"Fever Dream" is the 10th and most recent in the series of novels co-authored by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Childs that features, as the main protagonist, the inimitable Aloysis X. L. Pendergast. Pendergast is, among other things, an FBI agent, the recipient of two PhDs, the sole surviving heir of a very old southern family of considerable wealth, and one of the most unique and enduring heroes of crime fiction in the last 20 years. Fever Dream ranks up with the very best of the Agent Pendergast novels. LIke almost all of the other Pendergast novels, this is a stand alone, but also like most of the others, is firmly tied to almost all of the others by way of supporting cast, in this instance, NYPD Lt. Vinnie D'Agosta, Captain Laura Hayward, and Pendergast's enigmatic ward, Constance Greene.
Fever Dream starts off 12 years ago, in Africa, when the Pendergast (not yet an FBI agent) and his wife Helen, are called away from their own private safari to aid in the capture of a man-eating lion who has just murdered a German tourist. Both Pendergast and his wife. expert marksmen and holders of special permits allowing them to hunt in a government-sponsored herd reduction plan, are obligated to answer the call and help hunt down the man-eater. The plan goes horribly awry and Helen is killed by the lion.
Flash-forward 12 years and Pendergast, visiting his old family homestead in New Orleans, happens to notice some signs of aging on the rifle his wife used on the fatal hunt, and in the process of cleaning the rifle, discovers that the last shot fired by his wife was actually a blank, indicating that Helen's death was no accident, but rather that she had been murdered.
The rest of the novel shows us a side of Pendergast we are not so familiar with. This Pendergast is not all-knowing and reserved and under control at all times. He is bent on revenge, and is in the dark much of the time. The plot is interesting and fast paced. Lincoln and Childs play fair and there are no red herrings or deus ex machina turns at the last minute. Rather, this is a taught and well-written crime novel with an interesting and complicated storyline, and a satisfying resolution. You don't have to have read any of the previous Pendergast novels to enjoy this one to the fullest, but on the other hand, it won't hurt ya none neither. Highly recommended.
******* WARNING - POTENTIAL MINI-SPOILERS AHEAD ************
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Several factors point to this as the first in a pair of novels, something like "Dance of Death" and " The Book of the Dead". For one thing, Constance is re-introduced under somewhat strange circumstances and when asked (in police custody) why she has returned and given herself up (for a crime crime revealed in the novel) she answers to the effect that Pendergast is in some sort of trouble that he will not be able to get out of without her help. But that (the trouble) doesn't occur in Fever Dream. Second, Pendergast has vowed to kill the person who was directly responsible for his wife's death, and that doesn't happen either. Finally, the last page contains an acceptance from Pendergast to an invitation from the murderer (apparently still unknown to A.P.) to accompany him on a hunting trip. So, hold on. I don't think this one is quite over yet.
J.M. Tepper
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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover comes a novel that explores life after tragedy and the enduring spirit of love. | Learn more
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silvano giudice
Spannend bis in die Morgenstunden
Reviewed in Germany on October 25, 2023
