Review: City of Endless Night by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

In City of Endless Night by Preston and Child, we see another side of Pendergast. At the beginning of the tale, he comes across as apathetic to the case he has been assigned and we are left to deduce for ourselves the why behind this behavior. The case itself is different. There is a body of a woman sans head. And it would seem that there were perhaps two different people involved - one that did the actual killing and another that removed the head at a later date. Soon there are more headless bodies and the question is one killer or more? Vincent D'Agosta hopes that involvement in this case will put Pendergast back into his normal frame of mind.
It will, of course, take all of their wits to solve the case and stay alive.

This, the 17th entry in the Pendergast series, is not the strongest. It is slow in parts. And Pendergast's apathy is a little hard to take because it seems so out of character to me. The reason for it is eventually revealed. I will not reveal it here because spoilers.

The characters of D'Agosta and Pendergast are the most well developed. The reporter, Harriman, also is fairly well fleshed out. The killer we come to know through actions.

Some people have complained that they were able to deduce the killer(s) early on in the book as well as the motive. Not me. It kept my attention and kept me guessing until the reveal.

City of Endless Night was published January 16, 2018 from Grand Central Publishing.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. Even though it was problematic in parts, overall it kept my attention and made me want to know who was responsible for the crimes and what their motivation might be. While it can be read as a standalone, I think it's better digested if you've read at least the previous book.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions herein are my own and freely given.

Review: The Obsidian Chamber by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Number 15 in the Pendergast series, Crimson Shore was a bit fantastical and I had a little trouble suspending disbelief in some cases. I had no such trouble with #16, The Obsidian Chamber. There were still elements that stretched credulity, but it was easier to suspend my disbelief and enjoy the story.

When last we left A.X.L. Pendergast, he was injured and floating out to sea. There were serious questions as to his survival. He has been missing and presumed dead. Proctor, Mrs. Trask, and most especially Constance Greene have been mourning him in their own ways. Constance retreats to the sub-basement as a means to help herself deal with her grief. Mrs. Trask is off visiting her sick sister.

Meanwhile, a mysterious figure from the past arrives at the manor and wreaks havoc. Proctor, is attacked and believing Constance kidnapped, takes off on an international chase.

This someone is trying to woo Constance. When she finds out who, it is a great shock to her system. Meanwhile, A drug running boat has picked up Pendergast and the crew decides to hold him for ransom from the FBI. Will Constance succumb to the charms of this man from their past? Will Pendergast survive the drug runners treatment and find Constance in time?

This is a fast paced action/adventure/thriller type book. A little science fiction is also blended in. There is a touch of romance in this particular installment. Still, it's a real page-turner. For me, this was a much better read than the previous book. You can read my review of Crimson Shore here.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. It was an enjoyable reading experience.  This book can be read as a standalone. It might be a richer experience though if you've read some of the other books in the series. The first 7 chapters of the book can be read on the authors' website here.

The Obsidian Chamber was released October 18, 2016 from Grand Central Publishing,

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Teaser Tuesday: The Obsidian Chamber by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Filipov stood on the forward deck, breathing in the perfume that wafted from the great spruce boughs jutting from the trees growing out of the bluff just above and ahead of the boat. It was a calm, cold, sunny fall morning. All was going as planned.

~ 26% through on my Kindle

This quotation comes from an ARC and may appear differently in the final edition. The Obsidian Chamber, #16 in the Pendergast series, is expected to be released today from Grand Central Publishing.

What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!

Review: Crimson Shore by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Published November 10, 2015
by Grand Central Publishing

Crimson Shore is #15 in the Pendergast series. Pendergast and his ward Constance take on a mystery that on the surface seems to be about purloined wine, but ends up being about a much bigger mystery. They find a remnant of a skeleton that had been walled up in a wine cellar from a distant past. Who retrieved the skeleton and why? Who put it there in the first place? There is a mystery of the past as well as of the present. Exmouth, Massachusetts isn't the sleepy, idyllic town it would appear to be on the surface. The city has a seriously twisted past.

Was this a good book? Basically yes. But, I did find something problematic with it for me. The first two-thirds of the book was a well-written mystery book with a nod to Poe. It progressed swiftly and I read it eagerly. The mystery seems to be well wrapped up, then boom! There is a supernatural-ish plot tacked on for the last third of the book. The two parts of the story only seem loosely related. I still enjoyed the writing in the second part,  but was dismayed as to what seemed to be added on for specific purposes rather than to further the plot of the book. I guess I would say it most likely furthers the plot of the series.

If you've enjoyed books in this series in the past,  you will most likely mostly enjoy this book as well. I would not start reading the series with this book though.

I gave this book 3.5 stars out of 5. It's well written, but there is that problem with plot.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Teaser Tuesday: Crimson Shore by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B of A Daily Rhythm. 

Anyone can participate, just do the following:

• Grab your current read and open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and the author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

He felt a strange mixture of emotions - shock, repulsion, worry, anger... and embarrassment. This was not the way he wanted outsiders to think of Exmouth.

61% through on my Kindle

What are your teaser sentences this week? Share them or a link in the comments so we can check them out. Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #105: Crimson Shore by Preston and Child

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.

This week the book I am waiting on is Crimson Shore by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. It's number 15 in the Pendergast series. It's due to be published November 10, 2015 by Grand Central Publishing. The first two chapters are available on their website.

Synopsis via Goodreads.com:
Special Agent Pendergast takes on a private case in Exmouth, Massachusetts-an ancient village on the coast north of Salem-to investigate the theft of a valuable wine cellar. He travels to the seaside town with his ward, Constance Greene, where they quickly discover something far more sinister: a bricked-up niche in the wine cellar that held the remains of a man, tortured and then entombed alive 150 years ago. But why? The puzzle is compounded when they discover a murdered body covered with mysterious symbols in the salt marshes behind Exmouth...the place where, legend has it, the real witches of Salem took refuge after fleeing the 1692 witch hunts...

Why am I waiting on it? I've found that I enjoy this series. I like reading about the history of Salem and I'm wondering how much of a role it will play in what happens in the book. And I've liked the paranormal aspects to the stories in other novels in the series.

What book are you waiting on this week? Leave it or a link in the comments so we can check it out. Happy reading!