Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Riptide

Top positive review

Oak Island

Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2023

This is like the curse of oak Island, only they actually find treasure. Not to spoil details, but this was wrote and set before the TV show, so there is going to be sort of a technology gap. Overall, very entertaining and interesting.

2 people found this helpful

Top critical review

Critical reviews›

CoffeeAddict

Giving this book 3 stars, on my part, was being very generous.

Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2019

Admittedly I am a Preston and Child fan, mostly Lincoln Child, but that's another review. I have read most of Preston and Child books, and considering their other highly sci-fi thrillers, such as relic and reliquary, I can't even begin to understand why they would climax this book the way they did. Yes, this is a fast and easy read, with good characters, excellent setting, and even a good constructed plot, I was sorely disappointed with the boring, ho-hum, ending. There was no intense mystery or imagination given to this end. Maybe because, I am a writer, I could forsee the ending of this book as having an incredible unearthly conclusion. Apparently, I was under the delusion, of their other highly fantasized books, which I enjoyed immensely. I bought the book. Probably will read it again sometime, but I was definitely disappointed with the ending. It could have been so much more satisfying.

8 people found this helpful

2,550 total ratings, 485 with reviews

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From the United States

tim james

Oak Island

Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2023

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2 people found this helpful

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Mike Pierson

A good read for sure

Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2024

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I enjoy how the authors can spin a tale. I hope Dr Hatch is a regular. The intricate details paint vivid images. And the turn of a phrase that enhances the image. Legends of the craft.

One person found this helpful

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Scott Sloan

Pirate gold, and adventure filled summer read!!

Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2015

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This is the type of book that was made for summer!!! The dreaded infamous Water-Pit which is pretty much taken right from the classic Water-Trap that we all remember either from the nostalgic In Search Of episode or that dreadful "reality" show that my wife watches is front and center the star of this novel. Along with the pirate Red Ned Ockham. The book begins with a brief history lesson on the Water-Trap, and then flashes forward to the hero of the book as a young boy playing with his brother on Ragged Island dreaming summertime dreams that all boys have about finding pirate gold, and what to do with the mountains of gold that is sure to be found if only they can discover the right tunnel. Accidents happen and that brings us to the present where our hero, Malin Hatch swears never to step on Ragged Island again until approached by the shadowy figures that inhabit all of these books. They come with smiles, high technology, and promising the riches that would make any man or woman think twice.
The novel centers around the coastline of Maine, and is filled with rich, interesting characters. The history I learned along the way about the pit, the pirates involved and a few other characters lost to history was intriguing, and really kept me involved with the book. The quest for the treasure of Red Ned will you keep you on the edge of your beach, or patio chair. The final act seems just a bit rushed but that might be typical of Preston, and Child's work, I can't say for sure. In my opinion I wish that they would have slowed down the action just a bit to savor the climax a bit more, but that's incidental and doesn't detract from what I felt was a quick, fun read. The quest for riches could prove to be Malin's undoing.

9 people found this helpful

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MWeb

Great book, from the beginning!!!

Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2023

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This book was difficult to stay away from once I started!
I read several books at once, professional, fiction and non fiction.
But after starting Riptide all other books I was enjoying never got opened again until this was done. I really enjoyed the 4 first Pendergast books in order, but this is my favorite Child/Preston book so far!

4 people found this helpful

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Bruce Wadman

Great story, Matey, Arrrr

Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2023

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Well written story about ancient pirate treasure and a deadly curse that could wipe out an entire community. Very hard book to put down. I recommend it highly.

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James Tepper

Rip-roaring fun

Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2011

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"Riptide" is a standalone adventure novel by Doug Preston and Lincoln Childs, authors of the hugely successful "Agent Pendergast" series. As a long-time fan of Agent Pendergast and other Doug Preston novels such as "Blasphemy" and "Impact", I took a shot and downloaded Riptide for my Kindle when I was trolling for books this week. It was an excellent idea.

Riptide is a modern treasure hunt, literally. Mal Hatch and his older 12 year old brother Johnny set sail one day while their parent are away for a nearby island off the coast of Maine, owned by the family, that is reputed to hold a fantastic pirate treasure. Only Mal makes it back. Flash forward 25 years and the adventure begins.

Preston and Child's fourth novel, published in 1999, after "Relic" and "Reliquary" but before Aloysius Pendergast became the star of his own series, has every bit of the tight plotting, fast and addictive pacing, and scientific accuracy that characterizes the succeeding decade of Pendergast titles. The main characters are nicely drawn, and the hero is charismatic enough to maintain one's interest during the plot-driven narrative. "Riptide" clearly foreshadows how successful and fun P&C's collaborative efforts were going to be over the next 10+ years, and it is a great download, well worth the $7.00 price.

HIghly recommended.

JMT

12 people found this helpful

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CoffeeAddict

Giving this book 3 stars, on my part, was being very generous.

Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2019

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8 people found this helpful

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Bob G of Troy

Riptide

Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2011

Verified Purchase

Basic plot deals with the attempt to recover an enormous pirate treasure left buried under a New England island.
About a dozen major attempts at its recovery have been made in the centuries it has been there. All have failed
due to the clever design of a warren of tunnels & booby traps that were part of its construction. This is the story
of an attempt using 21st century technology coupled with an almost limitless budget. Tons of gold & silver, along
with sacks of jewels aren't the only wealth hidden there. The fabled Sword of Saint Michael is also part of this
horde. It's history shows that it is cursed and that all who have had contact with it over its centuries long
history have perished. As the diggers get closer to it, they too begin to experience strange health problems and
other inexplicable misfortunes.

Of course, character development, personal quirks, and both good and evil sides of human nature affects the total
presentation as the story unfolds. Human greed, naturally, but obsession with success begins to build too as the
goal begins to look near & attainable.

Writing style is very easy. 'Fast read' without complex sentence structure AND good story development makes this
a 'page turner' in the best sense of the word. Should be a movie. Riptide

3 people found this helpful

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Snookers

blah!

Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2024

Verified Purchase

I was disappointed with this book. I really enjoyed one book by these authors and I was excited to start reading their whole series and this is book 4 in the chronological book order and it’s been up and down. One book good the next not good. I hope the consistency of “good” starts with the next book. 📕

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Gareball

Crimson Tide

Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2006

Verified Purchase

Preston and Child continue to impress. Although not on par with "Relic" or "Reliquary" (there's no Special Agent Pendergast to be found in "Riptide" after all) it still makes any other book of it's genre pale in it's shadow. These guys are good, very good; and they've yet to write a book that hasn't captured and held my interest throughout.

"Riptide" has something for everyone. Pirates (who doesn't love a good Pirate story, huh?), burried treasure, Hi-Tech Science, romance, greed, avarice, mystery, quaint New England culture, a dark and brooding man of the cloth, but most of all, action. PLENTY of action!

I wouldn't suggest this being your first Preston and Child read. I think it's best to read them in the order that they've been written but if this should happen to be your first, you will not be disappointed.

I can find only one thing wrong after reading this book. You won't be able to find many writers of their caliber and will be bored by most other books until the NEXT Preston/Child collaberation appears on the bookshelves. You've been warned!

4 people found this helpful

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