Where to Start with Kathryn Dance
If you want to dive into the world of Kathryn Dance, you have two excellent entry points. The absolute best way to experience her character is by starting with her introduction in the Lincoln Rhyme novel The Cold Moon (2006). Although she is a supporting character here, it establishes her working relationship with Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs, setting the stage for her spin-off. If you prefer to jump straight into her solo adventures, you should start with her first headlining novel, The Sleeping Doll (2007).
Kathryn Dance Books in Recommended Reading Order
To follow Kathryn's career, personal life, and her occasional crossings with the Lincoln Rhyme team, we recommend reading the books in order of their publication. This timeline integrates both her solo cases and her crossover appearances:
- The Cold Moon (2006) – Lincoln Rhyme Book 7 (First Appearance): Kathryn Dance, a California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) agent specializing in kinesics, travel to New York to assist Lincoln Rhyme in hunting a killer known as the Watchmaker.
- The Sleeping Doll (2007) – Kathryn Dance Book 1: In her solo debut, Dance is back in California tracking down Daniel Pell, a charismatic, murderous cult leader known as the "Son of Manson" who has escaped custody.
- Roadside Crosses (2009) – Kathryn Dance Book 2: Dance faces off against a tech-savvy killer targeting victims along the Monterey Peninsula, using social media and blog forums to coordinate the attacks.
- The Burning Wire (2010) – Lincoln Rhyme Book 9 (Crossover): Dance makes a secondary crossover appearance, assisting Rhyme and Sachs with an investigation involving a weaponized electrical grid in New York.
- XO (2012) – Kathryn Dance Book 3: Dance steps into the country music scene to defend a young star, Kayleigh Towne, from an obsessive stalker. Lincoln Rhyme makes a cameo appearance in this story.
- "Fast" (2013) – Short Story: A fast-paced digital short story where Dance races against time to stop a domestic terrorist cell before they can execute a devastating attack. This story was later included in the physical anthology Trouble in Mind (2014).
- Solitude Creek (2015) – Kathryn Dance Book 4: Dance investigates a terrifying stampede at a roadhouse, discovering a culprit who deliberately uses crowd panic and fear as a lethal weapon.
Understanding the Lincoln Rhyme Connections
Jeffery Deaver's thrillers exist within a shared universe. Lincoln Rhyme and Kathryn Dance are colleagues who respect each other's specialized crime-solving disciplines. Because their methods are so different, they complement each other perfectly during joint investigations. While Lincoln operates out of his New York townhouse focusing on micro-evidence and trace forensics, Kathryn is based in California's Monterey Peninsula, relying on the psychology of interrogation and body language analysis.
You do not need to read the entire Lincoln Rhyme series to enjoy Kathryn Dance. However, reading The Cold Moon and The Burning Wire adds substantial depth to Kathryn's professional history and her personal rapport with the New York team.
What to Know Before You Start
The Power of Kinesics: Unlike traditional forensic investigators who analyze physical evidence like hair, fiber, or dirt, Kathryn Dance is an expert in kinesics. This is the scientific study of body language, facial micro-expressions, posture shifts, eye movements, and vocal stress. She reads suspects to detect deception and reveal hidden motives during high-stakes interrogations.
The Setting: Most of the Kathryn Dance series is set along the beautiful but treacherous Monterey Peninsula in California. Deaver makes excellent use of the local geography, contrast of coastal charm, and lurking threats, providing a distinct atmosphere compared to the urban grit of Lincoln Rhyme's New York City.
Reading Standalones: Each Kathryn Dance novel features a self-contained investigation that is resolved by the end of the book. You can read them out of order without ruining the core mystery, but you will miss out on her evolving personal relationships, her struggles as a widowed mother of two, and her long-term career trajectory.