Customer Reviews

Cemetery Dance (Pendergast, Bk 9)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I enjoyed this book very much. The story is kind of a blow to readers who have been following the series since Relic, but nevertheless it was an exciting, action-filled book. Having just read the Wheel of Darkness before this, it's great to see Pendergast "back to normal" (see my review for Wheel of Darkness if you're curious). However, this book also seem to be a sudden departure from the previous stories. From Relic to Wheel of Darkness, the stories are smooth-flowing and semi-related, but Cemetery Dance seem to suddenly almost have nothing to do with the previous books in terms of storyline. A very weird turn of events, but does not make this book any less of a good read. Definitely one of my favorite Pendergast books.

I have really enjoyed the previous works of Preston & Child, and Agent Pendergast is easily one of my favorite literary characters. I always find myself wanting to know more about him. But this story, premised as it is on murderous zombies and voodoo cults just wasn't an enjoyable read for me. Nearly all works of suspense require the reader to suspend disbelief to a certain extent, but this story asked me to go along with plot lines that were just too far out for me. And I enjoy a lot of science fiction. In the end, I tend to judge Preston & Child against their previous works, such as The Cabinet of Curiosities (Pendergast, Book 3) and Still Life with Crows (Pendergast, Book 4), and compared to their earlier excellent books I was disappointed with Cemetery Dance.

Yes, this genre is for leisure reading, but care should be taken that the mystery is indeed soluble by the reader. In this case, it seems that the end of the novel was changed somewhere in the editing. Great attention (and length) is given to the character development of an incidental red herring - so much so that the authors felt the need to deal with the character at the end to give some closure. My suspicion is that this was the going to be the perpetrator, but the length of development necessary to make the connection work was far too great.

The ending is truly amazing, with the involvement and necessary talents of the character discoverable, but a less well thought out rationale for many of the "exciting" actions of the character.

The research into various cult religions seems impressive to me, but then I admit to knowing nothing thereof. But as a classic murder mystery, I feel my time was wasted.

This one is the missing piece of my personal collection of "Special Agent Pendergast". I waslooking for it in an electronic format, but I got this one!

I was thrilled when one of the characters was killed by a venom murderer. Even that, all the plot is developed magistrally by the authors, and the final was fully acomplished with action packed scenes and mistery all in one.

I recomend this title a lot, and the next of the series, still waiting for the number 11...

Preston and Child do not disappoint in this entry into the Agent Pendergast series.
Quick moving story line and additional development of the Pendergast character keeps you up reading way past bedtime. Looking forward to more about Pendergast from these two excellent authors.

Once again Preston & Child's do great thrilling works. What a page turner...The book came very quickly and I read it in four days could not put it down and what a surprise ending

A suitable installation in the Pendergrast series as long as you can believe Pendergrast ability to know everything and be 100 steps ahead of everyone else, all the time.

Flawlessly written, as usual with Preston & Child. However, the story, this time, was to predictable, and the ending left me in a state of expectation. "What's come next. Was that it ?"

Both books came in a timely fashion and were in great shape! I appreciate the prompt service and the ease of ordering. Thank you!

A great book, couldn't stop until it was done. The characters and plot really build up. A real good late night winter book...