I have a couple of friends that I like to talk books with. While discussing favorite characters my friend Kevin mentioned his favorites was Special Agent Aloysius X.L. Pendergast featured in books by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I wasn't sure what to listen to next on Audible, so I figured I would give Relic, the first book featuring Pendergast, a try. I was not disappointed in the book or by Pendergast. I was expecting Pendergast to feature as the main character, but was a little surprised to find him as a mid book addition to the cast. With that said the character was a compelling one who didn't overshadow the main characters of Margo Green, Bill Smithback, or Vincent D'Agosta. He didn't take anything away from them and brought a lot himself. Wikipedia calls the book a "techno-thriller." I would describe it as a sci-fi mystery/horror with the authors not pulling any punches when it comes to the consequences of having a natural killer loose. The book does feel dated in some of its references to technology, but holds up well in other areas. Here's a link to the Audible page for the book. It was narrated by David Colacci who did a great job. Not only were the characters individually distinguishable but effects were used for when characters were speaking via radio or in a cavernous space.
Plot: The Museum of Natural History in New York is opening its biggest, most impressive, and most important exhibition in a week and nothing is going to stop it. Not even a trail of bodies. Margo Green, a Ph.D candidate working at the museum, watches as the police try to solve these murders without success. But as more and more clues about the murder weapon and the state of the bodies comes to light Margo is forced to acknowledge that the killer may not be human. Drafted by her mentor, Dr. Frock, and with the help of a resourceful, if slightly egotistical journalist Margo dives deep into the history of a failed expedition, evolutionary biology, and the museum's sub-basement to find and end the killer. Meanwhile, Lt. Vincent D'Agosta, a NYPD officer, and Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast of the FBI (Baton Rouge office), regardless of what their superiors are doing, are trying to keep everyone safe from what may be humanities only natural predator.
My personal favorites: The characters were great. Both the ones I was cheering for and the ones I despised. The narration brought them to life and the writing made them real. Pendergast, like my friend said, was a lot of fun even thought he shows up towards the middle. I really like Lt. D'Agosta, a cop who is dead set on doing the right thing for people and who still cares enough that he struggles watching an autopsy. The creature itself was terrifying and a great work of plausible science and motivations. I was also impressed with the consequences that resulted when things came apart. While a review or two might say that the museum would never have launched the exhibition with the deaths the results of what happen when they launch it are very believable and rather well thought out. It was an exciting read and made for some good suspense.
Considerations: This book does feature gruesome murder: evisceration, decapitation, and other grisly motis operandi. There is very little description of the events occurring, but the aftermath is described. The level of description tends to vary on the character and with a journalist and a police officer being two of the POV characters they tend to keep the descriptions objective. There is an autopsy scene were the injuries are described in detail but in a purely clinical fashion. There is also strong language in the book, used appropriately and only by certain characters. There is no sensual or sexual content.
My wife makes fun of me for my inability to sit quietly though horror films, but I do like good suspense. At times this felt like horror - a gruesome killer loose in a public place - but it was a well written suspense and I found it quite enjoyable. The total length was just over 13 hours.
My personal favorites: The characters were great. Both the ones I was cheering for and the ones I despised. The narration brought them to life and the writing made them real. Pendergast, like my friend said, was a lot of fun even thought he shows up towards the middle. I really like Lt. D'Agosta, a cop who is dead set on doing the right thing for people and who still cares enough that he struggles watching an autopsy. The creature itself was terrifying and a great work of plausible science and motivations. I was also impressed with the consequences that resulted when things came apart. While a review or two might say that the museum would never have launched the exhibition with the deaths the results of what happen when they launch it are very believable and rather well thought out. It was an exciting read and made for some good suspense.
Considerations: This book does feature gruesome murder: evisceration, decapitation, and other grisly motis operandi. There is very little description of the events occurring, but the aftermath is described. The level of description tends to vary on the character and with a journalist and a police officer being two of the POV characters they tend to keep the descriptions objective. There is an autopsy scene were the injuries are described in detail but in a purely clinical fashion. There is also strong language in the book, used appropriately and only by certain characters. There is no sensual or sexual content.
My wife makes fun of me for my inability to sit quietly though horror films, but I do like good suspense. At times this felt like horror - a gruesome killer loose in a public place - but it was a well written suspense and I found it quite enjoyable. The total length was just over 13 hours.
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