City of Endless Night (Pendergast, #17) in Pendergast Task Force

Jan 28, 2018 Gatorman rated it liked it

Likable yet overly familiar entry in the Pendergast series about a series of murders and beheadings plaguing New York to which Pendergast and D'Agosta are called upon to solve. There's not much new or original with the mystery and it plays out in typical fashion. Too many contrivances and convenient plot developments for my liking, and D'Agosta is too often portrayed as a bumbling oaf, but the characters and setting are comforting and the writing is on par with past efforts in the series. Once a ...more

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Mar 10, 2018 Spynonu rated it liked it · review of another edition

This book is a step up from recent Pendergast novels but it was still a disappointment. Pendergast in this novel is mopey and I dare say - love sick. He has lost his edge and his personality. At the first murder scene he laments that he is being punished and obviously feels that the crime is beneath his skills as an investigator. He is, of course, wrong- or is he?

Throughout the book Pendergast is outsmarted by the murderer. His skills at manipulating people are useless and at one point has to be This book is a step up from recent Pendergast novels but it was still a disappointment. Pendergast in this novel is mopey and I dare say - love sick. He has lost his edge and his personality. At the first murder scene he laments that he is being punished and obviously feels that the crime is beneath his skills as an investigator. He is, of course, wrong- or is he?

Throughout the book Pendergast is outsmarted by the murderer. His skills at manipulating people are useless and at one point has to beg for additional power from the FBI. The investigation is wound through with the side stories of news reporter Harriman and a nut job name Swope. Neither of the characters or sidelines add anything to the story. I kept waiting for the stories to converge but in this I was disappointed.

In the drawn out -most dangerous game- conclusion to chasing the baddie, we find Pendergast at the mercy of his opponent way too many times. The usual clever and imaginative Pendergast was no where to be seen. Hoping for a "Gotcha" moment when Pendergast at last outsmarts his quarry I was again disappointed as the game wound down with a whimper instead of a bang. We are then left with Pendergast profusely apologizing for his failings to the point of being annoying. It would be nice if the other characters could manage a little cleverness themselves instead of always awaiting Pendergast for rescue. It may have also been a fun twist to an otherwise dull wrap up to the capture of the killer.

The epilogue was no surprise but I am not really sure the authors can make this pairing work. Pendergast is best when he is chasing mysterious monsters with his friends. I hope the authors will wind back to that formula.

As a post note- the audio version of this story was not the best. I love Rene Aberjonois reading of the Pendergast novels but this book appeared to have missing bits of the story edited in. It was obvious because the voice and intonation were not at all the same. Distracting and disappointing to say the least. ...more

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Oct 17, 2017 Tad rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, thriller

City of Endless Night sees the return of Special Agent Pendergast to New York City and pairs him once again with Lieutenant Vincent D’Agosta. When a young socialite is found in an abandoned warehouse missing her head, it seems like a very personal crime. Soon, however, more victims appear, also missing their heads. This time murdered in seemingly highly secure if not impregnable locations.

NYC loves nothing so much as a juicy story. Once word leaks out that there is a serial killer stalking the ...more

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Mar 04, 2018 Chris rated it liked it

A new Pendergast book is always a good read but the last few entries in the series have felt somewhat lackluster. This one particular felt as if it had less mystery and more action. The side characters are all somehow less interesting than before and you don't quite get as invested in them. Perhaps a result of the series aging.

I'd still recommend it but it has been a long time since the series blew me away. It is a reliable read, like the meal you always order out of habit. It seems to lack sur ...more

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