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White Fire
eBook - 2013
Past and present collide as Special Agent Pendergast uncovers mysterious connections between a string of 19th century bear attacks in a Colorado mining town, a fabled, long-lost Sherlock Holmes story, and a deadly present-day arsonist.
In 1876, in a mining camp called Roaring Fork in the Colorado Rockies, eleven miners were killed by a rogue grizzly bear. Corrie Swanson has arranged to examine the miners' remains. When she makes a shocking discovery, town leaders try to stop her from exposing their community's dark and bloody past.
Just as Special Agent Pendergast of the FBI arrives to rescue his protege, the town comes under siege by a murderous arsonist who-with brutal precision-begins burning down multimillion-dollar mansions with the families locked inside. Drawn deeper into the investigation, Pendergast discovers a long-lost Sherlock Holmes story that may be the key to solving both the mystery of the long-dead miners and the modern-day killings as well.
Now, with the ski resort snowed in and under savage attack-and Corrie's life suddenly in grave danger-Pendergast must solve the enigma of the past before the town of the present goes up in flames.
In 1876, in a mining camp called Roaring Fork in the Colorado Rockies, eleven miners were killed by a rogue grizzly bear. Corrie Swanson has arranged to examine the miners' remains. When she makes a shocking discovery, town leaders try to stop her from exposing their community's dark and bloody past.
Just as Special Agent Pendergast of the FBI arrives to rescue his protege, the town comes under siege by a murderous arsonist who-with brutal precision-begins burning down multimillion-dollar mansions with the families locked inside. Drawn deeper into the investigation, Pendergast discovers a long-lost Sherlock Holmes story that may be the key to solving both the mystery of the long-dead miners and the modern-day killings as well.
Now, with the ski resort snowed in and under savage attack-and Corrie's life suddenly in grave danger-Pendergast must solve the enigma of the past before the town of the present goes up in flames.
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Publisher:
New York, NY : Grand Central Pub., 2013
ISBN:
9781455551484
Characteristics:
1 online resource
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Summary
Add a SummaryI loved Pendergast's stories and read from Relic to White Fire, 7 in all. In addition I read the author's other 6 books as well. When reading those books, I gave the authors benefits of the doubt on the special ability and mysticism of Pendergast. In White Fire, the story was in fact one the authors' best in mho. The pace was constantly moving; the events were realistic (greedy developers; mercury poisoning, veteran challenges, Pendergast's deductions) other than meeting between Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Oscar Wilde. With that said, like all writers, they do not bottomless well of fresh ideas. Relative to other "very seasoned" writers, Preston & Child books remain engaging for new or faithful fans, in mho. May I ask what other writers preserve their "fine" standard better? Lastly, we may not love the self centered young woman who did not fit a heroine ... and that was part of the essential story line to bring on Pendergast's involvement etc. Further, there are plenty of such "ungrateful" people around us.
Quotes
Add a QuoteMoving an old cemetery for a new club house started Pendergast's investigation: The attorney for The Heights rose and gave his presentation in a nasal drone. The Heights, he said, proposed to rebury the disinterred remains in a field they had purchased for just such a purpose on a hillside about five miles down Route 82. This surprised Jenny; she had always assumed the remains would be reburied within the town limits. Now she understood why so many people were there.
The attorney went through some legal gobbledygook about how this was all perfectly legal, reasonable, proper, preferable, and indeed, unavoidable for various reasons she didn’t understand. As he continued, Jenny heard a slow rising of disapproving sounds, murmurings—even a few hisses—from the public area. She glanced in the direction of the noise. The proposal was, it seemed, not being greeted with favor.
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Comment
Add a CommentEntertaining, fast paced I enjoy the Pendergast books. Don't read if you need your story to be realistic.
One of the more sensible stories Preston and Child have written until you get to the episode of a conversation the FBI agent envisions of the past. Otherwise the book tidies up the motives and explains why the events occur almost 150 years later. It also makes one wonder what our ancestors have left us and what we are leaving our future generations
I could not put the book down. Loved it. As always, great historical research.....Oscar Wilde, Aspern Hall, early mining and environmental issues and more. And of course, that wonderful character, Special Agent Pendergast.
Not well written, "by-product of grief” is a real clunker (among many). Pendergast seems so gaunt, so pale, as to seem a ghost. He has too many powers, too many tools in his beautifully tailored coat. The books are TOO LONG. But the exotic locations, the odd sidekicks, convoluted plots keep drawing me back.
This book was definitely suspenseful and enjoyable. Good mystery like all Pendergast novels are, book was informative too I learned a few things. However, the book at some points had an air of Hollywood cheese which was surely disappointing. All in all this book is worth reading, it is definitely not the best offering by Preston and Child though.
Horrible! The plot is ridiculous and characters so shallow and poorly written as to be a caricatures (Aloysius Pendergast--silver-eyed, independently wealthy, superbly refined (!!!) FBI agent with apparently no official duties). The scene where he is "transported" to the past to witness a conversation is down right stupid. Never again will I reach for Preston and child (sic).
Competently written but reads like a TV movie script. A book you will forget the day after you have read it.
the Doyle parts were entertaining and i enjoyed Pendergast, but Corrie is one of the least likable characters i've come across in a long time. this one was a struggle to get through
Whenever you enter the world of Aloysius Pendergast, you must leave your disbelief at the door. Once you do, you are in for a great adventure. Not one of Preston & Child's very best, compared to The Cabinet of Curiosities, for example. Still intriguing, suspenseful and fun. A great mix of past and present. Oscar Wilde's conversation with Conan Doyle is brilliant.
I enjoyed it. It does follow the same pattern as most of Preston and Child's thrillers. If you liked their other novels, you'll probably like this one.