Dickens & Rumi

book

The Burning Wire

Jeffery Deaver · 2010

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for The Burning Wire by Jeffery Deaver. This book is content notes include Death of a character, Frightening scenes, Violence; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Creativity & curiosity.

Book 9 · The Lincoln Rhyme SeriesSource checked

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsDeath of a character 4/5 · Frightening scenes 4/5 · Violence 4/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 4/5 · Creativity & curiosity 3/5
Series positionBook 9 · The Lincoln Rhyme Series
Recommendation3.3/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

Readiness snapshotMain watch-out: Death of a character 4/5
Recommendation 3.3/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
16Scored categories
16Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Nov 6, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

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Review depth16 scored categories16 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character4/5
  • Frightening scenes4/5
  • Violence4/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Creativity & curiosity3/5
  • Good role models3/5

Reading order

Series progression

All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.

Next volumeBook 10 · The Kill RoomStrongest cautions: Death of a character 4/5 · Violence 4/5Open next review →
  1. Book 1 · The Bone Collector (A Lincoln Rhyme Novel)
    Death of a character5/5Frightening scenes5/5Graphic injury5/5Violence5/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Products & advertising1/5
    Starting point
  2. Book 2 · The coffin dancer
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Romance2/5Strong language2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets gentler
  3. Book 3 · The empty chair
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5
    About the same
  4. Book 4 · The Stone Monkey
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Products & advertising1/5
    About the same
  5. Book 5 · The vanished man
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Strong language3/5Romance2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    About the same
  6. Book 7 · The Cold Moon
    Death of a character5/5Violence5/5Frightening scenes4/5Graphic injury3/5Strong language3/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5
    About the same
  7. Book 8 · The Broken Window
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Products & advertising2/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5
    About the same
  8. Book 9 · The Burning Wire
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Romance2/5Products & advertising1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets gentler
  9. Book 10 · The Kill Room
    Death of a character4/5Violence4/5Frightening scenes3/5Graphic injury3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Products & advertising1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets gentler
  10. Book 11 · The skin collector
    Death of a character5/5Graphic injury5/5Violence5/5Frightening scenes4/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Romance2/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets more intense
  11. Book 12 · The Steel Kiss
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Strong language3/5Romance2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Products & advertising1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets gentler
  12. Book 13 · The Burial Hour
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Graphic injury4/5Violence4/5Strong language3/5Romance2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Products & advertising1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    About the same
  13. Book 14 · The Cutting Edge
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Graphic injury4/5Violence4/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Products & advertising1/5
    Gets more intense
  14. Book 15 · The Midnight Lock
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Romance2/5Strong language2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Products & advertising1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets gentler
  15. Book 16 · The Watchmaker's Hand
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Romance2/5Products & advertising1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets more intense

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What’s in it?

Products & advertising1/5
Why this rating?

Real-world tech and settings are mentioned as part of the procedural realism.

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

A deadly arc flash, multiple murders, and discussion of execution and criminal culpability are important plot elements.

Graphic injury3/5
Why this rating?

Electrical attacks and murders involve serious injuries, but the supplied material does not establish how graphically those injuries are described.

Strong language3/5
Why this rating?

The adult crime-thriller setting supports recurring strong language, though the supplied excerpt contains no examples.

Romance2/5
Why this rating?

An established relationship is present in the investigative series, but romance remains secondary to the crime plot.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

Deadly power-grid attacks, terrorism, pursuit, investigation, and an attempt on the protagonist create sustained thriller tension.

Sexual content & nudity1/5
Why this rating?

Some mature references may occur, but explicit sexual activity or strongly sexualized content is not a prominent feature.

Alcohol or drugs2/5
Why this rating?

Adult characters may use alcohol or other substances occasionally, but substance use is not central to the plot.

Violence4/5
Why this rating?

Terrorist sabotage, planned electrical attacks, murders, police operations, and an attempted killing are central to the plot.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

Characters routinely risk their safety to stop a dangerous threat.

Creativity & curiosity3/5
Why this rating?

Showcases ingenious problem-solving and forensic investigation methods.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

The cast includes a varied investigative team and Mexican police collaboration, though the excerpt gives limited detail about representation.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

Provides procedural details regarding forensics and electrical infrastructure.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Investigators cooperate and support one another, but the dangerous crime investigation is more central than everyday kindness.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

Focuses on justice and the triumph of logic over chaos.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

The protagonists are highly intelligent and dedicated, though the content is dark.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in The Burning Wire would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in The Burning Wire, and what caused that change?
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