I’m staying up to date and continuing to work through this series. There are so many novels that this duo has written as part of the Pendergast series that it is daunting. But I feel like I will eventually catch up, especially if I keep reading one book from this series every month or so! Anyways, enough rambling, here is my review:
Behind the gates of a fabulous Hamptons estate, FBI Special Agent Pendergast comes upon the carnage of a gruesome crime: one that recalls the legendary horrors that befall those who make a Faustian pact with the devil. Surrounded by the choking stench of brimstone, the smoldering remains of art critic Jeremy Grove are found in a locked, barricaded attic next to a hoofprint singed into the floorboards. Unable to resist a case that defies all but supernatural logic, Pendergast reunites with police officer Vincent D’Agosta to search for a more earthly explanation. But their investigation soon takes them from the luxury estates of Long Island and penthouses of New York City to the crumbling, legend-shrouded castles of the Italian countryside, where thirty years ago four men conjured up something unspeakable.
Once again, the authors have produced an intense and intriguing read that had me in its grip from the first page. I love Pendergast and I love how he is constantly changing with each novel. There are so many aspects to him and I cannot wait to catch more glimpses of them! I’m glad that the authors brought D’Agosta back; he was a really interesting character and I hope that he continues to play a strong role in the series. There are two other characters who were introduced in this novel, but I’m not going to mention anything about them for fear of spoilers; I’m looking forward to seeing how the authors will flesh them out in the upcoming novels. I found the mystery itself to be very intriguing; anything hinting at paranormal activity will get me going! With the Pendergast series, I find that I’m always tricked into believing that something supernatural is the cause, only to find out I’m completely wrong. I will admit that this was not one of my favorites; the reveal was not as strong as it could be and the ending was a tad bit lackluster compared to other novels in the series. However, it was still an engaging read and I’m excited to see what the authors have in store in the next Pendergast novel!
Happy reading ~