Dr. Jeremy Logan returns in Lincoln Child’s latest solo novel, THE FORGOTTEN ROOM. Child again combines elements of scientific technology and the supernatural into a completely entertaining thriller with a pleasing, almost old school ambiance.
 
Logan, a university history professor with a particular interest in enigmas first introduced in Child’s THE THIRD GATE, is still a professor but now a renowned “enigmalogist” whose knowledge and skills are in demand around the world. One day he receives an urgent summons from the Lux, one of America’s oldest and most respected think tanks located in a huge, renovated mansion on the coast of Rhode Island.

One of the Lux’s most distinguished doctors recently committed suicide in a most bizarre and uncharacteristic manner. Logan is asked to look into the circumstances of the death and the evidence left behind on the doctor’s latest project. The Lux administrators fear something more sinister is occurring within the walls of their mansion.
 
During his investigation Logan discovers a walled up, hidden room filled with strange equipment and seemingly left untouched for decades. But as his inquiries continue Logan finds that the forgotten room was the location of the dead doctor’s secret research and experiments – experiments that may have unleashed a dangerous, malignant power that drove the doctor to his death and threatens the lives of the other Lux residents.
 
Child’s prose is energetic and straightforward, pausing the narrative only to admire the majestic costal Rhode Island scenery or the classical architectural design and odd interior decorations of the Lux mansion.  
 
But all is not as it appears, as Child skillfully juxtaposes the supernatural and the scientific throughout the plot; continually keeping the reader guessing which is the dominant source of what threatens Logan and the other characters.
 
Interspersed with this are moments of character depth and introspection on Logan’s part. These occur when he remembers his previous, unpleasant association with the think tank, or when he recalls the memory of his recently departed wife who he still converses with in his most private thoughts.
 
The premise and location – a mysterious death and a seemingly supernatural haunting in a huge but lonely mansion by the sea – as well as the central character who is well educated but never shies from taking dangerous action, add up to a pleasantly old fashioned but ultimately modern mystery-thriller.
 
The novel’s sole disappointment, however, is when an incidental character suddenly becomes the source of essential information to the mysterious goings-in. It stands in sharp contrast to the otherwise effective narrative structure. Not only does this sudden well-spring come out of the blue, but the exposition goes on too long and is overloaded with difficult jargon.
 
Luckily this is a small price to pay for all the wonderful mystery and suspense preceding.
 
Child again proves himself a worthy thriller fiction author whose unaccompanied works easily stands up with the numerous popular works he has co-authored with Douglas Preston. —Alan Cranis/i>

Get it at Amazon.