interesting premise, solid mystery, love Agent Pendergast ( )

A worthy entry into the Pendergast series, but far from the best of them. Billing this as the first of the Diogenes trilogy is a bit of a stretch, as Diogenes never appears and is only obliquely and briefly referred to. A single incident sets up the next book, Dance with Death, but other than that, this book is fairly self-contained. A perk for me was getting to spend more time with D'Agosta -- Brimstone cuts down on its cast of primary characters, so unlike some of the earlier novels, there aren't quite as many viewpoints on the story, which is both good and bad. I appreciated D'Agosta's heightened importance, but I missed Bill. Brimstone is also at times more of a straight whodunnit mystery than the other novels, though it retains Preston and Child's wonderful thriller blend. ( )

I love Agent Pendergast. I am riveted to his books anxiously awaiting where his escapades will take him. Truly an entertaining book. ( )

Fire features prominently in this "who done it?" that features police officers Laura Hayward and Vincent D'Agosta and FBI Special Agent Pendergast. At times that suspense carries the plot and at other times it is the detail. Preston Child fans are accustomed to thoroughly researched storylines and this book does not disappoint.

I enjoyed this book immensely and if you occasionally buy books in hardback rather than wait for the paperback edition, this is one that is worth the expense.

In the "how I would improve this book" category is the elimination of the annoying habit of the authors to incorporate a unique or particularly effective visual word on multiple occasions in close proximity. In this book the word is "cadaverousness" on page 32 and "cadaverous" on page 40. Editors, please do your job!

I noticed at least one reviewer was critical of some of the chases in the book opining their inclusion was merely a pretext for the movie. I would enjoy a movie with the chases and they certainly did not lessen my enjoying the book. The story does end with a loose end or two. They will undoubtedly be tied in a subsequent tale, which is one of the inherent problems of reoccurring characters - their immorality. It is too painful to kill the franchise. ( )

Wonderful in the latest series of Agent Pendergast. A page turner for me. Contiuation of the quirky and wonderful characters created by Child and Preston in their ongoing series.