James Rollins - Sandstorm

Pros: First half of the plot. A couple characters were (initially)interesting.
Cons: Character development. Plot gets very strange. Prose is nothing to write home about.

Mysterious tales about lost civilizations and hidden treasures seem to capture my imagination. While I’ve never trekked into the jungle looking for a lost city, it is fun to imagine doing so, at least while sitting comfortably at home in front of the ...

Pros: I really can't think of any.
Cons: Harper Collins killed a bunch of trees for this? Shame!

Not long ago in a fit of creativity, I suggested to the Ms that she write a kid's "chapter book" series combining a few of those elements that the current generation of pre-teens seems hooked on. One's Harry Potter and the other... oh, no, I ain't givin ...

Pros: Pacing; action; mystery; characters
Cons: Villains without a lot of depth; bits of trite material; the word 'mumbled'

Deep Fathom, one of Rollins's early books, was definitely a light beach read. Although I enjoyed it, its cardboard eeeevil villains, trite dialogue, and too-neat climax kept it from lingering in the mind. Black Order, which came after ...