The Third Gate: A Novel [Hardcover]

Lincoln Child (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 12, 2012

Under the direction of famed explorer Porter Stone, an archaeological team is secretly attempting to locate the tomb of an ancient pharaoh who was unlike any other in history. Stone believes he has found the burial chamber of King Narmer, the near mythical god- king who united upper and lower Egypt in 3200 B.C., and the archaeologist has reason to believe that the greatest prize of all—Narmer’s crown—might be buried with him. No crown of an Egyptian king has ever been discovered, and Narmer’s is the elusive “double” crown of the two Egypts, supposedly pos­sessed of awesome powers.

The dig itself is located in one of the most forbidding places on earth—the Sudd, a nearly  impassable swamp in north­ern Sudan. Amid the nightmarish, disorienting tangle of mud and dead vegetation, a series of harrowing and inexpli­cable occurrences are causing people on the expedition to fear a centuries- old curse. With a monumental discovery in reach, Professor Jeremy Logan is brought onto the project to investigate. What he finds will raise new questions . . . and alarm.

In the hands of master storyteller Lincoln Child, The Third Gate breaks new ground and introduces a fascinating new protagonist to the thriller world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Lincoln Child’s novels are thrilling and tantalizing.” 
 —Vince Flynn

"By mixing fact and fiction as well as science and the occult, Lincoln Child once again has created an offbeat thriller that is both exciting and thoughtprovoking."
--The Free Lance-Star

"Bestseller Child (Terminal Freeze) more than succeeds in making a mummy's curse terrifying in this superb supernatural thriller...Child evokes fear through understatement...Readers will hope to see more of [lead character] Logan in a sequel."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Ample gadgetry, New Age soul-shifting, and pyrotechnics sufficient to employ a stable of stuntmen when brought to film: Child’s newest is the sort of thing to delight all those who got wrapped up in The Mummy. Think, a Dan Brown-ian adventure amongst Pharaohs ready with a pocket full of curses."
--Kirkus 

"Its characters are well drawn, and the mystery is nicely handled, keeping readers guessing as to whether something supernatural is going on here. Of the author’s solo novels, this could be the best so far."
--Booklist

About the Author

LINCOLN CHILD is the New York Times best-selling author of Terminal Freeze, Deep Storm, Death Match, and Utopia, as well as coauthor, with Douglas Preston, of numerous New York Times best sellers, most recently Fever Dream. He lives with his wife and daughter in Morristown, New Jersey.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; First Edition edition (June 12, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385531389
• ISBN-13: 978-0385531382
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 1.2 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (300 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lincoln Child is the co-author, with Douglas Preston, of a number of bestselling thrillers including Relic, Riptide and The Ice Limit. Utopia is Lincoln Child's first solo novel: he is currently at work on his second. He lives with his wife and daughter in Morristown, New Jersey.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 83 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Indiana Jones Light April 29, 2012

By Jeanne Tassotto VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

This is a typical adventure thriller with paranormal overtones, in other words "Indiana Jones - Light". In place of Indiana Jones we have Jeremy Logan, a professor of history who specializes in enigmas (the bizarre, weird things that most of us refer to as paranormal). Logan has been asked to join an expedition lead by a reclusive millionaire, Porter Stone, who has a reputation for remarkable finds. This time Stone has gone in search of the tomb of the Pharaoh who united Upper and Lower Egypt 5000 years ago. The tomb site is not located along the banks of the Nile but instead in the Sudd, the vast swamp that lies to the south of Egypt. The expedition is large, filled with experts in all fields, including the leading authority in near death experiences and his wife who has her own unique abilities. The expedition headquarters is located in the midst of a nearly impenetrable swamp, cut off from almost all outside contact when, of course odd things begin to happen just as they nearly achieve their goal.

This is not a bad story, just a familiar one. We have met all of the characters before, the hero who has arcane knowledge, the mysterious millionaire on a quest, the doctor who has a deep, dark secret and a vulnerable woman. We have also been to the isolated scientific outpost before, seen the increasingly disturbing events that finally cannot be ignored any longer. It is all standard fare in books or movies or tv shows, sometimes done quite well and resulting in a riveting tale, and other times done so badly they become inadvertent comedies. This one is pretty much middle of the road - the premise is good, the characters are reasonably believable but it does have some flaws. The site of the isolated base is inaccessible except when it is not. Events are slowly built up to and then rushed through. Characters at times behave illogically, even to the point that other characters comment on it.

Overall this is not a bad novel, just not a very original one. It is not a particularly poorly written novel, just not a well written one. It is a quick read, complicated enough to keep the reader interested but not so enthralling that it cannot be put down. It is therefore, a great novel to take on a trip, put in a beach bag or curl up with on a rainy weekend.

48 of 60 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "Isn't there always a curse?" May 18, 2012

By Susan Tunis TOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Before I write another word, I just want to tell you that this book was fun. Is it capital "L" literature? No, but it's well-written, pulpy fun. Gosh, I wish there were more books like this. Now, on to the story...

After a brief, expository prologue, we meet Dr. Jeremy Logan, enigmalogist. When asked what it is he does, exactly, he answers, "More or less what it sounds like. I investigate phenomena that lie outside the normal bounds of human existence." Apparently, that encompasses proving the existence of the Loch Ness Monster and dealing with the occasional poltergeist. For his latest job, he's been hired by Dr. Ethan Rush of CTS--the Center for Transmortality Studies. After his wife's NDE--near death experience--the former anesthesiologist dedicated his life to the study of the phenomena. But Logan wasn't hired on behalf of CTS. There's another employer. Rush is a go-between in the employ of a very well-known man.

With few questions asked, Logan allows himself to be flown across the planet. They land in Egypt, where he has always wanted to work, but he is told, "I hate to disappoint you, Dr. Logan, but actually, it's nothing quite as straightforward as Egypt." It never is. Their eventual destination is the Sudd. This place is real, but I'd never heard of it before. Child quotes Alan Moorehead's non-fiction book The White Nile at length. It states, in part, "There is no more formidable swamp in the world than the Sudd." This place is an amazing setting for an archeological thriller--or any thriller for that matter--and that's even before they go diving in the mud!

I don't want to be much more specific about the plot of this novel. A big part of the entertainment is letting the revelations come in their own time. Child has crafted a novel where the more paranormal elements of the tale (which I have limited patience for) are well-balanced by real science in a variety of fields. There were moments, even, when things began to feel positively Crichtonesqe.

I mentioned above that this is not literary fiction, so don't expect in-depth character development, but Child has gathered an enjoyable and amusing cast of characters for this adventure. Do expect a compulsively page-turning pace. This is a novel designed to be read fast, preferably on a beach. As for Jeremy Logan, I can't say if we'll ever see him again, but Lincoln, could you please, please write up the story of how he proved the existence of Nessie?

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Soo disappointing June 21, 2012

By ReadBead&Tea

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

High price to pay for boredom. Anyone who grew up in the 'Age of Aquarius' knows more about the paranormal than the - experts- in this novel!
Lackluster plot, weak characterizations, repetitious descriptions. No thrills, no chills, no surprises....and there could have been many too.
The opportunity was there. You missed it Child. I agree with one other reviewer - wait for the paperback, because this is waaay overpriced!
p.s. Preston and Child as a writing duo will shock you, thrill you, pull you into the story to become one with it. Writing separately? I find each of
them loses the 'soul' of their stories.