I have been following the Pendergast series for many years, and admittedly the latest, Angel of Vengeance, takes the reader on a time travelling jaunt to 19th century Manhattan, inclusive of a unique gothic/science fiction flavor that is both intriguing and highly entertaining. This tale begins with the novel Bloodless, followed by The Cabinet of Doctor Leng, ending with Vengeance, the grand finale.
Doctor Enoch Leng must be one of the nastiest evil geniuses rivalling even Hanible Lector. The doctor’s goal is to capture the correct formulation of eternal youth. We know he has achieved his goal in the 21st century because of Pendergast’s beautiful ward, Constance, who hasn’t aged for well over 100 years. Constance goes back in time to exact vengeance for her siblings that Leng, back in the day, murdered in pursuit of halting the aging process.
Diogenes, Pendergast’s evil brother, comes back from the dead, travelling in time to assist his brother and Constance to prevent Leng’s plan and slew of murders. Diogenes is a particular treacherous psychopath with superior intelligence and a twisted taste for the finer things in life. In going up against Leng, his actions stand out as gruesomely brutal and creative.
To appreciate the novels fully, one must achieve that literary reading state of “suspension of disbelief.” In this world just about anything is possible and is written in such a way that one can imagine the most outlandish scenes as entirely believable. It’s all part of the fun.
When completing The Cabinet of Doctor Leng, and realizing the novel was a cliff hanger, and knowing we would have to wait for the sequel, my feelings of disappointment can be described as an understatement. Waiting the 12 or so months for the final installment was in all honesty, well worth the wait.
Indeed, these novels are pure entertainment.
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