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Gideon Crew #5
The Pharaoh Key
Gideon Crew--brilliant scientist, master thief, intrepid adventurer--is shocked when his former employer, Eli Glinn, vanishes without a trace, and Glinn's high-tech lab Effective Engineering Solutions shuts down seemingly overnight.
Fresh off a diagnosis that gives him only months to live, Crew is contacted by one of his former coworkers at EES, Manuel Garza, who has a bead on one final treasure hinted at in EES's final case, the long-awaited translation of a centuries-old stone tablet of a previously undiscovered civilization: The Phaistos Disc.
What lies at the end of the trail will either save Gideon's life--or bring it to a sudden, shocking close. Crew once again faces incredible odds--but as Gideon has proved again and again, there's no such thing as too great a risk when you're living on borrowed time.
Fresh off a diagnosis that gives him only months to live, Crew is contacted by one of his former coworkers at EES, Manuel Garza, who has a bead on one final treasure hinted at in EES's final case, the long-awaited translation of a centuries-old stone tablet of a previously undiscovered civilization: The Phaistos Disc.
What lies at the end of the trail will either save Gideon's life--or bring it to a sudden, shocking close. Crew once again faces incredible odds--but as Gideon has proved again and again, there's no such thing as too great a risk when you're living on borrowed time.
317 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 12, 2018
2175 people are currently reading
3888 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Preston
178 books13.4k followersDouglas Preston was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1956, and grew up in the deadly boring suburb of Wellesley. Following a distinguished career at a private nursery school--he was almost immediately expelled--he attended public schools and the Cambridge School of Weston. Notable events in his early life included the loss of a fingertip at the age of three to a bicycle; the loss of his two front teeth to his brother Richard's fist; and various broken bones, also incurred in dust-ups with Richard. (Richard went on to write The Hot Zone and The Cobra Event, which tells you all you need to know about what it was like to grow up with him as a brother.)
As they grew up, Doug, Richard, and their little brother David roamed the quiet suburbs of Wellesley, terrorizing the natives with home-made rockets and incendiary devices mail-ordered from the backs of comic books or concocted from chemistry sets. With a friend they once attempted to fly a rocket into Wellesley Square; the rocket malfunctioned and nearly killed a man mowing his lawn. They were local celebrities, often appearing in the "Police Notes" section of The Wellesley Townsman. It is a miracle they survived childhood intact.
After unaccountably being rejected by Stanford University (a pox on it), Preston attended Pomona College in Claremont, California, where he studied mathematics, biology, physics, anthropology, chemistry, geology, and astronomy before settling down to English literature. After graduating, Preston began his career at the American Museum of Natural History in New York as an editor, writer, and eventually manager of publications. (Preston also taught writing at Princeton University and was managing editor of Curator.) His eight-year stint at the Museum resulted in the non-fiction book, Dinosaurs in the Attic, edited by a rising young star at St. Martin's Press, a polymath by the name of Lincoln Child. During this period, Preston gave Child a midnight tour of the museum, and in the darkened Hall of Late Dinosaurs, under a looming T. Rex, Child turned to Preston and said: "This would make the perfect setting for a thriller!" That thriller would, of course, be Relic.
In 1986, Douglas Preston piled everything he owned into the back of a Subaru and moved from New York City to Santa Fe to write full time, following the advice of S. J. Perelman that "the dubious privilege of a freelance writer is he's given the freedom to starve anywhere." After the requisite period of penury, Preston achieved a small success with the publication of Cities of Gold, a non-fiction book about Coronado's search for the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola. To research the book, Preston and a friend retraced on horseback 1,000 miles of Coronado's route across Arizona and New Mexico, packing their supplies and sleeping under the stars--nearly killing themselves in the process. Since then he has published several more non-fiction books on the history of the American Southwest, Talking to the Ground and The Royal Road, as well as a novel entitled Jennie. In the early 1990s Preston and Child teamed up to write suspense novels; Relic was the first, followed by several others, including Riptide and Thunderhead. Relic was released as a motion picture by Paramount in 1997. Other films are under development at Hollywood studios. Preston and Child live 500 miles apart and write their books together via telephone, fax, and the Internet.
Preston and his brother Richard are currently producing a television miniseries for ABC and Mandalay Entertainment, to be aired in the spring of 2000, if all goes well, which in Hollywood is rarely the case.
Preston continues a magazine writing career by contributing regularly to The New Yorker magazine. He has also written for National Geographic, Natural History, Smithsonisan, Harper's,and Travel & Leisure,among others.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/dougla...
As they grew up, Doug, Richard, and their little brother David roamed the quiet suburbs of Wellesley, terrorizing the natives with home-made rockets and incendiary devices mail-ordered from the backs of comic books or concocted from chemistry sets. With a friend they once attempted to fly a rocket into Wellesley Square; the rocket malfunctioned and nearly killed a man mowing his lawn. They were local celebrities, often appearing in the "Police Notes" section of The Wellesley Townsman. It is a miracle they survived childhood intact.
After unaccountably being rejected by Stanford University (a pox on it), Preston attended Pomona College in Claremont, California, where he studied mathematics, biology, physics, anthropology, chemistry, geology, and astronomy before settling down to English literature. After graduating, Preston began his career at the American Museum of Natural History in New York as an editor, writer, and eventually manager of publications. (Preston also taught writing at Princeton University and was managing editor of Curator.) His eight-year stint at the Museum resulted in the non-fiction book, Dinosaurs in the Attic, edited by a rising young star at St. Martin's Press, a polymath by the name of Lincoln Child. During this period, Preston gave Child a midnight tour of the museum, and in the darkened Hall of Late Dinosaurs, under a looming T. Rex, Child turned to Preston and said: "This would make the perfect setting for a thriller!" That thriller would, of course, be Relic.
In 1986, Douglas Preston piled everything he owned into the back of a Subaru and moved from New York City to Santa Fe to write full time, following the advice of S. J. Perelman that "the dubious privilege of a freelance writer is he's given the freedom to starve anywhere." After the requisite period of penury, Preston achieved a small success with the publication of Cities of Gold, a non-fiction book about Coronado's search for the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola. To research the book, Preston and a friend retraced on horseback 1,000 miles of Coronado's route across Arizona and New Mexico, packing their supplies and sleeping under the stars--nearly killing themselves in the process. Since then he has published several more non-fiction books on the history of the American Southwest, Talking to the Ground and The Royal Road, as well as a novel entitled Jennie. In the early 1990s Preston and Child teamed up to write suspense novels; Relic was the first, followed by several others, including Riptide and Thunderhead. Relic was released as a motion picture by Paramount in 1997. Other films are under development at Hollywood studios. Preston and Child live 500 miles apart and write their books together via telephone, fax, and the Internet.
Preston and his brother Richard are currently producing a television miniseries for ABC and Mandalay Entertainment, to be aired in the spring of 2000, if all goes well, which in Hollywood is rarely the case.
Preston continues a magazine writing career by contributing regularly to The New Yorker magazine. He has also written for National Geographic, Natural History, Smithsonisan, Harper's,and Travel & Leisure,among others.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/dougla...
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June 17, 2018
I've loved Preston & Child since Relic came out and read many of their works over the years. To me they were trailblazers of the scientific/supernatural suspense thriller and many other authors have taken what they did and riffed on it (Dan Brown, James Rollins, Steve Berry, etc) to great success. So when I found this novel at my local Costco I had to pick it up and return to the wonder these two authors seem to effortlessly create in their books.
I'm sad to say, that wonder is completely lacking in this book. In fact, the book was not just poorly written and paced, but it vacillates from plodding and boring to forced and frantic without any real need to do either. I'll try to steer clear of spoilers and just deal with the overall problems with the book itself.
Firstly, there is no connection with any of the characters in the book. Gideon's ailment while one would assume it would lend itself towards creating a bond with the reader, is largely absent except as a device to drive the pace of the book. It never feels real, mostly because Gideon is completely devoid of any kind of nuance that would cause us to care that he has the medical condition. This just complicates the entire story as it is used in certain chapters to create tension and move the story when there is a pause for whatever reason.
Garza is completely unlikable and unrealistic, while many characters of this kind exist in books of this type, his stature in the book is highly problematic. At once another driving force for speeding up the pace of the book he also slows things down with complaints, backwards attitudes, a seeming lack of ability to function in a foreign land, and a complete lack of common sense and street smarts. This proves more than problematic because he's so unbelievable as a character that survived one adventure, let alone all of those he's been written into. His presence in the story, let alone Gideon's life is not just strange but created a huge disconnect for this reader.
Imogen Blackburn's appearance out of thin air, and everything following her appearance further drags the book from boredom into an area of complete apathy. The authors lack the desire to attempt some kind of tension between her and Gideon, though it should have been there and it's even referenced at the end of the book. As smart as Gideon is, he's completely flummoxed by her, but at the same time completely impotent despite the danger that immediately escalates at her appearance. Regardless, she does everything the other two can't seem to do and at the same time does absolutely nothing except keep them alive to push the plot that continues to fray away to nothing.
The book has a list of issues that only increase with each passing chapter. The first 5 chapters are merely boring, with little or nothing to truly pull the reader in, they aren't terrible just slow. Chapter 6 marks the completely unnecessary return to their former employers "lair", and it is unnecessary because as smart as he is, he doesn't need their reappearance to find out they've hoodwinked him and stolen something. As paranoid as he is he would have numerous means of knowing they copied the information, and just as easily they could have copied all of the necessary information when they were booted from the company. These "extra" chapters of don't do anything except add words and pages to the book.
This book feels like the authors' attempt to complete a book deal and get out of the Gideon Crew contract. It lacks any real suspense as every instance of action or possible character death is rushed and never "feels" real. Gideon and Garza should be more than equipped for this type of mission, but many times get taken completely off guard or unprepared for the next round of problems. Their skills only show up when nothing else can get them out of a bind, but are rarely present to keep them from getting out of the bind in the first place. Given their backgrounds and prior experiences this only makes for a completely incongruous plot. Similarly Blackburn is ALWAYS in a position to "save" them, mostly through unexplained knowledge or just dumb luck. Again causing great difficulty in communicating any sense of reality in the story.
There is also the issue of the Phaistos Disk itself. It drives the entirety of the plot, but is largely absent. There aren't puzzles to solve, no tricks or twists that the Disk could possibly hold. It's just a treasure map that is miraculously deciphered and that's it.
I finished the book and felt completely let down. Upon looking back the plot feels like Dan Brown Lite or even Preston & Child Fanfic. The supernatural/spiritual is never really there until the end, and then it's left shrouded in another unbelievable "decision". Blackburn has no reason to keep that "surprise" from Gideon. His ailment has him on a clock that is close to running out of ticks, and Gideon after losing everything else doesn't even try to get on nugget of wisdom from the entire event. The multi-chapter epilogue is two and a half chapters too many, and lacks the only one worth writing. Preston & Child use terrible writing in an attempt at "closure" and rather than leaving the reader with as many "possibilities" as they can they cut them off essentially cauterizing different plotlines in a way that makes it unlikely there will be a return to any of the characters outside of Blackburn.
If I could give this fewer stars I would. I'm the type of reader that doesn't leave a book unfinished even if it's terrible. This book is just that. Boring, slow, painfully written, and a chore to read. Preston & Child always had the ability to make to take unreal, supernatural elements of suspense and create a realistic tale that was creepy, driving, and well written. They fail at every turn in The Pharaoh Key to accomplish that task, they don't even get close.
I'm sad to say, that wonder is completely lacking in this book. In fact, the book was not just poorly written and paced, but it vacillates from plodding and boring to forced and frantic without any real need to do either. I'll try to steer clear of spoilers and just deal with the overall problems with the book itself.
Firstly, there is no connection with any of the characters in the book. Gideon's ailment while one would assume it would lend itself towards creating a bond with the reader, is largely absent except as a device to drive the pace of the book. It never feels real, mostly because Gideon is completely devoid of any kind of nuance that would cause us to care that he has the medical condition. This just complicates the entire story as it is used in certain chapters to create tension and move the story when there is a pause for whatever reason.
Garza is completely unlikable and unrealistic, while many characters of this kind exist in books of this type, his stature in the book is highly problematic. At once another driving force for speeding up the pace of the book he also slows things down with complaints, backwards attitudes, a seeming lack of ability to function in a foreign land, and a complete lack of common sense and street smarts. This proves more than problematic because he's so unbelievable as a character that survived one adventure, let alone all of those he's been written into. His presence in the story, let alone Gideon's life is not just strange but created a huge disconnect for this reader.
Imogen Blackburn's appearance out of thin air, and everything following her appearance further drags the book from boredom into an area of complete apathy. The authors lack the desire to attempt some kind of tension between her and Gideon, though it should have been there and it's even referenced at the end of the book. As smart as Gideon is, he's completely flummoxed by her, but at the same time completely impotent despite the danger that immediately escalates at her appearance. Regardless, she does everything the other two can't seem to do and at the same time does absolutely nothing except keep them alive to push the plot that continues to fray away to nothing.
The book has a list of issues that only increase with each passing chapter. The first 5 chapters are merely boring, with little or nothing to truly pull the reader in, they aren't terrible just slow. Chapter 6 marks the completely unnecessary return to their former employers "lair", and it is unnecessary because as smart as he is, he doesn't need their reappearance to find out they've hoodwinked him and stolen something. As paranoid as he is he would have numerous means of knowing they copied the information, and just as easily they could have copied all of the necessary information when they were booted from the company. These "extra" chapters of don't do anything except add words and pages to the book.
This book feels like the authors' attempt to complete a book deal and get out of the Gideon Crew contract. It lacks any real suspense as every instance of action or possible character death is rushed and never "feels" real. Gideon and Garza should be more than equipped for this type of mission, but many times get taken completely off guard or unprepared for the next round of problems. Their skills only show up when nothing else can get them out of a bind, but are rarely present to keep them from getting out of the bind in the first place. Given their backgrounds and prior experiences this only makes for a completely incongruous plot. Similarly Blackburn is ALWAYS in a position to "save" them, mostly through unexplained knowledge or just dumb luck. Again causing great difficulty in communicating any sense of reality in the story.
There is also the issue of the Phaistos Disk itself. It drives the entirety of the plot, but is largely absent. There aren't puzzles to solve, no tricks or twists that the Disk could possibly hold. It's just a treasure map that is miraculously deciphered and that's it.
I finished the book and felt completely let down. Upon looking back the plot feels like Dan Brown Lite or even Preston & Child Fanfic. The supernatural/spiritual is never really there until the end, and then it's left shrouded in another unbelievable "decision". Blackburn has no reason to keep that "surprise" from Gideon. His ailment has him on a clock that is close to running out of ticks, and Gideon after losing everything else doesn't even try to get on nugget of wisdom from the entire event. The multi-chapter epilogue is two and a half chapters too many, and lacks the only one worth writing. Preston & Child use terrible writing in an attempt at "closure" and rather than leaving the reader with as many "possibilities" as they can they cut them off essentially cauterizing different plotlines in a way that makes it unlikely there will be a return to any of the characters outside of Blackburn.
If I could give this fewer stars I would. I'm the type of reader that doesn't leave a book unfinished even if it's terrible. This book is just that. Boring, slow, painfully written, and a chore to read. Preston & Child always had the ability to make to take unreal, supernatural elements of suspense and create a realistic tale that was creepy, driving, and well written. They fail at every turn in The Pharaoh Key to accomplish that task, they don't even get close.
June 12, 2018
The Gideon Crew series is Douglas Preston and Lincon Child's other series besides the Pendergast series. I'm much more familiar with the Pendergast series (having read all the books published) while I have only read Beyond the Ice Limit before I read The Pharaoh Key. Still, it's Douglas Preston and Lincon Child and I just love reading anything they write (together or separately).
If you have read Beyond the Ice Limit then you know that Gideon Crew is living on borrowed time. He's dying and there is nothing to do about it. Well, he could go out with a bang while haunting a lost treasure with Manuel Gaza his former coworker at EES (Effective Engineering Solutions that has now shut down by Eli Glinn, its creator). So, off they go to Egypt to find the location that has now been revealed on The Phaistos Disc. And hopefully, survive the journey...
Eli Glinn is hardly in this book, it's Gideon and Gaza (and a fellow traveler that shows up later) and I like Gideon although I found Gaza to be a bit trying in this book. Still, I kind of miss Pendergast. Wouldn't it be great if he showed up in this series?
Storywise is this book not as thrilling as Beyond the Ice Limit. I never really felt truly pulled into the story. Don't take me wrong I enjoy the book, it's good and the pace is even. It's just that it felt so safe. I was never worried about what would happen to Gideon nor Gaza. It felt like "Oh they will be saved in the last minute" all through the book. And, nothing really surprised me, the book just felt ... too safe. I would have loved more suspense, or at least felt the story gripping me more. I liked it, and I want to read more and hopefully, the next book will rock my boat a bit more!
I want to thank Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
If you have read Beyond the Ice Limit then you know that Gideon Crew is living on borrowed time. He's dying and there is nothing to do about it. Well, he could go out with a bang while haunting a lost treasure with Manuel Gaza his former coworker at EES (Effective Engineering Solutions that has now shut down by Eli Glinn, its creator). So, off they go to Egypt to find the location that has now been revealed on The Phaistos Disc. And hopefully, survive the journey...
Eli Glinn is hardly in this book, it's Gideon and Gaza (and a fellow traveler that shows up later) and I like Gideon although I found Gaza to be a bit trying in this book. Still, I kind of miss Pendergast. Wouldn't it be great if he showed up in this series?
Storywise is this book not as thrilling as Beyond the Ice Limit. I never really felt truly pulled into the story. Don't take me wrong I enjoy the book, it's good and the pace is even. It's just that it felt so safe. I was never worried about what would happen to Gideon nor Gaza. It felt like "Oh they will be saved in the last minute" all through the book. And, nothing really surprised me, the book just felt ... too safe. I would have loved more suspense, or at least felt the story gripping me more. I liked it, and I want to read more and hopefully, the next book will rock my boat a bit more!
I want to thank Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
June 12, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a lot of fun. In typical Preston and Child fashion, we got adventure and action and romance and science and it was a blast to read. I read it in less than a day! Makes me want to go treasure hunting!!!
My biggest gripe is that, since it's the last Gideon Crew novel, I was hoping for a spectacular ending. Overall, I wasn't wowed by the ending, and in fact felt a little bit unsatisfied, so I had to do four stars instead of five. But I did really enjoy the book and the series, and would highly recommend it as a fast-paced, crazy fun story to pick up for a nice day on the beach or road trip where you don't have to drive. Set aside some time, because you won't want to put it down. :)
This book was a lot of fun. In typical Preston and Child fashion, we got adventure and action and romance and science and it was a blast to read. I read it in less than a day! Makes me want to go treasure hunting!!!
My biggest gripe is that, since it's the last Gideon Crew novel, I was hoping for a spectacular ending. Overall, I wasn't wowed by the ending, and in fact felt a little bit unsatisfied, so I had to do four stars instead of five. But I did really enjoy the book and the series, and would highly recommend it as a fast-paced, crazy fun story to pick up for a nice day on the beach or road trip where you don't have to drive. Set aside some time, because you won't want to put it down. :)
July 5, 2018
There are strong points about god/gods and religion that highlight this novel. 5 of 10 stars
June 25, 2022
Billed as the last Gideon Crew novel, the book starts off with EES suddenly closing and Gideon Crew left with 2 months to live. Gideon and Eli Glinn's right hand man Manny Garza are clearing out their offices when a computer running a detailed analysis finishes after 5 years of trying to translate the Phaistos Disk (Why it's not the Pharoah Key, I have no idea. The title is never mentioned in the book.). Gideon and Garza decide to steal the data and take whatever it points to after Glinn's hasty closing of EES with no explanation. From there, they head out on an old school adventure to Egypt in search of undiscovered treasure.
I don't really understand Gideon's greed to get this treasure. He only has a few months to live and is pretty ruthless in going after this treasure. He already has more money than he's ever going to need given his short time left. There's very little problem solving in the book, after they find out the location they are going to, Crew And Garza only react to the physical obstacles thrown in front of them. The book heads off in a totally different direction from what I expected, having almost one of those old Lost World movie feelings to it. In the latter half of the book, Garza takes center stage and this becomes more his book than the last Gideon Crew novel. The end was a bit frustrating in that I would have liked to see these characters go on. EES seemed like a setting ripe with story potential and could have spawned off numerous Ice Limit type adventures.
I don't really understand Gideon's greed to get this treasure. He only has a few months to live and is pretty ruthless in going after this treasure. He already has more money than he's ever going to need given his short time left. There's very little problem solving in the book, after they find out the location they are going to, Crew And Garza only react to the physical obstacles thrown in front of them. The book heads off in a totally different direction from what I expected, having almost one of those old Lost World movie feelings to it. In the latter half of the book, Garza takes center stage and this becomes more his book than the last Gideon Crew novel. The end was a bit frustrating in that I would have liked to see these characters go on. EES seemed like a setting ripe with story potential and could have spawned off numerous Ice Limit type adventures.
February 5, 2020
5 sterren - Nederlandse paperback - deel drie van de serie. Kan als stand alone gelezen worden. Uitgebreide recencie volgt later. Zit nog in de verhuizing 😉🌹
January 26, 2019
Meh! Not the most outrageous story of the series, but how many times can dead guys come back to life and lost civilizations be discovered?
September 7, 2020
2/5 🌟
Es una pena porque es el último libro de esta saga que empezó gustandome mucho pero que acabo para mí muy flujo.
Al principio me pareció algo entretenido pero luego había partes que me aburrieron un poco. Si es verdad que alguna que otra por la mitad me entretuvo, pero la mitad del tiempo me aburría y me distraía con cualquier cosa y paraba la lectura .
Y es una pena porque en si está sería me gustaba y me da rabia que este libro sea tan flojillo.
Además que va la historia no está tan mal. En este libro Gideon después de que la EES cerrará se une a Gaza para buscar como un tesoro después de haber descifrado el disco de Festo. Y claro pasa lo de siempre que se encuentran con muchas dificultades.
En si la historia está bien , pero en si el viaje desde Estados Unidos a Egipto, o la travesía por desiertos igual se me hizo larga, había partes lentas, no se, en si se me hizo super pesado el libro. Me parece que lo acabé bastante rápido para las paradas que hice.🙈
Eso sí hubo un par de partes que me tuvo bastante entretenidas , una pena que fueran muy cortas, pero bueno también hay que valorar las como positivas😄.
En cuanto a cómo está escrito esta bien. Todo se entiende muy bien con las descripciones y con las explicaciones necesarias para que se entienda bien y para que te puedas meter bien en la historias, eso sí , comparado con los otros libros tiene como menos vocabulario específico así que por una parte bien. Así que con respecto a este punto ninguna queja.
Metiéndonos en los personajes en este libro me el que me gustó más fue Gaza. Sabía que era valiente pero es que en este libro vaya como lo demuestra. El hizo que este libro tuviera partes interesantes y por eso me gustó más en este libro. Además de esa valentía que arriesgó más de una vez su vida para salvar al resto. Y añado que su final es el que más me ha gustado. Nunca me hubiera imaginado que este personaje sería uno de mis favoritos porque en los libros anteriores me gustaba pero tampoco en exceso.
En cuanto a Gideon me gustó pero en este libro no destacó tanto como en los anteriores. No se si le quisieron dar más protagonismo a Gaza en cuanto a acción o no se , pero vi que este libro Gideon sin más. Si es verdad que en el libro si que tiene planes guays y dices buah que bueno es pero es que luego al final va perdiendo mucho. No se cómo explicarlo.🙈
Y luego al final no me quedó claro su futuro. Bueno si lo sé pero me esperaba ver su final final. Es que no quiero contar mucho para no hacer spoiler, aunque bueno con la sinopsis puede que se hagan spoiler pero yo no diré nada.
Y los demás personajes sin más la verdad. De Imogen meh, si estuvo bien que apareciera pero luego sin más. Ya me veía venir el porqué aparece y se une con ellos. Así que va ni me agradó mí me disgusto. Y los demás la verdad que tampoco se profundiza tanto así que sin más.
También una cosa que no me gustó mucho fue el final. Algunas partes me las veía venir y por suerte una me sorprendió. Pero en general no me gustó el final. Puede que me esperase otra cosa. O puede que el libro en si no me haya gustado y cuando llegue al final solo quería acabar y no lo disfruté.
Y otra pega que le pongo es el epílogo. No me gusta que el epílogo sea más largo que los capítulos del libro.
En conclusión me ha decepcionado bastante y me da pena porque la serie en si me ha gustado y da rabia que el último libro sea tan flojillo. Sinceramente preferís que la serie la cerrase " infierno de hielo" y este no se hubiera hecho o que fuera el cuarto libro. 🙈.
Es una pena porque es el último libro de esta saga que empezó gustandome mucho pero que acabo para mí muy flujo.
Al principio me pareció algo entretenido pero luego había partes que me aburrieron un poco. Si es verdad que alguna que otra por la mitad me entretuvo, pero la mitad del tiempo me aburría y me distraía con cualquier cosa y paraba la lectura .
Y es una pena porque en si está sería me gustaba y me da rabia que este libro sea tan flojillo.
Además que va la historia no está tan mal. En este libro Gideon después de que la EES cerrará se une a Gaza para buscar como un tesoro después de haber descifrado el disco de Festo. Y claro pasa lo de siempre que se encuentran con muchas dificultades.
En si la historia está bien , pero en si el viaje desde Estados Unidos a Egipto, o la travesía por desiertos igual se me hizo larga, había partes lentas, no se, en si se me hizo super pesado el libro. Me parece que lo acabé bastante rápido para las paradas que hice.🙈
Eso sí hubo un par de partes que me tuvo bastante entretenidas , una pena que fueran muy cortas, pero bueno también hay que valorar las como positivas😄.
En cuanto a cómo está escrito esta bien. Todo se entiende muy bien con las descripciones y con las explicaciones necesarias para que se entienda bien y para que te puedas meter bien en la historias, eso sí , comparado con los otros libros tiene como menos vocabulario específico así que por una parte bien. Así que con respecto a este punto ninguna queja.
Metiéndonos en los personajes en este libro me el que me gustó más fue Gaza. Sabía que era valiente pero es que en este libro vaya como lo demuestra. El hizo que este libro tuviera partes interesantes y por eso me gustó más en este libro. Además de esa valentía que arriesgó más de una vez su vida para salvar al resto. Y añado que su final es el que más me ha gustado. Nunca me hubiera imaginado que este personaje sería uno de mis favoritos porque en los libros anteriores me gustaba pero tampoco en exceso.
En cuanto a Gideon me gustó pero en este libro no destacó tanto como en los anteriores. No se si le quisieron dar más protagonismo a Gaza en cuanto a acción o no se , pero vi que este libro Gideon sin más. Si es verdad que en el libro si que tiene planes guays y dices buah que bueno es pero es que luego al final va perdiendo mucho. No se cómo explicarlo.🙈
Y luego al final no me quedó claro su futuro. Bueno si lo sé pero me esperaba ver su final final. Es que no quiero contar mucho para no hacer spoiler, aunque bueno con la sinopsis puede que se hagan spoiler pero yo no diré nada.
Y los demás personajes sin más la verdad. De Imogen meh, si estuvo bien que apareciera pero luego sin más. Ya me veía venir el porqué aparece y se une con ellos. Así que va ni me agradó mí me disgusto. Y los demás la verdad que tampoco se profundiza tanto así que sin más.
También una cosa que no me gustó mucho fue el final. Algunas partes me las veía venir y por suerte una me sorprendió. Pero en general no me gustó el final. Puede que me esperase otra cosa. O puede que el libro en si no me haya gustado y cuando llegue al final solo quería acabar y no lo disfruté.
Y otra pega que le pongo es el epílogo. No me gusta que el epílogo sea más largo que los capítulos del libro.
En conclusión me ha decepcionado bastante y me da pena porque la serie en si me ha gustado y da rabia que el último libro sea tan flojillo. Sinceramente preferís que la serie la cerrase " infierno de hielo" y este no se hubiera hecho o que fuera el cuarto libro. 🙈.
July 11, 2018
This is supposedly the final Gideon Crew novel. While many things that were constant about the series change during the course of this book, Preston & Child could, if they were so inclined, write at least one more. I’m just saying …
Effective Engineering Solutions has been shut down. Gideon Crew and Manuel Garza are cleaning out their desks, when they stumble across an unexpected find. A code-breaking computer set running months ago has finished its task, the translation of a centuries old artifact, the Phaistos Disk. Written in an unknown language, its decipherment was one of many long shot projects that EES had going that required little more than unknown amounts of computer time to crack. With EES shutting down, no one other than the two men even knows this project has been completed. On the chance of an unknown treasure, the pair make a pact to use the information and find the location indicated by the Disk. Untold riches could be theirs. What have they got to lose …?
After the excitement of the previous novel in this series, Beyond the Ice Limit, this book was a bit of a letdown. I think some of that may have stemmed from my disappointment with Crew and Garza for letting their greed carry them away like that. And it's not entirely clear why they're so certain that a treasure even exists. All they have is a location, after all, no information as to what can be found there. And so much happens seemingly by chance: the computer finishing its translation at just the right moment, several instances of help coming along just when expiring of thirst in the hot sun seems inevitable, that final escape … I’m not ready to revoke the P&C artistic license yet, but I've got my eye on them …
That aside, the book is as thrilling and page turn-y as all of Preston & Child’s books are. I vaguely recall, back around the time that the first Gideon Crew book was published, that the series was projected to last longer than five books. The number 12 keeps coming to mind, but darned if I can recall where I read that, assuming I didn't imagine the whole thing. As much fun as the Crew books have been, I have to say that I like the Pendergast novels better. But if the authors ever decide to resurrect this series--or start a new one altogether--I won't be disappointed.
Effective Engineering Solutions has been shut down. Gideon Crew and Manuel Garza are cleaning out their desks, when they stumble across an unexpected find. A code-breaking computer set running months ago has finished its task, the translation of a centuries old artifact, the Phaistos Disk. Written in an unknown language, its decipherment was one of many long shot projects that EES had going that required little more than unknown amounts of computer time to crack. With EES shutting down, no one other than the two men even knows this project has been completed. On the chance of an unknown treasure, the pair make a pact to use the information and find the location indicated by the Disk. Untold riches could be theirs. What have they got to lose …?
After the excitement of the previous novel in this series, Beyond the Ice Limit, this book was a bit of a letdown. I think some of that may have stemmed from my disappointment with Crew and Garza for letting their greed carry them away like that. And it's not entirely clear why they're so certain that a treasure even exists. All they have is a location, after all, no information as to what can be found there. And so much happens seemingly by chance: the computer finishing its translation at just the right moment, several instances of help coming along just when expiring of thirst in the hot sun seems inevitable, that final escape … I’m not ready to revoke the P&C artistic license yet, but I've got my eye on them …
That aside, the book is as thrilling and page turn-y as all of Preston & Child’s books are. I vaguely recall, back around the time that the first Gideon Crew book was published, that the series was projected to last longer than five books. The number 12 keeps coming to mind, but darned if I can recall where I read that, assuming I didn't imagine the whole thing. As much fun as the Crew books have been, I have to say that I like the Pendergast novels better. But if the authors ever decide to resurrect this series--or start a new one altogether--I won't be disappointed.
November 27, 2022
I liked it a lot. Complications and misery get heaped on the main characters- at times it seemed impossible to think they would survive. History, archeology, computer smarts and heroism al come together in this one.
June 25, 2018
In the fifth installment of this series, terminally ill Gideon Crew finds himself teaming up with a former colleague, Manuel Garza. The two embark upon a dangerous and harrowing journey in hopes of discovering a hidden treasure. Both men travel to an Egyptian desert; which happens to be one of the most remote locations on the planet. With the appeal of Indian Jones, this story is chock full of action but may be Gideon's last adventure. Personally I found it very cliché.
June 16, 2018
The pieces of the plot fall pretty easily into place, sometimes by sleight of hand (Garza is a trained magician), but at its heart, the book is a guilty pleasure set in several exotic locales. The Pharaoh Key is a – late-night Jolt Cola and a Tastycake – of an adventure. Perfect for fans of Indianna Jones and Dirk Pitt. I breezed through it and had absolutely no guilt in the morning.
Full review can be found here: http://paulspicks.blog/2018/06/13/the...
Please check out all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog
Full review can be found here: http://paulspicks.blog/2018/06/13/the...
Please check out all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog
July 8, 2018
By far the worst of all Lincoln/Child novels. Excrutiatingly boring and a lackluster end to the Gideon Crew series.
I almost put it down for good several times, but kept through to the end. I shouldn't have.
I almost put it down for good several times, but kept through to the end. I shouldn't have.
July 3, 2018
It makes me sad to rank Preston & Childs' books with three stars or fewer, which I've been having to do lately more and more. And I wonder how much of my 4 star ranking of City of Endless Night was because it wasn't quite as terrible as the last five or so books.
This one though. Ugh. Where to start? I was mildly concerned before I ever started, mostly because of the slimness of the book and the giantness of the font. For closing a series out this was a very weak entry: making one long term character in the Pendergast universe revealed as a humongous jerk (I guess not that surprising in retrospect, but that whole plotline was kind of dumb and pointless-so Glinn really didn't shut down operations after all--why cut ties with Garza and Crews that way? Especially when he was Garza's commanding officer back in Nam or wherever; the end of another character--assuming he is going to that great trout fishery in the sky, since he has a week or whatever vague estimate left to live, unless in Crews #6, he steals some magical elixir; and Garza is now Pharaoh of the last Egyptians, totally an undeserved honor.
The plot line is standard lost Egyptian valley luckily discovered in a crevice after losing all their water and camels due to betrayal by guide and dust storm. Garza and Crews plan to rob the natives of their treasure and make their escape through the desert and have to be constantly cautioned against ruining historical objects or getting them all killed Greed style weighed down with gold in the desert. Pretty much hated everyone--Imogen I guess wasn't an idiotic bastard (seriously, they did like no research or prepping for their trip, to a ridiculous degree) but served pretty much as deus ex machina savior when Gideon or Garza got themselves in trouble.
Part of my disappointment stems in that I know both authors can do better than this--felt very much paint by number canned potboiler, where they went into this book in advance with a set of H. Rider Haggard cliches and didn't really care if landings got stuck or not.
This one though. Ugh. Where to start? I was mildly concerned before I ever started, mostly because of the slimness of the book and the giantness of the font. For closing a series out this was a very weak entry: making one long term character in the Pendergast universe revealed as a humongous jerk (I guess not that surprising in retrospect, but that whole plotline was kind of dumb and pointless-so Glinn really didn't shut down operations after all--why cut ties with Garza and Crews that way? Especially when he was Garza's commanding officer back in Nam or wherever; the end of another character--assuming he is going to that great trout fishery in the sky, since he has a week or whatever vague estimate left to live, unless in Crews #6, he steals some magical elixir; and Garza is now Pharaoh of the last Egyptians, totally an undeserved honor.
The plot line is standard lost Egyptian valley luckily discovered in a crevice after losing all their water and camels due to betrayal by guide and dust storm. Garza and Crews plan to rob the natives of their treasure and make their escape through the desert and have to be constantly cautioned against ruining historical objects or getting them all killed Greed style weighed down with gold in the desert. Pretty much hated everyone--Imogen I guess wasn't an idiotic bastard (seriously, they did like no research or prepping for their trip, to a ridiculous degree) but served pretty much as deus ex machina savior when Gideon or Garza got themselves in trouble.
Part of my disappointment stems in that I know both authors can do better than this--felt very much paint by number canned potboiler, where they went into this book in advance with a set of H. Rider Haggard cliches and didn't really care if landings got stuck or not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2021
I have finished the Gideon Crew books, for some reason this final book was not read by me before. It may have something to do with the fact that the previous book in this series was not that great.
Anyhow Gideon is still 2 months away from dying, Eli Glinn has closed EES offices and everybody got his/her final salary. We never get a satisfying reason why this happens. Manuel Garza a friend of Gideon finds a trace for a final treasure hunt .
There is stone document that points out to region in Africa that is mostly unspoiled and unexplored where there might be treasure.
As both man seek passage to this unexplored region they come across a lady who seeks something else in the same region, so they travel together.
The find something unbelievable that will change everything.
This sounds quite exciting does’t it and yet how messieurs Child & Preston manage to mess this tale about Egyptian history and exploration up is quite the question. This story never really catches on like other books they have written. The sad thing is that with this book the Gideon Crew books do not end with a bang but a whisper.
Looking forward to the Meso Diablo book where a series outside the Pendergast tales seems to have better traction. I am curious if we ever get to see Imogen, Eli Glinn, Garza or Gideon again in the universe created by both writers.
Until then my advise don’t spend too much time on these series.
Anyhow Gideon is still 2 months away from dying, Eli Glinn has closed EES offices and everybody got his/her final salary. We never get a satisfying reason why this happens. Manuel Garza a friend of Gideon finds a trace for a final treasure hunt .
There is stone document that points out to region in Africa that is mostly unspoiled and unexplored where there might be treasure.
As both man seek passage to this unexplored region they come across a lady who seeks something else in the same region, so they travel together.
The find something unbelievable that will change everything.
This sounds quite exciting does’t it and yet how messieurs Child & Preston manage to mess this tale about Egyptian history and exploration up is quite the question. This story never really catches on like other books they have written. The sad thing is that with this book the Gideon Crew books do not end with a bang but a whisper.
Looking forward to the Meso Diablo book where a series outside the Pendergast tales seems to have better traction. I am curious if we ever get to see Imogen, Eli Glinn, Garza or Gideon again in the universe created by both writers.
Until then my advise don’t spend too much time on these series.
August 7, 2018
I'm actually a little upset at how this book progressed. There was one bit in particular:
He was a decent shot with the tribe’s rudimentary bows, but it seemed there were no openings among the hunting packs—or maybe they simply didn’t trust him enough.
and then a few pages later:
“Bow and arrow?” Garza ventured. “It’s amazing they don’t seem to have that.”
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, THEY DON'T SEEM TO HAVE THAT.
If this was a Kindle-published book or something I'd wave it away but these guys have written more than 20 books together...wtf, mate.
He was a decent shot with the tribe’s rudimentary bows, but it seemed there were no openings among the hunting packs—or maybe they simply didn’t trust him enough.
and then a few pages later:
“Bow and arrow?” Garza ventured. “It’s amazing they don’t seem to have that.”
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, THEY DON'T SEEM TO HAVE THAT.
If this was a Kindle-published book or something I'd wave it away but these guys have written more than 20 books together...wtf, mate.
August 8, 2018
I do love reading Preston and Child thrillers. They vary as to type e.g. mystical, historical, or in this case archaeological. Featuring one of their prime lead characters; Gideon Crew.
Unputdownable, plausible, fast paced and always riveting. Excellent.
Unputdownable, plausible, fast paced and always riveting. Excellent.
July 16, 2018
I had to...I read these with my son in law.
November 21, 2018
The Pharaoh Key is book 5# in the Gideon Crew series by the team of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child and here is hoping that this one is bringing the series to an end and maybe that terminal illness that is the ticking time clock in Gideon's head will put this character to bed once and for all. Harsh perhaps, but I'm only honest because I love you guys.
"...That's as good a summary as I could have made.' Dr. Conrad propped his palms on the edge of his desk and interlaced his fingers. 'When you first learned of your AVM,' he asked, 'did the doctor give you a prognosis on how long you might expect to live?'
'Yes.'
'And how long was that?'
'About a year.'
'When was that?'
'Almost ten months ago.'
'I see.' The doctor shuffled through the images on his desk, cleared his throat again. 'I'm very sorry to have to tell you, Gideon, but from these tests and everything else I've seen, the original prognosis was correct..."
Eli Glinn has just shut down Effective Engineering Solutions and closed the doors without explanation, casting out Gideon Crew and Manuel Garza who have both served Glinn fervently in the last year. They are told they just have a few hours to collect their gear and then they will be escorted off the premises. After risking their lives repeatedly for Glinn, Crew and Garza fell betrayed and leave with one thing in hand. A secret that Glinn has been searching years for. An ancient code that had been uploaded into EES's computers long ago and now, at this moment, it has been cracked. Crew and Garza decide they are taking this with them, pay for years of dedicated service. It seems to hint at incredible treasures but what exactly they don't know. But with the code, they think they know where.
"...Egypt.' Taking the keyboard, Gideon opened a new window on the computer and called up Wikipedia. 'The Hala'ib Triangle seems to be a twenty thousand square kilometer region claimed by both Egypt and Sudan. Zero annual rainfall, zero population, zero life, heavily broken country of rugged mountains, sand dunes, and dry washes. It says here that it's one of the most extreme desert environments in the world.' He stepped back. 'Zoom in to the valley.'
Garza complied, creating a split-screen image showing the Phaistos map on one side and the Google Earth image on the other, both at the same scale.
'Could there be a more desolate place on earth?' Gideon asked..."
Gideon and Garza embark on an adventure with very little knowledge of what awaits them, only sure in the knowledge that if Glinn finds out what they have stolen he will be hot on their trail. But Egypt is a big country with its own perils and soon Gideon and Garza find their lives in danger from the very secrets they hope to unlock.
Okay, why this doesn't work for me and for a large part, its because I have read these two authors diligently and love most of their work. The research and the drama and tension that fill a novel by Preston and Child is unlike any other you will find. But the Pharoah Key has not of it.
The story is predictable on various levels. The duo are robbed by locals and left to die. A beautiful Egyptologist tags along for the ride and the romantic/sexual tension between her and Gideon is almost like something out of an old movie. Only not nearly as good. The ancient tribe they find secluded in the desert, they somehow figure out how to communicate with and amaze with their modern technology. Eventually taking the tribe over. How this is not somewhat offensive to every culture that has had their culture torn apart by this type of behavior down throughout history. Aztecs and Mayans and even Egyptians who have had to fight to get their own artifacts back from explorers that take them back to London or New York.
What bothers me the most in this one is that there really is a good tale hidden down here. Pieces of the origin of the one God theology and the connection between an ancient Pharaoh and the tale of Moses. Something that might have made this one interesting.
Honestly there was a point in the reading of this book that I literally thought that it was a book written by an author who was trying to write a Preston and Child novel. Only failing at it miserably.
Sorry not a very good read at all. It is past time to put Gideon Crew on the shelf.
"...That's as good a summary as I could have made.' Dr. Conrad propped his palms on the edge of his desk and interlaced his fingers. 'When you first learned of your AVM,' he asked, 'did the doctor give you a prognosis on how long you might expect to live?'
'Yes.'
'And how long was that?'
'About a year.'
'When was that?'
'Almost ten months ago.'
'I see.' The doctor shuffled through the images on his desk, cleared his throat again. 'I'm very sorry to have to tell you, Gideon, but from these tests and everything else I've seen, the original prognosis was correct..."
Eli Glinn has just shut down Effective Engineering Solutions and closed the doors without explanation, casting out Gideon Crew and Manuel Garza who have both served Glinn fervently in the last year. They are told they just have a few hours to collect their gear and then they will be escorted off the premises. After risking their lives repeatedly for Glinn, Crew and Garza fell betrayed and leave with one thing in hand. A secret that Glinn has been searching years for. An ancient code that had been uploaded into EES's computers long ago and now, at this moment, it has been cracked. Crew and Garza decide they are taking this with them, pay for years of dedicated service. It seems to hint at incredible treasures but what exactly they don't know. But with the code, they think they know where.
"...Egypt.' Taking the keyboard, Gideon opened a new window on the computer and called up Wikipedia. 'The Hala'ib Triangle seems to be a twenty thousand square kilometer region claimed by both Egypt and Sudan. Zero annual rainfall, zero population, zero life, heavily broken country of rugged mountains, sand dunes, and dry washes. It says here that it's one of the most extreme desert environments in the world.' He stepped back. 'Zoom in to the valley.'
Garza complied, creating a split-screen image showing the Phaistos map on one side and the Google Earth image on the other, both at the same scale.
'Could there be a more desolate place on earth?' Gideon asked..."
Gideon and Garza embark on an adventure with very little knowledge of what awaits them, only sure in the knowledge that if Glinn finds out what they have stolen he will be hot on their trail. But Egypt is a big country with its own perils and soon Gideon and Garza find their lives in danger from the very secrets they hope to unlock.
Okay, why this doesn't work for me and for a large part, its because I have read these two authors diligently and love most of their work. The research and the drama and tension that fill a novel by Preston and Child is unlike any other you will find. But the Pharoah Key has not of it.
The story is predictable on various levels. The duo are robbed by locals and left to die. A beautiful Egyptologist tags along for the ride and the romantic/sexual tension between her and Gideon is almost like something out of an old movie. Only not nearly as good. The ancient tribe they find secluded in the desert, they somehow figure out how to communicate with and amaze with their modern technology. Eventually taking the tribe over. How this is not somewhat offensive to every culture that has had their culture torn apart by this type of behavior down throughout history. Aztecs and Mayans and even Egyptians who have had to fight to get their own artifacts back from explorers that take them back to London or New York.
What bothers me the most in this one is that there really is a good tale hidden down here. Pieces of the origin of the one God theology and the connection between an ancient Pharaoh and the tale of Moses. Something that might have made this one interesting.
Honestly there was a point in the reading of this book that I literally thought that it was a book written by an author who was trying to write a Preston and Child novel. Only failing at it miserably.
Sorry not a very good read at all. It is past time to put Gideon Crew on the shelf.
January 22, 2020
What a cliff hanger. I was trapped in a goodway from the start till the end. Amazing Read.
"Gideon Creek--brilliant scientist, master thief, intrepid adventurer--is shocked when his former employer, Eli Glin, vanishes without a trace, and Glinn's high-tech lab Effective Engineering Solutions shuts down seemingly overnight.
Fresh off a diagnosis that gives him only months to live, Crew is contacted by one of his former coworkers at EES, Manuel Garza, who has a bead on one final treasure hinted at in EES's final case, the long-awaited translation of a centuries-old stone tablet of a previously undiscovered civilization: The Phaistos Disc.
What lies at the end of the trail will either save Gideon's life--or bring it to a sudden, shocking close. Crew once again faces incredible odds--but as Gideon has proved again and again, there's no such thing as too great a risk when you're living on borrowed time."
Don’t fret too much about the spoilers here because the authors have already spoiled the book. Let’s start by cutting to the chase. To lure in buyers, the book is hyped with the discovery of a world-altering secret. Close to the end, one character does unearth it, but refuses to divulge it to others, and worse, to you. This is bush league of the highest order.
Don’t fret too much about the spoilers here because the authors have already spoiled the book. Let’s start by cutting to the chase. To lure in buyers, the book is hyped with the discovery of a world-altering secret. Close to the end, one character does unearth it, but refuses to divulge it to others, and worse, to you. This is bush league of the highest order.
The lame attempt to justify this is the the character doesn’t want to burden Gideon (protagonist) with the terrible truth. He has a fatal illness and a couple weeks to live. How much of a burden could that be? Pure nonsense.
The basic plot is that Gideon and Manuel are undertaking a dangerous exploratory mission, in search of riches that may be held by an undiscovered tomb of a pharaoh. You have weeks to live and you’re going to burn them on this? Along the way, they stumble into situations of certain death, only to be saved by banal improbable escapes. A woman imposes herself into their expedition and they are enslaved by a primitive tribe. Insert an assortment of hackneyed events of the great white explorers being captured, accepted and then revered.
Then, there are the contradictions. As example, once enslaved, they are assigned tasks. It is noted that, even though Gideon is a fair shot with the tribe’s bow and arrows, he isn’t included in the hunting parties. Within a few pages later, our heroes are plotting their escape and assessing their chances. It comes up in their discussion that the tribe possesses only primitive weapons and doesn’t even have bows and arrows. How was it determined that Gideon could shoot the tribe’s bows and arrow when they don’t even have them?
As for reviews that lament the end of the Gideon Crew series, don’t bet on it. If true to form, this is buyer bait and look for a pulling-a-rabbit-out-of-the-hat explanation of his return.
While there are parts that entertain, the undelivered promises do not merit a reward by reading it. I thought this was an amazing read. Highly recommend.
"Gideon Creek--brilliant scientist, master thief, intrepid adventurer--is shocked when his former employer, Eli Glin, vanishes without a trace, and Glinn's high-tech lab Effective Engineering Solutions shuts down seemingly overnight.
Fresh off a diagnosis that gives him only months to live, Crew is contacted by one of his former coworkers at EES, Manuel Garza, who has a bead on one final treasure hinted at in EES's final case, the long-awaited translation of a centuries-old stone tablet of a previously undiscovered civilization: The Phaistos Disc.
What lies at the end of the trail will either save Gideon's life--or bring it to a sudden, shocking close. Crew once again faces incredible odds--but as Gideon has proved again and again, there's no such thing as too great a risk when you're living on borrowed time."
Don’t fret too much about the spoilers here because the authors have already spoiled the book. Let’s start by cutting to the chase. To lure in buyers, the book is hyped with the discovery of a world-altering secret. Close to the end, one character does unearth it, but refuses to divulge it to others, and worse, to you. This is bush league of the highest order.
Don’t fret too much about the spoilers here because the authors have already spoiled the book. Let’s start by cutting to the chase. To lure in buyers, the book is hyped with the discovery of a world-altering secret. Close to the end, one character does unearth it, but refuses to divulge it to others, and worse, to you. This is bush league of the highest order.
The lame attempt to justify this is the the character doesn’t want to burden Gideon (protagonist) with the terrible truth. He has a fatal illness and a couple weeks to live. How much of a burden could that be? Pure nonsense.
The basic plot is that Gideon and Manuel are undertaking a dangerous exploratory mission, in search of riches that may be held by an undiscovered tomb of a pharaoh. You have weeks to live and you’re going to burn them on this? Along the way, they stumble into situations of certain death, only to be saved by banal improbable escapes. A woman imposes herself into their expedition and they are enslaved by a primitive tribe. Insert an assortment of hackneyed events of the great white explorers being captured, accepted and then revered.
Then, there are the contradictions. As example, once enslaved, they are assigned tasks. It is noted that, even though Gideon is a fair shot with the tribe’s bow and arrows, he isn’t included in the hunting parties. Within a few pages later, our heroes are plotting their escape and assessing their chances. It comes up in their discussion that the tribe possesses only primitive weapons and doesn’t even have bows and arrows. How was it determined that Gideon could shoot the tribe’s bows and arrow when they don’t even have them?
As for reviews that lament the end of the Gideon Crew series, don’t bet on it. If true to form, this is buyer bait and look for a pulling-a-rabbit-out-of-the-hat explanation of his return.
While there are parts that entertain, the undelivered promises do not merit a reward by reading it. I thought this was an amazing read. Highly recommend.
July 3, 2018
Frankly disappointing. The adventure and thrills of previous volumes are gone, replaced by a paint by numbers laundry list of situations with no life or vitality behind them. This is the first book that felt like the two merely stitched together alternating chapters, the ending was completely underwhelming in its lack of resolution and finality, and I was so disengaged from the tale it took a week to read what should have been a day or two at most.
June 19, 2018
This was an interesting, enjoyable read. Fast paced, novel about hunting treasure in one of the most formidable places on earth. Along the way they had many adventures and did eventually discover what they were looking for. But I suspect the world was not ready for it. This may be the last of the Gideon Crew series. I hope not, but it seems his time is up due to his AVM.
June 5, 2022
2,75 sterren- Nederlandse paperback
Gideon Crew heeft geen jaar meer te leven, is zijn werk verloren en heeft eigenlijk niet meer zo veel in zijn leven behalve een berghut. Samen met Manuel Garza die een wrok heeft tegen hun werkgever, stelen ze op hun laatste dag een ontcijferde boodschap over de schijf van Phaistos. Dit brengt hen naar Egypte waar ze in de woestijn een onbekende stam ontmoeten. Wat ze daar meemaken heeft dus een hoog Indiana Jones gehalte en een hoog ongeloofwaardigheidsgehalte.
Ik ben al jaren fan van Preston en Child, niet alleen van de reeks met Pendergast, maar ook van van deze reeks. Helaas kwam dit verhaal voor mij niet uit de verf. Onderwerp: geweldig. Uitwerking : niet geweldig.
Sorry naar voor mij geen aanrader.
Gideon Crew heeft geen jaar meer te leven, is zijn werk verloren en heeft eigenlijk niet meer zo veel in zijn leven behalve een berghut. Samen met Manuel Garza die een wrok heeft tegen hun werkgever, stelen ze op hun laatste dag een ontcijferde boodschap over de schijf van Phaistos. Dit brengt hen naar Egypte waar ze in de woestijn een onbekende stam ontmoeten. Wat ze daar meemaken heeft dus een hoog Indiana Jones gehalte en een hoog ongeloofwaardigheidsgehalte.
Ik ben al jaren fan van Preston en Child, niet alleen van de reeks met Pendergast, maar ook van van deze reeks. Helaas kwam dit verhaal voor mij niet uit de verf. Onderwerp: geweldig. Uitwerking : niet geweldig.
Sorry naar voor mij geen aanrader.
May 18, 2018
Review of Advance Reading Copy
Gideon Crew is stunned when Eli Glinn shutters his high-tech lab, Effective Engineering Solutions, and vanishes. A chance encounter with former coworker Manuel Garza sets him off on an adventure tied to the translation of the Phaistos Disk, the stone tablet of a previously undiscovered civilization.
With a medical diagnosis that confirms he has, at best, only a couple of months to live, risk holds little meaning for Gideon. But as the two men head for Egypt in search of the mythical treasure, neither has any idea just how much their search will change everything.
The fifth story in the Gideon Crew saga finds the daring adventurer contemplating the end of his life, and, angered by Glinn’s sudden disappearance and the shutting down of the lab, setting out on one last treasure-seeking adventure. Believable characters, a strong sense of place, and an inventive plot combine to create a thrilling tale filled with enough derring-do to satisfy any Indiana Jones devotee. The story will keep readers enthralled as the unfolding adventure takes some unexpected twists leading to surprising revelations they won’t see coming. It’s great fun and, with some unresolved plot points, there’s a glimmer of a promise of something more to come.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program
Gideon Crew is stunned when Eli Glinn shutters his high-tech lab, Effective Engineering Solutions, and vanishes. A chance encounter with former coworker Manuel Garza sets him off on an adventure tied to the translation of the Phaistos Disk, the stone tablet of a previously undiscovered civilization.
With a medical diagnosis that confirms he has, at best, only a couple of months to live, risk holds little meaning for Gideon. But as the two men head for Egypt in search of the mythical treasure, neither has any idea just how much their search will change everything.
The fifth story in the Gideon Crew saga finds the daring adventurer contemplating the end of his life, and, angered by Glinn’s sudden disappearance and the shutting down of the lab, setting out on one last treasure-seeking adventure. Believable characters, a strong sense of place, and an inventive plot combine to create a thrilling tale filled with enough derring-do to satisfy any Indiana Jones devotee. The story will keep readers enthralled as the unfolding adventure takes some unexpected twists leading to surprising revelations they won’t see coming. It’s great fun and, with some unresolved plot points, there’s a glimmer of a promise of something more to come.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program
September 23, 2018
This is truly and entirely an adventure story. Pure and simple, but it's a good one. Written by writers who have really and truly gone on adventures. Preston himself has traveled across the Southwest on horseback, been part of an expedition which discovered a lost city in Central America, and lived in the area where the 'Monster of Florence' series of murders occurred in Florence, Italy. (He's written about all these, too.) Thus, if you want a good adventure yarn it sometimes helps to have someone who's done some real-life adventuring, IMO.
In this one Gideon Crew, who has only a few months to live due to a serious brain condition, goes off looking for the truth behind a strange, encrypted disc he's come into the possession of. He enlists Manuel Garza to assist, and off they goes to the southern Sahara in search of - what?
They don't know. Is it an ancient tomb? A pyramid buried in the sand? The ruins of an unknown city? What!! Anyhow, it unfolds like a story from the late 1800's, the kind written for boys but enjoyed by all ages. Maybe Preston and Child intended it that way, but it was a quick, fast, energetic, never-a-dull-moment read. The only sad part...
It had to end. As (perhaps) so does Gideon Crew.
Four stars.
In this one Gideon Crew, who has only a few months to live due to a serious brain condition, goes off looking for the truth behind a strange, encrypted disc he's come into the possession of. He enlists Manuel Garza to assist, and off they goes to the southern Sahara in search of - what?
They don't know. Is it an ancient tomb? A pyramid buried in the sand? The ruins of an unknown city? What!! Anyhow, it unfolds like a story from the late 1800's, the kind written for boys but enjoyed by all ages. Maybe Preston and Child intended it that way, but it was a quick, fast, energetic, never-a-dull-moment read. The only sad part...
It had to end. As (perhaps) so does Gideon Crew.
Four stars.
July 4, 2018
Is this it? The last of Gideon Crew series?
I enjoyed this book especially towards the middle and ending, but unlike Beyond the Ice Limit, this book wasn't as exciting and the plot of treasure hunting in Egypt wasn't unique. I felt like I've seen too many movies or read books like this before. Very much like Clive Cussler novels. BUT, the tribe part was good, and although I dislike Garza at the beginning he came through for me. AND, this felt like Garza book than Gideon. The ending left questions unanswered which pissed me off a little. 😊
I enjoyed this book especially towards the middle and ending, but unlike Beyond the Ice Limit, this book wasn't as exciting and the plot of treasure hunting in Egypt wasn't unique. I felt like I've seen too many movies or read books like this before. Very much like Clive Cussler novels. BUT, the tribe part was good, and although I dislike Garza at the beginning he came through for me. AND, this felt like Garza book than Gideon. The ending left questions unanswered which pissed me off a little. 😊
April 27, 2021
A juvenile adventure story for adults, this really deserves about 3.5 stars, but because it is Preston & Child I rounded it up to 4 stars. A rousing adventure story that can't be taken to seriously, the script is full of dumb errors that good editing should have taken care of. I compare this to the old Saturday afternoon serials of the 40's and 50's. Fun, but not going to win any awards. Just enjoy.
April 29, 2019
The Gideon Crew books have been hit and miss for me. I really liked The Lost Island and Beyond the Ice Limit, and I really disliked Gideon’s Corpse. This book probably wasn’t as bad as that one, but it wasn’t much better. There are a couple of interesting scenes, but the story is largely predictable, and not very interesting. This reads like it’s the last of the series, which is no loss.
February 9, 2019
I swear I read the same plot years and years ago in a Donald Duck comics story.... Not good, not good.
November 26, 2018
The Pendergast novels by Preston and Child are some of the most fantastic stories dealing with suspense, action and often the mystical. Sometimes that mystical is explained away, but other times not.
The Gideon Crew novels are usually like the Pendergast novels but more on the lite side. This is, apparently, the last of the Crew novels and unfortunately the series is going out on a whimper rather than a bang.
Preston and Child are fabulous at taking the fantastic and allowing you to suspend your belief in reality. You can feel the chill in the air, taste the salt spray of ocean waves pounding the shore, sense the macabre and the fantastic with shivers up and down your spine in most of their Pendergast books.
This happens less so in the Crew novels but still they are a thumping good read for the most part. I found that to be even less so in #4, The Lost Island, and much less in this novel. I gave it an extra half star just out of respect for their previous works, both as collaborators and as sole novelist, but it deserved, at best, 2½ stars.
Our team of Crew and Garza go from improbable to more improbable situations with cliff hangers being resolved much like those old serials at the Saturday matinees, where the hero faced certain death at the end of the chapter only to be saved in the next with usually a ridiculous event. I remember one episode where the hero was about to be run down by an automobile when, in the next chapter it turns out that he laid down behind a bump in the road and the car sailed over him leaving him unscathed. Right. Sure. Don't try this at home folks.
So too, Gideon and Garza and an interloper name Imogene (there always has to be a damsel, not so much in distress but certainly pretty to attract Gideon's attention) face end of the world, cataclysmic events only to be saved at the last moments by a figurative bump in the road.
As usual there are treasures of one sort or another to be had. What kinds of treasures you ask? Read the book! Or not. I can truly say read or not read. If you want to read the very last of a series then by all means, read. If you don't want to be disappointed then maybe you shouldn't read.
I saw the ending of this story well before the final page. It, like those old serials (he says showing his age) was fairly obvious. The only suspense was what kind of bump in the road were our intrepid heroes going to hide behind. And some were as ludicrous as that bump in the road in the old serial. The only problem is that I wasn't a young boy willing to believe as easily as I was then.
I don't mind the fantastical, the hard to believe depending upon how it's presented. I love fantasy novels/serials, from the Harry Potter books to the world of Pern. This just didn't have it for me.
RIP Gideon Crew series and Mr. Child, Mr. Preston, give me another great Pendergast story. I know you can do it, you've done it before and. . . WAIT! Verses Of The Dead is coming out on December 31st! There is light at the end of the tunnel! Good job guys!
The Gideon Crew novels are usually like the Pendergast novels but more on the lite side. This is, apparently, the last of the Crew novels and unfortunately the series is going out on a whimper rather than a bang.
Preston and Child are fabulous at taking the fantastic and allowing you to suspend your belief in reality. You can feel the chill in the air, taste the salt spray of ocean waves pounding the shore, sense the macabre and the fantastic with shivers up and down your spine in most of their Pendergast books.
This happens less so in the Crew novels but still they are a thumping good read for the most part. I found that to be even less so in #4, The Lost Island, and much less in this novel. I gave it an extra half star just out of respect for their previous works, both as collaborators and as sole novelist, but it deserved, at best, 2½ stars.
Our team of Crew and Garza go from improbable to more improbable situations with cliff hangers being resolved much like those old serials at the Saturday matinees, where the hero faced certain death at the end of the chapter only to be saved in the next with usually a ridiculous event. I remember one episode where the hero was about to be run down by an automobile when, in the next chapter it turns out that he laid down behind a bump in the road and the car sailed over him leaving him unscathed. Right. Sure. Don't try this at home folks.
So too, Gideon and Garza and an interloper name Imogene (there always has to be a damsel, not so much in distress but certainly pretty to attract Gideon's attention) face end of the world, cataclysmic events only to be saved at the last moments by a figurative bump in the road.
As usual there are treasures of one sort or another to be had. What kinds of treasures you ask? Read the book! Or not. I can truly say read or not read. If you want to read the very last of a series then by all means, read. If you don't want to be disappointed then maybe you shouldn't read.
I saw the ending of this story well before the final page. It, like those old serials (he says showing his age) was fairly obvious. The only suspense was what kind of bump in the road were our intrepid heroes going to hide behind. And some were as ludicrous as that bump in the road in the old serial. The only problem is that I wasn't a young boy willing to believe as easily as I was then.
I don't mind the fantastical, the hard to believe depending upon how it's presented. I love fantasy novels/serials, from the Harry Potter books to the world of Pern. This just didn't have it for me.
RIP Gideon Crew series and Mr. Child, Mr. Preston, give me another great Pendergast story. I know you can do it, you've done it before and. . . WAIT! Verses Of The Dead is coming out on December 31st! There is light at the end of the tunnel! Good job guys!
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