The Obsidian Chamber by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Pendergast, Book 16

Synopsis: A TRAGIC DISAPPEARANCE
After a harrowing, otherworldly confrontation on the shores of Exmouth, Massachussetts, Special Agent A.X.L. Pendergast is missing, presumed dead.
A SHOCKING RETURN
Sick with grief, Pendergast’s ward, Constance, retreats to her chambers beneath the family mansion at 891 Riverside Drive–only to be taken captive by a shadowy figure from the past.
AN INTERNATIONAL MANHUNT
Proctor, Pendergast’s longtime bodyguard, springs to action, chasing Constance’s kidnapper through cities, across oceans, and into wastelands unknown.
BUT IN A WORLD OF BLACK AND WHITE, NOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS
And by the time Proctor discovers the truth, a terrifying engine has stirred-and it may already be too late . . .

Review: It has been a long time since I read a book in the series but I have a great time each time. If I am not mistaken, I read the first 7 volumes and I will continue at the occasion. So I was very happy when the opportunity came up to read this sixteenth volume. I have to say that, although I was wondering if I was going to understand everything, I did not have any problems. I found that the authors were perfectly able to present a story that we can discover without even having read the previous novels.

So we find our characters in a new adventure. Pendergast has disappeared and is claimed dead officially. This is already a terrible news to accept for Proctor and Constance but they will also have to face a new threat very quickly. Indeed, Diogene seems to be back, ready to do anything to reconquer Constance (or is it a trick?) And after leading Proctor away, he is determined to achieve his goal.

We follow different characters in the story, seeing them act on their own. I confess that I was very intrigued with Constance and Diogene without knowing what the truth behind all these events really was. I must say that I was surprised by several reversals of situation in the story.

It was very nice to find Pendergast again and as always it is a treat to plunge back into the style of the two authors. We have short chapters that takes us easily in the story. We learn a little more about Diogene and he presents here a completely different facet from the one we know. After so many volumes, the authors surprise us and, as I said, I had a good time.