Rating: Summary: One of their best !!! Review: I have read all of the novels by Lincoln and Childs and rate this one right near the top. I was one of the few who wasn't happy with their prior effort "The Ice Limit", but "Cabinet" has it all. Most interesting was the further development of FBI agent Pendergat, who had first appeared in their earlier novel "The Relic". Also back from that first novel are archaeogist Nora Kelly and reporter Bill Smithback. The story and action move at a brisk pace, with characters that you like and care about. I would rate "The Cabinet" as second to only their first and still their best, "The Relic".
Rating: Summary: CURIOSITIES ARE KILLERS Review: Preston and Child have once again mastered the art of good and original storytelling with "The Cabinet of Curiosities." Meticulously plotted, the book moves at a good pace in following the story of a long dead serial killer who seems to have influenced a modern day killer in the streets of New York. There are some genuine surprises, and a killer climax. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Rating: Summary: The Cabinet of Curiosities Review: I've read and re-read all of the books by these authors. And was eagerly awaiting this selection. Perhaps it was undue expectations from the anticipation, but this one lands near the bottom of their list for me.The historical basis is once again fascinating and educational. The story line bizarre but believable. Penderghast returns for the third (and hopefully last) time. He comes off as ridiculously super human. The story line moved well and kept me interested. But, it just didn't possess the burning, page turning, can't wait 'til the end, of so many of their other books. Sorry guys
Rating: Summary: The Cabinet of Curiosities Review: Another winner from a great writing team. Some very interesting characters including: Pendergast, Nora Kelly and even Leng. The book is very creative and well researched.
Rating: Summary: A Middling effort from Preston & Child Review: The skeletons of 36 brutally murdered young people discovered at a Manhattan construction site; a serial killer from the past who begins to kill again; a man impaled on a triceratops horn- what could be better, it is Preston and Child back again! Having said that I must admit that, having read all the other books, I cannot put this one among my favorites. "The Ice Limit" was a wonderful page turner based on a paper thin premise. "Cabinet of Curiosities" is a rather flat book based on a terrific premise. I agree that the plot is identical to that of an old television movie called "The Night Stalker" but I don't hold this against the book. Good stories beg to be retold. What can't be overlooked is the lagging plot. Much of this can be laid at the feet of Pendergast, back again. In this book he is superior in every way to every one around him, so much so that half the book is given over to scenes of him humiliating other people or showing how much more he knows about everything. Neither is objectionable in itself, but these scenes slow down the action of the book almost beyond repair, and Pendergast comes across, not as a man of great intellect, but as a some one who is reading all the answers off of cue cards held by the authors-- and indeed, his abilities are supernatural. As a result of the attention given to Pendergast, interesting people like Kelly and Smithback can only function as sidekicks or buffoons. "Relic" worked because it combined a number of interesting characters in a dangerous and mysterious situation where the tension continued to build throughout the book. In "Cabinet" the identity of the villain is revealed early on in the book, and the interesting parts are juxtaposed with far too much filler. All of this may sound like a pan, what Preston and Child call a stinkeroo, but that is not my intention. The elements of a strong story are there, and some of the scenes are as good as any they have done: Smithback in Leng's house, the membership of the early Museum, Kelly in the Archives. These scenes live up to all the praise showered by (most of) the other reviewers in this section. The whole is sufficiently uneven, however, that I found myself putting "Cabinet of Curiosities" down and reading other books before returning to it. I read four other novels between the time I started "Cabinet" and the time I finished it. That has never happened with a book by Preston and Child before. Once more, read this if you are a fan. If you are new to Preston and Child, may I recommend one of the other books as a starter. And please see their website, prestonchild.com, for much helpful information from Lincoln Child.
Rating: Summary: ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC Review: Preston and Child make a killer team when it comes to writing class A thrillers. this book is awesome!!! if you've read any of their previous works, you will no doubt enjoy this one immensly. Special Agent Pendergast is the best fictional charater I can thing of. one of the best "page turners" you'll ever own!
Rating: Summary: Disappointing Review: What a disappointing ending. The final revelation in the last chapter spoils all of the hard work these authors put into this work. This book went from a major motion picture starring Harrison Ford to a Made-For-TV movie starring Gary Busey, in the span of one chapter. Don't get me wrong, the entire book (up until the last chapter) was rather entertaining. I just liken it to Marylin Monroe belching after her "Happy B-Day" serenade to JFK. Why'd you have to screw it up guys? I'm still debating whether to go ahead and finish this one and read the epilogue, but I doubt the last few pages can turn this one around.
Rating: Summary: Imaginative and gripping Review: This is the first novel by Preston and Child I have had the pleasure of reading. The novel starts through the investigation of a new construction sight in NYC. The remains of what seems to be the work of a serial killer in the 1880's are unearthed. By chapter 6, Kelly and Pendergast have solved the crime to some extent and then the plot really gets good. The tale is engrossing- be prepared to stay up late reading.
Rating: Summary: The Masters of the Spine-tingling Chiller Are Back Review: Strap yourself in and hold on tight,and get ready for another whiplash ride on the Preston-Childs roller coaster. There's no doubt about it, these guys just get better all the time. This time we are back at the Museum,for at least part of the action, where the novels Relic and Reliquary took place. I was also pleased to see characters we know from these previous novels:nosy, bumbling journalist Smithback and the ever wonderful, marvelously intelligent, and always delightfully mysterious Agent Pendergast. Returning also from a previous novel {Thunderhead } is Dr. Nora Kelly. How many people even know what a cabinet of curiosities was? I sure didn't, but then one of the most interesting things about these authors is the way they mix in history with the mystery. I won't go into a lot of details about the book itself, since there are other reviews that already do that.What I will say is that as far as I'm concerned, this is one of their very best. The action starts from the very first page, and before you know it, you are off and running with Pendergast, Kelly and Smithback, searching for clues to the mystery of who killed 36 people in a most gruesome manner over 130 years ago. But before they barely get started, a rash of new killings, identical to the ones from the past, suddenly start, sending the city into a panic. Just what is going on here? Are these new murders the work of a copycat killer, or could it somehow be the same killer as before? But wait, that would be impossible. No one could possibly be that old..........or could they? Find out the answers for yourself. You won't be disappointed. And for those who are fans of that delicious mystery man, Agent Pendergast, the veil of mystery that surrounds him like a mist is lifted just enough to let us know more about him, while still preserving his aura of overall mystique. I hope to see him return in future novels, as he is one of my all time favorite characters. So come on and take a ride with Preston and Childs. You'll be glad you did.
Rating: Summary: Great Read!! Review: I read this after reading Relics and am hooked on Preston/Child. I've read Thunderhead after The Cabinet of Curiosities and was not disappointed either. Great Authors, great books. Can't wait to read more from them.
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