Rating: 
Summary: Worth Reading But Below Par For These Two Talented Authors
Review: I'm a huge fan of Preston and Child and have read and immensely enjoyed all their co-authored books. This is a good book, but falls short of others classics like The Relic, Riptide, and The Ice Limit. All the usual elements that make their other books appear to be there: interesting characters, unusual locations, a mysterious, twisting plot, and of course suspense throughout. Here some of the high technology and gadgets we've become accustomed to give way to a more historical bent, and more traditional means of murder-mystery solving via research, investigation, and a dash of intuition and luck.My main criticism of this book is that I feel it too-frequently crosses the line between amazing and ridiculous. I'm willing to stretch it for a suspense thriller, but some things are just too outrageous to accept. Pendergast in particular seems to have insight that goes well beyond reasonable. Yes, he is a genius, but most geniuses I've heard of still cannot see the future or things in the past from another person's viewpoint, nor predict with absolute clarity what a free-thinking individual will or will not do, not to mention [SPOILER ALERT] giving a calm, extremely long-winded explanation while mortally wounded that is completely unnecessary at the time. Some of the characters are one-dimensionally cartoonish, mostly the police and other authority figures. Take the overused cliches of real-estate-developing billionaire, impatient mayor, uncooperative boss of protagonist, and fat, clueless, inept police chief who won't listen to reason, who muddle up the investigation time and time again, even though we know the same lead characters have already proven themselves by solving a number of other crimes that no one else could. And guess what? It's election time and the mayor's minions are riding everyone's butts because he needs this case solved fast! Yep. However...I found myself liking it despite these flaws. If you expect this and it doesn't bother you, you will probably love it. It seemed to me that Lincoln and Child tried too hard to outdo themselves, and it was unnecessary. I'd opt for more human dialogue, a less-complex but more believable plot, and a BIT more secondary character development. The suspense will live up to your expectations and you could do far worse if you're looking for a light summer read.
Rating: 
Summary: intelligent thriller, great settings and characters
Review: This is the first book I've read by this writing team, though it will not be my last. Preston and Child work well together, and I'm interested in reading their solo work as well. In this not-quite-contemporary setting (only one person has a cell phone, for instance), New Orleans FBI Special Agent Pendergast is inexplicably interested in the recent discovery of a charnel beneath a New York construction site. He builds a team of assistants: Nora Kelly, Utahan archaeologist determined to make a go of her once-in-a-lifetime chance at working at the world's greatest natural history museum; William Smithback, reporter aching for a Pulitzer (and a suit worthy of the acceptance ceremony); Patrick O'Shaughnessy, a sergeant in the NY Police Department, fifth generation cop at the mercy of a cruel and petty precinct captain; Proctor, his invisible and indispensable chauffeur. These main characters, excepting Proctor, are well fleshed out and engaging, while Pendergast himself is an intriguing variant on the Sherlock Holmes-style detective. (These characters appear in other books by the same authors.) A healthy field of minor characters are also three-dimensional. Settings are vivid and evocative. Dialogue flows naturally. And bonus -- I even learned a little about urban archaeology and the scientific/fantastical collections of the title. Very well done. I'm anxious to read more from these authors and to read more about these characters. If you are interested in an intelligent thriller rooted in NYC history, you will probably enjoy this too. If you like Caleb Carr, Iain Pears or Jack Finney, you will likely appreciate this masterful and gripping mystery.
Rating:
Summary: Great - - Riveting
Review: This was truly a "couldn't put down" type book. I most enjoyed the clues that were in every line if you paid attention. The details of the areas visited / crime sceens, etc. I purchased all of their books, but only the "Relic" books even gave a clue to power of "The Cabinet of Curiosities". It was a super book that I could not put down and would look forward to any of similar intellect by these two. The FBI agent allowed the reader to think / assimilate the crime-story. AWL
Rating:
Summary: The best yet from Preston & Child
Review: I have been a fan of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child ever since Relic was released. Each book has been a wonderful read, with my personal favorites being Reliquary and Thunderhead. After hearing that they had a new book coming out, I began to peruse their excellent website on a daily basis, seeking out new information. The sample chapters were great, but I still couldn't wait for the book. Finally the UPS man delivered my Amazon order and I could sit down to a night of reading. Was all the anxiety worth it? Of course it was. Suffice it to say that after a long night of reading, Cabinet is now my favorite Preston/Child book. The story is remarkable, as is the cast of characters. Having Pendergast return was simply the best. Reading Cabinet was an extremely creepy experience, in a very good way. The tension is unbelievable and the surprise ending will give you quite a jolt. I can't recommend this book highly enough.
Rating:
Summary: The Best. Period.
Review: This book would be a bargain at twice the price. I could tell some one what was going on relatively early, but it made no difference, no difference at all. If I had to say which fiction book I've read is the best one ever, I'd say this one. This is Preston's and Childs' greatest work to date. It is a masterpiece. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
Rating:
Summary: Good story for "C.S.I." and "Crossing Jordan" fans
Review: I listened to the audiobook of "Cabinet of Curiosities" especting it to be a disappointment. I was happily surprised to find it an interesting story that kept my attention. Usually I save audiobooks for time spent working out, but found myself sneaking a listen on other occasions. I enjoyed this book so much that I'm buying the paperback for my husband to read. Although this book does not have as much detailed forensics in it, if you like television shows like "C.S.I." and "Crossing Jordan" you will enjoy this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing : it *is* too much !
Review: I found this book a disappointment. I cannot tell if it is because I read it right after Relic, by the same authors, which had very favorably impressed me. This opus sees the comeback of several characters that appeared in previous Preston & Child books (Special Agent Pendergast from Relic, Nora Kelly from Thunderhead and Smithback, appearing in both) as well as the environment of the N.Y. Museum of Natural History, but one does not get the impression of a coherent universe : the Museum's top brass is changed, as is the N.Y. mayor, one wonders where is Margo Green from Relic... and Pendergast is *Really* too much. Too wealthy, too smart, too able... all in all incredible, or should I say unbelievable? . Whereas Relic was a good horror thriller, including the nasty stroke at the end; the Cabinet of Curiosities demands really too much from the reader's goodwill and suspension of disbelief . The sequence of events leading to the serial killer going on a spree, and putting on his trail the only man able to find him out, and who, coincidentally, is ideally fitted for the task with all the necessary traits and who, moreover, is tied to him by bonds the reader will discover as he goes along... It is all too much for me. Perhaps you'll like it better than I did, if you are really fans of the genre or the authors.
Rating:
Summary: Intelligent mystery
Review: I really loved this book. Agent Pendergast has become one of my favorite characters. This tale takes us on an adventure at once horrifying and informative. The inner workings of a museum were particularly interesting to read. I have read most everything that Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston have written, both together and separately. It's not your usual whodunit.
Rating:
Summary: Great - - Riveting
Review: This was truly a "couldn't put down" type book. I most enjoyed the clues that were in every line if you paid attention. The details of the areas visited / crime sceens, etc. I purchased all of their books, but only the "Relic" books even gave a clue to power of "The Cabinet of Curiosities". It was a super book that I could not put down and would look forward to any of similar intellect by these two. The FBI agent allowed the reader to think / assimilate the crime-story. AWL
Rating:
Summary: Don't Open The Cabinet of Curiosities
Review: In the past, I have thoroughly enjoyed the novels co-written by both of these authors. The books have featured extremely complicated plots with historical roots, tight writing, intriguing characters and plenty of intense action. The same could be said for this offering but it would not be accurate on several fronts. Like their other books, this novel features an extremely complicated plot. With the understanding that I am not doing justice to their plot and simply can't because of space limitations and other problems; the book revolves around private museums of the 1880's that were located in New York City. Those early and primitive (for the most part) museums were known as "cabinets of curiosities" and for a small fee allowed visitors to look at various objects from around the world. Many of the objects were fake but some were actually what they were purported to be. With the opening of what would become the New York Museum of Natural History, which allowed visitors in for free as required by its charter, the cabinets began to disappear with the museum buying the various collections. Beneath a building that once housed one of the more famous cabinets, work crews have broken into an underground nightmare. The bodies of 36 people have been found who were killed and dismembered over 130 years ago. Special Agent Pendergast of the FBI asks Dr. Nora Kelly, a Museum archeologist to help survey the crime scene and assist with the case. Their time at the scene is very limited and soon both are booted from the site thanks to the internal politics of New York. Dr. Kelly does not share Agent Pendergast's obsession with the case and does not appreciate the fact that her limited involvement as well as other factors have pushed her job into jeopardy. Disgusted by the museum's internal politics as well as Pendergast's heavy pressure on her to identify a killer that may have in fact killed far more than 36 so long ago, Dr. Kelly resumes work on the case. Soon, it becomes apparent that the victims were selected for their age and in each case had most, if not all of their spinal columns removed apparently by a mad man trying to find the secret ingredient to increase a person's lifespan. Her efforts become more urgent as soon the killings begin again with the acts of a copycat killer who is duplicating what happened in gruesome detail so long ago. While the last fourth of this novel is quite intense and has some downright nerve wracking action, the approximately over three hundred pages before are too often slow and boring. The read is rather flat, which is surprising for these authors and only at the end, do the characters seem to come remotely alive. Part of this flat read is due to the fact that the reader is forced to wait for long stretches for anything to happen amid the vast historical lessons between any event no matter how minuet. Simply removing the detailed historical lessons would cut down this book nearly in half. The other major problem with the novel is that too often it degenerates into the typical run of the mill serial killer novel. Far too often for my taste, the reader is treated to being in the mind of the killer as he stalks his next victim. Of course, the killer is killing for a lofty reason (don't they all?) and of course, the victim has no more presence of his or her surroundings than some character in the latest slasher movie. This novel until the last 100 pages or so is a slow moving very detailed affair that finally explodes with a very good ending. But, taken as a whole, it does not live up to its potential or the past novels by this team. Since every author is guaranteed to have a bad book or two, if this is as bad as it gets, the next one should be back to form and be something worth reading.
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