This book is a gift for followers of the series featuring FBI Special Agent A. X. L. Pendergast. It continues on from “Bloodless”, the authors’ most recent book. It expands upon “The Cabinet of Curiosities”, which is my favorite book in the series. It also ties in to “Relic” the first book in the series, and it brings back a character who has been missing from the series. You can try reading this as a standalone, but I strongly recommend that at least you first read Cabinet.

In this book Pendergast is despondent because his ward Constance has transported herself back to New York City as it was in 1880. She wants to rescue her older brother and sister from the dire fates that befell them. And she also wants to destroy Dr. Enoch Leng, the mad scientist from Cabinet. Pendergast’s recent partner Special Agent Armstrong Coldmoon is trying to find out who murdered a Native American artist. Lieutenant Commander Vincent D’Agosta, Pendergast’s friend and collaborator, is trying to find out who murdered a curator in the New York Museum of Natural History. Each of the Constance, Pendergast, Coldmoon and D’Agosta plot lines was intelligent and entertaining. They developed separately, but eventually converged. This book not only has characters I like and an original and interesting story, but it has touches of old New York, which I love.

“Bloodless” ended with a startling development that leads into “The Cabinet of Dr. Leng” however the Bloodless plot was complete. That is not the case with this book; it is only half of the story. I think that it is evil to end with a cliffhanger that forces me to wait months or years to read the conclusion. I wasn’t paying attention to how close I was to the end of the book and I was shocked when, and how, it ended. I also cursed a little.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Constance Greene has gone back in time to 1880, searching for her brother and sister. Pendergast, a special FBI agent, is trying to bring her back. Dr. Leng, as evil as they come, is a serial killer. The descriptions of 1880 New York made me feel as if I were there. The ending was so unexpected and the book is full of twists and turns. This book should be read in sequence, starting with The Cabinet of Curiosities, Bloodless, and this one. There is to be a last book which I hope will be coming soon. Another winner for Preston and Childs.

I jumped into this book without realizing that it was part of a series - my mistake. I did not finish the book because I want to step back and start at the beginning. What I read was fantastic, I loved the writing, the characters, and the pacing. I'm so excited to dive into this series at the beginning!

I would recommend that you read some of his other novels first to understand it. And wait for the next book if you want to know the ending .

This is honestly the best Pendergast book. I loved Cabinet of Curiosities, which was a gateway into this series. Dr. Enoch Leng was one of the best villains, so going back to that time made for a great installment.

Constance goes back to the 1800s to find a way to save her siblings from Dr. Leng, while Pendergast tries to find a way to bring her back. It's weird to throw time travel into a long-running series, but with everything Pendergast and Co. have had to go through, it's not beyond the realm of possibility.

Lots of twists and turns, and I loved seeing more of Constance's origin story. This series is hands-down the best series ever written.

"The Cabinet of Dr. Leng" by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child is a thrilling and suspenseful novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The authors' writing style is gripping and fast-paced, making for an exciting and entertaining read. The storyline is well-crafted and full of twists and turns, keeping the reader engaged from start to finish. If you're looking for a page-turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat, "The Cabinet of Dr. Leng" is an excellent choice. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling and suspenseful read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of The Cabinet of Dr. Leng by Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC.

I have been meaning to try a Preston Child book for so long, and I am so glad I finally made the plunge. I love the writing style, the mystery, and the thoroughly fleshed out characters. Even coming into the end of a long-developed series, I didn't have problems figuring out what was going on and becoming super invested in the story. I give The Cabinet of Dr. Leng 5/5 stars and can not wait to read the continuation of this story.

"The Cabinet of Dr. Leng" is another great entry in the Pendergast series, bringing back the key characters, including Agent Coldmoon in what seems like a tangential story, but it's always hard to say how it might tie in later. Combining life & death work with a good chunk of science fiction, the Pendergast novels are page-turners, and this one is no different.

Using the time traveling (or universe-jumping) technology last seen in a Savannah basement, Constance has gone to 1880 to right wrongs and deal with the evil Dr. Leng. Determined to save her, Pendergast is in pursuit. But Leng isn't easily stopped. A brilliant, if evil, man, he may be a foe even Pendergast can't deal with. As we follow Constance and Pendergast, we're left on the edge of our seats, wondering if the "good guys" can really win this one!

I greatly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next! Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

Always fun to read the Pendergast series! I’ve been reading from this series sporadically and its good because one needn’t worry about reading the books in the series. The Cabinet of Dr. Leng is a great addition to the series, we get to read a thriller that has serial killers, murder, mystery, mayhem, parallel universes and paranormal activities. Its not often that thrillers have all of these elements, handled so brilliantly. Overall, reading through the book was enjoyable and entertaining!!

Thank you Grand Central Publishing for the e-arc!

In this next book of the series Constance has now found a way to return back to New York City during the late 1800's. Even though taking this journey will keep her from returning to the present she wants to do all that she can to prevent the deaths of her siblings. Along the journey she is faced with Dr. Enoch Leng, Manhattan's most infamous serial killer. While Constance is off on this journey Prendergast is doing all he can to reunite with her and bring her back to the present. Follow along and see were this new journey will take the two. Will Dr Leng, who is an ancestor of Pendergast, get in the way? Will the two find each other again? I love this series and.as always the authors didn't disappoint!

Preston and Child’s latest entry in the Pendergast series reunites the special agent with old friends and adversaries. The thrill a minute novel provides important insight into some Pendergast’s previous investigations while perfectly setting-up the next adventure. Very highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this review copy!
DR LENG is number 21 in the Aloysius Pendergast series and one of the best ones, in my opinion. Constance has managed to get herself back to New York City in the 1800’s so she can change history. Pendergast is distraught and seems to be giving up on his life. Agent Coldmoon is away from Pendergast (to his relief) and is investigating a murder on the Rez in South Dakota. Commander D’agosta is looking into a mysterious death at the Museum of Natural History. Are all these murders connected? As the characters cross paths, the suspense ratchets up and the book is truly unputdownable.
The biggest source of enjoyment for me was the description of 1800’s NYC. Every sight, smell, and sound was described in such a way that I felt as if I were there alongside Constance. Along with the gruesome Dr Leng, there are other baddies that grab your attention and encourage you to “love to hate” them.
Constance is a divisive character in the Pendergast series; either you love her, or find her terribly annoying. She is the main character in DR LENG, so if you are not a fan, you may want to pass this by. However, I will say that the other characters are involved enough to ensure that Constance’s presence isn’t too annoying. That being said, I feel that Constance elevated herself to a new level as an intelligent, driven, strong female character.
I’m a fan of all the characters and I was very happy to see everyone involved in this story. Pendergast seems a lot more human as he struggles his way through each day without his beloved ward. It seemed to me that everyone was quite emotional (except for Proctor, of course!) and it endeared them to me even more.
DR LENG flows smoothly, seamlessly moving from one character/plotline to another. Classic Preston & Child. However: the ending. No spoilers here, only that I did not see it coming. Other reviews are mixed; either the ending is genius or total bull****. My reaction was “WHAT?!? Seriously?!. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.

As a fan of the Pendergast series, having the privilege of an ARC from Net Galley was beyond amazing. Now,the series started a bizarre string of events with Bloodless and to be honest I was quite skeptical regarding how the story would advance. Even though impressed how many old favorite characters come back in this book, the “coincidences” behind the “partner cases” is some serious stretching of the reader’s patience.
But— if you look past all that and keep reading you will be blown away by the developments that come near the end— seriously!
I hope Preston and Child are diligently working on the next part in the series because we REALLY, REALLY need more!

Thank you to NetGalley for a chance to read this book. While being a new reader of the Pendergast series by Preston & Child, I had no problems becoming fully immersed in the world they have created. This book just swept me right into the storyline. Constance is determined to alter the story of her life, just in an alternate timeline. In her wake, she leaves behind a heartbroken and brooding Agent Pendergast who is determined to bend time and space to make sure she reaches her goal. Dr. Leng proves to be a formidable foe and I was left utterly hanging on the cliff's edge as I highly anticipate the next book in the series.

Title: The Cabinet of Dr. Leng
Author: Douglas Preston; Lincoln Child
Genre: Mystery, Thriller

My Review:

Time travel with Constance to try to fix something from her past in The Cabinet of Dr. Leng. Meanwhile in the present, Agent Pendergast is missing her and is figuring out ways to protect her.

I have been following this series on and off over the years. This book can be read even without following all the books in the series. I have not read all the books in the series though reading them would give the reader a better idea on the relationships between each character.

I loved the premise of parallel universe and how there can be alternate storylines playing out simultaneously in the universe. I always think that the life we live is not only the life role we are playing. The pace of the novel is good though I am not sure how one character's arc will play out in the next book. Yes, there is another book in the series because there is a huge cliffhanger at the end. So, it is a bummer ending. But I am invested in this series and might go back to read all of the books.

Pendergast is back and this one is wild. I read the Cabinet of Curiosities so I am familiar with some of the characters, but even if you haven't this could be a stand alone novel.
This covers everything; love, loss, time travel, police work. Not a trick is missed in this story. What I enjoy most is how they bring me along and at the time it all sounds feasible. I thoroughly enjoyed this and look forward to the next one to close out this Quartet of novels.

As the 21st book in the overall series, and the second in a mini-arc about Dr. Leng, I had high hopes for the 2023 release from co-authors Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. While the books are FBI and detective thrillers, there is always an element of science-fiction / fantasy where something unreal happens. It adds to the story rather than detracts from it, and in this book, it involves time travel. But it's different than most other books about the subject. Constance goes back in time to save her siblings from Dr. Leng, and the machine breaks when she transports back to 1880s NYC. Pendergast reassembles the machine and follows her, but lots happens in between. Meanwhile, our favorite NYPD detective teams up with Pendergast's partner, Coldmoon, to solve a Natural History Museum / Native American murder. All the stories weave together, and as Constance finally gets close to nabbing Dr. Leng in the past, an unexpected twist occurs - on the very LAST page. So unfair, but I loved it. The descriptions of 1880s NYC were amazing, and I adore the changes in Constance's personality - so adaptable. Thankfully, this is a bit of an alternate universe, so nothing they do will impact their real lives with the exception of: if they get stuck in the parallel universe, they can't return to reality and therefore they would be missing from the normal timeline in reality. Once you can wrap your head around that, the book is a major thrill ride. I buddy read it with a great friend who also loved it... close to 5 stars but it was missing some of the true underlying mystery of 'what's going on' here in the background, e.g. the connections between the killer and his/her prey. Otherwise, it was thoroughly enjoyable!

In the book The Cabinet of Dr. Leng, authors Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child continue the Agent Pendergast series with book #21. FBI Special Agent Pendergast and his ward Constance Greene must face their greatest enemy yet – Pendergast’s own ancestor. Constance finds her way back in time to try and save her brother and sister from death. Back in current time Pendergast is trying to find a way to bring Constance back to present day. Both are on a race against time!
I am not a big time-travel fan, but the book it well done and is a great addition to a great series. I would recommend this action packed book. I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Top notch writing, quick moving plot with and intriguing cast of characters. Some will find the to be continued ending frustrating and may want to wait until the next book comes out before reading this one.

Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to review the advance copy of this book.

Published by Grand Central Publishing on January 17, 2023

The Pendergast series has always depended on the macabre and bordered on the supernatural, but the most entertaining entries showcased Pendergast’s prowess as an investigator. He combined a Sherlockian mastery of observation and disguise with broad and extensive knowledge of arcane subjects to solve strange murders, often with the assistance of Vincent D'Agosta, an NYPD detective. The stories have often incorporated elements of horror fiction, but the series lost its footing when it began to focus on Constance Greene, Pendergast’s ward, a woman who has lived for more than a century without physically aging beyond her twenties.

The Cabinet of Dr. Leng reaches way back to book 3 (The Cabinet of Curiosities) of this 21-book series for the story’s foundation. A dead relative of Pendergast, Enoch Leng, was responsible for Greene’s longevity. Greene has long mourned the loss of her sister Mary, whose organs were harvested in Leng’s effort to find a chemical that would stop his body from aging. Thanks to a time machine that appeared in the silly novel Bloodless, Greene was able to travel into the past, where she hopes to rescue Mary, as well as her childhood self and a brother who died soon after his release from prison. She also wants to kill Leng, who is fated to die in her own time line, although only after a long and evil life.

To avoid the nasty paradoxes that accompany time travel, the machine opens a portal to the past or future in other dimensions. Greene apparently gives no thought to meddling with the past in someone else’s universe. There are presumably an infinite number of alternate universes. It is unclear why Greene thinks saving one of an infinite number of Marys is a worthwhile endeavor, given that all the others will be left to their fate. But the Greene branch of the Pendergast tree has made less and less sense as the tree has grown, so let’s not trouble ourselves with the absurdity of Greene’s decision to travel through time and between dimensions for reasons that are far from rational.

For some time now, Constance has been irked that Pendergast won’t shag her, which would be a creepy thing to do with a ward. The affronted Constance doesn’t want Pendergast to follow her because her heart would break if she ever crossed his path again. It seems to me Pendergast should be happy that he is quit of her, but naturally he arranges for the machine (destroyed at the end of Bloodless) to be rebuilt, enabling him to follow Constance in disguise because he is sure that Leng will otherwise outwit her and end her life.

The story follows Pendergast and D'Agosta as they muck about in nineteenth century New York City, battling Leng and his underlings while trying to hide from Constance. A subplot follows Pendergast’s most recent FBI partner, Armstrong Coldmoon, who was helping D’Agosta solve a murder in a museum while investigating a related murder on a reservation. Fortunately, Coldmoon does not need D’Agosta to continue the investigation, as Coldmoon strikes out on his own before Pendergast recruits D’Agosta to take the interdimensional trip. Pendergast has a habit of asking D’Agosta to put his life in danger. One can understand why D’Agosta’s wife has had enough of Pendergast.

With about ten pages left, it becomes clear that neither of these plot threads will be resolved. Hey, you can’t sell another novel in a decaying series if you actually complete a story. But the “to be concluded” comes with a surprise, although it’s not that surprising given the authors’ tendency to reprise villains who died in earlier novels.

Preston and Child write impressively atmospheric descriptions of 1880 New York. I even learned something about how museums store artifacts. The story is peppered with action scenes that earn its designation as a thriller. The story is lively. Unfortunately, the plot is a tiresome retread of characters in a series that has strayed too far from its vision of Pendergast as a modern Sherlock.

RECOMMENDED WITH RESERVATIONS