Customer Reviews: Read 160 more reviews...
 Silly, but a guilty pleasure October 9, 2008
The language is arch to the point of smugness, the situations are ridiculous, and the characters are absurd, but I couldn't put it down. It's as if two writers got together and said "let's take a junior high boys' James Bond fantasy and see how far we can stretch it before it breaks."
And, for some odd, reptilian-brain reason, it worked, at least for me. A major theme involved Tibetan mysticism, which added a fun, exotic feel. I also enjoyed the fact that much of the action took place on an ocean liner, which gave the authors an opportunity to give you an interesting behind-the-scenes look at how luxury liners work today.
The book was silly, and it didn't make me want to read another Preston/Childs book (it got my desire to read at least one Preston/Childs book out of my system), but it was a fun guilty pleasure.
 Very interesting read. September 21, 2008
I've read virtually all of the Preston/Childs books, and every one of the Pendergast series. Why the latter has so seized my fascination to such a degree, I'm not exactly sure. In any case, while I wouldn't call "Wheel" the best book in the series, it certainly is an interesting read. It is entirely consistent with the storytelling trail left by previous books, and leaves its own intriguing trailer at the very end.
Preston/Childs books never, ever, lack for imagination -- that is, in fact, their chief calling card. "Wheel" is no exception in that regard. However, character development definitely gets a short shrift in this tale -- much more so than the other books, wherein we got to examine Pendergast and other main characters at much greater depth. Constance, in particular, seems to have become just a bit more than Pendergast's appendage, with nothing of the remarkableness of her personal story or abilities evident. Hopefully, that will change in future books.
 Pendergast Saves the Human Race September 18, 2008
Like all Preston and Child novels, The Wheel of Darkness takes the reader on an ever-escalating adventure, provides surprising twists, exhibits stellar writing skill, and elicits periodic trips to the dictionary. This book takes us on a wild ride on a new luxury liner through a North Atlantic storm as the passengers are beset with daily murders, runaway navigational technology, deranged captains, a dot.com mogul involved in mind-bending meditation, and a smoky demon-ghost. Yet the story is rooted at a remote Tibetan monastery, and serves another installment in the Pendergast series. The amazing FBI agent performs endless tasks of investigative brilliance, but needs last-minute help from a surprising source to save the liner from ruin.
The characters are vivid and memorable, the scenes (apparently) well researched, and some of the murders disgustingly gruesome. It is difficult to glean whether the authors have any viewpoint on the variety of Tibetan Buddhism they portray, or only borrow it to tell an adventure story. This is not the first book by these authors that strains credulity, but we know this was by design to create a fantasy as well as a good crime story with scientific accuracy.
Yes, it is escape literature at its best. I could divine no moral or message; no real higher purpose at all. But the book succeeds very well at what it is created to be - a fast-paced, exciting, intriguing, vivid, challenging, unique, and entertaining reading experience. Preston and Child books provide excellent examples to aspiring writers of how to tell a compelling story using a writing style that is seamless, invisible, and professional, allowing the action and suspense to command full attention.
Fantastic!! August 29, 2008
Preston has continued his fast paced, horror novel style. I love being scared by his creatures and otherworldly threats. It is definitely a page turner and I would recommend it to any one who loves this genre as much as I do.
Hard core - don't miss it! August 25, 2008
A very strange chapter in the Pendergast story, The Wheel of Darkness has to do with a missing Tibetan relic that could bring about the end of the world. Pendergast and his ward Constance learn about the theft while at the Tibetan monastery to help Constance after Diogenes brought about the collapse of her delicate psyche in Book of the Dead. Pendergast believes the thief is taking part in the maiden voyage of a new super-luxury ocean liner, so he gets himself and Constance aboard and they set to work trying to discover who has stolen the mysterious relic. Forced to confront his worst fear - himself - Pendergast experiences a most dangerous journey.
It is difficult to describe this story without spoiling it, so I have left my review vague on the plot points. However, I can heartily endorse this book as a great piece of thriller fiction and a story that gives Pendergast a most interesting ... twist. Definitely be sure to check this one out!
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