This has to be one of the better Pendergast novels of late. I can truly say that I did enjoy Fever Dream, but Cold Vengeance and Two Graves were on the low end of the spectrum. I will give the pros first. 
 It's not overly long, so some of the scenes don't run on forever without the plot moving. Pendergast is definitely unique as ever. And the dialogue is still pretty decent. This case also involves a mystery Sherlock novel, which was a welcome to see. They were able to show how Sherlock and Pendergast are similar in their detective work and at the same time just a little different. I did like that Preston and Child were able to dedicate an entire Chapter to the mystery Sherlock novel. And I think they captured the feel of writing as Conan Doyle very well. 
 Things that I found lacking. Corrie. Yep....after all this time, still not a fan of her. Pendergast did irritate me on one occasion. When the action is climaxing and he needs to get somewhere fast. He is just too calm. Such as, he tells a man to get to that particular place quickly. And then the man asks a question. Pendergast's response, "Make this thing go faster.....if you please." I understand it is the style in which someone may talk, but in high action. Is the "if you please" really necessary. 
 And lastly. I really wish that both Preston and Child would listen to one of my main complaints. It always comes down to my extreme agitation at the end of each book. I don't know what it is about these guys, but for some unknown reason these fellas can't seem to write the final 'action' scene without incorporating a tunnel, a dark cellar, catacombs, underground lair, deserted subway station, archive basement of the New York Library, a pitch-black passage way, or other tightly enclosed space. 
 A TAD SPOILER REGARDING MY LAST SENTENCE: 
 I kid you not, just as sure as the sun rises everyday. I was listening to the audiobook and it mentioned that some person Kermode (sounds a little like commode, which instantly made me think of poo in the toilet thereby causing me to assume instantly that that person was one of the baddies). Anyway back to Ms. Commode, it mentions that her family a long time ago owned a plot of land for smelting etc., and that there was a mine a top the mountain. Upon hearing that news I thought to myself. "Alright that looks like where the final scene will take place." Deep within the pits of my soul I prayed to the Gods, old and new, (from Game of Thrones) that Preston and Child would disappoint me. To prove me wrong. To show me that they had the ability to do something different in regards to an ending sequence. But alas the wrap up endings seem to be the same rinse and repeat of - into the dark environment, our hero/heroes can't see in the dim light, coupled with the evil character having the upper hand in said environment, followed by shooting a gun and it not hitting their target, and finally ending with: against the stacked odds Pendergast wins. (I'm okay with the last part, but the authors need to get a little more creative) 
 OTHER MORE MASSIVE SPOILER 
 Corrie doesn't die after doing something utterly dumb. I honestly hoped that they would have killed her off just so they wouldn't be so......dare I say the word........cliche. 
 CONCLUSION 
 As I said the story was better than the last couple entries in the series, but still not their best work. I will continue to follow the Pendergast series, but I am hoping for a much stronger story-line in the future and please, oh please, oh please. NO MORE "CLIMACTIC" DARK TUNNEL SCENES WHICH HAVE BECOME ANTI-CLIMACTIC.