Rating: 
Summary: Will leave you as breathless as a climb in the Andies!
Review: From the opening sequence to the last page, you will not want to put this one down. Rollins has done it again. Except this time you're not at the bottom of the world, but reaching to the skies. Excavation grabs hold of you and won't let go until the very end. He seems to have a knack for finding places that still hold mystery on this earth. If you've read "Subterranean", you're going to love "Excavation". I just can't wait for his next one. Keep it up James. You've found a loyal fan.
Rating: 
Summary: So So
Review: Not one of my favorites, despite being set in one of my favorite locales. I found it difficult to get into, perhaps because Rollins mixes too much sci-fi into what I expected to be an archeolgical plot. I'm not much of a fan of paranormal fiction, and Rollins apparently is. He must have wanted to mix several genres to see how it might go over. I think you really, really have to like "high" adventure to appreciate this book (or be high). If you like the movie "King Solomon's Mines" with Richard Chamberlain, this is probably a book for you. If you expect more substance, nore believability, and want a more engrossing storyline, I'd recommend Grisham's "Testament," Marcotte's "Gold in the Shadow," Preston's "The Relic," or even Cussler's "Serpent." If you liked "Subterranean" and enjoy Rollins' overall style, you may like it more than I did.
Rating: 
Summary: ALL THAT GLITTERS
Review: EXCAVATION is one of those books that you enjoy reading it, but afterwards, you ask yourself, "Did I really like it?"Rollins' novel is basically a comic book story, reminiscent of the old cliffhanger serials of the thirties and forties. I found one of my main problems with this book is that it seems incredibly slow, even when there is action going on. I guess it's because the perils of the trapped students at the excavation site are predictable and it seems to take forever to resolve them. I thought "If there's one more attack by these "pale creatures," I was going to lose it! The characterizations are as stereotypical as you can get, and the villains are predictably nasty. A nice element of the story, however, is the relationship between Professor Henry and Dr. Joan. Their "twilight" romance is refreshing and touching. Sam's relationship or lack thereof with Maggie is not as effective. The elimination of one of the focal characters midways through the book is also disappointing, but not surprising. All in all, EXCAVATION is not a bad read; it's just not that original or exciting.
Rating: 
Summary: I am revising my previous review
Review: Previously, I thought this was a pretty awful book, but worth sitting for an hour or two if you had nothing better to do. Yet, it has haunted me. Its putrid plot has risen to the top of my list of appalling books. And yet, somehow, it has generated enough opinion to merit over 50 reviews!! That is more than some of Iris Murdoch's wonderful books. And it has garnered some really high ratings. 5 stars! Amazing. That would put it on a par with War and Peace. Golly! I stand in awe of the public's taste. Having said all that negative stuff, I think any book that can generate that much discussion, and willingness to review, must have some merit i missed.
Rating:
Summary: Liked Subterranean Better.
Review: James Rollins tells a good tale in this book. This is an interesting spin on an extinct tribe and the mystery surrounding the culture. I liked this book but not as much as others by him. Worth reading if you like surprises and adventure.
Rating:
Summary: A little far fetched
Review: To be truthful this is not my type of book, your imagination has to be stretched pretty thin to swallow the plot. Reminds me of the Clive Cussler books I've read, similar comic book characters. If you like Cussler you should like this book, but if you are looking for something deeper this might not be for you. I did recently read "A Tourist in the Yucatan" another book with an acheological theme. While "Tourist" also had its problems, it did do a more realistic treatment of the ancient Mayans and Archeological theme. To be fair, I should tell you that my 17 year old son LOVED both "Excavation" and "A Tourist in the Yucatan."
Rating:
Summary: A good book
Review: Excavation is James Rollins' second book. I think that in this novel and in his previous one he did a great job in keeping the reader in suspense. The book is filled with twists and turns and you never quite know what will happen next. Excavation is about a group of people who find some strange substance in a buried temple. The book is full of adventure and it is hard to put down once you get into it. I have come to expect this after reading hsi first book, Subterranean, and I will expect it in his future books. Overall James Rollins is an excellent storyteller and his book Excavation gets five out of five.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Good, I liked it.
Review: I read it everywhere, and it was so exciting at points, but not all times. The idea of el diablo sangre is cool. I wish I had stuff like this, it was a real imaginative thriller!
Rating:
Summary: Exciting and a fast page turner.
Review: James Rollins has put together a great story that draggs you in from page one. The setting is fantasitc and the imagry is great. You feel as if you are in the caverns and on the team. A fairly fast read, and a great book! James Rollins has constantly put out fascinating stories that are exciting to read. Excavation was my first, and I would highly recommend this book to any fan of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Rollins is on his way!
Rating:
Summary: A TREMENDOUS improvement over Subterranean...
Review: As I read 'Subterranean' I couldn't help but wonder if Mr. Rollins was going to be introduced to what folks in the publishing biz call an 'Editor'...he has such raw talent and great ideas, but they don't get to run through the editors gristmill before they hit the pages. His first novel was a hodgepodge of ideas strung along together in order to keep your interest--and that he did, but at the expense of smooth writing and editing. 'Excavation' remedies a LOT of what I found disappointing in his first novel. As far as I can tell either his talent has greatly increased or an editor finally decided to reign in his ideas and give them direction because SOMETHING has happened in between novel 1 and novel 2--something very good. I found myself drawn into this tale virtually from page 1 and it honestly began to get better, gradually at first, and then like a steamroller with no brakes it takes off and refuses to slow down. I have to say, that the thought of being caught in an archaelogical dig with THOUSANDS of albino tarantulas massing to use YOU for an evening snack was enough to bring the hair on my neck to attention. More detailed, MUCH more complex, 'Excavation' is a great Hollywood movie in-waiting in my opinion. Kinda like 'X-Files' meets 'Indiana Jones'. A great combination and overall, a VERY fun and exciting novel, and when all is said and done, a TREMENDOUS improvement over 'Subterranean'.
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