Some time in the mid 1990’s I was introduced to a book that some friends thought I would enjoy. It’s interesting how, as we move further into the electronic and digital stage of our evolution we will begin to be unable to share simple things like a paperback novel with friends. Looking back at my earlier Blogs, you will notice that quiet a few of the books I have read come from other people either as a loan, or a book that I then pass on to someone else to enjoy. I have always found that by sharing a book with someone, brings about a close relationship with that person or persons, giving one a common frame of reference on which to build a stronger relationship.
So at that time, I was introduced to FBI agent Aloysius Pendergast, unorthodox, intelligent, smart, yes there is a difference between being intelligent and being smart. Pendergast is also wealthy, and somewhat eccentric, but this only adds to his colourful character.
I have read all the Pendergast novels, 11 in total, and now I have found that Preston and Childs have written the 12th due out this year. I have started re-reading the Pendergast novels, this particular book Still Life with Crows is number 4 in the series. I had actually never re-read a book until just recently (2011). When book 5 of George RR Martin’s series ASong of Ice and Fire, was due to be released, I decided to re-read books 1 – 4, I found it to be a great experience, re living the adventure again, I enjoyed it so much that I decided to re-read the Pendergast novels, then I discovered the upcoming 12th book.
It takes several books to really get to know the main character, Pendergast, and even then he continues to surprise the reader with new and strange talents, one begins to wonder how one person can evolve into such and interesting personality. The first book in this series was made into a movie, with the same name as the book “Relic”. Unfortunately for me the only reason I wanted to see the movie was to witness first hand, on screen, the captivating personality of Pendergast, but unfortunaty for unknown reasons, of which I will never forgive, the writers/directors decided to “write out” the character of Pendergast. I have no idea why, but in my opinion it made the movie pale greatly, in comparison to the book.
Still Life with Crows could be considered to be slightly science fiction, but who really knows about the goings on in the small town like this, the creature could actually exist.
The setting is a small town in Kansas called Medicine Creek, surrounded by corn fields, this boring sleepy little town gets woken up by a series of bizarre murders. Just after the first murder victim is found, incidentally it is interesting that the local sheriff and everyone else in town know when something dies out in the hectors of corn, by the circling of crows above the field, marking the spot. So just after the first murder is discovered, only a few hours after, a stranger steps off the greyhound bus as it pulls up across from the sheriffs office. The stranger is dressed in a black suit, charcoal black, his pale skin is in direct contrast to the suit, and he carries his obviously wiry skin and bone frame with a smoothness that makes one thing if a silk scarf billowing in the wind, here enters Pendergast.
Pendergast in on vacation, did he just show up hoping to take in the local wild life, or visit the museum, we don’t think so, he approaches the sheriff, as the sheriff struggles with the press, Pendergast quickly disperses the press, and invites the sheriff into his own office for a chat, and from that point on Pendergast irritates the sheriff to no end, that is until everything the strange man, with the weird habits, black suit, and unorthodox methods starts to make sense.
Pendergast befriends one of the town stranger residents, a rebelling teen, who just happens to know the town inside out, it’s residents, it’s secretes, it’s history. Pendergast needed a driver, after all he did arrive on the bus, so he hires this misfit teen with the purple hair and no future to drive him around town in her beat up old Gremlin, later on he has one of his two Rolls-Royce Silver Wraiths delivered as he feels that things are getting too dangerous for his, as now official, assistant. Needless to say his “goth” assistant finds herself in the middle of a battle for her very existence, as she fumbles into the lair of what we know now to be a serial killer. Pendergast must battle the unknown to save the girl, the sheriff, the killer and the town, he does it with style, and grace as only he can.
I have to thank K & N for introducing me to Douglass Preston and Lincoln Childs, they are two excellent story tellers, both as a team and as solo writers.
Brian
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