Cemetery DanceSo I finally got around to reading the 9th Pendergast novel, Cemetery Dance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Here’s the basic synopsis from their website:

William Smithback, a New York Times reporter, and his wife Nora Kelly, a Museum of Natural History archaeologist, are brutally attacked in their apartment on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

Eyewitnesses claim, and the security camera confirms, that the assailant was their strange, sinister neighbor-a man who, by all reports, was already dead and buried weeks earlier.

While Captain Laura Hayward leads the official investigation, Pendergast and Lieutenant Vincent D’Agosta undertake their own private-and decidedly unorthodox-quest for the truth. Their serpentine journey takes them to an enclave of Manhattan they never imagined could exist: a secretive, reclusive cult of Obeah and vodou which no outsiders have ever survived.

I was thrilled to hear that some characters were returning in the new story, as I do love their little crossovers they have from various other novels, not relating to the Pendergast novels. Before I start the review, I have to say I really liked the book, although there were some things I’ve had an issue with. (look in the spoilers.) That being said, there are spoilers for the book (yes they’re really spoilers!) and don’t read them if you don’t want to know what happens in the book. Spoilers after the bump.

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First of all, let me just say whoa, did they really kill off Smithback? Wow, no one is safe. Here I thought he would always be a main character, but I guess they just had enough of him and decided to write him out. I’m very glad they didn’t get rid of Nora Kelly, however because if they did, I’d have been really upset. Of course, the enigmatic Pendergast could never be killed off. And his faithful sidekick, D’Agosta, could never go, I mean we know he’ll never die off right? Right?

Anyways, I have to say I figured out the real murderer and how he pulled it off, the second he showed up in the book. I mean come on, a movie producer/director/writer? How obvious can you get? The whole story of zombii’s (as described in the book) is almost too real. But I knew that the dead didn’t rise, although I admit I had my doubts for a while there. What I did not suspect was the involvement of Caitlynn Kidd. That was indeed a surprise but should have made total sense. Espeically since the “sister” identified Colin.

In a way, it just seems Pendergast is almost too good to be true. I had to ask myself, is it really possible for someone to survive 2 shots to the chest even with a vest on? Knowing Preston/Child, I’m sure it’s possible but it could possibly happen.

Overall, I’d give this book 4/5 stars. It was still entertaining, believable or not. I read books for entertainment value, not because it’s real.

William Smithback, a New York Times reporter, and his wife Nora Kelly, a Museum of Natural History archaeologist, are brutally attacked in their apartment on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
Eyewitnesses claim, and the security camera confirms, that the assailant was their strange, sinister neighbor-a man who, by all reports, was already dead and buried weeks earlier.
While Captain Laura Hayward leads the official investigation, Pendergast and Lieutenant Vincent D’Agosta undertake their own private-and decidedly unorthodox-quest for the truth. Their serpentine journey takes them to an enclave of Manhattan they never imagined could exist: a secretive, reclusive cult of Obeah and vodou which no outsiders have ever survived.