The Cabinet of Curiosities: Booktrack Edition

A Novel

By: Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child

Narrated by: Jonathan Marosz

Length: 17 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

The Cabinet of Curiosities: Booktrack Edition adds an immersive musical soundtrack to your audiobook listening experience!

In an ancient tunnel underneath New York City, a charnel house is discovered.

Inside are 36 bodies - all murdered and mutilated more than a century ago.

While FBI agent Pendergast investigates the old crimes, identical killings start to terrorize the city.

The nightmare has begun.

Again.

Booktrack is an immersive format that pairs traditional audiobook narration to complementary music. The tempo and rhythm of the score are in perfect harmony with the action and characters throughout the audiobook. Gently playing in the background, the music never overpowers or distracts from the narration, so listeners can enjoy every minute. When you purchase this Booktrack edition, you receive the exact narration as the traditional audiobook available, with the addition of music throughout.

©2002 Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child (P)2021 Grand Central Publishing

Critic reviews

"This is an intense and interesting story, entwining the quest for eternal life with the history of America, New York, and present-day politics and influence. Rene Auberjonois crafts his narration with great care; each word is voiced with perfect tone, pitch, and emotion, and each character is provided with a fitting personality. The result is narration that flows beautifully while providing insight into the story and those who inhabit it. Satisfyingly imbued with thrills and suspense, the prose is fully realized in Auberjonois's performance, and he even manages to make some of the more fantastic aspects seem reasonable. A totally engrossing experience." (AudioFile Magazine)

Convoluted

I loved the story and performance, but not the barely audible background and some repetition of some dialog. isn't it wonderful to learn more about Pendergast? I recommend this book.

Spectacular!

The writing style of this authors is by far my favorite. This book had me tense and awaiting to hear more of its in depth plot. I loved it!

Team Pendergast

I enjoyed the book. Hit the road with poor Boxer and end with an unexpected twist. I enjoyed the parts where there were throwbacks in words or circumstances to the first book. I was sad when a character that I liked did not make it to the end and waited for a wrap up, but everyone seemed to forget about him. I really learned something about history that I had never heard of and sparked an interest.

Solid narration

I would recommend this. Narrator does a pretty good job. There are 3 or 4 places where a line is repeated but given the length of the book I wouldn't fault that.

Almost Sherlock Holmes

Seemed that the story was a want to be Sherlock Holmes, but it was just a little over the top and slightly disconnected but I still enjoyed it.

One problem

Secondary audio track is ruinous distraction.
It is an affront toe the skilled narrators. Lose it!

Please bring back the Pendergast reader

I couldn’t listen to this book because of the reader inability to capture The Pendergast I have come to know through the many precious books. Sorry to say I will not follow this audible series if the reader remains the same.

Another killer thriller!

Really liked Jonathan Marosz portrayal of Pendergast in this one! Nailed the southern genteel accent. Story was a slow burn with a climatic ending.

Could have been great, but it turned dumb

Full disclosure, I’m only partially through this book and am enjoying it but then this happened…

Agent P: there’s a murderer and we are his targets. The murder will try to kill us…dead.

Dr. Scientist: mkay

Agent P: go to this dark creepy place alone and find more information on the murderer

Dr. Scientist: mkay

Agent P: Be safe

Dr. Scientist: mkay

Later…

Dr. Scientist goes to the dark creepy place and the door to the dark creepy place, which should be locked, isn’t. Does Dr. Scientist stroll on in? Of course she does!

Dr. Scientist is meeting Character C who is supposed to be working in the dark creepy place, but Character C is not there. No worries though, he left a note. The note says ‘hey, this place is dark and creepy AND labyrinthine, for sure, but I’m working waaaaaaay in the back where it’s even darker and creepier - and also, good luck finding me, but come on back, mkay?’

Does Dr. Scientist leave and find THE COP WHO IS ALSO WORKING ON THE CASE? Nope. Maybe give someone a call? Does she find anyone else who might assist her? How about a flashlight or a weapon? Is she even a little bit suspicious of the situation? No, no, no, and heck no.

It’ll still be a good book, but is anyone else annoyed by how the supposedly intelligent characters are written with ZERO common sense or even short term memory (see above ‘a murderer wants to kill you’ conversation).

WHEW! I feel better for venting, but that BS ^ ruins a perfectly good plot line. I mean honestly, if you have to make your character, WHO IS A GOTDANG DOCTOR, do dumb things that even the reader sees as idiotic…well, Preston and Child, you need to try a little harder.

But then Preston and Child are laughing all the way to the bank while I complain about a book I PAID FOR - and will buy more…so who’s really the dumb-dumb? :-/

Pendergast Takes Center Stage

This was the third book in the Pendergast series and the first book that takes his character front and center. It was noted that NPR rated this as one of the top thrillers and it definitely lives up to the title. Preston and Child are simply magic together. This is a fantastic thriller with an interesting premise and twists and turns you don't see coming. Nora Kelly replaces Margo Green and throws reporter Smithback into the mix as well. A killer bent on prolonging his life makes for an intriguing thriller, to say anymore would spoil the story. So good I didn't want this to end and enjoyed the thrill ride along the way. Excellent narration by Jonathan Marouz and a subtle Booktrack enhanced the mood. I already have the next book in the series.