Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #396650 in Books
• Published on: 2006-08-29
• Released on: 2006-08-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 416 pages

Amazon.com Review

About the Author

DOUGLAS PRESTON has worked for the American Museum of Natural History as well as with his frequent collaborator, Lincoln Child. He has authored such bestselling thrillers as Brimstone, The Cabinet of Curiosities, and Relic. His latest solo novel is The Codex.

Amazon.com Exclusive Content

Rex-ommended Reading
You won't need to do any research before reading Douglas Preston's exciting novel Tyrannosaur Canyon, but it's easy to see he did plenty. Check out his list of recommended reading to learn more about the mighty T. Rex and the fascinating world of dinosaurs in general.

From Booklist
Tom Broadbent and Sally Colorado, introduced in The Codex (2004), Preston's first book without writing partner Lincoln Childs, reprise some of their heroics in this thriller, which abandons the Honduran jungles for hot, sandy New Mexico. Upon investigating what sounds like shots on a remote mesa, Broadbent discovers a dying prospector, who gives him notebook and extracts a promise: "Bring this to my daughter." Broadbent takes his pledge to heart, keeping the book a secret from investigating authorities while trying to decode the contents and identify its writer. Of course, the book isn't some simple memento: it maps an amazing scientific find that puts Broadbent and Sally (now his wife) at risk from a psychopathic killer whose employer has no idea he's not the only interested party. Preston smothers his cast under a blanket of action and contrivance, and his perfectly delicious scientific premise gets less than its due. Give him lots of credit, however, for thrills. He can write gripping escape scenes and bloody confrontations with the best of them. Stephanie Zvirin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

Laughably implausible sequel
After reading the disasterously bad THE CODEX, I was still willing to give Douglas Preston another shot, so when I saw this at a book warehouse for cheap, and when I saw that the jacket summary sounded interesting, I picked it up.

Unfortunately, this is in fact a sequel to THE CODEX, so once again we are forced to endure boring Tom Broadbent and Mary Sue perfect Sally Broadbent, née Colorado. This book has what is known as an Idiot Plot, as in, if the characters stopped being idiots, the plot would resolve itself. Broadbent is the biggest idiot of it all, allowing a hastily made promise to a dying man to outweigh all other legal and moral implications. Had he broken the promise, several people who ended up dead would still be alive. We also have idiot scientists, idiot hitmen, idiot soldiers, and an idiot monk (who just so happened to have been a CIA cryptanalyst! What are the odds?).

The villains, Corvus and Maddox, are about the only interesting and halfway intelligent characters in the book, though as it progresses, they gradually seem to get dumber and dumber. One of them gets replaced about two-thirds of the way through the book by a completely stereotypical, by-any-means-necessary rogue intelligence operative, and it's to the book's demerit. The only other real likable three-dimensional character is police detective Willer, and thankfully he at least maintains his brain throughout.

The ending made me sick a little, as a recidivist thief of priceless historical artifacts from public lands is honored and praised.

Another Excellent Book by Preston
Tyrannosaur Canyon is another great book by Douglas Preston. The characters are great. There's Tom Broadbent, who we got to know in "The Codex." We now meet Wyamn Ford. I love these two characters. Tom Broadbent's wife plays a big part in the story, too. She's a thorougly modern woman and displays a lot of courage and initiative in the face of danger.

I was very interested in reading the fictitious explanation of what happened to the dinosaurs. I'm glad Preston put in the part about the T-Rex remains. I enjoyed reading the italicized part about the events that took the creatures life.

This book has suspense and adventure as only Douglas Preston can write it. I definitely recommend it.

Tyrannosaur Canyon Rocks

All I have to say is READ THIS BOOK!

I picked up this novel, and I had not read Douglas Preston / Lincoln Childs
before. I read this book in two sittings and that was for a food break.
It Rocked, It rolled and I really loved the ride.