Oh boy. Oh boy. Oh boy! I’ve been waiting for this book ever since I’ve heard of it, and I have just finished it. This was great. I got to meet sever new investigators, and caught up with a few familiar faces.
Let’s start off the list with “Red Eye.” Harry Bosch meets Patrick Kenzie, and all for a child. This was a great story. By the way, does anyone know how to pronounce Harry’s name?
Next we have “In the Nick of Time.” A deathbed confession made to John Rebus sends him to Roy Grace’s end of the woods. This one was a disappointment. It didn’t strike me as justice being done at all.
Of course this leads us to, what I hoped would be, the cream of the crop: “Gaslighted.” It’s supposed to be Pendergast, and Pendergast is known for good stories. Mr. Preston and Mr. Child really shouldn’t write with R. L. Stine again. Mr. Stine isn’t known for the same style of story. Unfortunately, it wasn’t very good.
“The Laughing Buddha” was an interesting tale. One Sergeant Detective D.D. Warren goes head-to-head with one Dr. Malachai Samuels, psychiatrist specializing in past life regression. The story was okay, an antiques dealer was murdered. The past life regression is what blew it for me.
This leads us to “Surfing the Panther.” It’s a lawyer story. Defense Attorney Paul Madriani is visiting New York City for a Bar Association exercise. His opponent is District Attorney Alex Cooper. After the exercise, they meet someone who has information that could prove Mr. Madriani’s actual client innocent. It was an alright story.
“Rhymes With Prey” held the two major detectives who hunt serial killers down. Lucas Davenport meeting Lincoln Rhymes over a cruel monster that likes to be part of the S&M culture. As this is the longest story in the collection, as well as the way the story was told, I’m going to withhold judgment on this one for now.
“Infernal Night” was a fun one. Repairman Jack is hired to steal something from a family crypt. Michael Quinn is hired to protect it. I liked this one a lot.
And another great story. “Pit Stop” takes Glen Garber on a wild ride when a psycho knocks Agent Sean Reilly out and steals Mr. Garber’s car with his daughter in it. Such a resourceful child.
Of course “Silent Hunt” struck my fancy as well. Wyatt Hunt and Joe Trona both head out on the same fishing trip, then get called to action.
“The Devil’s Bones” brought us Cotton Malone and Gray Pierce in an effort to stop a terrorist’s auction.
But one of my favorite stories was when Nick Heller and Jack Reacher met in “Good and Valuable Consideration.”
It would’ve reached classic heights had the Pendergast story reached it’s usual flair. I love Pendergast, but “Gaslighted” was such a disappointment. It was a great book regardless.