Swiping Hearts

Lincoln Rhyme #15.5

by Jeffery Deaver

Forensic detective Lincoln Rhyme investigates his strangest case yet in this diabolical new story.

A serial killer in the making? Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs are called upon to tackle a crime unlike any they’ve ever faced. An unknown subject is using his formidable skills to work his way into the lives—and hearts—of his victims, all with the goal of utterly destroying them psychologically and emotionally . . . for his pure pleasure. Rhyme recognizes the trademark sadism of a future serial killer, but the man has been meticulously careful—indeed, stopping just short of illegal behavior, ensuring that the criminalist’s forensic skills are useless against him. Will Rhyme and Sachs be able to stop the ruthless perp before the inevitable happens and he decides that breaking people metaphorically is no longer enough?

Genres: Audiobook, Short Stories, Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Thriller

42 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2023

About the author

#1 international bestselling author of over thirty novels and three collections of short stories. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. His first novel featuring Lincoln Rhyme, The Bone Collector, was made into a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. He's received or been shortlisted for a number of awards around the world.

Reviews

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Legendary forensic detective Lincoln Rhyme investiagtes a unique villain, who turned out to be one of Jeffery Deaver's greatest creations. Unfortunatley, this being a short story, meant that everything had to be wrapped up & resolved far too quickly. There's a nice Deaver twist ((as always!), but this underdeveloped idea really cried out to be a full length novel.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeffrey Deaver has always interested me, as I find his writing quite addictive and devoured the first number novels. Once a well-established and sought after criminalist with the NYPD, all this changed for Lincoln Rhyme when a workplace accident left him a C4 quadriplegic. While he has spent time trying to reassemble what pieces are left of his life, Rhyme cannot let life pass him by.

In this short piece, Rhyme is approached by his wife, Detective Amelia Sachs, to help a friend of hers. She had been corresponding with a man through a dating app and when they decide to meet, he walks away in plain sight. While not a crime, the skills he uses to work his way into her life and heart does not bode well. This sadistic pleasure of playing with the emotions of others could be early red flags to serial killer behaviour. While Rhyme and Sachs explore a number of other cases where women report the same situation, they try to find the man and target him before things cross a horrible line. Deaver tackles some modern issues in this short piece that is sure to impress.

Jeffrey Deaver has kept my series binge highly addictive as I learn so much. I can never tell what awaits me, which adds to the excitement. The narrative offers up a unique and timely story that pulls Rhyme into the middle of it all. Not yet a crime, but inching closer to the line, which pushes the piece along and provides series fans with another mean by which the forensics expert can flex his muscles. Working through the world of online dating and luring, the story soon envelops many key aspects and how things can easily go sour in short order.

Characters add something to the story, and this piece has some great personalities, alongside series regulars. Rhyme and Sachs remain in the forefront, using a few secondary ones to support themes and ideas on offer. With a short story, there is no time to sit idly by, so the reader must tackle the investigation alongside Rhyme and Sachs before too long.

Plot points serve as a key aspect to inch this short piece along. Surprises are present as Deaver weaves a poignant topic into the middle of the story. Rhyme offers his view on things about which he might know little, showing how it connects to something he knows well, the world of serial killers. Before long, the reader is in the middle of a messy situation and can only find solace by focussing their attention on the rest of the piece.

Kudos, Mr. Deaver, for a great piece that is both relevant and timely in its presentation.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Natalie M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now here is a short story you could use to teach narrative writing!

Perfect story arc, length and twist. Admittedly, it is far easier to capture an audience when you use established characters, especially such good ones. However, even readers who don’t follow the series would find this short story easy to follow and comprehensive enough to get the full value out of this read.

An extremely difficult storytelling style - written to perfection!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A guy is breaking hearts using a dating app. He lives to emotionally break women. It's only a matter of time before he escalates his behavior to serial killing. A lot happens in these 50 pages and it's never what you expect. Deaver is a master at misdirection.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story was a somewhat different investigation for Lincoln Rhyme. A friend of Amelia Sach's is emotionally devastated when a man she's been "online dating" for over two months shows up in person, only to show her that he's been lying to her and leading her on the whole time. And as it turns out, he's been doing this to people through dating apps several times. While nothing felonious has occurred, the police can't help her, so Lincoln and Amelia agree to take the case. While the tale was a much lighter one than the usual murderers, kidnappers and assassins Rhyme and Sachs normally pursue, it was still an interesting read.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick adventure with Lincoln and Amelia. They try to help out a friend, but then get brought into help the police. Busy with that case, they have to turn down their friend, who finds a different way to take care of things. Friendship...it does make the world go round.

[RaChelle Holmberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Downloaded from my public library, this was an absolutely DELIGHTFUL Lincoln Rhyme short story. No spoilers, but well worth the wait:-)

[Jayce · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this as a novella, and it was good. There is no rating since I do not rate novellas that are a hundred pages, since the story is fast paced and done quickly after you start it. I only rate books that are over 100 pages, regardless if it is a novella or not. Which, that is the reason that novellas are rated lower on Goodreads, even if they do have a good story and plot to the novella. Overall, I did enjoy this novella, and I would read more Jeffery Deaver books!

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not worth the time spent reading it.

[Jerry B · Rating 3 out of 5]

We're a big fan of novellas and short stories, the latter a specialty of Deaver. Unfortunately, "Hearts" is billed as longer tale, but is really only a 20-minute or so short tale, and to boot, one with very little in the way of a crime or in crime solving. Rather, a fairly unique sense of justice was deployed to catch a perp before he could attempt something worse. Certainly not much to entertain Sachs and Lincoln Rhyme, could have been almost anyone.

Interesting, but awfully short.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is fine dining, choosing only from the taster menu.

A Lincoln Rhyme short story lacking nothing to be found and enjoyed in the longer version. So perfect to whet one’s appetite or sample Jeffery Deaver’s writing skills. A perfect filler while waiting for the next episode in this thrilling series or a chance to get a sneak preview into book 16, The Watchmaker’s Hand.

My trouble is that I like to read these episodic adventures in sequence so I can’t just read on without returning to 1997 and The Bone Collector which I read and was blown away in the film adaptation. Having never read book 2 - I am almost compelled to start the series from the very beginning. Something I have been putting off until I retire, I get my fix from Deaver’s other series and short stories but these “standalone” offerings like Swiping Hearts are so rewarding. Taking me deep into the world of Rhyme and Sachs without that over commitment of time due to pages.

So like me you have nothing to lose. No reason not to read this short story. It is win, win. You may find a new author to devour, you may hurry to a bibliography menu of Rhyme’s cases and scurry back to the very beginning. Certainly you will find the dark side of crime and serial killer mentality and a new found appreciation of this great author’s work.

[Jayce · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this as a novella, and it was good. There is no rating since I do not rate novellas that are a hundred pages, since the story is fast paced and done quickly after you start it. I only rate books that are over 100 pages, regardless if it is a novella or not. Which, that is the reason that novellas are rated lower on Goodreads, even if they do have a good story and plot to the novella. Overall, I did enjoy this novella, and I would read more Jeffery Deaver books!

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unsub with a difference. This perpetrator inveigles his way into the lives of unwitting victims online. He never touches them, or steals from them. He merely breaks their hearts. Something which isn't actually illegal.

Deaver's clever short story has a satisfying conclusion and serves to remind everyone that he is a master of plotting at any story length.

[Alicia Webster · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars pains me. I am a huge fan of Jeffery Deaver, especially the Lincoln Rhyme series. However, the short story format removed all that is great about the forensic expert and his partner, Amelia. This felt thoroughly under-developed and an ending that fell very flat (as well as pretty counter intuitive to the character of Lincoln)

[Robert and Nina Dewhirst · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Disappointment. . .

First, this is a short story, not a novel (as advertised). Second, while the "bad guy" might have eventually become a killer, Rhyme knew that he had been set up. Lincoln Rhyme played judge and jury, sending someone to prison for crimes he didn't commit. Not very scientific!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short book with Lincoln and Amanda. One of Amanda's friends meets a man from a dating site and gets tricked by him when he tells her all the things told to her were lies. When they find that nothing can be done about it. Lincoln comes up with a plan

[Pegeen · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mini audio book where the action takes place off stage and the “O’Henry” twist is just revealed as a “ ha , gotcha” moment. Thankfully got this thru library, but it wasn’t even long enough to cover the time of my morning dog walk. G

[teresa j travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

love deaver

As usual, Mr Deaver has done his usual great job. Love the twists and turns. It may have been a short story but worth reading. Can’t wait for his next book. He never disappoints

[Freda Rutherford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet

I'm not sure this is even long enough to be classified as a short story, essay maybe. He I was all set for an evening with a good book. Now nothing. Yes it's cute but short.

[Fictionatnight · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short story with forensic detective Lincoln Rhyme. Someone is targeting lonely women and Lincoln is on the case. A clever short story for fans of the Lincoln Rhyme series and the audiobook is just under 1 hour long.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good short story.
I love a short story and admittedly am quite harsh in my judgement of them (much more so than of a novel). This was concise and well written with a clear structure. I'm encouraged to read more by Deaver based on this story.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely little novella. Moves quickly and Rhyme does what he does best, helps someone despite his unemotive motivations. A lonely hearts site is the central narrative as Ed Gable aims to break unsuspecting hearts. He didnt factor in Rhyme.

[Bob Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tasting little tale

This short story is a little different from the usual Lincoln Rhyme story. This time there is no crime to solve. But there is justice to be found for the victim. I liked this story because Rhyme saw that justice was done.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short story that has our favourite couple trying to figure out a case of a series of broken hearts that have dating apps in common. That is until the last victim has other things in mind for the perpetrator. Recommended.

[Harlan D. Kilstein · Rating 1 out of 5]

So disappointed

Short stories are not Deaver's strong point. his full stories can't be beat. This one is a hard pass. You'll thank me

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not expect a short story, not enough time to develop a character. Very interesting outcome

[Sharon Bell tabbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great but short

Love Lincoln & Amelia. Had to read this one. It was short, read in one day but it wax good

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this was a short story and short it was. Enj0yed the story line but it was over before there was any depth of character development. Might have been a great story of it was longer.

[Sheldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story to excite us for the next Lincoln Rhyme thriller. So I’m in!

[Aldeen Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprised me again

As always, such a great read. And in so few pages. A completely enjoyable hour or so. Deaver never disappoints