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White Fire  By  cover art

White Fire

By: Douglas Preston,Lincoln Child
Narrated by: Rene Auberjonois
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Publisher's summary

Past and present collide in Preston and Child's most thrilling novel ever....

Special Agent Pendergast arrives at an exclusive Colorado ski resort to rescue his protégée, Corrie Swanson, from serious trouble with the law. His sudden appearance coincides with the first attack of a murderous arsonist who - with brutal precision - begins burning down multimillion-dollar mansions with the families locked inside. After springing Corrie from jail, Pendergast learns she made a discovery while examining the bones of several miners who were killed 150 years earlier by a rogue grizzly bear. Her finding is so astonishing that it, even more than the arsonist, threatens the resort's very existence.

Drawn deeper into the investigation, Pendergast uncovers a mysterious connection between the dead miners and a fabled, long-lost Sherlock Holmes story - one that might just offer the key to the modern day killings as well.

Now, with the ski resort snowed in and under savage attack - and Corrie's life suddenly in grave danger - Pendergast must solve the enigma of the past before the town of the present goes up in flames.

©2013 Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (P)2013 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

“Narrator René Auberjonois is perfection as he portrays the rip-roaring assortment of Preston and Child's over-the-top characters... Auberjonois's cool persona is ideal for the black-suited mystery-man Pendergast. As Corrie, he's a hard-headed 20-something who won't be bullied. A sadistic serial arsonist, a beleaguered sheriff, wizened miners, and 'old money' interests give Auberjonois plenty of opportunities to dazzle.” (AudioFile Magazine)

"Sherlock Holmes fans will relish Preston and Child's 13th novel featuring eccentric FBI agent Aloysius Pendergast (after 2012's Two Graves), one of their best in this popular series...easily stands on its own with only passing references to Pendergast's complex backstory." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

"Another highly entertaining and genuinely thrilling story from Preston & Child starring their romantic, faintly gothic, and always mysterious FBI agent, Aloysius Pendergast. As always the prose is elegant, replete with exquisite descriptions, and this time we're treated to dashes of historic characters Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde, as well as a positively delicious serving of the great Sherlock Holmes. Through myriad shocks, surprises, twists and turns, the suspense never lets up. Great fun to the last page." (Anne Rice)

What listeners say about White Fire

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  • 11-12-13

A Grand Slam Tale of Terror

I have been hoping to learn more about Corrie Swanson. Remember, we met Corrie in Still Life with Crows (book 4). Back then she had an abusive mother and no future. Pendergast took her under his wing and placed her in boarding school. She has been in and out of novels ever since. In this novel she is grown and attending John Jay College and play the central role throughout the novel.

Oscar Wilde and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (in the 1800s) setup the intrigue; and, before you even begin Chapter 1 you are hooked and titillated with some unknown ‘story of revulsion.’ Preston and Child perform their usual excellence in descriptive phase and dialog. I simply love the how they place you in the scene.

This is book 13 of the series and comes after the latest trilogy 10-12 which was heart wrenching and left many issues unresolved. Rene Auberjonis narrates the novel in his usual excellence. He has been the voice of this series since book 8 and continues to deliver.

This book is a must read. If you are new to the series, I encourage you to read Still Life with Crows first to get a good introduction to Corrie. Though you can jump straight to this novel because it does stand on its own. This is one of my most favorite series and I cannot recommend it more highly. For us Pendergast lovers, all I have to say is ‘He is back!’

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52 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Pendergast, Back on the Case, After his "Tangent"

I am a huge fan of A.X. Pendergast ever since 'The Relic' where I don't think anyone was sure that his character was going to be continued into a series. The last few books have all been written about his ex-wife & are classified as the 'Helen Trilogy', the books were by no means 'Bad' but I was not impressed by the quality nor the tangent these books threw our usually implacable A.X.P. into a world of shadow conspiracies, getting man-handled by 'uncouth brigands', killing more than a dozen people single-handed on a large yacht, & the questions unanswered after the 'Helen Books' were done. I'd like give my opinion that our Sherlock Holmes like character of A.X.P. is getting back to 'past form' & using his ultimate hero 'Afoot'. The eccentric detective with his unconventional methods, unique persona, & unlimited resources behind his obsessions to solve crimes.

I don't want to give away too much with this book but there are more than just one story arc & although I read some reviews from people lucky enough to get the book early there were a couple reviews that mentioned how Corrie stole the spotlight from him. I clearly do not think so! I can confidently say that before this book I liked her character as a supporting character but after reading this book I did not feel the same. She was the anti-establishment type personality in 'Still Life with Crows' & even in her other candid appearances in the books after, but I found her character growth showing her in a negative light. I'm not getting too specific but although she might have aged, her maturity level & lack of 'classy behavior' have not... & I don't mean she needed to be comparable to or as worldly achieved as a character like A.X.P. but I don't see how it would be possible for her to overshadow him in any book. This book reminded me of one of my favorite books which ironically is 'Still Life with Crows'. After that the 'Diogenes Trilogy' was also fantastic & the books that were released in between that time & leading to the 'Helen Trilogy', tended to range from satisfactory to slightly above average.

In this book there is even a reference to Conan Doyle & Sherlock Holmes himself & are worked into the story. Although I was able to guess what was to happen at the end about halfway thru, which is not something I could have done with past books, the story brought the 'old school' persona of A.X. Pendergast back to the front & I am looking forward to the next story P&C write regarding A.X.P. He is back to his old ways of putting self-entitled people back in place with a sharp tongue that's laced with honey & sarcasm, his enigmatic ways of breaking down a crime scene, along with his ability to banter & return salvo's with any antagonist. I really hope they don't make a spin-off with Corrie's character because as alluded to, they didn't "work together' the same way they did in Medicine Creek but both have arcs that cross at different points. Corrie is DEF. no 'Lt. D'Agosta' lol, but she's young & still has time to develop into a better supporting character that I felt P&C took away way too early with Smithback's demise.

I tried not to reveal much in this review because with certain mysteries or crime series I believe u need to read it all & figure out if u liked or disliked it without giving away too much of the plot, its not the same as reviewing other genre's. I focused more on the characters & they're current persona's in this book compared to the past & the overall plot undertones for the protagonist(s). Renee is always a great narrator for the Pendergast books & he doesn't disappoint here, I truly think that if anyone thought the A.X.P. books were straying a bit off the 'norm' in the past, P&C have brought it much closer to the 'roots' again. Its worth strapping on ur snowshoes & take a trip to Colorado.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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More Irritating Than Entertaining

White Fire is the latest installment in the successful Pendergast series of novels for which the authors Preston and Child collaborate. I thought advertising this work as a Pendergast book bordered on bait-and-switch marketing. Pendergast indeed eventually arrives on the scene, but a major portion of this story, and the entire early setup of the novel, is devoted to Corrie Swanson, a minor character who appeared in earlier works in this series.

The authors did not develop Corrie as a character. Instead, she is used as a theatrical prop and counterpoint to Pendergast's brief appearances to lend the novel an unrealistic if not implausible sense of danger and drama. In sum, Corrie is a one-trick pony whose default response to all situations is simply to do the opposite of what she is told or what makes sense. She is a literary stick figure and caricature of a restless young woman who brings little to the table as a principal character whom the reader might like, dislike, sympathize with, root for or relate to in any satisfying way.

I wonder if the authors are running out new ideas for the Pendergast series?

I would give White Fire a pass and perhaps re-read (or re-listen to) an earlier and more entertaining Pendergast novel.

Rene Auberjonois performs well in this work, capturing the unique southern drawl of Pendergast, the alleged protagonist in this work, as well as a myriad of other characters who come and go in this novel.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Corrie Swanson is the WORST character EVER

I've read this series from the beginning and enjoyed them, especially the earlier books, but the last several books have been a disappointment. This book is almost ruined by Corrie Swanson. She is too much of an idiot to enjoy reading about. I spent so much time being annoyed and baffled by her thought processes, complaints and poor decision-making that it distracted me from the story as a whole. The scene with the blizzard, snow mobile and abandoned mine was almost more than I could bear listening to. Ugh. I will pass on further books that include Corrie or, heaven forbid, Tristram. I've read this series from the beginning but the last several books have been a disappointment.

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I usually LOVE these but..

It was OK. Not the best Pendergast story I've ever read at all. Too predictable, not very engrossing. I didn't believe Cory's actions, her motivations seemed unclear, the supporting characters were not well developed...overall, meh...

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White Fire - Finally Corrie Swanson continues!!

What made the experience of listening to White Fire the most enjoyable?

I am a huge fan of the Pendergast books. One of my favorites is Still Life With Crows where Corrie Swanson is introduced. I like that her character is being developed and it appears that the ground work is being laid for her to become his protege in future novels. Corrie's character brings many possibilities and I look forward to see where the next will take them.

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

This was a well written plot. I don't want to give it away but I will say the final confrontation was a total shock. I Never saw this one coming and I am usually pretty good at figuring out "who done it", so that makes this a good book!

What does Rene Auberjonois bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His voice and accent are unique and fit Pendergast's dignity and refined speech patterns.

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

Nothing extreme but I am happy to see Pendergast show some pretense of emotion and a little less of an automaton.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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A story within a story - - - -

I recommend listening to Still Life With Crows before this novel, as it gives the necessary back story for Corrie Swanson-- other than that, this could work as a stand alone novel.

Most of this novel takes place in Roaring Fork, Colorado (Aspen-like exclusive mountain resort.) Ms. Corrie Swanson takes the spotlight, now a student at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She is on a mission to write a thesis on some grisly deaths (murders?) which happened in the town decades ago. The deaths are supposedly revealed in a long lost Sherlock Holmes story which was never published.

As Corrie tries to investigate by examining the bones of the long dead victims, she is met with resistance from the town leaders, and must be rescued once again by Pendergast. He arrives in town with his usual flair, and then stays on to make sure things don't go awry. At the same time, a serial arsonist has started burning down the mansions surrounding the main square, leaving the owners inside. It is a particularly horrible crime, as the bodies reveal what terror they must have gone through.

Overall a pretty decent story--however, I didn't find the character of Corrie very enjoyable in this one. She has continued on with her defiant, immature nature which came out in her first appearance in Still Life With Crows --but in that story she was a teenager. Hopefully Preston and Child will give her more depth if she is to continue as a character in future novels with Pendergast.



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Just too much

Be warned: there is a pretty big ick-factor in "White Fire".

Of course, if you are a Preston/Child/Pendergast fan, you already expect this. The series is not for the faint of heart or stomach.

As usual, there's a lot of violence and a lot of suspenseful action here. But, surprisingly, no hint of the occult. Not usually an occult fan, I have come to accept it in the Pendergast series and to admit grudgingly that this hint of the unexplainable helps make the improbables and impossibles easier to accept.

On the contrary, all in "White Fire" is scientifically and psychologically understandable, regardless of how ludicrously overdone or unbelievable. There's the action and suspense I mentioned before, plus clever use of Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde. But, ultimately, I found the inevitable murders, the drawn-out chases, and the conclusions to be impossible to swallow (a pun I hope those who read the book will forgive!).

They've had a long and good run with Pendergast; maybe it's time for a Preston/Child breakup.

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I love Pendergast but . . .

Too little Pendergast and too much Corrie. The character Corrie lacks depth and in just about all instances common sense. The decisions she makes are much in line with that of a 5 year old. Her behavior was unforgivably rude and nasty toward Pendergast, considering he is the one who made it possible for her to escape her abusive mother. I found nothing in her character redeeming. Hopefully she'll just disappear in future Pendergast novels.

The narrator was fabulous.

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    3 out of 5 stars

Didn't want a Corrie Swanson Story

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

A good listen, just not the story I was waiting for

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

Most interesting was the Sherlock lost story

Least was the entire book being about Corrie Swanson and very little Pendergast

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