'Gideon's Sword' a must-read for suspense fans

The latest in a series of suspense novels from the writing team of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child is a rollicking read.

The cliffhanger ending of “Gideon's Sword” sets up what's promised to be a series featuring new lead character Gideon Crew. And he's a fascinating study in contradictions that would delight any good therapist. When he was 12, he watched his father gunned down by police, accused of a crime he didn't commit. Eight years later, on her deathbed, Gideon's mother tells him the truth about his father, and Gideon's quest for justice — and revenge — begins.

“Gideon's Sword” is more than just a spellbinding tale. It's smart — wickedly so — and clever without a trace of arrogance. The characters are convincingly real — kind and caring, flawed and tragic. As Gideon hunts down a Chinese scientist and an apparently new weapon of mass destruction, the authors bring to life a side of New York City rarely seen — including a nail-biting standoff at a potter's field maintained by inmates on an island in Long Island Sound.

The novel is perfectly paced and a must-read for any true fan of suspense. Its only shortcoming is that it's all over too soon.