A Book Review: Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child's "The Lost Island"

If you are a regular reader of my Hubs, you will know that I am a fan of the combined works of New York Times Best Selling authors Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. At this moment in time I lack but one of their works, and if Santa Claus is nice to me (I have done my best to be a good boy this year) I will be the beneficiary of The Royal Road in a few months. At this time I would like to provide a review of their latest best seller, The Lost Island.

Is it good? In a word, yes; but beyond that it brings together a tapestry of history, mythology, and a certain pre-history which is then blended together into a believable page turning work that will leave you either losing sleep in order to finish it, or ignoring your duties around the house. Me? I did both. It took me just one day, literally less than twelve hours to begin and finish this incredible read; and that was with me cooking a Labor Day steak dinner complete with corn on the cob and baked potatoes; helping my son by going over his homework (what teacher gives homework on a holiday weekend?!?) and performing some needed chores around our home. This book pulls at you and demands your attention until you are left breathless at the climactic end, closing the cover and wondering if it is indeed plausible for such a thought to be possible.

In The Lost Island we meet up once more with Gideon Crew. The authors have published two previous novels in which Crew is features; Gideon's Corpse and Gideon's Sword. If possible, one should read these novels prior to beginning The Lost Island as they lay a groundwork which will allow the reader to come to know Crew and his situation. It is not mandatory by any means but this will teach one who he is and how he came to be at this particular juncture in his life.

I must state something here and now: I truly appreciate how the authors seamlessly move from one book to the next as they begin the next book by reincorporating the last few paragraphs of the previous work, thus allowing the works to flow smoothly from one to the next. It works extremely well.

As this book begins we are brought to speed by recalling the final words from Gideon's Sword in which one Eli Glinn, a crippled man of brilliant intellect is once more recruiting Crew to perform a duty which is right up his alley. In his younger days, Crew was a master thief; Glinn calls upon these skills to steal a book on loan from Ireland known as The Book of Kells. Once Crew takes stock of the various theft preventing measures in place, he is certain this cork cannot be stolen. Yet, he persists and comes to a brilliant deduction which accomplishes exactly what was required. However, once the particular work is in Glinn's hands, he astounds and infuriates Crew by virtually destroying a page from the book by removing the ink which creates the work in the first place.

Unbeknownst to Crew, what lies beneath the art is even more valuable and will send him on a mission like no other.

A map is discovered, one which if followed to the ends of the earth could pay a dividend of unimaginable proportions. One which could possibly even heal Gideon's illness and halt his death sentence. But if followed, it must first be believed in, and to believe would require that Gideon believe that The Odyssey was not a fairy tale, but a real journey, to real locations, and filled with real creatures.

Difficult to believe? Yes. Impossible? No. So Crew sets forth on a journey of epic proportions, one which will lead him to a location long hidden and meet a creature from mythology face to face. In this confrontation, Gideon learns what he is truly made of and just how far he is willing to go to find a cure for his malady. And he finds how far others will go for untold fortunes, money made on the deaths of others.

As you, my readers, are aware of, I have read virtually every word the two authors have written. Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child are world class authors and with good reason. They take moments of history, both real and imagined, and weave a tale of suspense, of intrigue, and of imagination into something their readers cannot put down. I completed this book in record time and will most likely be picking it up again in the coming weeks to read it once again.

While this book may be fanciful, it is nonetheless extremely entertaining, reminding me of the first Preston/Child novel I encountered, Relic. It too weaves fact with fiction and creates a tale well worth a reader's time.

The author's pull the reader into their net and pull them along on a trip which leads to many exciting and unusual locations, meeting people and seeing things most will never imagine exist. Their mastery of the craft is on display here and I for one am captivated within the pages.

I am including a link to The Poisoned Pen Bookstore here should anyone desire to purchase a book through them. Doug and Lincoln have autographed multiple copies of their works available here for the collector. Prices are in line with any bookstore and the reader will have an autographed copy of a best selling book for their collection.

I am also linking the Preston Child Website for you to peruse at your leisure. In it one will find short examples of all of their works, both combined and individual. One can also see artwork inspired by their works as submitted by their fans. Doug and Linc also include "bad" reviews from time to time, oftentimes penning short responses which more often than not show their humorous sides. All in all it is a well designed website and is well worth the visit.