Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child are each accomplished writers with several successful solo novels, but it is when they collaborate on the best-selling novels featuring the enigmatic Agent Pendergast and his NYPD counterpart, Vincent D'Agosta, that they really shine. With Cemetery Dance, they move away from the overt spiritualistic mysticism of The Wheel of Darkness and back into more familiar dark-thriller territory, albeit with some interesting religious undertones.

Never timid, the authors start the book by killing off a popular recurring character familiar to readers from previous novels. When acclaimed journalist William Smithback is brutally stabbed in his apartment and his new wife, Nora Kelly, is injured, Pendergast and D'Agosta team up to investigate. The evidence quickly points to a disturbed tenant of the building. It's an open and shut case, with one problem--the suspect has been dead for over a week. Strange voodoo symbols found at the crime scene, together with suspicious reports of animal sacrifices perpetrated by a cult nestled in a secluded corner of Manhattan Island, leave the duo pondering the reliability of the physical evidence. And when the deceased Smithback himself shows up at an award dinner and knifes a fellow reporter, rumors of zombies (the correct spelling is "zombii," Pendergast asserts) fly.

D'Agosta, ever the skeptic, suspects a more human plot, but Pendergast, who possesses some familiarity with voodoo rituals and black magic from his New Orleans childhood, isn't so sure. Now, with animal-rights activists descending upon New York to protest the city's refusal to oust the mysterious cult and fears of supernatural murderers growing, Pendergast and D'Agosta find themselves in a race to uncover the truth before the entire city erupts.

With its fast-paced action and horrific crimes tempered by witty dialog and brilliant police work, Cemetery Dance has everything readers have come to expect from these authors. Since each book in the Pendergast series is intended to function as a stand-alone novel, old and new fans alike should be able to enjoy the story with or without having read the previous books. The book does contain a fair amount of violence and some disturbing religious imagery, particularly having to do with animal sacrifice and voodoo-related ceremonies; Preston & Child don't write for the faint-hearted. But dark-thriller fans are in for a treat as these authors deliver yet again. ( )

I really enjoyed this book. It reunites Lieutenant D'Agosta and Agent Pendergast, along with Dr. Nora Kelly in a murder and mayhem mystery about New York City and zombies. However, these are not the "I want your braains" zombies of popular culture, but rather the zombies of voudou and folklore. It also shows the real strength of the Preston-Child collaboration - which is presenting New York City as an unexpected and rich character in the book. In this book, like Cabinet of Curiosities (2002), they weave in the history and geography and people of the city into a fascinating characterization that makes you feel as if you were there and part of it all. ( )

I still think Still Life with Crows is the best Pendergast novel, but this one was better than the last few. I felt like everything was wrapped up too nicely at the end, but as usual, Preston/Child had you thinking the supernatural goings on might possibly be real. ( )

Again a great book from those two authors. I never get bored of reading a Pendergast novel. I was really suprise by the turn of event of the book, and I devour it.
I can't wait for the next one!!! ( )

Good. Quick Read. The zombie twist was interesting. ( )