Dance of Death

Dance of Death is the sixth book in the Special Agent Pendergast series. Also, this novel is the second book in the Diogenes trilogy. The first book is Brimstone, released in 2004, and the last book is The Book of the Dead, released in 2006.

The book follows FBI Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast. Tagging along with him is his sidekick, Lieutenant Vincent D'Agosta. Pendergast was last seen at the end of the previous novel, Brimstone. In that he was buried alive behind a brick wall in Castel Fosco. His estranged brother, Diogenes, rescues him and nurses him back to health. But this is not a true act of kindness. Diogenes has a dark agenda and needs his brother alive to carry out his nefarious plans.Pendergast's ward Constance Greene requests Vincent D'Agosta's presence for a very important meeting. D'Agosta is shown a letter written many months before by Pendergast about his brother Diogenes. In the letter, Pendergast writes that he does not know of Diogenes's whereabouts, but does in fact know one thing—a date, January 28. D'Agosta presumes that this will be the date of Diogenes's greatest crime. Having been hated by and hating his family, Diogenes obviously cannot be trusted.

Dance of Death may be a bit more melodramatic than the other books in the series. It features chases, a jewel heist, a kidnapping, and Aloysius's total entanglement in the web that Diogenes spun. The plot is tightly and intricately woven. And manages to keep up the action while still introducing us to new facets of familiar characters. There are still enough twists and thrills to keep new readers and fans satisfied. Highly recommended.