The Book of the Dead

By: Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 15 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

The New York Museum of Natural History receives their pilfered gem collection back, ground down to dust. Diogenes, the psychotic killer who stole them in Dance of Death, is throwing down the gauntlet to both the city and to his brother, FBI Agent Pendergast, who is currently incarcerated in a maximum security prison.

To quell the PR nightmare of the gem fiasco, the museum decides to reopen the Tomb of Senef. An astounding Egyptian temple, it was a popular museum exhibit until the 1930s, when it was quietly closed. But when the tomb is unsealed in preparation for its gala reopening, the killings, and whispers of an ancient curse, begin again. And the catastrophic opening itself sets the stage for the final battle between the two brothers: an epic clash from which only one will emerge alive.

©2006 Splendide Mendax, Inc. and Lincoln Child. All Rights Reserved. (P)2006 Time Warner AudioBooks. All Rights Reserved

Critic reviews

"Another gripping, action-packed page-turner...with a tantalizing, ominous twist at the end." (Publishers Weekly)

Excellent Read

This was a great book started and put off everything so I could finish it in one day. I loved the outlay just when I thought it was to end just to start up again. This is my first book by Preston & Child. I look forward to other titles by them it always great to find a new author. I almost gave this a five but not quite.

Weird Book

What made the experience of listening to The Book of the Dead the most enjoyable?

The story was pretty good once you got past Scott Brick's narration.

What didn’t you like about Scott Brick’s performance?

He is too dramatic, every sentence is dramatic. I found him to be very irritating.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Neither.

a good pendergast, not great

I've been re-listening to this series of DP & LC's every now & then for several years; they're great brain candy, take my mind off of the trials of life while I'm driving, gardening, whatever. I'd give this 3.5 stars for the story itself, if I could. It's not, IMO, the best of the series. The reasons I downgrade this particular book (all the judgement on this book --& the series-- is based on them being the aforementioned literary equivalent of cerebral gummy bears, not deathless literature):
1. The perfection of both Pendergast & his bro in all their endeavors stretches even my ability & willingness to suspend disbelief past the breaking point. These guys can do anything, be anything, & they know everything. They're masters of everything from hand-to-hand fighting to great literature (papyrus through Romantic poets to modern day), to gourmet food & wine, every science, computer programming, neurosurgery without a scalpel, morse & all other codes....these guys are incredibly proficient at absolutely everything. They can masquerade as someone else so successfully that people who've had close & extended contact with both characters remain totally clueless (despite the fact that another character notices that one of the brothers has an extremely unique 'personal scent', which goes unnoticed by other people who work with him for years & years).
The Superman-like abilities they have with absolutely everything just goes beyond absurd & reaches annoying this time out..

2. Some of the 2nd tier characters are simply loathsome, when (I think) they're supposed to be sympathetic characters. I'm thinking particularly of Bill Smithback here; he's arrogant, egotistical, devious, obnoxious, ethics-free, and a dreadful snob. Every time he appears in the books, since about 1/3 of the way through "Relic," I've been hoping somebody would kill him off & put him out of my misery. Several of the lesser characters, especially the cops/FBI guys, are so revolting & just so utterly, purely, total jerks that it even goes beyond my ability to believe (Capt Waxey [sp?] in the other book, Agt Coffey in this one).

3 This isn't the writers' fault, but this production has these really annoying, random moments of "mood music" that pops up at idiotic times. In several places they'll run up the music & stop the reader for a few moments, then let him continue, with the music playing under the narration. These gaps come right smack in the middle of scenes, not at natural break points. Far from enhancing the scary or thrilling mood, they totally kill it & aggravate the heck out of the listener. The director should quit audiobooks & go work in radio or movies, if what they really want to do is play with music. When they're working with audiobooks they should stick to audiobooks.

Scott Brick does an excellent job with this one. I wasn't wild about him the first time I heard him, but either he's gotten better or I've learned to appreciate him more. I just listened to his reading of "The Passage" (Justin Cronin), & thought he did an outstanding job, even better than any of his renditions of Preston & Child's books.

As Good as Expected!

I was waiting for this sequel and I wasn't disappointed. From start to finish it kept my attention and the ending gave me an assurance that another sequel is in the works! Great writing by the authors and the narration was enjoyable.

dance of the dead

a phenomenal storyline. very strong characters and imaginative scenery. enjoyed the listening of this book very much.

Another page turner from Preston and Child

I couldn’t put down! Continuously addictive! The plot, as always, captivating and unmercifully engaging. Just can’t stop reading
Perfect audio as well

Great Book

I did not like how the book was interrupted by music on a regular basis. I understand the music at the beginning and end but not throughout the entire book!

Very enjoyable

I definitely recommend this book on tape. A few of the scenes are a little too drawn out and a crucial part of the ending is not very credible, but in the main it is a "page turner." The reader was terrific.

SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME

at a certain point of the book, I had the crap scared out of me........seriously, and I don't scare easily....................I love this whole series. learning about Pendergrast and his brother, are amazing. WOW. Keep it up.......I say with a scared part of my being.......ingenious. Really really creepy. And of course, Scott Brick sends it over the edge. Really really creepy.......................you try to figure out the ending, but another swift hammer is thrown in the path........ Sorry, don't know what else to say except if you think you know it all, have it all figured out, hold onto your potty seat..........the best in the series YET!

Hell hath no fury

OMG!!! This is the best Pendergast book so far. What a read. I was totally captivated. With Aloysius in prison, Diogenes feels free to reak havoc. But as they say, "the best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry ". After being "busted" out of prison, Aloysius finally learns why Diogenes hated him so much. Diogenes makes a fatal error when he seduces Constance and leaves her a scathing letter taunting her for being gullible and suggests she off herself. Aloysius is busted out in time to foil Diogenes plans to turn people mad through a new exhibit at the museum where he has been masquerading as a curator for years. This book was a total joy to read. It does not disappoint and leaves you with a surprise at the end. I highly recommend this one.