The Cabinet of Curiosities

Rating:
Summary: Horror at its best!
Review: Horror at its Best.

These two authors are brilliant. This was my feeling when reading their other novels. And I have read them all. But the "Cabinet of Curiosities" has topped all of them. It is by far their best book, if not the best book of this genre I have ever read. The weird character of agent Pendergast alone makes this novel worth reading. Although he is one of the goodies his unusual outer appearance, his weird behaviour and superhuman control of himself even in extremis make him a genuine member of the family of horror characters. The scenes in the NY Museum of Natural history, in its archive, in the apartment in China Town, even those in Central Park, and above all the showdown give this novel the quality of an outstanding gothic horror novel. Moreover, the authors meticulously created a magnificent plot, and a sombre atmosphere that constantly gives their readers the creeps and that you would not expect in the middle of the modern city of New York.

This book is an absolute must for all aficionados of true horror novels,


Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: This is one of the best efforts from Preston and Child; I almost always enjoy their novels, and this time they don't disappoint. Incredibly scary and plausible enough to keep you immersed in the story. If you enjoy turn of the 19th century urban thrillers like The Alienist, you'll enjoy this creepy twist on that setting.

Rating:
Summary: How did NY City miss out on cell phones?
Review: I like Preston/Child thrillers. Are they literature? Well no, not in a classic 'definition' sense of literature. Can you pass the time in an airport? Yeah - great airport read. Since others have already described this book, I will not go into plot details, however, I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of the 'cabinets of curiosities' especially in Leng's house. I did not horribly mind Pendergast's "memory walks" because I know that people can go into deep meditative states and the authors mention many types of dream imagery that people do use to reference memories subconsciously - so I liked the descriptions. The only thing that floored me about this book is that all the characters apparently carried cell phones, so why didn't they use them to "warn" each other, or call each other when they needed "help"? Smithback wasn't a total idiot - he could have called someone while stumbling around in Leng's house. - oh, I know, out of range in subterranean basements. Minor flaw of the book, but people are always on their cell phones. It just didn't gel.

Rating:
Summary: Top Drawer Puzzle of a Mystery!
Review: First the bad news!The bad guy here does not really fit, and there are a few characters who seem almost cartoonish. Otherwise, this is a real knockout, with a really eccentric FBI man, whose investigatory tools include using renaissance-era "Memory Palace" techniques. There is plenty of arcania here as we explore the underground vaults of the NYC Natural History Museum, the mean and oz-like streets of the great city, and the bureaucratic maneuvers of those who run the city, the police, and the museum. Also plenty of bizarre PT Barnum-like late 19th century curiosities, and bone digging. So if you like an accessible, educational, mysterious tour through NY of now and 100-plus years ago, you can't miss with one!