|
Publisher:
Warner Books / Time Warner |
Release
Date: August 3, 2004 |
ISBN:
044653143X |
Awards:
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Format
Reviewed: Hardcover |
Buy
it at Amazon |
Genre:
Horror |
Reviewed:
2004 |
Reviewer:
Lane Cohen |
Reviewer
Notes: Audio
Review |
©
2004 MyShelf.com |
|
Brimstone
Agent
Pendergast Series, #5
By Douglas
Preston and Lincoln Child
“Brimstone”
compels the reader to race through each page as quickly as possible.
It is one part thriller, one part horror novel, and two parts Conan
Doyle. First, the story is an exciting chase, as the heroes of the
novel race to find the answer to a seemingly ancient prophecy, as
torture and death overcome more victims. Second, the story is also
set as not only a thriller, but a thriller laced with supernatural
horror; the Devil himself apparently plays a major role here.
Third,
and lastly, the major players of the story are interesting constructs,
straight from the pages of “The Strand”. FBI Special
Agent Aloysius Pendergast is the star here, fully drawn and manipulated
by the author as a virtual clone of Sherlock Holmes, set in present
day. Pendergast has “blond-white hair, gray eyes, finely chiseled
features, skin as pale and translucent as Carrara marble”,
dresses in plain, dark clothing, lives in an odd Victorian home,
keeps to himself, seldom speaks, uses disguises, and above all,
observes everything and concludes with deductions drawn from his
observations. His counterpart is New York street cop, Sergeant Vincent
D’Agosta, who accompanies Pendergast on a journey of terror,
mystery, and criminal investigation into the brutal, and apparently
supernatural deaths of several leading citizens.
The
authors also convey the feel of the story by short, direct, dialogue:
Pendergast bowed to her, held out
his hand. “Agent Pendergast.”
“Agnes Torres,” she said.
“May I?” Pendergast looked inquisitively at Innocente.
“Be my guest. Videotape’s rolling, FYI.”
“Mrs. Torres---“
“Miss.”
“Thank you. Miss Torres, do you believe in God?”
Innocente exchanged a glance with the other detectives. There
was an awkward silence.
“Yes,” she said.
“You are a devout Catholic?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Do you believe in the devil?”
Another long pause.
“Yes, I do.”
This
story is interesting, but it is certainly character driven. The
reader is interested in the outcome of the story only because Pendergast
and D’Agosta are involved. I was rooting for them, and the
book kept my attention until the last sentence. “Brimstone”
has my heartiest recommendation.
Reviews of other titles in
this series
The Cabinet of Curiosities, #3
[audio]
Still Life With Crows, #4 [book]
[audio]
Brimstone, #5 [audio
1] [audio
2] [book]
Dance of Death, #6 [book]
Book of the Dead, #7 [audio]
Wheel Of Darkness, # 8 [book]
[audio]
Cemetery Dance, #9 [book]
[audio]
Fever Dream, #10 [book]
[audio]
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