The Cabinet of Curiosities
by Preston & Child
I've finally managed to re-read this book. I've totally forgotten about the content.
The story started when the bodies of 36 young people were discovered in a long-buried tunnel at a construction site. It was a mass muder which took place about 130 years ago. Pendergast took an interest in this discovery and convinced an archeologist, Nora Kelly from New York City's Museum to help him to uncover the truth. Unfortunately, the owner of the development property, Anthony Fairhaven refused to allow the investigation to take place and because the police would not classify this discovery as an historical one. Without proper approval and permit, Nora was unable to carry out her investigation. She did managed to had a few minutes of rushed viewing of the scene and sneaked a dress she felt was important to the case. The dress belong to one of the victim, a teenage girl who scribbled a note with a blood and hid the letter sewed inside her dress. The content of the notes was just her name and her address. Nora was not interested in helping Pendergast, when she discovered that Pendergast was not officially on this case, especially when she got herself into trouble with her boss in the Museum for helping the FBI agent. She changed her mind after a modern-day copy-cat killer appeared and nearly caught her.
Four persons, Pendergast, Kelly, O'Shaughnessy (A police man without career luck) and William Smithback, Jr (An ambitious journalist and Kelly's boyfriend), were involved in the private investigation. The story took a turn after Pendergast was stabbed nesar his house, Nora was nearly killed in the museum, O'Shaughnessy and William Smithback disappeared. Pendergast and Kelly managed to track the movement of William Smithback and found the lab of the copy-cat killer. The investigation reveals a startling secret in the Pendergast family, a successful means of prolonging life, and a murderous obsession to achieve the eradication of the mankind 'disease'.
The story introduces the cabinet of curiosity (created by the killer Leng), and hints at something hidden in it, which is featured in the consecutive novels.
About Pendergast
Dr. Aloysius X. L. Pendergast is a special agent in FBI. He has a unique personality, unbeliveable knowledge and appreciation of culture and his almost supernatural competence. He is very talented in entering buildings without being caught and scaring people by suddenly appearing from nowhere. He travels frequently out of state to investigate cases which interest him.
His appearance: Pendergast's build is described as tall and thin, and he boasts a strong torso with lean muscle. His fingers are long and tapered. Pendergast has very light blue or grey eyes, a pale complexion, and light blond hair that appears almost white. Pendergast typically dresses in a black, hand-tailored, designer suit regardless of weather conditions, and is often described as looking like a well-dressed undertaker. Observers note that he moves with a "wraith-like" grace.
Accoutrements: Pendergast owns and drives a 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith. His personal sidearm is usually a customized and/ or expensive .45 caliber pistol. Normally kept hidden from view, Pendergast wears a chain with a pendant that depicts a lidless eye over two moons, one new and one full, and a phoenix. The Pendergast family crest consists of the same eye and moons, but a lion instead. Pendergast carries a variety of hidden tools, such as lock picks, flashlights of various sizes, test tubes, syringes, and forensic chemicals
Interest: Pendergast appreciates the finer things in life, including expensive cuisine and wines. He has a stock of 1990 Petrus, and another one of his favorite drinks is green tea, in particular Oolong or Black Dragon tea. Pendergast is a student of many languages. He is fluent in Italian, Latin, Greek, Chinese (some Mandarin, he claimed to be better in Cantonese Cantonese) and presumably Spanish and French. He does not speak German or Neapolitan.
What are cabinet of curiosities?
Thet are collections of types of objects. The collection is vast and can be of everything and any specimens natural history (sometimes faked), geology, ethnography, archaeology, religious or historical relics, works of art, cabinet paintings, and antiquities. Usually the valuable may belong to rulers, famous people or merchants. A cabinet of curiosity is not restricted to just a cabinet. It can be a big room or a big house. There's not restriction of the space size.
Information with help from wikipedia.
I've finally managed to re-read this book. I've totally forgotten about the content.
The story started when the bodies of 36 young people were discovered in a long-buried tunnel at a construction site. It was a mass muder which took place about 130 years ago. Pendergast took an interest in this discovery and convinced an archeologist, Nora Kelly from New York City's Museum to help him to uncover the truth. Unfortunately, the owner of the development property, Anthony Fairhaven refused to allow the investigation to take place and because the police would not classify this discovery as an historical one. Without proper approval and permit, Nora was unable to carry out her investigation. She did managed to had a few minutes of rushed viewing of the scene and sneaked a dress she felt was important to the case. The dress belong to one of the victim, a teenage girl who scribbled a note with a blood and hid the letter sewed inside her dress. The content of the notes was just her name and her address. Nora was not interested in helping Pendergast, when she discovered that Pendergast was not officially on this case, especially when she got herself into trouble with her boss in the Museum for helping the FBI agent. She changed her mind after a modern-day copy-cat killer appeared and nearly caught her.
Four persons, Pendergast, Kelly, O'Shaughnessy (A police man without career luck) and William Smithback, Jr (An ambitious journalist and Kelly's boyfriend), were involved in the private investigation. The story took a turn after Pendergast was stabbed nesar his house, Nora was nearly killed in the museum, O'Shaughnessy and William Smithback disappeared. Pendergast and Kelly managed to track the movement of William Smithback and found the lab of the copy-cat killer. The investigation reveals a startling secret in the Pendergast family, a successful means of prolonging life, and a murderous obsession to achieve the eradication of the mankind 'disease'.
The story introduces the cabinet of curiosity (created by the killer Leng), and hints at something hidden in it, which is featured in the consecutive novels.
About Pendergast
Dr. Aloysius X. L. Pendergast is a special agent in FBI. He has a unique personality, unbeliveable knowledge and appreciation of culture and his almost supernatural competence. He is very talented in entering buildings without being caught and scaring people by suddenly appearing from nowhere. He travels frequently out of state to investigate cases which interest him.
His appearance: Pendergast's build is described as tall and thin, and he boasts a strong torso with lean muscle. His fingers are long and tapered. Pendergast has very light blue or grey eyes, a pale complexion, and light blond hair that appears almost white. Pendergast typically dresses in a black, hand-tailored, designer suit regardless of weather conditions, and is often described as looking like a well-dressed undertaker. Observers note that he moves with a "wraith-like" grace.
Accoutrements: Pendergast owns and drives a 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith. His personal sidearm is usually a customized and/ or expensive .45 caliber pistol. Normally kept hidden from view, Pendergast wears a chain with a pendant that depicts a lidless eye over two moons, one new and one full, and a phoenix. The Pendergast family crest consists of the same eye and moons, but a lion instead. Pendergast carries a variety of hidden tools, such as lock picks, flashlights of various sizes, test tubes, syringes, and forensic chemicals
Interest: Pendergast appreciates the finer things in life, including expensive cuisine and wines. He has a stock of 1990 Petrus, and another one of his favorite drinks is green tea, in particular Oolong or Black Dragon tea. Pendergast is a student of many languages. He is fluent in Italian, Latin, Greek, Chinese (some Mandarin, he claimed to be better in Cantonese Cantonese) and presumably Spanish and French. He does not speak German or Neapolitan.
What are cabinet of curiosities?
Thet are collections of types of objects. The collection is vast and can be of everything and any specimens natural history (sometimes faked), geology, ethnography, archaeology, religious or historical relics, works of art, cabinet paintings, and antiquities. Usually the valuable may belong to rulers, famous people or merchants. A cabinet of curiosity is not restricted to just a cabinet. It can be a big room or a big house. There's not restriction of the space size.
Information with help from wikipedia.
posted by ifzzz at 10:51 AM
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