Aloysius Pendergast and his ward, Constance Greene, trekked
a hard trail to find solace and learning at the Gsalrig
Chongg monastery. What they don't expect is to find a need
in this peaceful place for Pendergast's FBI talents. But
the monks have a task for Pendergast -- he must find a
mysterious box that was taken from the monastery before it
can unleash evil on the world.
Pendergast, not one to be daunted by a little world saving,
sets off, leaving Constance to continue her studies at the
Tibetan monastery. But soon, he realizes this was more than
a simple theft and Constance joins him to aid the
investigation. The two find themselves on a luxury cruise,
sure that the missing artifact is there, but not quite sure
who has it. As strange things start to happen aboard ship
and even Pendergast is affected, they at last understand
that whatever is secreted in the stolen box can indeed
destroy the world.
This is an appropriately named book in the Pendergast
series -- its dark delving into the spirit world will leave
you looking furtively over your shoulder, wondering if
something evil is lurking behind you. I am a huge fan of
Preston and Child and this excellent writing team has yet
to let me down. Superb characterization, heroic characters
with intriguing foibles and a plot that says "You're not
going to sleep tonight" -- how can you resist? Be sure to
read the rest of the series, too.
Pendergast has taken Constance on a whirlwind Grand Tour,
hoping to give her closure and a sense of the world that
she's missed. They head to Tibet, where Pendergast
intensively trained in martial arts and spiritual studies.
At a remote monastery, they learn that a rare and dangerous
artifact the monks have been guarding for generations has
been mysteriously stolen. Pendergast agrees to take up the
search. The trail leads him and Constance to the maiden
voyage of the Queen Victoria, the world's largest and most
luxurious passenger liner--and to an Atlantic crossing
fraught with terror.