A Good Read for New Fans; Not So Much
for the Long-Time Ones
For the fans of the Pendergast series, and I count myself among their
number, The Obsidian Chamber brings
together several familiar figures in a well-written and generally entertaining
chase. But that strength is also its
weakness, as the plot seems a bit well-worn.
The old gang keeps coming back from the dead to pursue much the same agenda
as before.
In general, I enjoy Preston and Child’s writing. Their prose flows smoothly and quickly, and I
soon become immersed in their stories. And
their primary characters are always interesting, each with their own flaws and
often with strange and mysterious roots.
But these pros don’t offset several weaknesses in this book. First, one of the “twists” was bringing
Pendergast back from the dead (mentioned in the authors’ synopsis). To avoid a spoiler, I’ll just say he is not
the only one, and two resurrections in one book is at least one too many. Second, for those familiar with the characters,
Constance’s abduction would seem a bit implausible both because of the setting
and her past history with the abductor.
But even without previous exposure to the series, Proctor’s race to her
rescue would seem ill-considered. And
finally, again for the long-time readers, The
Obsidian Chamber does little to further the series, as the book brings back
an animosity that’s driven several of the previous novels. If there is a positive, at least none of the
main characters dies, so we don’t have to expect another miraculous return from
the grave.
Overall, new readers to the
series will find The Obsidian Chamber
entertaining. It’s a well-written, fast
read, with only a few questionable coincidences or actions to mar the flow. But for the long-time reader, these glitches
are magnified, especially in the context of a theme that’s not really new.
