Terminal Freeze ~ Lincoln Child

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

Child continues his annoying (to me) habit of putting out books without Douglas Preston as a co-author and they sound great on the jacket covers. And, in fact, the plot lines have a lot of promise. But something is missing. Characters? Real engagement with the reader?

I just can't put my finger quite on it, and I keep giving him the benefit of the doubt. But this is another one -- good story that combines today's "reality show" world, economics of research and sponsorship, and folks just taking one too many risks without really thinking through what they're doing. It's set in an arctic climate, and it even has a native tribe that faces extinction in it (could it perhaps be that he tries to touch too many "hot" buttons in his books?).

It's definitely a page-turner, and a fine airplane read if someone leaves it on your seat. But it's probably not worth the price of the hardcover. Wait for the next Child/Preston collaboration (hint hint: Cemetery Dance) if you're rationing book purchases...