Steel Kiss cover

Steel Kiss

Rating 4.0
Word count
262K words
Chapters
72
ISBN
9787513339971

Tags

Summary

Amelia Sachs is in a desperate hunt for a killer. As she chases him through a Brooklyn shopping mall, a passenger escalator malfunctions. A step buckles, and a man falls into the machinery, caught in the gears, mangled beyond recognition—a horrifying sight. Sachs is forced to let her quarry escape. She leaps into the escalator to try to help the victim. But she and forensic expert Lincoln Rhyme soon realize that this accident is no accident at all—it is the beginning of a series of deliberate attacks. They are facing their most terrifying enemy yet: a brilliant killer who turns the most ordinary objects of daily life into weapons of murder—from cars and cell phones to microwave ovens and even the smart speakers that keep babies company, any of them can kill in an instant. As the body count rises, Sachs and Rhyme must race against time to uncover the killer's identity and purpose, and to save lives yet unknown...

Editor's review

The Steel Kiss is an outstanding entry in the Lincoln Rhyme series by Jeffery Deaver, master of American suspense fiction. The novel continues Deaver's signature intricate plotting and breakneck pacing, seamlessly blending forensic science with psychological suspense. The story revolves around a string of brutal serial attacks with baffling motives, and the protagonist—Lincoln Rhyme, a forensic expert who is quadriplegic—must rely on his extraordinary powers of observation and deduction to piece together the truth from fragmentary physical evidence. In this book Deaver once again displays his remarkable skill at constructing complex puzzles and setting up multiple reversals, with the plot advancing like precision gears, each turn interlocking with the next, the tension almost spilling off the page.

Compared with other books in the series, The Steel Kiss goes deeper in characterization. It not only focuses on the默契 cooperation and emotional bond between Rhyme and his partner Amelia Sachs, but also offers a delicate and convincing analysis of the criminal's psychological motives, adding human depth and reflection to the story beyond the intellectual contest. Deaver's descriptions of forensic science details remain rigorous and engrossing, enough to immerse readers in the pleasure of unraveling the mystery step by step.

For fans of suspense and mystery, The Steel Kiss is undoubtedly an exhilarating brainstorm. It is not only a typical "impossible crime" puzzle feast, but also explores profound themes such as obsession, trauma, and redemption. Deaver's consistently high level of output ensures the book's reading value, making it a rare gem among contemporary legal-thriller suspense novels.

Who it's for

A good fit for

  • Hardcore suspense readers obsessed with intricate deduction and multiple plot reversals
  • Readers with a strong interest in forensic science and crime-scene investigation details
  • Devoted fans of Jeffery Deaver or the Lincoln Rhyme series
  • Those seeking a tightly paced, immersive read they can finish in one sitting

Not a good fit for

  • Readers who prefer a leisurely pace and literary description over plot
  • Readers who are sensitive to or have a low tolerance for descriptions of crime details

Reading tips

  1. Set aside uninterrupted reading time, as the tight plot makes it hard to put down once started
  2. Pay some attention to the descriptions of forensic tools and methods—a unique charm of Deaver's novels
  3. While reading, follow Rhyme's perspective and try to deduce for yourself, experiencing the participatory fun of solving the puzzle

About the publisher

New Star Press China · Founded in 1989

New Star Press focuses on classic works, mystery and detective fiction, science fiction, history, foreign literature and art, and its 602 titles in the library show a balance between popular reading and humanistic depth. Representative books include The Complete Works of Shakespeare: Illustrated Collector's Edition, And Then There Were None, Murder on the Orient Express, The Player of Games, Local Government in Qing China, A Good Man Is Hard to Find and A Collection of Fine Ukiyo-e Prints, spanning classic literature, detective fiction, science fiction, local history and visual art. Its authors and contributors include William Shakespeare, Agatha Christie and Iain M. Banks, as well as translators such as Zhu Shenghao and Su Fuzhong and illustrators such as John Gilbert and George Cruikshank. Known for the detective series Midnight Library and for social-science and humanities titles, the press emphasizes edition design and reading experience; public information is limited, so this profile highlights the publishing features reflected in the library's books.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 作者简介
  3. 杰夫里·迪弗 重要作品年表
  4. 第一部分 星期二 钝力
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 第二部分 星期三 实习生
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 第三部分 星期四 利用
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 第四部分 星期五 人民卫士
  33. 26
  34. 27
  35. 28
  36. 29
  37. 30
  38. 31
  39. 32
  40. 33
  41. 34
  42. 35
  43. 36
  44. 37
  45. 38
  46. 第五部分 星期六—— 将军……
  47. 39
  48. 40
  49. 41
  50. 42
  51. 43
  52. 44
  53. 45
  54. 46
  55. 第六部分 星期日 ……将死
  56. 47
  57. 48
  58. 49
  59. 50
  60. 51
  61. 52
  62. 53
  63. 54
  64. 55
  65. 56
  66. 57
  67. 58
  68. 59
  69. 60
  70. 第七部分 星期一 A计划
  71. 61
  72. 62

FAQ

I haven't read other books in the Lincoln Rhyme series. Can I start directly with The Steel Kiss?
Absolutely. Although the characters in Deaver's series are continuous, each case stands alone as an independent story, and understanding the plot of The Steel Kiss does not depend on previous books. However, knowing the background of the protagonist Rhyme will give you a deeper appreciation of the character relationships.
What is the deductive style of this book?
It belongs to the typical "physical evidence deduction" or "legal procedural deduction." The core of solving the case relies on extremely detailed, scientific analysis of physical evidence (such as fibers, soil, ballistics, etc.), with a rigorous logical chain, and reversals often based on reinterpretation of the evidence.
Does the title The Steel Kiss have any special meaning?
"The Steel Kiss" is a key, metaphor-laden image, specifically referring to a unique crime tool or method in the case. It is both the core physical evidence running through the case and a symbol of the cold, hard nature of the crime. To avoid spoilers, no further explanation is given here.

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About the author

Jeffery Deaver Author · United States · 1950

Jeffery Deaver is an American suspense and crime novelist born in 1950. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and Fordham University School of Law. His writing is known for intricate plotting and narrative tension. His representative works include the Lincoln Rhyme series, featuring a paralyzed detective, beginning with The Bone Collector, which has been adapted for film and television multiple times. His other works include The Sniper's Room, The Angel's Horn, The Coffin Dancer, The Broken Window, The Empty Chair, The Stone Monkey, and The Burning Wire. In the Chinese book market, his works are often categorized as suspense and mystery, premium fiction, and foreign literature. Deaver has also been invited to continue the 007 series, reflecting his broad influence in genre fiction.

熊娉婷 Author

Xiong Pingting currently has only limited publicly available information; details such as her biography, nationality, and educational background have not been clearly recorded. According to the library's holdings, she has one work, Steel Kiss, which is classified under foreign literature. This categorization suggests that the book may involve exotic settings or cross-cultural themes, but the available information is not yet sufficient to determine its specific content or narrative style. As an author, Xiong Pingting's literary profile still awaits further works and materials to emerge. Readers who become interested in her and her writing may begin with Steel Kiss and, through reading, appreciate the work's thematic orientation and expressive characteristics. In the absence of external corroboration, this introduction is based solely on the facts in the library and makes no extended speculation, so as to avoid misleading readers; it may be revised and improved if reliable materials are added later.

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