Sadly, this didn't work well with me. It would have been good, but there's too much telling than showing that it made me feel detached to the story and the characters. The main characters, Sloan and Ciara, are interesting, but how they are presented feels too clinical to me. Even how they solved the case feels clinical. It's just too convenient. Reading it felt like the author was such in a hurry to finish the novella.

Jeffery Deaver’s Scheme is one of his short stories. A lot happens in a short amount of time. Everything comes together beautifully with a surprise twist.

Jeffery Deaver is a highly acclaimed author. I have read many of his novels and have enjoyed all of his writings. What I did not know is just how prolific a writer he is. He has written over 40 novels (whaaat?). And 80 short stories! SCHEME is a short story, and a brilliant one at that. Mr. Deaver develops multi dimensional characters . He also develops unique storylines. The plots are dynamic and fast paced- and SO interesting,! I appreciate his literary devices, but most of all, his clever and intriguing twists that the reader never sees coming! Wow! Thoroughly enjoyable reading with a satisfying denouement - who could ask for anything more?

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and Mr, Deaver for the privilege of reading an ARC of this novella. It is my pleasure to write this unbiased review.

I always enjoy these Jeffery Deaver short stories. They are a nice break from novels, and can be read in one sitting. Enjoyed the plot (and twists), and enjoyed the characters. Could be easily extended to make into a novel (or a series). #Scheme #NetGalley

SCHEME is a majorly complex Novella by prolific, imaginative, author Jeffrey Deaver. Bomb threats whose locations are revealed through long poems?! Bringing in a poetry expert from the local college?
I'm just scratching the surface: this story is wonderfully complex, a fast and very satisfying read.
SCHEME will be released as an Amazon Original Stories entry April 28, 2022.

This is a short story. I like Deaver, but I find that I prefer his novels.

While the story is interesting, it falls a little ‘short’ (sorry). I thought the crime was strange, the reason behind everything really convoluted and the loved the characters. I do not *think* these are characters from any of the books (if they are, I missed that), but I think they should be.

This was an okay read. It’s certainly fast paced and I did enjoy the cat-and-mouse aspect of it.

But, for me, Deaver’s longer reads are superior.

*ARC via Publisher

Scheme is the newest novella from Jeffery Deaver. Fans of Deaver will enjoy this condensed version of one of his normal stories.

I really enjoyed getting to read a Deaver story so quickly. He still managed to fit his multiple points of views, twists, and intertwining characters in such a small amount of pages. The first couple chapters were a litle rushed and seemed full of things that didn't feel like they fit in the story but everything made sense by the end.

A great story to check out if you are interested in reading another Deaver story. Gives you a great taste of his story structure and writing style.

Was fun to read a book of his outside of the Lincoln Rhyme series.

Thanks to Jeffrey and NetGalley for allowing me to read The Scheme before the publication date.

This short story introduces the reader to Detective Jake Sloan as he tries to identify who is setting sophisticated IEDs in Middleton and why.
This could not happen at a worse time as Middleton PDs resources are tied up making arrangements to transfer a valuable drugs haul to a high security location and a gangland enforcer to a safe house.
When Sloan receives some cryptic poetry after the first device is found, he is at a loss to understand what it means.
He welcomes an offer of help to interpret the poetry from Professor Ciara Hawkins, whose charms Sloan is not immune to.

This is so good! Great characters and fast paced with an amazing twist in the tale. Dealer is the master of the short thriller!

A quick thrilling read. Is there a bomber out there that wants to cause death & destruction? Detectives Sloan & Pe’rez have just put on the bombing case but they have no idea what the poem means. A professor from one of the local colleges has offered to help with trying to find clues that can help with finding the bomber. Ciara is more than just a poetry professor she is here to finish a job and needs to plant false clues for the detectives to follow. Will they find the bomber before someone dies? Sloan is about to find out the truth about the helpful professor just when he thought that they could have something.
A short read but still interesting. Liked the characters especially Sloan just a pity he wasn’t able to figure out the truth. Ciara was real sneaky but it is her role to play. Always enjoy Jeffery Deaver stories. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC copy. This is my voluntary review

Back when I was a kid, it was quite popular for a writer to write a short story ( usually a mystery of some ilk ) that would have a solid beginning ,middle and end. The story would be under a certain number of words and be satisfying to read.
This is that exactly. It has a great beginning, a pretty good middle and a surprise ending that ties it all together.
Fantastic writing.
Highly recommend.

4.5★s
Scheme is a short story by best-selling, award-winning American author, Jeffrey Deaver, published under the Amazon Original Stories banner. An IED that threatens Middleton General Hospital is disarmed by a young cop, and soon after, MPD Tech Services intercept what appears to be the bomber’s “go ahead”, a coded email. Detective Jack Sloan is puzzled: what is he to make of a poem? The FBI has no answer, yet.

The next morning, another poem: the clock is ticking. Quantico recommends a local expert: Professor Ciara Hawkins teaches English at Mercer College, specialising in poetry. She enters the MPD pen a little wide-eyed: there’s a lot going on, what with a meth haul going into evidence and a drug dealer being brought in. Jack takes Ciara under his wing and, some hours later, they have a success. But next morning, there’s a third poem, so a third bomb…

Deaver is equally at home with short or long fiction, and the master of the twist. Plenty of misdirection and a few red herrings before the reveal. A quick light read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories.

This short story by Jeffery Deaver is about domestic terrorist bomber in a Midwestern city who uses poetry to give clues about the location of future bombings. Police detective Sloan is part of the team investigating the case. During the investigation, Sloan meets Ciara Hawkins, a professor poetry at the local college who is recruited to give the police insight to the bomber's writings.
Not all is at it seems in this tale of crime.

Deaver has embraced the short story format the last couple of years. Scheme is his latest entry.

"An IED is found outside the Middleton Hospital. The FBI intercepts a message describing the location. But it's a poem and no one can decipher any code. Another message is intercepted. It's also poetry and the police bring in a lit professor to help with the case. Can the police decipher the next message?"

If you know anything about Deaver, you know that he is all about misdirection. There are plenty of red herrings here, but Deaver always gives all the clues. You will probably not see it though.

Deaver shows off his talent as a writer with the poetry that's an intergral part of the story. Even if his own character calls it bad poetry.

Some nice twists at the end - you probably won't guess it.

Another good offering from Deaver.

Another Deaver dud from Amazon shorts collection. I’ve come not to expect much from the author and at that he seldom disappoints. And while I wouldn’t read a novel of his, for a quick mindless read his stories are fine. Fine as in denoting extreme but acceptable mediocrity.
A bunch of clichéd characters, a mystery, and a convoluted twist at the end. Check, check, and check.
This time the plot has incendiary devices and poetry. Yes, poetry. Pretty crappy poetry, in with the rest of the production.
A detective sets out to investigate and gets involved with a poetry expert. Sparks do the thing sparks do…cause, you know, incendiary. And then, Deaver does his best to dazzle you with his surprise ending. Tada. The scheming of this tale is nowhere near as clever as it thinks it is, but Deaver does always seem to be playing for the cheap seats.
Short, readable, forgettable. Thanks Netgalley.

A fast, intriguing read. Full of police procedure, some interesting bomb information and a good mystery as they ran after the poetry writer. I liked the multiple perspectives and the peak into who they were chasing. I'd read more of this, if it's a series.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Scheme is a short story by master of crime fiction, Jeffrey Deaver. I'm been a huge fan of JD and his Lincoln Rhyme, Kathryn Dance and Colter Shaw series. This one is a quick, easy to read story which has all the expected charm, suspense and drama that we have come to expect from a JD story. While short, the story is quite developed and you feel connected to the characters. JD pulls of yet another explosive twist this time around. Id highly recommend this one to fans of JD or anyone looking for a fun, twist-filled suspense thriller.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyed the short story. It's a quick read that is full of twists and turns. I definitely wouldn't have guessed the ending and never suspected who was behind everything. I loved Detective Sloan and his humor. There must be a few good stories behind all of his scars.

Definitely recommend giving the short story a try. It's less than a 100 100 pages. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Amazon Original Stories through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a terrific suspenseful short story, from the well known and prolific crime writer, Jeffery Deaver. When an improvised explosive device is discovered and defused by Tony Kleppe outside a hospital, Middleton PD feel sure it is the work of Patriot Militia 12, a white supremacist group with their anti-government agenda. What is strange, however, is that the email identifying the location to the bomber is in the form of a poem serving as a secret code, and the police now have another email with another poem to decode. Which is how heavily scarred, ex-footballer, ex-military, 41 year old, senior gold shield MPD detective Sloan ends up working with a poetry professor, Ciara Hawkins, enlisting her help in their desperate efforts to get to the latest bomb to prevent a nightmare of a tragedy. This is a stellar short crime read, of misdirections and twists, beautifully plotted from a talented crime writer. Many thanks to Amazon Original Stories for an ARC.

This was an okay short story. The story kept the reader wondering what was going to happen next with a few possibilities possible. This was a quick read that I would recommend to others.