55 of 58 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Simply Not as Good as the Earlier Pendergast Novels, June 15, 2009
I'm a fan of the "Agent Pendergast" novels by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, but the last few entries in the series have been less than stellar. While CEMETERY DANCE is a readable effort, it is ultimately a disappointment.
I think the major flaw of this series is that the only really interesting character is the central one, FBI Special Agent Pendergast. Unfortunately, Pendergast plays a relatively small role in CEMETERY DANCE. Much of the book is instead devoted to familiar but ultimately two-dimensional characters like Vincent D'Agosta (the hot-headed Watson to Pendergast's Holmes) and Nora Kelly (who mainly plays the victim role here).
The plot is more silly than interesting (voodoo and zombies play a key role) and doesn't seem to move forward with the rapid-fire intensity that made the earlier Pendergast books so successful. The flat, cartoonish characterization also dampens the suspense. In the end, there are too many action scenes, and not enough character development. The result is a repititive read that didn't really engage me.
In short, CEMETERY DANCE is a pretty minor effort -- enjoyable enough, but not worth your valuable reading time. If you've never read Preston & Child before, my advice is to read RELIC, BRIMSTONE, CABINET OF CURIOSITIES or STILL LIFE WITH CROWS instead. They are far superior to this middling effort.
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48 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Agent Pendergast rides again, May 28, 2009
I've decided that I'm going to designate this book as a "ripping good yarn" because, by golly, that's what it is. This is one of those books where you just have to say to yourself, okay, this is totally escape reading and it's so far-fetched that it can't possibly ever be true. Once you get past that hurdle, then you can do what the authors intended for you to do: sit back, relax, and have fun with it. If you can't do that, then move along, because this book is definitely not for you. Literary snobs need not apply.
I enjoy "ripping good yarns" (aka escape fiction) once in a while, especially from these two authors both together and independently. I especially enjoy the Agent Pendergast series, which I've been following since he first came out of Preston and Child's collective imaginations. He's an enigma and I like enigmas. I've read all of these stories; I've pre-ordered or bought each one as soon as I heard of its release, and I happen to like them. I am a Pendergast junkie.
I absolutely cannot tell you much, because of the plot twists in this book. To tell is to ruin. The book opens with the murder of an old friend from other books in the series (whose name I will not divulge here -- but if you're a Preston and Child follower, you'll be a bit sad). The identity of the murderer is not in doubt -- it was one Colin Fearing, who lived in the same building, and was caught on tape at the building at the time of the murder. Several people recognized him. The only problem is that Colin Fearing was dead at the time the murder was committed -- his body had been even been identified by a relative. So...enter Agent Pendergast, who was a very good friend to the murder victim, and another recurring character, Lt. Vince D'Agosta of the NYPD. What begins as a bizarre case of murder gets even more bizarre as the investigation takes our heroes into the bizarro world of religious animal sacrifice and voodoo. But when a second killing occurs at the hand of another dead person, it just gets very weird, and their efforts to find the killer puts Pendergast and his pals in a very dangerous situation where their very lives are at stake.
This book has it all...the supernatural, mystery, suspense...that is the hallmark of the writing of Preston and Child. There are plot twists that you won't see coming (or at least I didn't), and it's generally a very fun novel with quite a bit of action.
Yes, it's a bit unbelievable, and it's a bit over the top in some spots, but the authors managed to grab me from the start and I didn't stop until I was finished. I think you'd want to read the other Pendergast novels rather than making this your first foray into the minds of these two authors. This book was much better than the last one -- Wheel of Darkness -- and I hope there are many more Pendergast novels in their futures.
I'd recommend this book to people who enjoy fun escape fiction or to those who like a supernatural cast to their mysteries. These two authors are very good at their craft and now I'll just wait patiently until the next installment arrives -- sigh --
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37 of 46 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The dance of death., May 12, 2009
The first review is always a tough one to follow, but I'll do my best. I have been anticipating this book for more than a year and the wait was worth it. Once again the authors deliver one of those creepy tales set in contemporary New York City. I particularly like the way they always center their plots around the Museum of Natural History because it can be a scary place even on a good day. Special Agent Pendergast returns in his role as a modern-day Sherlock Holmes. He speaks very little, but he takes everything in. His Aunt Cordelia also returns and never fails to send chills down my spine. The inciting incident is shocking, but I don't think I'd want you to know what it is up front. It's difficult to see a recurring character die, especially one who is this likable. If you follow the series you will not be disappointed with the latest installment. And if you are a "newby" you'll want to go back and read the previous books. Either way, enjoy!
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