There are so many novels in the Agent Pendergast series (this is #21), and while they do build on each other, I think a casual reader could pick this up and enjoy it. I haven’t read the last four or five in the series, but the authors do a good job filling in backstory as needed and I never felt lost reading this book.

Having said that, this is a long read and I think keeping the reader informed on 20 previous novels - however brief the summary - does add significantly to the page count.

I liked that there were three different mysteries going on across two time periods. This is a complex read full of intricacies. Also I didn’t realize going in, but this is actually the third book in a grouping of four books that go together to tell the whole story. So be warned - if you’re looking for a final resolution, you will need to read Pendergast #22.

I think the characters are fantastic, which is why I keep returning to this series. Each character is complex and they continue to evolve. Great series if you have the time to invest in starting with book #1, but if not I think you can’t go wrong diving in with Yhd Cabinet of Dr. Leng.

Constance is determined to change the past, specifically her fast and that of her siblings: Mary, Joseph, and her younger self. Traveling back to the late 1800s, must set events into motion that will save their lives and keep them away from an infamous serial killer, Dr. Enoch Leng. Unfortunately her plans don’t go quite as she had planned, leading to some devastating consequences. Meanwhile her husband, Aloysius Pendergast, is desperately searching for a way to find Constance and bring her back to modern day New York, but just like his wife, he will face obstacles that will put his life, and the life of his wife, in danger.

This novel was a hard one for me. I went in knowing that it was the 21st novel in the series, however I assumed, to my detriment, that it was a series that did not build upon the previous novels as much as it did; I thought it would be more like Agatha Christie’s Poirot, and that they would all be separate entities. This made it difficult for me to follow The Cabinet of Dr. Leng, since many past events and people are mentioned in ways that left me confused and curious as to what happened previously. That aside, the story was an enjoyable one, and I enjoyed the mystery that is contained within this novel. The book jumps between the timelines, creating suspense and wonder. I also liked the characters.

Even though this is the third in the series, i actually didn't have a hard time keeping up with the story and getting up to speed with the characters. Although there are references to the previous novels, and it's definitely a continuation of a more complex story, it felt like it's own entity and i found myself continuing to read to see how each story line was going to play out. I will most likely go back to read the first two books, and continue on with the future of this series.

I've read many books by Preston and Child and have always found them to be fast paced, interesting and hard to put down. This one was no different. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

Yes! Preston & Child have done it again with another book featuring FBI Special Agent Pendergast and Constance Greene. This one picks up after Constance travels back in time to save her siblings. Pendergast's love for Constance shines bright as he follows her into old time New York. There they cross paths with New York's deadliest serial killer (also a member of the Pendergast family). This book was exciting from cover to cover. I look forward to their next adventure!

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

I always enjoy Preston & Child's books. Especially the Pendergast series. While they normally have a touch of supernatural in them, this one was a little more of a stretch with the time travel aspect. Still a solid read and I will always pick up a book by these authors. Can't wait for the next!

3 Stars!
Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child have been delighting readers with the adventures of FBI Special Agent Pendergast for years and the duo is back in the 21st book in the series, The Cabinet of Dr. Leng. There is not a lot to say in way of introduction as readers are familiar with Pendergast and what to expect in his adventures. This makes it easy to slide into his world and settle in for another adventure.



Constance had discovered a way to go back in time and right the wrongs of the past. At least she had found a way to give the impression of doing so and set her conscience at ease. Time travel is not possible, but there are many worlds other than our own and Constance uses an arcane machine to travel to a world of her childhood to save her family from the tragedy she remembers. The machine is destroyed in the venture, however, and now Pendergast must face the realization that he will never see Constance again. Unable to envision a future without her, he puts in motion a plan to travel to that parallel world to bring her back.



Pendergast will stop at nothing to get Constance back and, with the help of his old friend Lieutenant Commander Vince D’Agosta, is preparing to take the perilous journey to the parallel world. To accomplish this, though, he must enlist the help of a shady but brilliant scientist to fix the machine. Special Agent Coldmoon, an ex-partner of Pendergast, is also in New York investigating the theft of Lakota artifacts and giving D’Agosta a sounding board for Pendergasts actions. As the do heads to the alternate dimension to bring Constance back, their plan is undermined not only by the devious mind of Dr. Leng working out the mystery of Constance in that world but in a possible traitor in their midst in their home dimension. It is the ultimate risk for the two men. If they fail, they may not just face death. They may face a life sentence in a world that is not their own.



The Cabinet of Dr. Leng has all the hallmarks of a Preston and Child novel although it did move a little slower than most of the Pendergast novels. There is plenty of intrigue, weirdness, and pseudoscience that fans of the series have come to expect mixed in with sporadic doses of action. The duo has always used short chapters to move the story along briskly but the story seemed to drag more than previous books. There is an air of the supernatural hanging over the proceedings as per the norm along with the normal hints of science fiction. There is a strong dash of history mixed in as well and the writing is strong. Overall, the duo brings all the elements that make a good Pendergast story to this novel.



With all of that being said, though, this book fell flat for me and is probably my least favorite Pendergast novel. The story seems to ramble along at times and there seems to be a lot more fluff to it than in the rest of the series. The whole storyline with Special Agent Coldmoon and the theft of the Lakota relics comes off as totally unrelated to the rest of the story. The authors may tie it in toward the end but, through the entirety of this novel, it felt more like a distraction than a part of the book. I still liked the novel, but it felt like the story was about 2/3 content and 1/3 filler as if the actual story itself was too short to fill up a novel. Or, in this case, too long. The story finally seemed to be coming into its own toward the end of the book and then it just ends. This ending did not seem like a cliffhanger or a planned ending to me. It felt like a novel that was chopped in half. Maybe it is just my perception, but it left me feeling as if the authors had a story that was running long for a standard novel in the series, so they (or the publisher) decided to flesh it out and turn it into two books. Maybe I am wrong, but it just felt like an arbitrary way to end the story and not one that was well thought out. The Cabinet of Dr. Leng is still a good book and worth reading, but it was a bit of a disappointment when compared to the other books in the series.



I would like to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this review copy. The Cabinet of Dr. Leng is available now.

Preston and Child have been on the charts for their Pendergast Series for a long time so I jumped at a chance to read this book. As person who has never read any books in the series I struggled to figure out what was going on. It took me most of the book to bond with the characters and to figure out how they all fit together.

That being said this was still an incredibly well-written book with tons of action. I think I would have rather gone into this book after reading all of the other books in the series but I was still glad that I read this book.

Now to catch up on the series before the next one comes out!

The Cabinet of Dr. Leng by Preston and Child is another great thriller in the Pendergast series this time dealing with the fate of Constance Greene.
As the blurb says, "AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY-Astoundingly, Constance has found a way back to the place of her origins, New York City in the late 1800s, leaping at the chance, although it means leaving the present forever.
A DESPERATE OPPORTUNITY-Constance sets off on a quest to prevent the events that lead to the deaths of her sister and brother. But along the road to redemption, Manhattan’s most infamous serial killer, Dr. Enoch Leng, lies in wait, ready to strike at the slightest provocation.
UNIMAGINABLE ODDS-Meanwhile, in contemporary New York, Pendergast feverishly searches for a way to reunite with Constance—but will he discover a way back to her before it’s too late?"
For those who have been following the series for a while this is the culmination of a lot of story lines that have been simmering in the background since the 2002's Cabinet of Curiosities.
For fans of the authors and the series I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #GrandCentralPublishing, and the authors for the ARC of #TheCabinetofDrLeng.

Wow. This was some road trip! I was sucked in at the beginning and couldn’t put it down. This installment was more about Constance’s story and I enjoyed it very much.
Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The worlds, which New York Times bestselling authors Douglas Preston and Lincoln Childs create in The Cabinet of Dr. Leng are detailed to the minutest element, storylines elegantly braided…that is, until near the end.

While the 400-plus pages lay out an exciting story, with well-drawn characters and plot twists aplenty, I don’t know that I’ve ever been livid when 'I've reached the end of a book — perhaps happy or sad to say goodbye to characters I came to know and care about but never angry.

But then, I can’t remember ever reading a book where the authors apologized and said they are working as fast as they can to write the next book. I had no idea this was the 21st book in the series. Perhaps Agent Pendergast fans may be more forgiving.

While I do still recommend this excellent science fiction/fantasy mystery, it is with one caveat. Wait until the 22nd book in the series is available and thoroughly enjoy both together.

Or if new to the series, read the sequence which will be the Leng Quartet, according to the authors: The Cabinet of Curiosities, Bloodless, The Cabinet of Dr. Leng and the yet to be published fourth book.

I received this advance reader copy from Grand Central Publishing, courtesy of NetGalley. This review is fair and impartial.

You can’t go wrong with a delicious tale involving Agent Pendergast. this story is highly original as well as entertaining. Prepare to stay up late.

<i>ARC provided by NetGalley & Publisher for an Honest Review</i>
Let this review serve as a warning that you should be prepared for one hell of a curveball ending that in no way concludes this story. In the end I wish I had something akin to a punching bag because I was a mix of emotions and feeling stabby with the unknown. Aside from the ending this book was absolutely amazing and if I’m being honest that explosive out of nowhere surprise has me just a lil bit excited. Months ago just seeing the title of this book had me giddy as the first three books in this series are by far my favorite and often rereads of mine. I really didn’t think too much about how the Cabinet would once again become a large role in the book but I was ready and eager. Considering Pendergast resides at Leng’s Riverside Dr. home, it often serves as a common setting and so I was in no way prepared for how this book would feature the prominent home. 😱 (Just note diving in would also be best while the series is fresh in your mind, at least from the perspective of <i>Bloodless.</i>)

The complexity of Dr. Leng and his quest to end humanity mixed with the number of mind-blowing artifacts scattered throughout his home make for an overwhelming but thrilling adventure. Then again I completely forget just how sly and keen this Dr. Leng was. When he’s a threat the first go round Pendergast and the gang never actually go toe to toe with him as he’s taken out by another foe. Only now with tides having turned Dr. Leng 2.0 is even more of a threat with luck and brains on his side.

I’ve always loved Constance but this book really made me want to throttle her. I think in some ways not having experienced a true childhood or adolescence she’s not adept with handling such large emotions of any kind. So now she’s like a slow boiling volcano that vents occasionally but eventually explodes in the worst way. It’s just sad and scary to see how many are taken down as collateral.

I found the WOW factor from the last book continued on. Immediately the book hooks you and you’re on a rollercoaster ride of time and space, literally in fact! I’m only sad at this point to be caught up in the series without another book to dive into. I absolutely loved this book and enjoyed seeing Coldmoon and D’Gosta’s cases bring them together and ultimately to their shared friend: Pendergast. Somehow everyone good, bad and in between from the Pendergast universe makes an appearance (those alive of course) and it’s chilling. So many threads woven together but left dangling in the wind and I am dying for the next book. I will be on pins and needles until I get answers 😵‍💫😵‍💫

Ugh! I need the next book now! Hurry up and write it, please!

A continuation of Bloodless, we find Constance back in the 1880's. She is set on saving her siblings and herself from Dr. Enoch Leng.

Pendergast, meanwhile, is stuck back in the present time. He is not doing so hot, since she left. He has to figure out a way to get the machine working and get to her.

D'Agosta gets involved in a murder in the Museum of Natural History. Coldmoon is sent to South Dakota to help with a Lakota murder.

To say 'The Cabinet of Dr Leng ' is packed with action is an understatement. Child and Lincoln have corroborated together to write another stellar book in the Agent Pendergast Series. Please write the final book in the Dr Leng quartet fast!

Published January 17, 2023

Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central Station for the Kindle Version of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#Netgalley
#GrandCentralPublishing
#LincolnChild
#DouglasPreston

Time travel books can be tricky, even trickier when they are part of a series with which I am totally unfamiliar. But that is my problem and one that will have to be rectified as I go searching and sourcing the previous installments of this series. Deftly handled by talented authors I was happily bouncing back and forth between the timelines becoming acquainted, through the eyes of the characters, with NYC in 1880 and the present.

This book had just the right amount of everything, history, diabolical mad doctor, impoverished and neglected children, tension, anger, antiquities theft, wow, a lot going on and to be solved. Now about that passage relating to the Former Principality of Transylvania and an ancestral home in the duchy of Inowroclaw in Galicia - wow - who thinks and writes these words just to make the point of valuing loyalty over ambition - very talented authors. There were so many great references that stopped me cold and caused me to really think and wonder; “as he maintained his sanity by skipping from one tiny sliver off time to another, between the beat of a hummingbird’s wings.”

The story held my interest, but I admit to being frustrated by not having the previous installments on my “read “ shelf. Totally my problem as this book was excellent. Thank you Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for a copy.

Wow! I've read the ending about 20 times and I still let out a high pitch squeal everytime. Can't wait until the next book.
Was glad to see Vinnie and Pendergast team up again.
I know some people don't like Constance but I'm a fan. She's just such a complex character. A bit crazy but I like her. My only thought is wouldn't she be able to outwit Dr Leng in 1880. She knew him for so long in our timeline I feel like she'd be able to outsmart him with ease.
Can't wait for the next book!

I choose The Cabinet of Dr. Leng because I really enjoyed The Cabinet of Curiosity, an earlier book in the series. I did not realize how many books I missed in the series. It left me confused and trying to pick up the series threads. This is on me and not the authors.

Prendergast is one of my favorite characters in literature. He is odd and compelling. Constance is a good character. For a woman out of her time, she is independent and fearless. Without understanding how the events/characters of this book connect to the last book I read, I still enjoyed the book. Preston and Child are terrific writers. Both their joint books and individual books are worth reading.

Netgalley provided a copy of the book. After reading it, I wrote an honest review.
@Netgalley

I have to admit that I had no idea going into this book that it was part of a very long series. Even without having read any other books in the series I absolutely loved this one.
Apparently, I've been living under a rock, because I hadn't even heard of these books and now it seems I've added 20 books to my already massive tbr. I can't wait to get started on them!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Cabinet of Dr. Leng has brought me back to the Pendergast mystery series with a vengeance. With their blend of horror and fantasy mixed with the perspectives of historic context, archaeology and natural history, and fascinating larger-than-life characters, this is an addictive series. For me, this particular book is a series highlight. In the story, Constance travels back to another era to change history and save her brother and sister from the terrible fates that befell thim in New York City 1880. She also intends to wreak vengeance on Dr. Leng, the physician who killed her sister Mary to advance his experiments in longevity. The book takes place in two timelines--today and 1880. And of course Pendergast cannot leave Constance to her own devices in a past era. His friend D'Agosta accompanies him in what is one of their wildest adventures ever! I could not put this one down. This series is addictive because the authors are so good. Their characters develop over time into fixtures in our lives; their timing and their ability to squeeze the most out of every scene are flawless. Pendergast is wild and fun and delightfully horrible. The Cabinet of Dr. Leng is part of a trilogy covering Constance's early life. This is the second book, which leaves the reader on edge awaiting the conclusion!

Not one of the better books regarding Pendergast. A bit disjointed although I understand better now that I finished the book. It is a continuation of previous books and the story will definitely continue in the next book. I gave it a three since there were parts that were enjoyable but overall a so-so read.