Review: Dead Mountain by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Author: Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date:  August 2023

In 2008, nine mountaineers failed to return from a winter backpacking trip in the New Mexico mountains. At their last campsite, searchers found a bizarre scene: something had appeared at the door of their tent so terrifying that it impelled them to slash their way out and flee barefoot to certain death in a blizzard. Despite a diligent search, only six bodies were found, two violently crushed and inexplicably missing body parts. The case, given the code name “Dead Mountain” by the FBI, was never solved.

Now, two more bodies from the lost expedition are unexpectedly discovered in a cave, one a grisly suicide. Young FBI Agent Corrie Swanson teams up with archaeologist Nora Kelly to investigate what really happened on that fateful trip fifteen years ago—and to find the ninth victim. But their search awakens a long-slumbering evil, which pursues Corrie and Nora with a vengeance, determined to prevent the final missing corpse from ever coming to light.

Dead Mountain is the fourth book in the Nora Kelly/ Corrie Swanson series.  This time around, they are trying to figure out what really happened to nine climbers back in 2008.  It seems the government and possibly other groups don't want the truth to come out.  I have been a big fan of this series, so my expectations were really high here.  I will admit, this was probably my least favorite of the series.

I loved the mystery part. Following along with Corrie as she put the pieces of the puzzle together was enjoyable.  I also liked how Corrie is growing as an FBI agent.  And her relationship with a certain Sherriff was fun to watch.  What I wasn't a fan of was the side plot involving Nora's brother.  It was unnecessary and should not have been included.  It really added nothing the the story.  It was also unrealistic in how it all played out. I also wanted more of Corrie and Nora working together.  There was a huge lack of that in this book.  Their relationship and interactions are what I really like about this series.  I would still recommend this one as a part of the overall series. It just wasn't my favorite.

Review: Diablo Mesa by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Authors: Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Publisher: Grand Central publishing

Publication Date: February 2022

Lucas Tappan, a wealthy and eccentric billionaire and founder of Icarus Space Systems, approaches the Santa Fe Archaeological Institute with an outlandish proposal—to finance a careful, scientific excavation of the Roswell Incident site, where a UFO is alleged to have crashed in 1947. A skeptical Nora Kelly, to her great annoyance, is tasked with the job. 

Nora's excavation immediately uncovers two murder victims buried at the site, faces and hands obliterated with acid to erase their identities. Special Agent Corrie Swanson is assigned to the case. As Nora’s excavation proceeds, uncovering things both bizarre and seemingly inexplicable, Corrie’s homicide investigation throws open a Pandora's box of espionage and violence, uncovering bloody traces of a powerful force that will stop at nothing to protect its secrets—and that threatens to engulf them all in an unimaginable fate.

Diablo Mesa is the third book in this series.  This time around Nora is on a dig near area 51 looking for a possible UFO from the 40's.  Her scientific approach keeps her skeptical.  When 2 bodies are found on the dig site, Corrie is called in to investigate since the dig is on federal land.  I am really loving this series and I think this is the best one yet.

I devoured this latest.  I really love both Nora and Corrie as characters.  They had less one on one interaction in this one.  But I didn't mind because it allowed both of their characters to be explored further, individually.  We also get to see characters from previous books, like Nora's brother Skip and Sheriff Watts.  The ending scenes were fast paced and had me holding my breath.  Do they find a UFO?  I'm not telling. You will have to read to find out.  The final scene was gold and the best revenge.  I look forward to seeing how this changes things for Nora in the future.  I highly recommend this one as well as the entire series.

Review: The Scorpion's Tail by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Authors: Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: January 2021

Following OLD BONES, the second "happily anticipated" new thriller in Preston & Child's new series will once again feature Nora Kelly, archaeologist at the Santa Fe Archeological Institute, and FBI Agent Corrie Swanson investigating a new case that requires both their skills (Booklist).

After a shoot-out Swanson is involved in leaves a senior FBI agent gravely wounded, Corrie finds herself under investigation. Her supervisor assures her she's not to blame and the black mark on her record will be cleared in short order. But Corrie finds herself shake her overwhelming guilt.

As a distraction, she takes on a new case involving a fifty-year-old, mummified corpse discovered in a hidden enclave at High Lonesome, a long-abandoned New Mexico ghost town. Quickly out of her depth, she quickly realizes she needs the help of her foe-turned-ally, archaeologist Nora Kelly, who soon uncovers a startling truth: the deceased had been poisoned, and died clutching a priceless artifact from outside High Lonesome. 

The Scorpion's Tail is the second book featuring archaeologist Nora Kelly and FBI rookie Corrie Swanson.  This time around, they work together to solve the death of a prospector whose body was uncovered in a ghost town.    This was on my list of book that I was looking forward to this year.  I really enjoyed the first book, Old Bones.  This can definitely be read as a stand alone book.

I really enjoyed this second book.  It didn't disappoint.   Both women are really great characters.  There was a lot more growth in both of them, especially Corrie.  I like the fact that Corrie is a rookie and is still learning how to be an agent.  All too often we see FBI agents that are seasoned and experienced, so it's a nice change to have someone who is still learning the ropes.  Nora also learns some things about herself and her career path.  I look forward to seeing them both continue to grow as characters.  

The mystery was interesting and kept me engaged. There were some tense scenes that had me on the edge of my seat, especially the opening scene.  I think this one would make a great movie.  I hope that this series will continue in the future.  I highly recommend this one.  

Review: Old Bones by Douglas Preston & Lincold Child

Authors: Douglas Preston & Lincold Child
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: August 2019

Nora Kelly, a young but successful curator with a series of important excavations already under her belt, is approached by the handsome Historian, Clive Benton, to lead an expedition unlike any other. Clive tells his story--one involving the ill-fated Donner Party, who became permanently lodged in the American consciousness in the winter of 1847, when the first skeletonized survivors of the party stumbled out of the California mountains, replete with tales of courage, resourcefulness, bad luck, murder, barbarism--and, finally, starvation and cannibalism.

Captivated by the Donner Party, Nora agrees and they venture into the Sierra Nevada in search of the camp. Quickly, they learn that the discovery of the missing starvation camp is just the tip of the iceberg--and that the real truth behind those long-dead pioneers is not only far more complex and surprising than they could have imagined...but it is one that puts them both in mortal danger from a very real, present-day threat in which the search for the lost party, and its fabled fortune in gold, are merely means to a horrifying end.

Old Bones is the first in a new spin-off series featuring archaeologist Nora Kelly.  Nora Kelly first appears in Thunderhead, which is a stand alone, and also appears in Cabinet of Curiosities, Book 3 in the Pendergast series. It's been a while since I read either of those books, but I remember I really enjoyed them.  In this first book, Nora is convinced to lead an expedition of find the lost camp of the Donner Party.  Rumor has it that there is buried treasure.  Once they get out into the wilderness, things quickly begin to go wrong.

I have always been fascinated by the Donner Party tragedy.  I thought this was a good take on the story.  The mystery was engaging and kept me guessing.  I was expecting more of a supernatural element, but it really isn't there.  I think if you go into this knowing that, you will enjoy it more.  I liked Nora as a main character.  She is definitely someone that  I would want to read about again in the future.  I do hope that she teams up with FBI agent Corrie Swanson again.  I liked how they played off of each other. 

Reading this book reminded me of how much I love this writing duo.  I really want to go back and read all of the Pendergast books.  There are a lot, so it will take some time to catch up.   For now, I do recommend this mystery.  I know fans of these authors will love this book.