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Aloysius Pendergast #6
Dance of Death
Two brothers on opposite sides of the law battle it out on the streets of New York in this chill-inducing thriller, a follow-up to BRIMSTONE. — As the previous installment came to a close, vicious dogs and armed men surrounded FBI Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast and his demise seemed certain. Nevertheless, he did leave behind a legacy: a letter for his friend, NYPD Lieutenant Vincent D'Agosta. Its contents ask D'Agosta to assume the responsibility of pursuing Pendergast's younger brother Diogenes, an insane and vengeful genius who has sworn to commit the perfect crime on January 28 -- which is now only one week away.
560 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2005
1050 people are currently reading
7673 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Preston
216 books13.3k followersDouglas Preston was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1956, and grew up in the deadly boring suburb of Wellesley. Following a distinguished career at a private nursery school--he was almost immediately expelled--he attended public schools and the Cambridge School of Weston. Notable events in his early life included the loss of a fingertip at the age of three to a bicycle; the loss of his two front teeth to his brother Richard's fist; and various broken bones, also incurred in dust-ups with Richard. (Richard went on to write The Hot Zone and The Cobra Event, which tells you all you need to know about what it was like to grow up with him as a brother.)
As they grew up, Doug, Richard, and their little brother David roamed the quiet suburbs of Wellesley, terrorizing the natives with home-made rockets and incendiary devices mail-ordered from the backs of comic books or concocted from chemistry sets. With a friend they once attempted to fly a rocket into Wellesley Square; the rocket malfunctioned and nearly killed a man mowing his lawn. They were local celebrities, often appearing in the "Police Notes" section of The Wellesley Townsman. It is a miracle they survived childhood intact.
After unaccountably being rejected by Stanford University (a pox on it), Preston attended Pomona College in Claremont, California, where he studied mathematics, biology, physics, anthropology, chemistry, geology, and astronomy before settling down to English literature. After graduating, Preston began his career at the American Museum of Natural History in New York as an editor, writer, and eventually manager of publications. (Preston also taught writing at Princeton University and was managing editor of Curator.) His eight-year stint at the Museum resulted in the non-fiction book, Dinosaurs in the Attic, edited by a rising young star at St. Martin's Press, a polymath by the name of Lincoln Child. During this period, Preston gave Child a midnight tour of the museum, and in the darkened Hall of Late Dinosaurs, under a looming T. Rex, Child turned to Preston and said: "This would make the perfect setting for a thriller!" That thriller would, of course, be Relic.
In 1986, Douglas Preston piled everything he owned into the back of a Subaru and moved from New York City to Santa Fe to write full time, following the advice of S. J. Perelman that "the dubious privilege of a freelance writer is he's given the freedom to starve anywhere." After the requisite period of penury, Preston achieved a small success with the publication of Cities of Gold, a non-fiction book about Coronado's search for the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola. To research the book, Preston and a friend retraced on horseback 1,000 miles of Coronado's route across Arizona and New Mexico, packing their supplies and sleeping under the stars--nearly killing themselves in the process. Since then he has published several more non-fiction books on the history of the American Southwest, Talking to the Ground and The Royal Road, as well as a novel entitled Jennie. In the early 1990s Preston and Child teamed up to write suspense novels; Relic was the first, followed by several others, including Riptide and Thunderhead. Relic was released as a motion picture by Paramount in 1997. Other films are under development at Hollywood studios. Preston and Child live 500 miles apart and write their books together via telephone, fax, and the Internet.
Preston and his brother Richard are currently producing a television miniseries for ABC and Mandalay Entertainment, to be aired in the spring of 2000, if all goes well, which in Hollywood is rarely the case.
Preston continues a magazine writing career by contributing regularly to The New Yorker magazine. He has also written for National Geographic, Natural History, Smithsonisan, Harper's,and Travel & Leisure,among others.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/dougla...
As they grew up, Doug, Richard, and their little brother David roamed the quiet suburbs of Wellesley, terrorizing the natives with home-made rockets and incendiary devices mail-ordered from the backs of comic books or concocted from chemistry sets. With a friend they once attempted to fly a rocket into Wellesley Square; the rocket malfunctioned and nearly killed a man mowing his lawn. They were local celebrities, often appearing in the "Police Notes" section of The Wellesley Townsman. It is a miracle they survived childhood intact.
After unaccountably being rejected by Stanford University (a pox on it), Preston attended Pomona College in Claremont, California, where he studied mathematics, biology, physics, anthropology, chemistry, geology, and astronomy before settling down to English literature. After graduating, Preston began his career at the American Museum of Natural History in New York as an editor, writer, and eventually manager of publications. (Preston also taught writing at Princeton University and was managing editor of Curator.) His eight-year stint at the Museum resulted in the non-fiction book, Dinosaurs in the Attic, edited by a rising young star at St. Martin's Press, a polymath by the name of Lincoln Child. During this period, Preston gave Child a midnight tour of the museum, and in the darkened Hall of Late Dinosaurs, under a looming T. Rex, Child turned to Preston and said: "This would make the perfect setting for a thriller!" That thriller would, of course, be Relic.
In 1986, Douglas Preston piled everything he owned into the back of a Subaru and moved from New York City to Santa Fe to write full time, following the advice of S. J. Perelman that "the dubious privilege of a freelance writer is he's given the freedom to starve anywhere." After the requisite period of penury, Preston achieved a small success with the publication of Cities of Gold, a non-fiction book about Coronado's search for the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola. To research the book, Preston and a friend retraced on horseback 1,000 miles of Coronado's route across Arizona and New Mexico, packing their supplies and sleeping under the stars--nearly killing themselves in the process. Since then he has published several more non-fiction books on the history of the American Southwest, Talking to the Ground and The Royal Road, as well as a novel entitled Jennie. In the early 1990s Preston and Child teamed up to write suspense novels; Relic was the first, followed by several others, including Riptide and Thunderhead. Relic was released as a motion picture by Paramount in 1997. Other films are under development at Hollywood studios. Preston and Child live 500 miles apart and write their books together via telephone, fax, and the Internet.
Preston and his brother Richard are currently producing a television miniseries for ABC and Mandalay Entertainment, to be aired in the spring of 2000, if all goes well, which in Hollywood is rarely the case.
Preston continues a magazine writing career by contributing regularly to The New Yorker magazine. He has also written for National Geographic, Natural History, Smithsonisan, Harper's,and Travel & Leisure,among others.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/dougla...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,325 reviews
May 4, 2018
Another Pendergast book, which means you all know what it’s time for: a food metaphor!
(Note to those just joining our program: for reasons even I’m hard-pressed to explain, I compared the experience of reading Relic, the first Pendergast book, to eating a hot dog. I’ve since felt compelled to use food metaphors for each subsequent book, because food metaphors seem like a natural and rational choice when talking about stories that feature sadistic serial killers doing really gruesome things to the meat sacks we call “people.”)
In this instance, though, rather than comparing Dance of Death to a single item or dish, I’m going to compare it to that bastion of food innovation: Taco Bell.
Now, before everyone starts throwing Doritos Locos tacos at me, I should note that, even though I pretty much gave up eating at Taco Bell for the sake of wanting to reach my 40th birthday (which is, terrifyingly, only 7 months away) a long time ago, I actually really like (or, rather, liked) Taco Bell. It’s delicious. So, this is not a bad thing.
But, Taco Bell is also the king of excess and ridiculousness. (“You think Doritos Locos tacos were absurd? You ain’t seen nothing yet, bitches. Just wait until we make a taco shell out of a fried egg—that’s right, a FRIED EGG—and then we’re going to make a French fry burrito that’s exactly what it sounds like: a big, overstuffed burrito, only we’re going to put fries in it for reasons no rational human being can fathom. THE ONLY LIMIT TO THIS INSANITY IS OUR IMAGINATION, AND OUR IMAGINATION IS F@&KING BOUNDLESS, EARTH CREATURES!) Not unlike how this book, at least relative to its five predecessors, is the king of excess and ridiculousness.
At the beginning of the series, Pendergast was a highly eccentric Holmesian archetype who, in subsequent books, has broken out of that mold a little bit, though he still hews pretty closely to that script (though his is a more well-rounded intellect vis-à-vis the arts). In the past couple of books, however, and particularly in this book, he has transformed more fully into a full-fledged action hero, making him a weird amalgamation of Holmes, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Harold Bloom, the Rock, and Jeff Bezos (both because Bezos is weirdly jacked and has gobs of F-you money, which Pendergast seems to have in spades as well). There is literally nothing he can’t do intellectually, physically, stealthily, or monetarily (well, except maybe avoid jail time for a long list of felonies, but that’s neither here nor there).
Pendergast’s infallibility and increasingly insane antics are entertaining, but also require considerable willing suspension of disbelief—kind of like eating a taco with a shell made from a fried egg. In other words, you need to be in the mood, you need to know what you’re in for, and you probably need to pop a couple of prophylactic antacids.
I’m unquestionably on board for pursuing further adventures with Pendergast, though I’m steeling myself for increasingly ludicrous set pieces in future installments. I’d prefer more of a focus on the mystery solving and deeper historical and cultural aspects the prior books have dived into, but, hey—every once in a while, I want a French toast chalupa as much as the next guy.
Now, where did I put that bottle of Pepto…?
(Note to those just joining our program: for reasons even I’m hard-pressed to explain, I compared the experience of reading Relic, the first Pendergast book, to eating a hot dog. I’ve since felt compelled to use food metaphors for each subsequent book, because food metaphors seem like a natural and rational choice when talking about stories that feature sadistic serial killers doing really gruesome things to the meat sacks we call “people.”)
In this instance, though, rather than comparing Dance of Death to a single item or dish, I’m going to compare it to that bastion of food innovation: Taco Bell.
Now, before everyone starts throwing Doritos Locos tacos at me, I should note that, even though I pretty much gave up eating at Taco Bell for the sake of wanting to reach my 40th birthday (which is, terrifyingly, only 7 months away) a long time ago, I actually really like (or, rather, liked) Taco Bell. It’s delicious. So, this is not a bad thing.
But, Taco Bell is also the king of excess and ridiculousness. (“You think Doritos Locos tacos were absurd? You ain’t seen nothing yet, bitches. Just wait until we make a taco shell out of a fried egg—that’s right, a FRIED EGG—and then we’re going to make a French fry burrito that’s exactly what it sounds like: a big, overstuffed burrito, only we’re going to put fries in it for reasons no rational human being can fathom. THE ONLY LIMIT TO THIS INSANITY IS OUR IMAGINATION, AND OUR IMAGINATION IS F@&KING BOUNDLESS, EARTH CREATURES!) Not unlike how this book, at least relative to its five predecessors, is the king of excess and ridiculousness.
At the beginning of the series, Pendergast was a highly eccentric Holmesian archetype who, in subsequent books, has broken out of that mold a little bit, though he still hews pretty closely to that script (though his is a more well-rounded intellect vis-à-vis the arts). In the past couple of books, however, and particularly in this book, he has transformed more fully into a full-fledged action hero, making him a weird amalgamation of Holmes, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Harold Bloom, the Rock, and Jeff Bezos (both because Bezos is weirdly jacked and has gobs of F-you money, which Pendergast seems to have in spades as well). There is literally nothing he can’t do intellectually, physically, stealthily, or monetarily (well, except maybe avoid jail time for a long list of felonies, but that’s neither here nor there).
Pendergast’s infallibility and increasingly insane antics are entertaining, but also require considerable willing suspension of disbelief—kind of like eating a taco with a shell made from a fried egg. In other words, you need to be in the mood, you need to know what you’re in for, and you probably need to pop a couple of prophylactic antacids.
I’m unquestionably on board for pursuing further adventures with Pendergast, though I’m steeling myself for increasingly ludicrous set pieces in future installments. I’d prefer more of a focus on the mystery solving and deeper historical and cultural aspects the prior books have dived into, but, hey—every once in a while, I want a French toast chalupa as much as the next guy.
Now, where did I put that bottle of Pepto…?
October 4, 2017
Keep the Pendergast coming! 5++++++ stars
I cannot begin to even explain the goodness that is this book series. The story lines are creative and complex: it’s like watching the world’s most interesting puzzle being put together every time I read one of these. I am tempted to plow right through the whole series right now, but then I won’t have any left!
If you like action-mysteries and you have not read any of these books, you are doing yourself a disservice! Be sure to read them in order, though. There is NO WAY you could fully enjoy this book if you do not have the full story from the previous entries.
I fully expect all of you to immediately upon finishing reading this review to go out and get a copy of Relic!
I cannot begin to even explain the goodness that is this book series. The story lines are creative and complex: it’s like watching the world’s most interesting puzzle being put together every time I read one of these. I am tempted to plow right through the whole series right now, but then I won’t have any left!
If you like action-mysteries and you have not read any of these books, you are doing yourself a disservice! Be sure to read them in order, though. There is NO WAY you could fully enjoy this book if you do not have the full story from the previous entries.
I fully expect all of you to immediately upon finishing reading this review to go out and get a copy of Relic!
February 14, 2015
The idea of an 'evil genius' Supervillain disappearing from the face of the earth to plot and scheme, and plan the ultimate crime, seems laughable, and stereotypical on so many levels, at first. The fact that he is the brother of the protagonist enhances this impression. The thing is, however, that there's nothing laughable about the way he goes about it.
Dance of Death opens with a classroom discussion of The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot, during which an unflinchingly gruesome and disturbing death takes place. This enforces what we've already known since Brimstone - that this is going to be one hell of a wild ride.
The events depicted here come as no great surprise. We've known about Diogenes and the Pendergast 'curse' (if you will) for some time now. We also know how it ends, don't we? I mean come on, this is an Agent Pendergast novel after all. Despite all this, the book remains an edgy and suspenseful read. It is obvious that it is only a bridging novel, and as such ends rather unsatisfying. It isn't really a cliffhanger as much as it is a lot of unfinished business. The Book of the Dead concludes the whole Diogenes story arc.
Diogenes is, as many have noted, an over-the-top antagonist. Some reviewers were frustrated by his almost godlike abilities to confound the powers that be. But let's face it, to be a proper foil for Aloysius Pendergast you have to be somewhat able. It isn't often that Aloysius is given a run for his money, as he is here, and that adds a whole new dimension to his character. Also, in the process more mysteries are revealed (or at least hinted at) regarding the Pendergast family history.
As always, Preston & Child manage to convey a deliciously Gothic vibe. It's modern day New York, but it drips with old school atmosphere. The only unfortunate thing is, we know who (or what) the villain is from the onset, which sets this novel apart from the rest of the series. There are still enough twists and thrills to keep fans satisfied, but I'm longing for a return to the likes of Relic, with its cool creature feature.
Dance of Death opens with a classroom discussion of The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot, during which an unflinchingly gruesome and disturbing death takes place. This enforces what we've already known since Brimstone - that this is going to be one hell of a wild ride.
The events depicted here come as no great surprise. We've known about Diogenes and the Pendergast 'curse' (if you will) for some time now. We also know how it ends, don't we? I mean come on, this is an Agent Pendergast novel after all. Despite all this, the book remains an edgy and suspenseful read. It is obvious that it is only a bridging novel, and as such ends rather unsatisfying. It isn't really a cliffhanger as much as it is a lot of unfinished business. The Book of the Dead concludes the whole Diogenes story arc.
Diogenes is, as many have noted, an over-the-top antagonist. Some reviewers were frustrated by his almost godlike abilities to confound the powers that be. But let's face it, to be a proper foil for Aloysius Pendergast you have to be somewhat able. It isn't often that Aloysius is given a run for his money, as he is here, and that adds a whole new dimension to his character. Also, in the process more mysteries are revealed (or at least hinted at) regarding the Pendergast family history.
As always, Preston & Child manage to convey a deliciously Gothic vibe. It's modern day New York, but it drips with old school atmosphere. The only unfortunate thing is, we know who (or what) the villain is from the onset, which sets this novel apart from the rest of the series. There are still enough twists and thrills to keep fans satisfied, but I'm longing for a return to the likes of Relic, with its cool creature feature.
December 29, 2021
Dance of Death is the 6th book in the Pendergast series written by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I've read the earlier books and plan to read one per month until I'm caught up by the end of next year. I think they are in my top 5 series of all-time. I cannot emphasize how much the writing draws you in, keeps you floating in suspense, and shocks you with the unexpected twists and turns. Between people coming back from the dead and others who were hiding connections, it's marvelous.
The series is also sub-divided into smaller collections, and this is part of the Diogenes arc. Diogenes is Pendergast's younger brother, and they do NOT get along. Diogenes was also supposedly dead for the last several decades... but he intercedes to save his brother's life only to clarify that he saved him so that he could torture him. Talk about family drama elements. Weaving together with this storyline are the various characters who work at the library, police precinct, and newspaper... each with their own focus points and parts connected to Pendergast's tale. I think my favorite is Vinnie, and I sometimes like Laura, even though she can be ornery and difficult - in a bad way, not like Vinnie who exhibits those qualities in a good way!
In this installment, Diogenes hunts and tracks his brother's closest friends and colleagues. One by one, he kills them off. When Pendergast realizes the true plan, he sprints into action so that he can protect them. Some listen. Some do not. The death toll is high, and I must admit, a few hit close to home... people we've met in past books and some who were mentioned but hadn't actually appeared until now. And through the writing approach, we meet them in their death scene, not realizing who they are until the very last line and reveal. A fantastic story that's left me highly motivated to jump directly into book 7 after the holidays.
The series is also sub-divided into smaller collections, and this is part of the Diogenes arc. Diogenes is Pendergast's younger brother, and they do NOT get along. Diogenes was also supposedly dead for the last several decades... but he intercedes to save his brother's life only to clarify that he saved him so that he could torture him. Talk about family drama elements. Weaving together with this storyline are the various characters who work at the library, police precinct, and newspaper... each with their own focus points and parts connected to Pendergast's tale. I think my favorite is Vinnie, and I sometimes like Laura, even though she can be ornery and difficult - in a bad way, not like Vinnie who exhibits those qualities in a good way!
In this installment, Diogenes hunts and tracks his brother's closest friends and colleagues. One by one, he kills them off. When Pendergast realizes the true plan, he sprints into action so that he can protect them. Some listen. Some do not. The death toll is high, and I must admit, a few hit close to home... people we've met in past books and some who were mentioned but hadn't actually appeared until now. And through the writing approach, we meet them in their death scene, not realizing who they are until the very last line and reveal. A fantastic story that's left me highly motivated to jump directly into book 7 after the holidays.
December 11, 2017
Another great and exciting adventure with Pendergast and crew! The action was just nonstop in this book.
Of course, this one ends with a cliffhanger. Looking forward to getting to the next book in the Diogenes series!
Of course, this one ends with a cliffhanger. Looking forward to getting to the next book in the Diogenes series!
November 6, 2017
I have been a fan of Agent Pendergast ever since I read the first novel in this series in 1995 when it was first published. At the time, I remember I enjoyed Relic because Pendergast was awesomely different and the story thrillingly gruesome. Then life got extraordinarily busy for me....kids, a divorce, years as a single mom, remarriage, etc etc....you know...hard-core adulting....and I lost track of this series for a long time. Fast forward about 10 years....only one child left at home....and more time on my hands....I re-discovered my love of books a couple years ago. And I fondly remembered Pendergast. There are lot more books in the series now, so I'm enjoying catching up with what Preston & Childs have been up to since I've been away. :)
My library offers most of the series on audiobook through OverDrive, so I listen off and on during the day. Pendergast solves some of his most thrilling cases while I'm driving the car, washing dishes or folding laundry. :)
Dance of Death was an enjoyable listen! Agent Pendergast's insane brother Diogenes is seeking violent revenge against his sibling. Diogenes is systematically murdering everyone that Pendergast cares about. One at a time. In gruesome ways. He wants his brother to suffer. Pendergast knows that the killings aren't Diogenes main focus though. The deaths are just a smoke screen to keep Pendergast busy while Diogenes pulls off a crime he's been planning for more than 20 years. Can Pendergast save the people he loves the most....and still prevent Diogenes from succeeding with his criminal plans?
The story was a bit melodramatic in places....and the criminally insane mastermind is a plot trope of long standing. But, I still found this story exciting, interesting and suspenseful. I was, however, incredibly disappointed to discover that this audiobook version is heavily abridged. At 6.5 hours, it is about 10 hours shorter than an unabridged version I looked up online. How can you glean 10 hours of narration time out of a Pendergast book and not have a tremendous effect on the story? I did enjoy this audio book.....but now I seriously wonder how much (and what) I missed by listening to an abridged version. Rene Auberjonois is an outstanding narrator. He gives Pendergast just the right tone and accent, in my opinion. His reading pace and tone is even and easy to understand. I have partial hearing loss and have no problem understanding Auberjoinois. The only thing that I didn't like about this version is the huge amount of story that must have been removed to whittle it down to 6.5 hours. (The fact that the company is called Hatchette Audio - and they axed out half of the book -- made me laugh) I am listening to another book in this series by the same company -- also abridged -- and then I'm going to go back to reading the novels rather than audio versions (unless unabridged). I want the full Pendergast.....not the axed version.
I would give the Pendergast story a strong 4 star rating on its own merits. But I'm dipping my ranking down to 3 stars on this one....just because 10 hours missing from a story is a lot of missing narrative. Boo Hiss! (in honor of the slightly melodramatic storyline in this book).
Dance of Death is book 8 in the Agent Pendergast series. It's the middle book in the trilogy within the series that centers around Diogenes. There are 16 books in the Pendergast series currently, with the 17th, City of Endless Night, coming out in January 2018. For more info on Preston & Childs, check out their author website here: https://www.prestonchild.com/ I'm going to listen to the last Diogenes book in abridged form since I've already started the audiobook.....but then going back to reading the novels for the rest of the series.
My library offers most of the series on audiobook through OverDrive, so I listen off and on during the day. Pendergast solves some of his most thrilling cases while I'm driving the car, washing dishes or folding laundry. :)
Dance of Death was an enjoyable listen! Agent Pendergast's insane brother Diogenes is seeking violent revenge against his sibling. Diogenes is systematically murdering everyone that Pendergast cares about. One at a time. In gruesome ways. He wants his brother to suffer. Pendergast knows that the killings aren't Diogenes main focus though. The deaths are just a smoke screen to keep Pendergast busy while Diogenes pulls off a crime he's been planning for more than 20 years. Can Pendergast save the people he loves the most....and still prevent Diogenes from succeeding with his criminal plans?
The story was a bit melodramatic in places....and the criminally insane mastermind is a plot trope of long standing. But, I still found this story exciting, interesting and suspenseful. I was, however, incredibly disappointed to discover that this audiobook version is heavily abridged. At 6.5 hours, it is about 10 hours shorter than an unabridged version I looked up online. How can you glean 10 hours of narration time out of a Pendergast book and not have a tremendous effect on the story? I did enjoy this audio book.....but now I seriously wonder how much (and what) I missed by listening to an abridged version. Rene Auberjonois is an outstanding narrator. He gives Pendergast just the right tone and accent, in my opinion. His reading pace and tone is even and easy to understand. I have partial hearing loss and have no problem understanding Auberjoinois. The only thing that I didn't like about this version is the huge amount of story that must have been removed to whittle it down to 6.5 hours. (The fact that the company is called Hatchette Audio - and they axed out half of the book -- made me laugh) I am listening to another book in this series by the same company -- also abridged -- and then I'm going to go back to reading the novels rather than audio versions (unless unabridged). I want the full Pendergast.....not the axed version.
I would give the Pendergast story a strong 4 star rating on its own merits. But I'm dipping my ranking down to 3 stars on this one....just because 10 hours missing from a story is a lot of missing narrative. Boo Hiss! (in honor of the slightly melodramatic storyline in this book).
Dance of Death is book 8 in the Agent Pendergast series. It's the middle book in the trilogy within the series that centers around Diogenes. There are 16 books in the Pendergast series currently, with the 17th, City of Endless Night, coming out in January 2018. For more info on Preston & Childs, check out their author website here: https://www.prestonchild.com/ I'm going to listen to the last Diogenes book in abridged form since I've already started the audiobook.....but then going back to reading the novels for the rest of the series.
April 29, 2024
From one cliffhanger to another - the story continues!
Blindly leaping off the edge of the cliffhanger which Preston and Child left us poised upon at the end of BRIMSTONE, DANCE OF DEATH quickly moves the rivalry and hatred between FBI Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast and his demented brother Diogenes to centre stage. Pendergast has come to the realization that Diogenes' plan is to utterly destroy his life by killing anyone near and dear to him - colleagues, mentors, friends, his fragile ward, Constance Green and, God forbid, Viola Maskelene, the lady who appears to have stolen Pendergast's heart!
Like any good thriller, the novel entertains us in passing with some red herring sub-plots - the Dangler affair, a sad-sack perv who exposes himself to the security cameras at bank ATMs; and the rather more topical and interesting Sacred Images exhibition at the New York Museum of Natural History that highlights the ongoing conflict between modern man and aboriginal cultures and religions. But centre stage is reserved for Diogenes' evil machinations and Pendergast's efforts to thwart his plans!
With every page turned, Preston and Child's uncanny characters will move further and further into the realm of reality in the minds of a reader. In an almost eerie re-incarnation of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, invested by fans to this very day with a life well beyond Doyle's writings, Pendergast too becomes warm-hearted and human as his affection for Lieutenant D'Agosta, his very own Watson, rises to the surface. That Pendergast (like Holmes) is devastated and grief-stricken over his own failures is obvious as he drives himself to extreme personal sacrifice to protect Lady Maskelene, his own Irene Adler. One can almost imagine Pendergast, in a refined Southern drawl, referring to her as "that woman"!
Preston and Child's almost trademarked diverting sidebars into science and beyond - details of the forensic investigation into the minutiae of murder scene clues; the disturbing ethical conflicts faced by modern anthropologists and museums; the trivia of diamond classification, colours, cuts and values; the technology of modern building security; and legal requirements for the involuntary commitment of the mentally ill, for example - are not neglected ... and I, for one, enjoy these well placed sidelines of fascinating detail. But, as the three-part story picks up pace, plot and character development, driven by sparkling dialogue, grab the lion's share of the novel's pages!
The break between DANCE OF DEATH and THE BOOK OF THE DEAD is natural enough but - make no mistake - it is little more than a pause in the action. I turned the final page on one, took a sip from my martini and immediately cracked the cover on the next to continue the story. I'm sure you will too!
Paul Weiss
Blindly leaping off the edge of the cliffhanger which Preston and Child left us poised upon at the end of BRIMSTONE, DANCE OF DEATH quickly moves the rivalry and hatred between FBI Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast and his demented brother Diogenes to centre stage. Pendergast has come to the realization that Diogenes' plan is to utterly destroy his life by killing anyone near and dear to him - colleagues, mentors, friends, his fragile ward, Constance Green and, God forbid, Viola Maskelene, the lady who appears to have stolen Pendergast's heart!
Like any good thriller, the novel entertains us in passing with some red herring sub-plots - the Dangler affair, a sad-sack perv who exposes himself to the security cameras at bank ATMs; and the rather more topical and interesting Sacred Images exhibition at the New York Museum of Natural History that highlights the ongoing conflict between modern man and aboriginal cultures and religions. But centre stage is reserved for Diogenes' evil machinations and Pendergast's efforts to thwart his plans!
With every page turned, Preston and Child's uncanny characters will move further and further into the realm of reality in the minds of a reader. In an almost eerie re-incarnation of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, invested by fans to this very day with a life well beyond Doyle's writings, Pendergast too becomes warm-hearted and human as his affection for Lieutenant D'Agosta, his very own Watson, rises to the surface. That Pendergast (like Holmes) is devastated and grief-stricken over his own failures is obvious as he drives himself to extreme personal sacrifice to protect Lady Maskelene, his own Irene Adler. One can almost imagine Pendergast, in a refined Southern drawl, referring to her as "that woman"!
Preston and Child's almost trademarked diverting sidebars into science and beyond - details of the forensic investigation into the minutiae of murder scene clues; the disturbing ethical conflicts faced by modern anthropologists and museums; the trivia of diamond classification, colours, cuts and values; the technology of modern building security; and legal requirements for the involuntary commitment of the mentally ill, for example - are not neglected ... and I, for one, enjoy these well placed sidelines of fascinating detail. But, as the three-part story picks up pace, plot and character development, driven by sparkling dialogue, grab the lion's share of the novel's pages!
The break between DANCE OF DEATH and THE BOOK OF THE DEAD is natural enough but - make no mistake - it is little more than a pause in the action. I turned the final page on one, took a sip from my martini and immediately cracked the cover on the next to continue the story. I'm sure you will too!
Paul Weiss
September 23, 2018
A very good read filled with lots of action and plenty of twists and turns. This one featured the largest ensemble yet of the series’ recurring characters.
I particularly like Diogenes’ character and the Joker-Batman complex he has with his brother. Talk about a fiction villain!
The whole book I thought that he had Aloysius’ number, but man oh man Pendergast is one crafty protagonist. Time to put a ribbon on this case.
I particularly like Diogenes’ character and the Joker-Batman complex he has with his brother. Talk about a fiction villain!
The whole book I thought that he had Aloysius’ number, but man oh man Pendergast is one crafty protagonist. Time to put a ribbon on this case.
March 14, 2017
I didn't find this as good as the others in the series. The evil brother story line seemed a bit TOO far fetched to me. Having said that, it was still a good and action packed read. I see the next one continues the story line so I hope it wraps up more satisfactorily.
July 28, 2019
This second book of a trilogy is very good.
A series of bizarre murders puts Agent Pendergast on the case. It turns out his own brother, a sick, twisted criminal genius is up to something. He's killing people Pendergast knows in spectacular ways. What is he really up to, besides punishing Pendergast?
A real page turner, very exciting.
A series of bizarre murders puts Agent Pendergast on the case. It turns out his own brother, a sick, twisted criminal genius is up to something. He's killing people Pendergast knows in spectacular ways. What is he really up to, besides punishing Pendergast?
A real page turner, very exciting.
June 22, 2017
Starting was good, writing was as usual intressting, but the ending got me disappointed by telling something very big crime Is going to happen and its another theft. Rather then making a perfect ending the author used it to continue the plot for another book.
December 9, 2017
Another great Pendergast book by Preston/Child! I’ll try for a longer review shortly. Can’t wait to read the next one, and last in the Diogenes trilogy.
December 11, 2019
En realidad serían 3,5 estrellas. Este libro me ha parecido bastante más entretenido que el anterior, mucho más ameno y adictivo. De hecho, los últimos veinte capítulos, más o menos, los leí del tirón (y me dieron casi las 2 de la madrugada). Hablar de argumento a estas alturas me parece un mal detalle por mi parte, ya que todo sería spoiler, pero solo decir que es una novela muy diferente en su forma a otros títulos de la saga, y esa distinción es un plus que hace la experiencia más atractiva.
No voy a negar que tiene sus cosas cogidas por los pelos y sus momentos de acción fantasiosa, giros y soluciones absurdas por el bien de la trama, pero no se abusa tanto de esto y por lo menos es un libro ligero y no tiene el exceso de relleno que tenía su predecesor. Está bastante mejor llevado.
Como siempre, la experiencia de leerlo en grupo con Arlenne, Silvia y Tili hace la experiencia más divertida; tenemos un humor interno ya muy fuerte con ciertos personajes y siempre nos acabamos echando unas buenas risas.
No voy a negar que tiene sus cosas cogidas por los pelos y sus momentos de acción fantasiosa, giros y soluciones absurdas por el bien de la trama, pero no se abusa tanto de esto y por lo menos es un libro ligero y no tiene el exceso de relleno que tenía su predecesor. Está bastante mejor llevado.
Como siempre, la experiencia de leerlo en grupo con Arlenne, Silvia y Tili hace la experiencia más divertida; tenemos un humor interno ya muy fuerte con ciertos personajes y siempre nos acabamos echando unas buenas risas.
August 2, 2013
Another novel in the Agent Pendergast series. In this one, his brother is the villian and has a vendetta against the main character. This book held my interest thru the whole book. The action in this book has a nice pace and you find yourself anticipating the confrontation between the two brothers. I thought this book wasn't quite as dark as other ones in this series. The only problem with this book is a cliffhangar at the end. I enjoyed this book and I believe this one is definitely worth a read.
May 19, 2021
Wow! This one was really good. Just when I thought the series might start becoming predictable or seem episodic. This seemed a lot more suspenseful than the last few and every time I had to stop I found it hard to put down. (Pesky work and sleep - haha). Diogenes is quite the Moriarty to Aloysius‘ Holmes.
Unlike some of the others in the series this one wasn’t a story wrapped around science or historical events or concepts. This is just a straightforward thriller that that doesn’t take long to get going - and once it does it is nonstop craziness. I wasn’t sure how the parallel plot lines tied together until quite late in the story. It also has basically all the main characters introduced so far into a single book. Pendergast has a weird family 🥴 - if I were part of it I would steer clear of any reunions. Overall it was well done and makes me want to see what happens next. 😀
Unlike some of the others in the series this one wasn’t a story wrapped around science or historical events or concepts. This is just a straightforward thriller that that doesn’t take long to get going - and once it does it is nonstop craziness. I wasn’t sure how the parallel plot lines tied together until quite late in the story. It also has basically all the main characters introduced so far into a single book. Pendergast has a weird family 🥴 - if I were part of it I would steer clear of any reunions. Overall it was well done and makes me want to see what happens next. 😀
February 20, 2018
This is a run of the mill action thriller and quite unlike any other book in the series so far. There is zero creepiness, we know who the antagonist is right from the start and the story is your usual serial killer messes with good cop trope. So it is very different from your usual Pendergast storylines.
There are tons of Sherlock Holmes references in this book (more so than usual). Agent Pendergast pulls a Reichenbach Falls at the end of Brimstone and, appropriately enough, comes back into an Empty House scenario. His brother is an amoral Moriarty mixed with Mycroft. And Pendergast has a faithful companion in D'Agosta.
I found Dance of Death to be passable at best and meh at worst. The only thing keeping me interested now is to see the downfall of Diogenes.
I have more reviews at my site Digital Amrit
There are tons of Sherlock Holmes references in this book (more so than usual). Agent Pendergast pulls a Reichenbach Falls at the end of Brimstone and, appropriately enough, comes back into an Empty House scenario. His brother is an amoral Moriarty mixed with Mycroft. And Pendergast has a faithful companion in D'Agosta.
I found Dance of Death to be passable at best and meh at worst. The only thing keeping me interested now is to see the downfall of Diogenes.
I have more reviews at my site Digital Amrit
March 31, 2018
This one was exceptional in this series. I like the Diogenes trilogy within the Pendergast series. This one, in particular, kept me on the edge of my seat and also tensing some muscles. There were plenty of twists and turns and some unexpected things... just wham. I mean I would think I would figure out a motive or a means to an end and then be partially right and then another twist.
I loved this one.
Diogenes is a bit much, but that is his character. I can hardly wait to see what develops from here due to how the last book was unfurled at the end.
So far this series is highly recommended.
I loved this one.
Diogenes is a bit much, but that is his character. I can hardly wait to see what develops from here due to how the last book was unfurled at the end.
So far this series is highly recommended.
July 2, 2018
Ok, I’m calling it. Book 5 was amazing but this feels like a forced revamped added season with a new director.
Gone is the golden formulaic plot of adventure, history, action, romance, and mysterious (possibly paranormal) bad guys.
Now it’s just a fraught race against a Moriarty, an animal torturer, a one note psycho.
The whole thing felt sad, stressful, and reeked of impending doom.
DNF 44% 2 Stars, minus one for animal torture.
Gone is the golden formulaic plot of adventure, history, action, romance, and mysterious (possibly paranormal) bad guys.
Now it’s just a fraught race against a Moriarty, an animal torturer, a one note psycho.
The whole thing felt sad, stressful, and reeked of impending doom.
DNF 44% 2 Stars, minus one for animal torture.
October 23, 2018
4.5 stars.
No time to write a review now, because I HAVE to start the next book immediately to finish this Diogenes trilogy within the larger Pendergast series. Just take my word for now that this is thoroughly exciting and really entertaining - notwithstanding the evil brother trope (if there is one since I don't read much of this genre).
No time to write a review now, because I HAVE to start the next book immediately to finish this Diogenes trilogy within the larger Pendergast series. Just take my word for now that this is thoroughly exciting and really entertaining - notwithstanding the evil brother trope (if there is one since I don't read much of this genre).
February 15, 2013
I was dissatisfied with this outing featuring FBI Agent Pendergast working with NYC Detective Dagosta to stop the fiendish plans of Pendergast’s twisted brother Diogenes. A “perfect crime” is promised on a certain date in the near future while along the way Pendergast is being tormented by the horrific murders of his close friends in various parts of the country. What is disappointing is how little success Pendergast has in stopping those murders. It was sad to see Pendergast so pressed against the wall with so few sparks of brilliant detection to outwit his foe. His quirky, erudite ways bring no source of joy in reading this tale. A significant section of the narrative deals with the opening of an exhibition of sacred Native American artifacts and the controversy surrounding the Tano Tribe’s demand to have their masks returned. Nothing is done to link this thread meaningfully to the plot. I read this second in a trilogy featuring Diogenes by itself. Obviously one must treat the three volumes as one long book to get any pleasure from them. But having our heroes know who the bad guy is all along undermines the usual satisfaction of experiencing Pendergast’s resolution of a mystery (e.g. I enjoyed that in Cabinet of Curiosities).
September 7, 2022
^^ this is my face ^^
I'm equal parts entertained and terrified by these stakes
It's been so good to see old friends (and nonfriends) dating back to the first book. P&C (and Scott Brick, narrating) lean into that dramatic style when it comes to their villain, and it's delicious. Scott deftly juggles the various accents, even just in New York, and I love listening to him read. All aboard the gravy train for Book of the Dead, yes?
Popsugar 2022: Takes place during your favorite season
MSBBT 2022: Not Tonight, Josephine
(Two couples and no seks? Not Tonight, Josephine indeed.)
October 6, 2011
The intelligent and luxurious thriller with a signature twist is back! Each book from this series is like a jewel but I simply loved book six and again it proved that no one can write the way this talented duo does, Pendergast is my favorite literary character, so much that I wonder what he’d do in hard situations and I picked up on his way of thinking, obviously I’m not some zen master/FBI agent with an intense IQ with the tact of a monk and stealth of a ninja but still, he’s someone you can benefit from imitating in colorful situations and even everyday life. And similarly to those good old Jackie Chan movies, he gets his behind kicked because his quests are never flawless but the flaws take the reader’s breath away and they leave them gripping the pages, at least that’s at least how I read it… he’s good but he’s not invincible and man the hardships get tough and the chases and fights are honed sharp as a scalpel. There are a lot of books out there and I love reading so I’m always on the pursuit of the written word but these are a real treat and are at the top of my list, I recommend reading this series from book one, Relic… the rush of combined story layers is worth it, if this book sounds interesting and you never read it then please do, it’s like dessert through all the courses. The previous novel left me in cold sweat about the main character’s future, book six is no different but in another way – intrigued? Yeah so was I! Framed for murders of some of his closest friends, Pendergast is on the silent hunt, he can no longer work in sunlight like a vampire yet he has to clear his name and catch his dangerous brother who’s on a quest to bring him suffering and mystery with his twisted genius mind.
I loved how each character had an interesting part in this story because all my favorites were back; Constance, Prior, Steinback, Nora Kelly, Margo Green, Hawthorne and of course D’Agosta, each one of those people felt like a pillar of strength in this part of the series, like a good meal the balance is about working in harmony to create a complex environment for the story to shine in and everyone was just great. Some nasty scares were thrown in and I was right about one thing, which is a huge spoiler but I was right about a certain person and their fate which made me feel even more connected to the series. This is part two of the Diogenes trilogy ( if its confusing then you can blame not reading it in order) inserted into the main series plot and it leaves you wanting to read more, major good and bad things happen and the future is both scary and enticing… fans of museums, murder mysteries, New York City at it’s finest and great stories that both entertain beyond the meaning of the word this is it, no spoilers from these lips read for yourself to see what happens – I only read the reviews after I read the book.
I loved how each character had an interesting part in this story because all my favorites were back; Constance, Prior, Steinback, Nora Kelly, Margo Green, Hawthorne and of course D’Agosta, each one of those people felt like a pillar of strength in this part of the series, like a good meal the balance is about working in harmony to create a complex environment for the story to shine in and everyone was just great. Some nasty scares were thrown in and I was right about one thing, which is a huge spoiler but I was right about a certain person and their fate which made me feel even more connected to the series. This is part two of the Diogenes trilogy ( if its confusing then you can blame not reading it in order) inserted into the main series plot and it leaves you wanting to read more, major good and bad things happen and the future is both scary and enticing… fans of museums, murder mysteries, New York City at it’s finest and great stories that both entertain beyond the meaning of the word this is it, no spoilers from these lips read for yourself to see what happens – I only read the reviews after I read the book.
April 30, 2025
Don’t even think of reading book six about good guy Special FBI agent Aloysius Pendergast, ‘Dance of Death’, which is actually part two by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, unless you’ve read part one (book five), Brimstone, the beginning of a trilogy within the series which involves Diogenes Pendergast, evil genius! Even better, start with book one, Relic, the beginning of the entire series. There are continuing characters and plot threads throughout the series.
I have copied the book blurb:
’Hot on the trail of a killer in Manhattan, FBI Special Agent Pendergast must face his most brilliant and dangerous enemy: his own brother.
Two brothers.
One a top FBI agent.
The other a brilliant, twisted criminal.
An undying hatred between them.
Now, a perfect crime.
And the ultimate challenge:
Stop me if you can...
These three books, ‘Brimstone’, ‘Dance of Death’, and hopefully, ‘The Book of the Dead’ (book seven) which I will read next, are dreadfully exciting! The first two books in this trilogy end in horrible cliffhangers, so, one must continue!
I have copied the book blurb:
’Hot on the trail of a killer in Manhattan, FBI Special Agent Pendergast must face his most brilliant and dangerous enemy: his own brother.
Two brothers.
One a top FBI agent.
The other a brilliant, twisted criminal.
An undying hatred between them.
Now, a perfect crime.
And the ultimate challenge:
Stop me if you can...
These three books, ‘Brimstone’, ‘Dance of Death’, and hopefully, ‘The Book of the Dead’ (book seven) which I will read next, are dreadfully exciting! The first two books in this trilogy end in horrible cliffhangers, so, one must continue!
June 13, 2024
Review #2 - June 2024
I decided the time had come to actually make it passed book 6 in this series. I wondered if I'd feel differently nearly ten years later. I also hoped listening to the audiobook would get me through.
It had been so long that I had actually forgotten what bothered me so badly. I just had STRONG negative feelings.
It didn't take long before it all came rushing back what made me so angry.
What made the other books so fun is that they each center on one big mystery that usually involves something bordering sci-fi/horror. I feel like this book has come a long way since Relic. In this book the good guys are just spinning their wheels trying to catch up to Diogenes. We already know who the bad guy is, from almost the first crime you know exactly what he's planning and the only "surprise" is one extra crime in the end which is an incredibly boring .
D'Agosta is happily living his life with Laura (probably the only part of this book I actually like) when a bombshell is dropped on him. Constance gives him a letter from Pendergast stating that if Pendergast is dead, D'Agosta will need to track down Pendergast's deadly brother, Diogenes. D'Agosta trusts Pendergast and immediately gets to work. He's in for an even bigger surprise when Pendergast turns up alive.
Everything goes sideways from there. Diogenes hates his bro and is determined to ruin in his life. And that's pretty much the whole plot. The whole big plot is them chasing him and it is WAY too long which I don't usually feel about this series, where all the books are pretty long.
All the characters from past books are back together in this book. Margo and Nora Kelly are working at the museum, Smithback is chasing stories, D'Agosta and Laura are living their lives, even Connie Swanson makes a cameo. Eli Glinn shows up, and weirdly, he was probably my favorite one to see again, even though I didn't like him much in Ice Limit. I like him a lot more in this book and he's the only thing I'm looking forward to in book 7. Viola and Agent Coffey make an appearance at the end.
I kind of have this feeling that book 7 is going to be a lot like this one and I'm not super excited about it. I keep telling myself I just need to get through it and then hopefully the rest of the series will be more fun, like books 1-4. One can only hope.
Review #1 - March 2015
NOOOOOOOOOOO!
I could feel it coming in book 5 and now here it is. I'm so frustrated with this story. I really am. I've been loving Pendergast so much, but I can't stand this. It's so obvious where this whole story is going and I hate it. I don't like knowing the end at the beginning, especially when the end is so full of crap.
So I'm mad.
Really, really, really, mad.
And just a little bit heartbroken.
I haven't quite decided what I'll do. I kept trying to read it but I was too frustrated. I made it to page 110. I'm considering my options. Possibly I'll skip ahead to book 8, but something in me rebels against skipping books. Le sigh.
For now, I'm shelving this. (April 9, 2015)
I decided the time had come to actually make it passed book 6 in this series. I wondered if I'd feel differently nearly ten years later. I also hoped listening to the audiobook would get me through.
It had been so long that I had actually forgotten what bothered me so badly. I just had STRONG negative feelings.
It didn't take long before it all came rushing back what made me so angry.
What made the other books so fun is that they each center on one big mystery that usually involves something bordering sci-fi/horror. I feel like this book has come a long way since Relic. In this book the good guys are just spinning their wheels trying to catch up to Diogenes. We already know who the bad guy is, from almost the first crime you know exactly what he's planning and the only "surprise" is one extra crime in the end which is an incredibly boring .
D'Agosta is happily living his life with Laura (probably the only part of this book I actually like) when a bombshell is dropped on him. Constance gives him a letter from Pendergast stating that if Pendergast is dead, D'Agosta will need to track down Pendergast's deadly brother, Diogenes. D'Agosta trusts Pendergast and immediately gets to work. He's in for an even bigger surprise when Pendergast turns up alive.
Everything goes sideways from there. Diogenes hates his bro and is determined to ruin in his life. And that's pretty much the whole plot. The whole big plot is them chasing him and it is WAY too long which I don't usually feel about this series, where all the books are pretty long.
All the characters from past books are back together in this book. Margo and Nora Kelly are working at the museum, Smithback is chasing stories, D'Agosta and Laura are living their lives, even Connie Swanson makes a cameo. Eli Glinn shows up, and weirdly, he was probably my favorite one to see again, even though I didn't like him much in Ice Limit. I like him a lot more in this book and he's the only thing I'm looking forward to in book 7. Viola and Agent Coffey make an appearance at the end.
I kind of have this feeling that book 7 is going to be a lot like this one and I'm not super excited about it. I keep telling myself I just need to get through it and then hopefully the rest of the series will be more fun, like books 1-4. One can only hope.
Review #1 - March 2015
NOOOOOOOOOOO!
I could feel it coming in book 5 and now here it is. I'm so frustrated with this story. I really am. I've been loving Pendergast so much, but I can't stand this. It's so obvious where this whole story is going and I hate it. I don't like knowing the end at the beginning, especially when the end is so full of crap.
So I'm mad.
Really, really, really, mad.
And just a little bit heartbroken.
I haven't quite decided what I'll do. I kept trying to read it but I was too frustrated. I made it to page 110. I'm considering my options. Possibly I'll skip ahead to book 8, but something in me rebels against skipping books. Le sigh.
For now, I'm shelving this. (April 9, 2015)
November 16, 2020
4/5
Nunca me cansaré de Pendergast <3
Nunca me cansaré de Pendergast <3
February 1, 2018
I love this series! Full review later.
I think the series gets better as it adds to its own history. By book 7 we have come over 3,000 pages with these characters yet I feel like I am just getting to know Pendergast. He is the tip of the ice-berg with 90% below the surface type of guy, and a big part of that is his evil brother (not quite an evil twin, but close) and the dynamic of that relationship.
Diogenes takes center stage in this one, eclipsing Special Agent Pendergast himself, and proves to be a very credible and diabolical villain and perfect counterweight to Pendergast's almost superhuman abilities. This is a battle of equals and the only result that matters is the utter destruction of the other.
Much like Frankenstein's creature in Shelley, Diogenes seeks to destroy Pendergast, who he blames for his evil nature and for ruining his life (more about that later) and, like the creature, his destruction is to be achieved not with a bullet to the head of his brother (too easy) but by killing everyone he holds dear and leaving him alive to live with the pain. And a few worse things as well.
Great second book in this trilogy. In fact, it set up the finale so well that I had to move a few books on the TBR pile around to start on Book of the Dead (#8) to find out what happens.
As usual Dance of Death is full of thrilling action sequences, clever plot twists, and enough history and interesting background material to satisfy anyone who loves an intelligent thriller.
I think the series gets better as it adds to its own history. By book 7 we have come over 3,000 pages with these characters yet I feel like I am just getting to know Pendergast. He is the tip of the ice-berg with 90% below the surface type of guy, and a big part of that is his evil brother (not quite an evil twin, but close) and the dynamic of that relationship.
Diogenes takes center stage in this one, eclipsing Special Agent Pendergast himself, and proves to be a very credible and diabolical villain and perfect counterweight to Pendergast's almost superhuman abilities. This is a battle of equals and the only result that matters is the utter destruction of the other.
Much like Frankenstein's creature in Shelley, Diogenes seeks to destroy Pendergast, who he blames for his evil nature and for ruining his life (more about that later) and, like the creature, his destruction is to be achieved not with a bullet to the head of his brother (too easy) but by killing everyone he holds dear and leaving him alive to live with the pain. And a few worse things as well.
Great second book in this trilogy. In fact, it set up the finale so well that I had to move a few books on the TBR pile around to start on Book of the Dead (#8) to find out what happens.
As usual Dance of Death is full of thrilling action sequences, clever plot twists, and enough history and interesting background material to satisfy anyone who loves an intelligent thriller.
September 22, 2019
Book 2 of the Diogenes trilogy. Oh my, this one went into overdrive. I don't know where to begin but after the cliffhanger ending of the previous book I pretty much had to reach for this one straight away. Diogenes is one sick fucker and Pendergast is turning into an action hero before our very eyes. Not only is he the most brilliant man on earth he also has mad fighting skills and enough money to allow him to do/get anything he wants at the click of a finger. He also has loyal acolytes that would lay down their lives for him. What's not to love? OK its a tad unbelievable but, hey, if you're going to shell out hard cash to buy a Douglas Preston book you should expect the unexpected. Now for the finale!
October 26, 2021
“ไม่มีใครเกิดมาเป็นปีศาจ”
กรีดร้องงงงง เล่มนี้กดดันมากๆ กดดันสุดๆ
พี่น้องอัจฉริยะวิปลาส
อลอยเซียส VS ไดโอจีนีส เพนเดอร์แกสต์
ไล่ล่ากันแบบไม���บันยะบันยัง
ไดโอจีเนียสเกลียดพี่ชายเข้ากระดูกดำ แต่เพราะความเกลียดชังนี้ถึงทำให้ไดโอจีนีสมีชีวิตต่อได้
การดำรงอยู่ของอลอยเซียส จึงหมายถึงการดำรงอยู่ของไดโอจีนีส
ส่วนอลอยเซียสพี่ชายแสนดียังไม่รู้ตัวนะ ว่าทำอะไรน้องไว้ น้องถึงได้เกลียดขนาดนี้ นางก็ยังจินตนาการว่าเป็นจากสายเลือดไม่เกี่ยวกะนาง แต่ชั้นรู้ ชั้นเห็น ชั้นอ่านสปอยล์มาแล้ว 😝😝
จบค้างคาขนาดนี้ รีบอ่านเล่มต่อไปด่วน
ปล.ชอบชื่อเรื่องแปลภาษาไทยนะ เพราะดี ปกก็สวย ขรึม ขลัง
กรีดร้องงงงง เล่มนี้กดดันมากๆ กดดันสุดๆ
พี่น้องอัจฉริยะวิปลาส
อลอยเซียส VS ไดโอจีนีส เพนเดอร์แกสต์
ไล่ล่ากันแบบไม���บันยะบันยัง
ไดโอจีเนียสเกลียดพี่ชายเข้ากระดูกดำ แต่เพราะความเกลียดชังนี้ถึงทำให้ไดโอจีนีสมีชีวิตต่อได้
การดำรงอยู่ของอลอยเซียส จึงหมายถึงการดำรงอยู่ของไดโอจีนีส
ส่วนอลอยเซียสพี่ชายแสนดียังไม่รู้ตัวนะ ว่าทำอะไรน้องไว้ น้องถึงได้เกลียดขนาดนี้ นางก็ยังจินตนาการว่าเป็นจากสายเลือดไม่เกี่ยวกะนาง แต่ชั้นรู้ ชั้นเห็น ชั้นอ่านสปอยล์มาแล้ว 😝😝
จบค้างคาขนาดนี้ รีบอ่านเล่มต่อไปด่วน
ปล.ชอบชื่อเรื่องแปลภาษาไทยนะ เพราะดี ปกก็สวย ขรึม ขลัง
March 23, 2014
I feel as if I'm coming to the end of my rope, in regards to the Preston & Child, Pendergast Series. On one hand, there's a lot of good in every book. On the other...there's just so much bad. And with each ensuing book, I feel like I've lost the want and will to continue, a bit more.
This is the second book in a row, as part of this series, that ends unfinished. If you can't tell a complete story in over 450 pages then you're doing a poor job of writing. And some will argue that the points of this particular case are wrapped up--and that is true--to an extent, though our hero, Agent Pendergast, once again, winds up in a precarious position to end the story and once again, it seems a bit contrived to me. I don't mind a series of books, even within a series, as this one is, but it's important to give the reader a little something. You can't just continue to stack up mystery after mystery without ever answering any of the questions a reader has--if you fail to answer a reader's question, without subjecting them to another installment, the book fails.
This book left me of two minds. One part of me wants to read the next book to see how it all comes out. The other part of me has no faith in these authors that they will satisfactorily conclude the series and answer my questions, meaning the book will only serve to aggravate me further.
It might not be such a big deal if the pace of the book was better. Unfortunately, I was at the halfway point of the book before it found it's stride. Until that point, I found myself skimming through unnecessary scene after unnecessary scene. I found myself groaning as I'd flip a page to see that I was going back to visit yet another character plucked from one of the previous books--characters that I didn't care for the first time around, in most cases. And the one I did actually like--Corrie Swanson--had only about 5 pages. I found myself rooting for all of these retread characters to get killed.
The second half of the book rolled a bit better. The pace picked up. It was terrible getting to that point, but once it got there, the story was excellent. The back half was good enough, until the end, to make me want to read on...but I know I'll have to get through what seems to be the modus operandi of these writers, once again: I'll have to get through half a book that would be better if edited out and replaced with a summary of the events that were to take place. I'll, no doubt, be subjected to boring characters like Margo Green and Bill Smithback that I just don't care about.
I'm also getting a bit tired of all these characters with super human intelligence. First Pendergast--who is still a poorly drawn character--and now his brother Diogenes, who is even smarter than Pendergast and, apparently, the world's most dangerous man. Then, just for fun, another amazingly smart character is introduced in this story, for a chapter, and then forgotten until the epilogue.
I don't know. I'm frustrated. I'm frustrated that I put so much time into this book and here, at the end, I haven't witnessed the needle being pushed very far from where it was when I started. I feel like I could have read the final three or four chapters, along with the epilogue and skipped the rest without having missed anything important.
I honestly don't even think I want to know how it all ends because I care--I just want to know because I've already put this much time into it.
Anyway. Those are my thoughts. I wouldn't recommend this book. It's poorly edited and incomplete.
This is the second book in a row, as part of this series, that ends unfinished. If you can't tell a complete story in over 450 pages then you're doing a poor job of writing. And some will argue that the points of this particular case are wrapped up--and that is true--to an extent, though our hero, Agent Pendergast, once again, winds up in a precarious position to end the story and once again, it seems a bit contrived to me. I don't mind a series of books, even within a series, as this one is, but it's important to give the reader a little something. You can't just continue to stack up mystery after mystery without ever answering any of the questions a reader has--if you fail to answer a reader's question, without subjecting them to another installment, the book fails.
This book left me of two minds. One part of me wants to read the next book to see how it all comes out. The other part of me has no faith in these authors that they will satisfactorily conclude the series and answer my questions, meaning the book will only serve to aggravate me further.
It might not be such a big deal if the pace of the book was better. Unfortunately, I was at the halfway point of the book before it found it's stride. Until that point, I found myself skimming through unnecessary scene after unnecessary scene. I found myself groaning as I'd flip a page to see that I was going back to visit yet another character plucked from one of the previous books--characters that I didn't care for the first time around, in most cases. And the one I did actually like--Corrie Swanson--had only about 5 pages. I found myself rooting for all of these retread characters to get killed.
The second half of the book rolled a bit better. The pace picked up. It was terrible getting to that point, but once it got there, the story was excellent. The back half was good enough, until the end, to make me want to read on...but I know I'll have to get through what seems to be the modus operandi of these writers, once again: I'll have to get through half a book that would be better if edited out and replaced with a summary of the events that were to take place. I'll, no doubt, be subjected to boring characters like Margo Green and Bill Smithback that I just don't care about.
I'm also getting a bit tired of all these characters with super human intelligence. First Pendergast--who is still a poorly drawn character--and now his brother Diogenes, who is even smarter than Pendergast and, apparently, the world's most dangerous man. Then, just for fun, another amazingly smart character is introduced in this story, for a chapter, and then forgotten until the epilogue.
I don't know. I'm frustrated. I'm frustrated that I put so much time into this book and here, at the end, I haven't witnessed the needle being pushed very far from where it was when I started. I feel like I could have read the final three or four chapters, along with the epilogue and skipped the rest without having missed anything important.
I honestly don't even think I want to know how it all ends because I care--I just want to know because I've already put this much time into it.
Anyway. Those are my thoughts. I wouldn't recommend this book. It's poorly edited and incomplete.
December 26, 2019
When we last left FBI Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast, he had been entombed in the fashion of Poe's "Cask of Amontillado," behind a brick wall of Castel Fosco. Near death, he is rescued by his seriously disturbed, estranged brother, Diogenes, who needs his brother alive because Pendergast is integral to a plot he has planned. Once Aloysius returns from the dead, people dear to Aloysius begins to be murdered in varying fashions, the meaning of each known only to Pendergast. Aided by NYC police detective Vincent D'Agosta, Pendergast begins a cat-and-mouse search for Diogenes before another death occurs. But which one of the brothers is the cat and which one is the mouse?
This novel is the middle novel of a triptych known as the Diogenes trilogy, which is nestled within the Pendergast series. The trilogy includes the preceding Brimstone and ends with The Book of the Dead. It is rare that I give a five-star rating to thriller-suspense novel within a series, but I believe that this one deserves such as a rating. First, Pendergast's deductive reasoning is equally matched by his psychologically-flawed brother, who always seems one step ahead of his attempt to stop him. Tension builds to a high pitch as Pendergast and D'Agosta try to avoid the police (explanation would be a spoiler) as they try to catch Diogenes. I enjoyed the Holmes-Watson comparison between Pendergast and D'Agosta as they search for clues regarding who will die next. Finally, I enjoyed the side stories of the other major characters as Pendergast tries to protect them or they become entangled in the web that Diogenes weaves to ensnare them. Of course, there is also that "I didn't see that coming" moment which when combined with the other novel attributes, make this novel stand out from the others I have read thus far. One could omit reading the first in the trilogy since Diogenes plays a minimal role in it, but I would not read Dance of Death without reading the following novel since this one ends in a cliff-hanger. Although I don't generally read two in one series back-to-back, I have to make an exception in this case. Now back to the book!
This novel is the middle novel of a triptych known as the Diogenes trilogy, which is nestled within the Pendergast series. The trilogy includes the preceding Brimstone and ends with The Book of the Dead. It is rare that I give a five-star rating to thriller-suspense novel within a series, but I believe that this one deserves such as a rating. First, Pendergast's deductive reasoning is equally matched by his psychologically-flawed brother, who always seems one step ahead of his attempt to stop him. Tension builds to a high pitch as Pendergast and D'Agosta try to avoid the police (explanation would be a spoiler) as they try to catch Diogenes. I enjoyed the Holmes-Watson comparison between Pendergast and D'Agosta as they search for clues regarding who will die next. Finally, I enjoyed the side stories of the other major characters as Pendergast tries to protect them or they become entangled in the web that Diogenes weaves to ensnare them. Of course, there is also that "I didn't see that coming" moment which when combined with the other novel attributes, make this novel stand out from the others I have read thus far. One could omit reading the first in the trilogy since Diogenes plays a minimal role in it, but I would not read Dance of Death without reading the following novel since this one ends in a cliff-hanger. Although I don't generally read two in one series back-to-back, I have to make an exception in this case. Now back to the book!
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