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    The Cabinet of Curiosities: A Novel
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    The Cabinet of Curiosities: A Novel
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    The Cabinet of Curiosities: A Novel
    Audiobook17 hours

    The Cabinet of Curiosities: A Novel

    Written by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

    Narrated by Jonathan Marosz

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    In an ancient tunnel underneath New York City a charnel house is discovered.
    Inside are thirty-six bodies--all murdered and mutilated more than a century ago.
    While FBI agent Pendergast investigates the old crimes, identical killings start to terrorize the city.
    The nightmare has begun.
    Again.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHachette Audio
    Release dateNov 20, 2012
    ISBN9781611139372
    Unavailable
    The Cabinet of Curiosities: A Novel
    Author

    Douglas Preston

    Douglas Preston, a regular contributor to the New Yorker, has worked for the American Museum of Natural History and taught English at Princeton University. With his frequent collaborator, Lincoln Child, he has written many bestselling thrillers including Relic, which became a major motion picture, The Book of the Dead and Cemetery Dance. He is also the author of the bestselling The Codex, Tyrannosaur Canyon and Blasphemy.

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    Reviews for The Cabinet of Curiosities

    4/5

    1,176 ratings64 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Have read other novels by these authors but this one was a keep you up one. An archeologist, a reporter, an eccentric FBI agent all come together when bones are found in a sight being readied for a new skyscraper in NYC. The bones are all of young people murdered In the late 1800's early 1900s. All murdered in a very gruesome way. From there we are searching the Museum of Natural History. Old records and finally an abandoned house on the FDR. Or is it abandoned. Great build up to the end.
    • 4/5
      When century old numerous skeletons are discovered in a tunnel under NYC, FBI Agent Pendergast seeks the assistance of Dr. Nora Kelly, New York Museum of Natural History archeologist to investigate. Once the investigation has begun, recent murders with remains similar to those found in the tunnel. Can Pendergast and Kelly identify the murderer known as the Surgeon before others are killed, especially them.As I listened to the third book in the Pendergast series, aspects of it seemed familiar. At least, most of it was unfamiliar to make a possible reread okay. The primary characters of this book was well-developed, especially Pendergast, who comes across as a contemporary Sherlock Holmes. Since there are a number of books in this series, I should be reading and enjoying it for some time.
    • 5/5
      Another great read in the Pendergast series. While some of these books aren't always a 5-star read, they're still incredibly enjoyable and I always find myself looking to grab the next one of the series at Barnes & Noble when it gets released each year. Hats off to Pendergast and all of his investigations.
    • 2/5
      Great story, only much longer than it needed to be. The story of Agent Pendergast's search for an ancient serial killer who has discovered the secret to everlasting life gets bogged down in the minutiae causing it to drag on quite often. While I enjoyed the first two installments in this series I seem to recall the moved at a quicker pace. After this one I'm not sure I will continue on to the next. I found myself not caring who or what and just wanting it to end.
    • 4/5
      Agent Pendergast and company spend more time above ground and transition from Monster of the Week stories to psychological monsters of the human variety in an excellent outing. It was really hard to decide whether to put this one in the "mystery" or "thriller" or "horror" category, or all of the above. Regardless, if you were put off by the monster-ish story aspects of either of the earlier Pendergast outings, consider giving this one a look, as it's a shift in focus and very well done.
    • 4/5
      Another enjoyable book in the Agent Pendergast series, although I might say I think it was a little too long in building the story line.
    • 4/5
      A horror/mystery about a serial killer who may have discovered the secret of immortality.... A very Dr. Jekyll/Frankenstein aesthetic, brought into a modern-day milieu - but I *really* enjoyed this book for its over-the-top, tongue in cheek portrayal of the Scary Dangerous city that is New York, and especially the portrayal of the Oh-So-Spooky! Natural History Museum (where I worked for a 9-month internship).
      The book is dedicated to "librarians," which gives a clue that the totally ridiculous portrayal of the archivist and library in the museum is very intentionally so... and it is FUNNY! In that watching a bad 70's exploitation film kinda way....
      However, reading the reviews on amazon.com, I dunno how many people picked up on that... they don't seem to get it. But I'm 95% sure it was supposed to be funny...
      I did disagree with the ending moral, but it was very classic...
    • 5/5
      Bones are discovered on a construction site. In total 36 bodies are found, the were mutilated more than a 100 years ago.

      After the discovery of the bones, similar murders are happening in the streets of New York. Is there a copycat on the loose or the murderer from a 130 years ago still alive?

      Agent Pendagast is back for a third time. D'Agosta and Margo Green are gone so he gets the help of Nora Kelly, a archeologist working for the Museum. The story still takes place in New York and also back is Bill Smithback, the journalist looking for his Pulitzer prize and is also Nora's boyfriend. A new character is also in the mix, Patrick O'Shaunessy, a cop who a couple of years ago was accused of taking a bribe and now his boss is making him work with Pendagast as a punishment.


      This suspense, horror, fantasy book is great. Pendagast is such a great character, intriguing, weird and who has a few tricks on his sleeve. Smithback is your typical journalist but tends to put his ffot in his mouth a little too often and gets to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. For me they are both the main reasons the books works. They both bring the serious, emotional and funny side that makes the book a joy to read.

      They are some parts that are far-fetched more on the fantasy side so be prepared that it's part of the charm the authors bring to this novel.

      This book can be read as a stand alone since the references from the two previous book are so minimal that you don't really miss anything that makes you wonder what they are talking about.

      Great thrilling, suspense book. 4.5 stars.
    • 5/5
      Brilliant book, thrilling and spell binding
    • 2/5
      Complete crap. This book was way too long and Pendergast is a boring Mary Sue. By the end when he was cauterizing wounds while translating Greek I was ready to throw the book across the room.
    • 5/5
      One of the best of the numerous Pendergast series novels as the FBI agent traces the connection between a series of heinous serial murders of more than a century ago and a round of current copycat slayings. A fast read...I banged out the last 150 pages of a breathless climactic sequence in one reading.
    • 5/5
      I've read the first three of the Pendergast series, and this one is the best so far. Can't wait to get to the next one.
    • 4/5
      An otherwise excellent novel ended up plagued by a horrendous repetition of words within the last hundred pages. Everything the characters did was described by the authors as either "slowly" or "abruptly." I actually wanted to stop reading, the overused adverbs became so bad. Either the editor became tired toward the end, or the authors were allowed to edit their own book. This saddened me a great deal, as I really loved the twisty, turn-y plot Lincoln and Child developed.

      If you follow my reviews, you know I don't regurgitate plots. That's what the synopsis on the book is for. So we'll move along.

      Before starting The Cabinet of Curiosities, I read Relic, and it's sequel, Reliquary. You can find my reviews posted here on Goodreads. This book far surpasses those two novels in pace and character development. Never bored, I plowed through this book in only five days. I really didn't want to put it down, but real life does tend to interfere, and me needs my beauty sleep, fool! Special Agent Pendergast's character is finally delved into. He's no longer the obtuse, mysterious FBI agent. His past comes into play all throughout this compelling novel. I can't wait to read the next in the series, Still Life with Crows. It will be nice to finally get out of New York City, where Relic, Reliquary and this book took place. Needing a little variety in my schedule, I won't be starting Still Life with Crows right away. I have an ARC from a friend of mine I need to read ASAP, then I want to tackle Lawrence Block's When the Sacred Gin Mill Closes and Fluke, by Christopher Moore.

      Until next time,

      E.
    • 4/5
      This has been the longest, and the best, book of the Pedergast series so far. An interesting story that kept me riveted and engaged, I didn't want to put this book down. So many times with longer books I have the thought that it could be shorter, I don't have that thought or desire for this book--I can't wait to read the next in the series!

    • 4/5
      Six-word review: Wow, more creepy subterranean nasty business.Extended review: I think I'm catching onto a pattern here. This is the third mystery-thriller starring Special Agent Pendergast, and three out of three have involved (a) the Museum of Natural History in New York, (b) a mad scientist, (c) some kind of magic potion, and (d) underground tunnels with horrid things in them. There are also, as before, some stalwarts and some dopes in the NYPD, a personable, vulnerable and yet strong young woman, and a likable, annoying reporter.I guess if you have a formula that works, it's smart not to mess with it.The LT series lists showing titles in sequence are a great resource. What I didn't realize, though, when I selected this book as the third in the series, is that apparently there were other titles between the second and third Pendergast books that carried on sequentially but involved other characters. So Nora Kelly had been introduced and her relationship with Bill Smithback developed in a non-Pendergast book that preceded this one.That wasn't really a problem; the authors supplied enough backstory to fill the gaps. But this was a caution that I didn't think of in following a series--the idea that the series might branch and I might be missing story development if I mistakenly followed a single main character.At any rate, as before, this one presented a fast-moving and suspenseful yarn with pluses and minuses that balance out in its favor, as long as you're in the mood for the gruesome parts.
    • 4/5
      "Old bones...New people"A pile of bones is found and Pendergast shows to look into the find. This is the 3 book in the Pendergast saga and even though the storyline is a little out there the whole book was an enjoyable and delightful listen. I have enjoyed getting to know Pendergast even though these books are a little on the old side I am new to the series. They are not your standard, run of the mill mystery/murder novels which is a good thing. So if you can get beyond the out bounds type of storyline you should enjoy this book and if your already a fan of Pendergast you really wound be disappointed
    • 3/5
      After a horrible discovery of a XIX century churnel house made by construction workers, people start dying. The manner of these recent deaths is the same as the old murders, so the press gave the killer a name - The Surgeon. Considering how weird all this is, it is no wonder Pendergast gets involved. There is a lot of him in this book.

      I have a feeling this book tried to cram as much as incompetent and corrupt people as it it possible. It certainly wins the prize so far. The first two had their own bureaucrats and jerks, but here it is a whole new level of ass-kissing, ruining other people or harassing normal ones. I am not satisfied how that played out. I cannot write more about it or I'll ruin the part of the story.

      I don't have to write about how I love Pendergast either. If he was a bit of omniscient before, here he gets another, more human layer to his personality. We are allowed to see just how much human he is. His part in all this was great, albeit still insufficient for me to be satisfied. Still, the manner we get more, but still not enough, information about him is a good way to keep readers interested.

      Of the three people involved in previous cases, only the journalist remained. I wish he too left somewhere. Authors usually reserve TSTL moments for their female characters. Here, I am happy (or unhappy as the case may be) to report Smithback could give those heroines run for their money. God, he was so stupid he almost ruined the story. There wasn't a single thing he did here to make me even like, let alone love him. He acted childish and selfish and even if he had those 'qualities' before, here they are more pronounced.
      The second person Pendergast enlists to help him is an archaeologist Nora Kelly, Smithback's girlfriend. The authors can't show the chemistry between the characters, so we get quite a few sentences telling us how he loves her. I don't mind romantic angle to a story. I like it even, but here it was out of place. She could have been just an archaeologist who just met them and it would still be the same story. And she wasn't really likeable either. The first part of the story she is wining about her job, then she gets angry for whatever reason. Margo Green and D'Acosta, they are not. Anyway, it isn't that pronounced to mess up the story.

      The too long meditation that looks like time travel or a vivid dream would work in a film, but here they threw me in something that seemed like a different story. That, and one time it was even unbelievable considering the place the characters doing it were in.

      Parts of this story were too hard to read. The suffering and the waiting were dragged a bit. I still enjoyed it though and would recommend this series to anyone who likes a thriller seasoned with weirdness.
    • 4/5
      Nora is an archaeologist with the Natural History Museum in New York City. When FBI Special Agent Pendergast requests her immediate help with some skeletons found under a construction site, she goes to take a look, but the developer gets rid of the two of them fairly quickly, after she's only had a short time to investigate. It seems that at least 36 bodies were found at the site and they think this was the work of a serial killer from over 100 years earlier. Despite the protestations of the developer and Nora's employer, they (along with the help of Nora's reporter boyfriend and a police officer assigned to keep an eye on Pendergast) work to find out what happened there. There now also seems to be a series of copycat murders. I really liked this. I enjoyed learning about historical cabinets of curiosities. I also quite like Pendergast's character and there were some tense moments in the book that kept me reading. Despite being about 500 pages, it was a quick read.
    • 5/5
      Excellent novel! Everyone has skeletons in their closet. Even Pendergast...
    • 4/5
      This is my favorite of the Pendergast series so far!
      In previous books he made appearances but in this one he's more of the main character and we learn more about him and what makes him tick.
      Looking forward to the next one.
    • 3/5
      Listened to in audiobook form, a medium I am not sure I will ever get used to, by Rene Auberjonois, the actor. Very entertaining, but for some reason (probably my maintenance medication), I am having issues staying awake throughout.
    • 4/5
      The third book in the Agent Pendergast books did not disappoint. I could hardly put the book down once I started it. Like the others, there is a fair amount of gore and almost super-natural ideas or things happening that seem out of the realm of possibility, at least in today's world. I enjoyed getting to know Pendergast better. Old skeletons are discovered in a NYC building site that end up being connected with a series of modern day murders with the most bizarre of purposes.
    • 4/5
      The Cabinet of Curiosities is a book that from the beginning through the end creates the same feeling of suspense. One thinks that one has solved the case only to be surprised in the end. The characters are all likeable even the evil people. The settings are believable. The story is great. Four stars were awarded in this review for a really good story.
    • 4/5
      A good solid mystery with a very creepy antagonist. Just what you would expect from a Pendergast book.
    • 3/5
      This book's graphic torture bits were too much for me. I'd have enjoyed it more if they'd been toned down even a little. Otherwise it was a really fun book in the Pendergast series.
    • 4/5
      This was my first Preston and Child book, and it was delightful in all the eerie ways. I love Pendergast and the other characters who find their way into his antics. It's not a super heavy read but was fast paced and kept my attention. I will certainly pick up more!
    • 4/5
      A great thriller which moves along at a nice pace. As good or better than Wheel Of Darkness, the other Preston & Child book I've read. It has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, and ties things off nicely at the end.
    • 5/5
      "The Cabinet of Curiosities" is an exceptional read and an intelligent literary accomplishment.In New York, a tunnel at a construction site leads to a storage area where there are the bones of thirty-six people.Nora Kelly a museum archaeologist at the New York Museum of Natural History is asked to use her expertise to help learn the time when the bodies were placed in this area. She tells officials that the bodies date back to 130 years prior by an unknown serial killer.Special Agent Pendergast and Dr. Kelly work together to learn more. The construction site was the area where a costly building project was underway and access to the site is denied as construction continues.Kelly and Pendergast are assisted by a sergeant of the New York Police Department named O'Shaughnessy and Kelly's on again off again boyfriend, reporter William Smithback, Jr.Gradually, the investigators look at historical records from the Museum and other reference areas. They learn of the serial killer was creating a cabinet of curiosities where unusual items were placed for personal or public interest. As the investigation leads to a mysterious doctor in the past, a copy-cat killer begins killing people in New York. This killer is dubbed "The Surgeon" by news media.The story is cleverly penned with most unusual and interesting characters. Agent Pendergast likes to investigate unusual cases. He also has the ability to go back in time to get more facts to aid with the case he's working on. Bill and Nora have been seeing each other and seem just about to move in together when complications in this case get in the way.A further complication is that Nora's boss, Roger Brisbane, is a controlling person who is trying to cut costs at the Museum and doesn't want Dr. Kelly taking on pro-bono work with the FBI.There are numerous plot twists and we read the novel as if were were trying to fill in the answers to a "New York Times Sunday Puzzle" The action begins slowly but builds up with lightening speed so the concluding moments pass by quickly and in a suspenseful manner.”
    • 4/5
      Yet another wonderful Preston/Child mystery. A story that involves the quest for eternal life on earth and where science has gone wrong. Beginning in the 19th century Five Points area of Manhattan, a doctor must kill people in order to extract a protein from the human spine while alive. In order to do this he must kidnap innocent people and tie them down inside his hidden lab to perform the extraction, afterwards succumbing to death. But, does this doctor actually achieve success, and years later is he still alive acting out these bizarre murders? Pendergrast and his cohorts team up to find this doctor and his mysterious lab and attempt to bring an end to this injustice.Never a dull moment, nor is it predictable. Full of mystery, intrigue, suspense, and action. I highly recommend this book to Preston/Child fans especially to those who always enjoy Agent Pendergrast and his witty nuances.
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed this book. For the most part interesting and fast-paced. Bogged down in a couple of places, but nothing too annoying. Similarly a couple of plot holes, but nothing so gross as to affect the overall story line.

      Agent Pendergast is an interesting character, but more a collection of affectations than a fleshed out person. I'd have enjoyed it more if the authors had spent a bit more time developing his character and letting us know what makes him tick. Maybe they do in the other books in the series.

      The story's good - part "Silence of the Lambs", part "X-Files". Some nice plot twists and atmospheric settings. It would make a good movie.