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capeannie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.5
public_nuisance's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This book, though well-written technically falls flat for me in many ways.
To start, the women are treated in a very misogynistic manner -- about every woman in this novel are described and introduced by their breasts. While reading, it felt that they serve only as horns obstacles for the villains.
I found it hard to suspend my disbelief for this story, especially as all of the different plot points got more complex and "out there," so to speak. On a similar note, the author has so many elements for his mystery that he honestly doesn't flesh them out near enough. Parts needed to be cut.
Where I give this author points: most of the characters were at least somewhat well-written. I especially enjoyed Ford, the CIA Agent-turned-monk.
Overall, this book was enough to turn me away from the author entirely, at least for now. I wouldn't reccomend it at all.
To start, the women are treated in a very misogynistic manner -- about every woman in this novel are described and introduced by their breasts. While reading, it felt that they serve only as horns obstacles for the villains.
I found it hard to suspend my disbelief for this story, especially as all of the different plot points got more complex and "out there," so to speak. On a similar note, the author has so many elements for his mystery that he honestly doesn't flesh them out near enough. Parts needed to be cut.
Where I give this author points: most of the characters were at least somewhat well-written. I especially enjoyed Ford, the CIA Agent-turned-monk.
Overall, this book was enough to turn me away from the author entirely, at least for now. I wouldn't reccomend it at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Violence, Sexual assault, and Gun violence
Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Racial slurs
protoman21's review against another edition
4.0
I felt this novel was well paced and interesting, though I never really got very attached to the characters. I have to compare it to Michael Crichton due to the dinosaur connection and say that it does not measure up to his quality of work, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have merit of its own. The world of black market dinosaur bones and the super competitive world of scientific research was interesting to explore. I'll definitely read some more Preston somewhere down the line.
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Book on CD performed by Scott Sowers
From the book jacket: A moon rock missing for thirty years … Five buckets of blood-soaked sand found in a New Mexico canyon … A scientist with ambition enough to kill … A monk who will redeem the world … A dark agency with a deadly mission … The greatest scientific discovery of all time… What fire bolt from the galactic dark shattered the Earth eons ago, and now hides in that remote cleft in the southwest United States known as Tyrannosaur Canyon?
My reactions:
This was one wild ride of a thriller! I was all set to follow independently wealth veterinarian Tom Broadbent not just through this novel, but any future ones. He has all the markings of a major series hero – wealth, good looks, a noble heart, the confidence and admiration of the community, and a wife who is both smart and beautiful. He’s also tenacious and does not suffer fools gladly, even when those fools are the police who seem to suspect HIM rather than listen to his story of the murdered prospector he found in the desert.
Tom’s got his work cut out for him in trying to find out the identity of the murdered man. He’s also determined to find out what the old man was up to. He recalls a visit to a monastery to treat their sheep and meeting a monk who had some experience with codes, so he decides to ask for the monk’s help in deciphering the dead man’s notebook.
The monk is an ex-CIA operative now living a life of contemplation in a remote monastery, and he is the character who steals the show. And then I realized that the series title is: Wyman Ford, NOT Tom Broadbent.
Plenty of action, more villains that you can shake a stick at, twists and turns and danger to keep the reader turning pages and trying (in vain, in my case at least) to guess where this is going. And I loved that the T-rex gets a few chapters of her own to “narrate.” I will say this, for all the testosterone on the pages, Preston’s women are no shrinking violets. They give as good (or better) than they get – smart, determined, strong in mind and body!
Scott Sowers does an excellent job reading the audiobook. He sets a good pace and has the skill to give the many characters sufficiently distinct voices. As a bonus, there is an interview with the author at the end of the audiobook. I found it fascinating to learn a little more of Preston’s background, including his years working for the American Museum of Natural History.
From the book jacket: A moon rock missing for thirty years … Five buckets of blood-soaked sand found in a New Mexico canyon … A scientist with ambition enough to kill … A monk who will redeem the world … A dark agency with a deadly mission … The greatest scientific discovery of all time… What fire bolt from the galactic dark shattered the Earth eons ago, and now hides in that remote cleft in the southwest United States known as Tyrannosaur Canyon?
My reactions:
This was one wild ride of a thriller! I was all set to follow independently wealth veterinarian Tom Broadbent not just through this novel, but any future ones. He has all the markings of a major series hero – wealth, good looks, a noble heart, the confidence and admiration of the community, and a wife who is both smart and beautiful. He’s also tenacious and does not suffer fools gladly, even when those fools are the police who seem to suspect HIM rather than listen to his story of the murdered prospector he found in the desert.
Tom’s got his work cut out for him in trying to find out the identity of the murdered man. He’s also determined to find out what the old man was up to. He recalls a visit to a monastery to treat their sheep and meeting a monk who had some experience with codes, so he decides to ask for the monk’s help in deciphering the dead man’s notebook.
The monk is an ex-CIA operative now living a life of contemplation in a remote monastery, and he is the character who steals the show. And then I realized that the series title is: Wyman Ford, NOT Tom Broadbent.
Plenty of action, more villains that you can shake a stick at, twists and turns and danger to keep the reader turning pages and trying (in vain, in my case at least) to guess where this is going. And I loved that the T-rex gets a few chapters of her own to “narrate.” I will say this, for all the testosterone on the pages, Preston’s women are no shrinking violets. They give as good (or better) than they get – smart, determined, strong in mind and body!
Scott Sowers does an excellent job reading the audiobook. He sets a good pace and has the skill to give the many characters sufficiently distinct voices. As a bonus, there is an interview with the author at the end of the audiobook. I found it fascinating to learn a little more of Preston’s background, including his years working for the American Museum of Natural History.
capincus's review against another edition
4.0
Every single review on the physical book is a complete lie. For some reason all of them decided to compare it to Michael Crichton and Jurassic Park, but don't let them fool you. The comparison to Jurassic Park makes no sense because there aren't even any living dinosaurs in this book just one single fossil. All the reviews declare that Preston outdoes Crichton in his "scientific" writing, this is a lie. Crichton has an actual PhD in chemistry. Preston includes a few dense paragraphs where he lists obscure scientific instruments or dinosaur names, besides that there is little to no actual science in this book. It's a decent thriller, but don't be misled about what it really is.
posies23's review against another edition
3.0
As I wait for the next PENDERGAST novel, I'm killing time going through the solo novels of Preston & Child. This one is the follow-up to THE CODEX, and features the return of one of the brothers who were the protagonists of that novel. As with THE CODEX there are several "winks" to the other Preston & Child novels, and it is clearly placed in the same fictional "universe."
Where THE CODEX felt more like an "Indiana Jones" adventure, this one is more of a mix of Michael Crichton and Preston & Child's own THUNDERHEAD. So we have two linking plots, as a scientist starts to uncover information that could change human's understanding of their place in the universe coupled with three adventurers on the run seeking a lost treasure, while on the run from various "bad guys."
The ending was a bit of a letdown for me, but overall this is an enjoyable escapist thriller, with a few thought-provoking ideas tucked into the adventure aspects.
Where THE CODEX felt more like an "Indiana Jones" adventure, this one is more of a mix of Michael Crichton and Preston & Child's own THUNDERHEAD. So we have two linking plots, as a scientist starts to uncover information that could change human's understanding of their place in the universe coupled with three adventurers on the run seeking a lost treasure, while on the run from various "bad guys."
The ending was a bit of a letdown for me, but overall this is an enjoyable escapist thriller, with a few thought-provoking ideas tucked into the adventure aspects.
arnavbh9's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting plot and great writing style but the story was dragged out a bit too much. Would have liked it better if some of the scenes were condensed and there was less fluff.
jbrito's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
jmoses's review against another edition
3.0
Eh. Fairly standard "action movie" book, but the whole was kind of a new twist for me. I'll at least read the next one to see how that all develops.