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Crooked River

Written by: Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child
Narrated by: Jefferson Mays
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Publisher's Summary

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 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.

©2020 Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child (P)2020 Grand Central Publishing

What the critics say

"Jefferson Mays gives a sensationally entertaining performance of this latest entry in Preston and Child's Pendergast mystery series. Mays's dry cultured elocution perfectly represents Pendergast's personality.... The real tour de force in Mays's performance is his utter attention and commitment to the plot. He is your perfect partner in suspending disbelief, the open sesame to the pleasures of this kind of high-voltage blam-pow adventure. Kudos." (AudioFile magazine)

"Exciting. Nail-biting. Quality storytelling."—Publishers Weekly

"[An] action-filled adventure [...] There is plenty of suspense, and the action gets bloody. Great storytelling, a quirky hero, and a quirkier plot make this a winner for adventure fans."—Kirkus

"Preston and Child know how to craft compelling stories that are both baffling and surprising. The cast of characters feels authentic and moves the story forward in unexpected ways.... the authors are masters of the procedural with a gothic flair."—Associated Press

What listeners say about Crooked River

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Happy that Pendergast is back.

I have been a fan of the Agent Pendergast books from the beginning and disappointed when Preston & Child seemed to have left him by the wayside while producing less intriguing stories. So, when Crooked River became available on Audible, I jumped at the chance to listen. And, I was not disappointed: A typically mysterious and captivating adventure with the agent and a cast of the usual and new characters, all intriguing. It is so sad that the very talented Rene Auberjonois passed away in 2019 and I wondered how this latest Pendergast story would fare without that constant and marvelous voice who brought the books to life. Needless to say, I was duly surprised and pleased that Jefferson Mays replaced Mr. Auberjonois with a superb narration that surprisingly sounds much like his predecessor. All in all, I recommend Crooked River to Audible listeners and look forward to more Pendergast adventures.

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absolutely riveting

From the 1st paragraph the authors have a firm grasp on the listener. The research and the maticulous construct keeps the listener longing for what's to come & one is never disappointed.
Once again AE Pendegrast goes where nobody else is willing to.
Peering around the edges of the investigation to see what no one else does.

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Couldn’t Stop Listening

As an avid fan of Preston and Child, I instantly bought this audiobook when it released. I was not disappointed. I was gripped from the first chapter and couldn’t stop listening until the the end. I love the addition of Cold Moon and Constance Greene in the story. Highly recommend!!!

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Enjoyable but not their best

I just didn’t find this novel as engaging as the others. The subplot of the haunted house was just too predictable which is not something I’ve found in other Pendergast tales. I must admit I am still looking for the story of Constance Green’s emergence from the basement and becoming Pendergast’s ward.

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Maybe the Best 1 yet...

I absolutely could not stop listening... great story. Great narrator, although I do miss Rene Auberjonois 💔 Another Pendergast triumph. Can not wait for the next 1...

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Another fabulous thriller by This dynamite duo!

I started my journey with Cabinet of Curiosities, but each time I read another they just get better. This one was excellent!

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Recommended

Was pleased to spend time with Pendergast & Constance again. I was hooked from the start and although there was one storyline that disappointed me (likely because I was so invested in the characters) it made the book more believable. Finished Crooked River and hopped right into Bloodless. If you are a Preston/Child fan you will likely do the same!

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