and fast moving. Deaver has a way of devising scenarios that are scary and unique; The Skin Collector will keep everyone on the edge of their seat.

The Skin Collector is the eleventh installment of the Lincoln Rhyme series, and the ongoing adventures consistently offer new and exciting cases - no "cookie cutter" writing here. While Deaver's characters and cases in the novels are fictional, he has the ability to weave them into stories that are packed with factual scientific procedures that Rhyme uses to investigate the forensic evidence and find killers, and in this particular novel, interesting facts about poison and poisonous plants. For those who haven't yet succumbed to the present tattoo trend, Deaver has thoroughly researched the subject and adds fascinating information to keep readers in the know. Needless to say, this book is highly recommended, both for Lincoln Rhyme fans and also anyone who likes to read books with unlikely, but believable heroes.

This book was purchased with personal funds and no promotion of the book was solicited by the author or publisher.

This book may be purchased at Amazon:
The Skin Collector (Lincoln Rhyme) Hardcover
The Skin Collector (Lincoln Rhyme) Paperback
The Skin Collector (Lincoln Rhyme) Kindle