Rating: 
Summary: Curiosity Peaked!
Review: I came upon this book by accident while looking for another author, and I am really glad I picked it up! Preston and Child have a fantastic book on their hands! I have always preferred authors that perform in-depth research on their topics, and it is evident that these two authors did their homework! They created a fascinating central character, Special Agent Pendergast, as well as an unbelievable plot twist. You're hooked from the beginning to the end. The story was believable and the characters engaging. I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys thrillers/mysteries or just wants to find a quality book to read!
Rating: 
Summary: Does everyone talk like that?
Review: You know, as I have begun this habit of writing reviews, I soon found myself giving almost everything 4 or 5 stars. Wondering, critically of course, will I actually read something of lesser value? Well, this book fulfilled my nagging dillema. Now, I'm not going to downplay this book. It was a good read for the most part; however, my only complain is that when reading this book I felt as if I were reading a book which contained a land of nothing but absolute geniouses. A great example of this is early in the book when Nora goes to a women's house whom is of the age of about 90. This 90 year old women had a vocabulary greater than that of any scientist explaining molelecular physics. After that, I simply could not help but to think that the authors were attempting some kind of ego-tistical prize by outdoing each other in semantics. Yes the book was good, however, every book needs a character that either equates in knowledge with the reader or is of lesser intellect.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!
Review: I just finished this spectacular novel in record speed! I love these 2guys! They put the passion back into reading for me again! I was so enraptured and involved in this book that I took it to work with me and hid in a corner so my boss wouldn't put me to work and take me away from this incredible novel. Preston and Child always deliver with a rollercoaster ride of thrills and chills. Cabinet of Curiosities is now among my elite favorite list. Out of the thousands of books I have read in my life there have been only 2 books to spawn a nightmare. The first was "Watchers" by Dean Koontz, well I was 13 at the time and then this one. Thinking I am immune to such things now that I am 32, this book proved me wrong! The story line of an age old cunning serial killer roaming the streets of Manhattan and the horrific plans of his victims and then the vivid characters, some brought back from previous novels, was such a treat! I cannot wait to read more from these guys! Excellent! They have a great website too, by the way. p.s. Read "Thunderhead" before this one so you can get the full impact of the characters.
Rating:
Summary: Oh boy...did I go through this one fast!
Review: I have not read a book by this duo, though for some reason I cannot specify, the names keep ringing up familiar. No matter. Incredible writing, incredible read. I kept thinking, if they could just do this right without ruining the tale, this would make a great movie. But most mysteries lately have left viewers disappointed in comparison to the books.This story starts in a place I've been dying to visit, pun intended. The New York Museum of Natural History. I had just finished another mystery involving this place and had actually been trying to find some of the nonficitional books concerning museums, when I ran across this novel. I started reading, and couldn't put it down. Odd is not the right word for Dr. Pendergast, a somewhat shadowy character who works for the FBI. He makes me nervous, especially when he feels that all locked doors are meant to be opened by him. An excavation site in New York digs into old tenements and they find a slew of skeletons with more than obvious markings from the turn of the century, indicating their deaths were not normal, nor were they pleasant. Someone was removing the area of the body known as the spina equada down at the lower back, which includes the tailbone and the nerves enervating the legs. The big problem is that whoever did this, made sure his victims were still alive and probably conscious. When a copycat killer starts after a newspaper article is written up concerning the 'find', Pendergast involves an archaeologist, an unwilling cop, and a journalist with somewhat questionable methods and values. All of this ties together into a very exciting journey through the bowels of NYC, into old neighborhoods and houses, and through the maze that is the NYMNH museum. As with almost every good book some degree of allowance needs to be made for information or abilities that must be used to solve the case. In this case, Pendergast has a unique ability to literally put himself in the past, and yet to an extent we all have some thing like this in our own memories...we just don't develop it to that degree. So what...it makes for a great read. Can hardly wait to go get another book from these two!!! Karen Sadler
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: This is a great book!I have read several of Douglas J. Preston, Lincoln Child's books and this one ranks up there with all of the others. The suspense in this book ranks with the Relic. I like the way Douglas J. Preston, Lincoln Child put one or more of their characters from previous books especially Agent Pendegrast. If you have liked any of the other books Douglas J. Preston, Lincoln Child has written you will not be disappointed in this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Just not quite there....
Review: I am a HUGE Preston & Child fan, and read everything they write just as soon as I can get my hands on it. Cabinet of Curiosities, however, I found to be slightly disappointing. But first, the good. It was wonderful to see Nora Kelly back again. I grew quite fond of her in Thunderhead. Agent Pendergast is one of my all-time favorite literary characters, and he brought his Southern charm to the scene as always. Finally, while Smithback isn't quite as appealing, his daring exploits kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering how he manages to get away with it all. Great characters! Next, I have always loved the setting of the Natural History Museum. No other place seems quite as wondrous or other-worldy. I've never been there myself, and even though I'm sure Preston & Child have taken liberties, I cannot wait to roam its halls. One of these days...... The twist at the end caught me unawares. I had quite a bit of the mystery figured out, but that final piece...the identity of the Surgeon...blew me out of the water. Way to go, guys! When you read as many mysteries as I do it gets easier to see the clues scattered in the prose, but I was totally in the dark for this one. Now for the bad. It took a little too long to get into the meat of the mystery. Too much time spent chasing inconsequential leads, and too many pages wasted on irritating, distracting characters (Custer). I was totally disappointed in the ending. It feels as if Preston & Child were just ready to be done, without remaining true to the overall feel of the story. It kind of reminds me of another book I've reviewed recently in which the manner of death of major characters seems an afterthought, instead of a carefully planned event. I will continue to wait impatiently for new offerings by this dynamic duo, despite the slight letdown. My faith remains in their incredible research and their ability to ratchet up the tension until you think you'll explode. Overall Cabinet of Curiosities is a good read...I could have used a 1/2 star to make my rating a bit more positive.
Rating: 
Summary: A Chilling, Spine-Tingling, Just Plain Scary Thriller!
Review: "The Cabinet Of Curiosities" is the first book I've read by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, and now I look forward to reading more of their work. I understand that many of this book's characters are from their earlier novels, but this character revival does not disturb the narrative's flow at all. All necessary background is explained well, and gives depth to the relationships and plotline. My one complaint about this novel is that it is at least 100 pages too long. The authors build suspense to a fever pitch, the tension peaks, begins to fall-off, and their point is still not made, nor are the various mysteries solved. There are also two endings. One is not very satisfying, and the other, much better conclusion, is found in the epilogue. The lack of tightness in the narrative, makes the novel weaker than it would have been with better editing. That said, this is a real thriller, and scary/chilling to boot - the way Stephen King's early novels are scary. During the excavation for the construction of a sixty-five story residential tower in lower Manhattan, a charnel house of murder victims is discovered. The 36 victims were destitute youths, residing along the crime-ridden waterfront of 1870s New York City. They were buried beneath what was then known as Shottum's Cabinet. Cabinets of curiosities housed strange & diverse collections of artifacts, and were the precursors to the natural history museum. FBI Special Agent Pendergast enters the story to investigate this most heinous of American serial murders. He calls upon Dr. Nora Kelly, archeologist, conservator and researcher at New York's Museum of Natural History, for assistance in his investigation. Dr. Kelly, in turn involves her fiance, New York Times investigative reporter William Smithback. Together they discover the eerie background of the murders. Just after Smithback's indiscreet article appears on his newspaper's front page, new murder victims begin to appear. The modus operendi is the same. The major difference is that the original victims were killed in the latter part of the nineteenth century. The new victims were murdered at the beginning of the twenty-first, seemingly by the same killer. Is this a copycat crime, or something much more disturbing? I was on the edge of my seat throughout this novel - just couldn't put it down. The historical detail is a wonderful addition. I would have rated the book five stars, except for the annoying flaws mentioned above. Still, I highly recommend "The Cabinet of Curiosities" as a very unusual mystery, and a spine-chilling read!
Rating:
Summary: Another MUST READ by Preston-Child
Review: You can't go wrong in choosing ANY of this dynamic duo's incredible novels. They are ALL expertly crafted and executed in a perfectly fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thrill-ride. Few novelists match their talent, few novels match their reading pleasure. If you haven't read any of their books....it's time you caught up on your reading. Buy one and you'll buy all.
Rating:
Summary: Not the Best Preston/Child Book I 've Read
Review: The Cabinet of Curiosities is probably the weakest work I've read by this Duo. I felt like they were reaching to recapture some of the action that occurred with in The Relic. I would not suggest reading this particular book but, I have been very satisfied with all other books I 've read by them. Everyone has their own taste and if you are a fan of these authors read it just for fun.
Rating:
Summary: Great beginning - Somewhat illogical ending
Review: Great writing skills were demonstrated by the authors, but the illogical thinking of one of the main characters at the climax left me saying to myself that "he wouldn't be thinking that while being wounded and being chased by a man with a gun". The first three quarters of the book kept me on the edge of my chair.
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