Pendergast The Beginning investigates a bizarre serial killer with a fascination for his male victim’s muscular right arms. As in Columbo, the reader knows who the perpetrator is from the beginning. The fun is watching Pendergast solve the mystery. The killer’s motive is also left for the reader and the detective to solve together.
This entry in the series shows how Pendergast behaved when he first joined the FBI. He behaves exactly like he did in the early books in this long-running series. Clever but supercilious and basically just a weird throwback to an earlier era. His senior partner, Chambers, tries unsuccessfully to mentor him into a by-the-book FBI agent. But Pendergast gets results using a combination of intelligence, family wealth, and a belief in himself bordering on the insane. There is no mystery whether Pendergast will solve the mystery but rather when and how.
I enjoyed Pendergast The Beginning. It reminded me of the earlier, and in my opinion better, series entries. It is highly recommended for Pendergast fans. However, it is also a good entry point for those new to the enigma named Pendergast. 5 stars!
Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an advanced review copy.