Still Life with Crows

By: Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child

Narrated by: Rene Auberjonois

Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Medicine Creek, Kansas. In a town where nothing changes, where Main Street is a two-block stretch of old and dusty businesses, a ghastly murder has taken place. The unknown victim has been placed in a small clearing in a sea of corn, mutilated and arranged in an elaborate tableau. Within twenty-four hours the sheriff is assuring a flood of reporters and tense residents that this is an isolated death - until Special Agent Pendergast arrives in the stifling August heat to declare it the work of a serial killer.

Soon neighbors begin to disappear - only to reappear as the lifeless centerpieces of unspeakable displays. Convulsed with terror, the townsfolk whisper of the legendary Curse of the Forty-fives. No one is safe from a killer who stalks his prey in the blackness of night...and whose grotesque crimes are revealed by circling buzzards under the cruel summer sun.

With the help of Corrie Swanson, an eighteen-year-old misfit, Pendergast unearths the secrets of this isolated town - from the dark histories of its inhabitants to the darker mysteries hidden in the endless cornfields. And ultimately, as he unravels the local curse and the truth of Medicine Creek's greatest enigma, the Ghost Warrior Massacre of 1865, Pendergast comes face-to-face with the unimaginable evil that lies at the heart of this small town.

©2003 Splendide Mendax, Inc. and Lincoln Child (P)2003 Time Warner AudioBooks. A division of AOL Time Warner Book Group.

Critic reviews

"The Preston-Child team scores another big winner, perfect for the summer; highly recommended¿" (Library Journal)
"Yummy beach reading." (Kirkus Reviews)

Good overall, a few problems....

Overall a good story that I enjoyed listening to during a recent road trip. Story isn't very predictable and keeps the readers interest. However, a few items in the story I have issue with. I have read that children who suffer from Down Syndrome can have superior strength as a side affect of the disease, but come on! Jobe wasn't some scientific expiriment with superhuman abilities. Made the story a little hard to swallow at times, but overall and entertaining tale to listen to!

So Exciting! Like watching a film!

This book is sooooo gripping. I loved Cabinet of Curiosities and because the previous reviewer mentioned Special Agent Pendergast was in this book too, I decided to download it. I wasn't disapointed - it was even better than Cabinet of Curiosities! I am now firmly in love with Agent Pendergast and just itching for more.

The atmospheric music was brilliant, as was the ending.

The narrator is especially good - able to create seperate voices for each character in an exceptionaly talented way.

I have downloaded lots of books from Audible and this one will go down as one of my all time favorites. A ripping yarn, scary, atmospheric, gripping and delicious.

A win for the Narrator and the Authors

Pendergast is the perfect hero. I have listened to all the books available on Audible by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, all are great. But this story and presentation was probably the best of all. This story is brought to life expertly and with passion by Rene Auberjonois. This man can lend the personality and inflection required to make a story something you want to listen to. The use of music in this particular Audio Book in the series is very important in the impact of the story and well done. Shed a tear at the end or not, a well told story and another great audiobook.

Interesting story

This is a nice book. The suspense and plot kept me interested. The narrarator makes it easy to follow along and has the right pace for the story. The music was a little weird - I felt like I was listening to an old-time mystery radio show, but it didn't bother me enough to take away from the story. I won't blow the ending for you, but I will say it did surprise me.

Still Life with Crows - 'A Page Turner'

Excellent book. As soon as I finished 'The Cabinet of Curiosities' (I sat on my bed for an hour to finish listening) I started 'Still Life with Crows'...again I couldn't turn off my player. With their fantastic twisting turning narratives, Preston and Child take you through a maze of a story. I could almost feel the corn pollen in my nose and the heat of the sun on my back. A great read!!

Fun Book...a bit gory and an unusual story line

The book was a bit predictable, not too hard to figure out where the killer came from. A bit "Beauty and the Beast" with a twist. We enjoyed the book, though. Worth listening to.

Page Turner

As usual Pendergast is magnificent. The plot kept me intrigued. I can't wait for the next novel by these authors. I also highly recommend the Relic and Brimstone.

Storyline pulled me in from the beginning...

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It was time well-spent. The hours flew by as I listened because the story was so intriguing.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favourite character was Aloysius Pendergast. His demeanor and subtleties are fascinating. He stuck out like a soar thumb in the town, however it did not distract him from the case on hand.

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

Aloysius Pendergast. Rene Auberjonois' Louisiana drawl is wonderful. He is by far the best performer of the Pendergast performers.

Did Still Life with Crows inspire you to do anything?

It inspired my to begin reading the Pendergast series.

Any additional comments?

Fantastic read.

Good story, well read

This is my first book by these authors, the effort was worth it. The story was good, paced well, populated with interesting characters. Had a hard time at first with the kind of mysterious nature of Pendergast, then decided it wasn't worth getting hung up about, and just enjoyed the ride. Had figured out out where to find the "bad guy" somewhat ahead of the characters, but once the authors got us there, they threw in some more surprises, preventing a boring and predictable end. Good job.

Fantastic!

Well written and well narrated, this book is enthralling! I have listened to it twice and suggested it to my friends. They too love this series of books by Preston and Child.