Rating: 
Summary: Very good story
Review: The past story was very good. The present somewhat weak. Looking forward to books 2 and 3. Not sure if weaving the past with the present was helpful for the story.
Rating:
Summary: Suspenseful, interesting historical novel
Review: The Visitant is a suspenseful murder mystery set in two eras, the neo-lithic New Mexican desert and the modern day Chaco Canyon National Park. The authors manage to weave two stories, two settings and two plots seamlessly. This book is multi-faceted in that it will interest the murder/mystery story lover, the historical fiction connoisseur and the amateur archaelogist. Technically, the book is well written using anthropology lingo and describing the methodology used by modern archaeologists on a "dig". Creatively the book is first rate using vivid descriptions of pre-historic Anasazi life in New Mexico. I rated this book at four stars only because I wish it had been more in depth when dealing with the Anasazi culture and customs. If you crave a fast paced mystery coupled with an imaginative, intellectual subject matter don't hesitate to read this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Yes.. and no...
Review: The Visitant is actually two stories in one... one of which is fascinating, the other of which needs serious reworking. Picture it: New Mexico, 1256 AD in the Anasazi Talon Town, a series of murders has taken place that defy rational explanation. Switch to 800 years later, same place, different characters; a team of archaeologists and anthropologists discover the remains of Talon Town and its burial site of the muder victims. Or are they the remains of the murderers?The stories are interwoven, but I really really found the "now" story to be tedious and underwrought. If the authors weren't belaboring how much the main character hates women, and if they didn't say how much his female-foil hated him (and don't you just KNOW they're gonna get together by Book Three...), and if they didn't get caught up in inane campfire chat about farts, I may have been more impressed. But, they didn't and I wasn't. The Anasazi story is well-written and while the primative "psychology" is a bit of a stretch, it is fascinating nonetheless. My only problem is that the murders are never truly resolved. A muderer is found, yes, but there is no clear explanation of their motives, their state of mind, their... anything. There's lots of build up, with no follow through. I know there's supposed to be two more books, but the books ends with the feeling that this is a stand-alone book, but as such it is unsatisfying.. moreso because important issues are never resolved, but there is no .. "bridge" at which the next book can connect. I left this book feeling disappointed and somewhat confused. Yes, I'll read the next book but only because I want to know what becomes of the Anasazi Tribes. I'm just gonna skip over those anthropolgist/relic hunter people.. they're just icky.
Rating: 
Summary: Wow...great views.
Review: This book has a great attitude towards mysterious life. I mean, the imagery is very real and intense. When the author describes Fire, you can FEEL the fire. When it goes into the darks of the desert, you can almost feel a cool breeze blowing through your room, giving you chills. And it depicts ancient life so marvelously, making it true and yet tantalizing to everyone. Through this, one can really get a good interest going in ancient life and culture.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Book
Review: This book is about people-both in the past and present-trying to figure out a murder that is truly shocking. In the past, a small Anasazi village is swept into a madman's nightmare which starts out with a simple death of a young boy. In the present, archaeoligists excavate a site filled with bodies of women and children. And if that is not enough, similar events have happend in other indian tribes. The book is jam-packed with facts about the Anasazi's culture, as well as stuff about archaeoligy. The charactures are more human than most characters in books. You create feelings for these characters, and just when you think you know who the killer is, there is a major twist. One of the best books I have read, and with an ending that leaves you hanging, this is definitly a must read!
Rating:
Summary: This is a Wonderful Book!
Review: This is a wonderful book. It's a great mystery set in a scene that is so real, it's hard to believe it occurred centuries ago. The characters are alive - both the prehistoric and the modern ones, and the storyline is totally fresh, and enthralling. I have read all the Gears "People" books, and enjoyed them all, but this story is even better. The reader still gets a very clear picture of what life was like for these very early North Americans. The setting is totally remarkable, as in all the Gear novels. I love the Ansazi culture and history, but this story is gripping and exciting in its own right since it is a very cleverly written mystery. I certainly want to read the second book in this particular series. I thought I had read enough about early North American history with the "People" series, but this book is totally fresh and different than the others, and I'm hooked again. I especially liked the Canadian references - for example Tim Hortons. I love their coffee too.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulously intriguing
Review: This is the best mystery -- and best book in any category -- I've read in a long time. The combination of an ancient yet still intriguing mystery, modern archeologists discovering it, and interesting explanations of an ancient culture grabbed my attention immediately and kept it. The contrast of the technological and "scientific" world of the archeologists with the deeply spiritual, mystical beliefs of the ancient culture was especially interesting and thought-provoking. The ending was unexpected yet "worked".
Rating:
Summary: The Visitant
Review: This is truly a wonderful book. I enjoyed it very much. At first I did not know if I liked the style of book, particularly the alternating chapters from present day to prehistoric times. But once I got into the book it just kept you going. I liked the ending and hope to see more of Dusty and Maureen.
Rating:
Summary: Superb mix of historical mystery and contemporary suspense
Review: Under certain conditions, the barrier between the past and the present can be pierced. The resulting phenomena plays havoc on individuals caught on either side of the chasm. Murder resulted in the first death of a human. In 1150 in the Chaco Canyon, the Anasazi become intimate with murder as an apparent maniac kills many individuals. In the twentieth century at a millennium old pueblo site in Chaco Canyon, archeologist Dusty Stewart and his crew dig up eight interred bodies whose skulls were smashed. Famous Canadian physical anthropologist Dr. Maureen Cole investigates the remains, but the mysticism overwhelms her. She begins to see and hear manifestations that make her feel she has entered a point where the past and present converge in an appeal for her to destroy a great evil. Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear provide readers with stunning characterizations and complex descriptions. The technique of alternating chapters between the past and present makes THE VISITANT an even more powerful novel than if the book was divided in half. In turn, these leads to a combo story line that is one part historical mystery and one part contemporary suspense. With tales like this one, fans will gear up for this awesome writing team to provide more Anasazi mysteries. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book That Defies Genre
Review: When I read it, I was like, what do you call this book? A psychological thriller? Historic fiction? A modern novel? It ropes in elements from all over and the result is a fascinating narrative which you won't forget. The thing about this book is, it brings modern genres into an ancient time. Hardly do we see murder and phychoanalysis in a historic setting.
I highly recommend this haunting tale. I am presently lending out my very worn copy to any friend who is interested. So do read it!
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