dsheffield206's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
bookrunner's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
afisher121's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
jwels's review against another edition
5.0
Now that is how a middle book should be!! The story moves forward, there is still intrigue & you enjoy every. Page. Can't wait until I get through the next book and see how it all comes together!
rwarner's review against another edition
4.0
Action/thriller that keeps you hooked. Pendergast is an odd duck, and as with most action heroes, stretches the bounds of credibility into becoming a superhero at times. Still, the action is good, the mystery is engaging, and his fans won't be disappointed. It sets up the next book nicely, as well. People who haven't read any Pendergast probably shouldn't start here, as its references to past exploits might be frustrating without knowing what those are.
organchordsandlightning's review against another edition
3.0
I wished I liked this book more. I love the Pendergast series, I really do. I love how he manages to somehow get shot and be perfectly alright twenty pages later. I love the rapid twists and turns. I love the outlandish plots. But I feel like, at its core, there isn't really a big heart to this book that we've come to enjoy.
Vincent flies across the ocean to make sure Pendergast is okay and immediately almost dies in a bog.
Constance gets fooled by a 2nd Pendergast relative because she is 'Pendergast's bitch' (which, like, also she got impregnated by the first Pendergast relative, so maybe better? Maybe?)
Connie is here for some reason. She discovers there are Nazis and that is it.
There's a reporter named Betterton who is exactly like Smithback except he's had his personality surgically removed.
Laura has reverted to her 'Pendergast is the nastiest skank bitch I have ever met. Do not trust her.' phase, which is excruciating because we spent half the last book seeing them actively work together.
We are introduced to our second set of secret twins, except this one died because she looked like her sister but we should feel less sympathy for her because she was 'profoundly mentally retarded' (in a move that feels extraordinarily insensitive for a novel published in 2011).
And, most importantly of all, Pendergast. Pendergast, who is petty, distant, and bordering on cruel, who has none of the shine we saw in earlier cases where he actively wanted to be there. All to save a woman that we, as the audience, have never met before and have every reason to believe that didn't actually love Pendergast at all. I can understand why Pendergast is acting the way he's acting, but it doesn't feel worth it for the audience at all.
Vincent flies across the ocean to make sure Pendergast is okay and immediately almost dies in a bog.
Constance gets fooled by a 2nd Pendergast relative because she is 'Pendergast's bitch' (which, like, also she got impregnated by the first Pendergast relative, so maybe better? Maybe?)
Connie is here for some reason. She discovers there are Nazis and that is it.
There's a reporter named Betterton who is exactly like Smithback except he's had his personality surgically removed.
Laura has reverted to her 'Pendergast is the nastiest skank bitch I have ever met. Do not trust her.' phase, which is excruciating because we spent half the last book seeing them actively work together.
We are introduced to our second set of secret twins, except this one died because she looked like her sister but we should feel less sympathy for her because she was 'profoundly mentally retarded' (in a move that feels extraordinarily insensitive for a novel published in 2011).
And, most importantly of all, Pendergast. Pendergast, who is petty, distant, and bordering on cruel, who has none of the shine we saw in earlier cases where he actively wanted to be there. All to save a woman that we, as the audience, have never met before and have every reason to believe that didn't actually love Pendergast at all. I can understand why Pendergast is acting the way he's acting, but it doesn't feel worth it for the audience at all.
lisaeirene's review against another edition
1.0
I really like these authors but this book was all over the place.
csdaley's review against another edition
3.0
While a major improvement over the last book I am still less than thrilled with the Helen trilogy. It seems to have forgotten everything about the series I loved. It has turned Pendergast into a bumbling fool. I know the next book is the last of the set. I really hope they figure this out or I am going to have to stop reading one of my favorite series.
monte_cristo's review
3.0
I suppose, for this installment of the Pendergast series, it's difficult to give anything more than 3 stars, as the story itself continues into the next book, and it's a continuation from the previous one.
Of course it's still captivating, the writing is good and easy to read, but that's all.
Of this won't stop me from reading the next book of the series
Of course it's still captivating, the writing is good and easy to read, but that's all.
Of this won't stop me from reading the next book of the series
ljjohnson8's review against another edition
2.0
What have they done to Pendergast?!? I'm not liking this stereotypical action stud the authors are turning him into. Where are the strange mysteries, haunted hallways of museums, Pendergast's both cerebral and mystical take on the world? And that this particular storyline - Pendergast investigating his wife's accidental death/murder/disappearance from 12 years prior - is going to take three books is just ridiculous! I'm tired of novels just stopping, with no ending at all. This wasn't that long of a book; this easily could have been brought to a real conclusion. And this certainly isn't a compelling enough story to warrant three novels, probably 1100 pages total, and a wait of a year or more for book #3! They brought back Corrie, a beloved character from the miles superior Still Life with Crows, and gave her almost nothing to do. Enough's enough, guys. Get this silly Nazi conspiracy story out of your system, stop having Pendergast act like he's in a Bourne movie, and go back to the much richer, interesting and unique stories you used to write.