About the Author

Douglas Preston, a regular contributor to "The New Yorke"r, has worked for the American Museum of Natural History, and taught English at Princeton University. With his frequent collaborator Lincoln Child, he has authored such bestselling thrillers as "The Cabinet of Curiosities, The Ice Limit, Thunderhead, Riptide, Reliquary, Mount Dragon, "and "Relic," which became a major Hollywood picture. An earlier solo novel, "Jennie," was published by Tor Books and was turned into a television movie.

Reviews

"Raiders of the Lost Ark meets The Amazing Race! A fast-paced, clever adventure."--"Entertainment Weekly" (A-) on "The Codex"
"Preston keeps the adventure high, springing plenty of nifty surprises along the way."---"People" (3 1/2 Stars) on "The Codex"
"Fascinating characters, exotic jungle scenery, and surprising twists make this nonstop thrill ride well worth deciphering. For all fiction collections."--"Library Journal" on "The Codex"
"A fun dig with just a touch of Indiana Jones."--"Kirkus Reviews" on "The Codex"
"Preston flies high and fast . . . a briskly involving science-based thriller. Rip-roaring jungle adventure, outfitted with a nasty villain, a beautiful blonde, two memorable Indian characters, hosts of wild animals, terrific atmosphere, and cliffhangers galore. Preston delivers the goods."--"Publishers Weekly" on "The Codex"

A fabulously wealthy man summons his three sons to the family mansion, but upon their arrival, they discover that their father is missing, along with all of his prized possessions. The only item remaining is a videotape that contains a cryptic message. Disappointed in the paths his sons have chosen in their adult lives, he challenges them to find him and his treasures. If they work together, they will have a better chance of success, but each decides to search on his own. One son is approached by a woman who wants to help him locate the treasure because of a Mayan medicine book known as the "codex," containing hundreds of herbal cures that will rock the medical and pharmaceutical worlds. It's soon determined that the treasure is hidden somewhere in Honduras, and the chase is on. Scott Brick does another outstanding job in creating real and believable characters by infusing them with distinctive personalities. Preston has come up with a surefire winner in this taut thriller; highly recommended.-Joseph L. Carlson, Allan Hancock Coll., Lompoc, CA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.