Line #34 Literature/FeverDream


1	[[quoteright:265:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/FeverDream_1832.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:265:]]
3	''Fever Dream'' is a novel by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child first published in 2010. It is part of their informal [[Literature/AgentPendergast Agent Pendergast series]] and the first novel in the Helen Trilogy story arc.
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5	Twelve years after her death, Agent Pendergast learns a horrible fact about his wife: she was murdered. His grief over her loss renewed, he begins an exhaustive search to bring her killers to justice and learn just why she had to die.
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7	[[SimilarlyNamedWorks Not to be confused]] with the Creator/GeorgeRRMartin novel, ''Literature/FevreDream''.
8	----
9	!!This novel provides examples of:
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11	* AndThisIsFor: [[spoiler:Pendergast lists off all the wrongs the posse did or attempted to do to him and Hayward as he destroys their boats and bar.]]
12	* AttemptedRape: Tiny's posse tries to rape [[spoiler:Laura]] in the swamp.
13	* BeethovenWasAnAlienSpy: John J. Audubon's artistic genius was the result of a rare form of avian flu that altered his brain chemistry.
14	%%* BoomHeadshot: "Yes, he is most certainly dead."
15	* CliffHanger: [[spoiler:Pendergast arranges a hunting trip with Judson at the end of the book, but doesn't know that he's been the one trying to kill him throughout the entire novel.]]
16	* DarkestAfrica: Helen's death took place in Africa and Pendergast's search for the truth begins there.
17	* DisproportionateRetribution: Inverted. [[spoiler:Pendergast destroys Tiny's Bar in retaliation for him and his gang trying to rape Laura and kill the both of them.]]
18	* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:How Pendergast deals with Slade]].
19	* ExactWords: Pendergast promised Hayward ''he'' wouldn't kill [[spoiler:Slade]]. He never said anything about [[spoiler:getting him to do it himself]].
20	* FakingTheDead: [[spoiler:Charles Slade and June Brodie. Although the the former isn't faking death anymore by the end of the book]]
21	* FateWorseThanDeath: [[spoiler:Slade's affliction with the avian flu. Hence why Pendergast doesn't see the need to kill him himself and gets Slade to do the deed instead.]]
22	* ForWantOfANail: None of the events of the Helen trilogy would have occurred if Pendergast hadn't idly examined his wife's hunting rifle.
23	* HeKnowsTooMuch: [[spoiler:Why Esterhazy kills Blackletter, Blast, Ventura, and nearly Pendergast.]]
24	* ItRunsInTheFamily: Discussed about the Doane family. Everyone is convinced the family all went insane because it was in their blood. [[spoiler:They were actually affected by the avian flu strain.]]
25	* MakeItLookLikeAnAccident: [[spoiler:Helen was murdered by a trained lion used to fake a hunting accident.]]
26	* TheManBehindTheMan: [[spoiler:Judson Esterhazy]] is responsible for Helen's death.
27	%%* TheMole: [[spoiler:Maurice]]
28	%%** Although this is later subverted in ''Literature/ColdVengeance''. He was never aware of [[spoiler:Esterhazy's]] real intentions.
29	* PosthumousCharacter: Helen. [[spoiler:[[{{Literature/ColdVengeance}} Or so it seems...]]]]
30	* RedHerring: D'Agosta says he thinks the Doane family madness is a red herring.
31	* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: Pendergast swears to kill those responsible for his wife's death.
32	** Seems to be the case for Esterhazy. [[spoiler:Subverted when he attempts to kill Pendergast and winds up shooting D'Agosta and it turns out he's carrying out a much darker agenda.]]
33	* RoomFullOfCrazy: The entire Doane house, which certain rooms show the descent into madness of individual family members.
34	* TownWithADarkSecret: Sunflower, Louisiana. Everyone gets incredibly defensive if someone asks about the Doane family.
35	* VigilanteExecution: The sheriff of Sunflower executes Mr. Doane in his home after his entire family has gone mad and died and he has begun perpetrating unspeakable horrors.
36	%%* ViralTransformation: In mental capacity.
37	* WhatTheHellHero: Hayward lays into Pendergast in when [[spoiler:D'Agosta gets shot.]] She even slugs him.
38	* XanatosGambit: The result of Pendergast's confrontation with [[spoiler:Slade. If he doesn't kill himself, [[CruelMercy then he's stuck living with the affliction that's eaten away at his mind]] [[FateWorseThanDeath so much that death would be a blessing for him]]. If Slade kills himself, then Pendergast accomplishes the goal that he set out for in the first place - namely, the end of the man who ordered his wife's death.]]

Context Literature / FeverDream