Another thrilling Pendergast novel! I just love the quirky FBI character, so filled with intelligence and mystery. After each book I am always left wanting more. But I guess I will just have to wait until the genius Lincoln/ Child team churn out another beauty.

The brutal chopping off and taking the heads of the victims in this bizarre plot with FBI Special Agent Pendergast and Lieutenant CDS Vincent D'Agosta team up to stop this diabolical evil madman from adding more heads to his collection. With Pendergast behaving so unlike his usual intelligent self, D'Agosta find himself getting frustrated at the lack of progress in the case and with the body count rising. Will they capture the madman or will the madman catch them and mount their heads on his wall? Having tons of money won't keep this madman from getting to you even with your sophisticated alarm systems, bodyguards or dogs to protect you. You've just created the perfect challenge for our madman who lives for the thrill of the hunt

The headless daughter of a millionaire is found, Pendergast who is in disgrace with the FBI after his last outing is assigned the case. Although working again with his friend, Detective D'Agosta, Pendergast shows little interest, taking it for the punishment it is meant to be. But then, more headless corpses, beheaded of wealthy New Yorkers, men who have the best security money can buy. Yet, someone is managing to penetrate these systems. Pendergast for much of the book is working in the background, his ghostly presence shadowing D'Agosta, at odds with the city's theory of why these killings are taking place.

It is with welcome relief I welcome back a Pendergast story that doesn't include any of his nefarious and very strange family. Not that I do not find them interesting but though with the previous books this subject had been overdone. This is back to form, Pendergast doing what he does best. Seeing things others do not see,putting things together in a way other cannot. Though in this one there s the very real possibility that Pendergast has met his match. Someone he cannot out think, anticipate.
The scene in the old asylum, the cat and mouse game that ensues was suspenseful and harrowing.
I won't say this is the best in series, but I do think it is the best in the last several years.

ARC from Netgalley.

There is a serial decapitator…yes you heard me correctly…decapitator terrorizing NYC. But don’t worry! Agent Pendergast is on the case.

Grace Ozmian is the first one murdered. She is the daughter of an extremely wealthy businessman. Then slowly there are a few more murdered, all well to do. Then a reporter makes a HUGE assumption. This sets off a panic among the rich in NYC.

These two authors have been together a long time and have this writing thing down to a fine art! The characters in this book are so real and you can feel their emotions radiating off to them through the words. Then…..there is the intensity of this story…who did it? Why? And I never guessed! I should have guessed. I am sure there were plenty of clues. I did love the surprise!

I have said this before and I will say it again…I LOVE AGENT PENDERGAST! I love his intelligence, peculiarities and his audacity.

If you need a fast paced, non stop thriller, this is it.

I received this novel from Netgalley for a honest review.

Adequate but disappointing

I have read all of the Aloysius Pendergast series over the years and as the years have crept along I've been disappointed in many of the books.

I thought maybe things had improved with #16 in the series THE OBSIDIAN CHAMBER which was excellent. I felt like the authors were back on track.

But this offering was lackluster, with a diminished Pendergast, pining for Constance. I was glad at the beginning of the story that Pendergast was working closely against with Lieutenant Commander of the New York City Detective Squad Vincent D’Agosta. But even their interactions seem stilted.

The book did keep me guessing which is why I rated three stars rather than lower but I'm not sure if I'll read the next book in the series when it comes out.

I received this book from Grand Central Publishing through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read the book and leave an unbiased review.

One or many with bizarre skilled savagery on the hunt, and quite possibly may be a capable adversary for  the highly skilled FBI Special Agent Pendergast, who turns up to a crime scene with his vintage Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith with driver Proctor at the wheel, and Lieutenant CDS Vincent D'Agost, both longtime crime busters on the chase.

A race against answers, with some motives and then the theories starting to mount, the media on a frenzy and the mayor under pressure due to the free rain of the killer or the killers. Connected or not? Serial or not?

There will be a city of endless heads rolling, body count high, visceral and no words wasted, no lull in thrill, it just keeps you reading on hooked in the narrative, coming alive before the reader, scenes unfolding, showing before you with the great writing craft of authors, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. 

Excerpts:

 “...classic Pendergast, never failing to astonish, taking delight in confounding everyone around him with some outrageous statement.”

"The mayor strode forward with a heavy step. “Aside from putting forty detectives and another hundred uniformed officers on the case, we’re pulling over two thousand officers into overtime patrol, and we’re taking many, many other steps I cannot enumerate for security reasons. I can assure you that every possible action is being taken to keep our citizens safe.”

City of Endless Night by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child is the 17th in the Agent A.X.L. Pendergast Series-and my new favorite. Preston & Child are master craftsmen and their novels are always a thrill to read.

F.B.I. Agent Pendergast is sort of in trouble… you can read the previous novel, The Obsidian Chamber if you need to learn why, but for now let it suffice that his standing within the department is not what it once was. As punishment for his transgressions, he is sent to investigate the gruesome murder of a young woman-an assignment he feels doesn’t merit his involvement. NYPD Detective Lieutenant Vincent D’Agosta is also working the case, and not happy about either. Had the call come in just 20 minutes later it would have gone to someone else. But the two have teamed up before and work well together which makes the assignment a bit easier to bear. But this is going to be a doozy of a case. The body was found without a head, a massive GSW to the heart, and wearing Louboutin sneakers. This is going to be a feeding frenzy for the press. When a second decapitated murder victim is discovered and then a third, albeit with different MO’s and seemingly unconnected, Pendergast and D’Agosta race to find the killer or killers as the case may be.

Preston & Child have done it again. Their wordsmithing abilities are enviable. It is rare to find such a combination of imaginative storylines and flawless technique that repeatedly produces such wonderful work–I suppose it helps if one of the writers is a world class editor and the other a creative genius… They truly are a marvelous team. I find their details, like for example, the fact that the first victim is wearing Louboutin sneakers or that the second victim owns a 17th century Stradivarius so intriguing. Curiosity often gets the better of me and I find myself having to stop reading to look up what they are talking about (yes, Louboutin actually does make $1500 sneakers) or sometimes it is an unfamiliar word that my pride will not let me continue in ignorance of that turns out to be the perfect word for the situation. I am certainly never bored reading one of their novels and always feel like my time has been well spent when I have finished reading it (usually in one very intense, sleepless night).

For fans of the Pendergast series, City of Endless Night has moments of near heart-stopping fear for the beloved Agent, as well as a few wonderful moments that are very satisfying. The authors have given us a new Pendergast novel, on average, every 12.5 months for the past 15 years – is it too selfish to hope that they can speed that up? I’m not sure I can wait until NEXT January for the next book.

Welcome back to Preston and Child!

After a few hit and miss books, P&C return with a stand alone Pendergast novel that succeeds is being massively entertaining despite some fairly significant flaws.

Back is the more comfortable territory of NYC, D'Agosta catches a high profile case of a rich socialite being murdered and decapitated. Hot on the heels of that murder are the murders of several more high profile rich people, each being decapitated. Of course Pendergast makes his way into the case with his aloof Sherlock Holmes mannerisms.

The book (which once again is a rather quick and short read) moves at a quick clip piling up murders and theories, most prominently that rich people are being targeted for their woeful morals. This leads to a small side plot involving a new bonfire of the vanities that is quite frankly filler. Luckily not much effort or time is put into the side plot beyond expanding the book by 10-15 pages.

Another more successful side plot has B-level character Bryce Harriman involved in a blackmail plot with one of the victim's relatives. Though I sense every time Harriman is used the authors may regret killing the much more interesting Bill Smithback in a rather uninspired book.

The actual mystery reaches a disappointing conclusion but lead to the final quarter of the book. A piece of writing as propulsive and exciting as anything they have ever written.

Overall, it is a good Pendergast book and a fine place for newcomers to jump in as overarching series plots are kept mostly to quick mentions and an epilogue. This is the type of book you hope for from P&C and it stands as proof they can still make magic.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

City of Endless Night is the seventeen book in the Pendergast series, and I have read every single one of them. My personal favorite is the ones that have a slight supernatural element to the story like the first book Relic with the monster in the New York Museum of Natural History, which is why I felt a bit disappointed while reading this one. Don't take me wrong, it's a great thriller, and it's nice to have D'Agosta and Pendergast working together to catch a murderer.

However, it feels just like an ordinary thriller. Sure, the killings and beheadings is an interesting mystery especially since there seems to be no link to the people killed. I just wished that the book had been a bit more extraordinary. Instead, we get a straight-forward thriller, with not a very memorable killer. Well, besides the fact that this is one of the first times that Pendergast goes up against an enemy that seriously could outsmart him. The best part of the book is the end part when the killer and Pendergast face-off and Pendergast truly has to fight for his life against an enemy that is better than him. And, yes that is a very unusual scene since Pendergast is someone that often seems more than human.

City of Endless Night is a good thriller, as always is the writing great and, despite my reservations about the story, did I enjoy reading the book. It's only that I really enjoy when the stories take a more suspenseful feeling when Pendergast is up against something beastly and since the killer in this book is an ordinary killer (well he was psycho, but still very much human) did I get a bit disappointed.

Nevertheless, it's not a bad book, never boring and I enjoyed both the main story and the side stories.

When the first decapitated corpse was found in a Queens garage, it seemed like just a "routine" murder in New York City. However, when the next victim was found, the press is convinced someone is targeting the ultra-rich. Pendergast is pulled into the case by his NYPD friend, Vincent D'Agosta. Can Pendergast determine the motive of the person committing the crimes?

Missing the paranormal backstory of Pendergast, Constance and Procter entirely, the first 3/4 of City of Endless Night seems like an effective and intriguing police procedural. However, the excellent twist towards the end quickly propels this plot to 5 stars. City of Endless Night's evocative scene-setting compels an executive producer somewhere to make a great movie from this book. I can't wait! City of Endless Night is recommended for all thriller lovers. It is a great ride well worth the read!

Thanks to the publisher, Grand Central, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I am a fan of Preston & Child and their Agent Pendergast series. Because I am a fan and have read all previous sixteen novels in the series, I’m always a tiny bit leery when I start a new one: I would hate to be disappointed! Thankfully, again that is not the case with book number seventeen in the Pendergast series. Yay!
With City of Endless Night Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child showed me once again why I am a fan. Their books are always packed with tension, building and building to a magnificent crescendo, where you are so caught up, you are completely lost to the action. And their characterization, of even minor characters, is phenomenal. You can’t beat a Preston & Child for the atmosphere and action that keep you turning pages into the very wee hours and gripping your book so tightly your hands cramp up!
Be sure to block out a nice section of time where you won’t be disturbed to read City of Endless Night, because you won’t want to put it down.
Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own!

I still can’t believe that this is the 18th book in the Pendergast series! The fact that I’ve read through the entire series…that’s gotta say something about these two authors. A dynamic duo, they managed to win me over with Relic and Still Life With Crows. I’ve fallen off the couch and dropped my book in mid-paragraph thanks to their descriptive and gripping writing. My favorite novels are when Pendergast teams up with D’Agosta. I’d always thought Pendergast was my favorite and D’Agosta was just…there. But I realize now, 18 books later, that I need D’Agosta to be there to counteract the standoffish, moody Pendergast that has been marred, maimed and….seriously, these authors have put him through the ringer. He’s definitely changed as a character, which is a testament to good writing, in my opinion. What they ended up covering in their latest novel…makes me curious if these were discussions on taxi rides or at a local coffee shop. Surely their Google searches have placed them on the FBI’s watch list. 😉

There was a bit more of Bryce Harriman (the reporter) than I would have liked, but we’ve got to have some bad, otherwise we don’t appreciate the good. Right…right?! I must admit though, I’ve struggled with the books in the series that specifically involved Pendergast’s wife and his ward. (groans internally) Here’s my brutally honest opinion of parts of the opening and closing (not the main story) of City of Endless Night. Blech. If you haven’t read my previous complaints of Constance Greene, I’ll save you from reading those reviews. She is the fly in my ointment, a thorn in my side, the splinter deep under my nail, a bout of the flu, or a migraine that no amount of coffee and Tylenol will vanquish. And after reading the Epilogue, I don’t hate Constance. I’m just not necessarily excited about her existence.

Should I have a good attitude? I have a great attitude…

Here’s my honest opinion on the “meat” of the story. heh It was a fun read and I really enjoyed it. Why? Because D’Agosta and Pendergast are back together again. Woo Hoo! I may have figured out the murderer, but that in no way detracted from the novel. There were plenty of red herrings that will make the reader question who the killer is. Towards the end, there was a moment that read like the battle of wits from the Princess Bride.

VIZZINI: Now, a clever man would put the poison into his own goblet, because he would know that only a great fool would reach for what he was given. I’m not a great fool, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But you must have known I was not a great fool; you would have counted on it, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.

It made me laugh. After which, the action picked up and wow, it was exciting! The setting was eerie. The end scene read like a thriller. Nail-biting, I held my breath more than once with their suspense-filled scenes. Thanks to their writing, in my mind I could easily picture the final cat and mouse chase as if I were watching a movie.

I received a complementary copy from Net Galley for my honest opinion. I was more than happy to read it considering I’m a longtime fan. What do I think of City of Endless Night? It makes for a great murder mystery and thriller. Though it doesn’t have monsters, it does have multiple gruesome murders, so not all hope is lost (does that sound bad?). Fans of Pendergast, Sherlock Holmes or murder mysteries in general will enjoy this read.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com
Imagine a modern day Sherlock Holmes with issues galore. That is who Pendergast is to me. He can see things that others can’t and he is so intelligent but he has so many issues that it is a wonder he can put his shoes on the right feet.
This book is not on the top of the list of this series but it is a good one. Pendergast is vulnerable is this story which is refreshing. He is always the smartest one in the room so to see him at this stage is odd and yet interesting.
This series is a winner and it has stood the test since this is the 17th in the series. I will say after so many books you really shouldn’t start with this one because you need to understand Pendergast from the beginning. But you won’t regret starting this series.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Published by Grand Central Publishing on January 16, 2018

Two decapitations, although only a day apart, seem unrelated. One victim was a mob lawyer, killed in his home with a bow and arrow. The other, a billionaire’s daughter, was shot through the heart and left in a pile of leaves inside a garage. By the time a third decapitation occurs, it seems a serial killer may be at work.

Pendergast is out of favor with the FBI, and is punished by being assigned to help the NYPD investigate. Normally, Pendergast chooses his own cases, but his breach of protocol in the last novel has not been forgiven. In addition, Pendergast is still suffering the rigors of his last adventure and isn’t his former self. He’s still arrogant and snobbish, but he has little interest in his former passions, including the investigation of murder. He’s also lost a good bit of his bulk and doesn’t seem inclined to regain his strength. But the real problem, the reader presumes, is that Pendergast is feeling the pangs of lost love. Fortunately, it takes only a tea ceremony to restore our intrepid detective.

Are the deaths related? A reporter is certain the victims, all fabulously wealthy and of disreputable character, were killed by a psychopathic vigilante, a theory that has New Yorkers cheering (at least, the ones who aren’t wealthy). But Pendergast is being his usual tight-lipped self. The billionaire whose daughter was killed, however, doesn’t like the way the reporter portrayed his daughter, and intends to do something about it. Something wicked.

The plot touches upon a number of hot-button issues without becoming overtly political, including reporters who may or may not publish fake news, publications that sensationalize news, protests against one-percenters, and the use of social media to manipulate opinion. The story begins as a straightforward serial killer investigation and ends with a prolonged action scene of the “Most Dangerous Game” variety. Some of the plot pushes the boundaries of credibility (particularly a nutcase who wants to build a big bonfire of the vanities in Central Park, a bonfire that the police handle in a strange way), but most of the story is plausible, and that’s more than one can say for a good many modern thrillers.

The plot does include a potentially life-changing event for Pendergast, but it comes in the epilog. City of Endless Night is more an action novel, and less a character-development novel, than some others in the series. Its pace and intrigue, however, are comparable to other Pendergast novels, which makes it a fun read.

RECOMMENDED

This latest adventure in the series takes FBI agent Aloysius Pendergast back to New York City where he is being punished by the FBI for his escapades in the previous novel, The Obsidian Chamber. To keep Pendergast from getting into any trouble he is assigned a rather mundane murder case that involves the daughter of a wealthy CEO of a tech company. Of course, anything that Pendergast touches turns out to be anything but mundane as is true with this particular case. It is not too long before other murder cases show up that tie into this first case with one unique feature that they all share–each victim has a missing head.

Pendergast pairs up with long-time favorite Lt. Vincent D’Agosta to try to solve what turns out to be a very complex case. But nothing can get past Pendergast for too long and the serial killer comes to the realization that Pendergast has figured him out and sets his crosshairs on both Pendergast as well as D’Agosta which leads to a really exciting ending.

All the thrills and chills that one expects from a Pendergast book, and a fine addition to the series. This could be read as a standalone, but if you are new to the series, it might be useful to read Cabinet of Curiosities first to get a good understanding about the characters involved.

I would like to think NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for my advance reader copy of City of Endless Night.

I was eagerly waiting for this latest book in the series to come out, and thankfully it didn't disappoint. Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child have written once again an unforgettable and scary tale involving our favorite Pendergast, FBI Agent in distress (as to why, you need to read the previous book in the series, Obsidian Chamber) extraordinaire.

In this book, victims are found beheaded, with their heads nowhere to be found. Soon Pendergast realizes that he is dealing with a killer more cunning than he ever thought possible and it would take his entire wit and knowledge of human nature to catch him.

And now we're left with waiting for another year for a new Pendergast book...

Full review: https://mysterysequels.com/city-of-endless-night-douglas-preston-lincoln-child.html

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

After the last two lackluster entries in the series, we're finally back to a more traditional Pendergast story. While not the best offering in the series, it could only go up from Obsidian Chamber.

Once again teamed with D'Agosta trying to find a serial killer in NYC. This time, it seems like it's a class warfare type spree, but like any Pendergast book, nothing is as it seems. Except if you've read a Pendergast book before then it's quite obvious how it's going to go. And that's really the whole issue with this book, team Preston/Child hit the reset button of sorts and gave us a run of the mill B-side Pendergast story. Perhaps they wanted to show that Pendergast, without Constance, is a shell of his former self, that's why his sleuthing was so sub-par. That can also explain the slight rift in the D'Agosta/Pendergast partnership. The two of them definitely did not have the ease of relationship they've had previously.

Beyond that, there was just something off with this story. There seemed to be less sleuthing and more action with a showdown that was pretty lackluster. The bad guy and the motivation was underwhelming to say the least. The Pendergast character was kind of pathetic in his mopey state. There were a few side stories that didn't meld as well, specifically the one with Swope. While it was nice to see some old faces again, I can't imagine any new readers understanding or caring why they're in the book. Laura Hayward was always such a dynamic character, but to readers of this book, she's just a wife with little to no personality. Even Bryce Harriman who was more prominent here would be a bit of a head scratcher for new readers, especially his constant references to Will Smithback.

To be honest, this book is more for readers who have slogged through some inferior book and have been hoping the series will right itself. In that regard, this book is a success. But new readers? I can't see them being that interested. Early books showed a real love for the character of Pendergast, but these later books seem like a need to continue a series more than anything. Did I enjoy the book? Yes, I read it in one day. Did I enjoy it more than the previous two books? Definitely. But do I think that the series should be coming to an end soon? Yes. This is a book that is in the middle of the pack of the series. 3/5.

Even after seventeen books, the Pendergast series is endlessly fascinating! This thriller takes place in NYC and begins with the discovery of the headless body of a young woman. FBI Special Agent Pendergast is called in to help D'Agosta and the NYPD because it appears she may have been transported across state lines.

It turns out the victim is the only child of a ruthless tech billionaire, and when other wealthy people are killed in similar ways, the mayor puts the heat on the NYPD to come up with some answers quickly. But it is an ambitious young reporter named Harriman who suggests the theory that captures the public's imagination--that the serial killer is targeting 'one-percenters' in what he calls 'the city of endless night.' Pendergast's is the only dissenting voice but he is not sharing his reasons. Who will be the next wealthy victim if no one can stop 'the Decapitator?'

Exciting reading with a nice plot twist that I did not see coming! This is a favorite series of mine so I'd especially like to express my gratitude for the opportunity to read an arc of this latest thriller through NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child!

City of Endless Night by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child is a highly recommended new release to the long-running series, very for fans. This murder mystery can actually be read as a standalone, but fans of the series will obviously have more insight into the main characters.

NYPD Lieutenant Vincent D'Agosta is on the murder case of a body found in a warehouse sans the head, when his friend FBI special agent Aloysius Pendergast joins the investigation. The corpse is that of Grace Ozmian, a beautiful party-girl and daughter of a wealthy tech billionaire, Anton Ozmian. Then the killer, called the Decapitator, strikes again... and again, his victims including a prosecutor turned mob lawyer and a Russian oligarch. Clearly this killer is clever, skilled, and ruthless, but what is the motive, why is he choosing the victims he does, and how is he getting through their security systems?

Muddling the investigation is reporter Bryce Harriman. His sensational tabloid stories are creating panic in the city. He coins the nickname "The City of Endless Night" and is encouraged by his superiors to keep using the moniker while writing more sensational follow-up stories. The stories are also instigating protest groups who have various motives for their demonstrations.

Make no mistake about it, City of Endless Night is an excellent thriller. This one is outstanding - when have Preston and Child given us anything but a well-written, perfectly plotted novel full of nail-biting suspense? The cold, moody atmosphere is skillfully portrayed. It's all here and If you are new to the series, you can read this one without knowing all the background information, although some of trappings of Pendergast's life might seem confusing. Pendergast himself is clearly off his game in this outing of the series. He is always taciturn, invariably thinking and analyzing clues with precision and acumen, and supremely intelligent. That is still the case, but he also seems a bit distracted which could signal trouble. D’Agosta is the same reliable character.

It is a plus and minus to have a long time fan of the series review a 17th book. Obviously, I know them all and have some I liked more than others. The suspense is palatable in City of Endless Night and I stayed up too late finishing it, but I liked it a wee-bit less than others in the series.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Grand Central Publishing.
on 1/12/18: http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/
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on AMZ & B&N after publication

City of Endless Night
by Douglas Preston; Lincoln Child
Grand Central Publishing
General Fiction (Adult)
Pub Date 16 Jan 2018
Courtesy Netgalley

I first met Agent Pendergast when I read Relic, the first book in the series. Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child wrote books that I could not wait to get my hands on. I read the first eleven books as soon as I could get my hands on them. The next six books came and went without me getting to them for a variety of reasons. That being said, when City of Endless Night was offered by Netgalley, I choose to read it. Being the eighteenth book in the series, I hoped that the six books I had missed would not be an issue.

The characters I last saw seven book ago were familiar and I comfortably connected with them again. I did find I had missed some important plot developments and will make time to go back and read those six book. It did not derail my enjoyment of City of Endless Night. Like all the Pendergast books, this is a thriller. It has a mystery at its core but also high levels of suspense.

Back in New York, where many of the books are set, a murder occurs that interest Agent Pendergast. A billionaire’s estranged daughter is brutally murdered and her head is missing. Lieutenant D’Agosta is ambivalent about working with Pendergast who seems off his game, possibly due to personal losses. Then another murder happens, another seemingly impossible crime and the head is missing. As the headless bodies pile up, Pendergast and D’Agosta work individually and inefficiently to solve the crimes. Then it all comes together in an active, tense conclusion.

City of Endless Night was not my favorite book in the series but it also was not my least favorite. The first four books are my absolute favorites. I do not know that I could recommend jumping into the series with this book. If possible I would start at the beginning or at least at book three. Fans of the series will not be disappointed.