Reliquary is the second book in the Agent Pendergast series by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. It picks up about eighteen months after the end of the previous book Relic. After some remains with unusual wounds are found by police divers D’Agosta calls in some outside help by convincing Margo Green and Dr. Frock to once again consult. At the same time Smithback, the reporter, is getting involved in the case by being pulled in to report on the protest movement being started by the mother of one of the victims. Nothing seems too unusual until another one of the victims is identified as Dr. Kawakita which raises numerous alarms about what he had been researching after he left the museum the previous year. Smithback then receives and publishes information that indicates the problem is way more widespread and that there are countless victims amongst the underground population of New York City. As they all continue investigating Agent Pendergast shows up to help and offer his somewhat unique perspective on things as more and more information piles up pointing to a connection to the mysterious museum beast from the previous year.
This was a great sequel to a great book and one that I definitely enjoyed reading. The plot was intense and intricate so it just drew you right in and really made you pay attention to what you were reading but totally in a good way. The pacing was just right as it started out slow and gradually sped up matching the tension that was gradually building the entire time. Each piece perfectly built off of the previous pieces as you watched the mystery unfold. The events and timeline also sped up over the course of the book much like the previous book did actually. While it wasn’t necessarily scary it did contain some minor horror elements and it was pretty intense to read towards the end because of that. There were a lot of moving parts and it didn’t always feel like they were all connected but when it all came together it really had a good finale there. This book was really similar to the first book in terms of tone as it came across as part mystery, part horror and part thriller and all creepy. It was a great blend of genres that created this book you just don’t want to put down but that you also probably should not read right before you go to bed as it may cause you to have some minor trouble sleeping. The characters were pretty much the same ones from the previous book with only minor changes though some of them did have some rather interesting character development due to the aftereffects of the events of the previous book. Margo Green is way more proactive in terms of personal protection than she was previously so she has different interactions and reactions than she would have before. I think the only thing that really stayed the same is the mysteriousness that surrounds Agent Pendergast throughout. Overall, a great continuation of the story so I am happy giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
This book is a pretty good thriller with some elements of mystery and horror so it would probably hold the most appeal to readers who enjoy any of those genres, especially those who enjoy a good crossover. However, it is also remarkably dark and creepy so make sure to keep that in mind when considering it. This book is not light or fluffy by any stretch of the imagination. It is aimed at adult readers which is definitely something I agree with in this case. There is a lot of dark and macabre content in this book which makes it unsuitable for younger readers. I would hesitate to recommend it to even older teens and young adults because of that and definitely not for anybody younger than that. However, the book itself is really good and I really enjoyed reading it so if none of this puts you off you should consider trying it. Remember to share your thoughts in the comments if you do.