Douglas Preston has more than made a name for himself in the world of fiction, both solo and with writing partner Lincoln Child. His novels are incredibly well-researched, full of intriguing science paired with speculation, and a heck of a lot of fun to read.

However, I am sure there are still quite a few readers of his who are completely unaware that he got his start writing nonfiction. For them, THE LOST TOMB could not have come along at a better time. It collects a wide array of Preston’s journalistic efforts that have seen him span the entire globe in search of answers to archaeological mysteries and a deep exploration of the crimes that some evil people have been driven to commit.

There are so many great articles here that it is difficult to select a favorite. Instead, I will cover six that stood out to me and that I am confident like-minded readers will love.

“A Buried Treasure”
Peter “Petey” Anderson was Preston’s best friend growing up in Wellesley, MA. They had many similar loves and desires, like exploration and the search for lost treasure. This piece takes a surprising turn when it morphs into an investigation into Petey’s murder. Even Preston did not want to face the accusations leveled against his old buddy but eventually must come to terms with it.

"Preston dedicates THE LOST TOMB to Otto Penzler...mainly for his suggestion that he put together a collection like this. I am so glad Penzler put that little bird in Preston’s ear because this is a book worth savoring."

“The Monster of Florence”
This is the piece that inspired the book that Preston wrote with journalist Mario Spezi. The Monster of Florence was a serial killer who came to prominence at a time when Preston and his wife were living in Italy. After hearing about the heinous crimes terrorizing Florence, the investigative journalist in Preston came alive, and he eventually teamed up with Spezi to see what they could turn up. Little did they know that the high level of corruption in the Italian government and police department would work against them, even to the point of detaining Spezi and accusing him and Preston of being the Monster. I was pleased to see Preston reveal that in 2024 we finally will get a TV series adaptation with Antonio Banderas playing Spezi.

“The Skiers at Dead Mountain”
This piece inspired Preston & Child’s DEAD MOUNTAIN from earlier this year. In their novel, they choose speculative fiction to create a solution for this real story that remains unsolved --- at least as far as the Russian government will reveal. A group of skiers, friends with many different skill sets who enjoyed wilderness exploration, ripped out of their tent one night for seemingly no good reason. They fled completely barefoot without any weapons or food and headed in the direction of the nearby forest. None of them survived. Preston’s article, with all the possible solutions to this baffling mystery, is the stuff of pure nightmares.

“The Mystery of Oak Island”
Over the years, I have attempted to watch episodes of the long-running Travel Channel series “The Curse of Oak Island” as I typically enjoy these types of shows. However, I got extremely frustrated by the anticlimactic nature of each episode and the lack of any treasure ever being found. If I had read this article first, I might have had different expectations about the program. Oak Island has had a legendary run as a potential site for buried pirates’ treasure from some of the biggest names in buccaneer history. When Preston decides to go there to see for himself, he gets firsthand exposure to the pitfalls that have kept anyone from successfully turning up any treasure in the centuries since it was allegedly buried there. He goes on to report that, to this day, nothing has ever been found.

“Trial By Fury”
If you are not aware of the criminal case against college student Amanda Knox in 2007, you probably have been living under a rock. She and her Italian boyfriend were put on trial for the murder of a young lady in a case that allegedly involved torture and sexual sadism. It ultimately turned out to be another example of Italian legal corruption. This article focuses on the social media trolling that convicted the surprisingly unpopular Knox without ever hearing any evidence. The court of public opinion is on full display in this exposé.

“The Lost Tomb”
The final piece is one that is very personal to Preston. He is like a little boy with his desire to visit the pyramids and be part of a discovery that reveals ancient burial tombs and other previously undiscovered treasure. Following in the footsteps of Kent R. Weeks, who has dedicated years to this exploration, Preston gets his opportunity to piggyback on the shoulders of archaeological giants. The treasure involves the alleged great tombs located in Egypt's Valley of the Kings. It is a thing of wonder to see Weeks’ Theban Mapping Project, 12 years in the making, and the seemingly endless underground tombs that they have excavated. Preston agrees that this area probably will require decades of further exploration to fully realize the mysteries that lie there.

Preston dedicates THE LOST TOMB to Otto Penzler, the president of Penzler Publishers and the proprietor of The Mysterious Bookshop in New York City, mainly for his suggestion that he put together a collection like this. I am so glad Penzler put that little bird in Preston’s ear because this is a book worth savoring.