From the #1 New York Times bestselling authors: Racing to uncover the mystery of several severed feet found floating in the Gulf of Mexico, Agent Pendergast is faced with the most inexplicable challenge of his career. A startling crime with dozens of victims. Appearing out of nowhere to horrify the quiet resort town of Sanibel Island, Florida, dozens of identical, ordinary-looking shoes float … dozens of identical, ordinary-looking shoes float in on the tide and are washed up on the tropical beach–each one with a crudely severed human foot inside.
A ghastly enigma with no apparent solution. Called away from vacation elsewhere in the state, Agent Pendergast reluctantly agrees to visit the crime scene–and, despite himself, is quickly drawn in by the incomprehensible puzzle. An early pathology report only adds to the mystery. With an ocean of possibilities confronting the investigation, no one is sure what happened, why, or from where the feet originated. And they desperately need to know: are the victims still alive?
A worthy challenge for a brilliant mind. In short order, Pendergast finds himself facing the most complex and inexplicable challenge of his career: a tangled thread of evidence that spans seas and traverses continents, connected to one of the most baffling mysteries in modern medical science. Through shocking twists and turns, all trails lead back to a powerful adversary with a sadistic agenda and who–in a cruel irony–ultimately sees in Pendergast the ideal subject for their malevolent research.
he victims still alive?
A worthy challenge for a brilliant mind. In short order, Pendergast finds himself facing the most complex and inexplicable challenge of his career: a tangled thread of evidence that spans seas and traverses continents, connected to one of the most baffling mysteries in modern medical science. Through shocking twists and turns, all trails lead back to a powerful adversary with a sadistic agenda and who–in a cruel irony–ultimately sees in Pendergast the ideal subject for their malevolent research.he victims still alive?
A worthy challenge for a brilliant mind. In short order, Pendergast finds himself facing the most complex and inexplicable challenge of his career: a tangled thread of evidence that spans seas and traverses continents, connected to one of the most baffling mysteries in modern medical science. Through shocking twists and turns, all trails lead back to a powerful adversary with a sadistic agenda and who–in a cruel irony–ultimately sees in Pendergast the ideal subject for their malevolent research.he victims still alive?
A worthy challenge for a brilliant mind. In short order, Pendergast finds himself facing the most complex and inexplicable challenge of his career: a tangled thread of evidence that spans seas and traverses continents, connected to one of the most baffling mysteries in modern medical science. Through shocking twists and turns, all trails lead back to a powerful adversary with a sadistic agenda and who–in a cruel irony–ultimately sees in Pendergast the ideal subject for their malevolent research.ny–ultimately sees in Pendergast the ideal subject for their malevolent research.more
Preston and Child deliver another outstanding Pendergast tale, this time involving detached feet that wash up on a beach in Sanibel Island. Based on actual occurrences of this strange phenomenon happening in the Pacific Northwest, P&C have spun their own twisted explanation and moved the location to southern Florida.
Pendergast, a special agent with the FBI, is unlike any other fictional detective I’ve encountered, which is why, nineteen books in, this series continues to deliver. He’s unbelievably brilliant, obscenely wealthy, and cool as ice, even in the worst of circumstances. The fact that he consistently ignores established procedure and can verbally vivisect someone without batting an eye only adds to his appeal. Watching him piece together and solve a crime is entertainment of the nth degree. Preston and Child have also given him an excellent cast of supporting characters, who filter in and out of the series through various books. Pendergast’s “ward,” Constance Greene gets to shine in Crooked River. Most of the time, Constance is prim and proper, but when needed, she becomes a skilled and lethal assailant as she proves in this book.
I also love Agent Coldmoon, a Native American FBI agent Pendergast worked with in the last book. The contrasts between these two and how they interact is always fun. The book keeps you flipping pages with several divergent plot threads that converge for an explosive ending. Over the top, yes, but for sheer entertainment value, you can’t beat Preston and Child, and especially not Pendergast. Loved it!
Creepy items wash up on Florida beach
This is the 19th book in the Special Agent Pendergast series and I loved it.
Pendergast’s ward, Constance Greene, is back in this book and she’s a favorite character of mine. Special Agent Coldmoon, who was Pendergast’s partner in the last book, is also called back into action for part of this book.
100+ shoes (with feet inside) wash up on a Florida beach and that starts a chain of events that is pretty darn horrific.
The book was quite unbelievable in many parts but a lot of this series tends to be that way. It was still an enjoyable read.
I’m liking Coldmoon’s character a lot. I hope he continues to appear in future books.
These last two books in the series have broadened Pendergast’s roles. Not only is he using his formidable brain power but he’s much more physically active.
I highly recommend this book if you’re a fan of the series or if you like exciting thrillers.
I love me some Agent Pendergast! This is a good one beginning with an apparent startling crime with dozens of victims! Enter Agent Pendergast, who finds this a worthy challenge for a brilliant mind. This one involves puzzles, severed limbs, ocean currents, horrific experiments which involves BIID! Really enjoyed seeing Ms. Greene’s involvement in this story! Overall a great Pendergast adventure!
If Sherlock Holmes was confronted by dozens of shoes – filled with feet – washing up on the banks of the Thames, what would he do? I can only imagine that his methods would be the 19th century equivalent to Preston & Child’s Agent Pendergast’s.
I was attracted to Crooked River because of the severed feet. In the story, feet clad in identical shoes begin washing up on a Florida Beach. We’ve all seen news reports about such feet stumbling ashore, often in the Pacific Northwest, and there are many theories about these phenomena, most of them well, rather pedestrian that when Preston & Child decided to explore their own version of this mystery, I couldn’t resist.
If you’re unfamiliar with Preston & Child’s enigmatic FBI agent, it won’t be a problem. The authors have written this book so that you can walk right into the story and know and understand Pendergast and his beautiful but deadly assistant without floundering.
In Crooked River, Pendergast is partnered with Special Agent Coldmoon, and as we follow the three protagonists, we’re drawn into action and adventure so exciting that I, for one, missed out on a lot of sleep. But it was well worth it.
Crooked River is a complex tale that will have your heart pumping as you turn the pages. To say more about the story itself would be hard without giving spoilers, so I’ll leave you with this: If Sherlock Holmes were alive today and had access to the technology and science that Agent Pendergast does, I doubt he could solve the crime any quicker than Pendergast. But I would love to see him try.
The horrifying discovery of dozens of severed feet found inside identical shoes turns quiet Sanibel Island into a mecca for law enforcement. With each administration jockeying for control, FBI Special Agent Pendergast is forced to wade through bureaucracy while following his own investigation.
An investigation that quickly spirals out of control, endangering Pendergast and his hand-picked team.
Ward, Constance Green is on a hunt of her own. The beautiful beachfront colonial she rents for Pendergast on Sanibel Island comes with a spine-chilling story of murder and is now haunted. Constance is sure there’s more to the mystery and goes to extreme lengths in her search for the truth.
When Pendergast shows up at his recovery shack on the water, ex-partner Coldmoon is drawn into the disturbing case of the missing feet, even though he’s still mending from their last exploit.
Plenty of scientific hypothesis goes into determining where the feet hit the water, but it’s the how that will blow your mind.
Pendergast is such a contradiction with his old school manners, eccentric taste in clothes, and thoughtful way of unearthing the evidence. His ward, Constance Green, seems prim and proper, yet she has this dark undertone that is fascinating. I want to know her story! And then there’s Agent Coldmoon, maybe my favorite character (at least in this book). I love his sarcastic exchanges with Pendergast, yet when it comes down to it, he risks his life to save his partner. Mysterious and loyal- my kind of hero
This was my first Pendergast book (recommended by Mae Clair) but it won’t be the last!
I was disappointed for the first time in over 20 books by Preston and Child.
Crooked River was well written, and the characters brought forth with their usual skill. Pendergast was his usual mysterious and lethal self. I loved the sheriff who helped them.
The use of the collection of chopped off feet in tennis shoes for shock effect and to tie up the initial clues, and to justify how the plot was laid out, worked.
What was wrong? A majority of the book was predictable, and the method of denouement predictable. It is still fun to read, especially if it is the only book you read by these stellar authors, but it lacked something new.
Another fun Pendergast adventure that starts out with a seemingly impossible case that slowly comes together to a climactic finish. From the beginning the strange case – severed feet washing up on a Florida beach – had me hooked, and the usual Preston/Child twist and turns kept me turning the pages to find out what happened next. What I really loved about Crooked River is that Constance makes more than just a passing appearance in the story and has a significant impact on the outcome. Since I love Constance I really enjoyed seeing her more involved in the story. Pendergast is his usual self, and Agent Coldmoon gets to strut some of his own stuff out from under Pendergast’s shadow.
This was a very good book. The mystery was interesting and kept me guessing. I enjoyed the relationship between Pendergast and Coldmoon and hope that they will continue working together in future books. I have only read a few books in this series, but have enjoyed them and plan to go back and read the other books in the series. They can be read as stand alones, and I didn’t have any trouble following the story.
Long been a Pendergast fan.
I read anything by this author and all the Pendergast books written by him and and his fellow writer whose name escapes me. I am 88 and forget things. Just read the books, all of them.
6 stars awesome book. Intense. Red in 1 setting.
A great series involving Aloysius Pendergast, can’t get enough of these! I have read them ALL!
Not the best Pendergast but good just the same.
I love the Pendergast novels and this one is no exception.
The authors do a bit of off beat mysteries.
The lead character has some inhanced abilities.
I am a GREAT fan of Agent Pendergast so I my be a bit prejudiced, but was best one yet!
I have read all the Pendergast novels and love them all. Wow, do they keep getting better and better. The story is fantastic, the characters are amazing and the action is thrilling, suspenseful and frightening. The showdown will leave you breathless. Excellent writing by 2 wonderful writers.
A great suspenseful read. Love the fast pace and surprises that occur. Characters are always so clearly described. Can’t wait for their next book.
Three of my favorite things together in one book – Agent Pendergast, my hometown area of Southwest Florida, AND a Batman reference? I realize I’m a little biased, but this exciting addition easily has become one of my favorites in the series. I was born and raised in Bonita Springs, Florida, and I never imagined that I would one day read about Agent Pendergast driving through Bonita! It was very exciting for me, ha!
The climax was intense, action packed, and kept you guessing until the finale. Something about Constance has always rubbed me the wrong way, but her role in this particular case made me a fan. I’ll be traveling back to Sanibel this spring and I will make sure to keep a look out for things washing up on the beach…
Preston & Child continue to be my favorite authors, and Pendergast’s adventures keep me on the edge of my seat each and every time.
A startling crime with dozens of victims.
A ghastly enigma with no apparent solution.
A worthy challenge for a brilliant mind.
Pendergast and Constance are on a vacation in Florida after his last case. Agent Pickett pulls him of vacation, just to look at a case. This is one strange case. Feet are showing up off Captiva Island. This begins another great book in the Pendergast Series.
With this one, you get a double mystery, as Constance decides to solve a case. The house she rents for them on Captiva is said to be haunted. What’s a girl to do, but figure out the truth.
A great read that you don’t want to miss. Full of action. Fast paced.