Download Audio Books from Audible.

Customer reviews

5 star		62%
4 star		27%
3 star		7%
2 star		2%
1 star		3%

How are ratings calculated?

Review this product

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Excellent, compelling and informative

Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2015

Verified Purchase

Excellent, compelling and informative. Fast-paced, continually twisting story of searching for a cult leader who has escaped from prison. Believable characters, interesting dialogue and surprise ending.

"She and her best friend, Martine Christensen, ran a website called “American Tunes,” after the famous Paul Simon song from the 1970s. Kathryn Dance was not a bad musician, but a brief attempt at a full- time career as a singer and guitarist had left her dissatisfied (which, she was afraid, was how she ’d left her audiences)."

“Well, I’ll tell you. When my father was in Nam his platoon sometimes had to take out Vietcong tunnels. Sometimes they’d find booby traps. Sometimes they’d find VC. It was the most dangerous job in the war. Dad developed this fear that stayed with him all his life.”

"Claustrophobia?”

"No. Volunteerphobia. He cleared one tunnel, then never raised his hand again. Nobody can quite figure out why exactly you stepped forward on this one.”

I will re-read parts of this book. Look forward to other works by this author.

Amurrand

Deaver Does It Again

Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2015

Verified Purchase

My first Jeffery Deaver was " A Maiden's Grave" with 8 girls and their teacher taken from a school bus and held for ransom. It was incrediby suspenseful and got me hooked on Deaver. The Sleeping Doll is another high suspenseful story and the first in the Kathryn Dance series. This one has a cult-like killer in the same vein as the Manson murders - and he (Daniel Pell) is called The Son of Manson due to the way he murdered an entire family except one small child who was hidden in her bed with stuffed animals. Dance, who is an expert in kinesics (study of body language') ends up being in charge of a manhunt Daniel Pell who kills with ease, and makes people do what he wants because he gives them just what they need.

I really found the interviews and her understanding of what was really happening to the interviewee through kinesics to be facinating, and I haven't read anything before where this was a major factor. Combined with Deavers ability to drag you in and not let you go, this is an education and well as an excursion into true darkness.

Over The Bookshelf

My first Deaver book...

Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2014

Verified Purchase

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the main character Kathryn. She is a body language expert, which I think is really cool, and she was overall a very well rounded character. The concept of the story itself was interesting. I haven't read too many books about cults and this was a big part of this story. I was left constantly wondering what was gonna happen next and the ending seemed to come out of nowhere.

My only issue with this book, and it's really more of a pet peeve, was that we were constantly reminded the Kathryn is a kinesics expert. It is an obvious theme of the book and yet we were reminded of her expertise at least a few times. I felt it was unnecessary and repetitive.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I will definitely be continuing with the series.

SheriReho

Still good Deaver but not quite the Rhyme series.

Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2011

Verified Purchase

I am a long-time fan of Jeffery Deaver--specifically his Lincoln Rhyme series and some of this non-series books like The Blue Nowhere. This is my first time reading one of his books in the Kathryn Dance series. I was interested to read this because, when the character was introduced in a Lincoln Rhyme novel, I thought she was an interesting character and wanted to know more about her and the science of kinesics.

I read this 600-page book over a LONG period of time. I always keep a book in my car for when I go out to lunch between errands/volunteering, am waiting in a doctor's office, etc. This book has been my "car book" for quite some time. So was this story as compelling and intense to me as someone who read it in a day or two? Of course not. But it was still a pretty compelling story about a cult-type personality who is trying to gather his "family" back together after leaving prison, and the crimes that are commmitted along the way.

Having read this book, I still really like the Kathryn Dance character, but I felt that the circumstances surrounding this cult leader and the killings connected to him were more outlandish and unbelievable more often than in the average Lincoln Rhyme series novel. For that reason, and because of the nearly-600-page length (I'm not a fan of long books as I don't sit down and read a book in one sitting), I gave this book 3 stars vs. 4. That is not to say it is a bad book at all. It is interesting and has some several big surprises that you may not see coming. It just didn't give me the adrenaline rush that many Deaver stories do--i.e., it wasn't usually that hard to stop reading when I was done eating lunch, etc. I was never so compelled by the story that I had to bring the book in the house and keep reading.

If you haven't read Deaver before, I heartily recommend him, but I'd suggest you begin with either non-series books like The Blue Nowhere or his Lincoln Rhyme series which began, I believe, with The Bone Collector.

Arlene Kay

Bring back Lincoln!

Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2016

Verified Purchase

I am a faithful fan but this novel was a disappointing departure from an old pro like Deaver. Two major problems spring to mind: Deaver uses an "information dump" to inundate the reader with information about Dancer's expertise and specialty. Enough already!! Sprinkle it in, use it judiciously. Also, at the end of the novel (80%) he inserts a plot twist that is patently absurd and decimates the flow of the narrative.Kathryn is rather a dull sort and nothing in this novel made her more likable or interesting. Also, it is a tired writer's trick to insert popular characters from another series in a new book. Lincoln and Saks were gratuitous additions (albeit brief ones) to a tired narrative. DO BETTER JEFFERY!

Top reviews from other countries

TheOnlyLaHeffa

Its just...ok.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 11, 2013

Verified Purchase

I love Jeffrey Deaver's writing style and the Lincoln Rhyme series is one of my favourites. I was so excited to discover the spin off series involving Kathryn Dance, a kinesics specialist (a body language expert for us lay people). Kathryn featured in the Lincoln Rhyme series so I know I could expect similar twists in the new series. In The Sleeping Doll, Kathryn was called on to lead the hunt for an escaped cult killer, Daniel Pell. Using her knowledge and experience she tried to anticipate Pell's next move and potentially capture him. However, Pell is quite crafty and always seemed to stay one step ahead of Dance.
Overall, I was very disappointed in this book. 80 % into it, it started to gain momentum. Deaver should be commended in blending the skill of kinesics into a roller coaster thriller, but it didn't work well for me. In one scene, Dance contacted Lincoln Rhyme and my pulse rate absurdly increased anticipating that rush from reading the Lincoln Rhyme series. Sadly, Lincoln only made a five line cameo appearance and I was left feeling cheated. In some instances it seemed like Deaver was relating kinesics characteristics to fit in with his story and it felt very disconnected. I can appreciate that he wanted to relay how Dance reached her conclusion on each person's behaviours but to list every body response in detail made this book a very tedious read. I was so looking forward to reading Roadside Crosses, his second Dance book, but I'm quite hesitant in case I have a theoretical lesson on each page again.

Malikah Ullah

Super thrilling and addictive read - no spoilers

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 21, 2020

Verified Purchase

The Sleeping Doll is full of twists and turns and never failed to shock and excite me as a reader! You follow a very smart detective follow the cue and come to far-reaching but impressive conclusions. It's thrilling and with time progressing as you read, it's much like a criminal minds ep (but better and as a book!). I finished quick and was satisfied with the ending. I will be sure to move onto the sequel.

Michelle N

A good read as always

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 13, 2019

Verified Purchase

I've read most of the books by Jeffrey Deaver and I love them, this is one of his earlier books that I missed out so decided to go back and read. Jeffrey Deaver books never disappoint, they are always full of twists and turns that keep you guessing. This book has a good storyline and is definitely worth a read.

Tel

Brilliant Read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2019

Verified Purchase

I like Jeffery Deaver and his stories. You are guaranteed a good read. What I especially liked about this book were the twists and turns and an unlikely and highly likeable main character. And baddies who are not all black and white. Highly recommended.

Mr Victor Stables

Kathryn Dance book 1.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 3, 2019

Verified Purchase

As with most Jeffrey Deaver books, a very enjoyable read. Nice to have a main character that doesn't have so many hangups that it detracts from the story. Was purchased for a family member to read, but I will probably read more in the series.

See all reviews