One of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child's most popular novels is The Cabinet of Curiosities. This introduced us to Dr. Enoch Leng, one of the evilest and most brilliant villains Pendergast has ever encountered. Now he returns in their latest book, The Cabinet of Dr. Leng.
Pendergast's ward, Constance, has found her way back to where she came from, New York in the late 1800s. She is determined to save the lives of her brother and sister. Lurking in the way, however, is Dr. Leng.

Pendergast, not fully recovered from his injuries suffered in the last book, is desperate and determined to find a way to reach Constance. Meanwhile, Agent Coldmoon is finally able to get to the Denver office where he is assigned a case involving the death of Lakota on reservation land in South Dakota.

Amazingly, all these events circle back to New York and a crime at the New York Museum of Natural History. Now the real question is will Pendergast find a way back to Constance, and will he be in time. Or will Dr. Leng add another name to his long list of murders?

Every great detective is at his best when matched with a villain whose intellect matches his own. Holmes had Moriarity, Nero Wolfe had Arnold Zeck, and Pendergast has Enoch Leng. For much of the novel, it is Constance matching wits with Leng and hatching schemes to save her siblings.

Preston and Child vividly create an 1880s New York that richly portrays both the desperate state of the poor and the trappings of the very wealthy. The story bounces between this setting and the present day, where a pair of interesting mysteries, involving murder and theft leave you wondering how everything connects. You won't really get an answer here as the book ends on a cliffhanger. A cliffhanger that does include one shocking revelation.

This book is enthralling from beginning to end and the authors promise the story will be wrapped up in the next book. The action is exciting, the mysteries intriguing, and the battle of wits is extremely suspenseful. The Cabinet of Dr. Leng is one of the better entries in the series, although seeing how the story concludes in the next book will give a better idea of where it ranks.

While it is possible to pick up the story beginning with this book, you will have a much better understanding of Dr. Leng if you first read Cabinet of Curiosities. It is also helpful to read Bloodless to gain a better understanding of how and why Constance ends up back in 1880.

This book is thoroughly enjoyable, despite the open ending. I can't wait to see how it all concludes!

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.

How could they do this to me? I love Preston and Child, but the cliffhanger ending of this book may have had me cursing them!

Excellent installment for fans of the series, but readers new to the Pendergast books will need to read at least a couple of other books to be able to fully appreciate this one.

A big thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book. Part of a long series which I have not read recent offerings. I was able to follow the plot with some confusion but then it ends in a cliffhanger....a serious cliffhanger. I don't know if I will be willing to struggle through another book to find out the conclusion. I can't guess so maybe I will.

This was a very good read, I prefer the author's earlier works honestly, Cabinet of Curosities is one of my favorites novels but this was still pretty good while tying into previous novels of the Pendergast series.

Fans of Pendergast and cast will enjoy this action filled book that has two storylines: Constance Green has returned to 1890s New York to try to save her family while in the present day two murders occupy the time of side characters and Pendergast tries to find a way to reach Constance. If you are new to the series--this is book 21--I would definitely recommend reading some of the books before because this is a continuation of a story arc. You can probably figure out what is going on but there is a lot you are missing by not reading the previous books and the beginning may be a bit slow for new readers.

There is a strong element of Sci-Fi in this book--time travel--and some of the horror that readers of the series will know to expect. It also ends in a cliff-hanger that will have you urging the writers to hurry along the next book. Enjoy this unusual FBI agent and the cases he and his colleagues get involved in. I know I do.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest opinion.

The only books I have read in the Pendergast series also involve Nora Kelly, so I wasn’t completely sure what to expect with The Cabinet of Dr. Leng.
Aloysius Pendergast and Constance are both complicated characters.
Child and Preston are great at melding creepy and science. The book is absorbing.
I am never completely thrilled by books with cliffhanger endings.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to get to know Pendergast better.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher, but all opinions expressed are my own. The Cabinet of Dr. Leng is the 21st book in the long running series and works best if readers at least have read The Vabinet of Curiosities and the book immediately before this one as events from both really impact this book. This is probably my most favorite in the series so far and that is saying something. I love the way time travel and the muli-verse blend together. I won't get to much into the plot to avoid spoilers, but this one packs an emotional wallop as well as providing insight into Constance. Dr. Leng is truly terrifying and the cliff hanger ending truly shocked me. The conclusion to this cycle can't come soon enough.

Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child are both great authors in their own right, but when they work together they’re (with only a few exceptions) absolute magic, with the Pendergast series being some of their very best work. The Cabinet of Dr. Leng is the 22nd Pendergast novel, though it’s only considered book 21 in the series because the book Extraction is book ’12.5’. This is a series I’ve been reading since the early 2000s. I didn’t start the series until after the fourth book had come out, but when I did I was instantly hooked and since then I’ve read them all. Now if you’re new to the series…congrats you have a lot excellent adventures ahead of you. And I definitely recommend reading the entire series. Do you need to have read the previous books before jumping into this one? While I think you could probably enjoy it without previous knowledge, I definitely think you’d get more out of it if you were familiar with the series especially as their are recurring characters. This installment is quite wild, with this one leaning more heavily into the sci-fi/supernatural elements than some of the other volumes in the series. (Time travel) No spoilers, but it’s an another excellent story featuring an intense, twisting plot, which if you are like me will leave you anxious for the next installment. Thanks so much to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for letting me review an ARC.


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The Cabinet of Dr. Leng’s Pendergast novles began for me by listening to Rene Auberjonois reading audiobooks. Truthfully, I have READ very few of these wonderful Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child books, merely listened. This was a departure for me and I’m not sure a good one. While I love the character and the basic premise, I have always found the books to be somewhat believable, despite the obvious. This book took a turn and I am no longer able to call it believable, despite it being interesting and thrilling. The characters are excellent: Aloysius Pendergast, Armstrong Coldmoon, and certainly Lt Commander D’Agosta. The plot reaches, I think. If that is all there is, end the series. It did leave on a cliffhanger and I am anxious to see how it finishes, to be fair.

The plot revolves around time travel, and traveling back and forth. An interesting concept, but one that would seriously hamper the world if it were more than theoretically possible. In this case, is was to an alternate timeline, so that is somewhat less frightening, I suppose. It is interesting in a way only Preston and Child can write it. I certainly do not regret the time spent reading it. I simply find it even more preposterous than Pendergast novels typically are. I miss solving the crime, I guess.

I was invited to read The Cabinet of Dr. Leng by Grand Central Publishing, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #GradnCentralPublishing #DouglasPreston #LincolnChild #TheCabinetOfDrLeng

This was a wonderful and exciting addition to the Pendergast world. We find our two MCs separated by time, distance and dimensions. I loved how we Lincoln and Child bring elements that initially seem scattered and separate together like always.

A fun and suspenseful read that only L&C can provide. Would definitely recommend you add this to your library!

Following up on BLOODLESS, we find Constance in 1888 attempting to save her sister and brother and battle Dr. Leng. Pendergast enlists the aid of a brilliant but unreliable engineer to fix the time machine to find Constance before she makes the mistake of underestimating Leng. Meanwhile, Agent Coldmoon investigates the murders of an American Indian artist and a curator of artifacts the Museum of American history which pairs him with Detective D'Agusta.

I have been a read of the Pendergast series for what seems like forever. Like the majority of this series, this was a fast, fun thriller with a science fiction element. I wouldn't recommend starting with this book; there is just too much backstory in this universe. The Cabinet of Dr. Leng involves parallel storylines that eventually intersect. I enjoyed how each separate plot was developing and working towards one another, but we are left with cliffhangers as to both (one more successfully than the other, in my opinion). I was frustrated with the nature of the main cliffhanger, but the afterword by the authors acknowledging this gave me some solace. I can only hope that they will finish the next installment quickly! I was graciously provided an ARC of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This is more of a 4.5 star read for me, but I rounded down because of the resolution of the secondary plot and the recycling of a plot point that is not a favorite of mine, but which I will leave unstated to avoid spoilers.

So... this isn't a standalone. I'd read a handful of Pendergast books, but missed quite a few. Apparently a LOT happened since that handful, because I did not remember some of those characters at all. That was fine -- I was able to catch up pretty quickly. It's important to note that this is a "to be continued" ending. You can't just read this novel on its own without reading the one that's next in line. For that reason, I'm VERY interested in catching up with this series so I can sink my teeth into whatever's next.

But just for the sake of fairness, I'm going to try to review just The Cabinet of Dr. Leng on its own.

In this installment, Pendergast is looking a little worse for wear, but he's still his enigmatic, magnetic self. D'Agosta, as always, is our down-to-earth cop buddy slash stand-in for the reader. Coldmoon (who I did not know before this book, but feel like I should) is an even more stoic Sherlock who demands justice. Very much yes for this guy. Constance is headstrong to a fault, and also on a quest for justice, but she's willing to go to some very extreme, very weird lengths to make it happen. Time travel, for instance.

Explaining the plot on its own will make you sound like a crazy person, but for anyone who enjoys Pendergast -- even a little bit -- this is a real trip. It's a bestseller already, and rightfully so.

The style is immersive and balances right on the edge of intellectualism and just-go-with-it fantasy. In short, it is weird, it's scary, it's sci-fi, it's mysterious, it's thriller-y, it's got everything you'd want and expect from Preston and Child.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the authors for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The most important thing to know about the typical Agent Pendergast novel is that there is no typical Agent Pendergast novel. Some of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child’s books featuring the offbeat FBI agent are traditional serial killer mysteries. Others veer into the realm of science fiction. And still others have supernatural elements. However, their latest Pendergast novel, “The Cabinet of Dr. Leng,” has everything but the kitchen sink, including some of the series’ best-known supporting characters. Although the book’s ending may upset some readers, others will find this one of the best Pendergast novels.

“The Cabinet of Dr. Leng” picks up where the last book in the series, “Bloodless,” ended. Pendergast’s ward, Constance Greene, has used the time machine they discovered in that previous book to go back to 1880. For those unfamiliar with the series, that last sentence gives them an idea of the type of book they’re getting into. Those readers shouldn’t despair, however. The authors do an excellent job of filling in the series’ background with enough details, so newcomers to the Pendergast books know enough about the history and characters to follow the storyline. Constance isn’t merely doing some historical sightseeing; her goal is to rescue her family members from the clutches of one of the series’ master villains, Dr. Leng. Pendergast figures out Constance’s plan and has to go back in time as well to make sure she isn’t over her head. Meanwhile, in the present day, a couple of Pendergast’s law enforcement associates investigate a pair of bizarre killings connected with the theft of some priceless Native American artifacts.

Before I read “The Cabinet of Dr. Leng,” my only previous experience with Pendergast was his debut novel, “Relic.” That book was an old-fashioned monster novel, with a large, deadly creature stalking the corridors of New York’s Museum of Natural History. It was an ensemble piece, with Pendergast only one of three main characters tangling with the creature. “Cabinet” is a throwback to “Relic” in some regards. One killing occurs at that same museum, and Pendergast’s old buddy New York cop Vincent D’Agosta investigates. More importantly, Pendergast is a secondary character for much of “Cabinet,” as in “Relic.”

But while Pendergast’s quirky character is a significant reason for the series’ success, readers will still be drawn into the world the authors create in “Cabinet.” They do a masterful job of describing the often squalid conditions in much of 1880 New York. Readers will feel as if they are in another world. Similarly, the investigation on the Lakota reservation in modern-day South Dakota comes to life as the authors describe the setting and the history. In most novels, this case would be the book’s centerpiece. Here, it’s a subplot but a highly interesting and important one.

“The Cabinet of Dr. Leng” is a fascinating page-turner that will thrill fans of the series or of TV shows like “The X Files” (probably the work that comes the closest to capturing the vibe of the Pendergast novels). Until the ending, that is. No spoiler here, but I’m going to reveal the dreaded last three words of the book: “To be concluded.” That’s right; “Cabinet” has an indeterminate ending. None of the major storylines are really resolved. Instead, the authors add a brief one-page PostScript, “To the Reader.” There, they apologize for the “inconclusive” ending and promise that they are working as fast as they can on the next book in the series, which will serve as the conclusion to “Cabinet.” I realize that, for some readers, cutting off a long work in the middle is an unforgivable literary sin, authors’ apology or not. After all, we don’t have Parts One and Two of “War and Peace.” Those who read “The Cabinet of Dr. Leng” today will have to wait several months at least to find out how it ends. For me, this was a mild disappointment, but not enough of one to lower my rating. In my view, the book is that good, just as “The Empire Strikes Back” was the best “Star Wars” movie despite its lack of a definitive ending.

The Pendergast novels are not to everyone’s taste, even fans of the mystery, horror, or science fiction genres. I hope my plot synopsis has given potential readers a feel for what they’re in for in “The Cabinet of Dr. Leng.” Plus, the conclusion will turn off some series fans. (The authors make up for the disappointment of the inconclusive ending by throwing in a surprise introduction of a major character right before the finale.) But for those willing to go along with the authors’ decision, “The Cabinet of Dr. Leng” is a lot of gruesome fun with a plucky heroine in Constance Greene and a nasty master villain. I even have a hunch that the modern-day storyline, which some may feel is mere filler, will have major relevance in the next book. I’m more than ready.

NOTE: The publisher graciously gave me a copy of this book. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of that review are entirely my own.

Taŋyáŋ ománi

Lakota Sioux for "Have a good journey" which sums up this book to the T. What a trip this was!!

The Cabinet of Dr. Leng has multiple mysteries and is set in two timelines. FBI agent Coldmoon is assigned to the Colorado field office and sent to investigate a murder at Rosebud Res. in South Dakota. At NY Museum of Natural History, LT. Commander D'agosta and his crime scene unit are looking into a death of a museum curator found in the freezer. Agent Pendergast uses his resources to find a way to reunite with Constance Greene who in the previous book "Bloodless", left Georgia and return to NYC in 1880.

I know! It's wild!! This sounds pretty crazy and OTT, but this series is not your average FBI thriller where this rich and intriguing character, Special Agent AXL Pendergast solves "normal" cases. From time to time there are supernatural, sci-fi, bizarre, and even horror elements.

This book is mostly Constance Greene's story. She aims to save her siblings from NY's most notable serial killer, Dr. Leng. I find that her journey at the beginning is a bit slow and so detailed. I really enjoy 1880 once the ground is set. The pace picked up for her story and the alternate perspectives in the present time in S. Dakota and NY's Museum are also very well done and guarantee to keep you turning the pages and be on edge of your seat until the very last page.

For full disclosure, I have read 12 books in Aloysius Pendergast Series. I think the authors give the backgrounds of the characters very well and I never felt lost. However, through the authors' own words, these novels should be read, preferably in sequence. "The Cabinet of Dr. Leng" is the third book in the Leng Quartet starting with "The Cabinet of Curiosities" #3, and "Bloodless " #20.

...to be continued ----> 4.5⭐

The Cabinet of Dr. Leng by Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child is a highly recommended procedural, and science fiction thriller, and the 21st Aloysius Pendergast novel. As a long time fan of both Preston and Child, together and separate, I need to forewarn other fans that this novel is TO BE CONTINUED...a situation that has left me distressed and a tad bit frantic.

The novel follows three different narratives. First, FBI agent Pendergast is devastated that his ward (and love) Constance Greene has left him. Constance has used a time machine to travel back to a parallel universe in New York City in 1880. She is hoping to right several wrongs, save her siblings, and make the scurrilous Dr. Leng pay for his devious deeds. Pendergast plans to go back in time to save her.

Then, Special Agent Armstrong Coldmoon who has been working with Pendergast, is sent to investigate a murder on the reservation in South Dakota. And New York City, Lieutenant Commander Vincent D'Agosta is investigating the unusual murder of the curator of Native American artifacts at New York's Museum of Natural History. It is soon discovered that Coldmoon's case is related to D'Agosta's case.

The pace moves briskly in all the narrative threads and the intrigue just keep building with each new chapter. The dual timelines and cases are all correspondingly compelling, challenging, and intricate in all theories/investigations/mysteries, enough so that you will be equally interested in all the plot lines. As the chapters switch between storylines, knowing the other storylines will be updated in subsequent chapters, the new information will be welcomed.

As you reach later points in the novel, you will be wondering how in the world case Preston and Child reach a conclusion and tie up all the loose ends. Then you will find out that the novel is too be continued. sigh. The fact is that the wait will be worth it because the narrative threads are already so strong and the action so engrossing that to expand it into another novel to reach a conclusion will only result in a more riveting story and a consummate summation of all the narratives. Preston and Child are talented enough to pull it all together.

At this point all the characters are well-developed because they have been around for years. They are all complex and fully realized individuals and this novel continues adding depth to the characters. Coldmoon is a new character, as far as the series goes, but he is also well-written and realistic.

Fans of the series are going to jump on this latest novel immediately. Newcomers could start here, but it would make more sense to read the series in order. The procedural part of the novel can stand alone as a separate story, but the whole plot involving Constance and Pendergast benefits from the background information. 4.5 rounded up
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, Edelweiss, and Amazon.

What: mashup of mystery & weird fiction keeping with the series' theme.
About: Agent Pendergast travels to 1800s NYC to bring his ward, Constance, back to their present timeline.
Features: strong characters you've loved for over 20 books by now
Assets: rich vocabulary, keeps readers guessing, deftly deals with time-travel “issues”
Obstacles: many loose ends that require tying, and a promise from the authors to do just that!
Who it’s for: readers of the series, fans of “big” thrillers that end up on bestseller lists.

Strike the match...........This one is lit from the first page onward.

Preston and Child have long been on the charts for their incredible Pendergast Series. If you've ever been intrigued, now's the time to jump onboard. They've set the stage with plenty of background for newbies. And the storyline is aflame with three crafty avenues on that match: Constance Greene, Pendergast and D'Agosta, and Special Agent Armstrong Coldmoon. Buckle up, Buttercup.

Constance, love interest of Aloysius Pendergast, has escaped present day New York City and is hurled back in time to the Gilded Age of this city in December of 1880. She's hellbent on righting the wrongs of her lineage and to pursue her dark nemesis, Dr. Enoch Leng. She portrays herself as the Duchess of Ironclaw with plenty of cash and a fine mansion to reel in Leng. Not so fast. Leng is on to her. Constance, watch your back.

And in present day New York City, Lieutenant Commander Vincent D'Agosta of the Borough Homicide is working alongside Special Agent Armstrong Coldmoon of the FBI. There's been a murder at one of the museums. The case involves stolen Native American artifacts. Coldmoon, a true Lakota, finds himself on a trail that will even take him to Ecuador.

Pendergast, with more tricks up his sleeve than people in line for Krispy Kreme Donuts, creates a passageway back to 1880 in pursuit of Constance. And of course, he's not traveling alone. Agosta, his sidekick, commits himself to another dangerous trek whenever it concerns Pendergast. The Gilded Age will hold their fate by a thread.

The Cabinet of Dr. Leng is a multi-layered roll-out of sci-fi, historical fiction, and psychological thriller. Just when you'd think that Preston and Child may run out of ideas at #21, they've set sparks flying in this latest one. The writing and the science is top-notch as always. Short chapters and a flip of the switch in eras and storylines sends this one soaring into the stratosphere. These two authors lay the brick work in background for the main characters. The action and the unfurling of the plot is relentless. Just how we like 'em. A standing ovation for Preston and Child. Bravo!

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Grand Central Publishing and to Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child for the opportunity.

This book starts soon after Bloodless ends. Constance has travelled to the past, and Pendergast is consumed with worry. There is also a murder mystery. Unusually for this series, the book ends on a cliffhanger, although it is also a good stopping place for now (especially as the authors promise to have the next book out soon).

One thing I really liked about this book is that the main characters are really smart and unique individuals. I also liked the time travel (I never thought I'd say that!) and glimpses of New York in the Guilded Age.

I'd recommend this (and all of the series) to people who enjoy thrillers and aren't too squeamish.

I have been reading this series for as long as it has been published and it has taken me on some wild rides. The series has changed form so much from The Relic. At one point I did step away from the series for my own reasons, but when I saw the author’s post about how they are bringing back Dr. Leng, I was ecstatic. I knew I had to read this book because The Cabinet of Curiosities is one of my favorite books in this series. I always had so many questions and ideas about Dr. Leng and Constantine the history and the mystery if it all.

And let me tell you, The Cabinet of Dr. Leng is mind-blowing! A perfect mix of the past Pendergast stories and the present stories and what fun to revisit some old friends, old themes and get a more indepth look at some of that history.

All those open-ended questions are answered here plus so much more. This story takes place right after the ending of Bloodless and takes both the characters and the reader on the ride of their lives.

The atmosphere is there, this story feels like the 1880’s, the mysteries, the murders, the threats, the tension, the twists and the turns, it is all there and everything you want in a Pendergast story but even more excitement.

I think if you this is an enjoyable story for all readers but it especially reads like a love letter to longtime fans. Those who have been with the series from that Cabinet of Curiosities will understand and feel this story a bit deeper I believe.

I will not give away anything but the ending of this story was mind-blowing and had me GASPING in shock and excitement. It is a cliff hanger because well this story just cannot be told in one book.

Get ready for the best Pendergast ride in a long time!

I received an ARC via NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing and I am leaving an honest review.