Gideon's Sword (Gideon Crew series)

I love these 2 authors, and have read everything they have written, both together and separate. I enjoy following the characters in several books.

the free book that was attached to this one, however, I did not finish. the story was too slow and did get my attention enough to complete.

Far from the quality of other Preston/Child books and lacking any depth of characters but still a good read. Very predictable storyline coupled with useless description of locations and a new hero that sounds promising in the beginning but definitely lack the charisma...
It is supposed to bring to life a new series of books but with a hero like Gideon Crew... Well, I don't know...

Preston and Child? Really.. I also like books by just Mr. Preston and Mr. Child.. but this is both a Preston and Child book? Really.. I hate the main character.. I am going to finish this book and read the next in the series simply to keep up with this "series".. however, I hope Preston and Child drop the Gideon Crew character and go a different direction. The character is shallow, not likeable at all.. a not so nice person with no morals. I find no reason to like him .. not my cup of tea.. needs a lot of character development and change of direction. I hope the author's do that and dump this character.

I've read everything these authors have written and always have anxiously anticipated their next book. However, I have to say if this one had been the first, it would also have been my last. Shallow characterization, holes in the plot--very thin in nearly every area. Even in some of the action scenes, I found myself rolling my eyes. I'm really hoping the book is not a sign that these two are running out of ideas. Gideon's Sword

Gideon's Sword introduces Gideon Crew a renegade who devotes his life to avenging his father's death (like Bruce Wayne?). Crew was into robbing valuable artwork when he learns that his father may have been set up to be murdered by someone high in the military. He decides to train his body and learn all the skill necessary to extract revenge.

Gideon's efforts come to the attention of Eli Glinn (a recurring character in some of the author's other books). Glinn hires Gideon to obtain the secret to a new weapon that a Chinese scientist is bringing to New York. The scientist is chased by a deady Chinese assassin but stays alive long enough to give Gideon a long string of numbers.

It is up to Gideon to stay alive and find out what the numbers mean before the assassin can get to him. Gideon has help from an unlikely trio (a friend, a CIA agent and a prostitute). I gave this book 3 stars because it has a good pace and did not get boring. I could not rate it any higher because:

- Gideon is a very one dimensional character and it is hard to really understand anything about the person he is.
- Gideon uses very lame social engineering techniques to easily get things from people in highly secure facilities. The techniques were so obvious that even in the most mundane place, they would not work.

Possible spoiler below:

The authors set the book for an obvious sequel so they are not done with Mr. Gideon Crew. With a little work he could prove to be their next Pendergast.

I've read all the Pendergast novels, and have enjoyed them very much, however there are sometimes where I would be thinking let's just get to the point. Gideon Crew is no Pendergast. Gideon is gifted in his own right. His best weapon is his mouth and he takes pride in that. Most reviews I've read say " it seems rushed, it seems short, it's not Pendergast". I found the novel very fast paced. That and the fact that it is also very singularly focused(not a lot of sub plots)may be the reason people find it short or rushed. I really enjoyed the pacing, it was like Bing, Bam, Boom, making it difficult to put down. That's not a bad thing. I hope to see more of Gideon Crew, although the Authors seemed to have painted themselves into a corner. I hope the negative reviews won't cut Gideon's adventures short.

Please pay no attention to the one-star reviews this book has gotten. Those people are out of their minds. There is no way that these two incredibly talented authors could produce a one-star book, even if they tried. If you want to see what an actual one-star book looks like, let me know and I'll point you to a few shining examples. lol.

Yes, Gideon's Sword is a departure from the well-loved Pendergast series...but Gideon is a great character in his own right! He is funny, smart, charming and brave, but with some very human flaws that make him interesting and sympathetic.

The story takes place in the same "universe" as the Pendergast series; there is some crossing of the streams character-wise, which was fun. It's fast-paced and exciting, especially the last part, which takes place on Hart Island.

Give Gideon a chance. If you can keep in mind that this new series is supposed to be different than what you're used to and read it on its own terms, you will not be disappointed. I can't wait to see what the next book in the series brings...like Pendergast did, I think that Gideon will get even better as we learn more about him and accompany him on future adventures.

Imagine it is 1981 and Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (Special Edition) is just out in the theaters. You go in and the first thing that assaults your senses is a thrilling entry into a cave, protected by spears and diabolical devices. Indy grabs the treasure and rushes back out through the treacherous paths to freedom, where he is promptly relieved of his booty. And then the real adventure begins.

That was the way this book felt to me. It starts with a revenge killing, years in the planning and when that ends, all too soon, one can only wonder, what's left? Well what's left is the real adventure, the tale of an accidental hero, a scientist named Gideon Crew, charged with unraveling a mystery wrapped in an enigma. What motivates Gideon is part of the tale, and all I will say is that as a series character we cannot expect a lot more of him. This is too bad. Gideon is creative, smart, and fearless. He is a master of disguise, and can use his academic connections to unravel technological conundrums.

Some of the scenes here seem designed for the big screen, battling earth movers are particularly inspired. The bad guys are a bit cartoonish, and the good guys, a bit ambiguous. Still the book delivers roller-coaster excitement. Surely Gideon will be back, but for how long?

Unfortunately I did not pay heed to the comments and rating of other readers on this book. Being a fan of Preston and Child I went ahead and bought the book anyway. Well, I did not think it possible but Gideon's Sword - the only way to put it - is terrible.

Character development is weak, the story line hard to believe. I quit reading at chapter 24; I should have quite at chapter 4. There are too many books in the world to waste time on this one. No need for further comments- they are in he other one star reviews.

I will pay more attention to the ratings in the future.

Full of silly-isms. Some are obvious, some are subtle.
Here's an obvious one, p.87: Blood from the scientist had stained his chest and arms..... he... walked slowly and inconspicuously towards the subway...
More subtle one are to do with why people do things.

After falling for the twists of the Pendergast plots, and the deep research in novels from each of the co-authors, I could not get through the new "Gideon's Sword". The main character is two dimensional, incompetent, and unbelievable. All the characters, in fact, are unbelievable. I was expecting a clever loner like Lee Child's, "Jack Reacher" character, but instead Crew lies for no reason, exposes himself too much to be believed, makes too many mistakes that end up in his favor. The backstory is abridged but doesn't afford the reader much chance to connect with the character...PhD MIT Math and master liar ??? Seems the backstory should have been the story...his transformation from naivete to avenging son. That was the story, not the one week job he's been hired to do. A true disappointment by these master writers.

At the conclusion of Preston & Child's last best-seller, another brilliant Special Agent Pendergast novel entitled FEVER DREAM, fans of this terrific series were left hanging in two different ways. First and foremost, FEVER DREAM did not have a definitive ending and left a heck of a cliff-hanger out there to be completed in the next book in the series. Then came the larger issue --- a one-page addendum following the author's note that announced the exciting new series of thrillers featuring an `uncommon' investigator named Gideon Crew.

This announcement was received with mixed feelings by myself (and I'm sure countless others) who are so enthralled by the Pendergast series. Fear not faithful readers --- Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child were shrewd enough to indicate that they will continue to write novels in the Pendergast series and thanked the readers of these books for their devotion.

The big question as I cracked open the spine of the first Gideon Crew novel entitled GIDEON'S SWORD was whether or not this new series would provide the expected thrills, chills and well-researched plots and characters as all of their prior novels. It didn't take long for me to settle in comfortably with Gideon Crew and strapped myself in for another wild ride.

The novel opens with a Prologue set in 1988 that was entitled Melvin Crew (Gideon's father). Melvin Crew was a world-class mathematician who, for some inexplicable reason, is labeled a traitor by the U.S. Government and gunned down during a stand-off with military sharp-shooters right in front of 12-year-old, Gideon Crew.

The story then jumps forward eight years to 1996 and Gideon Crew is at the hospital death-bed of his mother. She literally uses her last breath to impel Gideon to seek justice and revenge for his father who was a scapegoat for INSCOM --- the United States Army Intelligence and Security Command. She urges Gideon to finish graduate school, get his degree and establish himself while constantly plotting to avenge Melvin Crew's wrongful death by bringing down the person responsible --- Chamblee Tucker!

Jumping now to present day, Gideon Crew is finally in possession of the information he needs to clear his father's name and bring down the now-retired military leader,
Chamblee Tucker. Over the course of a few fast-paced chapters, Crew does just that. He is a master of deception, disguise as well as being a technically gifted individual (as represented by his position at Los Alamos, NM). He is able to turn a hired gun of Tucker's to his own advantage and the two of them combine forces to take him down.

The only problem now is that I'm only sixty or so pages into the novel and the entire plot-line detailed on the inner jacket of GIDEON'S WAR has been wrapped up neatly. Where are things going now? I only needed to remind myself that I was in the hands of Preston & Child and breathed a sigh of relief as the second --- and far more beguiling --- plot-line surfaced. While trying to take some R&R and do some fishing at a secluded location, Gideon is approached by a strange man named Garza who offers him 100K to come to NYC and meet with his boss about a business proposition. The boss is Eli Glinn who owns an organization called Effective Engineering Solutions, Incorporated. They are a company that investigates failure analysis as well as other matters of national security. The job Glinn has for Gideon is to meet Chinese national named Mark Wu who is traveling to the U.S. with plans for a destructive new weapon that would threaten the entire nation. Sounds simple enough --- Gideon uses his guile to meet Wu at the airport and get the deadly plans before anyone is the wiser.

Alas, things are never as simple as they appear for Gideon Crew and Mark Wu is chased from the airport into NYC where his taxicab is attacked. Crew, who was in hot pursuit of Wu's taxi, pulls Wu from the wreckage --- but the damage is done. The last thing Wu states before passing out is to run off a string of random numbers and calls Gideon by the name `Roger'. Gideon must now find out what these numbers mean, who Roger is and hope that Wu can stay alive long enough to help him with these answers.

With each passing chapter, the plot thickens and at times takes unexpected turns. The `weapon' that Wu was purported to have had on him may not actually be a traditional weapon of mass destruction but something even more powerful --- a formula that will change the world's energy crisis and cause a major shift in the balance of global power. As Gideon finds out, Wu was not seeking to bring this gift to any terrorist but supposedly to the persecuted Chinese followers of Falun Dafa who have re-established themselves in the United States. Crew does not know who to believe or trust --- and the people he comes in contact with to aid him in his quest are instantly put in harm's way as the deadly assassin who attacked Mark Wu is coming for Gideon and the secret he is chasing.

GIDEON'S SWORD reads like a runaway train and ends with an incredible confrontation at a mysterious burial ground on Hart Island in the Long Island Sound. As fast as the novel moves, one draw back is the reader never really gets to know Gideon Crew that much --- but this is not a bad thing. Throughout the Pendergast novels, there are still aspects of the man that remain a mystery --- and good writers like Preston & Child understand the need to keep a little mystery behind the curtain so you never get too comfortable with their protagonists. Gideon Crew is no Pendergast. He is reckless and at times foolhardy, but he is an engaging character and a lot of fun. GIDEON'S SWORD is one heck of a ride for the reader and the closing pages set the stage for his next adventure. The novel is somewhat a departure for Preston & Child. The Pendergast novels are steeped more in historical mysteries and even the supernatural along with criminal procedural aspects whereby the first Gideon Crew novel addresses national security and falls more into the genre of authors like David Baldacci and Brad Thor. Not bad company to be in and there is just enough detail and science to keep their technical fans happy as well.

Welcome, Gideon Crew --- hope to see you again real soon!

Reviewed by Ray Palen for New Mystery Reader

I am truly amazed at all of the negative comments on this book. No, it isn't a Pendergast novel, but it is a good novel nevertheless. I rather liked Gideon and hope that he would be given a medical reprieve at the end. I hope that he will be in a future book. I found him very likeable and quite the man's man! I am also looking forward to the latest Pendergast novel next month.

There are a select few authors where I read every word published and will buy the new novels the day they are released. Preston and Child were included in this group until today. The authors' previous works had always been thoughtful, detailed, exciting and never rushed. In the case of Gideon's Sword, the authors' have created a character that I barely care about and a story that, on most nights, I chose sleep over finding out what happens next.

The authors state in the interview that follows the book that they plan for as many as 12 more Gideon novels. Please no!! My fondest wish is that they would take the next 5 years off to refresh. It is the only hope of recapturing some of the magic of their previous works. Alas, since the movie is already being produced, I'm quite sure that more mind-numbing Gideon novels will follow at a rapid pace. All I know for sure is that I won't read a single word of them.

No doubt, the authors will attribute most of the poor reviews to Pendergast fans who are not ready to accept a new character. I can't speak for the rest, but in my case, I was excited for a new character and ready to take a break from the increasingly stale Pendergast novels.

Gideon's Sword is another thrill ride from two of my favorite authors who introduce a brand new character named Gideon Crew in this one. The adventure starts on the first page and never lets up as Gideon fulfills his mothers dying wish to avenge his father’s murder, but that chore is only the beginning. Unknown observers have been watching . . . and offer Gideon a job he can’t refuse for a sum of money he can’t imagine. As the plot unfolds, it’s more and more difficult to distinguish the bad from the good , and you’ll be kept guessing to the last gasp. Preston and Child are a seasoned team with 15 combined best sellers and 18 individual ones as well. A personal favorite is The Ice Limit, about an expedition to Antarctica. But you’ll find plenty of mind-expanding action in any of their novels.

At age twelve, Gideon Crew witnessed his father being gunned down by a sniper and was forced to live in the shadow of the aftermath for almost a decade. On his mother's deathbed, he learns that his father was working for the US government. When the project failed and lives were lost, his father was used as a scapegoat.

Gideon is now on a mission to avenge his father. What he doesn't know is someone is watching. This someone is impressed with Gideon's talents and offers him a job. Without a second thought, Gideon turns it down. It's shortly after this point, I feel I've fallen down a rabbit hole. Why? It's not that Gideon changes his mind, it's why. The question formed "Could this character be any more gullible?" The answer is yes and he will prove this repeatedly as he takes what people say at face value. Considering Gideon is a liar and thief--a successful one, mind you, this simply isn't plausible.

Even though I liked the first installment of this new series and wanted to see it until the very end, I won't continue. Parts of the book weren't even close to believable. And before anyone says it, the paranormal stuff I read might not be real, but the author makes me believe that either it could happen or makes me want to believe. This was neither. So why give it a 4/5 star rating? The writing voice, at least to me, was unique and as I mentioned, I didn't want to stop. That should count for something, right?

One last thing, my copy was in audio format with John Glover was the voice behind the words. As a narrator goes, I'm a fan, but he wasn't exactly the best fit here--not to say he wasn't good. There just could have been a better fit for this series.

In the vain of their previous novels a fast paced novel that follows a similar plot line the authors have used in their Pendergast series. It is takes advantage of Familiar New York, but some of its forgotten locales making the setting completely foreign an unexpected. I would have liked greater character development but in all Douglas child novels that comes over the series and I look forward to reading the other book in this series.

although I liked the character of Gideon Crew, the book was, at best, average. The story was good; a mystery/thriller/crime (sort of) plot set mostly in New York.I have long been a fan of Preston & Child. They're Pendergrast books are great reads with interesting characters and good plots. That said I have to say I am disappointed in their newest series, the Gideon Crew books of which Gideon's Sword is the first. The biggest problem with the series as I see it at this point is Gideon is just not that interesting of a character.

I totally agree with all previous reviewers who found this new entry in the L&C pantheon disappointing. I wanted to like it but couldn't get involved in the story or the characters. For such a resourceful, successful operative, Gideon sure seemed like a walking disaster at times. I love the Pendergast novels, but have also enjoyed the non-P stories...they were engaging, and characters well-developed. This one was hard to take, sad to say.

Gideon Crew's life was changed when his father was killed. When he finds out why, he devotes his life to clearing his father's name and avenging his death. This brings him to the attention of a certain U.S. Government contractor who has another mission for him.
To avoid spoilers, suffice it to say that this is a spy versus spy type adventure with larger than life characters so be ready to suspend disbelief for the sake of the story. Some aspects are predictable but there are plenty of surprises as well. What I like most about this book was the hopeful undertone. There are plenty of shady characters but it treats them as exceptions rather than as typical examples of humanity and there are plenty of truly likeable minor characters, some of whom actually survive to the end of the story. There is also the promise of a technological breakthrough that will change the world for the better.
The combination of likeable characters, an interesting plot, exciting adventure, and a hopeful mood make this a very enjoyable book. I recommend it.

If you think you might be interested in reading this book, I encourage you to ignore the negative comments and the low rating. This is an excellent book with a real sense of mystery and adventure. I read it straight through and found each section exciting enough to make me move on to the next without putting the book down. It quite frankly is much more absorbing without the ghouls, goblins, and silly monsters of some of their other books. This book is written about people who represent the spy-thriller genre of modern action novels.

When I first started on this book I was instantly reminded of The Wheels Of Darkness and Cemetery Dance. Complete and utter disappointments from cover to cover. I got the feeling that this book, like the two I mentioned previousley, were hastely written, published and released. All the magic, spice and finesse of their previous novels disappeared. A letdown to all their loyal readers. Luckily we were vindicated with Fever Dream! Hopefully, Cold Vengeance follows suit.

In short, I only recommend this book if you are having trouble falling asleep. Or a doorstop.

Gideon's Sword introduces readers to a new character for the Preston and Child duo; Gideon Crew. Initially, the book introduces you to Crew's life and obsession formed after finding out that his father, a scapegoat to a government screw-up, was murdered to cover it up. I assumed that was the foundation of the book and that the book would follow Crew as he brought retribution down on the guilty.

Turns out, Crew got revenge in the first couple chapters. This surprised me until Crew quickly hooked up with Eli Glinn; a character from Preston and Child's books with FBI Agent Aloysius Pendergast.

Gideon Crew is appealing and eccentric; a loner, an MIT PhD employed by the Los Alamos labs, a fly fisherman, and an art thief. Glinn is intriguing and mysterious - smart, wealthy, and stealthy. Glinn, it turns out, wants Crew to do a covert job for him; a job that requires Crew's special capabilities. And, the job starts in four hours.

The story's premise, the quirkiness of Crew's character, the inclusion of Eli Glinn; all led me to hope for the special character and action dynamism that I have appreciated in Preston and Child books. Gideon's Sword pushes credibility in a way that does not quite work for me.

There is lots of action - titillating possibilities that are not followed, curious science and mysteries representing hope and wealth. They do not tip over into something meaningful that helps me care about what Crew is doing and why he is doing it.

Yet.

As the first book in a new Preston and Child series, I anticipate the next book will fix the flat sides of this uneven tire. Crew is an interesting enough character and they are gifted enough writers that I anticipate great things. My advice, which I am taking for myself, wait for the second book to come out before giving up on this series. (Originally written for the Luxury Reading website.)

Preston and Child are two of my favorite authors. The fact that they can write hair-raising novels together seamlessly is a testament to their combined talent and and friendship.
When I read the comments about their new character, Dr. Gideon Crew, not being Pendergast and other negative opinions about Gideon's Sword, I quickly ordered a copy of this one in order to learn what in the world this dynamic writing duo had done.
And, I liked what they'd done. Yes, this is different from what they have co-authored in the past, but different can be good. And this was good; if one overcomes expectations of Guideon morphing into Agent Pendergast at some point. Guideon bears no resemblance to that uncanny character.
P and C open their drama with Guideon, age 12, witnessing the murder of his father. As a young man of 24, he promises his mother that he will avenge his father's death. Another decade passes and now we're off and running.
Wheelchair-bound Eli Glinn, (does the name sound familiar?) complete with eye-patch and scar, facilitates Guideon's plunge into intrigue and danger. Seems Glinn has an anonymous client who will pay mega-bucks for a "wire" that will eliminate the need for all fossil fuels. Our hero is hired to find the wire.
That's the plot.
Gideon embarks on a thrill-filled search that appears to be just the beginning of this new character's adventures.
Oh, there is also something sad and horrifying you should know about Gideon, but I wouldn't dream of revealing it.

Gideon Crew watched his father get shot down by his government employers, accused of treason. Gideon was only twelve when his world was turned upside down, an event from which his mother never recovered. It sent her into a downward spiral which continued until her own death. Gideon vowed to wreak vengeance on the ones who'd destroyed his family.

L. Melvin Crew was a world-class mathematician who'd worked for a government agency. He was accused of causing the deaths of 26 field agents, and was summarily executed during a hostage situation, right before his son's eyes, although he had clearly surrendered and was unarmed. Gideon refuses to believe he was guilty. He distances himself from things, following a rather illegal career path. It isn't until some twelve years later, at the request of his dying mother, that he goes after the man responsible for his father's death, amassing the evidence he needs to clear his father. And the name of the man that was responsible for his death--retired General Chamblee Tucker.

After clearing his father's name, Gideon thinks he's going to spend a little time at his remote cabin, relaxing and fishing. But Fate has other ideas. A strange man turns up unexpectedly, with a very lucrative offer. One which Gideon cannot refuse. He decides to at least listen, and finds himself on a flight to NYC. There he meets the extraordinary engineer Eli Glinn, owner and chief CEO of EES--Effective Engineering Solutions, Inc.

How to explain Eli Glinn and EES? They specialize in the discipline of failure analysis, among other things. They take on difficult, unusual, and critical tasks that no one else can handle. And they do it discreetly. Eli has a job for Gideon, one he believes the other man to be perfect for. He knows all about his doings with Chamblee Tucker. As well as Gideon's stint as a major art thief. Gideon doesn't really have a lot of choice here, so he agrees. Especially when information of a rather personal nature is revealed, and Gideon assumes a what the hell attitude.

First things first. A Chinese scientist is on his way to the US; he carries plans for a new high-technology weapon. It is believed this weapon is more powerful than the H-bomb. Gideon's mission is to tail him from the airport, upon his arrival, and take the plans away from him and then bring them to Glinn. The fee is $100k. He has four hours until Mark Wu's arrival. Four hours in which to figure out how he's gonna do it.

From the very beginning, things do not go as planned. Gideon Crew is in for the ride of his life.

I am a huge fan of Preston & Child, so it was inconceivable that I would not read this book and review it. I loved it from the beginning. I found myself caught up in Gideon's dilemma, in the tragedy of his childhood which formed his life and his personality, made him what he is. Gideon himself is a likeable character, and you come to care for him, and cheer him on to ultimate success. The secondary characters are every bit as believable, and well-drawn. P&C suck you into this fast-paced world of high stakes technology. Luckily our guide knows what he's doing.

I found one small continuity error which an editor should have caught, but oh well. If you read the jacket, it states that Gideon's father died when he was 12. At 24 Gideon begins his mission of vengeance. The book begins in 1988, therefore twelve years later should be 2000. But the book says 1996. Small error, but I'm anal enough to pick up on it.

I loved the cliffhanger ending, and I am hoping there will be more of Gideon Crew. No, don't worry, they finished the first story, just dangled a second one like a carrot in front of Gideon's face. I think he has little choice but to take it. I'll definitely be there to see what he does with it.

While fast paced and an easy read, "Gideon's Sword" reads too unrealistic to be truly captivating. I would compare it to swimming on the surface, with deep diving being the other PCH works. I don't think I'll be reading any sequels about Gideon Crew. It was OK as an experience, but only once.