The Stone Monkey

In Jeffery Deaver's riveting follow-up to 'The Bone Collector,' forensic criminalist Lincoln Rhyme and his partner Amelia Sachs are plunged into a perilous new case that challenges their skills and their relationship. Tasked by the FBI and INS, they intercept a cargo ship headed for New York City, carrying two dozen illegal Chinese immigrants and the notoriously brutal human smuggler and killer known only as 'the Ghost.' However, the Ghost's capture goes horribly awry, leading to his escape. Rhyme and Sachs find themselves in a desperate race against time to track him down before he can locate and murder the two surviving families from the ship, who have vanished into the sprawling, intricate labyrinth of New York City's Chinese community. As Rhyme meticulously analyzes forensic evidence to pinpoint the families' whereabouts, aided by a quirky but insightful policeman from mainland China, Sachs finds herself forming an unexpected, profound connection with one of the immigrants. This burgeoning bond not only complicates her emotional landscape but also threatens to strain her professional and personal relationship with Lincoln, forcing her to confront difficult choices amidst the high-stakes hunt for a ruthless killer.