Take a photo of a barcode or cover
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Still Life with Crows is the 4th in the Pendergast series, following FBI Special Agent Pendergast as he investigates eerie and almost supernatural-like crimes.
Cabinet of Curiosities was my introduction to this series of novels and it was my favorite so far. I read Relic and Reliquary last year and enjoyed those as well. Still Life of with Crows does follow the usual structure that the first three books had but with a twist regarding its main villain that I found both surprising and, honestly, what-the-fuck.
Unlike the first three books where there were human villains whose greed, lust for power, and other faults produced supernatural-like monsters with elaborate back stories, Still Life with Crows presents us with very elaborate crime scenes seemingly with a deeper cult-like meaning but eventually finding out that it was just... child's play, literally, but in a very grotesque way. The monster isn't out for revenge or for power, it was just... curious. Which was very interesting and a (and this is very weird saying it) breath of fresh air as it's like a "it's not that deep, bro" kind of moment.
The first few chapters were a bore though. Things started getting interesting for me once Corrie Swanson started working with Pendergast. While Pendergast is presented as an interesting character, I have to say, he seems a bit boring to follow without a more interesting woman next to him in the story (Nora Kelly and Margo Green in the first few books).
Cabinet of Curiosities was my introduction to this series of novels and it was my favorite so far. I read Relic and Reliquary last year and enjoyed those as well. Still Life of with Crows does follow the usual structure that the first three books had but with a twist regarding its main villain that I found both surprising and, honestly, what-the-fuck.
The first few chapters were a bore though. Things started getting interesting for me once Corrie Swanson started working with Pendergast. While Pendergast is presented as an interesting character, I have to say, he seems a bit boring to follow without a more interesting woman next to him in the story (Nora Kelly and Margo Green in the first few books).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A gripping story, this book was so hard to put down! The story is set in Kansas, in the small town of Medicine Creek, surrounded by corn fields as far as the eye can see. A ritualistic killing attracts the attention of our main character, FBI agent Pendergast. Pendergast is an intriguing character with eccentric manners and secrets of his own, and each Pendergast book reveals a little bit more of his backstory.
The killings won’t stop there, each one more gruesome than the next. The down has a dark past, and Pendergast sets out to find out if the murders have something to do with what happened back then. There’s not a dull moment in this book, and the excitement grows and grows until it’s almost impossible to stop reading! And the atmosphere of the town surrounded by corn fields is almost claustrophobic.
All in all, very entertaining and enjoyable. I recommend these thrillers to people who enjoy a dash of the supernatural with their books.
The killings won’t stop there, each one more gruesome than the next. The down has a dark past, and Pendergast sets out to find out if the murders have something to do with what happened back then. There’s not a dull moment in this book, and the excitement grows and grows until it’s almost impossible to stop reading! And the atmosphere of the town surrounded by corn fields is almost claustrophobic.
All in all, very entertaining and enjoyable. I recommend these thrillers to people who enjoy a dash of the supernatural with their books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Colonisation
Minor: Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Abandonment
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Excrement, Abandonment, Colonisation
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Murder
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Death, Gore, Cannibalism, Murder
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Alcoholism