Interview

Talking With
Jeffery Deaver

His job is to “scare the socks off readers” and provide lots of surprises and twists, says mystery author Jeffery Deaver. “My books are about misdirection, and I lead the audience through distractions and regressions.” That’s why he decided to use the world of magic and illusion in his newest Lincoln Rhyme exploit, THE VANISHED MAN.

“The whole book is about misdirection,” says Deaver. He explains that an illusionist uses sleight of hand and a killer sees a relationship in that activity. Deaver learned about the world of magic through research. “Generally you can get all the information you need through reading,” says Deaver, “but talking to people also helps.” The Amazing Randi, an illusionist and psychic debunker, was especially helpful for this novel, he notes.

Deaver plans to write a Lincoln Rhyme novel every other year. This is his fifth. Writing is “what I love most in life,” he says. But a part of his job is also to do book tours. “When I spend three months on the road, I don’t have a lot of time to sit and read.” So he listens to audiobooks—while traveling he listens mostly to nonfiction. The latest one was JOHN ADAMS, by David McCullough. “I’m interested in American culture and history,” says Deaver, “I don’t listen to mysteries because I don’t want to be influenced by them.”

As for his own audiobooks, Deaver is happy that both abridged and unabridged versions are available. He doesn’t write his abridged scripts directly but is involved with the review of them. “I make sure the abridged versions are PG rated,” he says. He does this so parents listening to one of his abridged books, while driving to soccer for example, can be sure that their kids will not be exposed to things the parents don’t want them to hear.

Through all his extensive research for THE VANISHED MAN, can Deaver now do magic tricks? “No,” he says, “I tried to do some tricks, but it was a disaster. I just don’t have those skills.” But Deaver conjures up magic through his writing. His stories have the uncanny ability to keep readers up all night on the edge of their seats.—Denise R. Marchionda

APR/MAY03
©2003 AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Photo © David Sharpe