Jeffery Deaver – Roadside Crosses

Although I had read the previous Kathryn Dance novel (The Sleeping Doll) I entered into Roadside Crosses thinking that I don’t really like Katherine Dance as a character. However, after a couple of chapters the book had me well and truly gripped and I now really like Kathryn Dance and am eagerly awaiting the next book about her, more so than Lincoln Rhyme. I think because she is a new character she is a lot more fresh. I also like her back story and am interested to see where that goes.

As for the book itself I really enjoyed it although I felt at times there was a little too much explanation. Having read The Sleeping Doll and the Lincoln Rhyme novel in which Katherine Dance was introduced (which escapes me at present, it may have been The Cold Moon) I already know what kinesics is as its explained there. I know that it needs to be included for the sake of people who are picking up the book without having read the previous ones but it does get a little tedious! Also some of the explanation about blogs etc to me was unnecessary as I work in IT and use the internet a lot but to an ordinary reader that may well have been very useful.

The storyline was engaging. I managed to spot a couple of the twists coming (when you read a lot of Jeffrey Deaver I think you start to see the patterns so it makes spotting the twists a little easier) but I didn’t work out the main twist. It only took me a week or so to read as it had me reaching for it whenever possible. I would certainly recommend Roadside Crosses although I would suggest reading The Sleeping Doll first to get the best out of it.