Thunderhead

By: Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 17 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Nora Kelly, a young archaeologist in Santa Fe, receives a letter written 16 years ago, yet mysteriously mailed only recently. In it, her father, long believed dead, hints at a fantastic discovery that will make him famous and rich - the lost city of an ancient civilization that suddenly vanished a thousand years ago.

Now Nora is leading an expedition into a harsh, remote corner of Utah's canyon country. Searching for her father and his glory, Nora begins to unravel the greatest riddle of American archeology. but what she unearths will be the newest of horrors.

©2000 Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (P)2010 Hachette

Critic reviews

"Spellbinding as ever." ( Kirkus Reviews)

Over the top narration and plot earthquakes

How tediously dramatic the reader was and how long everything took unnecessarily. It could have been good without the ridiculous over "skinwalkering" of the story. Oh and next time you plan a flash flood make sure it does not go UP the Canyon but rather down the canyon ok?

Darker than what i normally read

Decent story. I see little to no value of so many dead animals though. And more people died than necessary. Trite IMO, that only the main protagonist and one other survive.

I almost didn't bother to finish. Other readers will likely enjoy the story line. The reader was very good. I sped up to about 1.2. I don't like very slow reading.

another standout by Preston and Child

An enjoyable thriller/adventure. I tend to prefer female readers for female protagonists. The reader did a decent job, although he tended to over-dramatize a little. nothing in Nora's voice was ever cobras, it was always earnest, intense, which leached some of the impact from when things really were desperate.

Distracting narrator

Scott Brick is so popular. I don't get it! Most of the time he sounds like he needs oxygen. At the end of the story, which should have been a thoughtful and sentimental moment, he was so overly dramatic that I burst out laughing. I never got very attached to any characters - didn't feel like I knew them. I did love the red rock setting though, and the archaeology aspect of the story. This was my first Preston/Child book.

great story

Loved the story. The narrator sounds like he is going to cry with every word, or, like he is exhausted and can't get out another word...

Good story, lacking narrator

What did you love best about Thunderhead?

Bill Smithback!

What did you like best about this story?

Preston and Child are great at building tension and knowing when and how to leave characters and storylines hanging to keep you invested in the plot.

What three words best describe Scott Brick’s voice?

In this particular book: indifferent, flat, and dull.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not going to drop spoilers, but I really enjoyed watching Nora's relationship with Smithback evolve.

Any additional comments?

While I enjoy Preston and Child's storytelling, I was not especially fond of Scott Brick's narration in this particular instance. This is the kind of story that is intense and gripping, and Brick's narration is a mismatch here. It was really hard to get into the story at first because the narration is so quiet and reserved.

This is more like it

Looking at my reviews, I noticed I was long on negatives and short on positives, so let me say that I really enjoy listening to Scott Brick. Every time I listen to one of his narrations, I feel like I'm on vacation at the beach - probably because that's where I first started listening to Audible books and Scott narrated the first book I listened to. Oh and the book was great too!

EXCELLENT!

What a fantastic story! For me, this was like Tony Hillerman meets (female) Indiana Jones. I loved everything about it. The visuals created by the the writing are so intense and vivid that you see, smell, hear, feel everything. I will absolutely search for more by these authors, and this narrator!

just me

The story was fun. The part I do not like personally is the switching of the reader in each chapter. it is bothersome and so I won't get another book in this series

tinderhooks

as usual, many twists, great plot, characteristics. abit too gross at times and could been have handled with the skill the authors possess. the narrator always bring you back into the novel and keep you interested