In The Cabinet of Curiosities, a large construction company is digging a foundation at the site where J. C. Shodham's cabinet of curiosities once stood.  The building and its contents had burned about a century before, with the owner apparently perishing in the flames.  While excavating, the equipment strikes a tunnel.  A member of the crew goes in to investigate. What he sees both stuns and horrifies him.  Inside are a number of human skeletons along with pieces of their clothing.

The bodies are not readily identifiable since they have no striking possessions with them.   And they have been in their odd tomb a very long time.  Knowing he would have very little time at the site before construction resumes, FBI Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast goes in search of Dr. Nora Kelly, an archaeologist with the Museum of Natural History.  He hopes Nora will find enough to have the site declared an historical site, letting him have time to fully investigate what seems to be a bizarre serial killing.  Instinct and family history make him fear that he knows who the killer was.  A visit to his great aunt, Katherine Pendergast, makes him certain.

Yes, this is a horror thriller that will keep you on the edge of your chair from beginning to end. But there is a joy in watching Pendergast work, his genius keeping him one step ahead of the killer. The characters are larger than life, but are still human. The plotting skills of these two authors are second to none. Though this book isn't the latest from Preston and Child, it is well worth revisiting.  And, if you haven't heard the audio version, by all means, do experience it. Rene Auberjonois does an expert job of bringing the story to life.

Reviews of other titles in this series

The Cabinet of Curiosities, #3    [audio 1 ] [audio 2 ]
Still Life With Crows, #4     [book] [audio]
Brimstone, #5    [audio 1] [audio 2] [book]
Dance of Death, #6    [book]
Book of the Dead, #7    [audio]
Wheel Of Darkness, # 8    [book] [audio]
Cemetery Dance, #9    [book] [audio]
Fever Dream, #10    [book] [audio]
Cold Vengeance, # 11 [audio]