Stale Book Review #5 - Cold Vengeance

Cold Vengeance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Cost: $7.95US (Hardback)

Page Count: 356

I freakin' love Preston & Child and their whole "Pendergast" series of books.  Cold Vengeance was the newest of this series when I picked it up...there may be another out now.  Anywho, Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast is not your average, run-of-the-mill FBI agent.  No sir.  Pendergast don't play by nobody's rules except his own.  Crazily private and mysterious, Pendergast often goes out of his way to solve the crime how he feels as it should be done.  He's a lone wolf and don't nobody fuck with him.

In Cold Vengeance, Pendergast goes through the process of investigating his late wife, Helen's, murder.  The murder happened years back and Preston & Child make sure to mention the pain, anguish, and guilt that Aloysius feels about her death.  So, FINALLY, we get to the point where we are going to actually find out what happens.  Yes, readers, we finally find out.  But, I shall not tell you here as to spoil the ending of the book.  Let's just say it's a bit...unconventional.  

Judson Esterhazy, Helen's brother, is the total fuckwad tool that serves as our antagonist.  He is cunning and a real douchebag.  However, his victory over Aloysius is not to be had.  Good old Pendergast is just to good to be one-upped by such a lowlife.  Oh yes, our friend and sidekick to A.P., Lieutenant D'Agosta, makes an appearance after being warned to lay low in New York.  However, he ignores the warnings that he must heal from injuries sustained in the last novel and shoots off to Scotland to help his friend, the Special Agent.

I read this book in a day in a half.  I just couldn't put it down.  But, Preston & Child & Pendergast & D'Agosta just keep me so damned entertained.  I'll be waiting for the next installment.  

Oh yes, Preston & Child have a new series out with a protagonist named Gideon Crew.  I won't be reviewing either of the first two of the series, however.  I broke down and bought those new...blasphemy, I know.

One final note.  Thus far, at $7.95, this has been the most expensive book reviewed on Stale Reviews.