Published by Grand Central Publishing on August 13, 2024

Each new Pendergast novel is sillier than the last, but I keep reading them. The series was more enjoyable when Aloysius Pendergast was an obnoxious, self-satisfied crime solver. I didn’t care much for Pendergast but I appreciated his acumen as a detective. Even after the appearance of Constance Greene — a woman who stopped aging in the nineteenth century and who might be even more annoying than Pendergast — I enjoyed the novels to the extent that they focused on a recognizable reality — i.e., a world without magic, supernatural apparitions, time travel, or similar silliness.

Silliness has now overtaken the series. I had hoped that her unrequited yearning for Pendergast would cause Constance to flee from his life, but Pendergast’s forbidden yearning for Constance keeps bringing them together. Constance’s latest effort to flee took her to the nineteenth century in a dimension nearly identical to the one that Pendergast inhabits (the one that seems to host the supernatural). The latest stories have replaced magic with time travel, which might be the same thing. So now Pendergast is chasing Constance through time. Really, can’t Pendergast go back to solving crimes in the present and do away with all these quasi-science fiction themes?

Pendergast has an evil brother named Diogenes and a law enforcement friend named Vincent D’Agosta. Both are trapped in the past with Pendergast, who chose not to heed Constance’s plea that he remain in his own century after she returned to the nineteenth — albeit in another dimension — to save her sister Mary from the evil Enoch Leng, another member of the Pendergast family. She might even save her alter-self (or Binky, as the childhood version of Constance is known in this dimension and perhaps in infinite others).

Leng is a doctor whose experiments in life extension resulted in the deaths of dozens of test subjects. In Constance’s timeline, Leng killed Mary by dissecting her while she was still alive. Constance’s plan is to save this version of Mary (and this version of her brother Joe, not to mention Binky) while obtaining vengeance. The story essentially continues the plot that began in The Cabinet of Dr. Leng.

Angel of Vengeance is more an action/adventure story than a crime mystery. I suspect that’s what many series fans want. I suspect those fans will be satisfied with the story. Its 19th century atmosphere echoes Dickens. Pendergast wears various disguises, characters are captured and rescued, fights break out from time to time (occasionally with knives because nineteenth century), buildings explode, people are poisoned, and so forth. The story is fun and moderately exciting but not surprising. Readers who enjoy the series will know what to expect. New readers might want to start with an earlier novel because Angel of Vengeance won’t be easy to digest for those who aren’t familiar with the backstory.

The novel’s ending might leave the door open for another time travel story. Why can’t the brilliant detective go back to solving bizarre crimes instead of hopping around the multiverse? Maybe he will. For now, I can confidently recommend Angel of Vengeance to Pendergast fans, although less enthusiastically than I would recommend books that are more tightly attached to the same part of the multiverse that I inhabit.

RECOMMENDED

I truly enjoyed this book. The world & characters building is unparalleled. Even though I read the 1st book a while ago I had no trouble picking up where it left off. I was reluctant to put the book down. I liked that you get to see more about the main personalities & backgrounds #AngelofVengeance #NetGalley

I've really enjoyed the Pendergast series, one of my favorite series of all time. With that being said, I'm ready to move on from evil Dr Leng and go back to the Pendergast adventures of old. Even though I've read the entire series I was a bit lost trying to follow this one. I could have used a review chapter to refresh my memory because its been a hot minute since reading the last one. I'm excited to see what Doug and Linc have up their sleeve for the next novel! My thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

"Angel of Vengeance"

By Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Wow I can't believe this is #22 in this series. I always enjoy the work these authors produce and am first in line to get my hands on each new installment in this series.

I absolutely loved it!

A must-read!

What an amazing cast of characters.

Pick it up today.

Preston & Child deliver another exhilarating installment in their series with this final entry in the Dr. Leng quartet. This gripping novel takes Aloysius Pendergast, his brother Diogenes, and NYPD Lieutenant Commander Vincent D'Agosta back to New York City in December 1880. Their mission: to aid Constance Greene in thwarting the nefarious Dr. Leng. The plot unfolds with intricate twists and turns, and the team devises a multi-layered plan that hinges on everything going perfectly. Once again, Preston & Child craft a thrilling Pendergast adventure, now with the added challenge of navigating the gritty, bygone streets of the city.

Book 22 of Douglas Preston's and Lincoln Child's fascinating Agent Pendergast Series is a seriously-knock-it-out-of-the-ball-park entry! From the stunning unexpected Reader's Hook of the first pages to the incredible denouement and conclusion, not a word nor moment is wasted. A rollercoaster of intellect, emotion, heart-in-mouth excitement, danger, adventure, awaits these beloved Series characters and readers. Race at top speed to read ANGEL OF VENGEANCE.

I was very pleased to receive an ARC of Angel of Vengeance after reading The Cabinet of Doctor Leng last year. That book ended abruptly, leaving the Pendergast series characters stranded in New York City of 1881 as Constance Green continues her very personal battle against Dr. Leng with Pendergast and D’Agosta joining her fight.

In the Angel of Vengeance, there is intricate planning, vicious fighting, some nifty trickery, and so much evil, more than I’ve seen in these books for a while. But that would be true if Dr. Leng were present, wouldn’t it, as he seems a personification of evil in the series.

Definitely recommended for those who have followed the Pendergast series all these years, with the eerie stories of Constance Green, Dr. Leng’s cabinet of curiosities and his wish to extend life. Everything comes to its boiling point here.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

4 1/2 stars. The Leng story arc in this long running thriller/mystery series comes to a conclusion with with many twists, turns and heart-stopping moments as Pendergast, D'Agosta and Pendergast's brother try to navigate 19th century New York to save Constance and perhaps help her with her plans to end the brilliant but horrible Dr. Leng before he can torture her family. There are many threads here that won't make a lot of sense unless you have read the previous books in this story arc and it would help to understand many of the emotional connotations if you had read many of the books even earlier in the series.

It is a thrilling ride from the beginning to the end and very satisfying. But I will say I am happy to see the end of it. Time to move on to another evil mastermind to match wits with for Team Pendergast if there is more of the series. I sometimes get bored if the evil mastermind always gets away and comes back again and again. A few times is all right but otherwise it just seems to get a bit ridiculous. It will be interesting to see how the implications of this book will effect the future. But isn't that why we keep on coming back for more?

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

Hard to believe it’s been nearly three decades since Preston and Child introduced the world to Agent Pendergast. And I still continue to be entertained by his adventures. If you are new to the series, Angel of Vengeance is NOT the place to jump in as it’s actually the ending chapter in the current running storyline. And as such I’m not even going to try and give a summary of the story other than to say this is a wild time travel adventure and fans will not be disappointed. Pendergast is a great character and this is one wildly entertaining adventure. Thanks so much to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me access to an ARC of Angel of Vengeance.

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Angel of Vengeance by Preston and Child is the end of a trilogy that is a divergence, in my opinion, from the original thrust of the series. Yes, one always had to suspend traditional belief with this series, but the majority of it was chasing criminals. As the years wore on it got more outrageous. Constance is an ever-present character, and she is the unbelievable. Now, Pendergast has gotten hold of a time machine and not only travelled back in time, but to a parallel universe, in which, the four of them: the Pendergast brothers, D’Agosta, and Constance fight to kill Dr Enoch Leng and rescue her siblings. It is obviously not simply the past as Constance still exists. The story is written in vignettes, wandering from person to person as they carry forth their plans. These vignettes are excellent storytelling, if often violent and bloody. But, in the end, they change the course of history...in that timeline.

Preston and Child are master storytellers. The book is excellent; it is just not what I want to read. Obviously many other people do. It was masterfully plotted and told in shorter segments, not letting the reader know the overall plan. That made it very enticing. Excellent character development, much of which has taken place over the period of the series. Diogenes has finally found his place in the world. That is exciting! Has this book moved the relationship between Pendergast and Constance forward? Remains to be seen. It was an exciting and enticing read. Here’s hoping the duo revert to bizarre, but real, crimes in current times.

I was invited to read Angel of Vengeance by Grand Central Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #GrandCentralPublishing #DouglasPreston #LincolnChild #PrestonAndChild #AngelOfVengeance.

Pendergast and his cohorts go up against one of his most notorious nemesis, his own ancestor Enoch Leng, in ANGEL OF VENGEANCE, by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child. The group ends up in New York in the late 1800's and quickly have to find Leng, rescue Constance Greene's family, thwart Leng present and future plans, and manage to survive and hopefully return to there present. The question quickly becomes, can Leng be outsmarted on his own turf and can everyone keep their emotions in check and stick to the plan?
Preston & Child have crafted quite a world with Pendergast. For those who have read books in the Pendergast series, the characters are so familiar and feel like a arm blanket wrapping around your brain, For those unfamiliar, the characters are still fascinating, unique and likeable, but the extra knowledge and nuance is missing. The plot is somewhat formulaic to others in the series, but that doesn't mean the book is entertaining and a fun page turner. The action in the last quarter of the book is well crafted and the momentum leading to the finale is palpable. The ending is rewarding and leaves a pleasant tease of possible future stories.
ANGEL OF VENGEANCE is a thriller, a period piece, and a mystery all rolled into one. I think this has mass appeal and Preston & Child create some of the most charismatic and distinctive in modern pop literature. I look forward to the next book in the series.

And so, with Angel of Vengeance,  the "Leng Quartet" comes to an end with a grand flourish. I've mentioned previously that The Cabinet of Curiosities was one of my favorite Agent Pendergast novels from the prolific Preston & Child. Angel of Vengeance puts a bow on the whole series-within-a-series. I know some long-time Pendergast readers balked at the science-fiction (arguably science-fantasy) turn at the conclusion of Bloodless, but as a multi-genre reader I loved the commitment. And it pays off handsomely. Angel of Vengeance is a thrill ride for Pendergast fans. We get prime Diogenes and Enoch Leng, along with Pendergast and Constance, swirling in each others often-deadly orbits in what amounts to a high-stakes historical thriller. I don't want to risk any spoilers, but I will say: Angel of Vengeance is appropriately titled, in more ways than one; Diogenes basically steals the show; and, going forward, there may finally be some progress in the ongoing tension between Aloysius and Constance.

Whew. What a wild ride! This picks up where the previous book ended. No more cliffhangers please, authors! I really enjoyed all the twists and surprises in this story. No spoilers from me.

So, this is a rare 4 star for me for a Pendergast Novel.

Oh, it’s still a good one – it’s just not one of the GREAT ones.

I adored our cast of characters, and especially enjoyed the return of one or two that I’ve missed.

Loved Constance though she seems a bit muted.

While I enjoyed our plot and some of our more twisty bits, it did seem like the book went a bit long. It was one of those books where I thought it was over about four times, but it just kept going.

I still liked it very much and am looking forward to the next book!

• ARC via Publisher

If you haven't read the Pendergast series from the beginning, I highly recommend it. The characters continue to be fleshed out and I am so happy to say that Preston/Child's books (even with this being #22) are still original and difficult for me to pin down.
This particular novel has vengeance (of course), gore, battle of wits, and time travel. You have the typical visceral killings and atmospheric descriptions that make for a rolling movie in your head. I always love how the authors keep details from you and allow the story to play out. For example, allowing the 3 main characters to meet, but then having to figure out as the reader what they "really" planned and who had the upper hand.
I also love how Preston/Child have me Googling and really thinking about humanity after one of their books. If you could go back in time and stop mass killings by killing only one, would you be a good or bad human?

Pendergast is back in the past trying to save Constance who has went after sadistic killer Leng trying to save her family. This was a good story with entertaining characters. I love this series. This was the 22nd book and I can’t wait for more. It will be released August 13, 2024. Thanks NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this eARC!

I have been reading the Pendergast series for decades and Angel of Vengeance ranks up there with the best of them. I enjoyed the new direction of travel through parallel universes and how Constance has become such a bad ass. These books are always so much fun to read.

I received an ARC copy of this book via #NetGalley

What an ending to a trilogy! Absolutely phenomenal! After the cliffhanger ending of the last book, I didn't know what to expect. I ended up finishing the entire book in about a day because I could not put it down.

Spoilers below this point:

Who would have ever have though that Diogenes, of all people, would get a redemption story. I kept waiting for him to betray everyone. I really did not see the ending coming. I hate that this is probably the last time we may get to see him, but I'm sure Mr. Preston & Mr. Child will find a way to bring him back.

I also feel that Constance didn't learn a single thing from any of this. Even as old as she is, she still very much behaves like a child...throwing a temper-tantrum whenever Pendergast doesn't do exactly what she wants. While her desire to save she siblings was relatively noble thought, it was really just a mask for her desire for revenge. She could have easily slipped in and out with her siblings, but instead tried to play a long-con in a juvenile attempt to prove she was smarter and nearly got everyone killed. Even after they return to the present time/correct universe, she covertly keeps the tunnel open waiting for Lang & putting everyone at risk.

I know that Pendergast's feelings for her are complicated, as they should be given their history, but I don't not see any sort of long-term relationship working out. I honestly can see her eventually becoming a villain greater than Diogenes.

Thank you to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Preston and Child for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my
honest opinion.

This book is awesome! You feel like you are right there with the characters and, believe me, they are in some places you wouldn’t want to join! The transition from present day to the 19th century is so eye-opening—many things to think about that we take for granted! Constance Green travels thru the time portal to save herself as a child and to rid the world of the evil Enoch Lang. Pendergast, his brother Diogenes, and D’Agosta follow her and the excitement begins. They concoct a plan to get rid of Lang and spread out to achieve their goals. There are many exciting twists and turns with an ending you might not see coming. I enjoyed this book.

Angel of Vengeance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child is the very highly recommended intricate thriller that continues the story started in The Cabinet of Dr. Leng that ended with a cliffhanger. Angel of Vengeance is absolutely not a standalone thriller. The four Pendergast novels in the Dr. Enoch Leng series are: The Cabinet of Curiosities, Bloodless, The Cabinet of Dr. Leng and finally Angel of Vengeance.

Readers have been anxiously awaiting Angel of Vengeance to conclude the story arc that left FBI Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast, Constance Greene, and D'Agosta in an alternate version of NYC in the late 1880's where Constance is hoping to not only protect her siblings from Dr. Enoch Leng, but to defeat him entirely. Unknown to Leng, Diogenes, Pendergast’s brother, appears crossing through the time portal unexpectedly, offering to help for his own reasons. No spoilers here; read the series!

The narrative immediately starts out at a frantic pace and keeps it up throughout the novel with plenty of action, plot twists, and surprises along the way. If you have been waiting for this novel and know the characters and their backstories, you will not be disappointed. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.