Helpful Score: 6
This is definitely one of the best non-Pendergast novels by these authors! It deals with archaeology and Anasazi ruins, and brings Nora Kelly and Bill Smithback together for the first time. Very suspenseful (except of course we know that neither Nora nor Bill can get killed!) and well-plotted. Even when you know what's bound to happen, you still can't turn the pages fast enough. A good read!
Helpful Score: 2
As usual a great read. Preston & Child's mysteries always have an unusual plot and are very engaging.
Helpful Score: 1
Archaeologist Nora Kelly receives a letter writen 16 years ago from her father, who has long been believed dead. It hints of a discovery that will make him famous and rich. It is a lost city of the Anasazi. Nora leads an expedition into the harsh corner of Utah's canyon country searching for her father and his discovery. As she begins to unravel the mystery of the lost civilization new horrors await her and the members of her expedition. This is a fast moving mystery, archaeology lesson and thriller all rolled into one. It's a good read.
Helpful Score: 1
Meet Nora Kelly -- who will go on to do great things in the authors' 'The Cabinet of Curiosities' with Agent Pendergast. Child and Preston have a knack for interesting mysteries with a supernatural angle. Unique and wonderful!
Helpful Score: 1
How do these guys write such great books. This one reveals how Nora Kelly and Bill Smithback meet. This was so good with the intrique and pretty good ending too.
Helpful Score: 1
Another thriller from Preston & Child. This one is far from the museum walls, set in the desert of the American West, but it's still the same heart-pounding, page-turning excitement of an eerie mystery this time supported with well-researched information on the Anasazi Indians.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a great book - kept me reading long after dark, just to find out what was happening next.
Helpful Score: 1
Nory Kelly, a young archaeologist finds a letter written sixteen years ago on an abandoned Santa Fe ranch. Mysteriously it was only recently mailed. In it her father thought to be dead hints at a lost city of gold that will make him rich and famous. Nora leads an expedition into the harsh and remote Utah canyon country to find her father and his discovery.
Helpful Score: 1
Fantastic book! I agree, can't go wrong. The Lincoln-Child authors combo is right on, every time!
Helpful Score: 1
This was an excellent book and I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys other Preston and Child novels. I did not like it as much as some of their other novels though. It took me while to really get into it and it was much slower reading for me than some of their other books like Relic, Still life with Crows, and Brimstone. Still a great book!
Helpful Score: 1
By the authors of the FBI Agent Pendergast series, which includes RELIC, RELIQUARY, MOUNT DRAGON, CABINET OF CURIOSITIES; also the novels RIPTIDE and ICE LIMIT. This one will keep you up way past your bed time!
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On an abandoned Santa Fe ranch a young archeologist finds a letter written sixteen years ago yet, mysteriously, mailed only recently. In it her father, long believed dead, hints at a lost city of gold that will make him famous--and rich. Now Nora Kelly is leading an expedition into a harsh, remote corner of Utah's canyon country. Searching for her father and his discovery, Nora begins to unravel one of archeology's greatest mysteries.
A thousand years ago a thriving civilization suddenly and mysteriously vanished. For Nora Kelly and her strife-ridden team of explorers, the answer is at their fingertips. Then the terror explodes . . .
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On an abandoned Santa Fe ranch a young archeologist finds a letter written sixteen years ago yet, mysteriously, mailed only recently. In it her father, long believed dead, hints at a lost city of gold that will make him famous--and rich. Now Nora Kelly is leading an expedition into a harsh, remote corner of Utah's canyon country. Searching for her father and his discovery, Nora begins to unravel one of archeology's greatest mysteries.
A thousand years ago a thriving civilization suddenly and mysteriously vanished. For Nora Kelly and her strife-ridden team of explorers, the answer is at their fingertips. Then the terror explodes . . .
Helpful Score: 1
I really enjoyed this one! Preston/Child is always good and in my opinion, this is one of their best. It's the story of a search for the lost city of gold, Quivara, that Coronado had searched for in the 16th century. Nora Kelly finds a letter from her father written 16 years previously that describes his search for the city and she eventually convinces the Santa Fe Archaeological Institute to fund a search for the lost city in the canyons of Southern Utah. This was a really engrossing story and included information about the Anasazi and what could have happened to them that was really fascinating. Eventually, they do find the lost city: a cliff dwelling at the top of a hidden canyon, but it is not as some thought. There are also some mysterious "skinwalkers" who are bent on preventing them from disclosing the site's location and the archaeological treasures that were found. Also along for the ride to document the discovery is Bill Smithback, the reporter from Relic and Reliquary. Overall, a very high recommendation for this one.
Helpful Score: 1
Another great thriller. A book you can't put down until you've finished!
Another great work from Preston/Douglas. This book really impressed me because it was obvious how much research went into the work.
The story which revolves around archaeology and the Anasazi was actually fairly accurate. The descriptions of working the archaeological dig, and the basic beliefs of the people were wonderful!
An interesting read that weaves together modern day thought with the superstitious ideas of a lost people.
The story which revolves around archaeology and the Anasazi was actually fairly accurate. The descriptions of working the archaeological dig, and the basic beliefs of the people were wonderful!
An interesting read that weaves together modern day thought with the superstitious ideas of a lost people.
Can't go wrong with this book if you like Suspense/Adventure and books you can't put down.. Excellent read.
If you are into Utah archeology, this book is a lot of fun. I love spending time in the Utah desert, so this was a great read for me.
They did a great job on this one, an excellent read.
an exployer and her team search for answers on why a civilazation suddenly vanished. This book is filled with indian culture and myths. This lady leads an expidition into a lost city of gold.
This is the first book from Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child that I absolutely hated. It is so boring and just plods along like it has no place to go. UGH!
Even the characters are boring and uninteresting: Nora Kelly, Peter Holyrood, Bill Smithback, Aaron Black, Roscoe Swire, Sloane Goddard and Luigi Bonarotti. There wasn't a pleasant person in the entire group. All they did was bitch and moan about the travel to the Anasazi site of Quivira. I thought all archeologists did was tromp from site to site. What did these guys think, that a long lost city was out in the open for all to find. Hello! It's only now being found for a reason. Even after they finally get to Quivira and the shit hits the fan, they are still angry and annoying. Damn what a waste of 481 pages!
Even the characters are boring and uninteresting: Nora Kelly, Peter Holyrood, Bill Smithback, Aaron Black, Roscoe Swire, Sloane Goddard and Luigi Bonarotti. There wasn't a pleasant person in the entire group. All they did was bitch and moan about the travel to the Anasazi site of Quivira. I thought all archeologists did was tromp from site to site. What did these guys think, that a long lost city was out in the open for all to find. Hello! It's only now being found for a reason. Even after they finally get to Quivira and the shit hits the fan, they are still angry and annoying. Damn what a waste of 481 pages!
From back cover -
"Grounded in science but flirting with the supernatural...a highly readable tale of adventure and long-ago crimes." - Dallas Morning News
"Grounded in science but flirting with the supernatural...a highly readable tale of adventure and long-ago crimes." - Dallas Morning News
This is one of my all time favorite books. I have always been interested in the cave dwellings of the southwest and you add in Mr. Preston and Mr. Child's creepy imaginations, and you have the makings of a book full of action and suspense. The eeriness of the locale and and lore of the skin-walkers and this book may just keep you up all night reading. I highly recommend this book if you like creepiness.
I really love everything by these authors. This one is a little draggy in parts, but overall, creepy and exciting.
Another good book by Preston & Child. Not as good as the Pendergast novels, but an enjoyable read none the less!
Back of book: On an abandoned Santa Fe ranch a young archaeologist finds a letter written sixteen years ago yet, mysteriously, mailed only recently. In it her father, long believed dead, hints at a lost city of gold that will make him famous - and rich. Now Nora Kelly is leading an expedition into a harsh, remote corner of Utah's canyon country. Searching for her father and his discovery, Nora begins to unravel one of archaeology's greatest mysteries...
A thousand years ago a thriving civilization suddenly and mysteriously vanished. For Nora Kelly and her strife-ridden team of explorers, the answer is at their fingertips. Then the terror explodes...
A thousand years ago a thriving civilization suddenly and mysteriously vanished. For Nora Kelly and her strife-ridden team of explorers, the answer is at their fingertips. Then the terror explodes...
On an abandoned ranch, a young woman finds a letter from her father, written 16 years ago. It leads her to a lost city of gold and to the skinwalkers. Very scary and I couldn't put it down.
This was a great book! If you like Preston and Child, you should like this book, too.
I could hardly put this book down! Adventure, lots of danger, tense moments, greed, treasure...very exciting
Another Good Preston/ Child tale. The ending maybe a bit weak.
Gounded in science but flirting with the supernatural...a highly readable tale of adventure and long-ago crimes.
Nora Kelly, an archaeologist, is attacked by a talking dog-like figure while visiting her family's abandoned ranch. After the attack, she finds a letter addressed to her deceased mother from her father, missing and presumed dead these past sixteen years; the letter is postmarked six weeks ago and describes the way to a legendary Anasazi city of gold.
A real Nail- Biter !!!
Modern-day archaeologists search Utah's Canyon Country for the fabled Lost City of Quivira, aided by sources as old as Coronado's reports and as new as satellite photos. Great adventure with just enough of the supernatural to give it a kick.
I have long been a Lincoln Child fan, and more recently, discovered his collaboration with Douglas Preston. The two fine authors working together, result in some great reads. Thunderhead is no exception. A real page turner. You don't have to be into archeology to enjoy this book. There is plenty of suspense and interesting character development to draw the reader in. Once the expedition begins, it gets hard to put the book down. A satisfying ending leaves you yearning for a continuation of this story. I had previously read Preston/Child's "Ice Limit", which I highly recommend, as well.
I had forgotten I had read this long ago and found it recently. For those who love historical fiction and/or the Anastazi/US West/Aztec/Mexico or Archaeology, you will love this book. I almost literally could not put it down I enjoyed it so much. The chapters fly by, the pages almost not seen they go so fast. The fictional piece is breathtaking and intreaging while the historical piece is front and center. October 2012
Preston and Child haven't written a bad book yet!
set in Santa Fe on a ranch an archaeologist found a letter written 16 years ago by her father which hinted at a city of lost goal. She then leads an expedition into a harsh corner of Utah looking for the gold.
I enjoyed this book very much. Keeps you very interested
Pretty decent read. These authors always have the coolest ideas and real info buried in the story.
excellent reading!
Another can't put down book from this duo. Try to read this series in order if you can.
