The Cabinet of Curiosities

While I think this story could have been a few hundred pages shorter, I did enjoy all the creepiness of it.

I love the detail the author adds to every story. This was a terrifying and unique story and I enjoyed it very much. I went back to the beginning of this series to read them in order. Looking forward to #4.

** An engaging thriller **My goodness, even though it's quite a long story, it has been such an exciting adventure. Everything begins with the discovery of an underground place full of skulls from a long time ago, back in the 1880s. The big question is: who were these people, and why did they meet such a terrible fate? Did they meet their end because of a magical potion that grants eternal life, or is there another reason behind it? You'll find all the juicy details in the book.It's interesting how cabinets and curiosities are like sneak peeks into museums before museums were a thing. The author has really impressed me by connecting all the dots in a way that's full of surprises and unexpected twists. And it's not just that the story keeps you hooked, the way it unfolds is just right.If you're curious about Nora Kelly's early days and want to fully grasp what's going on with Nora and Bill Smithback, check out “Thunderhead” ([b:Thunderhead 136636 Thunderhead (Nora Kelly, #0A) Douglas Preston https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1344263984l/136636.SY75.jpg 294161]Nora Kelly #0A). It's like the starting point that explains a lot. And guess what? There's more to come with Pendergast and Nora Kelly, so stay tuned for their next adventures!

Midway through the story kind of slogged and I found it not as enjoyable as the first 2 entries in the series but none-the-less, I find Pendergast to be quite a compelling, charismatic and deeply interesting enigmatic character.

Well, really badly written, but falls under my kind of guilty pleasure

Bones are discovered on a construction site. In total 36 bodies are found, the were mutilated more than a 100 years ago.

After the discovery of the bones, similar murders are happening in the streets of New York. Is there a copycat on the loose or the murderer from a 130 years ago still alive?

Agent Pendagast is back for a third time. D'Agosta and Margo Green are gone so he gets the help of Nora Kelly, a archeologist working for the Museum. The story still takes place in New York and also back is Bill Smithback, the journalist looking for his Pulitzer prize and is also Nora's boyfriend. A new character is also in the mix, Patrick O'Shaunessy, a cop who a couple of years ago was accused of taking a bribe and now his boss is making him work with Pendagast as a punishment.


This suspense, horror, fantasy book is great. Pendagast is such a great character, intriguing, weird and who has a few tricks on his sleeve. Smithback is your typical journalist but tends to put his ffot in his mouth a little too often and gets to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. For me they are both the main reasons the books works. They both bring the serious, emotional and funny side that makes the book a joy to read.

They are some parts that are far-fetched more on the fantasy side so be prepared that it's part of the charm the authors bring to this novel.

This book can be read as a stand alone since the references from the two previous book are so minimal that you don't really miss anything that makes you wonder what they are talking about.

Great thrilling, suspense book. 4.5 stars.