Like most fans of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, authors of the incredibly successful Agent Pendergast books, I was surprised and intrigued when they announced their plans to launch a new series featuring a character named Gideon Crew. Once an art thief, Gideon has seemingly left those days behind and established a career as brilliant physicist at Los Alamos National Lab. That is until his mother’s deathbed confession changes everything. Years ago, twelve-year-old Gideon had watched helplessly as his father was killed during a hostage situation. Now his mother tells him that his father was framed for a failed intelligence operation and that Gideon must avenge his death. Gideon devises a plan to clear his father’s name and get revenge against the man responsible. However, in the process, he attracts the attention of a powerful man with ties to the US government. This man (who will be familiar to faithful Preston and Child readers) is in need of someone with Gideon’s ingenuity and offers Gideon a boatload of cash for his help on a top-secret mission. So can Gideon complete this dangerous assignment? Or is he in over his head?

While reading Gideon’s Sword, I got the sense that Preston and Child had a lot of fun creating this character and writing this book. I think they were going for a James Bond type super agent, but there are elements of Aloysius Pendergast in Gideon too. Like Pendergast, Gideon is brilliant, resourceful, and has a taste for fine things, but he’s a little less polished and a little more bumbling. While he lacks that irresistible—almost supernatural—air of mystery that surrounds Pendergast, there is a twist with his character that promises to lead to some interesting places. Gideon has nothing to lose, which makes him a bit of a loose cannon. I also look forward to reading more about his backstory as an art thief, which wasn’t fully explored in this book.

Fast-paced and unpredictable, Gideon’s Sword is a strong first entry in a series. The action sequences, international locations, and suspense are highly entertaining, and I think readers will find themselves rooting for Gideon. It’s another great story from Preston and Child, and their fans won’t want to miss it.

Gideon’s Sword will be released on February 22, 2011.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars | Publisher: Grand Central Publishing | Pages: 352 | Source: Publisher via NetGalley
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The bestselling authors of the Agent Pendergast books, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, will release Gideon’s Sword, the first book in a new series about investigator Gideon Crew, in February 2011.

Variety is reporting that Paramount and Michael Bay have bought the movie rights for Gideon’s Sword. The deal is reportedly worth seven figures.

It seems like an odd match because Bay is know for action movies like Transformers, while Preston and Child’s thrillers are more subtle and feature thoughtful characters. Let’s just hope the movie is better than Relic, the only other movie adaptation of their books. I will never forgive that movie for editing out Agent Pendergast, who is not only the main character in the book, but the most interesting.

There aren’t many details about the Gideon Crew books, but I’ve seen the series referred to as a spin-off on other websites. That’s interesting because I don’t recall that character in any of their previous books. At the end of their latest novel, Fever Dream, the authors only say that they are launching “an exciting new series of thrillers featuring a rather uncommon ‘investigator’ by the name of Gideon Crew.” They also assure Agent Pendergast fans that they will continue to write novels featuring him “with the same frequency as before.”

Amazon lists the release date for Gideon’s Sword as February 22, 2011

May is a big month for books! We’ve got the latest in the Sookie Stackhouse series, a new Pendergast novel, and the final book in Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy to look forward to. Check out the upcoming book releases I think you’ll be interested in reading.

Dead in the Family: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel by Charlaine Harris

Available May 4, 2010 (Order on Amazon)

From the publisher:

After enduring torture and the loss of loved ones during the brief but deadly Faery War, Sookie Stackhouse is hurt and she’s angry. Just about the only bright spot in her life is the love she thinks she feels for vampire Eric Northman. But he’s under scrutiny by the new Vampire King because of their relationship. And as the political implications of the Shifters coming out are beginning to be felt, Sookie’s connection to the Shreveport pack draws her into the debate. Worst of all, though the door to Faery has been closed, there are still some Fae on the human side-and one of them is angry at Sookie. Very, very angry…

The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles, Book 1) by Rick Riordan

Available May 4, 2010 (Order on Amazon)
The latest book from the author of the Percy Jackson series will focus on Egyptian gods.

From the publisher:

Since their mother’s death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane.

One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a “research experiment” at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives.

Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them–Set–has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe–a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family, and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.

Tell-All by Chuck Palahniuk

Available May 4, 2010 (Order on Amazon)

From the publisher:

The hyperactive love child of Page Six and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? caught in a tawdry love triangle with The Fan. Even Kitty Kelly will blush.

Soaked, nay, marinated in the world of vintage Hollywood, Tell-All is a Sunset Boulevard-inflected homage to Old Hollywood when Bette Davis and Joan Crawford ruled the roost; a veritable Tourette’s syndrome of rat-tat-tat name-dropping, from the A-list to the Z-list; and a merciless send-up of Lillian Hellman’s habit of butchering the truth that will have Mary McCarthy cheering from the beyond.

Our Thelma Ritter-ish narrator is Hazie Coogan, who for decades has tended to the outsized needs of Katherine “Miss Kathie” Kenton-veteran of multiple marriages, career comebacks, and cosmetic surgeries. But danger arrives with gentleman caller Webster Carlton Westward III, who worms his way into Miss Kathie’s heart (and boudoir). Hazie discovers that this bounder has already written a celebrity tell-all memoir foretelling Miss Kathie’s death in a forthcoming Lillian Hellman-penned musical extravaganza; as the body count mounts, Hazie must execute a plan to save Katherine Kenton for her fans-and for posterity.

Tell-All is funny, subversive, and fascinatingly clever. It’s wild, it’s wicked, it’s bold-faced-it’s vintage Chuck.

Innocent by Scott Turow

Available May 4, 2010 (Order on Amazon)

From the publisher:

The sequel to the genre-defining, landmark bestseller Presumed Innocent, INNOCENT continues the story of Rusty Sabich and Tommy Molto who are, once again, twenty years later, pitted against each other in a riveting psychological match after the mysterious death of Rusty’s wife.

The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ by Philip Pullman

Available May 4, 2010 (Order on Amazon)

From the publisher:

The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ is the remarkable new piece of fiction from best-selling and famously atheistic author Philip Pullman. By challenging the events of the gospels, Pullman puts forward his own compelling and plausible version of the life of Jesus, and in so doing, does what all great books do: makes the reader ask questions.
In Pullman’s own words, “The story I tell comes out of the tension within the dual nature of Jesus Christ, but what I do with it is my responsibility alone. Parts of it read like a novel, parts like history, and parts like a fairy tale; I wanted it to be like that because it is, among other things, a story about how stories become stories.”
Written with unstinting authority, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ is a pithy, erudite, subtle, and powerful book by a controversial and beloved author. It is a text to be read and reread, studied and unpacked, much like the Good Book itself.

Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

Available May 11, 2010 (Order on Amazon)

From the publisher:

Tessa Russo is the mother of two young children and the wife of a renowned pediatric surgeon. Despite her own mother’s warnings, Tessa has recently given up her career to focus on her family and the pursuit of domestic happiness. From the outside, she seems destined to live a charmed life.

Valerie Anderson is an attorney and single mother to six-year-old Charlie–a boy who has never known his father. After too many disappointments, she has given up on romance–and even to some degree, friendships–believing that it is always safer not to expect too much.

Although both women live in the same Boston suburb, the two have relatively little in common aside from a fierce love for their children. But one night, a tragic accident causes their lives to converge in ways no one could have imagined.

In alternating, pitch-perfect points of view, Emily Giffin creates a moving, luminous story of good people caught in untenable circumstances. Each being tested in ways they never thought possible. Each questioning everything they once believed. And each ultimately discovering what truly matters most.

Fever Dream by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Available May 11, 2010 (Order on Amazon)

From the publisher:

Yesterday, Special Agent Pendergast still mourned the loss of his beloved wife, Helen, who died in a tragic accident in Africa twelve years ago.

Today, he discovers she was murdered.

Tomorrow, he will learn her most guarded secrets, leaving him to wonder: Who was the woman I married? Why was she murdered? And, above all . . . Who murdered her?

FEVER DREAM

Revenge is not sweet: It is essential.

61 Hours by Lee Child

Available May 18, 2010 (Order on Amazon)

From the publisher:

Jack Reacher is back.

The countdown has begun. Get ready for the most exciting 61 hours of your life. #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child’s latest thriller is a ticking time bomb of suspense that builds electric tension on every page.

Sixty-one hours. Not a minute to spare.

A tour bus crashes in a savage snowstorm and lands Jack Reacher in the middle of a deadly confrontation. In nearby Bolton, South Dakota, one brave woman is standing up for justice in a small town threatened by sinister forces. If she’s going to live long enough to testify, she’ll need help. Because a killer is coming to Bolton, a coldly proficient assassin who never misses.

Reacher’s original plan was to keep on moving. But the next 61 hours will change everything. The secrets are deadlier and his enemies are stronger than he could have guessed-but so is the woman whose life he’ll risk his own to save.

In 61 Hours, Lee Child has written a showdown thriller with an explosive ending that readers will talk about for a long time to come.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson

Available May 25, 2010 (Order on Amazon)

From the publisher:

The stunning third and final novel in Stieg Larsson’s internationally best-selling trilogy

Lisbeth Salander-the heart of Larsson’s two previous novels-lies in critical condition, a bullet wound to her head, in the intensive care unit of a Swedish city hospital. She’s fighting for her life in more ways than one: if and when she recovers, she’ll be taken back to Stockholm to stand trial for three murders. With the help of her friend, journalist Mikael Blomkvist, she will not only have to prove her innocence, but also identify and denounce those in authority who have allowed the vulnerable, like herself, to suffer abuse and violence. And, on her own, she will plot revenge-against the man who tried to kill her, and the corrupt government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life.

Once upon a time, she was a victim. Now Salander is fighting back.

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

Available May 25, 2010 (Order on Amazon)

From the publisher:

A perfect murder
A faceless witness
A lone courtroom champion knows the whole truth . . . and he’s only thirteen years old
Meet Theodore Boone

In the small city of Strattenburg, there are many lawyers, and though he’s only thirteen years old, Theo Boone thinks he’s one of them. Theo knows every judge, policeman, court clerk-and a lot about the law. He dreams of being a great trial lawyer, of a life in the courtroom.

But Theo finds himself in court much sooner than expected. Because he knows so much-maybe too much-he is suddenly dragged into the middle of a sensational murder trial. A cold-blooded killer is about to go free, and only Theo knows the truth.

The stakes are high, but Theo won’t stop until justice is served.

Brimming with the intrigue and suspense that made John Grisham a #1 international bestseller and the undisputed master of the legal thriller, Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer will keep readers guessing and pages turning.

Love the One You’re With by Emily Giffin
Newlywed Ellen runs into her bad-boy ex-boyfriend and begins to wonder if she made the right decision by marrying the sweet, if somewhat boring, Andy. As she contemplates rekindling things with her ex, her relationship with her husband suffers. At times Ellen doesn’t seem to appreciate that she has a life some people only dream about, but, overall, she is likable and has problems with her husband and his family that most people can relate to. Love the One You’re With is a light read and it’s fun to see Ellen try to sort out her life.

The Bride Will Keep Her Name: A Novel by Jan Goldstein
Madison is engaged to be married to Colin, a reporter, when she finds out he might be hiding a big secret. She receives an anonymous tip that he’s behind the recent murder of a prostitute and begins investigating for herself.

Cemetery Dance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Special Agent Pendergast of the FBI partners with New York cop Vincent D’Agosta to solve the murder of their friend. The case involves voodoo, zombies, and a bizarre cult that practices animal sacrifices. Pendergast is a modern day Sherlock Holmes and southern gentleman who uses his powers of deduction catch the bad guys. (Read my review here)

Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris
Telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse gets involved in lots of supernatural drama involving werewolves and fairies in her ninth book. This book has some fun moments, but is much darker than previous books. It’s good for the beach, though, because the non-stop action makes it hard to put down. (Read my review here)

Queen Takes King: A Novel by Gigi Levangie Grazer
This is the latest book by the author of “The Starter Wife,” which was turned into a TV show starring Debra Messing. This one is about a New York society couple going through a scandalous divorce.

When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
A hilarious collection of twenty-two essays about David Sedaris’ life and everyday experiences, such as traveling to Japan to quit smoking. If you are planning a summer road trip, the audio book would be great for making the time go faster. Sedaris narrates the audio book himself and conveys his sarcasm and wit perfectly.

Killer Summer by Ridley Pearson
In this new thriller, a gang of criminals plots to steal bottles of wine once belonging to Thomas Jefferson from a wine convention being held in Sun Valley, Idaho. It’s up to town sheriff Walt Fleming to uncover the plot and stop the thieves.

The Doomsday Key by James Rollins
Sigma Force returns for another action adventure novel, this time involving genetically modified corn, Celtic symbols, and the Catholic Church. The action takes place across Europe, including a crazy, and completely unbelievable, car chase through the Coliseum in Rome. (Read my review here)

Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks
Adrienne and Paul meet at a bed and breakfast on the coast of North Carolina and share a brief, but intense, love affair. This one has been out for a while and was made into a movie starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane, but, to me, it is still the ultimate beach read. It’s a tearjerker, but it’s also very romantic and touching.

The Other Side of the Story by Marian Keyes
I’m a huge fan of Marian Keyes and this is the book that got me hooked on her amazing storytelling. She weaves together the three separate stories of women who, we ultimately learn, are connected to one another. JoJo is a former New York cop turned literary agent in London, where she represents up-and-coming author Lily. Gemma is a party planner, and ex-friend of Lily’s, who must move back home to Ireland to take care of her depressed mother. Narrated it turns by each woman, this novel shows that there are always two sides to every story.

Special Agent Pendergast is back in his ninth book, Cemetery Dance, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. He once again partners with Lieutenant Vincent D’Agosta to find a murderer; only this time the victim is a good friend (I’m not going to tell you who, but it’s a bummer). Eyewitnesses and security cameras identify the murderer as Colin Fearing, the only problem is that he was found dead ten days earlier. As Pendergast and D’Agosta investigate, they find a mysterious religious cult that may be involved with animal sacrifice, voodoo, and zombies. As increasingly bizarre and unexplainable things happen, the reader is left trying to figure out a rational explanation for these occurrences.

Cemetery Dance has all the characteristics of an Agent Pendergast novel: supernatural mysteries, science, and suspense. The mysterious agent Pendergast is a southern gentleman who is brilliant and observant, and is frequently described as a modern-day Sherlock Holmes. He is very much the opposite of New York cop D’Agosta and I enjoy them as partners. While I love any Pendergast novel, this wasn’t my favorite because I just couldn’t get into the zombie storyline (when I think zombies, I picture the dancing zombies in Thriller with their clawed hands). I certainly enjoyed it, just not as much as previous books like Brimstone or Cabinet of Curiosities. Cemetery Dance is a standalone novel, but to fully appreciate the death that occurs in the first chapter it would help to have read the previous novels.

Buy Cemetery Dance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child on Amazon by clicking here.