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melbsreads's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars. Meh. I've enjoyed the Agent Pendergast books in the past, but this just felt choppy and all over the place. In the first couple of pages, Pendergast is reunited with his wife, who he'd thought for 20-odd years was dead. A few pages later, she's shot dead for real. This sends him - understandably - into a spiral of grief and self-destructive behaviour and suicidal tendencies. Blah blah blah, he finds out that his wife had a big secret and ends up hunting Nazis in the Amazon.
Meanwhile, back in the US, Dr. Felder trying to track down a sample of Constance's hair to prove that she was born in the 1870s, and Corrie is trying to help her long-estranged father who's been framed for bank robbery. None of the stories fitted together in any way, and it felt like the characters that we know of old, like D'gosta, were shoehorned into the story for the fans rather than serving any actual purpose.
It wasn't BAD, it just wasn't particularly good. And it definitely wasn't compelling reading. I read an average of between 200 and 300 pages a day, and it took me a week to finish this because I just didn't care.
Meanwhile, back in the US, Dr. Felder trying to track down a sample of Constance's hair to prove that she was born in the 1870s, and Corrie is trying to help her long-estranged father who's been framed for bank robbery. None of the stories fitted together in any way, and it felt like the characters that we know of old, like D'gosta, were shoehorned into the story for the fans rather than serving any actual purpose.
It wasn't BAD, it just wasn't particularly good. And it definitely wasn't compelling reading. I read an average of between 200 and 300 pages a day, and it took me a week to finish this because I just didn't care.
mylhibug's review against another edition
4.0
I am very glad that it really isn't necessary to read these in order but I will say that I think this was the best Pendergast novel that I have read. What does that mean exactly? Not sure, other than I was enthralled by this book more than any of the previous ones I have read and that I had a real hard time putting it down. There were moments where certain characters were mentioned and I had to remember where they were in my mind, some dead, some alive, you know how it goes. Anyway, I found Two Graves to be the best one I have read yet in this series, I think I've read four or five. Reading this one makes me want to go and read them in order but I'm impatient and can only go where my library allows me to go.
Happy Reading!
Happy Reading!
mollyjane99's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
A weird slow point in an otherwise good series. Too much charcter background, not enough thriller plot. That isn't to say it wasn't a good read, but it was a definite least favorite among titles in the same series.
luxlunae47's review against another edition
2.0
I've loved their books ever since I first read Relic but this one was terrible. There were two completely unrelated side plots that only served to stuff in extra action scenes. I have always thought of the appeal of the Preston&Child pairing to be interesting ideas + tight action but the final reveal idea on this one was just not that interesting (especially compared to say, fever dream or cabinet of curiosities) and the action was largely pointless and unrelated to the story line at all.
Corrie Swanson has to flee NYC and gets embroiled in a sleazy car sales scam that set up her father. If you read this you might keep reading her chapters wondering how they fit in but they never do. Someone else said that her parts of the book felt like a set up for turning her into a full fledged partner for Pendergast in the future (which would fail, like the rest of their female characters (except Constance) she lacks anything especially interesting about her) but I also wonder whether they might try to pair her with their Gideon series which is not doing as well popularity wise as Pendergast.
Very disappointed and wondering if they've run out of the cool ideas that made this series great.
Corrie Swanson has to flee NYC and gets embroiled in a sleazy car sales scam that set up her father. If you read this you might keep reading her chapters wondering how they fit in but they never do. Someone else said that her parts of the book felt like a set up for turning her into a full fledged partner for Pendergast in the future (which would fail, like the rest of their female characters (except Constance) she lacks anything especially interesting about her) but I also wonder whether they might try to pair her with their Gideon series which is not doing as well popularity wise as Pendergast.
Very disappointed and wondering if they've run out of the cool ideas that made this series great.
mywindowsache's review against another edition
3.0
3.5...this was one of the more ridiculous Pendergast books. It was entertaining, but the revelations and events were ludicrous. It felt like the authors had run out of ideas. White Fire had better be better.
amalyndb's review against another edition
4.0
Content note: unethical medical experimentation, mental illness, Nazis
Conceptually, intense and harrowing. In continuation of Cold Vengeance, Pendergast has fallen into a deep depression after the death of his wife at the hands of a secret Nazi group. He is spurred back to interactivity after a series of brutal murder dissections are carried out at hotels around New York City.
Conceptually, intense and harrowing. In continuation of Cold Vengeance, Pendergast has fallen into a deep depression after the death of his wife at the hands of a secret Nazi group. He is spurred back to interactivity after a series of brutal murder dissections are carried out at hotels around New York City.
wynterfairy's review against another edition
4.0
I continue to enjoy this series a lot. They are a bit outrageous, but great reads.
I took away a star because the Tristram/Alban story, popping up out of nowhere, was way to daytime soap for me.
I took away a star because the Tristram/Alban story, popping up out of nowhere, was way to daytime soap for me.
akirathelemur's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. Nazis in Brazil? That's what we get?
Also, having two entirely unrelated storylines is just sloppy.
Also, having two entirely unrelated storylines is just sloppy.
ripxreads's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse and Grief
kueltzo's review against another edition
2.0
I have been a fan of the Pendergast books for some years, but I have to say I did not enjoy this book. The personal storyline that has been followed the last three novels has been tied up here, but in a very unsatisfying manner. One of the truly enjoyable qualities about this series has been observing how Pendergast both observes and is observed, and how he interacts with those people in his life. In this novel, the supporting characters are stripped out, leaving a man who acts completely out of character.
If the authors intended to show a devolution and disintegration of a strong and complex personality as it undergoes personal trauma, then they succeeded. Unfortunately, it wasn't enjoyable to read.