In spring 2009, my mom and I went on a roadtrip to Arizona. On our way there we listened to the audiobook of Tyrannosaur Canyon and on our way back we listened to the audiobook of Blasphemy both by Douglas Preston and both appropriately set in the southwest. Both stories were excellent so as soon as we were back home, I looked for more Preston books at the library.
There I came across an extensive series coauthored by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child about an FBI Special Agent Pendergast and his unusual investigations. There are currently 10 novels featuring Pendergast and at least 7 more supporting novels that feature other characters from the series but in which Pendergast does not make an appearance himself (Tyrannosaur Canyon and Blasphemy are among those supporting novels).
Each page turner mystery contains perfect proportions of science and supernatural, history and urban legend, and elegance and gore. Navajo skinwalkers (a variation of werewolf in my opinion), abandoned private rail stations deep under New York City, Egyptian curses, buried pirate treasure, and life prolonging secret elixirs are just a few of the fantastical elements that have me hooked on the series.
The Pendergast series starts with Relic, Pendergast becomes the main character in my favorite of the series so far: The Cabinet of Curiosities, and the latest in the series and my current read is Fever Dream.
So my question is, why doesn’t this excellent series have the same obsessive popularity of Dan Brown, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Harry Potter, or Twilight? I think the answer is that Hollywood long ago blew the movie. Relic was butchered as a b-rate horror film in 1997. The movie version titled The Relic killed off a character that would’ve been essential to make the sequel Reliquary and Pendergast’s character was mushed together with New York police detective D’Agosta who are both distinct and essential separate characters in the rest of the series.
Whatever you do don’t watch the movie The Relic, but do start reading the Pendergast books.
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These sound like they’d be right up my alley as a Dan Brown and paranormal/supernatural series fan. I’ve got them on my “To Read” list now. Thanks for the recommendation!
Sounds interesting. I’m not generally into *paranormal* fiction though there have been a few that ventured into my interest zone. Seems like recently most of my reading time is spent on blogs rather than in books!
Ventured here by way of the BBB31 post (you were one comment ahead of me) and think you’ve chosen an excellent Elevator Pitch. Some of my friends think I’m a *geek chick* but the good Lord and I both know better! I’m just innately curious and not afraid to try new things! Seems I learn more from failure than I do from success though so I’m not branching into touching the blogs, assorted media, or electronics of others!
Nice to meet you! I’ll grab your button to add to my collection!
I read Relic after I saw the movie when it came out, I enjoyed it much more than the movie. Last year I picked up Book of the Dead, Egyptian stuff always gets me. That renewed my interest in the series. I started the series from the beginning. I’ve read most of the side novels as well. Fever Dream is next on my list. I love them all but I think I’d say Still Life with Crows is my favorite.
I am ordering one tomorrow! I have been wanting a historybook without it BEING a history book. I think this will be just perfect.