Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Reviews of The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2)

The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2)
The Coffin Dancer - Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2
Author: Jeffery Deaver
ISBN-13: 9780671024093
ISBN-10: 0671024094
Publication Date: 3/1/1999
Pages: 560
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 364

4 stars, based on 364 ratings
Publisher: Pocket
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

58 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 26 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
While this book may be a little older - it is still one of the best in the Lincoln Rhyme series. It also is the one where he takes his relationship with his protege, Amelia Sachs, to the next level! Great action and many twists and turns. Deaver really keeps you totally involved until the very end.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 88 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
There is a Master Assassin at work here. He is brilliant and relentless.
Even a brilliant crime solver like Lincoln Rhymes is finding himself one step behind the killer as the killer pursues his goal of murdering the 2 witnesses of his employer's crime.
The Coffin Dancer is what the assassin is known as to the law enforcement officers because it describes a tatoo he wears:Death with his scythe dancing around a coffin.
I found this story riveting. The Coffin Dancer is relentless
and you will find yourself not being able to put the book down.
I loved the rush !
flowergirl4 avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 38 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
What a great book! The story takes you along on the search for and insidious killer nicknamed the Coffin Dancer. Linclon Rhyme, a quadraplegic, ex-NYPD criminalist, and his partner Amelia Sachs are helping NYPD with the case. Two of Rhyme's co-workers were killed while investigating a previous case involving the Coffin Dancer. Now, the killer has been hired to kill 3 pilots who are to testify to the grand jury in a high-profile Federal case. One pilot and his crew are killed when their jet explodes just before landing in Chicago. Can Rhyme's team keep the other two alive? The Dancer is a master at being invisible. He never leaves any evidence that can be used. He's the most elusive killer Rhyme has come across...and Rhyme is becoming obsessed with his capture. The Dancer must not win this contest. As these two men with exceptional minds try to outwit each other, the wrong turnsby both men, the fast action and several shocking twists will keep you from putting the book down.
gigi avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 355 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Great Book!
daedelys avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 1218 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I think I'm officially addicted to this series now that I've read the first two. I couldn't put this one down and only did when I had to. The author is a wonderful writer for the simple fact that his characters are well-written and the plots are never what you think they will be. I look forward to the next book in the series.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 26 more book reviews
By Jeffrey Deaver, the author of "The Bone Collector". Deaver is now on my list of "favorite authors". As in the movie with Denzel Washington & Angelina Jolie, Lincoln Rhyme is the paralyzed criminalist & Amelia Sachs is his assistant. Together they unravel delicious mysteries. This time the mystery is "The Coffin Dancer".

So well written, with lots of fun twists. Can't wait to get into the next Deaver book!
BarnBabe avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 38 more book reviews
Classic Jeffery Deaver. Second in the series featuring Lincoln Rhyme/Amelia Sachs. You can always count on suspense from Deaver. Fascinating forensics.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 191 more book reviews
Detective Lincoln Rhyme, the foremost ciminalist int he NYBD, joines his beautiful protege, Amelia Sachs, in the hunt for the Coffin Dancer--an ingenious killer who changes his appearance even faster that he adds to his trail of victims.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 16 more book reviews
This book is 2nd novel featuring Lincolm Rhyme. It is fast past and full of unexpected twists and turns. Very enjoyable Deaver novel. I would
definately recommend it.
LeahG avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 320 more book reviews
Okay, I finally found an author to add to my very favorite author's list and I give 4-1/2 stars to this book. I lead a busy life and I usually only have time to read when I'm eating breakfast and when I go to bed at night, but I carried this one around with me and snatched as many pages as I could whenever I was able, and sometimes stole a moment and hid somewhere to read it. Here's a story that kept me on the edge of my chair, and if there had been sound included I am sure I would have jumped out of my skin several times. The characters are wonderful -- good and bad -- and how the author came up with some of the ideas that he did is way beyond my comprehension.
kaitlinb avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 10 more book reviews
very good read
kyp avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 62 more book reviews
Lincoln Rhyme does it again - solving a case that is intrigue from the word go! Kept me turning pages and losing sleep.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 24 more book reviews
Detective Lncold Rhyme, the foremost criminalist in teh NYPD, joins his beautiful protege, Amelia Sachs, in teh hunt for teh Coffin Dancer-- an ingenious killer who changes his appearance even faster than he adds to his trail of victims. so far, they have only one clue: the assassin has a tattoo on his arm-- of the Grim Reasper waltzing with a woman in front of a coffin, Rhyme, a quadriplegic from a line-of-duty accident, must rely on his wits and sachs's intuition to track the elusive murderere through the subways, parks, and airports of and evertumultuous New York City-- knowing they have only forty-eight hours before they Coffin Dancer strikes again.
marcijo28 avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 321 more book reviews
Great Read! The twist at the end worth 5 stars!
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 14 more book reviews
This was definitely a five star mystery. I could not put it down. I enjoy the Lincoln Rhyme novels but this was the best. I am happy to see the conclusions spelled out so that I can understand how he arrived at the solution. I am tired of reading books that sum it all up in the last five pages with no indication of how the detective figured it all out. this was a winner!
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 2 more book reviews
Gotta love Lincoln Rhyme novels. I was hooked as soon as I first read The Bone Collector.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 7 more book reviews
Great book! keeps you guessing
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 21 more book reviews
great read
rfdudley avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 75 more book reviews
I'd never heard of this author but a friend gave me some of his books. It's been a while since I read this but I liked it. I can't recall the specifics.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on
Lots of turns!
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 204 more book reviews
If you are going to read this book you better make sure you have nothing important to do for a while. This book was almost impossible for me to put down. I would tell myself just a little longer and then find that another hour had gone by. From the first chapter, that was so shocking, to the ending, this book was a page turner that held my interest throughout.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 22 more book reviews
Another great book in a great series.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 12 more book reviews
Am I the only person who's upset that Mr. Deaver ended The Bone Collector with a cliffhanger, i.e. bomber, Carole Ganz (along with her young daughter, Pammy), blowing up the UN conference...and then NOTHING?

I started The Coffin Dancer thinking that it would continue where The Bone Collector left off, so you can imagine my disappointment when I realized that nothing was going to be resolved at all.
WTF?!

Other than that, The Coffin Dancer was a good, stand-alone thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. I'm looking forward to reading The Empty Chair (Lincoln Rhyme #3).

3 1/2 stars
5ducksfans avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 92 more book reviews
Although the plot is a bit convoluted, it is still easy to follow and for the the most part, believable. I tore through the pages because the action kept coming and coming. Recommend for Deaver fans and mystery fans.
Fulltimer avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 179 more book reviews
Another amazing book, this one dealing with the life of an illusinist. You will learn things you never knew and it will make you look at some of our real illustionists with different eyes.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 41 more book reviews
Great suspense novel.
Sunshine avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 142 more book reviews
2nd book of the Lincoln Rhyme series. Great series, really suspenseful and great characters. I can't wait to read the next one!
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 37 more book reviews
"Spine-chilling forensic detail with gripping suspense" per the NYTimes and I couldn't agree more.
In this novel, we also find out a lot about the relationship of Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs, which continues throughout all the Lincoln Rhyme series.
I always enjoy the fast pace and plot twists of Deaver's novels.
robinmy avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 2097 more book reviews
Forensic Expert and Criminalist Lincoln Rhyme left the police force after an accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. Now the police are asking for his help. Three eyewitnesses are set to testify in 48 hours against a rich businessman. Rumors are that a known hitman, the Coffin Dancer, has been hired to kill them so they cannot testify. Last night one of them died when the plane he was piloting exploded. Police are asking Lincoln, along with his protegee Amelia Sachs, to hunt down this killer before he eliminates the other two witnesses.

This is the second book in Jeffery Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme series. I have mixed feelings about it. I thought the pacing of this story was very uneven. It felt like this book went back and forth from intense suspense scenes to long detailed forensic analysis. There were several scenes where Lincoln and the hitman are playing cat and mouse. I couldn't put the book down and had no idea what would happen next. Unfortunately, there were several times that we had pages and pages of forensic analysis. There were way too many details for me to follow.

Jeffery Deaver gave us some well-developed characters in this book. One of the witnesses, a female pilot whose husband died in the explosion, was an enigma to me. Her attitude about being put into protective custody was crazy. I would feel sorry for her on one page; and want to slap some sense into her on the next. The NYPD bodyguard that is put on her was another great character that stood out. On the flip side, we spent way too much time in the killer's head. He fantasized about being a soldier and kept talking about crawling worms. I was sick of that very fast. Overall, I liked the suspense, but had problems with other parts of the book. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
DameEdna avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 149 more book reviews
REALLY excellent thriller!
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 47 more book reviews
I like the whole Lincoln Rhyme series by this author. A well written book.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 3 more book reviews
This book is awesome! I loved every page of it.
ilovedale3 avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 524 more book reviews
Another good Lincoln Rhyme/Amelia Sachs novel. This time, they are hunting for "The Coffin Dancer", a killer who can change his appearance like a chameleon. Fast read, not as good as "The Bone Collector", but a solid story.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 117 more book reviews
The NYPD have only one clue to the ingenious killer who changes his appearance faster than he adds to his trail of victims:a tattoo of the Grim Reaper waltzing with a woman in front of a coffin. Detective Lincoln Rhyme,a quadriplegic from a line of duty accident and his beautiful protege Amelia Sachs tracks the murderer thru the subways,parks,and airports of New York City-knowing that they have only forty eight hours until the Coffin Dancer strikes again.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 3 more book reviews
This was the book that made me want to read more of Jeffry Deaver's work.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 108 more book reviews
wow!!! one of Deaver's older books, but excellent none the less!! Had me to the end
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 7 more book reviews
It starts a little slow but is good.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 18 more book reviews
I found this book to be very captivating and edge of your seat.
nrezac avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 160 more book reviews
Excellent book that keeps you enthralled until the end!
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 517 more book reviews
Lincoln Rhyme must find an ingenious killer who changes his appearance frequetly and leaves no clues. Very good story with lots of twists and turns.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 10 more book reviews
Deaver is an artist of the genre. You must read him.
KellyP avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 143 more book reviews
This is the 2nd of the Lincoln Rhyme novels by Jeffery Deaver. It is typical Deaver ... fast-paced, sit on the edge of your seat, tricky plot, etc.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 20 more book reviews
Lincoln Rhyme needs no review book speaks for itself
MELNELYNN avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 669 more book reviews
The Coffin Dancer is the second book in the Lincoln Rhyme series. Lincoln is a quadriplegic forensic expert who retired when he was injured on the job and was unable to move any part of his body except his head and his ring finger. He was talked out of retirement in The Bone Collector and continues to help corral criminals in this next book.

Three murder witnesses are in grave danger when their testimony can put a millionaire arms dealer, Phillip Hansen, in jail for the rest of his life. Edward Carney, co-owner of Hudson Air, a small charter airplane company, is killed when his airplane blows up midair. The FBI comes in to protect the other two to ensure they are able to testify in court 45 hours later. Ed's wife, Percey Clay, and one of their pilots, Brit Hale are put in protective custody and the excitement begins. Lincoln and Amelia Sachs are asked to help identify the culprit and so begins the decent into tons of crime scene evidence.

This hired killer is the best and finding him is almost impossible, but the "almost impossible" is Lincoln Rhyme's forte. Lincoln and Amelia must find the evidence to stop the Coffin Dancer from striking again and eliminating the other two witnesses.

As with all of Jeffrey Deaver's books, The Coffin Dancer is full of action, tons of twists and turns to keep the reader off balance, and information on forensic evidence that I find truly amazing. This information might not be logical, but it does make for interesting reading! I was amazed that Lincoln Rhyme would ask for scrapings from the tires of emergency vehicles that responded to Ed Carney's airplane crash to see what trace evidence he could find.

Deaver's also continues the tête-à-tête between Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs in what is becoming a "will he or won't he" scenario. You find yourself cheering on the forthrightness of Amelia and hoping that she finally gets her man! Ok, so I'm a romantic at heart...

I'd have to agree with the Kirkus Reviews that state "Deaver is just as cunning and deceptive as his killer; don't assume he's run out of tricks until you've run out of pages." And I also concur that Lincoln Rhyme is like "Patricia Cornwell attached to a time bomb". Perfect analysis!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great thriller. Do NOT get this book if you don't have time to read because you won't want to put it down until that last page is read. Take it along with you on vacation so you won't have to stay awake on work nights trying to finish it. This is the perfect mystery/thriller!
TakingTime avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 1072 more book reviews
for those who like forensics.......another Detective Lincoln Rhyme story
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 67 more book reviews
An exciting book with many changes that make you wonder WHAT NEXT, right to the end.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 128 more book reviews
This is a Lincoln Rhyme thriller, which is one of my favorites. The plot leaves you breathless right to the last page.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 335 more book reviews
Detective lIncoly Rhyme, the foremost criminalist in the NYPD, joins his beautiful prtege, Amelia Sachs, in the hunt for the Coffin Dancer - an ingenious killer who changes his appearance even faster than he adds to his trail of victims. So far they have only one clue: the assassin has a tattoo on his ar - of the Grim Reaper waltzing witha woman in front of a coffin. Rhyme, a quadriplegic from a line-of-duty accident, must rely on his wits and Sachs's intuition to track the elusive murderer through subways, parks, and airports of an ever-tumultuous New York City - knowing they have only forty-eight hours before the Coffin Dancer strikes again.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 40 more book reviews
Good reading. Thrilling
CraftyTJ avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 381 more book reviews
This return engagement for quadriplegic criminologist Lincoln Rhyme is strong on forensic details as Rhyme tracks an elusive assassin known only by the tattoo that gives this fast-paced thriller its title.
Three witnesses to a murder could put a millionaire arms dealer behind bars for good. When one of them, the co-owner of Hudson Air, is blown up in a plane bombing with the Dancer's fingerprints all over it, the FBI takes the other witnesses into protective custody. Only Rhyme can decipher a crime scene, read the residue of a bombing, or identify a handful of dirt well enough to keep up with the killer. Helped by Amelia Sachs, his brilliant and able-bodied assistant, Rhyme traces the Dancer through Manhattan streets, airports, and subways. The psychological tension builds rapidly from page one all the way to the stunning and unexpected denouement. At the same time, Jeffery Deaver slowly develops the against-all-odds love affair between Rhyme and Sachs. Fans of Patricia Cornwell and others in the growing subgenre of forensic thrillers will find a lot to enjoy in Deaver's latest.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 130 more book reviews
Rhyme is becoming a favorite. Very bright story. Complex but still readable.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 12 more book reviews
Lincoln Rhyme, the formost criminalist joins his protege, Amelia Sachs in the hunt for the Coffin Dancer--an ingenious killer who changes his appearance often
Keeshaa avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 2 more book reviews
Well,
I bought a couple of books by this author because I heard that he was great. It turns out that he is a good author they are just not my type of book. I hope someone else can enjoy them!
debs avatar reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 649 more book reviews
a good page-turner. Unexpected twists really keep you guessing.
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 121 more book reviews
Good who dunnit
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 683 more book reviews
A Lincoln Rhyme novel
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 17 more book reviews
Did not read book
reviewed The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme, Bk 2) on + 24 more book reviews
no dust jacket