Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This is NOT a book authored by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child that continues the adventures of Special Agent A. Pendergast and his unique circle of friends and assorted characters. However this is an intriguing and very interesting documentary written by Douglas Preston that takes you inside the planning and execution of a continual search for a mythical lost city (and/or civilization) that until 2015 remained nothing more than rumor and myth(s). It is NOT an "Indiana Jones" novel and is all the more compelling for avoiding that type of embellishment and drama. You won't find a photograph of Harrison Ford inside the dust jacket but you will see a grinning shot of Douglas Preston bearing an uncanny resemblance to the (deceased) actor Edward Herrmann. Don't underestimate what is encountered and accomplished in this journey, several real-life challenges arise and have to be effectively and efficiently dealt with. This undiscovered Honduran city/civilization has remained hidden for hundreds of years for several good reasons. A combination of legends and myths, some completely false and yet others bearing an element of truth, have circulated about this area, both intriguing and cautioning researchers and potential explorers. "Ground breaking" technology (pun intended) becomes available that can help pinpoint the potential discovery of this area, but nothing beats 'boots on the ground' to prove and establish its existence. If you order this book, don't expect a fast-moving adventure tale that uses various hooks and literary schemes to reel you in. Instead expect a logical and relatively full picture of how research is conducted, expeditions planned, and the real-life difficulties and dangers encountered. Douglas Preston presents a well-documented journey, including maps and photographs, of the main characters and the steps taken to both justify and undertake this complicated and difficult exploration. Mr. Preston's writing makes it easy to imagine yourself as part of this exploratory party -- and raises the question of "is it really worth it"? For as physics class taught us in high school "every action results in an opposite and equal reaction". Some of the reactions in this story are extremely fearful -- to say the least. This particular exploration gives new meaning to the phrase "the gift that keeps on giving". Sometimes it might be better to let 'sleeping dogs lie'. Read it and enjoy it for what it is. The "Comments" sections are loaded with arguments and accusations concerning several aspects of the story, with occasional heated discussions breaking out. However, reading them and trying to interpret who is (at least) partially correct and/or accurate is sort of like watching confirmed liberals and conservatives hurling 'slings and arrows' at each other while failing to agree on anything. Great book though!