The Sleeping Doll: A Novel (Kathryn Dance)

There can be no doubt Deaver is a master of plot twists. In the past, his novels have kept me guessing throughout the story. Unfortunately, somewhere along the line he became known as a "plot twist writer", and started adding more and more to each story. In "The Sleeping Doll", I'm afraid he's gone so far as to almost seem a parody of himself. There are so many plot twists in the story that the only plot twist would be if what LOOKED LIKE was going to happen actually DID.

Let me say it like this (and none of this happens in the book so I'm not giving anything away, but it happens LIKE this): The victim is home helpless as the killer sneaks into her house...he raises a knife to kill her...BUT the victim knew the killer was coming so it's actually a cop dressed as her waiting to stop the killer...BUT the killer knew the victim would be ready for him, so he waited outside while sending in a flunky to do the actual murder...BUT the FBI knew he'd do this so they waited outside to catch him...BUT he figured someone would be watching so he... You get the idea.

Books like "The Vanishing Man" and of course, "The Bone Collector" showcase Deaver's style at his best. His two short story collections are perfect examples of suspense fiction. But lately it seems like his editors have been wanting him to focus more on the twists, and now the entire story is nothing more than one after the other.

The last five minutes of "The Sixth Sense" took your breath away because of the plot twist ending you should have seen coming but never did. If the whole movie had been that same way, you'd have walked out of the theater in frustration because nothing at all is as it seems at any point in time during the story as the rules keep changing every few minutes. That's the same way "The Sleeping Doll" plays out. While there were a few moments that I honestly didn't see coming and found pleasantly surprising, most of the things happening in the book lost their impact after the first few chapters as you realized everything you THOUGHT was going to happen, actually wasn't.

I'm sure Deaver will trim things back a little for his next story. But even with all the twists in this one, it still makes for a good novel. It's by no means bad...just not at the same level as his previous books.

I think Deaver has done us all a good turn by turning away from the Lincoln Rhyme novels. Kathryn Dance is an interesting character on her own and when combined with Deaver's rather deep reserve of storylines you have a sure-fire stable of future bestsellers.

In Sleeping Doll we're introduced to Daniel Pell, a killer of terrible repute. Having been convicted of the murder of four members of the Croyton family, Pell is serving his time. Kathryn Dance an investigator with the California Bureau of Investigation wants to interrogate Pell for another unsolved murder that predates his conviction. Instead of going to where Pell is serving his time, he is brought to Dance. This sets up his escape and also starts his murder spree and launches you on a read you're sure to remember.

Deaver is a master of ingenious plots, twists and turns as he leads the reader through his stories. The Sleeping Doll is a winner. Great characters with terrific development through the book, fast paced, you won't want this read to end but you won't be able to keep from devouring each line.

I have enjoyed all of Deaver's past books. This is the first one that is disappointing. The book bogs down in unnecessary (and difficult to follow) subplots and plot twists. There are too many irrelevant minor characters who drag the story down even further. By the time I was finished with the first half of the book I just wished it would be over.

We were introduced to Kathryn Dance in Deaver's The Cold Moon - we saw a brilliant agent from California who helped Lincoln and Sachs with the Clockmaker - Here in Doll, she is on her own turf. And she has her hands full - A young man, Daniel Pell, a Charles Manson wannabee, escaped prison shortly after Kathryn interviewed him. We see her analytical interviewing skills - super body language that makes her a 'human lie detector'. Pell goes on a rampant killing spree, getting even with people who hurt him. Kathryn works with her California Bureau of Investigation buds to capture him and anticipate his next moves. It is a fascinating read. Kathryn Dance is a great character - she's vibrant, a great Mom, has great parents, two kids who love her, and she's a straight shooter. There is nothing on her agenda - she does what she loves and is an expert at. The interaction between Pell and Dance and other agents makes for a great book. It will keep you involved until the last sentence.
One hopes Deaver will continue Dance's story in future books. There looks to be a 'Kay Scarpetta/Benton Wesley' type of relationship/flirtation forming - It did not work for Patricia Cornwell. One hopes Deaver will not even go there for Dance. There are plenty of characters for her to interplay with, and not muddy the waters where she works.
Although Lincoln Rhyme is Deaver's mainstay, Kathryn Dance is a wonderful character, whether on her own or a collaboration with her New York friends.

Jeffrey Deaver has shown some degree of aptitude with his writing in the past, but this particular story has all the signs of an author cranking out pulp to the masses just to make a buck.
The story was so uneven as to be painful. I love a good mystery/thriller/crime drama and the well written ones just flow into your brain as you read them. I have rarely had to concentrate and interpret the meaningfulness to the main story line the frequent divergent paths onto which this book steers the reader.
This story could have been told in half the number of pages and would probably have been at least doubly increased in quality.
I have never not finished a book that I have started, and this one was truly an effort of endurance. I am usually disappointed as I approach the end of a good paperback to find a preview of the author's next offering as opposed to continuation of the story I am enjoying so much.
By the time I neared the end of this book, I was praying for a lengthy preview attached to the end so that the number of pages I had yet to endure to conclude the primary tale would be reduced.

Kinesics - reading every little movement, smile, grimace and eyebrow askew. That part was scary - a Charles Manson character and how he gages others is totally frightening - knowing how many nuts are "out there" now. The book - not so much scary - the ending -- flat and totally NOT like Deaver. He must be getting tired of writing. Not a bad read --- but definately NOT a good Deaver read. Read in between your other "good" books.

With Deaver, you always can expected the unexpected, and The Sleeping Doll is no exception. Riveted with tricks, turns, and things which are not what they seem, heroine Katherine Dance must use her abilities to see through the lies and deception to catch Daniel Pell. Pell is possibly the most chilling villain Deaver has ever created. With Lincoln Rhyme is an expert at forensic evidence and Katherine Dance at body language, Pell is a master in the art of manipulation and control of people. Deaver expertly gives a look into the dark mind of a ruthless control freak.

In short, the book is a Deaver classic, and it is not to be missed.

I a struggled through the first tedious, boring half of this book and then threw it away.

I just finished reading "Sleeping Doll" moments ago. Got it yesterday morning and read every spare moment (and then some!) Couldn't put the thing down; it captured my interest from the very first chapter and didn't let up the whole way thru. Layers upon layers of mystery involved, and just when you think you've gotten to the core of it, you find the mystery just goes another level deeper. Absolutely riveting!

BTW, I've read all Deaver's novels. Kathryn Dance is a fascinating character; just as compelling in her own way as Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs. Looking forward to reading more of both in the future!

Sometimes it's a good thing to think that everybody is out to get you, particularly in this novel. Good guys become bad guys, and occasionally a baddie turns out to be sort of nice. There is so much shapeshifting in this novel that I almost thought that at the end of the book our hero, Kathryn Dance, interrogation expert for the CBI would hold a gun on herself and announce "I hereby arrest myself." Well, of course, that doesn't happen. Kathryn does get to show off her skills at interviewing, and pass on some of her great techniques to the reader. How about this one? "A smile can telegraph hate, indifference, humor or love." Yes, and sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Daniel Pell is the very bad guy, and he escapes from a California prison. Oh my, we think, catch him quickly, Kathryn, or by tomorrow night he will probably be as far away as Detroit. Not so, though. Dan spends the next week just tooling around the area doing some chores. Kind of a compulsive guy about tying up loose ends...or loose people. The story gets sort of cat and mouse-ish. The mouse hides here, and Kathryn pounces. Whoops, missed him. This sort of action repeats itself a lot, but mostly it is good fun. There is some reader snoozing time when Kathryn decides to schmooze with her two kids, but all and all it's a fast paced story that races along with everybody stumbling over dead or partially dead bodies until it ends. Phew, that's over. What a story!! But wait there's still 40 pages to go. Then more surprises pop up. Finally the book does end. Or will there be a sequel? Quite frankly I like Kathryn Dance a lot better that author Deaver's immobilized hero Lincoln Rhyme. Maybe you will, too.