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)

loved it

loved it! I love everything they do.. don't start their books unless you can finish them. keep writing please.. and I have always wondered why aren't they making movies out of these? please make movies out of these books!!

Still Life With Crows

A bit gruesome, but it was still fun. I was drawn to this book because of its rating, and was not disappointed. I normally do not like abridged or paperback rack type novels, but wound up actually enjoying it very much, and am already looking forward to the next Pendergast adventure!

Captivating!

I listened to this in record time. The beginning, middle, and end were equally good, and I've fallen in love with Agent Pendergast. Such kindness, such calm. I loved this book.

Riveting!

Improbable mystery with vivid characters!.well worth the time to listen! Not for the squeamish ..

Good Book

I enjoyed this title quite a bit. As is usual with these Preston books, kinda weird story with soft ending but very entertaining. Rene Auberjonois is probably the best reader of the many books that I have listened to. He alone is worth the listen on this one. I recommend this book.

Murder is afoot in Kansas

Set in Medicine Creek, Kansas, this story starts off with a particularly gruesome murder and takes off from there. Having spent time in small towns growing up, the local flavor of small-town America is pretty accurate. The overall atmosphere set out in the books during various stages - the locals, attitudes, the weather - it all adds to make the book very believable.

I have to admit to being seriously creeped out by this at times, and sometimes even a bit grossed out. I chose not to read certain parts of it while eating. The lack of an apparent motive for the serial killings, the deviation from a set pattern which usually defines a killer all held my attention and made me eager to keeping coming back for more.

The revelation at the finale of the book made my hair stand on end and just be seriously creeped out. Another fine story from Lincoln and Child!

even abridged...Amazing!

Where does Still Life with Crows rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

3rd of all time

What other book might you compare Still Life with Crows to and why?

no compare for me

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

I will listen to anything he narrates, and i have so far....he is wonderful as Pendergast, as always.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Pendergast saves Cora from small town life and gives her the opportunity to make something of herself....makes me cry everytime!

Any additional comments?

another hit out of the park for Preston, Child, Auberjonois and Pendergast himself

OUTSTANDING THRILLER!

This suspenseful thriller definitely separates itself from "The Relic" or "Reliquary" (both of which are amazing reads!) the two stories that Preston and Child's are best known for making them household names! Still Life With Crows is a darker story with all the suspense and thrills we expect from this "Dynamic Duo" powerhouse writing team! There are not many surprises, however, the onse that are weaved into this graphic horror story are definitely SURPRISING to be sure! Great book; meets my expectations from these author's, chilling, thrilling and at times graphically horrific told with the steady voice of professional narrator: Rene Auberjonois!

Love Rene Auberjonois Narration !!!

Sad Rene Auberjonois will not be with us for more Pendergast stories ! GREAT NARRATOR OF PENDERGAST BOOKS.

Still Life With Crows

This book was a little slow at first and then it totally grabbed me. It was so grafic i was there with FBI agent Pendergast with his every move. could not stop listening.