Rating: Summary: The most enjoyable story I've read in a while Review: The is the most enjoyable book I've read in a while. The protagonist is a strong, intelligent woman (what a novel idea, adventure authors). Every chapter ends suspensefully; I found it hard to put this book down. I really enjoy Child's and Preston's collaborative books. Read Thunderhead, and you'll actually pick up info on the newest research into the Anasazi disappearance from Chaco Canyon. I thought the authors made up some of the theories, but I recently saw a cable documentary that backed them up. A great adventure, and a fun read.
Rating: Summary: As good as The Relic Review: Their first great book since The Relic. Buy it, read it. Nothing else need be said.
Rating: Summary: A Flawed Thriller Review: Preston and Child have taken an apparently well-researched premise and a fascinating idea for a thriller and produced an intelligent, competently crafted novel, but it is not up to their earlier efforts. Although the exciting finish somewhat repays the time spent in reaching it, I found this production rather slow going in comparison to their earlier collaborations such as The Relic (which is far superior to its sequel, Reliquary) and Mount Dragon. I suspect that the book was padded in order to make it appear more substantial. Since most people who read thrillers race through them in a couple of days and either skip or skim through the slow bits, this sort of padding may seem necessary in order to give the customer the sense that he's gotten his money's worth. In my case, I am only able to read light fiction in odd moments, so I become acutely aware of the pacing. Furthermore, I have also noted that Preston and Child have an easier time creating credible minor characters than they do major ones. Whereas the earlier collaborations are full of interesting, well-delineated minor characters (along with the setting, the strong point of the otherwise disappointing Reliquary), this book has a very limited number of main characters who remain oddly flat and even stereotypical. The retreading of the Bill Smithback character, who is completely out of place here, is quite beyond me. I would still recommend this book to other fans of this genre, but not as highly as I would a couple of their earlier books.
Rating: Summary: Excellent Read! Review: Loved this book. I have all of their books so far and this one is just as good as the rest!
Rating: Summary: It's hard to put down Review: I read Thunderhead in two days. These guys get better with each book. This one is based on solid research, great visual writing and a well developed, fast paced, edge of your seat story. The characters are well developed for the most part, and interesting and they are not entirely predictable. My only objection is the almost too graphic descriptions of animals being killed...I didn't mind the graphic descriptions of people being killed, but the animals got to me. But...read it! IT's worth the trip.
Rating: Summary: Summer Fiction Like It Ought to Be Review: If you're a person who reads for the enjoyment of it, you know the rare feeling of constant anticipation as you turn the pages of a good book. Not good literature, but a good book. The suspense nearly kills you as you race to the ending, dying to know what happens. I guess, they usually call such a book a page-turner, but the phrase hardly does such a reading experience justice. "Thunderhead" is one of these books. It begins with a Chrichton-like set-up: a young, eager archaeologist stumbles across a letter written by her believed-dead father 16 years ago, speaking of a mythical city of Gold deep in the canyon country of Utah, that would be THE find of the 20th Century. Needless to say Nora (the young archaeologist) sets out to find the city described by her father. However, awaiting her and her team, is an ancient evil awakened by her quest, an evil that has only one focus: the stop the archaeological team from reaching the city. Again, much like a Chrichton novel and these authors previous works, the plot becomes a masterful blend of science and blood-guts-n-gore suspense. The body count is high, and the scenes graphic, but they are sprinkled so tastefully (if that's the right word) through a novel that sets out an interesting theory on the ancient cliff-dwelling Indians and their mysterious past. Saying much more would give away a plot that true edge-of-your-seat suspense, and I wouldn't want to spoil someone else's read...but needless to say this book is well worth reading.
Rating: Summary: Escapism at Its Best Review: Preston and Child are becoming masters of writing grandiose adventure thrillers, full of twists and turns and charming heroines, nasty villains and moralistic overtones. "Thunderhead" is reminiscent of "Riptide," but it's different enough to forgive them their own plagiarism! A young archaeologist receives a letter from her long-missing father stating that he has found the lost city of Gold of the ancient Anasazi Indians...The plot races along very nicely, some atmospheric descriptions, and some complex characters...The description of the Thunderhead as it approaches is so intense you beg for it to be made into a movie so the special effects crew can bring it to life. All in all, this is a very cinematic book, and should provide Angelina Jolie a plum role---as the villainess Sloane. Sarah Michelle Gellar could play the heroine, Nora, and we might even get David Duchovny for Bill Smithback? Who knows--but a fun read. Enjoy!
Rating: Summary: Entertaining Hollywood-ish Fiction Review: Preston and Child provide an entertaining read, combining historical fact with fiction. There were slow parts which I found myself skimming over, and the book is not tightly pulled together, but this is consistent with their other books. Also consistent with their other books is the overly dramatic depiction of action scenes, especially in the end, where everything is resolved in Hollywood-ish leave-with-a-bang fashion. It's as if Preston and Child were writing with the knowledge that their book would be translated to the big screen. (Remember "The Relic"?) I wouldn't be surprised if "Thunderhead" were eventually brought to the big screen; it certainly has the right mix of horror, action, thriller, mystery, and even the one gratuitous sex scene. The scenic images the authors paint certainly leave an indelible impression. Combined with the detailed historical facts woven throughout the book, you will most certainly feel the awe and excitement the fictional archaelogists feel in their search for the ancient city of Quivira. You can practically taste the dry dust and feel the soreness from horseback riding through the canyons for days. If you're looking for entertainment value, "Thunderhead" definitely satisfies.
Rating: Summary: fascinating,chilling ride! Review: Kudos once again to Preston and Child as they give us another intelligent well-told thriller.This time they give us fascinating,atmospheric adventure about the anazazi empire and what happen to them.This novel has scenes of the beauty of western US and details of archaelogy,plot twists and just a touch of the macabre.The Authors' research is incredible as they give us facts about anazazi's society and native american occult pratices.All and all this is a sinister adventure filled with memorable characters especially Dr. Nora Kelly who's obession in finding a lost anazasi city and the fate of her father will take to the discovery of lifetime and deadly peril!
Rating: Summary: Faux Pas in my previous review! Review: My deepest apologies to the authors of "Thunderhead" and to the customers reading my review. Somehow I mistakenly referred to them as Lincoln and Child (L&C) rather than Preston and Child (P&C). Sorry for the faux pas. I need to terminate the practice of writing early morning or late night reviews.
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