Fallen Idols

by J.F. Freedman

La Chimenea was supposed to be the pinnacle of Walt Gaines's career. The jewel in his crown. But after months of hard work and discovery, this archaeologist, professor, husband, and father of three would see his life tragically altered.
The excavation had been a huge success. First stumbled upon by a worker searching for rubber trees, the ancient Mayan site had immediately become a hotbed of activity and point of great historical and political interest. Nobody was more excited about leading the dig than Walt and Jocelyn Gaines. Three months late, with a group of student volunteers at their side, the husband-and-wife team of thirty years was attacked. When the smoke cleared, the thieves were gone, artifacts were taken, and one person lay Jocelyn.
Now, one year later in Chicago, the Gaineses' full-grown sons, Clancy, Tom, and Will, are still searching for answers. Yet instead of helping them, their father has erected a baffling wall of silence, pulled up stakes, moved to an affluent part of California, and started a new life with a much younger woman. As the image of the eminent professor, devoted husband, and revered father changes forever, the three sons explore every corner of their parents' business and personal lives. What they find is more complex - and more shocking - than anything they could have ever imagined.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

432 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

J.F. Freedman is the New York Times bestselling author of Against the Wind, The Disappearance, House of Smoke, and In My Dark Dreams, among other titles. He is also an award-winning film and television director, writer, and producer. He lives in California.

Reviews

[Ethan Conn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️good beginning and good ending. The middle was just a bit slow

[Jason Freeze · Rating 2 out of 5]

While not my usual type of book, the author does an effective job of weaving a story of human tragedy and the things we do for love. The unfortunate thing about this tale is that you can easily figure out the "curveball" ending long before the story allows the characters to. Compounding this circumstance is that there is nothing relating how the characters reacted to the news which would have given the last half of the book a compelling reason to keep reading.

[Ellyn Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel written by an archaeologist features a devoted husband/wife team of prominent archaeologists. Walt and Jocelyn Gaines with a hand-picked student crew are working a virgin dig deep in the steaming jungles of Central America uncovering, cataloging priceless Mayan artifacts. The crew has been compromised by an art dealer and local thieves loyal to corrupt officials. Political intrigue envelops the dig fraught with cultural conflicts. On schedule, the team packs, caravans out to an airstrip for the flight home. Desperadoes block their way demanding tribute. Though the caravan complies, gun fire breaks out killing Jocelyn.

Back in the US the Jocelyn's three grown sons determine to get to the bottom of their mother's killing. Ignoring his son's Walt leaves the college faculty to begin a new life with a younger woman heightening the son's suspicions. Do they really know the parents who raised them. A fascinating read.

[John DeCubellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many mistakes and lack of proofreading!

I was really taken aback by all of the typos and inaccuracies in this book. It was extremely distracting that there were at at least one or two typos, inaccuracies and/or misspelling of words on just about every page. In the thousands of books that I have read, I have never experienced anything like this. Unfortunately, it became such a distraction from the actual story and began trying to find the typos, inaccuracies and mistakes, rather than paying attention to the storyline.

[Holly J. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really give this book a 2.5. A minor spoiler, but not the ending...So I kept thinking this book was a bit much when the brothers start nosing into their father's life after their mom dies. parents change after a tragedy. The author could have created more interesting events that caused the brothers suspicions. The ending was obvious part way through. Not a huge fan of this book. It was ok.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of his best...predictable...

[Lynne Block · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wordy/fair story

[Samm Cadwell · Rating 1 out of 5]

This story was sooo predictable. Not worth the time. Also, who was the editor on this, because there were so many errors and misspelling. Some errors so bad that the sentence no longer made sense.

[Ron McGuire · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an okay story. I learned a bit about artifacts and archaeological work and smuggling since I never gave it much thought. I found it an unusual way to wrap up a story but that was okay also.

[Bradley Brill · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 3+ star rating. Give credit for detailed plot, but significant flaws.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. So much potential, just never quite got to the point of using it.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fallen Idols is a mystery/adventure story, entertaining and gripping. I thought it a bit longer than it needed to be, and didn't like the hidden thread--what happened to Diane? But,overall, any of J.F. Freedman's books are worth reading (and I have read most of them). They are interesting, yet don't require huge amounts of thought or concentration--great for reading between more "serious" books, or non-fiction.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hadn't read a book by J.F. Freedman before, it was fun, interesting, not too taxing on the brain. As a busy Mom with a lot going on at the time, I like reading books that are intriguing, fast-paced, hold my interest and aren't complicated. Though it was rather easy to figure out, however, like I said with two little kids, I'm never fully engrossed in a book right now, so that's good! I liked the brothers but wasn't too crazy about dear old Dad.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a little while to really get into the book but once I was there I really enjoyed it. It was intriguing. I enjoyed the small twists in it but it was fairly predictable. Unfortunately I thought the ending was just to saccharin for my tastes. It wrapped up a familial upheaval with a sweet and loving ending. It did not ring true. This is the first time I have read anything by Freedman. I am not really encouraged to read another one.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike his earlier books, this one does not deal with lawyers and the legal system. This book is about 3 sons trying to discover the truth about their mother's death on an archeology trip. I found it fast moving and interesting. Even though I figured out what really happened half way thru the book, I couldn't wait to get to the end to see if I was right.

[Penny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing challenging here Just a really easy read and mild entertainment. It was about a Mayan archaeologist was why I tried it. Just fiction and not much about Mexico. I pretty much guessed the ending.

[Mark Lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a really fantastic book, but it kept me hooked. I had to keep reading to find out what had happened. Would've been nice if more of the action had happened in the jungle, rather than in the states.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An annoying (and unacceptable) number of typos in the Kindle edition make this a difficult read, and the story is just okay at best, with a predictable and unsatisfying ending (most of which I skipped through).

[Kemp Bouvia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fun trash reading

[TeriC · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of words to get to the boring ending.

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great mystery set in the jungle

[Nikki Sitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

My least favorite of Freedman's novels.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book most of the way through but the end just died for me, totally unbelievable. It did however contain the funniest typo I have ever seen.

[Terry · Rating 1 out of 5]

not worth the time to read

[Barbara Schade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one book I downloaded from our public library. Except for all the typos, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and couldn't put it down. I will look for more novels by Freedman.

[Dan · Rating 1 out of 5]

After reading the first two chapters just skip to the last one and you pretty much get the whole story.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good yarn set around a family and an archaeological dig.

[Tomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I expected...much more low-key with very little "thriller" or violence. The plot kept me interested but the ending was unsatisfactory.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audiobook... slow and too easy to figure out where the author is headed.

[Mickie Whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read, but predictable.