Firstly, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a collection of non-fiction essays by Douglas Preston spanning several decades. Many of these entries are factual accounts of stories that inspired his fictional works. There is quite a range of topics, from prehistory to the modern-day court of public opinion.

I found most of the entries interesting and engaging. These topics are clearly things that the author is, if not passionate about, at least truly interested in, and he conveys the stories in a way that feels more conversational than dry. Each entry is also followed by an update - since most of these entries were written years, often decades, ago, there have typically been some developments to the story that cast additional insights.

A few of the entries felt a bit long to me and I unfortunately found myself losing interest. However, this is a collection with such a wide variety of topics being discussed that this feels somewhat inevitable - there will almost certainly be parts that a particular reader finds most stimulating, followed by parts that don’t have the same impact for that reader.

This was my first experience reading Douglas Preston, and I am certainly more interested now to pick up more from him.

They say truth is stranger than fiction and that is certainly proved to be the case in this collection of stories. Some were familiar to me, some not but they were all fascinating in their own way. These stories are articles that the author has published through the years on the topics and I liked that he added an epilogue with any new information. There's something for everyone in this collection.

Mystery and true crime buffs will love this nonfiction collection. A search for buried treasure on Oak Island, the hunt for the Monster of Florence, the intrigue behind the origins of the Kennewick Man, and other tales abound. Every story is so fascinating and attention grabbing!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read to this book!

I enjoyed this one and I highly recommend. I binged read this in one day!

The narrator's voice didn't work for me on this one unfortunately. I was hoping for new stories so when I realized the first chapter was just retelling a previously published true crime novel I was disappointed. Sadly this one was a miss on all fronts.

Inside every child there’s a call for adventure. I remember trying to find Native American arrowheads during my childhood in Southern Illinois, a tie to a history I wasn’t familiar with but fascinated by. “The Lost Tomb” appeals to every person with that same search for stories of the past and for the hidden treasure that comes with it.

In this book, Preston reflects back on previously published articles, also sharing an update on where things stand as of today. The stories really run the gamut: from tales of treasure never found, to the trial and online vilification of Amanda Knox, to the discovery of Ramses II’s chambers in Egypt and the possibility of what’s to come.

I found the book to be fascinating and fun to listen to. If the title appeals to you like it did to me, give it a listen or a read.

Thanks to Hachette Audio, Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for this ALC!

This book and I didn’t get off to a great start, thanks to a real downer of an introduction and the fact that the first story included is the sort of serial killer nasty business that I don’t especially care for, but it got so, so much better after that.

This is a collection of some of Preston’s previously published columns (many from the New Yorker), and they make for a fascinating study of the intersection between anthropology and psychology.

Take separately, almost all of the stories included are exceptionally intriguing, but as a whole body of work they make for a powerful statement about the importance of interdisciplinary study and as a cautionary tale about those who would stilt scientific progress to suit their own ends.

I keep thinking about what a great book club book this would make, as almost every piece in the book makes for interesting debate fodder. And I’ve never read anything that explained the mania surrounding the Amanda Knox trial so well. In the end it’s the science, history, and sense of adventure that make the book so compulsively readable, but Preston also succeeds in making a larger (and more important point), which is an unusually cohesive feat for a book that showcases a collection of previously published material.

This was a collection of previously published magazine articles by Douglas Preston, so it spans many years in terms of when he wrote them. But I like that at the end, he would add an epilogue if there was additional information related to the case that has shown up since he first wrote and published the article.

The stories range from archeological stories (my favorites) to true crime (some I liked more than others) to conspiracy stories about mysterious deaths, buried treasure, etc. Besides being a journalist, he was also a writer and editor at the American Museum of Natural history and I loved how he talked about it being the inspiration for Relic and Reliquary. I also liked that he talked about how many funereal remains there are of mostly indigenous people not just at the American Museum of Natural History, but also at museums around the world, and the politics and ethics regarding their study.

Each story had unique elements and while I found some more interesting than others, I still found myself fascinated by some aspect of each one. After listening to this collection, I would love to read his Lost City of the Monkey God.

The narration was done by Will Collyer and I thought he did a solid job drawing you into the story. His voices were not always distinctive, but for the most part it worked. There was one feature of the audio that some might find distracting--the beginning and the end of each story has background music and there were a few times when I had to go back and relisten because the music made it hard for me to understand everything he said. So if I were to make one suggestion--it would be to leave the music out. It doesn't really add anything to the narration and can be a distraction.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Some pieces were more interesting than others but overall really enjoyed this! I think j would have enjoyed reading a physical copy a bit more but it probably would have taken me longer to get through.

‘The Lost Tomb and Other Real-Life Stories of Bones, Burials, and Murder’ written by Douglas Preston and narrated by Will Collyer is a Trish MacEnulty, is a collection of previously published articles written by Douglas Preston.

This collection of true stories about buried treasure, mass graves, bizarre crimes and other fascinating tales of the past and present previously published by Preston are intriguing. Altogether, there are 13 stories including but not limited to the Dyatlov Expedition where 9 Soviet hikers and skiers died in 1959, the numerous bones found in and near Roopkund Lake in the Himalayas in the 1940’s, and the harrowing story of the mass murderer in Italy dubbed “The Monster of Florence” commencing in the 1960s. Each story packs many details and historical information gathered and presented by Preston over the years.

I was personally surprised to read that Preston wrote articles for The New Yorker, Smithsonian, National Geographic, Natural History among others and continues to do so. His writing is exquisite and while I have only read a handful of his books in the past, I look forward to re-reading and reading some of his additional novels written by and with Lincoln Child, knowing that the novels are a spin on tangential research into unexplained mysteries and extensive research into various topics.

The audio is entertaining and an easy listen; though, the narrator is difficult to listen to for long spans of time. It was difficult to follow what was the original article and the additional commentary added to the context of the article.

Thank you #NetGalley and #HachetteAudio for the opportunity to listen to this early audio version in exchange for a review. All opinions and thoughts are those of my own. #TheLostTomb

Before I get into the content of this book, I want to start off by saying that the narrator, Will Collyer, was absolutely perfect for this book and deserves five stars for his performance.

This was my first introduction to Douglas Preston. Right out of the gate, I was hooked. The introduction was well-written and encapsulated the magic that many children feel when they first hear about history's mysteries: namely pirate treasure and exploring the unknown. As a child, everything is unknown, and while the magic fades for many, Douglas Preston has never lost it. His sense of wonderment is evident in every essay, written mostly in the 80s and 90s. Every chapter ends with an update on whatever topic the previous chapter featured.

Overall, I enjoyed how balanced the narrative was in his writing and the sensitivity he displayed with some pretty controversial topics. What particularly comes to mind s an essay, which features the topic of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), colloquially known as "The Bones Bill." Preston presented the perspective of archaeologists and museum curators. I found myself nodding in agreement to their stances. But then, he also discussed the position of the Native Americans trying to repatriate their ancestors to put them at rest. I found myself nodding in agreement to their stances as well. At the end of the essay, I did not feel as though Preston was trying to convince me of any particular side. In a world where everyone is trying to convince you of something, this was refreshing.

I have to admit: in some chapters, I struggled to pay attention to the details presented about some topics. This absolutely had to do with my lack of personal connection. It wasn't a failure of Preston, it was just preference.

That being said, I felt an interpersonal connection to many of these essays - the biggest of which is the article on Amanda Knox. I was an American study abroad student in the Fall Semester of 2007 in a little hill-top town in Italy called Perugia. In early November, I remember walking through the Piazza IV Novembre and seeing a massive picture of Meredith Kercher featured in the square. It was draped over the large steps that butted up to a duomo (church). The picture was surrounded by candles and people were hold vigil. From that moment, until I flew home in December, I had a front row seat to the beginning of the media spectacle. It was insane, a city divided. Tabloids and reputable magazines with damning titles and Amanda Knox's face were displayed everywhere. But I also remember one Italian street vendor apologizing to me saying, "I am so sorry about the American." Since 2007, I have devoured related articles and watched several documentaries about the trial. Douglas Preston’s sensitivity to the tragedy of Meredith Kercher’s murder was present, but his focus on the internet's involvement and human nature made this something much more profound. I won't spoil it for you, but it was his best work.

I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A collection of articles written by Douglas Preston spanning from the prehistoric ruins of the American Southwest to the horrors of modern day murders.

Some of these articles were written many years ago, so they required an update at the end. Each article addresses a different “mystery” from history. There was the drama of whether the Sandia cave was as authentic as claimed. An “unintentional” con involving arrowhead points. Ancient cannibals. An unsolved serial killer. The booby trapped Oak Island.
Each article delves into the history, the controversy, and, when it can, the solution to the mystery. It did make the articles where there is no definitive answer, such as the identity of the Monster of Florence, feel unsatisfying. I will say each section was informative, if a bit dry at times, but I still enjoyed it. Due to the articles being different, it did feel as though it jumped around quite a bit.

Listening to the audio version certainly made it easier to get through. The narrator did a wonderful job here. He had a soothing voice and a matter of fact way of speaking that suits nonfiction perfectly.

I would recommend this to true crime enthusiasts or readers with an interest in unsolved mysteries.

I hardly ever read the newspaper or listen to the news, but I was intrigued with this cover and title. Caught by the intriguing cover and title, 'The Lost Tomb' delivers 13 captivating nonfiction stories, from the Monster of Florence to Egyptian buried treasures. I really enjoyed each of the stories and I enjoyed hearing more from the author and updates that were given after the article concluded.

I was hooked with the narrator's voice, Will Collyer. His voice is smooth and just pulled you right along to each story. The variety of tones and inflections were spot on.

If you're into unsolved mysteries or a fan of National Geographic, this audiobook is a must-listen.

I have read this author before and have enjoyed him, so I had high hopes for this one, until I learned it was just articles from his writings over the years and then I was a little hesitant. Nonetheless, I dove in.

I need to be completely honest here - I did not love this. One story I had to skip completely because I have the book about it and I didn't want the "cliff notes" of an article [The Monster of Florence], one I only listened to half of because my eyes were completely glazing over from all the technobabble that was the complete article and I am afraid there were a couple that I listened to, but probably checked out a little whilst listening [and it was no fault of the narrator, but more on that later]. The story that really stayed with me was the one about Amanda Knox - that was one wild ride of a story and shows just how crazy the internet and the trolls and hidden bowels of it have gotten so out of control. The Lost Tomb was also a very good story and I enjoyed it very much. There were a couple others that I also enjoyed, but I don't remember the titles of them. Overall though, this was just an okay read for me. The meh parts absolutely outweighed the really good ones for me and to be honest, I am disappointed, though not sorry I read this. Even though I didn't care for most of it, the stories I did like made it worth it in the end.

I was able to request and receive the audiobook ARC for this and have now added the narrator, Will Collyer, to my favorite narrator list [he gives a 5-star narration]; he does an exceptional job with the material he is given and my issues with the book have nothing to do with his exceptional narration. The ones that I really enjoyed were made even more enjoyable because of really good narration - it makes such a difference. I would absolutely listen to him again!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Douglas Preston, Will Collyer - Narrator, Hachette Audio and Grand Central Publishing for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

Dear The Lost Tomb,
I somehow stumbled across you on bookstagram, and was so interested in the summary of the stories you covered. I am not usually really into nonfiction, but something about the mysteries inside your covers had me intrigued. I loved listening to you. Preston's story telling is interesting and detail oriented without being too much like a textbook or lecture. Each story held my interest, but I loved the murder mysteries and the hidden treasure on Oak Island. I enjoyed you so much that I actually picked up one of Preston and Child's books to see if I enjoy his fiction as much as his nonfiction.

The only stories in this book that were familiar to me were the Dyatlov Pass incident and Oak Island (even then, I really don't know much, not following the TV show). I also don't follow Douglas Preston's fiction. I found this collection to be endlessly fascinating. The oldest story dated back to the late 1980s but was still relevant today. It's one of those collections that has a little something for a variety of people. For my brother, the archaeologist, I especially recommend The Clovis Point Con. For my partner, endlessly fascinated by Zodiac, I introduced him to The Monster of Florence. For me, the authentic Egyptian curse from The Lost Tomb is worth the purchase price alone. ("As for the one who will violate it, he shall be seized for Amun-Ra. . . ." I've been using that a lot ever since I heard it!) Speaking of using the curse, I would like to publicly disagree with Mendel Peterson. You may be former chair of the Department of Armed Forces History at the Smithsonian's Museum of American History, but you obviously have no respect for what a pirate is capable of, especially when pushed! I would like to thank Hachette Audio/Grand Central Publishing for allowing me to experience this NetGalley audiobook.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced ARC

I asked for this book because I love history and learning/knowing about our past & how far we have come etc, I have always believed the saying - to learn about our future we need to know our past.

By doing research on the author I released that he was a journalist who had wrote about these in a magazine & brought all the stories together in this book, where you have 13 stories/true events that I found entertaining and fascinating to listen to. One of my favourites to listen to was The Monster Of Florence (but I have always loved true crime information and documentaries) .

I feel that buy reading this my knowledge has increased and I want to learn more about some of the events mentioned as well as other things in history, I loved the read and was always excited what was going to be talked about next and f0r me this is a 4.5 read 📚 I plan to read more books by this author.

The stories shared where we'll written and also easy to listen to where u don't feel like your in over your head with writting to complicated, so if anyone likes history and true events shared I suggest this book

Fantastic narrator, great stories. Love the additions Preston gives at the end of each article. Fascinating stories and some I was even familiar with!

The Lost Tomb is a collection of previously published nonfiction articles by Douglas Preston, half of the Preston & Child writing duo. Most of the articles deal with archeological mysteries, curiosities, and the controversial figures that make the stories so compelling.

So this book should be right up my alley: historical oddities! Scholarly shenanigans! Unhinged treasure hunters! But alas, I don’t think I could have been satiated unless the book was 3000 pages longer and each mystery came with a linked video of updates. I mean, it comes with updates, but I needed morrreee.

I was familiar with many of the mysteries, but some were new to me, which is definitely a selling feature. Oak Island, the Monster of Florence, and the Tomb of Ramses are well trod topics, but still fascinating with an in-depth researcher at the helm. It was also interesting to see how perspectives change over time-like the return of Indigenous bodies from museums such as the Smithsonian is seen as almost unreasonable in the article. However, today it seems just simply respectful to the tribes and descendants of the people who are boxed up in museum storerooms.

Anyway, definitely a cool book, but I would have liked more in-depth updates to the original articles.

I received a free audiobook copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Douglas Preston for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC audiobook for The Lost Tomb coming out December 5, 2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was a fun book! I really enjoy historical nonfiction. The narrator was enthusiastic and seemed to really know the book. I love ancient Egypt and other archaeological discoveries and artifacts. It covered a variety of topics. I thought it was non-biased and had a lot of good information. I learned a lot. I definitely want to check out some of the movies that were mentioned.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys archaeological discoveries!