Cold Vengeance

By: Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child

Narrated by: Rene Auberjonois

Length: 11 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Devastated by the discovery that his wife, Helen, was murdered, Special Agent Pendergast must have retribution. But revenge is not simple. As he stalks his wife's betrayers - a chase that takes him from the wild moors of Scotland to the bustling streets of New York City and the darkest bayous of Louisiana - he is also forced to dig further into Helen's past. And he is stunned to learn that Helen may have been a collaborator in her own murder.

Peeling back the layers of deception, Pendergast realizes that the conspiracy is deeper, goes back generations, and is more monstrous than he could have ever imagined - and everything he's believed, everything he's trusted, everything he's understood... may be a horrific lie.

©2011 Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child (P)2011 Hachette Audio

High melodrama

As a continuation of the storyline from Fever Dream, this book suffers from being in the middle of an apparent trilogy. Fever Dream started an interesting story that almost came to a conclusion, but left some unfinished business that was taken up in Cold Vengeange, but not finished here either. So this book doesn't stand well on its own - which is not necessarily a bad thing (witness the Harry Potter franchise), but the direction taken to continue the story is too far fetched and unbelievable. SO many close calls with unbelievable escapes, by the good guys and the bad guys, ultimately didn't enhance the tension so much as it strained the credibility. Pendergast, for all his apparent brilliance blunders into traps that he should have anticipated, and gets out of those traps through coincidences that are beyond belief (the sheep in the mire??). A healthy dose of D'Agosto and Haywood would have lent a welcome dose of reality to the story, but they were sadly left in the background (except for D'Agosto's own unrealistic escape from peril.). The melodrama quotient was way higher in this story than other Pendergast offerings I've read. I will probably still download the next episode (hopefully the final one) just to see it through to the end, but I hope it is better than this one.

Great book!

I read this book out of order, after reading the first two, but wasn't lost and thoroughly enjoyed every minute!

very good

I absolutely love the Pendergast series of books. keeps your attention making you never want to stop listening. highly recommend

Love these guys..Less than Half a Story..Why?

There is no reason to go into too much detail about the story as other reviews do that. I am a long time follower of these authors consuming their individual efforts as well as the collaborations. The last thing I want to write is that I believe they have gotten complacent but I have to ask the question...why do I feel this is a thin effort? Their older books were/are knockouts, rich with locations, characters, intriguing situations, stimulating implications and real storytelling. Here is less than half a story that would have taken them less than half of one of their previous books. The action sequences and set pieces seem to be to be not written by the same authors. When compared to Relic, Riptide, Thunderhead, Cabinet of Curiosities, Ice Limit this effort is simply a fraction. Hopefully they will read reviews like this and ask themselves if respecting their readers with complete efforts isn't important. I love their writings and I would love to return to the relationship I had with their earlier works. I love Pendergast but even their coolest character is flat and dimensionless. I hated writing these thoughts but there you go...2 cents.

COLD VENGEANCE IS A HOT BOOK!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Definitely. I would be doing them a favor if they like the flavors and the smells of the swamps of my childhood.

What did you like best about this story?

Rene's powerful performance in so many voices which made the story line come alive. The not knowing what had happened to Pendergast, the definitive swamp accounts in which you could almost smell the muddy water and hear the buzz of the bugs. But, best of all the posse in the swamp and the out come there and back in town. I felt like I was really there. Goosebumps as I listened to Rene's performance as Pendergast and that wonderful way he sounds.

Which character – as performed by Rene Auberjonois – was your favorite?

Always Pendergast.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Extreme? Yes. Laugh or cry? No.

Any additional comments?

Eagerly awaiting the next book, due out soon, but, not soon enough.

I didn't realize I was only buying half a book!

I understand (now) that this book was part of a series but shouldn't each book at least stand on its own even a little bit. I enjoyed what I heard and, after part two, I was sure I must have missed downloading part three. Nothing was resolved at the end of this book! I don't need happy endings but at least resolve a few issues. It feels like a cheap ploy to get me to buy the next book but, guess what, I don't trust this author so I won't.

An exercise in futility?

Having just endured an 11+ hour journey that for all intents and purposes dropped me right back where I started, I am a bit frustrated that the authors could not have done a better job on the ending. Hooking the readers with a cliffhanger in order to sell subsequent books is all fine and good but this one went a bit too far. As usual though, Rene Auberjonois brought life to all the characters and managed to keep my interest through a few scenes that were perhaps just a bit silly and predictable. All that said, I suppose I will be purchasing the next installment with the hope that it will lead me to a more satisfying ending.

Can't get enough of Pendergrast!

If you could sum up Cold Vengeance in three words, what would they be?

Was Great Story

What about Rene Auberjonois’s performance did you like?

Love the way each character has different tone and rhythm

Excellent story...horrible ending!

Okay I admit the story kept me engaged all the way until the end. The end was one of those take you to the peak of the mountain and then snatch you back before you can see the view. If I knew it was going to be a part 2 I would have left it in my library until part 2 was available. I do not like "to be continued" stories. If you only have half the story don't tell me until you have the whole story. Even the back story is on hold...what happen to Cory? I hardly ever get back to the "to be continued" stories. Life just goes on and something else will take it's place. Oh yes Rene Auberjonois is a great narrator.

Fabulous as Usual!

I love the Pendergast series and this one was just as great as the rest. This series is a good read for anyone who loves murder mysteries. Its not too dark or scary, and its not bloody or gross, its just a great mystery that keeps you intrigued. It does end quite abruptly, but that just means I will be waiting eagerly for the next book to come out. The narrator does an outstanding job as usual, the story keeps you guessing and interested throughout the whole book. I can't wait for the next book!