Relic
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-09-14 09:54:28
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Douglas Preston
- ISBN：0812543262
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
Just days before a massive exhibition opens at the popular New York Museum of Natural History， visitors are being savagely murdered in the museum's dark hallways and secret rooms。 Autopsies indicate that the killer cannot be human。。。
But the museum's directors plan to go ahead with a big bash to celebrate the new exhibition， in spite of the murders。
Museum researcher Margo Green must find out who-or what-is doing the killing。 But can she do it in time to stop the massacre？
But the museum's directors plan to go ahead with a big bash to celebrate the new exhibition， in spite of the murders。
Museum researcher Margo Green must find out who-or what-is doing the killing。 But can she do it in time to stop the massacre？
Reviews
Angelina Farmer
，
I loved this story， it was well written and kept me up reading for hours。 All of the characters are well written and interesting and the mystery while a little 'out there' begs to be solved and asks for a bit of imagination。 I loved this story， it was well written and kept me up reading for hours。 All of the characters are well written and interesting and the mystery while a little 'out there' begs to be solved and asks for a bit of imagination。 。。。more
Robert Giegling
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AwesomeIncredible book。 Great story， awesome characters， and very well written。 Once I started I didn't want to stop。 Draws you in and keeps you involved。 Can't recommend it enough。 Trust me it's so worth the read。 AwesomeIncredible book。 Great story， awesome characters， and very well written。 Once I started I didn't want to stop。 Draws you in and keeps you involved。 Can't recommend it enough。 Trust me it's so worth the read。 。。。more
Marie
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Really enjoy this thriller。 Spooky museum murders… great ambiance
Charlie S
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Sometimes I like Pendergast， sometimes I don't。Good story， looking forward to #2。 Sometimes I like Pendergast， sometimes I don't。Good story， looking forward to #2。 。。。more
Denny Frye
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I was urged by a couple of friends to read the latest Pendergast novel。 Well I usually don't pick up in the middle， so I read Relic。 I thought it was a good， intense， fast read。 Now on to book 2。 I was urged by a couple of friends to read the latest Pendergast novel。 Well I usually don't pick up in the middle， so I read Relic。 I thought it was a good， intense， fast read。 Now on to book 2。 。。。more
Carmen
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DNF— Within the first 30 pages， three blatant fatphobic descriptions。 No。
Toni's Books
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I love everything about this book。 Some years ago I read "Book of the Dead" thinking it was related to the actual "Book of the Dead" from the Mummy movie franchise; I was wrong。 I never looked further into it and wish I would have because this book is the start of the series and should have read it a long time ago。 Between that book and the movies that are loosely based or actually based off history I have wanted to work in a museum。 I loved Margo， D'Agosta， Frock， and especially Pendergast。 Eve I love everything about this book。 Some years ago I read "Book of the Dead" thinking it was related to the actual "Book of the Dead" from the Mummy movie franchise; I was wrong。 I never looked further into it and wish I would have because this book is the start of the series and should have read it a long time ago。 Between that book and the movies that are loosely based or actually based off history I have wanted to work in a museum。 I loved Margo， D'Agosta， Frock， and especially Pendergast。 Even though the actual museum administrators （Wright， Rickman， Cuthbert， and Ippolito） were a-holes only thinking about money I thought in this book they bought the perfect "doubt you in public but know the truth" type deal。 Very enjoyable I will be reading the rest of this series。 。。。more
CAROL MAMMINA
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Book was a mix of scientists， detectives， a monster and a mystery to be solved。 Kept me engaged until the end。 I gave it a 4 because it was 507 pages。。。 a bit long。。。 however， not sure that less pages could have told the full story。 All in all a great read。
Gilbert Stack
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Relic is the book that introduced Agent Pendergast to millions of readers。 I read the book when it first came out and on the strength of that experience， I have read probably a dozen more of Preston and Child’s books since then。 My memories of the book were always good and I decided to go back and see how the reality stood up to my recollections。 I was happy to discover that the reality was even better than I remembered it to be。The novel starts out in the Amazon where a scientific expedition ha Relic is the book that introduced Agent Pendergast to millions of readers。 I read the book when it first came out and on the strength of that experience， I have read probably a dozen more of Preston and Child’s books since then。 My memories of the book were always good and I decided to go back and see how the reality stood up to my recollections。 I was happy to discover that the reality was even better than I remembered it to be。The novel starts out in the Amazon where a scientific expedition has just gone badly awry。 It has split up just as one of the scientists is convinced that critical discoveries are being made。 He believes he has discovered a tribe thought to be extinct and discovered a critical relic of their religious beliefs—a strangely horrific idol。 In addition， one of his two remaining companions has disappeared and he decides to send his third companion back to civilization with their discoveries and his notes while he searches for the lost man。 We stay with him long enough for him to meet his end。 The novel then follows the crate of discoveries to a warehouse in South America where something kills a man in a rather frightening scene。 We then move to NYC and the Museum of Natural History where more murders follow， the police become involved， and FBI Agent Pendergast makes his appearance。 The first third of the story is all about establishing that a killer is lose in the area of the museum， quite possibly even living in the unmapped subterranean tunnels beneath the six-block edifice。 It’s very well done。 The museum leadership only cares about their multi-million-dollar exhibit that is about to occur and they are doing everything they can to frustrate the investigation out of fear that it will generate bad publicity。 The second third takes the novel in a horror or science fiction direction as evidence begins to pile up that the murderer may not be human。 This is really well done and continues to flesh out the cast。 We have a grad student， her wheelchair bound professor， a curator in charge of the exhibit， a journalist working on a book on the exhibit， a bunch of side characters whom one suspects might be wearing red shirts， and finally， the easy to hate museum leadership。 As more information is uncovered despite the active efforts of the museum leadership， a very dark and scary picture begins to develop that suggests that the opening night of the exhibit will have more in common with ringing the dinner bell for a monster than creating a high society social event。 Finally， in the third section， everything goes to hell as our heroes’ fears prove very correct and disaster strikes the exhibit。 All of that groundwork pays dividends here in a very fast paced ending in which death and mayhem are everywhere and you’re really not certain who will live or die。 But that’s still not the best part of the novel。 That comes in the very last chapter where an alternate， even more horrific explanation of the museum beast is put forth， and that， quite happily， sets up a sequel which I am very anxious to read。 If you liked this review， you can find more at www。gilbertstack。com/reviews。 。。。more
Hillary
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May read subsequent editions。 Enjoyable，
Barry
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Took longer than I expected to get going and could have been trimmed by a few pages but a nice kick-off to a series I'm willing to try for a few more volumes。 Took longer than I expected to get going and could have been trimmed by a few pages but a nice kick-off to a series I'm willing to try for a few more volumes。 。。。more
Toni
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Inventive plot， but it can't overcome the ridiculous cliches masquerading as characters。 Inventive plot， but it can't overcome the ridiculous cliches masquerading as characters。 。。。more
Paulette
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Very engaging and maybe too technical， but an interesting story。
Daniel Russell
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I have fun memories of the movie from 1997 （my cousin couldn't take anymore following a jumpscare from the old favourite， horror cat）。 This book far surpasses it。 First third the science， second act the horror， third act the action。 Lovely。And what's this？ A sequel you say。。。 I have fun memories of the movie from 1997 （my cousin couldn't take anymore following a jumpscare from the old favourite， horror cat）。 This book far surpasses it。 First third the science， second act the horror， third act the action。 Lovely。And what's this？ A sequel you say。。。 。。。more
Tommie Nicholas
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This will give you nightmares。。。it will also keep you reading until late at night。 I wish they hadn't put the epilog in at the end。。。obviously leading to a sequel。 The second book "Reliquary" is sitting on my desk ready to read。 This will give you nightmares。。。it will also keep you reading until late at night。 I wish they hadn't put the epilog in at the end。。。obviously leading to a sequel。 The second book "Reliquary" is sitting on my desk ready to read。 。。。more
Melanie
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The book was a slow read and I could not get into it。 Stopped reading at page 200。
Sandra
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Days before the New York Museum of Natural History is about to have a huge gala exhibition， people are getting murdered within the museum。 Is it a serial killer， or something even more dangerous？This was an extremely enjoyable thriller， and I had a hard time putting it down。 I loved the setting， in a very large museum， with tons of dark creepy rooms filled with rare artifacts， dinosaur bones， and lots of winding tunnels running underneath。 I really liked some of the characters， like Pendergast， Days before the New York Museum of Natural History is about to have a huge gala exhibition， people are getting murdered within the museum。 Is it a serial killer， or something even more dangerous？This was an extremely enjoyable thriller， and I had a hard time putting it down。 I loved the setting， in a very large museum， with tons of dark creepy rooms filled with rare artifacts， dinosaur bones， and lots of winding tunnels running underneath。 I really liked some of the characters， like Pendergast， Margo， Dr。 Frock， and Lieutenant D’Agosta。 Some characters were annoying and I looked forward to them getting bumped off。 The creature was quite horrible and scary。A very entertaining read。 。。。more
Meghan
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Wish we could use half stars。 This was better than three， not quite four。
Richard Janzen
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Exciting and terrifying story of an unknown beast that is hunting and killing people in the Natural History Museum。
Davia
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Superb！I just started this series after being introduced to Pendergast in another book。 I love the storyline。 It is so twisted。
Charles Schmidt
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The "science" part of the scifi was clearly not the focus of the research for this book。 The "science" part of the scifi was clearly not the focus of the research for this book。 。。。more
Elisa
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A riveting， thrilling and intriguing story that kept me turning the pages。Talk about a heart stopper。 This was more than I thought it would be， a thrilling mystery wrapped around a lot of bones。
Brandon
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I loved this one from start to finish。 The mystery of it all is so intense and makes it un-put-downable。 You get to know the characters really quick and feel like you are in the museum with them。 This book reminded me of “if Michael Crichton would of wrote horror…” it’s scientifically smart， moves from scene to scene really well， the dread keeps building， and the ending leaves you satisfied and wanting more。 There isn’t any slog throughout and it’s an action packed cover to cover thriller so I’m I loved this one from start to finish。 The mystery of it all is so intense and makes it un-put-downable。 You get to know the characters really quick and feel like you are in the museum with them。 This book reminded me of “if Michael Crichton would of wrote horror…” it’s scientifically smart， moves from scene to scene really well， the dread keeps building， and the ending leaves you satisfied and wanting more。 There isn’t any slog throughout and it’s an action packed cover to cover thriller so I’m going to be reading more from their other books。 。。。more
Andrew Martin
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This is the first book in the series by these two authors。 It is labeled when Alien meets Jurassic Park。 A monster has emerged in the NYMNH （New York Museum of Natural History） nd is devouring people's brains。 An FBI agent， Pendergast， is sent to investigate and butts heads immediately with a prissy New York agent named Coffey who has top echelon yearnings all over him。 It is a classic good guy v。 bad guy storyline told while a true monster roams the hallways of this vast museum。 How does one st This is the first book in the series by these two authors。 It is labeled when Alien meets Jurassic Park。 A monster has emerged in the NYMNH （New York Museum of Natural History） nd is devouring people's brains。 An FBI agent， Pendergast， is sent to investigate and butts heads immediately with a prissy New York agent named Coffey who has top echelon yearnings all over him。 It is a classic good guy v。 bad guy storyline told while a true monster roams the hallways of this vast museum。 How does one stop it before it inflicts more damage？ This is a sci-fi mystery that I will read more of them once I conquer more standard mysteries。 Interesting read。 Protect your hypothalamus。 。。。more
Cheryl
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This one certainly holds your attention。 It was much better than the movie。 I even learned a little genetics
Renata Dingemanse
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Spannend。。。
Vicky
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Slow to start， but once I got further into it， I couldn’t put it down。 Some parts were rather unbelievable， but it didn’t detract from the overall story。
James
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When this book came out ~25 years ago， I was working at a bookstore。 We stocked this book on a paperback spinner rack where we would put trashy genre fiction （romances， westerns， etc。）。 I remember we would mock this book， yet be amazed at how well it sold。 I forgot about it until my wife brought it home from the library to read on vacation。Despite my previous feelings toward the book， I was at loose ends and decided to actually read it。 Now， it’s not great literature and it has zero depth， but d When this book came out ~25 years ago， I was working at a bookstore。 We stocked this book on a paperback spinner rack where we would put trashy genre fiction （romances， westerns， etc。）。 I remember we would mock this book， yet be amazed at how well it sold。 I forgot about it until my wife brought it home from the library to read on vacation。Despite my previous feelings toward the book， I was at loose ends and decided to actually read it。 Now， it’s not great literature and it has zero depth， but dang it was kind of fun to read！ The writing was decent and goes by like a freight train on steroids。 It definitely feels like a product designed to waste your time and provide no edification， almost artless in its design to solely hook you in with faux tension and short cliffhanger chapters。 However， it seemed a step ahead of most schlock and I can easily recommend it as a brainless read when you just need to check out。 I’m actually looking forward to reading the sequel…。 。。。more
Carolanne
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I loved all its twists and turns！
Ben
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The 4-stars can sometimes be a million times more frustrating than the 1-stars！！！I really， really liked this。 I had fun all the way through， but it just fell short of being excellent。 Aside from my usual gripes with authors butchering science， this had so much potential。 Coming into this read with no context on the genre of the book helped keep me in suspense for the first bit， because I didn't know if it was going to turn out to be a serial killer mystery or supernatural horror。 Once that line The 4-stars can sometimes be a million times more frustrating than the 1-stars！！！I really， really liked this。 I had fun all the way through， but it just fell short of being excellent。 Aside from my usual gripes with authors butchering science， this had so much potential。 Coming into this read with no context on the genre of the book helped keep me in suspense for the first bit， because I didn't know if it was going to turn out to be a serial killer mystery or supernatural horror。 Once that line had been clearly drawn， it felt like there was a huge reveal just around the corner， and every little reveal of additional context helped to build that suspense。 Things got more and more intense， people dying and things going wrong left and right。 Incompetent police and meddling bureaucrats make things worse and put the cast in perilous positions。 And then。。。 at the last moment。。。。。It just keeps going pretty much exactly how you'd expect。 There's no single big reveal that flips everything upside down。 The tension that has been built so artfully over the past 350 pages is released very slowly over a few chapters。 That's not to say it's done poorly by any means。 The writing is crisp and engaging， and the characters are distinct。 I was enjoying myself all the way through， but I was waiting for the other shoe to drop， and it never did。 The epilogue does a lot to remedy this on a macro-story scale， but not necessarily the pacing and feel of the climactic scenes。 I don't know what the right twist would have been here， but I feel like there was an extra 10% of oopmh that would have taken this from good to mind-blowing。 With about as much frustration as I can possibly express over the internet: 4/5 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Relic
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Relic&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Relic&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0