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beckmank's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyable read, but if you've never read any Pendergast novels, don't start with this book. Preston and Child write the books in trilogy formats, this is the third in the Helen trilogy. A good ending to the trilogy. Had a few twists I didn't see coming. Not as good as the earlier museum murders trilogy (I think that's the Relic trilogy, but I'd have to look back and refresh my memory). Is it just me, or does anyone else picture Val Kilmer from Tombstone (Doc Holiday) when you are reading about Special Agent Pendergast?
The only thing I didn't like was the Connie storyline. Felt out of place with the rest of the book. Glad to have wrapped up some of the Constance mystery. I need to read Cabinet of Curiousities for more on that I think...
The only thing I didn't like was the Connie storyline. Felt out of place with the rest of the book. Glad to have wrapped up some of the Constance mystery. I need to read Cabinet of Curiousities for more on that I think...
lisabage's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An accidental #foodandlit #brazil read. I didn’t realize when I started that there would be a war with modern day Nazis in the middle of the Brazilian forests. I’m a big Pendergast fan, although I always find the middles exasperatingly muddy. But lots of good action and intricate plotting. Always a fun read. The narrator was good on this too, a bit of an English accent which fits the character so well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Blood
marinaluna's review against another edition
3.0
I have to admit that I had some problems with this book. First of all, I am a huge fan of the Pendergast series and have read every book a couple of times.
This book, as the conclusion of the Helen trilogy, had to fulfill some very high expectations and in part, it did. The Helen arc was completed, we get to know about her background and reasons and also learn some shocking details that rock our beloved Agent's world.
But what I found rather difficult was that we had several plotlines at the same time...Pendergast and his way after the Helen disaster, D'Agosta is dealing with a serial killer, Constance and Dr. Felder deal with the fall out from Diogenes and Corrie meets her father and solves a crime in one go.
The book only has 480 pages and to me it felt that the D'Agosta and Corrie plotlines were sideswepped. At times it felt like they needed a diversion from the main plot so let us throw in some Corrie. It just felt out of place because it had absolutely NOTHING to do with Pendergast. Once Pendergast decides to deal with the serial killer Vincent is completely out of the picture and only shows up at the end again for a very brief chapter.
Also, another thing that bugs me is that this time Pendergast felt more like a mixture between John McClane and James Bond, all that was missing was the martini and the yippikayee you-know-what.
For me it was a rather disappointing read, too much changed too fast and too little attention paid to the side storylines, but as the final of the trilogy it does wrap things up (might have made this into a four or five part story arc easily) and of course there is always room for a future book in there that can pick the strands of this book up.
A solid Pendergast book, but I have come to expect more from them. Therefor, alas, only 3 out of 5 stars :/
This book, as the conclusion of the Helen trilogy, had to fulfill some very high expectations and in part, it did. The Helen arc was completed, we get to know about her background and reasons and also learn some shocking details that rock our beloved Agent's world.
But what I found rather difficult was that we had several plotlines at the same time...Pendergast and his way after the Helen disaster, D'Agosta is dealing with a serial killer, Constance and Dr. Felder deal with the fall out from Diogenes and Corrie meets her father and solves a crime in one go.
The book only has 480 pages and to me it felt that the D'Agosta and Corrie plotlines were sideswepped. At times it felt like they needed a diversion from the main plot so let us throw in some Corrie. It just felt out of place because it had absolutely NOTHING to do with Pendergast. Once Pendergast decides to deal with the serial killer Vincent is completely out of the picture and only shows up at the end again for a very brief chapter.
Also, another thing that bugs me is that this time Pendergast felt more like a mixture between John McClane and James Bond, all that was missing was the martini and the yippikayee you-know-what.
For me it was a rather disappointing read, too much changed too fast and too little attention paid to the side storylines, but as the final of the trilogy it does wrap things up (might have made this into a four or five part story arc easily) and of course there is always room for a future book in there that can pick the strands of this book up.
A solid Pendergast book, but I have come to expect more from them. Therefor, alas, only 3 out of 5 stars :/
cyireadbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! That's about the gist of it without giving away any spoilers. Lots of surprises, twists, and turns. The only thing is that you absolutely have to start from the first book of the series to truly appreciate the story line.
denebgroot's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kartiknarayanan's review against another edition
3.0
Two Graves is a damp squib of a finale to the 'Helen' trilogy. For a trilogy that started off well, it ends up being another Nazi fest with a massive deux ex machina at the climax. There is too little detection and too many slug fests.
I am also starting to dislike Pendergast as a character. In the beginning of the series, his eccentricities were fun but at the core he appeared to be a decent guy. This book brings out the worst in him and he goes out of his way to piss people off. Unfortunately, barring what he does at the moment, there is no real growth as a a character. Has he learnt something? Is there a moment of self-awareness? Nope.
Again, another so-so entry in the Pendergast series.
I am also starting to dislike Pendergast as a character. In the beginning of the series, his eccentricities were fun but at the core he appeared to be a decent guy. This book brings out the worst in him and he goes out of his way to piss people off. Unfortunately, barring what he does at the moment, there is no real growth as a a character. Has he learnt something? Is there a moment of self-awareness? Nope.
Again, another so-so entry in the Pendergast series.
fbone's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this title much more than their previous installment Cold Vengeance . The authors cleared up the loose ends of the two earlier "Helen" books and everything was wrapped neatly by the last page. But not to worry P&C left us an "out" for their next endeavor. The last half of the book was an exciting page turner, however, this book was more blood thirsty than earlier ones. High body count and violence.
I did think the beginning was a little too James Bond-ish and implausible. Everything too convenient and nobody needed to rest ... limitless energy. Typical action-adventure I suppose.
I did think the beginning was a little too James Bond-ish and implausible. Everything too convenient and nobody needed to rest ... limitless energy. Typical action-adventure I suppose.
skinnypenguin's review against another edition
4.0
A complex thriller that picks up where the last book left off. Pendergast meets up with his long missing wife whom he had thought was dead only to lose her again. He goes into a deep depression coming very close to suicide but then is brought back from the brink by an intriguing series of murders. He then realizes the murders are being committed by a son he did not know he had. This leads him on a trail of discovery trying to figure out how he has a son and where he has gone.
Meanwhile Corey has helped him get some material on some Nazis and she goes to stay with her father to keep out of the way. She ends up getting involved in her father's problem and reuniting with him and learning some things about her past.
Vinny has his own problems. He is involved with the murders committed by Pendergast's son and it causes him problems with his supervisor. He also is trying to get up the courage to asked his girlfriend to marry him.
Other side stories include the psychiatrist trying to help Constance and the troubles he gets into. Their are lots of side stories and intertwining stories. Lots of people to keep straight. Interesting endings for some. Can see how things are being set up for future books.
Meanwhile Corey has helped him get some material on some Nazis and she goes to stay with her father to keep out of the way. She ends up getting involved in her father's problem and reuniting with him and learning some things about her past.
Vinny has his own problems. He is involved with the murders committed by Pendergast's son and it causes him problems with his supervisor. He also is trying to get up the courage to asked his girlfriend to marry him.
Other side stories include the psychiatrist trying to help Constance and the troubles he gets into. Their are lots of side stories and intertwining stories. Lots of people to keep straight. Interesting endings for some. Can see how things are being set up for future books.
terminatee's review against another edition
4.0
The Pendergast books known as "The Helen Trilogy" -- named for Pendergast's wife -- are much easier to understand if they're read in the right order! The first book is Fever Dream. I was well into Two Graves, the third book, wondering how in the world (and when) would my questions about the plot be answered, when I discovered I had inadvertently skipped Cold Vengeance. So I kicked myself, put Two Graves on hold, and went back to read Cold Vengeance. With some relief I was able to recover some continuity among the books. The three books definitely need to be read together, and in order, to get the full story.
I enjoyed Two Graves but I question the need to include the subplots regarding Constance and Dr. Felder, on one hand, and Corrie Swanson and her father, on the other hand. Neither of these actually qualify as subplots, as they are not integral to the rest of the story. Either could've been published separately as short stories without diminishing the main thrust of this novel.
I enjoyed Two Graves but I question the need to include the subplots regarding Constance and Dr. Felder, on one hand, and Corrie Swanson and her father, on the other hand. Neither of these actually qualify as subplots, as they are not integral to the rest of the story. Either could've been published separately as short stories without diminishing the main thrust of this novel.