Pendergast: The Beginning by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child is a prequel in the long-running Pendergast series. Pendergast: The Beginning is book 23 in publication order, but in the series’ internal timeline it is book 0.5. I chose to start the series here.

A.X.L. Pendergast is a fascinating character. He has to be, considering he has carried 23 books. Pendergast: The Beginning does not tell his very first case; instead, it focuses on the final case he was assigned to an office and the last time he worked as a junior agent. When he first appears in Relic, he is already a fully independent agent. This book explores the case that earned him that freedom.

The book starts out very strong, with a compelling serial killer at the center of the mystery. About halfway through, however, the story shifts direction. I was patient, waiting for something equally compelling, or even stronger, to replace it. Unfortunately, that never happened.

The ending turns the mystery thriller into more of an action thriller, which I did enjoy. Pendergast uses his unique skills and knowledge effectively, and I had fun with the final stretch. The conclusion was solid, and I was satisfied with the closing action scene. The story also wraps up right where Pendergast is introduced in Relic, touching briefly on his last case.

Since I am starting the series here, there may be bigger payoffs and nods to future events that I was not fully privy to. I have read a handful of these books, so I do recognize some of the players. Pendergast’s brother, Diogenes, is discussed, and we get some insight into how they grew up. The biggest surprise for me was Proctor, who ended up being my favorite side character. I did not realize he was part of the series until the end, but I loved his scenes and wanted more of him. I’m excited to see him again.

Pendergast: The Beginning was first published on January 27, 2026, by Grand Central Publishing.

Why did I read Pendergast: The Beginning by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child?

I’ve been wanting to explore the Pendergast series, and this prequel arrived at the perfect time. I could jump in without committing to reading 22 books first. I have read Relic and a few others before I became a reviewer. I’m a sucker for action-adventure mysteries involving monsters and the paranormal. The series feels like The X-Files meets Indiana Jones. Another reason I picked this up was that I was able to get a signed first edition by both authors. It also came with an invitation to one of the events featured in the book if you preordered it.

Plot Summary:

Pendergast is a junior agent working under Chambers, a broken man still grieving the loss of his wife. Pendergast is a loose cannon and sets up a sting operation without approval from the FBI. Chambers sees something special in him, covers for his actions, and ends up getting kicked out of the building as a result. Both men are told to work outside the office, pick a case, and follow it through. Pendergast discovers a possible abduction case, which soon leads to a serial killer.

What I Liked:

Pendergast is a fascinating character. I love how intelligent and calculating he is, and how he can switch from a quiet, shy persona to an outgoing kiss-ass when the situation calls for it. His background in Special Ops is handled well and is used effectively throughout the story.

Proctor was my favorite character. I loved being in his head and watching how he thinks his way out of impossible situations. I didn’t understand how he fit into the larger Pendergast world until the end, which made his role a fun surprise.

The first mystery was very strong. It reminded me of Michael Connelly’s The Poet, with a serial killer whose methods are difficult to trace. I had so many theories about the killer’s obsession with the right arm, and I was wrong every time. This was the best part of the book, though it only lasts until about the halfway mark.

I also enjoyed the history of Louisiana and the riverboats woven into the story. It was interesting and never got in the way of the narrative.

The ending was far more action-packed than I expected. Pendergast briefly goes full John McClane from Die Hard, and it worked for me.

What I Disliked:

The way the serial killer’s storyline ended was disappointing. It was the most captivating part of the book, and I wanted much more from it. Instead, it felt discarded without anything equally interesting taking its place.

The second half of the story killed the momentum built in the first half. I kept waiting for a twist or a major reveal, but nothing truly landed until the very end. The story leans into the trope where the audience knows who the killer is, but the characters have to convince everyone else, even though it’s obvious who is responsible.

Chambers, Pendergast’s supervisor, was an interesting character who felt underused. He is largely discarded, which was frustrating given his potential.

Recommendation:

Pendergast: The Beginning was just okay. I was fully invested at the start, but once the serial killer plotline was dropped, there wasn’t enough left to sustain my interest. I really wanted to love this book, especially since it was one of my most anticipated reads of the month, but it fell short. I can recommend the Pendergast series overall, as I’ve enjoyed other entries, but I cannot recommend Pendergast: The Beginning. I might revisit it after finishing the series to see if it’s packed with easter eggs that pay off later. As a prequel, the main thing it establishes is that Pendergast is an intriguing character who doesn’t play by the rules.

Rating:

Pendergast: The Beginning by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child 2.5 out of 5 stars.