The Cabinet Of Curiosities (2003) - Plot & Excerpts
Cabinet of Curiosities features many of the hallmarks of a Preston and Child novel. First, the lead is FBI Agent Pendergast. Special Agent Pendergast has three things that no FBI Special Agent in the history of the FBI has ever had: 1.) a fortune, 2.) the ability to pick and choose both his assignments and the jurisdiction he works in, and 3.) about 200 vacation days a year to learn things like ikebana and to read random scholarly publications in disparate fields such that he is an expert on the known Universe. Regardless of the incredulity his character may inspire, Pendergast is a fascinating character. He has a New Orleans accent and an almost albino complexion, which intrigues--and puts him outside the New York / Chicago/ LA nexus in which cop fiction frequently gets stuck. (Don’t worry; the NYPD quota is still met.) Furthermore, his encyclopedic knowledge of everything allows him to constantly get the better of any and all unlikable characters in the book—and, in these books, you are either likable or loathable. It also features other Preston & Child familiars, including Nora Kelly and William Smithback Jr.Second, it features the supernatural, preternatural, or at least the appearance of the aforementioned. This is all part of a dark and mysterious tone they have down to an art. This goes back to their first book Relic. Third, one of the likable characters gets killed off. The title, Cabinet of Curiosities, refers to collections of natural anomalies that were all the rage in the 19th century, and which served as mini museums of natural history. These cabinets (sometimes also called “wonder rooms”) might feature genuine exhibits, fakes, or some combinations thereof. The novel begins with Agent Pendergast seeking Nora Kelly’s expertise to assist him in investigating a 19th century mass murder. The remains of the deceased were found in a building that’s being torn down to put up a high-rise, but it used to be the basement of a cabinet of curiosities. We don’t get any clue as to why an active duty FBI agent would take an interest in 19th century murders until late in the book. [Of course, we never find out why Pendergast is allowed to investigate it.] I’ll leave it to readers to determine whether the ultimate explanation makes any sense or not. Needless to say, the murder and mayhem come to the present day over the course of the novel. While I might sound down on both this book and the series, I’ve read seven of the books jointly authored by Preston and Child (and one or two from each as solo authors.) It’s, therefore, unreasonable to say that I dislike their work. However, I will say that I didn’t like this one as much as some others (e.g. Relic and Still Life with Crows.) I’m not entirely certain whether this one was just not as good, or whether I’ve become a bit jaded from over exposure to their formula. (Maybe doing so many book reviews of late has made me over analytical, and commercial fiction—like popular movies—are easy pickin’s for criticism.) That said, I have three major criticisms of this book:First, there’s a critical happening that requires someone so brilliant (yet unknown and working solo) that they could invented a technology in the 19th century that modern scientists couldn’t even fathom duplicating. This is sort of a common theme in some steampunk works (e.g. the Will Smith Wild, Wild West movie). However, steampunk creates its own world, distinct from the world as we know it. I can buy some kinds of “lost knowledge” lines, such as the idea that some plant-based medicinal compounds have been lost due to deforestation and loss of the experience of native peoples (this was the premise in Preston’s solo work, The Codex). However, in Cabinet of Curiosities there is a scientific discovery critical to this novel which is of a complex nature. It’s impossible to believe that it could be done by someone without modern equipment or access to the vast scientific literature of the intervening century. Second, while I don’t want to sound like someone who poo-poos cross-genre novels, there’s a problem with this book not knowing whether it’s a mystery/thriller or supernatural/horror. In general, I love cross-genre work. However, a thriller needs some sort of realism to pull us in and mysteries call for some sort of rules or the game. If anything can happen (or if we don’t know the rules of what can happen) it’s a bit unsatisfying to try to noodle out whodunit. Third, the reveal of the villain seems a bit forced. It’s not quite Scooby-Doo because they create several dislikable characters to choose from—and not just one grumpy old man that you know is going to be the guy. However, it seems a little like they rolled dice to determine which detestable character would be the villain. In retrospect one can find foreshadowing, but no more for the actual villain then for the others one might suspect. If you’re willing to suspend a truckload of credulity this is a good read for beaches, airports, and trains. The authors know how to pique your interest and build tension. It’s not their smartest book, but it’s a fast and fun read.
The Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child was a huge disappointment to me. Throughout this book I wondered why it was so revered in the mystery world. My husband picked up this copy almost a year ago for me and has been waiting patiently ever since for me to read it. After reading a particularly taxing book, I was looking for something lighter and exciting to read, so I picked this up. I'm still somewhat confused as to all the five star ratings on Goodreads, and if someone would like to explain it to me, I'd very much appreciate it. So this book starts with your usual mystery type characters. A beautiful heroine, Nora, who is smart and sexy (because this is such an unusual quality) and ends up being drawn into a 100-year-old mystery because she just "can't seem to stay away" from it. (Do you hear the sarcasm?) Then you have your typical Sherlock Holmes-type-character, Pendergast, the FBI agent, who just doesn't quite pull off the arrogant and intelligent Holmes. Instead he comes off as non-talkative and moody. Then we have Smithback, the annoying - yes, really annoying - journalist who will stop at nothing to get the story (stop me if you've heard this one), and ends up getting himself in trouble. He left me wondering why Nora was dating him and wishing he could have died in some fantastically gory way. That leaves the brooding Irish cop, O'Shaughnessy, who was a walking cliche with his annoyed-at-everything attitude and bad boy past. He was actually my favorite character. I won't go too much into the plot, it's pretty straight forward. A lot of bodies are found at a construction site to a new building. They turn out to be the work of a killer almost 100 years ago and are almost forgotten when suddenly the killings start up again. The idiot police captain is being pressured by the mayor and the building contractor (who, of course, donates a lot of money to various causes that affect key players) to get these murders solved quickly. While the police force stumbles around with loose ends, the four main characters I described earlier come together to start piecing together clues and eventually solving the mystery. I found nothing exciting or interesting about this book. Some mysteries do well in following the standard type mystery plot, but this one fell short. There were some truly disgusting scenes coupled with some suspenseful moments that made me feel like I was reading a horror at times, but those were few and far between. When I finally found out who the killer was, I discovered that not only had I not even been trying to guess who it was (I do this in all good mysteries), but also, that I just didn't care. I wanted this 600 page book with some excitement in the last 100 pages to finally end. In my husband's, and Preston's and Child's defense, this was not the first book of the series. My husband and I often share similar tastes in mystery and he had read several of these and wanted me to try one. He realizes now, that maybe he should have picked a different one. Although you don't have to read them in order, there might have been some more build-up or explanations of characters, such as the initial chemistry between Nora and Smithback in earlier books that might have made it more enjoyable for me. In any case, this review is getting too long for a book I really didn't enjoy. The best thing about it were two things. First, the last 100 pages held all the excitement for me. And second, the book is centered around these people from 100 years ago that used to have these things called "Cabinets of Curiosities". Back before T.V. or the internet, these places where museum-like buildings that held strange and unusual things that were very popular for people from all classes. It was the entertainment of the age. The descriptions and history behind these and some of the things they contained, as well as their strange collectors, were the most interesting part of the book. For that, I give it a little credit. ClassicsDefined.com
What do You think about The Cabinet Of Curiosities (2003)?
Uhm...this book owns my face. No, seriously. This book is amazing. It's extremely smart and well written, with impeccable details-- both medical and just every day things. I'm not particularly fond of female protagonists in crime/mystery books as they tend to play the damsel in distress card often. Nora Kelly, on the other hand is just as badass as the boys. She's smart, has a backbone and knows her shit. Pendergast is amaze-balls per usual. There is a story within a story here, the present day murders that start to surface after the discovery of many bodies in a construction site. After that, the reader is treated to a story in present day, and the past all while our protagonists are searching for a person named Leng.Just when you think you've figured everything out-- you're hit with a baseball bat to the face, and you realize that you really don't know a damn thing, except to keep reading so you can figure out what happens next. There's intrigue, and fantastical ideas, and it's just... seriously. Read the thing. There is a book that features Nora Kelly, and Bill Smithback, called Thunderhead, but you don't have to read that first to read this one. I have Thunderhead, though I haven't read it, and there's just small details and a bit of history that's really simple to fill in. And at one point it's given to you through subtle details. Which I appreciate because I hate it when authors slam it repeatedly into your head "HISTORY HISTORY THEY HAVE HISTORY." I think that's what I like so much about the combined efforts of Preston and Child--- everything is so subtle. It's not spelled out, you have to think about the details, and the progress and simple things aren't ever what they seem.As for the Pendergast series, Relic and Reliquary come before this one. Personally, I think you can get away without reading them first, but read them anyways. It's been a while since I read the previous two, but I fell back into the story pretty easily. And again, Preston and Child give you just enough that you're filled in without having it given to you. If that makes sense.Overall: Read it. It's an amazing thriller/mystery combination. There are some passages of gore/medical scenes, but they're pretty medical in vernacular so it's not too gory.
—Shelly
My third (and third in the Pendergrast series) book by the daring duo of Preston and Child. This was definitely the best so far!One reason was getting a to bettrr know and understand the mysterious and rather misanthropic FBI agent Pendergrast. Add to that a stunning plot of buried remains found at a construction site and a mad scientist trying to extend life for very ominous reasons, and you have all the excitement you can possibly handle.Expert plotting along with good character development really makes you marvel that two authors can collaberate so smoothly. I had the pleasure of hearing them both interviewed on NPR and they are charming men who take great joy in teasing each other and good-naturedly mildly insulting one another.They definitely left me with the impression that they have as much fun writing this series as we do reading it!
—Ruthanne Davis
So here is my problem in general with anything horror-related - there is a fine line between scary and cheezy and very few people working with horror-related art (films, books) manage to stay on the scary side of the tale. Preston and Child managed that trick twice in their previous two books (somewhat to my surprise) and delivered two rather intense and entertaining horror-ish books. Third time is a charm though and in 'Cabinet of Curiosities' the authors fall flat on their face, for two reasons. First and foremost, the story - oh my, it's so far out there... What's worse, it's predictable. The second problem with this book has with passing of time become a mortal sin 'in my book' and spelled death to my interest in several book cycles - the main character, in this case agent Pendergast, is idolized by the authors to such an extent that it just becomes rudiculous. OK, Pendergast has always been a bit over the top, but in this volume he's super-smart, super-strong, super-attractive, super-strange and super-mysterious. And to top it all of, while not bullet-proof, he's certainly extremly bullet-tolerant. A bit too much for me to swallow without gagging, I'm afraid.
—Marcus
