Rating: 
Summary: Please, sirs, may we have some more?
Review: Gosh, I just can't get enough of Preston and Child! I have read everything they've written but Utopia (which I am buying tomorrow). Nora Kelley rocks as the main character. She is tough, smart and believable. I especially like the fact that she saves the day...not the male main characters. I mean, I am not trying to be sexist -- but it is nice to see. I was fascinated by the descriptions of early museums--or cabinets of curiosities. It is for this reason that I am a huge fan. The only aspect of this book that I can fault is that I have finished it, and now I have nothing to read that will compare. This book would make a great movie. I totally enjoyed it.
Rating:
Summary: intelligent thriller, great settings and characters
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Chilling!
Review: The Cabinet of Curiosities is about the hunt for a seemingly immortal serial killer at work in New York City. Beneath street level, a group of construction workers discover a charnel house of murder victims from the late 19th century. Along comes Special Agent Pendergast, who seems to have full access to everyone and everything. He elists Dr. Nora Kelly to help him with study the findings before it is all taken away. Within days the city is struck by a so called 'copycat killer'. Now Agent Pendergast and Dr. Kelly race to find out who is behind these new murders.
Although it wasn't a really fast paced read, I was hooked on this book right from the start. I'm looking forward to reading more by Preston & Child.
Rating:
Summary: On the edge good
Review: This book kept me so enthralled. I could not put it down!
Rating:
Summary: "Terror"ific
Review: I have read all of the Preston & Childs (P&C) joint collaborations and find THE CABINET OF CURIOSITIES (CoC) to be one of their best works. While I enjoy reading P&C's suspense novels such as MOUNT DRAGON and RIPTIDE I find that I enjoy even more their novels that use terror to hold the readers attention. Novels such as THE RELIC (TR), RELIQUARY (R) and THUNDERHEAD (TH) are good examples of this. Up until now I have considered R my favorite novel by P&C but after reading CoC I may have to reconsider this. Both R and CoC are set in modern day NYC but have ties to events that take place in 19th century NYC. This is where P&C shine. They are able to take real historical information, settings & events, and use this material to provide a great background to what ever story they are telling. In R the background was the early underground transit system that was constructed in the late 1800's and early 1900's. In CoC the background is set around private mini museums during the 1800's which were called Cabinets of Curiosities. The research that P&C put into their writing projects really pays off for the reader. In both of these novels and in TR & TH there are unknown evils, perhaps supernatural evils, that are murdering people and because of these unknown terrors it makes it almost impossible to put these books down. In CoC the reader is treated to several characters that have appeared in other P&C novels. This helps provide a since of continuity for the reader. Perhaps the best thing about CoC was the return of Agent Pendergast. As other reviewers have noted, he seems to be a combination of both Sherlock Holmes and Hannibal Lecter and has been in two previous P&C novels TR & R. However, in CoC the reader is given glimps into his past and is introduced to two of his family members. More importantly, Pendergast who has come across as almost superhuman in intellect in other novels is now portrayed as more human as he walks the line between genius and maddness. It is also hinted that Pendergast while currently an agent for good could, like others in his family, become an agent of evil. So if your a fan of Pendergast you will enjoy this novel. Pendergast will also have a part in the new P&C novel STILL LIFE WITH CROWS due out this year. So if your a suspense buff, terror buff or history buff this novel should interest you. However, If you have the time I would suggest reading TR & R before reading CoC. While those books are not necessary to enjoy the plot in CoC it will give the characters more detail.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good Gothic Detective Story.
Review: The Cabinet of Curiosities is another great ride from the dynamic duo of the smart macabre Douglas Preston And Lincoln Child, who manages to bring forth another great investigative and scary story with the style of C.S.I and the mood of the X-Files. A Serial Killer is on the loose in Manhattan, and the only connection linking the murders is the discovery of an old burial ground that has links to a string of murders that happen over a hundred years ago. Like in all their novels, the twist and turns are incredible and when you think you know it all, the story takes a complete 360 turn and blows all your ideas out of the water. Well worth a read, and I can't wait for the next novel by this great team of writers.
Rating:
Summary: Once again great read
Review: What can I say? A great read period. Good horror and mystery combined. Guys you did it again. BRAVO.
Rating:
Summary: Not quite flawless, but a great read
Review: For anyone looking for a can't-put-it-down page turner that is literate, crafted, and informative, this is an excellent book. Preston and Child keep getting better, particularly in terms of character development, intricacy of plot, and the inclusion of detailed historical and scientific material that renders the book more than merely first-rate entertainment. The sections dealing with the geography and culture of 19th century Manhattan are rivetingly terrific, and as far as I can discern, factually accurate. Similarly, the thematic matter relating to that curious institution called "cabinets of curiosities" is informative and fascinating. The plot itself is fabulously laden with twists and turns and surprises. There are points in the story where I thought I had the trajectory of the novel all figured out, but Preston and Child proved me wrong. Indeed, they succeeding in maintaining the tension and anticipation right up until the very end of the book. The one flaw I encountered is that as surprising as the ending/resolution of the story turns out to be, it ultimately didn't seem to me quite satisfactory. No spoilers here, however, so I shan't say more except to add that the book is well-crafted and entertaining enough to overcome this single weakness. For those of us who love mystery/thrillers grounded in science and history, the works of Preston and Child have become required reading. This book leaves me awaiting even more eagerly their next novel.
Rating:
Summary: deeply engrossing
Review: I started to read this book on vacation until my wife took it over. It was so engaging that I had to wait a day to continue reading while she finished it. I have read all of Preston and Child's books and would rate this as one of their better works. The authors manage to mix the romanticism of the past quite well with biochemistry and the supernatural. They exploit our interest in hidden rooms, mysterious phenomena, and all things old in order to capture our interest. But they also manage to follow through with an interesting plot and characters that keeps the audience on the edge of its collective seat. Pendergast's mental abilities and the villian's physical strength and athleticism are almost over the top, but overall the book is believable. These authors have been my favorite for a few years now, and this latest work has not disappointed me.
Rating: 
Summary: Curiously Predictable
Review: I love Preston/Child books. I've read them all. It hurts to say I think this is their worst. (Their worst, however, is better than some author's best) I found the story predictable...almost as if I'd read it before. They can do much better and I hope they do in the future. Most of their books are a breath of fresh air in a stale world of repetitive plotlines. C'mon Doug and Lincoln. Pull out the stops for the next one. Matt Reilly and Jim Rollins are gaining on you!
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