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Fans of Indiana Jones and Lara Croft will thoroughly
enjoy Douglas Preston’s novel The Codex. Maxwell Broadbent accumulated his
massive wealth from raiding ancient archeological sites and tombs. Now 40 years later, he
is dying of cancer and has decided to be buried with his treasure.
His
three sons are shocked when they arrive at their father’s New Mexico estate to find
their dad and all of his artwork missing. After calling the local authorities to report
the burglary and possible murder, a video tape is discovered in the
library.
The tape features Broadbent disclosing his funeral plans. He also
tells his offspring that if they can find his tomb that they can lay claim to their
inheritance. He also stipulates that they must work together.
When the
sons cannot agree on how to proceed, they all go in separate directions, and it becomes a
race against time to find what they consider to be rightfully theirs. The story takes all
of them into the untamed jungles of Honduras, and they all discover the truths of their
father’s past.
The title of the book refers to the main catalyst of the
story. The Codex is an ancient Mayan book offering a catalog of all the herbs and plants
that the Mayan people used for medicinal purposes.
It is a priceless
treasure that pharmaceutical companies would pay a fortune for. It is that prestige and
greed that motivates some of the shadier characters in the novel, but there is also the
scientist Sally Colorado who wants to bring the Codex home for the goodwill of the
planet.
Anyone who has been in an equatorial country like Honduras will
certainly appreciate the vivid descriptions and well-researched terrain that Preston
writes about. The characters are equally rich in their multi-textured layers. Fans of the
collaborative work of Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston will enjoy a smile during the
scene that Preston drops the name of Child’s solo novel Utopia, which is another
great novel for a different review.
The Codex is a fast and
extremely enjoyable read. It makes for a great summertime and/or free time read, and the
ending is very satisfying.
