Crooked River

The enigmatic Pendergast returns to solve the mystery of why a crap-ton of cheap shoes with human feet still in them washed up on a beach in a ritzy part of Florida.

After 19 Pendergast novels, I'm not about to abandon the series, but at the same time–they're not really breaking new ground anymore. Most of Pendergast's personal mysteries have been laid to rest. The stories have gravitated back toward the odd, but regal FBI agent actually doing his job again. (Even if he seems displeased by having to kowtow to the Bureau's demands.)

The best thing Lincoln and Child have done with this series is to introduce Coldmoon as a partner and foil for Pendergast. I hope they continue with him, because he's a perfect foil to the debonair southerner. Coldmoon is dark where Pendergast is pale. He's unrefined where Pendergast is egalitarian. He's blunt where Pendergast is elusive. Whether Aloyuis wants to admit it or not, Coldmoon is a good match for him, and I will gladly continue to read books where the two agents banter and one-up each other.

This was an enjoyable outing, and the whodunit twist was pure Pendergast. The climax was outstanding, as well. Well done, gentlemen. Well done.

A solid addition to the Pendergast series. I provocative mystery with characters who are old friends to readers by this point.