The Pendergast Series -

[Dr.Research]

I love this "series" (I use quotes because technically some novels are stand alone and some are sequential) and was wondering if anyone else heard of it.

For those who don't know, the Pendergast series, written by Preston & Child, follows a BAMF FBI agent who doesn't play the rules and gets involved into all kinds of insane cases, often with his equally BAMF and colorful associates.
I wouldn't call the series fantasy, but there are some elements of the supernatural.

For those those who have read the series or one of the books, what did you think?
Personally, the novels tend to be hit or miss for me. I either LOVE the book and would happily reread it (Still Life with Crows, Book of the Dead, Feverdream) or finish it and never touch it again (Wheel of Death, Brimstone). I keep going because I just love the characters and find the slight supernatural twist just out there enough that it doesn't break the reality.

What do you think of the characters? Favorites, least favorites?
As much as I love Pendergast, I think he sometimes borders on being a Mary-Sue with all his assets and talents.
I also have a deep soft spot for Corrie, Constance, Laura Hayward and even Diogenes.

Spoiler: One of my Favorite Parts of the Series

The progression of Diogenes seducing Constance. Woah.

Anyway, happy to discuss the books with anyone who's read them or has their interest perked

 

[Ruin]

Spoiler

I think it will eventually be revealed that Penderghast isn't human or is borderline immortal like Dr Lang.

 

[Dr.Research]

Spoiler

I think it will eventually be revealed that Penderghast isn't human or is borderline immortal like Dr Lang.

Hm. That's interesting, I never actually thought of that.

Spoiler: My prediction for a major event

Pendergast and Constance will get together. Maybe not in the traditional sense, but they've gotten much closer in the last book or two and in the preview chapters of Crimson Shore. The better part of me knows Pendergast probably wouldn't get romantic or intimate with her, but then again, he passed up Lady Maskelene to take care of Constance, so I think there's a sliver of a chance.

 

[女鬼]

I like how intricate those mysteries are.

In crime fiction, I prefer really elaborate stories where where they dig up old secrets and deep conspiracies, so the Pendergast series really delivers in that regard.
They also pick interesting and unusual settings, and the various characters are not just background props, they are quite memorable.

I just wish they'd tone down Pendergast's Gary Stu tendencies. It gets annoying when an author is too obviously in love with a particular character.

 

[Dr.Research]

I like how intricate those mysteries are.

In crime fiction, I prefer really elaborate stories where where they dig up old secrets and deep conspiracies, so the Pendergast series really delivers in that regard.
They also pick interesting and unusual settings, and the various characters are not just background props, they are quite memorable.

I just wish they'd tone down Pendergast's Gary Stu tendencies. It gets annoying when an author is too obviously in love with a particular character.

I can't think of any book that was blatantly obvious from the beginning so there defensively plenty of awesomness there.
Except in Wheel of Darkness. That was not awesome.

Spoiler: Isn't Pendergast...

Technically potentially evil/corrupted since he saw the ancient thingy (I forget what it was. A map or picture?) and he's no longer 1000% Chaotic Good anymore? I thought that was supposed to mean he was inexplicably changed from then on when it came to his morals or some crap like that.

I agree with you on that one. We get it- he's awesome.
Even though he has some genuine flaws, I feel like sometimes they don't get explored, aside from his brother and family issues. And I guess that's done as a means to show that no one can penetrate teehee the great Pendergast's mind, but I think it also comes off as "the depth of this character may be a bit more flash than substance".

 

[EI 903]

They're fun Holmes tributes with additional violence. Still Life With Crows is far and away my favorite, even if it takes a lot from The Relic (which I don't really count as part of the series since it was a stand-alone that the Pengergast books spun-off). The Cabinet of Curiosities is quite good as well.

I've only read as far in the series as Dance of Death, which I started but never finished for some reason. Might dust it off and finish it now that I've remembered.

I just wish they'd tone down Pendergast's Gary Stu tendencies. It gets annoying when an author is too obviously in love with a particular character.

I agree. He's less interesting the more unbelievable he is. There's more than enough eccentricity there to make a great character without making him just shy of Batman.

 

[Dr.Research]

They're fun Holmes tributes with additional violence. Still Life With Crows is far and away my favorite, even if it takes a lot from The Relic (which I don't really count as part of the series since it was a stand-alone that the Pengergast books spun-off). The Cabinet of Curiosities is quite good as well.

I've only read as far in the series as Dance of Death, which I started but never finished for some reason. Might dust it off and finish it now that I've remembered.



I agree. He's less interesting the more unbelievable he is. There's more than enough eccentricity there to make a great character without making him just shy of Batman.

Cabinet of Curiosities was great. I think you finish Dance of Death but it was a miss for me. I don't remember much about it, honestly.

 

[Ruin]

I think they actually toned down some of his Mary Sue qualities lately. In the earlier books he mows down villains like a lawnmower and shrugs off mortal wounds like a highlander. In the latest books he actually gets his shit wrecked quite a bit and needs to rely on other characters more.

 

[Dr.Research]

I think they actually toned down some of his Mary Sue qualities lately. In the earlier books he mows down villains like a lawnmower and shrugs off mortal wounds like a highlander. In the latest books he actually gets his shit wrecked quite a bit and needs to rely on other characters more.

He also gets emotionally fucked up quite a bit, which is nice as well.