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tasuskind's review against another edition
5.0
Another chapter of the Agent Pendergast saga. Preston/Childs know how to write a good thriller, and Pendergast is always an engaging character.
kyle120888's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
emertbyrne's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rosies_elfhame's review against another edition
5.0
Уха.. От толкова много време не съм чела трилъри и сега не мога да се съвзема. Престън и Чайлд никога не разочароват, а тази книга беше напрежение от начало до край. Бих дала 6 от 5 звезди, ако можех 🌸
mrsbear's review against another edition
5.0
The story opens with Special Agent Pendergast and his beloved wife Helen on safari in Africa where Helen was mauled and killed by a lion. We have heard bits and pieces of Helen in other books but we never really knew the whole story other than she had died. Now we find out all the details. Pendergast enlists the help of another old friend, Vincent D'Agosta to help him get to the bottom of things.
I loved this book! I love all the books in the Pendergast series but some touch me more than others and this was one of those. In all the years I have been reading and cheering Pendergast on, I have always wondered about Helen, how they met, what happened to her and why he doesn't like to talk about her. In this book we see that "soft" side of Pendergast. Of course he is still following his own rules and doing things his own way which is why we love him isn't it?
I enjoy the comaraderie between the police liutenant, D'Agosta and the FBI agent, Pendergast. We see a heated and at times comical interaction with Laura Haywood, D'Agosta's girlfriend and Pendergast, who she is not fond of. We have the classic cliffhangers of Preston and Child that make us want the next book right now. As in most books in the series, there are stories within stories and never a dull moment. The book moves along at a quick pace and holds your interest from page one.
While they say the books can be read as stand alone books, I feel that knowing the characters and the back stories always make them a more enjoyable read. I don't think I would start with this one if you haven't read the others but that is just my opinion.
I loved this book! I love all the books in the Pendergast series but some touch me more than others and this was one of those. In all the years I have been reading and cheering Pendergast on, I have always wondered about Helen, how they met, what happened to her and why he doesn't like to talk about her. In this book we see that "soft" side of Pendergast. Of course he is still following his own rules and doing things his own way which is why we love him isn't it?
I enjoy the comaraderie between the police liutenant, D'Agosta and the FBI agent, Pendergast. We see a heated and at times comical interaction with Laura Haywood, D'Agosta's girlfriend and Pendergast, who she is not fond of. We have the classic cliffhangers of Preston and Child that make us want the next book right now. As in most books in the series, there are stories within stories and never a dull moment. The book moves along at a quick pace and holds your interest from page one.
While they say the books can be read as stand alone books, I feel that knowing the characters and the back stories always make them a more enjoyable read. I don't think I would start with this one if you haven't read the others but that is just my opinion.
ithilwen22's review against another edition
3.0
I absolutely loved this book. It had a quiet, Gothic mystery feel to it. I love the background on Audobon, and the slow build to the big mystery that is the Helen trilogy. The only downside is that we are shown outright who the villain is, which I think was a misstep on the authors' part. The revelation of it in the next book falls rather flat as a result. Still, I felt this was an excellent beginning. (And, happily, the end of Nagging!Hayward and back to Reasonable!Hayward. Thank goodness.)
posies23's review against another edition
4.0
Another very solid entry in the long-running Pendergast series. This one hinges on the death of Pendergast's wife Helen, which happened 12 years ago. Evidence comes to light that it may not have been a hunting accident, but something more mysterious. As usual, things quickly turn complicated, adventurous and intriguing.
Several characters from past novels show up, but this one is largely a stand-alone novel. There are several dangling plot-lines at the end, which I'm sure will be resolved in the sequel.
This book is particularly fun because it has none of the supernatural or psuedo-supernatural angles that some of the previous novels hinged on. It's an old-fashioned mystery, albeit with the usual Preston and Child techno-science and gothic elements.
Well worth your time.
(Unfortunately, I'm now caught up with the series, and have to wait until August 2011 for the next installment!)
Several characters from past novels show up, but this one is largely a stand-alone novel. There are several dangling plot-lines at the end, which I'm sure will be resolved in the sequel.
This book is particularly fun because it has none of the supernatural or psuedo-supernatural angles that some of the previous novels hinged on. It's an old-fashioned mystery, albeit with the usual Preston and Child techno-science and gothic elements.
Well worth your time.
(Unfortunately, I'm now caught up with the series, and have to wait until August 2011 for the next installment!)
cemoses's review against another edition
3.0
This is the first Pendergast mystery I read and I liked the character Pendergast.
I liked the first half of the book alot-would have given in a four stars. However, the novel ends up as mostly an action story which I did not like.
I liked the first half of the book alot-would have given in a four stars. However, the novel ends up as mostly an action story which I did not like.
luciearan's review against another edition
5.0
Jednotlivé díly Pendergasta, jsou pro mě sázkou na jistotu a vím, že nebudu zklamaná. Když se ale celý příběh stane osobním, dodá mu to daleko větší hloubku. A přesně tak, je tomu i v případě knihy Horečnatý sen.
Dosud jsme se toho mnoho o Pendergastově soukromí nedozvěděli, natož pak, o jeho manželství. A tak vhled do jeho soukromí, rozhodně zaujme. A jelikož sám Pendergast působí značně nekonvenčně, je jasné, že ani jeho manželka, nebude zrovna tuctovou ženou. Čím ho tedy zaujala, proč a za jakých okolností zemřela? Nic není, jak se na první pohled zdálo, a tak se rozbíhá kolotoč plný tajemství a odhalení, která vás jednoznačně vtáhnou do děje a nepustí, až do samotného konce.
Za mě je tato kniha zatím jedním z nejlepších dílů této série.
Dosud jsme se toho mnoho o Pendergastově soukromí nedozvěděli, natož pak, o jeho manželství. A tak vhled do jeho soukromí, rozhodně zaujme. A jelikož sám Pendergast působí značně nekonvenčně, je jasné, že ani jeho manželka, nebude zrovna tuctovou ženou. Čím ho tedy zaujala, proč a za jakých okolností zemřela? Nic není, jak se na první pohled zdálo, a tak se rozbíhá kolotoč plný tajemství a odhalení, která vás jednoznačně vtáhnou do děje a nepustí, až do samotného konce.
Za mě je tato kniha zatím jedním z nejlepších dílů této série.
amightylittleread's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0