Burning Wire

LincolnRhymeisback,onthetrailofakillerwhoseweaponofchoicecripplesNewYorkCitywithfear.Theweaponisinvisibleandomnipresent.Withoutit,modernsocietygrindstoahalt.Itiselectricity.Thekillerharnessesandsteershugearcflasheswithvoltagesohighandheatsosearingthatsteelmeltsandhisvictimsaresetafire.Whenthefirstexplosionoccursinbroaddaylight,reducingacitybustoapileofmolten,shrapnel-riddledmetal,officialsfearterrorism.Rhyme,aworld-classforensiccriminologistknownforhissuccessfulapprehensionofthemostdeviouscriminals,isimmediatelytappedfortheinvestigation.Longaquadriplegic,heassemblesNYPDdetectiveAmeliaSachsandofficerRonPulaskiashiseyes,earsandlegsoncrimesites,andFBIagentFredDellrayashisundercovermanonthestreet.Astheattackscontinueacrossthecityatasickeningpace,andterrifyingdemandlettersbeginappearing,theteamworksdesperatelyagainsttimeandwithmaddeninglylittleforensicevidencetotrytofindthekiller.Orisitkillers...?Meanwhile,Rhymeisconsultingonanotherhigh-profileinvestigationinMexicowithamostcovetedquarryinhiscrosshairs:thehiredkillerknownastheWatchmaker,oneofthefewcriminalstohaveeludedRhyme'snet.JugglingtwomassiveinvestigationsagainstacrueltickingclocktakesatollonRhyme'shealth.SoonRhymeisfightingonyetanotherfront--andhisdeterminationtoworkdespitehisphysicallimitationsthreatenstodriveawayhisclosestallieswhenheneedsthemmost...