Book reviews

Riptide
Douglas J. Preston and Lincoln Child Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography History
Douglas J. Preston and Lincoln Child Books
New book search
Douglas J. Preston and Lincoln Child Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of Riptide
"An island holding untold riches hidden deep below the surface is the setting for this tense seaside thriller. Dr. Malin Hatch is intrigued by Captain Gerard Neidelman's proposal of a massive expedition to dig up the centuries old buried treasure along the Maine coastline. The project must include him for it is his family's property where the loot is located. But Hatch knows it will be no easy task to excavate Ragged Island and find the fortune in gold, jewels, and a legendarily rare artifact called St. Michael's Sword left behind by the notorious 17th century pirate Edward Ockham. It seems the treasure is at the bottom of the deadly Water Pit, an ingeniously secure hiding place designed by a brilliant British architect named Macallan that has killed dozens of lives over the centuries, including Hatch's own older brother Johnny more than twenty-five years earlier.

The expeditionary crew staffed with geologists, engineers, computer programmers, and historians; while competent and well trained, encounters mounting problems from the very start. One unfortunate accident leaves a worker a double amputee and another technician is later crushed to death. As news of the great treasure hunt gets out nearly everyone in the small coastal fishing town of Stormhaven is looking to get in on the action. But there are a few vocal individuals in the town opposed to the search for the gold and all the changes it may lead to, including Reverend Woodruff Clay and Dr. Orville Horn, Hatch's former school teacher and mentor. Hatch, only wanting closure on the tragic events from his childhood, finds his return home has opened old wounds and stirred bad memories as he gets more than he bargained for despite the promise of 50 percent of the recovered wealth."

David Fletcher, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of Riptide
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 30%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20%




Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
Time/era of story: - 1980's-1999
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Water adventure Yes
Water: - underwater

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - doctor
Age: - 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How much violence does he/she use? - just the right amount
Ethnicity/Race - White/American
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - explorer
Eccentric: Yes - obsessed - deluded - eccentric - emotionally unstable
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - throughout most of the book.
Motive of antagonist - money/treasure
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Physique - average physique

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Northeast
Water? Yes
Water: - scuba under
Island? Yes
Island: - Atlantic Ocean Island
Small town? Yes
Small town people: - nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - very gorey descriptions deaths/dead bodies
How many deaths? - 5-7
A lot of techno jargon? Yes
Kind of jargon? - biology/medical
Unusual forms of death - radiation
Unusual form of death? Yes
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books to Riptide
Salvage of the Tatiana by Norbert Weissinger
Deep Six by Clive Cussler
Freighter Captain by Max Hardberger
Meg: Primal Waters by Steve Alten
The Length of the World by Charley Brindley


Click here for more information about this book


Douglas J. Preston and Lincoln Child Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
David Fletcher  

SCHOLARS:
James S Turner  


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Thriller/Action books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Big vehicle disaster?

Crime Thriller

Disaster, natural or nuclear

Exploring into the wild

Horror Story?

Legal Thriller

Medical Thriller

Religious overtones?

Spying/Terrorism Thriller

War Thriller

Water adventure

Western



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
Feedback
About us
Bribe your congressman!
Rudy Giuliani



Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
Online Dating Advice
George W. Bush 4:32:46 PM
Southampton Row 4:05:35 PM
V.C. Andrews 3:51:51 PM
Erin Hunters 3:49:22 PM
Jeanette Walls 2:50:57 PM
James Patterson 1:28:26 PM
Suzanne Collins 1:26:03 PM
General Discussion (All Topics) 1:22:33 PM
Ruth Minsky Sender 12:31:59 PM
Lilian Jackson Braun 10:25:33 AM
Deric Longden 7:40:15 AM
Robin Jenkins 4:55:32 AM
John Marsden 11:50:52 PM
Caroline B. Cooney 10:36:06 PM
Wendelin Van Draanen 9:56:14 PM
Lorna Freeman 9:19:46 PM
Betty Mahmoody 6:00:12 PM
Ken Catran 3:51:52 PM
Lurlene McDaniel 2:51:46 PM
Zana Muhsen 8:19:55 AM

More message boards