Two Graves

By: Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child

Narrated by: Rene Auberjonois

Length: 16 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

After his wife, Helen, is brazenly abducted before his eyes, Special Agent Pendergast furiously pursues the kidnappers, chasing them across the country and into Mexico. But then, things go terribly, tragically wrong; the kidnappers escape; and a shattered Pendergast retreats to his New York apartment and shuts out the world.

But when a string of bizarre murders erupts across several Manhattan hotels - perpetrated by a boy who seems to have an almost psychic ability to elude capture - NYPD Lieutenant D'Agosta asks his friend Pendergast for help. Reluctant at first, Pendergast soon discovers that the killings are a message from his wife's kidnappers. But why a message? And what does it mean?

When the kidnappers strike again at those closest to Pendergast, the FBI agent, filled anew with vengeful fury, sets out to track down and destroy those responsible. His journey takes him deep into the trackless forests of South America, where he ultimately finds himself face to face with an old evil that - rather than having been eradicated - is stirring anew... and with potentially world-altering consequences.

Confucius once said: "Before you embark on a journey of revenge, first dig two graves." Pendergast is about to learn the hard way just how true those words still ring.

©2012 Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child (P)2012 Hachette

Worth the wait

At last the skeins of the Helen trilogy come together. Here are some assorted impressions:

Two Graves verges on too much in one book. It definitely is not a stand-alone book, but needs the backdrop of Fever Dream and Cold Vengeance for completion. Someone who has not read those first books of the trilogy could follow the story but would miss much of the significance of relationships & events.

For those who have read Fever Dream and Cold Vengeance, I don't think it's a spoiler to mention that a major feature of Two Graves is an isolated Nazi organization/colony upholding WWII traditions. I bring up this plot device because I quickly became worried, as it has become hackneyed over the years & I was concerned that the book would degenerate into a worn-out tale. Should have relied on Lincoln/Child to put in new twists that avoid that pitfall.

It's impossible to become a complacent reader because Lincoln/Child have a history of killing off our old friends integral to several earlier books as well as likable new characters (innocent or not). As always, the only certainty is that Pendergast will be there at the end.

All the Pendergast books have side stories, but parts of this one wander a bit far from the overall story line (but maybe my memory is fuzzy on this point about the earlier books).

Although much becomes clear in Two Graves, there are enough loose ends to ensure that there's more Pendergast to come...

Loved it!

It was great to have all the Child/Preston characters back! Narration is excellent. Knowing the previous books in the series gives this listen more depth, it is not the place to start the series but as on going it is wonderful!

Surprisingly disappointing

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would not ask a friend to waste their time on this. It is a mish mash of different stories that seemingly do not have much in common. I expect Pendergast to be more organized, poised and much less emotional from all of his previous history.

What could Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

They could have made the central character more like the Pendergast that we've come to know and love. Yes, some of the previous story lines have been huge and almost unbelievable, but this is like SuperPendergast who is out to save the world without a believable pretense. It is hard to write an accurate review without ruining the story for others who've not experienced the unreasonable and unbelievable occurrences that make this much less than it should have become.

What about Rene Auberjonois’s performance did you like?

As always, Mr. Auberjonois gives a fantastic performance. He is a joy to listen to and gives the book the most normal part of Pendergast that we have come to expect.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes, but it would be more of a supernatural movie than the thriller that the previous bbooks have given us.

New Side of an Old Friend?

We get see a different side of Pendergast and it's a little scary. Story is little hard to believe and not quite as well thought out as rest of the series(personal opinion) so I went 4 stars. As always the narrator was awesome and the story caught me by surprise. I am sure revealing new and exciting character traits to such a well documented series is difficult. So Great Book Enjoy and if you say 5 stars...I probably would not argue!

Over the top Pendergast

What other book might you compare Two Graves to and why?

Two graves is as good as the best Pendergast novels out there, but with a darker, more complex character completing the otherwise enigmatic Pendergast as we have gotten to know him in the previous novels.

Any additional comments?

This is a must-read for any Pendergast aficionado.

Another great book of this series

I love Agent Pendergast but this time there is a twist that made it even more interesting and I can see a follow up story coming soon. Pendergast finally finds an adversary of his level...

The best Pendergast yet, in my opinion.

Where does Two Graves rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is my favorite of late.

What did you like best about this story?

I hated that Helen died, but the addition of two sons of the same category as he and Diogenes to Pendergast's life was ingenious. I also loved the character of Tristram and yes, even Alban. It takes us through Pendergast's highest and lowest moments ultimately showing us that survival is always to be sought for the good of those besides oneself. And I feel that even though 'Tristram' means sadness, it is through this very sadness that love will eventually come to Pendergast's shattered heart.

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

Aloyisius, of course, then Tristram. I must also say, the conquering of Dukchuck by Felder was a great scene. I will not buy an audiobook not narrated by Rene' Auberjonois.. His voice captures the mellifluous New Orleans accent of Pendergast as I have imagined it since I read Relic when it came out.

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

When Helen died, I felt Pendergast's pain. I also felt his dying of the soul,the sadness of Ms. Ishimura, the benevolence of Proctor despite his 'job' and the hurt of Viola. I despised Fisher, which was as it should be considering his character.

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend this book and heartily guarantee you will enjoy the performance of Rene' Auberjonois.

awesome conclusion to sub plots

awesome conclusion to a one of the major sub plots years in the waiting not disappointed.

Outstanding addition the the Pendergast stories

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

Yes I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good mystery, or just reads lot of the Douglas Preston Lincoln Child books.Its fast paced ,compelling and hold your interst throughout the book. Rene Auberjonois is great narrator especially for the Pendergast series.

Who was your favorite character and why?

definitely Pendergast

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

I've listened to quite a few narrations by Rene Auberjonois al are excellent

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

When Pendergast Loses Helen for good

As always, brilliant story with a surprise ending

Twin sons for Pendergast? The is more of a Pendergast series more than ancillary characters.
Brilliant in story and narration. The way he grieves and how he enters the Nazi town is very good.