Fever Dream

By: Lincoln Child, Douglas Preston

Narrated by: Rene Auberjonois

Length: 14 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

At the old family manse in Louisiana, Special Agent Pendergast is putting to rest long-ignored possessions reminiscent of his wife Helen's tragic death, only to make a stunning - and dreadful - discovery. Helen had been mauled by an unusually large and vicious lion while they were big game hunting in Africa. But now, Pendergast learns that her rifle - her only protection from the beast - had been deliberately loaded with blanks. Who could have wanted Helen dead...and why?

With Lieutenant Vincent D'Agosta's assistance, Pendergast embarks on a quest to uncover the mystery of his wife's murder. It is a journey that sends him deep into her past where he learns much that Helen herself had wished to keep hidden. Helen Pendergast had nursed a secret obsession with the famed naturalist-painter John James Audubon, in particular a long-lost painting of his known as the Black Frame.

As Pendergast probes more deeply into the riddle - the answer to which is revealed in a night of shocking violence, deep in the Louisiana bayou - he finds himself faced with an even greater question: who was the woman he married?

©2010 Lincoln Child (P)2010 Hachette

Critic reviews

"Once again, the bestselling authors show they have few peers at creating taut scenes of suspense. Their restraint in the book's early sections make the payoffs all the more compelling." ( Publishers Weekly)

Best collaboration to date

I eagerly look forward to future collaborations between Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston. I have read every book they have written together and have enjoyed each and every one of them immensly. Their continuing story lines and the exploits of Agent Pendergast are something to look forward to. This is no exception. The story line is detailed and draws you into the private lives of Agent Pendergast and Detective Degusta while they conduct their investigation surrounding a series of murders. I could hardly wait to get off work so I could get back to my IPOD... Well worth the time !

Should Pendergast be Retired?

I really enjoy Preston and Child???s page-turning stories, and I???m a fan of Special Agent Pendergast. The beginning starts off great and sucks you in. Unfortunately, the ending wasn???t satisfying and leaves me wondering if the Pendergast storyline has run its course.

Not the best in the series -but still great!

I'm not usually a fan of books without romance or a little comedy, but this series is great!
I was excited to finally learn what happened to the wife, although it was the scariest thing I have read in a while -but I have some sort of phobia about predators, so...
But then I was a bit disappointed; I think Pendergast deserved a more trusting wife.
But I was entertained the whole thing through and i love the way these books are written. I know some people complain that Pendergast is a little too awesome in this one and it's true that no one could do stuff like he does in reality -but isn't that the point of fiction?
Can't wait to listen to the next one!

Art, and alligators (awesome)

Would you consider the audio edition of Fever Dream to be better than the print version?

I am a speed reader and listening helps me slow down and enjoy the words. I'm a 7th generation southern Louisiana native, and it was fun listening to the descriptions of places I know well. One thing that tickled me was the degree to which the wonderful narrator mispronounced words that are unique to the region. I hereby offer myself to the audio publisher as a source to help bewildered non-natives learn the way to say "Atchafalaya" and "Houma" and "New Orleans."

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

SPOILER ALERT: The "extraneous" characters and subplots that bother those who haven't read all the previous books are--in fact--keys to past mysteries and clues to future developments, so they all work to keep up the suspense.

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

I thought they all were excellent. I especially like the interaction between pairs of characters.

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

The scene at the house of the family who died was truly creepy.

Any additional comments?

As an aside, I must say that I disliked the condescending attitude towards the "natives" whose lives and livelihoods have been destroyed by outsiders. These are people who have been self-sufficient for generations, living in one of the harshest physical environments (alligators are not nearly as bothersome as mosquitoes and snakes), and who wouldn't dream of trying to force others to modify how their strange urban lives are lived.
When hurricanes come through and devestate their homes, as happens every few years, they don't call Geraldo or FEMA. They get together, and rebuild their lives. They are mostly poor but proud.
Therefore, when "activists" show up to "protect" frogs (which the locals eat) or trees (which the locals use to build houses) or lakes (including forbidding a community of people who have lived there for 200 years from using the water), then perhaps a little perspective is needed. It wasn't necessary to turn the locals into sterotypes from Deliverance (cue the banjos).

I didn`t like narration

I really like Pendergast-books. But unfortunately the story sounded monotonous and expressionless, difficult to follow the narrative.

Story really good butRene auberjonois hurts book

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Get Scott Brick back

What was one of the most memorable moments of Fever Dream?

Good story line

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Rene hurts book for me.Scott gave them personality, Rene well hes just horrible for this series. He doesnt do Pendergast justice, its made series less appealing.but im a fan and guess ill suffer

Any additional comments?

Bring Scott brick back

Dark,Twisted and Ferociously Captivating

What made the experience of listening to Fever Dream the most enjoyable?

Rene Auberjonois as the voice of Pendergast. Auberjonois brings Special Agent Pendergast's enigmatic personality, penetrating intelligence bordering on the supernatural, dark wit and mannered charm to life with a subtle Southern voice - even as the FBI Agent descends into a personal hell of unbearable sorrow he never saw coming.

There are no syrupy Southern or heavy handed New York accents that stop the flow in this listen - just a wicked fast, twisting, turning plot - brilliantly narrated.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Pendergast, of course! I think he might have become a bad habit, one that I find very hard to break.

Have you listened to any of Rene Auberjonois???s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

Great book - Fever Dream

Loved the story line. Listened to intently, the narration was very good. I was just a little disappointed in the end. Just kept me hanging. You really wanted something to happen at the end. But it doesnt. So I am going to read another one of their books and hopefully that will be a continuation. Would definitely recommend.

thoroughly enjoyed this book

I was hesitant at first when it went back in time to describe Pendergast's wife's death, but I think that this book was thoroughly entertaining. It was a good addition to this series.

Excellent got me hooked on these authors/ series

it's off to a slow start, then it's intensely gripping and not just your run of the mill thriller - interesting twists and i was in suspense until the end