Book Thoughts: "The Book of the Dead," by Preston and Child

This book was definitely worth the read, finished the last 2/3 of it in about an hour. It was just one of those books that gets a hold on you and doesn't let go. I just couldn't stop until I knew how everything turned out.

I've actually had this book on my shelf for quite a while, but I was unimpressed by the book that came before it in the Pendergast Trilogy, "Dance of Death." There was just way too much going on in that book, though the ending dove-tailed together quite well. In "The Book of the Dead," Preston and Child do a wonderful job of bringing the arch of all that story and info from the previous novel into a wonderful and thrilling conclusion.

All of Preston and Child's usual characters are on the scene, including Agent Pendergast, Vinne D'Agosta, Nora Kelly, Smithback, Margo Green, just to name a few, and they all have their part to play in this story. I love the way these guys use their characters.

The best thing about the book though is the pacing. Most of the chapters are short, which gives the reader a sense of progress, but not so short as to only a be a paragraph or two, which is what a lot of thriller writers do these days. Also, the action is totally spread throughout the book, never a dull a moment. Finally, the story is predictable when the authors want it to be, but not when they want to spring the twists and turns.

All in all, great book, read it. You should especially read it if you're a fan of thrillers and adventure stories, mixed with just a touch of cop drama. However, you should at least read "Dance of Death" first, and you should probably start with "Brimstone" and read the whole trilogy.