Brimstone by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Art critic Jeremy Grove is found dead, his face frozen in a mask of terror. His body temperature is grotesquely high; he is discovered in a room barricaded from the inside; the smell of brimstone is everywhere ... and the unmistakable imprint of a claw is burned into the wall. As more bodies are discovered--their only connection the bizarre but identical manner of death--the world begins to wonder if the Devil has, is fact, come to collect his due. Teaming with Police Officer Vincent D'Agosta, Agent Pendergast is determined to solve this case that appears to defy all logic. Their investigation takes them from the luxury estates of Long Island to the crumbling, legend-shrouded castles of the Italian countryside, where Pendergast faces the most treacherous and dangerous adversary of his career.

Brimstone is a 2004 thriller novel written by American authors Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.

In a room, locked from the inside, the discovery of the charred body of a notorious art critic kicks the tale off. A cloven footprint burnt into the floor is the only clue. Is it a rare case of spontaneous human combustion? Or are the deaths the work of Lucifer in return for pacts entered in with him by his victims? Modern day Sherlock Holmes, FBI Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast is soon on the scene. He involves his former NYPD friend Vincent D'Agosta as a FBI liaison.Their investigation takes them from the New York City area, site of the first two deaths, to Florence, Italy. They uncover the motive and method of the killers behind the strange and gruesome deaths. During the course of unravelling the mystery, the truth behind a priceless, missing Stradivarius violin is revealed. Whats more a potentially apocalyptic riot with Messianic Christians is averted. Pendergast also reveals details of his insane brother Diogenes, whom he believes is planning something horrible.Brimstone is an atmospheric horror mystery mash-up. It combines the styles of Agatha Christie and Michael Crichton. It's all very readable and while the sub-plot seems to be a little tagged on, it's doesn't detract from the main story. The action-packed murder investigation does not insult the reader with a dumbed down writing style. The authors reference literary and cultural sources and authentic historical details. All of which suggest many other likely explanations for the plot to splinter into any number of directions. This keeps the reader interested and guessing as to what could happen next.I'll definitely be reading more in the series.

Where do these authors come up with such unique and detailed, frightening stories? I loved it, but I knew I would. Great authors, great story!

Wait, this is Diogenes #1? Interesting.