THE BROKEN WINDOW

Jeffery Deaver's latest Lincoln Rhyme mystery involves identity theft and murder, the former being even scarier than the latter. Someone with access to consumer data is using it to get close to potential victims and to incriminate innocents. Rhyme gets involved when his estranged cousin becomes a suspect. George Guidall does his usual superb job getting inside characters, dramatizing subplots, and maximizing suspense. Listeners will empathize with Rhyme's assistant and lover, Amelia, who gets caught up in the villain's plans. Rhyme, who is paraplegic, is intelligent but testy. Employees at the suspected data business sound guilty—are they? But it's the deranged unidentified killer who really sticks with listeners, as will this perfectly presented production. J.B.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2008]