Talk about sibling rivalry!

I got an advance copy! Which was very cool because it was signed by the authors. I must admit I cannot be an objective reviewer when it comes to this writing team, they are awesome! In Dance of Death FBI Special Agent, Aloysius Pendergast (from Brimstone, Cabinet of Curiosities) is back in action. He is up against his Evil, diabolical brother Diogenes, who is murdering Aloysius's friends, and framing the murders on Aloysius! Pendergast ends up on the run from the Feds while he tries to figure out a way to defeat his evil brother, who is always one step ahead of him.

This is typical Preston/Childs non-stop action with plenty of twists and turns. If I were to fault the book at all is it does not develop the historical/archeological/scientific plot typically found in earlier novels-which I always enjoy. New York City and the hall of the Museum of Natural History does play a role but this quickly fades in importance as the "dance of death" between the brothers plays out. The monumental struggle between the two brothers however-an epic fight between good and evil-is more than enough to carry the story. I also think the ending could have been a tad better, but it is also a great set up for the next book!

All in all this is another great Preston/Childs collaboration that fans will be pleased with (it is worth the hardback price). Oh yeah, if you like this type of thriller also check out "A Tourist in the Yucatan" Highly recommended for thriller/adventure/mystery fans!

Another great Pendergast story

Preston and Child continue to write incredible stories involving FBI Agent Pendergast, but this one is their best so far. Bringing in characters from all of their other books (Margo from Relic, Vincent from Relic and Brimstone, Nora and Bill from Thunderhead and Cabinet of Curiosities, and many others!) and creates an incredible story! Pendergast's brother has marked his friends for death and goes after them one by one. Let me tell you, the way "Brimstone" ended left me a little unhappy, but they explain it all perfectly here and bridge the gaps in time leading to this tale.

You don't have to have read all the other stories from these authors to enjoy the novel, but I'd sure recommend it, as you'll miss little things here and there (Margo's fear of returning to the museum and what happens to her there are more terrifying if you've read her exploits in "Relic"). And hey, when you finish this you'll want to read the others anyway, so go for it.

This novel ends powerfully, setting the stage for the next Pendergast story, and I can't wait. Write faster, guys! Highly recommended.