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Cold Vengeance is the eleventh book in the Agent Pendergast series and Book Two of the Helen Trilogy. It was published by Grand Central Publishing and released on August 2, 2011. It debuted at the top of the New York Times Best Seller list on August 21, 2011, the first of the sixteen Preston-Child collaborative novels to reach #1.

Plot Summary[]

Devastated by the discovery that his wife, Helen, was murdered, Special Agent Pendergast must have retribution. But revenge is not simple. As he stalks his wife's betrayers—a chase that takes him from the wild moors of Scotland to the bustling streets of New York City and the darkest bayous of Louisiana—he is also forced to dig further into Helen's past. And he is stunned to learn that Helen may have been a collaborator in her own murder. Peeling back the layers of deception, Pendergast realizes that the conspiracy is deeper, goes back generations, and is more monstrous than he could have ever imagined--and everything he's believed, everything he's trusted, everything he's understood... may be a horrific lie.

-Publisher's synopsis

Returning Characters[]

Mentioned: Diogenes Pendergast (Memory Crossing), Nora Kelly and Bill Smithback (Old Newspaper Article)

First Appearances[]

Timeline[]

  • At the end of Fever Dream Pendergast is sent a letter by Judson asking him to go on a hunt with him in Scotland, Pendergast responds on April 24th. Cold Vengeance Starts with the hunt, supposedly not long after the events of Fever Dream.
  • Corrie Swanson Arrived in New York in September, received a letter from Pendergast saying they'd go for lunch after his Trip to Scotland "later that month". The lunch was planned for October 19th, so it has been 6 months since the events of Fever Dream.
  • June Carlton later says Charles Slade died 6 months ago, and John Felder says he has been working with Constance for 6 months.
  • Felder finds an article Written by Bill Smithback about the surgeon killings, which Felder says happened 3 years ago according to the article.

Notes[]

  • Pendergast Surprises Mime, arriving in person to his Cleveland Home. Pendergast was able to beat the security system as he paid for it and had it installed. This is the first time in the Pendergast series Mime has interacted with anyone in person and he says to Pendergast “We had a rule. We were never to meet face-to-face again.” implying they have met in person before.
  • Every Chapter in Cold Vengeance begins with the location, as the book takes place across many destinations

Locations[]

  • Scotland (Inverkirkton, Cairn Barrow, Edinburgh)
  • New York
  • Maine
  • Savannah, Georgia
  • South Carolina
  • Maryland
  • Louisiana
  • Ohio
  • Mississippi
  • Massachusetts

Antagonists[]

Deaths and Injuries[]

  • Body Count: 18+
    • 5 were left on the Vergeltung as it is set ablaze, Pendergast says the 5 people have a chance of survival, it is unknown if they survived
    • One Dog Drowns in the Mire/Swamp, A dead sheep is found in the mire
  • Pendergast Kill Count: 10(?) (6 aboard boat, 4 in Central Park)
  • Judson Esterhazy Kill Count: 3 (2 on boat, and Falkoner)
  • Falkoner Kill Count: 3 (June and Carlton Brodie, Ned Betterton)
  • The Coventant Kill Count: 1 (Judson Esterhazy)
  • 1 Accidental death aboard the Vergeltung (Friendly Fire)

Injuries[]

  • Pendergast is Shot in the chest at the beginning and almost drowns in the mire
  • Pendergast is later shot in the leg, Also shot in the back but Bulletproof vest stops it (bruised ribs)
  • Falkoner gives Pendergast a scar on the cheek
  • Proctor is shot with a shotgun in the chest, Bulletproof Vest Stops it but still has bruised ribs
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