Ken Follett's novels are particularly well suited to reading on trains and aeroplanes. They are short, easy reads which easily survive the interruptions inherent in those surroundings.

This novel fits the mold perfectly - the characters are more or less drawn from the stock characters of action/adventure/intrigue stories - the icy cold and thoroughly competent enemy spy, the intellectual, professorial good guy who somehow manages to stay one step behind the spy throughout the story, and the beautiful and thoroughly unqualified female who implausibly saves the day at the last minute.

The general plot is that a German spy has discovered the disinformation campaign that the Allies are using to divert attention from the preparation for D-Day. There is a race to capture or kill him before he can communicate the information to his masters in Berlin.

The book is the literary equivalent of a candy bar. It's not intellectually nourishing or nutritious, but it's a great way to kill some time.

Well, what can I say!? I mean, all those other reviews down there really tell what this book is like. Ken Follett at his best. And THAT is something, huh? "The Needle" Faber is the only german spy in english soil that can turn the war back for the Nazis, as he learned the secret that Churchill was hiding so well with the help of the americans. The book tells his adventures up the Brittany Island in order to contact a U-boat. The final sequency on Storm Island is something of a genious. Follett has written some very good thrillers about WWII, like this one and "Night over water". But his best still is "The key to Rebecca". Anyway, "Eye of the needle" is a page turner like Grisham in his early years, a book one with interests in spies and the War won't regret reading.

The Needle
Ken Follet

Henry Faber alias, The Needle, is a German spy who works for Germany during World War II. He is tall, handsome, intelligent, well built, German aristocrat who works fast, in a shrewd manner, cleanly, and without leaving a trace. He is very close to Hitler. When a person becomes a danger to his identity or whereabouts, he uses an "stilletto" to utterly kill without almost any evidence.

The Needle or Die Nadle, discovers a British military secret that if given to the Germans on time would, no question about it, make the Germans win the war. Then the British find out about it, then starts the run, hide and go of The needle. All the Allied and British military intelligence are looking for him with no results But nobody but a woman, Lucy Rose, who lives in a stormy and far away island , can get to him...

The novel is excellently written and keeps the reader interested until the end. It also depicts all the knowledge about military intelligence, spies and world War II that the author masters.

I strongly recommend this book as a novel to entertain, and "A Place Called Freedom", also written by Ken Follet

Silent Conspiracy

Silent Conspiracy by Lee Meadow was required reading for my BookClub. Though, an avid mystery reader, I must admit that it took me much longer than expected to get into the storyline. The initiative narrative was detailed and flat and did not start off with a bang or a WOW...however; I stuck with the book and I became more engrossed as the plot thickened.

Silent Conspiracy is the first in the series of Lincoln Keller mysteries... Silent Conspiracy is a plot twisting and turning novel about the mysterious disappearance of the Five Sentiments, a popular singing group who has been missing for 40 years. Lincoln Keller, the private investigator was hired by the beautiful Erotica to find the group. Erotica was determined to grant her dying husband this last wish to reunite with his friends once again. Lincoln goes on wild goose chases and is able to discover more in 24 hours than most folks have found out about the Missing Sentiments in years and appears to be getting close to finding out what happened. As such, folk(s) start to run scared and along the way Lincoln meets a cast of characters who want him out of the way as it appears that someone wants to let sleeping dogs lay. Enough clues are given along the way that soon the pieces of the puzzle begin to fit together...and it's more than just the story of the Missing Sentiments.

Once I got past the first 50 pages, I was hooked and as such I give Mr. Meadows 4 Stars for his first mystery novel attempt. Though parts of the plot may stretch the limits of credulity and dialogue seems a little flat in places, this still is a wonderfully crafted, intriguing and suspenseful thriller with a dash of Music and African American History for spice.

Silent Conspiracy, Lee Meadow's debut mystery, is also a mini-history of Detroit. Reading this story of familiar buildings and streets brings back memories. Lee's description of places in Detroit is accurate, detailed, and well-written.The characters Lincoln Keller, his brother, Erotica, and others, are multi-dimensional and well developed. We learn something about each member of the group, The Sentiments. Lee brings each member to life, and we get to know them as if they were alive. We also get to know the community and the bond that strengthens and unifies the people against racism and the police. The bond Lee describes is so powerful and real that some of us wish for that same bond today.The mystery slowly unravels, like someone slowly peels a banana. Lee's book kept me turning the pages for another clue or a new twist in the story. Then, at the right time, the mystery is solved, secrets are revealed, and I was saddened because that was the end of the story. I wanted this story to continue forever.Lee's knowledge, research, and strong writing skills are evident in this story. Lee "did his homework" and crafted a fine "historical-mystery." I enjoyed reading Silent Conspiracy and I eagerly await for the next Lincoln Keller mystery.

When Lee Meadows asked our online book club to consider, SILENT CONSPIRACY, I welcomed the idea immediately since we had no mystery novel on our reading list. As I previewed the book, I hoped that it was filled with all the deception, intrigue, murder, and passion that makes mystery novels exhilarating to read. Well, I'm proud to say that he didn't let me down. In fact, his novel provided me with all the above ingredients and more! This was an interactive novel for me from start to finish. The sights and sounds of Detroit were so vivid that I felt as though I was right there riding 'shot-gun' in the front seat of detective Lincoln Keller's 1987 Chevy Nova. The inclusion of historical events like McCarthyism and the senseless killing of Emmitt Till was nicely done because it gave me a better understanding of the social injustices & problems that served as a backdrop to the 40 year old missing persons case Lincoln Keller was trying to solve. Each lead or clue that he uncovered had my brain working overtime to the point that I was looking ahead for the answers. Lee Meadows debut novel is simply -- a great mystery!

The contemporary account and interpretation of the life of Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Donald's effort is exhaustive and meticulously researched, and tends to rely on that research instead of Lincoln's own words to create a profile of him. Mr. Donald's Lincoln is a master politician, and his skill in holding together factions within the Union, the rebellion, the Republican Party, the radicals, military, cabinet, and family validate his place in history as "having saved the Union." Mr. Lincoln's words are given a context to what was happening around him, and showed how his words did not sometimes match up with his actions or comments to others. I suspect that this is Mr. Donald's interpretation of Lincoln, and it certainly flies in the face of what we have learned about Lincoln in the past.

Mr. Donald never misses an opportunity to describe Lincoln as "ugly" or "homely" and uses comments from others on several occasions to do this. It seems that Mr. Donald uses the book to cast the former President in a not-so-flattering light at times, and to offer an interpretation of him that some Americans will not be comfortable with. Perhaps this was his plan, and casts Lincoln more as a human being than the monolith he sometimes is described as. It certainly gives us another look at Lincoln, and made an important contribution to my understanding of him. I am keeping Mr. Donald's volume in perspective with all else I have studied about Lincoln, and using it to further piece together my image of him.

Mr. Donald's place as an eminent historian and his overall reverence for Lincoln is apparant. This is an important work that should not be missed, but keep the volume in perspective as an interpretation of one author and seek other volumes to cast a more complete picture. Any student of history should do this and I doubt that Mr. Donald would disagree.

The author is a well-respected historian with a brace of books, many of them on politics in the Civil War era. Here he has written what is essentially a political life of Abraham Lincoln, and he shows us Lincoln the politician in great detail. To be sure, Lincoln's early years are here, and his stumbling love life, but to an extraordinary degree Lincoln was an ambitious man who could only be distracted from his law work by the possibilities of politics. (Amazingly enough, it appears that he was also trustworthy and honest, though working in professions that must have sorely tested his integrity.)

There is much I admire in this book, but feel that it lacks the warmth and narrative felicity that make a chronicle of a life really come alive. Throughout, Donald uses "Lincoln"-never "Abe" or even "Abraham". It's a small thing, but it contributes to the book's impersonal tone. Moreover, he almost never describes Abe Lincoln's feelings, and only occasionally touches on his personal life, such as his relations with Mary, or how he reacted to the deaths of his sons. Lincoln comes to seem a man almost independent of his environment-certainly indifferent to food or comfort, or, we suspect, love-whose real passion is for the machinations of politics. However, the author does make credible Lincoln's moral and political greatness; he just does not quite give us a feel for the man. It sounds like Donald's more recent book, "Lincoln at Home", could be the ideal companion volume to this one.

In the English speaking world there have probnably been more books written about US President Abraham Lincoln than any other figure in world history. Those who love history have at one time or another in their life read about the story of Abraham Lincoln - from his humble birth in a log cabin to his rise to the White House - the Civil War and his freeing of the Negro slaves in America -- and his tragic death at the hand of a crazed assasin at Ford's theaer on that dark and rainy Good Friday in 1865. Professor David Herbert Donald of Harvard University has authored a book called LINCOLN that in my opinion is destined to become the 'classic' biography of the 16th President of the United States. LINCOLN has become a best selling book world wide, and rightfully so because it is without a doubt - in my mind - the 'best' biography of Abraham Lincoln ever written. Thirty five years ago as a young boy of 10 I read my first book about the life of Abraham Lincoln. It was a child's book but I was so inspired by the story of Mr. Lincoln that from that time I have read numerous books about the Great Emanicipator. Other great books about Lincoln include the 10 volume ABRAHAM LINCOLN by John G.Nicolay and John Hay, Carl Sandburg's ABRAHAM LINCOLN, and biographies by Benjamin Thomas,Russell Freedman and Professor Stephen Oates. All of these books are considered to be of excellent caliber. At the end of the day I would respectfully suggest that David Herbert Donald's LINCOLN is a real masterpiece of biography and history. One would assume that no more could have been written about Abraham Lincoln. After all there are hundreds of books about the sixteenth president of the United States. The author David Herbert Donald who has spent over fifty years in studying Lincoln has written an absolutely fascinating, brilliant and outstanding biography. The book LINCOLN is a crowning achievement for the distinguished Professor Donald. Donald traces Lincoln's life from his humble birth to Lincoln's tragic death that Easter weekend in 1865. In Donald's skillful writing Abraham Lincoln comes to life in this maginificent biography that is a joy to read. In rich and beautiful language David Herbert Donald presents a truly 'classic' biography of President Abraham Lincoln that is full of detail that captures Lincoln as a young man, lawyer, husband and father, statesman and leader. On the pages of LINCOLN David Herbert Donald presents to the reader a portait of President Lincoln the man plagued with bouts of depression, the husband of a moody and highly emotional Mary Todd Lincoln, his private and public life, a wondertful storyteller, and highly intelligent leader of the United States of America during the Civil War. LINCOLN has earned its place as one of the truly 'great' books about one of the greatest leaders in world history- Abraham Lincoln.

This is simply the best book of historical fiction I have read - a brilliant work that is enthralling and utterly plausible.

I saw Gore Vidal's Lincoln on TV in the late 80s played by Sam Waterson and Mary Tyler Moore. At that time I remember thinking of it as a very interesting movie, but did not connect it to the American Chronicle series that Gore Vidal authored.

Reading this book, the TV movie comes better to light (and I am now quite urgently trying to dig it up!).

The book itself is characterized by several wonderful elements:
Firstly, Gore Vidal is a splendid writer. The way he scripts his words, the way he sets up the scenes and the psychological probing of his characters are all scintillating.

Secondly, the subject of this novel is so towering, that the reader can be forgiven for wondering if a novel can do him justice. Gore Vidal achieves that feat - he manages to present Lincoln foremost as a master politician, a leader for his times, a compassionate, wily, honest, determined and utterly human.

Finally, it is quite amazing how many of Lincoln's senior officers (Chase, Seward, McClellan) were gunning for his office. How Lincoln manages all these competing political forces is a compelling reading.

There is enough mythology sorrounding Lincoln, without having to have fiction written around him and circumstances of the civil war. But Gore Vidal's purpose is quite genuine and sincere - taking a fictional tack frees him up to probe Lincoln the man and all the characters and circumstances he had to deal with with much more freedom and creativity - the result is a plausible, yet utterly delightful account of America's arguably greatest President.

This book will be one my prized possesions on my bookshelf.

For those of us who grew up on legends of Lincoln the rail-splitter, Gore Vidal's historical novel presents the reader with a man who was more complex than any folklore. The novel traces Lincoln's life from the beginnings of his presidency to his tragic end. Vidal certainly did his homework, drawing upon letters, diaries, and newspapers of the time. He portrays an Abraham Lincoln who was intelligent and sagacious in his dealings with the world, and meloncholy in his response to the world. Vidal excels in bringing his characters to life, and the novel is rich in dialogue and intrigue. Modern followers of today's political scene will no doubt recognize and appreciate the position Lincoln was in, surrounded by a cabinet of pretenders to the throne. Having to constantly deal with others whose ambitions of the Presidency must have severly tested the sagacity of the Chief Magistrate, considering the fact that he was responsible for seeing the country through the Civil War. Lincoln chose to keep his enemies closer, so that he might better keep a watch over them. How many of our modern presidents had that kind of political courage? Although Vidal chooses to strip away the folklore, he has replaced the legend with an accurate portrait of a much greater man.

This book had everything I look for in a historical fiction. It tells the tale of a pivotal time in U.S. History as it was presumably lived by Abraham Lincoln and his cabinet and staff. Instead of wallowing in Civil War statistics and data, we experience the spirit of the times through the people who lived them. Abraham Lincoln was very believably portrayed as a real human being with weaknesses and strengths we aren't told about in History class. It was fascinating to see inside the political machinations of that time and note that very little has changed. There were also interesting side plots to keep the reader's interest and provide a respite from the accounts of the war and affairs of state. Since I read historical fiction for education as well as entertainment, I feel I was well served on both counts. I look forward to reading other books of American Historical fiction by Gore Vidal.

This book was my first Ann Rinaldi book. I was stunned by it. It was just absolutly wonderful- filled with everything and just about anything you could want, (at least what I wanted). It was my favorite book. If you're a great historical fiction lover and/or Ann Rinaldi story lover this would be an extrememly nice addition for your reading buds.
The book's main character (whom you've probably already found out) is fourteen year old Emily Pigbrush, who experiences through many tragic events. First her widow mother dies and she decides to live with her best friend, Annie Surratts. But on the night before she moves out the greatest of all misfortunes happen - President Lincoln gets shot and suspicion falls on the Surratts. Forced to go and live with Uncle Valentine, Emily finds out more as to why her mother hated her brother so much. As to the rest, you really should find out yourself. In the end the story leaves you a strange feeling. One that signals the end but it leaves you kind of sad. Over all it's a great book.

An Acquaintance with Darkness is a very well written novel. It's a novel of historical fiction and takes place right around Lincoln's assassination. The main character, Emily, tells the story. Emily's life is a mess, like most people during that time. Her dad just died in the Civil War. Her mother is dying, of 'failing' as they say. Her mother's death wish is for Emily's uncle, Uncle Valentine, to stay away from her once she dies. Emily's mother knows something about Uncle Valentine that she feels is not right, but Emily does not know what. After her mother passes away, Uncle Valentine, unknown to Emily, goes to court and gains full custody over her. Lincoln is assassinated and Washington is going insane. Anyone associated with Booth, Lincoln's killer, was arrested. Unfortunately Emily's best friend, Annie's, mother was of close association with Booth. Mrs. Mary, Annie's mother is arrested, in prison, and condemned to be hung. this only gives Emily more confusion, not to mention the fact that her secret crush, Annie's brother Johnny, has run away and has not been heard from, plus Emily is living with her uncle. At first this seemed a fine arrangement until Emily learns that there is more to her uncle's profession as a doctor. With the city in an uproar, Emily doesn't know what to do, where to go, who to talk to, or even who she can trust. Emily is left alone and confused. This is such a great, involved novel. Some of it is fictional, but much of the basis for the story is factual. The book is so good that you would have never known that it wasn't entirely true if you didn't read the Author's note.

If you're looking for an enjoyable book, I would recommend An Acquaintance with Darkness by Ann Rinaldi. It's set in Washington, D.C. during the assassination of Lincoln. It covers the turmoil that happens in the city and how people reacted. The main character of this book is Emily Pigbush, a teenage girl whose mother just died. Now an orphan, Emily is planning to move in with her best friend who lives two houses down. However, once Lincoln is shot, suspicion is everywhere and Emily's friend's mother is arrested on suspicion of being an accomplice in the assassination of the president. Emily is forced to live with her mysterious Uncle Valentine, a well-respected surgeon, whom her mother, for no apparent reason, deeply mistrusted. Soon Emily discovers Uncle Valentine is rumored to be enveloped in unlawful doings with his medical research. At last, the truth comes out and it's beyond Emily's imagination! With mystery and imagination, Ann Rinaldi spins a magnificent tale that happened during a time history can never forget.

I am a huge fan of books with a historical basis. On the same coin I am also very critical of these books. This makes me very picky in the books I chose to read and the ones I actually finish. Once again, Douglas Preston and Lincoln child did not dissapoint. This book is a perfect mix of museum intrigue, suspense, and horror all against a rich backdrop of 19th century New York. Their attention to detail is key to making the fantastic story seem possible.

In addition, Preston and Child do an excellent job of writing women. They do not fall into the trap of describing female characters in terms of her long legs and breast size that seems so typical in these sort of novels. Nora Kelly, first introduced in Thunderhead, is a believable woman and museum professional. I think female readers will appreciate this apparently unique view in a male dominated genre.

The book left me with only one pressing question: When is the next one coming out????

Pendergrast fans will love this book. Make sure to read the alternate ending posted on the official webpage:

This is the first book I've read by this writing team, though it will not be my last. Preston and Child work well together, and I'm interested in reading their solo work as well.

In this not-quite-contemporary setting (only one person has a cell phone, for instance), New Orleans FBI Special Agent Pendergast is inexplicably interested in the recent discovery of a charnel beneath a New York construction site. He builds a team of assistants: Nora Kelly, Utahan archaeologist determined to make a go of her once-in-a-lifetime chance at working at the world's greatest natural history museum; William Smithback, reporter aching for a Pulitzer (and a suit worthy of the acceptance ceremony); Patrick O'Shaughnessy, a sergeant in the NY Police Department, fifth generation cop at the mercy of a cruel and petty precinct captain; Proctor, his invisible and indispensable chauffeur.

These main characters, excepting Proctor, are well fleshed out and engaging, while Pendergast himself is an intriguing variant on the Sherlock Holmes-style detective. (These characters appear in other books by the same authors.) A healthy field of minor characters are also three-dimensional. Settings are vivid and evocative. Dialogue flows naturally. And bonus -- I even learned a little about urban archaeology and the scientific/fantastical collections of the title.

Very well done. I'm anxious to read more from these authors and to read more about these characters. If you are interested in an intelligent thriller rooted in NYC history, you will probably enjoy this too. If you like Caleb Carr, Iain Pears or Jack Finney, you will likely appreciate this masterful and gripping mystery.

To start, I'd say it would be helpful, but not necessary, to have read The Relic and Reliquary by this team. Both are excellent novels, and they introduce two of the characters from this book. It'd also be good to read Thunderhead as well (Nora Kelly is introduced there). That aside, this book is another page-turner from this duo.

Preston and Child are masters of the just one more chapter school of writing. They use multiple storylines that make it hard to stop: just as you get to a critical "I need to know what happens" point, they switch to the other storyline, and it makes it so you can't stop.

This one starts out simply enough as the archaeological investigation of a century old serial killer, but as with all of their novels, there is a scientific-fantasical explanation in store for us. We are treated to sub-basements, old houses, museum archives, and old family secrets. For the true Preston-Child fan, we find out about Pendergast's background (finally!), and for the first-timer, you get the joy of discovering one of the best thriller writing teams of all. A special note to fans of Preston-Child, check out Michael Connelly's The Poet! You'll love it.

"Relic" and "Reliquiary" worked very well and "Mount Dragon" lost because of its weak ending. "Riptide" I missed till now. "Thunderhead" still ranks below the first three because of a lot of things.

The story is fast told. An expedition searchs for an old Indian city, which is legendary in archeological circles. Strange events seem to make the expedition fail. People die, etc.

The characters include the enthusiastic female leader, the arrogant specialist, the cool cowboy, the joking journalist and a shy scientist. There are some more, but, hey aren't it enough already? I surely don't mind a book with many characters. But it's obvious here that Preston and Child had too much do with all of them. Most of them stay so straight in their roles, you're never surprised about them. Other change their habits so often, you don't have a clue who they really are. The perfect example for this is Sloane, the daughter of the institute's boss, who also join the expedition. She is good and evil equally somehow. Some pseudo-psychological explanations don't help a lot.

The story itself doesn't deliver much to tell about. Searching the city, finding the city, exploring the city. That's about it. If you thought the previous books were scientific wait for this one. There is so much talk about archology you have to be a bit interested, or otherwise you fall asleep.

I am interested in the topic and it was another reason why I disliked it. The explanations are sometimes laughable and the message it delivers about science is nearly dangerous.

Besides that there are so many things that make you go "What?" it's too much really. Can anyone tell me how you can hear "the sound of a ladder being put on a wall"?

Despite all this the book somehow is suspenseful. The quality doesn't vary that much through it. It's really average, exciting and suspenseful, but average all through it.

With their fifth novel, Thunderhead, Preston and Child may haveproduced their best adventure story yet. And an adventure it is!Thunderhead combines all of the excitement and awe of H. Rider Haggard's lost civilization stories with the mystery and appeal of Tony Hillerman's stories set in the American Southwest. Latching onto the enignma of the Ancient Ones, the Anasazi-- those prehistoric Indian dwellers-- Preston and Child have created a novel of almost unbearable suspense, archeological lore, and excitement.

Throughout much of the first two-thirds of Thunderhead readers almost have to remind themselves that the book is actually fiction, it seems so real. Thunderhead is extremely well researched. Throughout the novel readers will be treated to a wealth of knowledge about the ancient Anasazi culture: everything we do know about them, don't know about them, and the latest scientific controversy-- did the Anasazi engage in cannibalism? The history and geology of the area plays an important role in the story as does other American Native beliefs and religion. A lot of attention is given to Indian beliefs as they pertain to witchcraft: skinwalkers and plants that produce hallucinogenic drugs. Indeed, in an afterward, the authors site the fact that Douglas Preston traveled and lived among the southwestern Indian people and has written about them. There are repeated references to Howard Carter's discovery of King Tut's tomb, Schliemann's discovery of Troy, and the Wetherill brothers' discovery of the ancient cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde, Colorado.

The last portion of Thunderhead becomes more of a traditionally plot-driven adventure thriller with catastrophe, death, murder, and evil running amuck. Thunderhead is one of the best adventure novels to see the light of day for quite sometime. Readers who have any knowledge of or have ever ventured to the Southwest and have fallen under the allure and mystic beauty of the area, especially of the ancient cliff dwellings, will have their imaginations rekindled anew. The nearly 500 pages of Thunderhead will flow through the reader's fingers as swiftly as the current in the waters of a flashflood headed for the Colorado River. And like those flood waters, it is a roller coaster ride filled with thrills and surprises until the very satisfying conclusion. This is a tale not to be missed. END

Lincoln and Child have unquestionably crafted one of the best reads of the summer! This is the first book I have read from these two authors and I am hooked! I will be reading more of their works this summer. L&C have fastidiously created each setting in the story so well that you are transported in your mind's eye to the canyons and valleys depicted throughout. You can almost feel the winds blow and hear the waters roar as you are taken on this fantastical journey in search of the lost city of Quivira! L&C have created characters with whom one can relate and actually care about. Most notable is the adventurous and impetuous heroine of the story: Nora Kelly. Her passion for finding the lost city is contagious and at times you find yourself audibly cheering her on in the face of what seems to be insurmountable obstacles. This book has it all: adventure, human struggle (both internal and external), love, and supreme suspense. You will be riveted from the opening few pages. L&C have this uncanny ability to slowly build a sense of impending doom and omnipresent evil through various literary techniques, which comes to fruition in the latter pages of the book with a heart racing, page turning climax. L&C also demonstrate an incredible command of the english language that I must admit sent me scrambling for a dictionary on more than one occasion. Add this book to your summer reading and get ready for a hair raising adventure you will not be able to put down.

There's a word for this, but I'm just not sure what it is. I know you'll tell me. But here's the situation. Jeffery Deaver is a master of misdirection. He presents some facts, you read them and you make assumptions --- and you're always wrong. He plays fair. I mean, he doesn't put a gun to your head or otherwise force you to do anything (other than read whatever his latest novel is as quickly as you can). You just do it on your own. And even when you can occasionally figure something out --- I mean, that broken clock on your mantle is right twice a day, correct --- it ultimately will do you no good.

So what do you call it when the literary master of misdirection and illusion writes a book about misdirection and illusion? Well, I guess you can call it THE VANISHED MAN. THE VANISHED MAN takes place over the course of two days. It begins with a rapid series of seemingly unrelated murders by a mastermind who comes to be known as The Conjurer --- he commits the murders'and vanishes. Lincoln Rhyme, the brilliant New York criminologist, is brought in as a consultant and Amelia Sachs is of course there with him, functioning as his legs and eyes at the crime scene, doing what he cannot.

Rhyme deduces fairly rapidly that they are dealing with someone who has a background in magic. Happenstance results in an apprentice illusionist, who goes by the stage name of "Kara," being brought onto the team as a consultant. Rhyme arrives at a conclusion regarding the identity of the vanished man, but his motive remains a mystery. Is it vengeance? Is it murder-for-hire? Or is it something so diabolical that the team can't imagine it? All that Rhyme and Sachs know for certain is that they are all too quickly running out of time.

Deaver's craftsmanship is first-rate as always and his research into the professional world of magic and illusion is not only informative but also compelling. One cannot read THE VANISHED MAN without wishing to learn more about the craft. And Deaver makes that easy as well, dropping factoids about sourcebooks and museums. He simultaneously advances the lives of his characters just a bit --- there are disappointments and surprises for Sachs in the offing. Deaver may have also tipped his hand as to the subject matter of Rhyme's next case --- and Deaver's next book. Most of all, however, Deaver with THE VANISHED MAN continues to surprise, enchant and enthrall.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs return in Jefferey Deaver's new thriller 'The Vanished Man'. This time out Rhyme and his team are chasing after a murderer who just happens to be a master magician.
Like all his previous books, Deaver grabs you on the first page and doesn't let go until the last page. I honestly couldn't figure out where the story was going until the very end.
In true Deaver fashion the book is loaded with twists and surprises. Just when you think it's over Deaver throws another curveball at you.
And that is the only real complaint about the book. There were just to many twists. It feels like Deaver wanted to top himself and just kept adding on one surprise after another. Another complaint I have is the whole subplot dealing with Sachs promotion. I don't think it needed to be there and it took away from the main story.
I will still wholeheartedly recommend 'The Vanished Man'. Even a flawed Deaver book is better than many other thrillers out there today!

Paraplegic police consultant Lincoln Rhyme is at his curmudgeonly Holmesian best in this over-the-top pyrotechnic psychological thriller of murder and magic. The plot twists and turns from page to page as a mad conjurer embarks on a killing spree (seen from his POV) using classic magic tricks as his template. Sleight-of-hand, quick-change disguise, Houdini-like escapes, smoke-and-mirror illusions: this world-class magician soon has the police spinning in place.

Rhyme and his protégé (and lover) police detective Amelia Sachs require a little help on this one - an enthusiastic young apprentice magician, Kara, who explains the tricks and delivers some of her own. The plot takes center stage with its split-second timing and double-triple-quadruple twists, buttressed by Kara's dissection of the tricks, particularly the psychology behind audience deception. And sure enough, more than once, Rhyme outsmarts himself.

A white-supremacist sub-plot folds cleverly into the mix and the story is fleshed out with Rhyme's physical challenges, Sachs' ambitions and Kara's relationship with her sick mother. A dazzling show, this one will fool you to the last page.

But this is no ordinary vacation. He's here unofficially (of course), recovering from his previous adventure in New York. But what has drawn Pendergast to Medicine Creek?

A body found in the forest. Mutilated, surrounded by Indian artifacts and dead crows. The local sheriff, Dent Hazen, believes it to be a one-time incident, maybe a drifter. But Pendergast believes it to be the work of a serial killer, one that lives within the town...

The Agent enlists the help of eighteen-year-old misfit Corrie Swanson. As Pendergast's driver and assistant, Corrie is shown things that she had never believed possible...things that just might put her next on the killer's list.

Medicine Creek is about to get famous. A university has decidecd to put an experimental cornfield somewhere in the county, and most people in Creek hope it goes there. With pressure from the town's few wealthy citizens, Sheriff Hazen is forced to make changes in his investigation, like getting rid of Pendergast, and honing in on a "suspect"...changes that may cost him, and the rest of the townspeople, their lives.

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child score again. In a novel better than any since RELIC, Preston/Child bring Special Agent Pendergast--with only a hint at his first name--to the forefront once more in this harrowing mystery-thriller.

Don't be put off by claims that the identity of the villain is a letdown. True, it is kind of surprising--and not as climatic as these guys' other novels--but it makes sense when you think about it, and you'll never suspect a thing until the very end.

STILL LIFE WITH CROWS is a must-read for mystery/suspense fans. Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child have a knack of bringing you into the novel with the first word, and never--not once in the four-hundred-odd pages--let you go.

Medicine Creek, Kansas. Nothing exciting happens here, nothing changes, and there is never any crime...until now.

A body has been found, mutilated beyond recognition, and positioned elaborately in a corn field. The local police rules this as a single murder, until Special Agent Pendergast arrives and declares this the work of a serial killer.

Within hours the small town is swarming with reporters, and the local residents are in fear for their lives.

Pendergast begins investigating the crimes with only the clues of crows(a twisted secret you need to read the book to understand) to help, but when he teams with Corrie Swanson he will come face to face with an evil he is not prepared for.

'Still Life With Crows' is a creepy thriller that starts off fast and keeps the twists coming. The surprises start as the plot develops, and as the pieces of the puzzle fall into place you are held captive. Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child pack their story with thrills and chills while maintaining a cinematic flair reminiscent to that of 80's horror films. I couldn't stop reading once the book was started, and the ending blew me away.

An entertaining summer read that will be surely land on the bestseller list's, 'Still Life With Crows' further proves Preston and Child masters of original horror tales.

Nick Gonnella

This time around, we find Special Agent Pendergast in Medicine Creek, Kansas. A dusty, dry, dying town in the middle of nowhere. Pendergast chooses to visit this locale on his vacation. Why? To solve the grisly, ritualistic murders taking place in this small community where everyone knows everyone, and everyone is suspect.

With his Goth Girl Friday, Corrie (a reluctant resident of Medicine Creek) Pendergast unravels the knot of clues left by our unknown killer.

Preston/Child weave a fantastic, gory tale of suspense that will keep you turning pages well into the wee hours of the morning. I can't wait to read more adventures of Agent Pendergast, if only to unravel the mysteries of the man himself. We know almost nothing of this suave Southern FBI agent, and that in itself is worth the read. He is full of surprises, with his archaic speech and gentlemanly manners. If you liked this book, I highly suggest reading "Relic", "Reliquary" and "Cabinet of Curiosities".

Of all the works published by the Preston and Child team, "Mount Dragon" is my least favorite. The premise of the novel is very similar to The Andromeda Strain, as mentioned by another reviewer. The novel would pick up steam at points, then drag for a while, get exciting again, drag again, etc.

The story revolves around a top secret facility which is believed to be devloping a secret weapon. Two scientists discover the truth behind what is being developed and tested at the facility and soon are on the run. All along, they are aided by persons outside the facility, one of which knows the mastermind personally.

The book starts like most Preston and Child books -- at a rapid pace. However, until the mystery starts to unravel, the pace becomes too slow. The book then picks up again when the truth behind Mount Dragon is discovered. Then, the last third of the book involves the heroes on the run which is too long and drawn out. The confrontation between the mastermind and his adversary in a virtual world is highly entertaining, even though it does seem to be a bit out of place.

Overall, if you like the other works by Preston and Child, you will probably enjoy this one. If you're a fan of science thrillers and haven't read any of their works, read "Riptide" or "The Ice Limit" as they are better works with little to no slow points in the storyline.

Preston and Child always can be counted upon to provide a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat, engrossing read, and *Mount Dragon* is no exception. There is just enough scientific content pertaining to virology and various cybernetic phenomena to rank this a cut above the typical action "thriller," and the authors' descriptions of the bleak, arid New Mexico setting is superbly presented. I also enjoyed the inclusion of a Bill Gates-like computer nerd-turned-megalomaniacal businessman as an antagonist who interestingly, is not "all bad." Certainly there is a requirement for the reader's suspension of disbelief in certain places, but that's why we call it "fiction."

The one element of the story that is irritatingly hackneyed is the all too predictable inclusion of a brainy young female who happens to have lovely, long legs and smoldering violet eyes. Keeping one eye to the potential of the book as Hollywood material, the authors also made sure to include a kind of absurdly gratuitous sex scene toward the end of the book. Ho hum. Otherwise, this is a smart, creative, and well-presented novel that is sure to keep its readers turning the pages in anticipation of what happens next.

Preston and Child really know how to take the reader on a roller coaster ride. I finished this book in a couple of days...mainly because I found it extremely difficult to put down. At the end of each chapter, I wanted to keep reading so I could find out what happened next. These two are becoming a couple of my favorite authors.

The biohazard novel is nothing new. However, these two authors have managed to transform it into a gripping, realistic story. They are similar to Michael Crichton in that they take actual science, stretch the bounds of reality a little, and come up with something so believable that it's scary. The story they've crafted around the science is a wonder to read. The characters are believable, the story is gripping, and the climax is fulfilling. I would recommend this book to anybody who's into science thrillers or action movies.