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Gideon's Sword (Gideon Crew #1)

3.54 of 5 stars 3.54 · rating details · 6,111 ratings · 703 reviews

GIDEON'S SWORD
Introducing Gideon Crew: trickster, prodigy, master thief

At twelve, Gideon Crew witnessed his father, a world-class mathematician, accused of treason and gunned down.

At twenty-four, summoned to his dying mother's bedside, Gideon learned the truth: His father was framed and deliberately slaughtered. With her last breath, she begged her son to avenge him.

Now, w...more

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Published February 22nd 2011 by Grand Central Publishing (first published January 1st 2011)

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Jan 04, 2012 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well boys and girls we have a new vocabulary word today! Our word for the day is "ludicrous". Can you say that word boys and girls? That's "lu·di·crous". Do you know what that word means children? Here is a definition: lu·di·crous: –adjective
causing laughter because of absurdity; provoking or deserving derision; ridiculous; laughable.

So now we know a new word and we know what it means, let's use it in a sentence, okay?

"Ludicrous, this book is ludicrous".

Yes boys and girls we will use our new...more Well boys and girls we have a new vocabulary word today! Our word for the day is "ludicrous". Can you say that word boys and girls? That's "lu·di·crous". Do you know what that word means children? Here is a definition: lu·di·crous: –adjective
causing laughter because of absurdity; provoking or deserving derision; ridiculous; laughable.

So now we know a new word and we know what it means, let's use it in a sentence, okay?

"Ludicrous, this book is ludicrous".

Yes boys and girls we will use our new word to discuss the book in question. In this book a little boy sees his daddy shot. After this the boy's mommy changes and isn't a very good mommy anymore. His mommy began to do something called "chain smoking" and she also began to drink a lot of beverages with "alcohol" in them. Do you know what that is boys and girls? Well, the mommy didn't take very good care of the boy so he grew up to be a master art thief. Then one day he was at the hospital seeing his mommy as she was dying from cirrhosis of the liver and emphysema (these were caused by her "chain smoking" and heavy drinking of "alcoholic beverages" boys and girls)... AND his mommy told the boy that his daddy had been killed, not for the reason the boy thought but by a bad man as part of a conspiracy.

Do you know that word boys and girls? Conspiracy.

Well the mommy, who hadn't been a very good mommy, told the boy he had to get "revenge" on the bad man who was behind the killing of the boy's daddy.

And the boy does...he spends 10 years becoming a PHD. (do you know what that is boys and girls? A PHD is a college degree that takes 6,8 or more years to achieve, wow.)He gets a job where he works in Los Alamos building nuclear weapons. Do you know what those are boys and girls?

Now all this is just the set up for the book! Now it gets really fun as a super secret company that is sort of a private spy, engineering, planning, pseudo-military company that subcontracts to the government thinks that the boy (all grown up now) is just what they need. Now why would the boy work for them when he's finally finished with revenge and can now plan a life?

Well, he's dying of a brain cloud...no wait that's from a bad movie where Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan jump into a volcano. But if you read this book you will see boys and girls why someone might confuse it with a bad movie...or a bad TV show...or a bad case of food poisoning. And it was easy to confuse it with Joe Vs. the Volcano as I wish I'd thrown this book into a volcano instead of putting my time into it.

I have read other books by these writers boys and girls and some are pretty good and some are pretty bad. They wrote a character named Aloysius Pendergast who sometimes gets very close to being "ludicrous" but he usually manages only to get close and not be "ludicrous". Your reviewer likes most of the Pendergast books, some very much. But this book did not stop at being close to "ludicrous", it became "ludicrous", very, very "ludicrous". There are other words that this reviewer could apply to this book: laughable, nonsensical, silly, preposterous. Do you know those words boys and girls?

Well, the reviewer will stop now. I suppose some people will like this book, but this reviewer did not. In fact boys and girls while I did not hate this book I (the reviewer that is) just didn't care much about it at all...if I could give less than 1 star boys and girls I would! So...I can't recommend this book. If you want to read it I hope you like it boys and girls but I don't plan to read any more or Mr. Preston and Mr. Child's Gideon Crew books. With these from now on you are on your own boys and girls. (less)

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Mar 24, 2011 Andres rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

As a fan of all the other books these guys have written together I was disappointed that their next book wasn't a Pendergast adventure, but was excited that a new book (and series) was in the works. Having finished it not 2 minutes ago, I wish it had been the next Pendergast (or even a stand-alone).

It was a quick, fun read but was ultimately disappointing since it doesn't match the level of smart thriller action and mystery (and interesting characters) they've established in their previous books...more

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Aug 29, 2011 Pauline rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thriller-suspense

This book is absurd. Completely off of its rocker. Now, I'm all fine and dandy with some unrealistic nuances in any type of mystery/thriller novel since it comes with the territory-genius detective, amazing tracking skills etc etc. However, this book takes it way far up to the next level. Gideon can do everything (went to MIT! has a PhD! is a thief! can hack into government databases without breaking a sweat! can con a man with his amazing acting skills! and more!) On top of that he has a tragic...more This book is absurd. Completely off of its rocker. Now, I'm all fine and dandy with some unrealistic nuances in any type of mystery/thriller novel since it comes with the territory-genius detective, amazing tracking skills etc etc. However, this book takes it way far up to the next level. Gideon can do everything (went to MIT! has a PhD! is a thief! can hack into government databases without breaking a sweat! can con a man with his amazing acting skills! and more!) On top of that he has a tragic past (father was shot in front of him! Conspiracy! Mother drank and smoked herself to death!) and now he must get his revenge at the request of his mother.

Of course this entire tidbit occurs and is solved within the first 11 chapters then moves onto an entirely different story. So all of that, it was just prologue...you know for the REAL story. Take some super mumbo jumbo government engineering company + super secret weapon that needs to be obtained -> The need for Gideon to be involved. Why is that? Because Gideon has a fatal disease and of course must do this to get money to live the rest of his short life in comfort and he is the only one with the unique skill set to pull it off! Are you freaking kidding me? Seriously. Not amused.

The only reason why I trudged my way though this book was because I love Preston & Child's Agent Pendergast series among a lot of their other books. Of course, Pendergast can get pretty absurd at times too, but it always manages to stop just short of silly. Not so much for the Gideon series. I had thought that this book would have been something more similar to that (Pendergast's) particular line of writing. Guess I was wrong, and I am such a fan of their works too.

I'm sure there will be people who will like this book. Unfortunately, I am not one of them and cannot recommend this book to anyone. If they should ask about something written by Preston & Child, I will direct them to the lovely Agent Pendergast series instead-where things are absurd, but only in a good manner. (less)

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Feb 24, 2011 AMessyRenaissance rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

I have been a fan of Preston and Child's entire joint career. I was very excited to see that they were finally writing another story that wasn't part of the Pendergast cycle. I love Agent Pendergast, but I was ready for a new story.

This book falls completely flat and is very disappointing. In all honesty, after the bizarre first 50 pages (which should've been either a stand alone novella or it's own book), this book is the story of the movie The Saint. The characters are one dimensional and bori...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Ron rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book keeps you engrossed. Realistic & suspenseful.

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Feb 14, 2013 Stephanie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

No. Completely missed the mark. I wasn't exactly expecting another Pendergast, but this was like a Hollywood screenplay. It's pretty obvious they were looking to sell it to Hollywood, and I guess they suceeded, but I'm sorry I wasted my time reading this. Will pass on the rest of Gideon's crew. I'm also a little upset as the authors had asked us to buy this book the first week it was out because they've never had a book debute at #1...I bought it the day it came out and I feel like I was sold a...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Matt Schiariti rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm always happy to hear when a new Preston and Child novel is on its way. They've written some of my favorite novels to date, especially the Pendergast series but I was interested to see what they were going to do with a brand new character. I was a little worried once I saw so many low reviews prior to getting my hands on the book but I have to say that I now understand why the book didn't get higher praise from fans.

When I say Preston and Child 'lite' I mean that the book seems a little thin....more I'm always happy to hear when a new Preston and Child novel is on its way. They've written some of my favorite novels to date, especially the Pendergast series but I was interested to see what they were going to do with a brand new character. I was a little worried once I saw so many low reviews prior to getting my hands on the book but I have to say that I now understand why the book didn't get higher praise from fans.

When I say Preston and Child 'lite' I mean that the book seems a little thin. I don't mean in size, but in characterization and plot. Gideon Crew's initial purpose in this book is that of revenge only to change to something completely different about a third of the way through. I suppose the revenge angle is meant primarily to flesh out his back story, but I never felt that I had a good handle on the character. Checkered past, intelligent and resourceful but how he acquired these skills is a mystery. And not in a good way. He just seems to be able to get out of any fix using a unique skill set that has no explanation and it more or less comes off as convenient. In addition to that, Gideon himself just reads as a two dimensional character.

Some of the supporting cast are interesting, especially one in particular, but for the most part they too come off as one dimensional and do nothing more but fill up the story and move the plot on. There are a few twists and turns in the book that are just blatantly predictable.

I'm hoping this series just stumbles out of the gate. While I've enjoyed the Pendergast series, certain 'one offs' such as Riptide and The Ice Limit are among my favorites so I like when they stray away from the Pendergast formula. Generally more Preston and Child is a good thing. This novel, however, just didn't hit the mark. It seems as if they were trying for a more action oriented bond-esque character with a lot of dubious methods at his control but it just comes off as a bit weak. Here's hoping that further offerings have a little more substance to them. (less)

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Oct 23, 2012 Samantha rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

You know you’re in trouble when the whole life’s mission of the main character is accomplished in the first few chapters. That’s exactly what happens in Gideon’s Sword. At twelve, Gideon watched his father’s death at the hands of his employer. Twelve years later, his mother made him swear to exact vengeance as she lay dying. Now, in his thirties with a solid education and good job, he attends to his mother’s request. He uses his wiles, wit, and artful deceit to flush out and destroy his father’s...more

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May 17, 2012 Dave rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, cloak-and-dagger

This was entertaining enough to say "go ahead and give it a shot", but I didn't think that it was written as well as Preston could have made it. I kept thinking/feeling as though there was something missing in the mechanics... it just wasn't as "elegant" as it should have been... in the plot development, character development, dialogue, flow of scenes or the sequencing... Most of the storytelling was okay, but there were so many instances where I thought that "that could have been written better...more

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May 15, 2012 Cyneva rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. My rating is really more like 1.5 ... somewhere between "I didn't like it" and "It was OK".

Honestly, as I listened to the book, I couldn't help but wonder if Preston & Child had simply generated a plot and then handed it over to a ghostwriter for putting the story on paper. It was THAT far below their normal quality. I compare everything they do to the Pendergast series. While I'm not a huge fan of their standalone/non-Pendergast books, at least those are still passable. This one was not.

Th...more

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Jan 31, 2012 Colleen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller

When I was in college I had a writing class with a famous author. In it he said the worst books had revenge as a plot and one should never do that. I disagreed in my head because I love novels & films with revenge as a central point.

And that's what this series is. Parts were a tad unbelievable, but really, most spy/thriller novels have to accept a suspension of disbelief. Yeah, Preston & Child's heroes are always a little affected. Pendergast with his fancy apartment in Dakota, sipping...more

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Jan 28, 2012 Felicia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-read

Received for review
Book Release Date: 2/22/11

What I Loved: Gideon Crew is an interesting mix of smart, wily, driven, and enigmatic. It was really nice not knowing what he would do or what lengths he would go to in order to complete his mission. His methods were clever and well thought out. He never seemed to be out of sorts no matter what situation he was put in too.

What I Liked: This book actually had two cases: 1) for revenge and 2) for money/patriotism/what the hell. The plot to revenge his f...more Received for review
Book Release Date: 2/22/11

What I Loved: Gideon Crew is an interesting mix of smart, wily, driven, and enigmatic. It was really nice not knowing what he would do or what lengths he would go to in order to complete his mission. His methods were clever and well thought out. He never seemed to be out of sorts no matter what situation he was put in too.

What I Liked: This book actually had two cases: 1) for revenge and 2) for money/patriotism/what the hell. The plot to revenge his father was tied up rather quickly and I would say satisfactorily. It was important though because it showed you Gideon's method of figuring out things. What lengths he would go to and how well he could think on his feet. Most importantly it showed how he could use people around him to accomplish his goals. The second mission was the meat of the book and was a page turner. I won't give anything away about it but it had a good story and some great twists. It is also what the blurb should have been about rather than the part about Gideon's father.

Complaints: The first is that the blurb about the book really isn't what this book is about. It didn't distract from the story but it might be misleading to people. The second (and I am going to be vague in order to not give anything away) is the open-ended way they left a diagnosis open that I am not sure I bought in the first place. What the second means is that I will probably really enjoy book 2 as I think it will be something that Gideon works on.

Why I gave it a 3.75 (4 on Goodreads and Library Thing): This books is well written, well paced, and pretty much full throttle from the get go. It would have been a solid 4.5 if not for that nagging second issue in my complaints. It really bugged me but it won't stop me from reading the rest of the books in the series as they are released. I really liked Gideon as a lead character and want to see what he does next.

Who would I recommend this too: Fans of thrillers of the spy/espionage type. I think if you have read the rest of the Preston & Child books you know what to expect from their type of writing.

Author Website: http://www.prestonchild.com/books/gid...(less)

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Nov 27, 2011 Andre Farant rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When he was twelve, Gideon Crew witnessed his father’s murder. Over the course of the following twenty years, he plotted his revenge. Gideon’s vengeful machinations, however, draw the attention of a shadowy organization which believes his unique skill-set could be of great use to them.

Such is the set up for the new novel, Gideon’s Sword, by frequent collaborators Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Preston and Child are better known for their series of thrillers featuring FBI agent Aloysius Pende...more When he was twelve, Gideon Crew witnessed his father’s murder. Over the course of the following twenty years, he plotted his revenge. Gideon’s vengeful machinations, however, draw the attention of a shadowy organization which believes his unique skill-set could be of great use to them.

Such is the set up for the new novel, Gideon’s Sword, by frequent collaborators Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Preston and Child are better known for their series of thrillers featuring FBI agent Aloysius Pendergast, which includes Cemetery Dance and Fever Dream. With Gideon’s Sword, the duo begins a new series following the exploits of the aforementioned Gideon Crew.

In an interview, Child stated that, given that Crew would be a near polar opposite of Pendergast, the style of the new series should likewise be different. And it is. The Pendergast novels offer an excellent balance of content and style, the story moving rapidly while allowing for a more in-depth exploration of both plot and character. Gideon’s Sword, on the other hand, has been stripped to the bone. It is sleek and fast paced, but somewhat bare and often rushed.

Like the series in which he operates, Pendergast is a complex character whose history is largely hidden from the reader. He is mysterious and fascinating. Gideon Crew, though, exists, like the novel in which he is featured, entirely on the surface. He is brash, impulsive, young, but not especially interesting.

The plot revolves around intrigue of a vaguely political nature. There are none of the pseudo-paranormal events familiar to readers of the Pendergast series. The authors integrate such topics as social engineering and Falun Gong into the narrative without succumbing to playing teacher to the reader’s student (a frequent fault of Jeffrey Deaver’s). This is done fairly well, and while serving the plot, but they have done so more effectively in other novels.

In Gideon’s Sword, the authors have adopted a style that is more reminiscent of James Patterson, while their previous work was evocative of Michael Crichton. This first of the Gideon books is a fun, whip-fast read, but it doesn’t offer much beyond its plot. It is a literary appetizer; tasty enough, but it serves only to prepare the palate for something more substantial.

This is not entirely a bad thing. Sometimes we want a little break in between heavier reads or, to extend a metaphor, we might want a snack in between meals. I will buy the next in the Gideon series, to be titled Gideon’s Corpse, but I will buy it in paperback and it will be read between more complex novels . . . such as nearly anything else by Preston and Child.
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Nov 17, 2011 Jordan Anderson rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

At face value “Gideon’s Sword” isn’t all that bad of a book. The plot is ok, the pacing is done well, it’s 380 pages so it’s a quick read, and even the chapters are nice and short and make for good stopping points throughout.

However once you take a second look, the problems start.

First and foremost, it’s almost impossible to miss the huge emblazoned “Preston & Child” plastered across this book’s cover. While this seems like the makings of a perfect novel with the author’s names printed so cl...more At face value “Gideon’s Sword” isn’t all that bad of a book. The plot is ok, the pacing is done well, it’s 380 pages so it’s a quick read, and even the chapters are nice and short and make for good stopping points throughout.

However once you take a second look, the problems start.

First and foremost, it’s almost impossible to miss the huge emblazoned “Preston & Child” plastered across this book’s cover. While this seems like the makings of a perfect novel with the author’s names printed so clearly, heed my words when I tell you, it’s not! Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child used to be some of the best authors in the thriller game with amazing novels like “The Ice Limit”, “Cabinet of Curiosities”, and the 2 part “Relic” and “Reliquary”. Somewhere along the line, things have changed and it’s not at all for the better and I should have seen it coming with Preston’s “Impact”. Much like that entirely bland, lackluster and almost uncaring novel, “Gideon’s Sword” comes off as weak and rushed: there’s no depth like we’ve seen in previous works, no detailed descriptions and history of famous places, no tricky plot twists, and worst of all, the main character, Gideon Crew, is unlikeable and hard to sympathize with.

Like some readers of Preston and Child’s novels, while I liked him, I too have been becoming tired of Agent Pendergast. The idea of a new character was both appealing and exciting for me. Unfortunately, Gideon Crew is a disappointment in every sense of the word. Unlike Pendergast, he is unlikeable. He’s a crook, he operates not on cunning or smarts but on anger and conniving. He’s violent, short-tempered, and acts on revenge. Yes, Pendergast does these things too in “Fever Dream” and “Cold Vengeance” but he does it in a classy way with book-smarts and intelligence. He doesn’t rush into things like Crew. The more I think about it, the more it seems that Crew is more of an opposite of Pendergast than an entirely new character.

I don’t know what has happened to Preston and Child along the way. These 2 used to be such great writers and I eagerly anticipated each new release. As you can see, however, things have changed. I sincerely hope that “Gideon’s Sword” is just a small hiccup in their catalogue and not just a quick way to make a buck. (less)

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Nov 07, 2011 D.L. Morrese rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 a...more

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Oct 11, 2011 Suspense Magazine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Irreparably damaged as a young boy, Gideon Crew lost his innocence on a stifling, summer day as he witnessed the unexpected slaughter of his father at the hands of the military. Haunted by the images, his elevated intelligence and uncanny knack for spinning tales made Gideon the perfect petty criminal but floundering without purpose. A deathbed demand from his mother offered with vital details surrounding that fateful day, changed the game and Gideon Crew became a man with a mission. He would se...more

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Jul 07, 2011 Mary Chrapliwy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley-books, favorites

This book was a real hit with me so you can imagine my shock when I went to the book's page on Amazon and found that the book was really slammed by reviewers. I read a wide variety of different types of fiction and found this book was not lacking in the least.

At the beginning of this story we learn that Gideon Crew witnessed his father's death as a young boy. He grows up thinking that his father was a traitor to his country only to learn later that he was no traitor at all. Looking to get reveng...more

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May 23, 2011 Dan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Gideon’s father is killed in front of him after being called a traitor by his own government. Years later while his mother is dying, she tells Gideon the truth and to avenge his father’s death. And with that in mind, Gideon plans to expose the truth and avenge his dad. This all happens in the beginning of the book. Gideon is then hired by a contractor of the government to intercept a possible Chinese defector that has some secret to expose. Well, this defector is killed (with Gideon by his side)...more

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May 10, 2011 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: listened-to

The authors have done their usual fine job of creating an intricate plot as well as throwing in lotsand lots of fast moving action. The story is that of Gideon Crew, who as a young man, had watched his father gunned down. As an adult he is called to his mother’s bedside who tells him that his father was framed and to take revenge on the individuals responsible. Gideon does so in short order, well within the first third of the book. I was somewhat surprised by this as I expected this to be the en...more

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Apr 16, 2011 Patty rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book starts out with a bang and takes off from there. A somewhat short front story is told to introduce the reader to Gideon Crew. Once he fulfills his mother's dying wish he thinks he is going to settle down into his life; pay off his bills, find a wife, have some kids, fish. Little does he know that his life is about to change in a very dramatic way.

Gideon is walking to his favorite fishing hole when he is approached by a man with an amazing offer. He flies off to New York to learn the de...more

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Apr 13, 2011 Luanne Ollivier rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was excited to pick up Gideon's Sword - the first book introducing what will be a new series and character. I wasn't as excited when I finished it though.

Gideon Crew was deeply affected by the violent and somewhat mysterious death of his father when he was a young boy. He grew up swearing to avenge his death. He is highly educated but makes his living as a thief. This sets up the back story. Gideon is approached by a mysterious government agency to retrieve the plans for a new weapon before th...more

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Mar 15, 2011 Lori L (She Treads Softly) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In Gideon's Sword authors Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child are taking a huge risk by introducing a new character, Gideon Crew, and a new series. This is risky because fans of their wildly popular Pendergast novels aren't likely to warm up to a new character competing for Preston and Child's attention. While I include myself in their fan base, writing both together and separately, I'm willing to give this interloper named Gideon Crew a chance.

From the synopsis, I thought the story would revolve...more In Gideon's Sword authors Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child are taking a huge risk by introducing a new character, Gideon Crew, and a new series. This is risky because fans of their wildly popular Pendergast novels aren't likely to warm up to a new character competing for Preston and Child's attention. While I include myself in their fan base, writing both together and separately, I'm willing to give this interloper named Gideon Crew a chance.

From the synopsis, I thought the story would revolve around Gideon finding the man responsible for his father's death and getting revenge, but actually that is only a very small part of the novel right at the beginning. After that Gideon is recruited by a secret agency to do a little job for them: find a way to get the plans for a secret weapon from a Chinese scientist. The first storyline not only introduces us to Gideon Crew and gives a little back story, it also shows us Gideon's thought processes and how he operates. The second storyline is much more involved and has several narrow escapes and twists and turns before it is resolved.

Since it is a Preston and Child book, need I mention that it is well written? The story is fast paced and flows smoothly. While, admittedly, I felt that the story seemed somewhat less intense and intriguing, and felt shorter than I would normally expect from Preston and Child, I rather liked Gideon as a lead character and want to see what he does next.

Many of the reviews for Gideon's Sword written by fans have tended to be negative. Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child have had ten books to develop their Aloysius Pendergast character. This is our very first introduction to Gideon Crew. I fully expect the next Gideon Crew novel to dial up the tension and suspense.

Also, apparently the movie rights to Gideon's Sword have been purchased.

To rate this novel is problematic. It is not their strongest work, so compared to other novels they have written, it falls a little short. On the other hand, if I evaluate it simply as a stand alone novel not in comparison with anything else, well, I really liked it very much and would highly recommend it. http://shetreadssoftly.blogspot.com/
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Mar 07, 2011 Giovanni Gelati rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sincerely, this is my first read of this dynamic duo. Go ahead and chuckle at my expense, I understand. Interesting plotline in Gideon’s Sword: A family wronged and father framed by a government employee to cover his tracks as many people die heinous deaths for no reason other than the government employee’s stupidity and arrogance. Original and thought provoking, I mean the way they went about it, the narrative, not the over used and tired plotline, hahaha, gotcha. Really though, let’s check out...more Sincerely, this is my first read of this dynamic duo. Go ahead and chuckle at my expense, I understand. Interesting plotline in Gideon’s Sword: A family wronged and father framed by a government employee to cover his tracks as many people die heinous deaths for no reason other than the government employee’s stupidity and arrogance. Original and thought provoking, I mean the way they went about it, the narrative, not the over used and tired plotline, hahaha, gotcha. Really though, let’s check out what is between the sheets:
“Gideon Crew has a lot on his mind. His mother has died, but only after revealing on her deathbed the true story of his father's murder. Reeling and thirsting for revenge, this talented operative must confront an even more pressing matter: He was been enlisted to steal plans for a Chinese megaweapon from a defecting scientist. Trademark Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child action and suspense in a new series starter.”
I didn’t know they had a trademark but they made a fast impression on this reader. Action, suspense, fun, wit the whole nine yards: this is one fast engaging read. Any one following my posts or has through my archives, understands this type of novel is right in my wheelhouse, but I have to say that it separated itself from the pack. There is nothing tired, old or even stogy about this except the early premise of the death bed confession by Gideon’s mom about the cover-up surrounding his father’s death. The manner of delivery, the high drama and tension delivered inside the covers more than makes up for the same old same script. The dialogue is fresh and crisp, the characters rich and inviting, the prose of the authors intense and gripping. Okay I liked, I think you got the point. If you get the chance pick this up and give it a go, have some fun with Gideon and the gang.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new Blogtalk Radio Show The G-ZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com

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Mar 03, 2011 Perry Reed rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm really becoming a big fan of Douglas Preston's books as well as the ones he cowrote with Lincoln Child. Gideon's Sword is their first book of a new series, featuring a new main character called Gideon Crew. Crew had a rough childhood after his father was framed for creating a secret government code that was easily cracked by the Soviets during the Cold War, resulting in the death of several U.S. spies. In this book, he gets his revenge on the man who framed his father and that leads him into...more

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Mar 01, 2011 Dan Curnutt rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am not a long time reader of Preston and Child novels. So I wasn't sure what to expect. I thought there was lots of action and it held my attention for wanting to know how it was going to end.

The first part of the book gives the background of Gideon Crew. His childhood was a mess because his father was killed by government snipers when he took a fellow government employee hostage. Gideon watched that happen and it totally affected him. His mother became an alcoholic and their lives spin out o...more

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Feb 28, 2011 Karen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle

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.

Gideon has the misfortune of watching his father be killed when he is 12 as part of a government coverup and spends the next...more 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.

Gideon has the misfortune of watching his father be killed when he is 12 as part of a government coverup and spends the next part of his life preparing to and eventually avenging his death. The first part of the novel explains exactly how he avenges his father's death. Once this mission is complete Crew plans to spend sometime kicking back relaxing and fishing, however he is recruited by a special agency doing contract work for the government to follow a Chinese scientist named Mark Wu who is bringing plans for or a new weapon itself into the US. Crew's mission is to retrieve these plans or the weapon. Of course nothing goes as planed and Wu is killed in a car crash before Crew can really talk to him, but Crew does get to speak to Wu long enough for Wu to give him a long list of numbers. The rest of the novel centers around Crew's quest to find out what the numbers mean and his attempt to find the weapon Wu was carrying. Of course Crew is not the only one looking for the weapon an assassin named Nodding Crane and a supposed CIA agent named Mindy are also hot on the trail of Wu and consequently Crew as well since it is know that Wu told Crew the string of numbers before he died.

The biggest problem with this novel is Crew is just not that interesting of a character. He seems like a pretty run of the mill guy, with very little to distinguish him. With Pendergast, the main character of Preston and Child's other series, the reader was introduced to Sherlock Holmes character with a lot of personality and penchant for solving crimes and puzzles. The reader wanted to known more about him and as the series has gone on has learned much more about him and his history. The problem with Crew is as a reader I don't really care if I know more about him or not he just is not particularly exciting. The other problem with this novel is the mission is not terribly interesting. With the Pendergast novels many of the plots involve artifacts, other cultures, and the supernatural, they are a lot of fun to read and keep the reader interested throughout the story. With this novel the mission is over a weapon, and one that is not fully explained until about 2/3 of the way through the book. What we get first is a list of numbers that mean nothing to the reader so they are not likely to capture attention. On the whole I found the plot including the final showdown very flat.

That said there were some good points to this novel. The way Crew gets himself out of various sticky situation, with costumes and play acting, are very creative and fun to read. Some of the characters beside Crew, Mindy, Nodding Crane and a prostitute named Orchid that Crane recruits to help him are interesting characters. Sadly most of them die so there is little chance of seeing them again in later novels.

On the wholes I would have to say I was disappointed in this novel. If you have never read Preston & Child do not start here. Start instead with the Pendergast series whose highlights include The Relic, and The Cabinet of Curiosities. If there is a sequel to Gideon's Sword I may read because I love the authors and hope that they will be able to make this series as much fun as the Pendergast series. Until then I will be looking forward to the next installment of the Pendergast series due out this summer.
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Feb 27, 2011 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Gideon's Sword has got to be one of the most fun and exciting books I've read in a long time! I think one of the greatest reasons I enjoyed this book so much is that I had no expectations to begin with. I had no idea who the authors were, how many books they'd written or what kind of reception they've ever received. So I just jumped into the book with an open-mind and I prepared myself for whatever the book might throw at me. I was enthralled the minute I read the first chapter! At one point (ab...more

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Feb 22, 2011 Deborah Sloan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Certainly an action filled book with more twists and turns than a kaleidoscope. Featuring Gideon Crew who as a child of 12 watched his father shot and killed and at 24 succeeds in fulfilling a deathbed promise to his mother for revenge, putting him in the scope of those wishing to use him as a government operative.

Gideon's assignment is to intercept a Chinese scientist with the plans for a new weapon of mass destruction, but the scientist is murdered. Gideon must track down the missing plans tak...more Certainly an action filled book with more twists and turns than a kaleidoscope. Featuring Gideon Crew who as a child of 12 watched his father shot and killed and at 24 succeeds in fulfilling a deathbed promise to his mother for revenge, putting him in the scope of those wishing to use him as a government operative.

Gideon's assignment is to intercept a Chinese scientist with the plans for a new weapon of mass destruction, but the scientist is murdered. Gideon must track down the missing plans taking him around the globe and back while being tracked himself by a rival who is very skilled at killing. Who can he actually trust is the question.

I did greatly enjoy reading Gideon's Sword and know if you are one who likes a good mystery or action filled book you will love reading this one. Although Gideon is no angel himself you find yourself rooting for him, not because he's the main character in the story, but because he knows the difference between doing what's right and what is definitely wrong. I'm sure we'll be seeing more of Gideon Crew in future writings.

* Hardcover: 352 pages
* Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (February 22, 2011)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 044656432X
* ISBN-13: 978-0446564328
* Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1.2 x 9.2 inches

Due to be released February 22 so watch for it!

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child are the bestselling coauthors of Relic, Mount Dragon, Reliquary, Riptide, Thunderhead, The Ice Limit, The Cabinet of Curiosities, Still Life with Crows, Brimstone, Dance of Death, The Book of the Dead, The Wheel of Darkness, and Cemetery Dance. Douglass Preston's bestselling nonfiction work, The Monster of Florence, is being made into a major motion picture. Lincoln Child is a former book editor who has published four bestselling novels of his own. Please visit their website at www.prestonchild.com and find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/prestonandchild and get the newsletter for all their upcoming releases.

I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this novel. (less)

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Feb 15, 2011 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am a huge fan of Preston's & Child's Agent Pendergast books and was a little disappointed to hear that their latest book was about a new character but I should have known better. This was another great book and an interesting introduction to a new series.

From the book description I thought the story was going to revolve around Gideon trying to figure out who was responsible for murdering his father but that really only takes up a small part of the story. After he solves that and gets his r...more

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Jan 23, 2011 Patricia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

At the age of twelve, Gideon Crew watched as his father was murdered. Gideon’s father was accused of treason and gunned down. A failed intelligence project was blamed on Gideon’s father. At the age of twenty-four Gideon learned from his dying mother that his father had been set-up. His mother requested that Gideon avenge his father and her last words were “you’ll figure out a way”. Gideon did figure out a way and destroyed the man that had destroyed his father.

Once he has accomplished what he se...more At the age of twelve, Gideon Crew watched as his father was murdered. Gideon’s father was accused of treason and gunned down. A failed intelligence project was blamed on Gideon’s father. At the age of twenty-four Gideon learned from his dying mother that his father had been set-up. His mother requested that Gideon avenge his father and her last words were “you’ll figure out a way”. Gideon did figure out a way and destroyed the man that had destroyed his father.

Once he has accomplished what he set out to do Gideon decides it is time to go fishing but it is not the relaxing fishing trip that he had imagined. A man named Manuel Garza approaches him with an offer of One Hundred Thousand Dollars for a week’s work. A job Garza says will benefit the country. Garza has information regarding the debts that Crew has incurred during the time he spent seeking to avenge his father. This seems like a job that Crew can’t refuse.

Crew arrives in Manhattan with Garza and is introduced to Eli Glinn of Effective Engineering Solutions, Incorporated, a covert government operation. Glinn outlines the job that he expects Crew to perform. A Chinese scientist, Mark Wu, is traveling to the United States and bringing with him the plans for a new high-technology weapon. It is presumed that the scientist is defecting.

Glinn explains that Crew’s job is to intercept Mark Wu at the airport and get the plans from him and deliver the plans to Effective Engineering Solutions, Incorporated. The plans could be in any format and could be hidden in his luggage, on his person or most anywhere. Crew states that it is a crazy assignment that no one could pull off but Glinn states a couple of reasons why he feels Crew is the man for the job and also a reason bordering on blackmail as to why Crew can’t turn down the job.

Crew connects with Mark Wu but just as the scientist is attacked and left for dead. Crew rushes to him and is able to hear a name obtain \ a set of numbers. What any of it means Crew doesn’t know.

Crew works to uncover the meaning of the numbers and find the plans. His methods are anything but orthodox and many times humorous. Crew will go to great lengths to get the job done.

Gideon’s Sword is the first Gideon Crew novel and I look forward to more Gideon Crew tales.

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About Douglas Preston

Douglas Preston was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1956, and grew up in the deadly boring suburb of Wellesley. Following a distinguished career at a private nursery school--he was almost immediately expelled--he attended public schools and the Cambridge School of Weston. Notable events in his early life included the loss of a fingertip at the age of three to a bicycle; the loss of his two fr...more Douglas Preston was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1956, and grew up in the deadly boring suburb of Wellesley. Following a distinguished career at a private nursery school--he was almost immediately expelled--he attended public schools and the Cambridge School of Weston. Notable events in his early life included the loss of a fingertip at the age of three to a bicycle; the loss of his two front teeth to his brother Richard's fist; and various broken bones, also incurred in dust-ups with Richard. (Richard went on to write The Hot Zone and The Cobra Event, which tells you all you need to know about what it was like to grow up with him as a brother.)

As they grew up, Doug, Richard, and their little brother David roamed the quiet suburbs of Wellesley, terrorizing the natives with home-made rockets and incendiary devices mail-ordered from the backs of comic books or concocted from chemistry sets. With a friend they once attempted to fly a rocket into Wellesley Square; the rocket malfunctioned and nearly killed a man mowing his lawn. They were local celebrities, often appearing in the "Police Notes" section of The Wellesley Townsman. It is a miracle they survived childhood intact.

After unaccountably being rejected by Stanford University (a pox on it), Preston attended Pomona College in Claremont, California, where he studied mathematics, biology, physics, anthropology, chemistry, geology, and astronomy before settling down to English literature. After graduating, Preston began his career at the American Museum of Natural History in New York as an editor, writer, and eventually manager of publications. (Preston also taught writing at Princeton University and was managing editor of Curator.) His eight-year stint at the Museum resulted in the non-fiction book, Dinosaurs in the Attic, edited by a rising young star at St. Martin's Press, a polymath by the name of Lincoln Child. During this period, Preston gave Child a midnight tour of the museum, and in the darkened Hall of Late Dinosaurs, under a looming T. Rex, Child turned to Preston and said: "This would make the perfect setting for a thriller!" That thriller would, of course, be Relic.

In 1986, Douglas Preston piled everything he owned into the back of a Subaru and moved from New York City to Santa Fe to write full time, following the advice of S. J. Perelman that "the dubious privilege of a freelance writer is he's given the freedom to starve anywhere." After the requisite period of penury, Preston achieved a small success with the publication of Cities of Gold, a non-fiction book about Coronado's search for the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola. To research the book, Preston and a friend retraced on horseback 1,000 miles of Coronado's route across Arizona and New Mexico, packing their supplies and sleeping under the stars--nearly killing themselves in the process. Since then he has published several more non-fiction books on the history of the American Southwest, Talking to the Ground and The Royal Road, as well as a novel entitled Jennie. In the early 1990s Preston and Child teamed up to write suspense novels; Relic was the first, followed by several others, including Riptide and Thunderhead. Relic was released as a motion picture by Paramount in 1997. Other films are under development at Hollywood studios. Preston and Child live 500 miles apart and write their books together via telephone, fax, and the Internet.

Preston and his brother Richard are currently producing a television miniseries for ABC and Mandalay Entertainment, to be aired in the spring of 2000, if all goes well, which in Hollywood is rarely the case.

Preston continues a magazine writing career by contributing regularly to The New Yorker magazine. He has also written for National Geographic, Natural History, Smithsonisan, Harper's,and Travel & Leisure,among others.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/dougla...(less)

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Books by Douglas Preston

The Cabinet of Curiosities (Pendergast, #3)

Brimstone (Pendergast, #5; Diogenes, #1)

The Book of the Dead (Pendergast, #7; Diogenes, #3)

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“The truth shall make you free, but first it will make you miserable.” — 25 people liked it

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Gideon's Sword (Gideon Crew #1)

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