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momacpac22's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
bishop's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
cathepsut's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
On a construction site in Manhattan workers find a vault with thirty-six dismembered bodies, interred there over 100 years ago. Pendergast shows up to investigate. And we don’t have to wait long for a copy-cat killer.
Pendergast is a pretty over the top character. The authors’ weirder version of Sherlock Holmes? I find it hard to emphasize and to take him seriously. I haven‘t managed to connect to him yet. Smithback I mostly disliked (again). The only relatable character is Nora Kelly.
I struggled with the plot. As a supposedly fast moving thriller about a serial killer this fell flat and dragged at times. The Enoch Leng storyline was just odd. Somewhat supernatural, with a dash of horror and the grotesque. And some curious omissions, despite the otherwise narrative overabundance.
The book in general was just too long. This really did not need over 600 pages. Relic was almost 200 pages shorter. That could have helped tightening this one here as well. As it was, I started skimming in the second half of the book. There was just so much detail that I didn‘t need or want and that slowed me down and even bored me.
Custer and his chapters in the second part of the book were ridiculous and superfluous. Why even bother to add those parts of the investigation? They didn‘t serve any purpose.
And the ending of our bad guy came out of the blue and lacked a proper closure. It was weird, gross and a lame way of getting Pendergast out of this particular pickle.
On the plus side, Pendergast’s “memory crossing” was oddly compelling. A kind of memory palace technique, but with moving pictures. More like lucid dreaming. That part was interesting.
Despite my abundant complaining I just made myself a list of the Pendergast/Nora Kelly books. I am pretty sure I will (re-)read more of them. Probably not in order, but as my library and KU have them available.
Pendergast is a pretty over the top character. The authors’ weirder version of Sherlock Holmes? I find it hard to emphasize and to take him seriously. I haven‘t managed to connect to him yet. Smithback I mostly disliked (again). The only relatable character is Nora Kelly.
I struggled with the plot. As a supposedly fast moving thriller about a serial killer this fell flat and dragged at times. The Enoch Leng storyline was just odd. Somewhat supernatural, with a dash of horror and the grotesque. And some curious omissions, despite the otherwise narrative overabundance.
The book in general was just too long. This really did not need over 600 pages. Relic was almost 200 pages shorter. That could have helped tightening this one here as well. As it was, I started skimming in the second half of the book. There was just so much detail that I didn‘t need or want and that slowed me down and even bored me.
Custer and his chapters in the second part of the book were ridiculous and superfluous. Why even bother to add those parts of the investigation? They didn‘t serve any purpose.
And the ending of our bad guy came out of the blue and lacked a proper closure. It was weird, gross and a lame way of getting Pendergast out of this particular pickle.
On the plus side, Pendergast’s “memory crossing” was oddly compelling. A kind of memory palace technique, but with moving pictures. More like lucid dreaming. That part was interesting.
Despite my abundant complaining I just made myself a list of the Pendergast/Nora Kelly books. I am pretty sure I will (re-)read more of them. Probably not in order, but as my library and KU have them available.
carisa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ocdbear's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
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? No
3.0
thebooklady_nj's review against another edition
5.0
I just love the Special Agent Pendergast series. This was a reread for me, but it was a real treat. If you like a twisty mystery with a touch of the supernatural / fantastical, this might be a great series for you to check out.
hauntedjen's review against another edition
5.0
The plot thickens in this third installment of the Pendergast series. The line between reality and fantasy blurs as we take a look into special agent Pendergast's family tree. Great read! Dark, scary and full of vocabulary words you haven't seen since you studied for the SAT's.
paranoidmarvin's review against another edition
3.0
Technically this is the entry when the series really becomes Pendargast's series. But compared to the first two, this was way too slow. The story had its moments (and many of them a bit of a deux ex machina), but overall didn't really like it. Also, in previous books, I liked the bit of mystery about Pendargast; but now dude's becoming a literally mythical character with superhuman abilities!
Still, these are fun little books that fly by quick. So will definitely continue.
Still, these are fun little books that fly by quick. So will definitely continue.
kbrown's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
4.0