The Dance of Death (Special Agent Pendergast Series #6)

My favorite of the Pendergast series

This is my favorite book in the FBI Agent Pendergast series! Most of the Preston/Child books are stand alone, that is you can read just one without missing out on much -- however, this book is the second in what is informally called the Diogenese Trillogy and I would recommend reading Brimstone first. It's a great stand alone read, but would be better enjoyed the knowing the background information (about Diogenese) given in Brimstone.

- A lot of suspense, I held my breath through half of it.
- The characters are very well developed and believable.
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Best Of The Pendergast Mysteries

Reading Dance Of Death the second installment of the Diogenes trilogy is just like watching The Empire Strikes Back. Both are the best of their series and doesn't disappoint. I agree that Brimstone should be read first but its not mandatory.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Wow........!

All I'm sayin'....the Special Angent Pengergast series leaves me totally exhausted. I don't know how Preston and Child think of all the twists, turns and white knuckle page turning, but I'm ready for the next book. This book shows the more "human" side of Pengergast - and remind me to never go to a Pendergast family reunion.....well written - intense - during the end of the day at work, I just start thinking I have to get home and finish this book........I'm envious of the authors' well honed writing skills....

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Another Great Pendergast Tale!

I really enjoyed this book as well as most of the prior works of the authors. This book ties together all the previous works involving Special Agent Pendergast by bringing together all the characters that survived those stories. When we last saw Pendergast he was walled up and running out of oxygen. The authors gave clues at the end of the book that he got out as they describe digging and a possible break in the wall.

In Dance of Death, Pendergast is presumed dead and policeman Vincent D'Agosta has gone back to live with his girfriend, police captain Hayward. In the meantime a couple of mysterious deaths occur involving a college professor who gets poisoned by a rare spider venom and another man who is force to jump out of a window only to be hanged by a noose around his neck.

As each murder occurs the one thing is clear, all the victims were friends of Pendergast. Additionally, there is DNA and other evidence to link Pendergast to the crime.

Pendergast, having escaped his prison and in hiding (to avoid capture by the police) is trying to capture the killer before all his friends are wiped out. Pendergast is the only one who konws the killer is his evil brother Diogenes who had faked his own death 20 years earlier. Therefore, nobody believes it is anyone but Pendergast who is commiting the murders.

With tons tension throughout the book, this is probably one of the authors' best books. This is the second book where the authors mention someone reading The Ice Limit III so you wonder if there will ever be a follow-up to that book. Though the Ice Limit did not involve Pendergast there is a scene in Dance of Death in which Pendergast and D'Agosta are at a scientific place that guarentees success (like the company in The Ice Limit) and there is a picture on the wall of an oil tanker with a blond haired woman captain (like The Ice Limit).

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

highly recommended

This was a great read. It was pretty fast paced with different twists and turns.Can hardly wait to read the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book and others written by these authors.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

So cool

I picked up this book when looking for something new and different. I was not aware at the time that this was the second in a trilogy, but soon found it to have perfectly stable legs it could stand on. The characters are awesomely diverse and the plot is relentless in its twists and turns. I'm definitely going back to pick up Brimstone(the first in the trilogy) and Book of the Dead, Pendergast is one of my favorite book characters and he'll no doubt be yours too.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Enjoyable.

Followers of Pendergast will be entertained.

It's Pendergast, it has to be good

The saga continues with Agent Pendegrast, it makes you want to read #7

Dance of Death

Captured My Full Attention

I could barely put this book down. Besides Cabinet of Curiosities, this has so far been my favorite of the series. I loved the twists and turns provided and the writing was brilliant. Looking forward to more Pendergast!

Part of a Trilogy?

Great read flew right through it. I read Brimstone first and after reading this I felt like it was a waste of time considering how much better this one was and how little it took from the first intallment of the trilogy.

Great Book!

I really enjoyed this book. It was hard to put down, full of twists and turns but the ending... Well.... I can't wait to read the next one. --K--

I want more

I enjoyed all of the audios that I have purchased and as long as they are read by Rene Auberjonois I will want more of this author's work.The author should have Rene read all of his work.His reading really makes you feel like you are in the wonderful story that comes out of Mr. Preston's mind.I loved it.I have purchased five audio books in this series.I am looking for those that are out of print.

A reviewer

This is an excellent book building on the favorite Pendergast characters. I can't wait to read the Book of the Dead to see how the saga continues. A great book for the fun of it but it is a good idea if you have read previous Pendergast books such as The Relic, Reliquilary and Cabinet of Curiosities to really pull this one together. I see the Brimstone is the lead in for this book and I missed it so I will want to go back and read that to complete the trilogy.

Deceiving, yet ingenious

I was not sure what I was getting myself into when I purchased this book. This was my first of the Pendergast series. However, I enjoyed this book so much, I dreaded to have to come to a pause and set it down. I strongly recommend this novel it is great!!!

A reviewer

I could not put this book down. I read it in 8hrs. and loved it. I've read all the Agent Pendergast series except the last 2 which I will be starting this week. If you love suspense and thrills, this series is for you. I would, however, reccomend starting from book #1 'Relic'.

Original Story?

I enjoyed this book but plot and story are very similar to Mark Frost's The List of Seven and The Six Messiah. Maybe it's because I read those first that I liked them a little better. I find the Pendergast character a little hard to believe mostly because of his association with the FBI. Mark Frost's protagonist duo are Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and a character modeled after Sherlock Holmes. I find these characters slightly more believable and enjoyable to read.

Get this one, then get the others.

The first P&C novel I read was 'Still Life With Crows' and I was hooked. The others are outstanding reads as well - don't start them unless you can afford to lose sleep! Still Life is one of the best scary books I've read. The authors work terrifically well as a team and all of their novels are worth grabbing. All too often the science in fiction leaves you wanting, but P&C always seem to weave stories that are true to fact and believable. I've gifted a number of them to friends and they all agree - I can't wait till the next book...

Brilliant trilogy

I've just completed reading what's known as the Pendergast trilogy (Brimstone, Dance of Death, Book of the Dead). All I can say is Brilliant. These guys are universes above other authors. While the authors actually state that the three books stand alone, I absolutely recommend that you actually begin with Cabinet of Curiousities then Still life with Crows and then the trilogy. I am amazed how the storyline just sucked me in to the point that I was sneaking my book into work so I could get to the end as quickly as possible and learn all the secrets that has been building up. Trust me, pick these books up. You won't be disappointed. Bravo Mr. Preston and Mr. Child. Can't wait for the next Agent Pendergast book.

NEEDS TO BE A MOVIE!!!!!!

first in the series ive read. i read the rest. all great books! This one is the best though. greatest authors ever! if you like mystery and suspense, you have to read this book! BEST EVER!!!