Gideon's Sword

I decided to read this book (listened to audiobook actually, more below) because I love everything these authors have written. I should've read the reviews before wasting my time. This book is miserable. It lacks the substance, credibility, and excitement that you expect from Preston and Child. I for one will not be continuing the Gideon series and will have to accept that I will not have read all the books by these otherwise fantastic authors.

I actually listened to the audio book instead of reading this story. I've listened to a few books now, and I have to say John Glover should never be allowed to read for Hachette Audio again. He has the most nasally voice I've ever heard, and he constantly messes up his character voices which can be quite confusing and frustrating. I hope Scott Brick does a better job with the other Preston and Child audiobook I have waiting.

Once upon a mid-night dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, a thought occurred my mind entrapping,
My interest gently sapping, I knew I needed something more,
"If only I'd a tome exciting, t'would never be a bore--
If only this and nothing more."

Distinctly I recall the chore, trolling through another book store,
Viewing case upon case of uninspired reads,
Each book dismissed as lifeless, dull, and sour--
O me, this hour what I'd give for a heroic story to devour!
And then my gladness would never cease,
Perchance I would at last be released from this staid monotony.

T'was mere accident I came upon it, swiftly did I move to buy it,
A new creation by Preston and Child, Masters of Suspense,
With treasure in hand, procured at a reasonable expense,
I bid the bookseller good day and home I flew from thence.
Eagerly I sought to borrow, from my book surcease of sorrow,
So certain was I that this read would be intense.

Curled upon my chaise, I cracked the cover, began to appraise,
This adventurous new world of Gideon's Sword.
A character so smooth and smart-- my, but this saga had me floored--
Witness to murder at tender age, I couldn't help but turn page after page,
And when Dajkovic had him cornered, "Watch out!" I roared,
But t'was just a trick and nothing more.

When Eli Glinn from pages past hired Gideon, I was aghast--
Yet despite bad news, my hero hastily took charge.
Although Gideon had assistance from Orchid, Mindy, and old friend Tom,
The mission seemed doomed, and its uncertainty writ large.
Especially when nemesis Nodding Crane came to the fore,
Murders committed, Gideon's vengeance he swore.
Only this and nothing more.

At last I turned the final page, previous ennui happily assuaged,
I will not spoil, and any more plot I shan't give away.
Reader, beware, let my story serve as warning--
The novel Gideon's Sword will leave you in mourning,
Yearning for the next installment, Preston and Child, I am imploring--
Quoth the reader, "I want more!"

Between the awful math (cover blurb has the dying mother when he's 24, but he's 20 in the book), the completely implausible backstory, the diagnoses, and the lousy plot- even Eli Glinn can't save this book. Howard Johnson's has room service? Room service with oysters???? These and other improbabilities render this effort very much an effort to read. Like many readers, I have read their entire body of work and thoroughly enjoyed the Pendergast and individual novels. They are fun and do demand suspension of disbelief, but don't actually require you to be blind, deaf and dumb to reality. Sleeping with anything female (none of it his idea, of course)- hooker with a heart of gold? Ugh.

Sorry, this one wasn't worth the (very little) time it took to read it. Two stars for the cool cover.

I feel like I'm really missing something here. These two have always been in my top three list--I own all their earlier books and I've re-read most of them, especially the Pendergast series. I knew this book brought a new character, but I expected a certain amount of similarity in plot and writing skill.
It's just not there. The plot is completely predictable (and I'm not usually good at that) and the dialogue is laughable. Nobody talks like that, especially in the book's beginning. The writing is beyond simple-minded. A reasonably intelligent middle-schooler could do better.
I think we're being played somehow. Maybe they hired a hack to write it, just to see if their names sold it. Maybe they took a bet to write in a mind-altered state (although that could be an improvement. Maybe they wanted to see how dumbed down they could make it. Maybe they were just in a hurry. I don't know.
But it's almost impossible to believe they could produce this book with a straight face. As good as their other books are, this one is bad.
There has to be a reason. And hopefully, the new Pendergast novel coming soon will be a return to the writers I loved.

Gideon's Sword is a departure for Preston and Child. The story is primarily an international thriller featuring a brand new character named Gideon Crew, a damaged man, art thief and computer genius. After his father is gunned down by police in front of him as a child, he concocts a plan to strike back at those responsible for his father's wrongful death.

The first 50 or so pages deal with this part of Gideon's life, but afterwards, the meat of the story begins with a visit to the incredibly entertaining side character in several Preston-Child novels, Eli Glinn. Gideon is presented with some alarming information that strong arms him into working for Glinn, following a Chinese defector.

After a few stunning murders by an assassin named Nodding Crane, Gideon is thrust into a world of espionage, trying to find out exactly what the Chinese defector was bringing to the US, and why it was important enough to kill for.

Gideon's Sword is a rather thin novel. By Kindle location count, it is half the size of some of the Pendergast books. Yet, it moves with incredible momentum. Little time is wasted on passages where there isn't action, or at least a new revelation.

Unfortunately, the momentum that drives the book is also its largest problem as at times, the book is incredibly shallow. The only character with any true depth is Gideon Crew, and even his character leaves plenty to be desired. Of course, if this truly is the start of a new series, there will be plenty of time to dig into that character.

Some passages are just silly, including liaisons with two different women, seemingly moments after meeting them. Gideon's attachment to one character in particular seems completely incongruous with the amount of time he spent with her.

On the other hand, other scenes sizzle, including the climatic showdown with Nodding Crane.

Gideon's Crew is a flawed book, but it is entertainingly so. It isn't deep, it won't make you think, and so far Gideon Crew is not the character that Pendergast or D'Agosta are. However, it is a promising start to a new series.

Because of their writing style, I breezed through this story. That being said, unfortunately, this one does fall quite short of their other books. As other critiquers have noted, this one feels a bit rushed. I think the series has potential, but it needs a lot more work.

Gideon, with the threat of death hanging over him, makes for an interesting premise, yet I always had the feeling he was being taken for a ride. It was as if his handlers had given him someone else's x-rays and it was not really him.

As for the way he cons people, it is kind of cool, yet it all seems way too easy. He is able to weasel his way into some pretty secure places in a way that I really had to suspend my disbelief.

The FBI agent thing was a bit off too, but I'm not sure what I didn't like about it.

His computer hacker friend was cool but with everyone following Gideon, it was a bit unrealistic the way things turned out with him (the hacker friend).

Despite the flaws, I still enjoyed reading it, even though in the end, I found myself ultimately, unsatisfied. There was just something missing, something unfinished? I don't know how to describe it, but whatever it is, it's just not there yet. I am going to give this one more book to see if things get better before I write the series off. In the meantime I'm looking for the next novel, either Prendergast or individual books by Doug or Linc.

Gentlemen, you are SO much better than this... I, too, have communicated with you personally and know your combined intellect and talent. With this effort, however, I feel betrayed. Let Gideon die...none of us will care. Stick with Pendergast, who is exponentially more interesting (as are the supporting cast). And please don't ever stick me with another "free" bonus novel. Had I paid more attention to the description of the book in the Kindle offering, I wouldn't have bought it... especially since the largest percentage of the selection isn't even yours... and the topic of Brad's bonus book is boring in the extreme.

Most Preston and Child books have a macabre or speculative twist to them--legendary treasure pits, museums with monsters, or subterranean humans. Gideon's Sword is a departure from all that though, a decided step outside the authors' comfort zone. Certainly it is still a thriller, but it is more of an intrigue and action book. (James Bond meets Dirty, Rotten Scoundrels is the best way I can describe it.) So how does it hold up?

Frankly, I found this literary diversion enjoyable. I was amazed by how fast the pages turned. The pace was absolutely frenetic. There are no slow parts. As a reader you're pulled from one scene to the next. What is surprising here, though, is that it isn't blind action that does the pulling, it is your curiosity at how Preston and Child's new hero--Gideon Crew--will massage and coerce his way through his current scenario. How will he pull this one off?

Gideon's Sword is a fun read. A departure well worth taking. Check it out!

The Gideon series is a disappointment, and I would not recommend it to Preston/Child followers who want stories in the same vein as the Pendergast series. This book actually started out well in its initial pages, but then the writing and plot devolved. Darn.

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.

Gideon Crew is the new uncommon investigator in this new thriller by Preston & Child. This is a very enjoyable book; I recommend reading before the movie comes out--Paramount Pictures has the rights to the Gideon books.

The story read like a great adventure. However I was stunned to get to the end in the middle of the book because they added an old book of another author. Is that ethical? Not sure I will read another of their books. Yeah I know its all about the money.

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.

Here they have created yet another great character, I only hope they continue on with this character after the sentence they have given him. I don't want to go further so I don't ruin it for you.

Excellent read, I strongly recommend it.