Brimstone

Special Agent Pendergast and Sergeant Vincent D'Agosta unite to investigate deaths bearing supernatural signatures across New York and Florence, Italy. The murders appear connected to deals with the devil, marked by burned cloven hoofprints and victims who met inexplicable, horrific ends. The investigation connects seemingly disparate elements: a missing Stradivarius violin, religious fanatics on the brink of violence, and Pendergast's dangerous brother Diogenes. The trail leads from wealthy Hampton estates to the ancient streets of Florence, where centuries-old secrets await. This fifth installment in the Pendergast series initiates the Diogenes trilogy, blending elements of detective work, historical mystery, and supernatural horror. The novel explores themes of faith versus reason, the weight of family legacy, and the sometimes blurry line between justice and vengeance.

Readers call this Pendergast novel fast-paced and gripping, with an intricate plot mixing historical detail with supernatural elements. Reviews highlight the balance between police procedural and horror aspects. Readers liked: - Complex religious and occult themes - Historical details about 19th century New York - The chemistry between Pendergast and D'Agosta - Atmospheric descriptions of locations Readers disliked: - Length (565 pages) with some slow sections - Too many subplot tangents - Religious elements too heavy-handed for some - Ending felt rushed to several readers Review Scores: Goodreads: 4.15/5 (41,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (1,300+ ratings) Common reader comments note the book requires attention to follow multiple storylines. Several mention it works better if you've read previous Pendergast books first. Multiple reviews praised the Italian scenes but felt the New York sections dragged.

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The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova A woman's search for Dracula's tomb spans centuries and countries, weaving historical research with supernatural horror through ancient libraries and monasteries across Europe.

The Club Dumas by Arturo Pérez-Reverte A rare book dealer traces the origins of a mysterious manuscript tied to the devil, leading through a maze of literary mysteries and occult societies.

The Alienist by Caleb Carr A criminal psychologist in 1896 New York uses emerging forensic techniques to track a ritualistic killer, navigating through historical Manhattan's dark corners.

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco A medieval monk investigates a series of murders in an Italian monastery, combining theological debates with detection methods while uncovering ancient secrets.

🎻 The Stradivarius violins mentioned in the book are among the most valuable musical instruments ever created, with some specimens selling for over $20 million. 🏛️ Florence, Italy, where part of the novel takes place, experienced its own real historical "devil panic" during the Renaissance period, with multiple reported sightings and supernatural occurrences. 👥 Authors Preston and Child, while frequent collaborators, maintain separate successful writing careers. Preston is known for his non-fiction work, while Child has served as an editor at St. Martin's Press. 🔍 The character of FBI Special Agent Pendergast was initially created as a minor character for their novel "Relic" but became so popular with readers that he was promoted to series protagonist. 🎭 The concept of deals with the devil in literature dates back to medieval morality plays and gained prominence through works like Goethe's "Faust," which shares thematic elements with "Brimstone."