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

Family, Family, Family

What did you love best about Two Graves?

I am such a fan of Pendergast that he almost can do no wrong. This story was the kind of tight story with mysterious twists and turns I've come to expect. While there's always the milieu of the mysterious, though, a lot of things happened in the nick of time that tugged on my believability. Regardless of any possible perceived weaknesses, I still found myself making time to finish the story as quickly as possible.

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

He does his usual outstanding job of making the characters believable. I am always intrigued at the subtle voice changes that make each character distinct without seeming contrived or forced.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely

Any additional comments?

The family history of the Pendergast clan is verging on hard to follow. Plus, they keep dying off so I wonder how much longer that part of the story can continue, unless of course they're all semi-immortal like his ward! :-) I'd welcome a return to some more traditional crime settings with the non-family characters involved as in earlier novels.

Another creative Pendergast chapter!

The Pendergast saga continues. Some loose ends are wrapped up, other situations are expanded, and new characters are introduced. The Helen, Constance, and Corey strands are developed, Aloysius nearly commits suicide, poor Proctor (sp?) is thrashed more than once, and D’Agosta makes a contribution. New characters are introduced and, I hope, will turn up in future episodes.
This is another fun contribution from the Preston-Child duo.
Rene Auberjonois gives another impeccable performance.

Great Story

Would you listen to Two Graves again? Why?

Yes, because it was read by a great talent

What did you like best about this story?

It was a story that none of us should ever forget. The story had a great message akin to the saying what goes around comes around

What about Rene Auberjonois’s performance did you like?

He has a great speaking voice

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

That you should dig two graves, if revenge is your motive.

Any additional comments?

no

TWO GRAVES - FINALLY THE SERIES RESSURRECTION!

Pendergast brought back to life. Excellent read. I feel like all the questions are answered in this book. I need to read a book I have missed and reread several I didn't take my time with. As usual the plot explanations are very elastic, but a stretch worth taking. I am looking forward to enjoying more of the Pendergast Series. I do wish Pendergast sounded a tad more Southern, but the performance is exceedingly well read. I could wish for less coarse language keeping in mind cursing shows a lack of vocabulary and imagination. Know, however this isn't true of these authors and that it seems to be expected by newer readers. I think this book really ties up any loose ends and gets us ready to continue on the journey. I would go so far as to say it is a MUST READ!

Not the usual Pendergast thriller

Is there anything you would change about this book?

It was too disjointed. There were too many different stories going on which would not have been a problem except one story appeared in the middle of another and you had to switch gears to get back into that story. The transition could have been smoother. It was odd to see Pendergast so dark. I loved the Constance story. It explains so much. You needed Vincent more.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Constance story line was the most interesting. the Cory story

Which scene was your favorite?

didn't have one in this book

Could you see Two Graves being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No movie.

best yet!

non-stop action with non-stop twists! I couldn't get enough of Prendergast and Constance never ceases to amaze me.

good listen

The reader Rene Auberjonois stutters when saying the word "sh-sh-shoulder" near the end of the book.

Too Personal To Pendergast

These later books, in my opinion, are far too involved in Pendergast's personal life. I prefer the earlier books in the series, rather than these long drawn out storylines across multiple books. Personal preference, and that's not to say I don't enjoy the latter books. Apparently I do enjoy them, since I keep buying them. But, I still prefer the cases where his personal stake isn't the main theme.

Secondly, I prefer Scott Brick as the narrator.

Hooray Rene! And Great Story

Would you consider the audio edition of Two Graves to be better than the print version?

Yes! Rene Auberjenois brings the Douglas and Preston books to life. He is an absolutely fabulous reader.

What about Rene Auberjonois’s performance did you like?

HIs pacing, diction, his personal tone, his emphasis. He is the best reader I've ever heard and I listen to many audiobooks.

After "TWO GRAVES" You'll Never Garden Again EVER!

Would you listen to Two Graves again? Why?

"Two Graves" by Preston and Child is a wonderfully wicked novel that will leave any listener far from any digging utensils for quite some time. This long novel takes the listener on a mystery rollercoaster ride that will leave many fans looking at their garage or any neighbor carrying a gardening shovel in a entirely different way. Because charecter development is so deep, and Pendergasts' F.B.I. and personal veneer cracks so unexpectantly, any listener would have to be insane not to delight in, what I think is, P&C's, best novel of their careers. I would definitely listen to it again, especially because of the superb and wickedly delightful narration of Rene Auberjonois. He plays a huge part in this books success. He definitely brings this story to life.This new novel is so incredably complex that any P&C fan may need to listen to it more than once, if only to truly enjoy every delightful twist and turn. It is so thoroughly constructed that, despite the book's length, any new or old Preston and Child fan will delight in this convoluted and thought provoking mystery. It is so good that listening to the novel only once may not be enough for any fan. It is truly a wickedly delightful literary ride that many will remember for a very long time. A great listen.