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Nora Kelly #1
Old Bones
The first in the groundbreaking Nora Kelly series from #1 bestselling authors Preston & Child blends the legend of the Donner party with a riveting suspense tale, taking the dynamic duo's work to new heights.
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.
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.
369 pages, Hardcover
First published August 20, 2019
About the author
Douglas Preston
183 books12.6k followersDouglas Preston was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1956, and grew up in the deadly boring suburb of Wellesley. Following a distinguished career at a private nursery school--he was almost immediately expelled--he attended public schools and the Cambridge School of Weston. Notable events in his early life included the loss of a fingertip at the age of three to a bicycle; the loss of his two front teeth to his brother Richard's fist; and various broken bones, also incurred in dust-ups with Richard. (Richard went on to write The Hot Zone and The Cobra Event, which tells you all you need to know about what it was like to grow up with him as a brother.)
As they grew up, Doug, Richard, and their little brother David roamed the quiet suburbs of Wellesley, terrorizing the natives with home-made rockets and incendiary devices mail-ordered from the backs of comic books or concocted from chemistry sets. With a friend they once attempted to fly a rocket into Wellesley Square; the rocket malfunctioned and nearly killed a man mowing his lawn. They were local celebrities, often appearing in the "Police Notes" section of The Wellesley Townsman. It is a miracle they survived childhood intact.
After unaccountably being rejected by Stanford University (a pox on it), Preston attended Pomona College in Claremont, California, where he studied mathematics, biology, physics, anthropology, chemistry, geology, and astronomy before settling down to English literature. After graduating, Preston began his career at the American Museum of Natural History in New York as an editor, writer, and eventually manager of publications. (Preston also taught writing at Princeton University and was managing editor of Curator.) His eight-year stint at the Museum resulted in the non-fiction book, Dinosaurs in the Attic, edited by a rising young star at St. Martin's Press, a polymath by the name of Lincoln Child. During this period, Preston gave Child a midnight tour of the museum, and in the darkened Hall of Late Dinosaurs, under a looming T. Rex, Child turned to Preston and said: "This would make the perfect setting for a thriller!" That thriller would, of course, be Relic.
In 1986, Douglas Preston piled everything he owned into the back of a Subaru and moved from New York City to Santa Fe to write full time, following the advice of S. J. Perelman that "the dubious privilege of a freelance writer is he's given the freedom to starve anywhere." After the requisite period of penury, Preston achieved a small success with the publication of Cities of Gold, a non-fiction book about Coronado's search for the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola. To research the book, Preston and a friend retraced on horseback 1,000 miles of Coronado's route across Arizona and New Mexico, packing their supplies and sleeping under the stars--nearly killing themselves in the process. Since then he has published several more non-fiction books on the history of the American Southwest, Talking to the Ground and The Royal Road, as well as a novel entitled Jennie. In the early 1990s Preston and Child teamed up to write suspense novels; Relic was the first, followed by several others, including Riptide and Thunderhead. Relic was released as a motion picture by Paramount in 1997. Other films are under development at Hollywood studios. Preston and Child live 500 miles apart and write their books together via telephone, fax, and the Internet.
Preston and his brother Richard are currently producing a television miniseries for ABC and Mandalay Entertainment, to be aired in the spring of 2000, if all goes well, which in Hollywood is rarely the case.
Preston continues a magazine writing career by contributing regularly to The New Yorker magazine. He has also written for National Geographic, Natural History, Smithsonisan, Harper's,and Travel & Leisure,among others.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/dougla...
As they grew up, Doug, Richard, and their little brother David roamed the quiet suburbs of Wellesley, terrorizing the natives with home-made rockets and incendiary devices mail-ordered from the backs of comic books or concocted from chemistry sets. With a friend they once attempted to fly a rocket into Wellesley Square; the rocket malfunctioned and nearly killed a man mowing his lawn. They were local celebrities, often appearing in the "Police Notes" section of The Wellesley Townsman. It is a miracle they survived childhood intact.
After unaccountably being rejected by Stanford University (a pox on it), Preston attended Pomona College in Claremont, California, where he studied mathematics, biology, physics, anthropology, chemistry, geology, and astronomy before settling down to English literature. After graduating, Preston began his career at the American Museum of Natural History in New York as an editor, writer, and eventually manager of publications. (Preston also taught writing at Princeton University and was managing editor of Curator.) His eight-year stint at the Museum resulted in the non-fiction book, Dinosaurs in the Attic, edited by a rising young star at St. Martin's Press, a polymath by the name of Lincoln Child. During this period, Preston gave Child a midnight tour of the museum, and in the darkened Hall of Late Dinosaurs, under a looming T. Rex, Child turned to Preston and said: "This would make the perfect setting for a thriller!" That thriller would, of course, be Relic.
In 1986, Douglas Preston piled everything he owned into the back of a Subaru and moved from New York City to Santa Fe to write full time, following the advice of S. J. Perelman that "the dubious privilege of a freelance writer is he's given the freedom to starve anywhere." After the requisite period of penury, Preston achieved a small success with the publication of Cities of Gold, a non-fiction book about Coronado's search for the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola. To research the book, Preston and a friend retraced on horseback 1,000 miles of Coronado's route across Arizona and New Mexico, packing their supplies and sleeping under the stars--nearly killing themselves in the process. Since then he has published several more non-fiction books on the history of the American Southwest, Talking to the Ground and The Royal Road, as well as a novel entitled Jennie. In the early 1990s Preston and Child teamed up to write suspense novels; Relic was the first, followed by several others, including Riptide and Thunderhead. Relic was released as a motion picture by Paramount in 1997. Other films are under development at Hollywood studios. Preston and Child live 500 miles apart and write their books together via telephone, fax, and the Internet.
Preston and his brother Richard are currently producing a television miniseries for ABC and Mandalay Entertainment, to be aired in the spring of 2000, if all goes well, which in Hollywood is rarely the case.
Preston continues a magazine writing career by contributing regularly to The New Yorker magazine. He has also written for National Geographic, Natural History, Smithsonisan, Harper's,and Travel & Leisure,among others.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/dougla...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,396 reviews
September 8, 2019
A new direction in the Pendergast-verse (Pender-verse? PU . . . Nah, can't be Pee-eew!) I am happy to report that the spinoff is a success! Houston, we have no problems! This book is not whack! Skeptics need not apply! This is the REAL DEAL!
I was riveted. The whole story is great and I did not want to put it down. I was reading this at work during my lunch break and when I went to my post-lunch meetings everyone got an earful about how annoyed I was that I had to stop reading to go to their lousy meeting. I mentioned in a recent review that I was in a bit of a reading slump. Thanks to Old Bones - SLUMPAGE NO MORE!
For those of you not initiated into P&C's world of Pendergast (and I do feel oh so sorry for you! Seriously, how do you live with yourself!?) you may be asking if you can read this without reading other Pendergast novels. You can, but I really, really, REALLY feel like you would be missing out on a lot of cool backstory. So, I suggest the other books first, but if the only way I can get you to read some P&C is to read this one alone, I guess I am okay with that . . .
So, in summary:
- I loved this! All the stars!
- Why haven't you read Pendergast?
- If you have read Pendergast, you should read this! It's the bee's knees!
I was riveted. The whole story is great and I did not want to put it down. I was reading this at work during my lunch break and when I went to my post-lunch meetings everyone got an earful about how annoyed I was that I had to stop reading to go to their lousy meeting. I mentioned in a recent review that I was in a bit of a reading slump. Thanks to Old Bones - SLUMPAGE NO MORE!
For those of you not initiated into P&C's world of Pendergast (and I do feel oh so sorry for you! Seriously, how do you live with yourself!?) you may be asking if you can read this without reading other Pendergast novels. You can, but I really, really, REALLY feel like you would be missing out on a lot of cool backstory. So, I suggest the other books first, but if the only way I can get you to read some P&C is to read this one alone, I guess I am okay with that . . .
So, in summary:
- I loved this! All the stars!
- Why haven't you read Pendergast?
- If you have read Pendergast, you should read this! It's the bee's knees!
September 5, 2019
You all remember the horrific tragedy revolving around the Donner family?
The travelers who resorted to cannibalism after being stranded in the High Sierra mountains. What if some of the members of this doomed journey left something up there in the mountains? What if it is just waiting to be discovered?
Nora Kelly is an extremely successful archaeologist, she is approached by a historian who has a grand idea! He wants Nora to join him and lead an expedition into the Sierras. To the sight of the Donner camp.
Corrie Swanson is a rookie with the FBI. Anxious to prove her mettle, she lands her first case.
A grave robber is found murdered on top of a grave he just dug up. (Ironic, yes?) But why? Was there something special about this particular grave?
I loved how the two seemingly separate stories blended so perfectly. I cannot wait to see where these authors take these two very strong characters next!
This was my first read by the fantastic writing duo of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child penned as Preston & Child for this book.
I’ve heard so much about their work, and had so many of their books recommended to me over the years. Finally, here was my chance with this brand new series they’re launching!
I will definitely be watching for the next in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing and Preston & Child for an ARC to read and review.
The travelers who resorted to cannibalism after being stranded in the High Sierra mountains. What if some of the members of this doomed journey left something up there in the mountains? What if it is just waiting to be discovered?
Nora Kelly is an extremely successful archaeologist, she is approached by a historian who has a grand idea! He wants Nora to join him and lead an expedition into the Sierras. To the sight of the Donner camp.
Corrie Swanson is a rookie with the FBI. Anxious to prove her mettle, she lands her first case.
A grave robber is found murdered on top of a grave he just dug up. (Ironic, yes?) But why? Was there something special about this particular grave?
I loved how the two seemingly separate stories blended so perfectly. I cannot wait to see where these authors take these two very strong characters next!
This was my first read by the fantastic writing duo of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child penned as Preston & Child for this book.
I’ve heard so much about their work, and had so many of their books recommended to me over the years. Finally, here was my chance with this brand new series they’re launching!
I will definitely be watching for the next in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing and Preston & Child for an ARC to read and review.
January 1, 2024
There are a few reviews that are hard for me to write, and this is one of them.
Three stars for me is a “better than okay but less than great” read (cuz I’m a stingy bookworm who rarely parts with a five star rating).
This should have been a 4-star book given the great reading experiences these authors have delivered to me in the past. Two of my favorite featured characters from past entries in the Pendergast series should have thrilled this reader! It should have been a real page turner handled by these masters of thriller/high tech/historical fiction tales.
Started strong but I’ll say it—it just conked out. Fascinating yet gruesome which sounds like a perfect plot line until it wasn’t. I can’t help wondering how this book just plain petered out.
Okay— I do know what happened and that’s where my disappointment really begins!! My favorite writing duo pulled a Grisham— they tantalized me with a bold and scary ending but skipped writing those bigger, bolder chapters and just tied up all the plot lines with big fancy bows. Well sirs, your characters deserved better (and so did your readers).
Sure, the last chapter promised another book. And I will read it— I’m just sad that I’ll be lowering the bar before I even start reading.
Le sigh.
(Reviewed 10/13/19)
Three stars for me is a “better than okay but less than great” read (cuz I’m a stingy bookworm who rarely parts with a five star rating).
This should have been a 4-star book given the great reading experiences these authors have delivered to me in the past. Two of my favorite featured characters from past entries in the Pendergast series should have thrilled this reader! It should have been a real page turner handled by these masters of thriller/high tech/historical fiction tales.
Started strong but I’ll say it—it just conked out. Fascinating yet gruesome which sounds like a perfect plot line until it wasn’t. I can’t help wondering how this book just plain petered out.
Okay— I do know what happened and that’s where my disappointment really begins!! My favorite writing duo pulled a Grisham— they tantalized me with a bold and scary ending but skipped writing those bigger, bolder chapters and just tied up all the plot lines with big fancy bows. Well sirs, your characters deserved better (and so did your readers).
Sure, the last chapter promised another book. And I will read it— I’m just sad that I’ll be lowering the bar before I even start reading.
Le sigh.
(Reviewed 10/13/19)
September 21, 2019
I always look forward to the Pendergast novels, but this story belongs to two women, who though they have worked with Pendergast before, have never actually met. Nora, is an archiologist, who is asked to undertake a very unusual dig. Corrie, is a newly minted FBI agent, undertaking her first case. A case that will bring her to Nora's dig, seeking answers.
Okay, so this book has the lost camp of the Donner party, cannibalism, a secret stash of gold, grave robbers, and some important people who turn out to be, well very corrupt. Fast paced, intriguing, but then again I always find anything to do with the Donner party fascinating. Love that the women are in charge, both are great characters. Plus, I loved the surprise at the end. Hope these two team up again in future endeavors.
ARC from Netgalley.
Okay, so this book has the lost camp of the Donner party, cannibalism, a secret stash of gold, grave robbers, and some important people who turn out to be, well very corrupt. Fast paced, intriguing, but then again I always find anything to do with the Donner party fascinating. Love that the women are in charge, both are great characters. Plus, I loved the surprise at the end. Hope these two team up again in future endeavors.
ARC from Netgalley.
July 6, 2019
"The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones." (William Shakespeare)
And speaking of bones.....
Let's bring out our expert. Dr. Nora Kelly is one archaeologist on a grand scale with impeccable credentials. She's based in Sante Fe and has had quite the experience unearthing bones and such from particular digs through the Sante Fe Archaeological Institute. But this time it's gonna be different from anything she's been associated with before. Very different.
Dr. Clive Benton, a head-turning California historian from Stanford University, stands in the doorway waiting to enter into the office of Dr. Jill Fugit. Dr. Fugit is Nora's boss. Both women lean in as Clive lays out a proposition for them. We, as readers, seem to be leaning in as well. Clive wishes for the institute to become involved in the search for The Lost Camp. And, oh by the way, this is on the trail of the Donner Party of 1846 who became lost on their trek out west in the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. A little sidebar of sorts: they resorted to cannabalism in their desperation with the majority of them not surviving.
Just as Dr. Fugit begins to refuse because of the cost to the institute, Clive ratchets up the ante. One of the men, Jacob Wolfinger, had been carrying quite the fortune in Liberty Head gold eagle coins which had never been found.....more than enough to supply the institute with one-third of the cash and the other two-thirds going to the state and the government. The deal is done and the die is cast.
If you've ever read a book in the long list of bestsellers from the highly talented Preston & Child, you know that this is going to be a worthy read. They hit the ground running with a murder occuring within the first few pages. We also will be introduced to Special Agent Corinne Swanson based out of Albuquerque who adds quite a bit of heft to this storyline filled with bone fragments, ghost stories, and unsavory characters. This is the first offering in the newly presented Nora Kelly Series. Our dynamic writing duo is on to something here. I can just feel it in my bones......
I received a copy of Old Bones through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Grand Central Publishing and to Preston & Child for the opportunity.
And speaking of bones.....
Let's bring out our expert. Dr. Nora Kelly is one archaeologist on a grand scale with impeccable credentials. She's based in Sante Fe and has had quite the experience unearthing bones and such from particular digs through the Sante Fe Archaeological Institute. But this time it's gonna be different from anything she's been associated with before. Very different.
Dr. Clive Benton, a head-turning California historian from Stanford University, stands in the doorway waiting to enter into the office of Dr. Jill Fugit. Dr. Fugit is Nora's boss. Both women lean in as Clive lays out a proposition for them. We, as readers, seem to be leaning in as well. Clive wishes for the institute to become involved in the search for The Lost Camp. And, oh by the way, this is on the trail of the Donner Party of 1846 who became lost on their trek out west in the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. A little sidebar of sorts: they resorted to cannabalism in their desperation with the majority of them not surviving.
Just as Dr. Fugit begins to refuse because of the cost to the institute, Clive ratchets up the ante. One of the men, Jacob Wolfinger, had been carrying quite the fortune in Liberty Head gold eagle coins which had never been found.....more than enough to supply the institute with one-third of the cash and the other two-thirds going to the state and the government. The deal is done and the die is cast.
If you've ever read a book in the long list of bestsellers from the highly talented Preston & Child, you know that this is going to be a worthy read. They hit the ground running with a murder occuring within the first few pages. We also will be introduced to Special Agent Corinne Swanson based out of Albuquerque who adds quite a bit of heft to this storyline filled with bone fragments, ghost stories, and unsavory characters. This is the first offering in the newly presented Nora Kelly Series. Our dynamic writing duo is on to something here. I can just feel it in my bones......
I received a copy of Old Bones through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Grand Central Publishing and to Preston & Child for the opportunity.
March 8, 2021
Archeologist Nora Kelly, a character from some of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child’s earlier novels, is back, and the center of her own series! She’s been hired to search for a lost camp (and possibly a lost treasure) connected to the doomed Donner party of long ago. When trouble inevitably ensues, and the FBI is called in, it’s new Special Agent Corrie Swanson—another character from some of their earlier novels—who shows up to try to save the day.
There were some parts of the story that I really enjoyed. The history of the Donner party (and the postscript separating the fact from the fiction) was interesting, as was the depiction of how this type of archeological dig can be conducted nowadays with current technology. It was enjoyable when a certain character who will remain nameless here showed up at the end to help put the final pieces in place. Most of all, it was fun to see Nora and Corrie at odds even though we know from past novels that they’re both good people. All of that said, the story was not particularly suspenseful, probably because the villain(s) were pretty easy to spot. Still, Old Bones is a solid, if not spectacular, start to a new series. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
There were some parts of the story that I really enjoyed. The history of the Donner party (and the postscript separating the fact from the fiction) was interesting, as was the depiction of how this type of archeological dig can be conducted nowadays with current technology. It was enjoyable when a certain character who will remain nameless here showed up at the end to help put the final pieces in place. Most of all, it was fun to see Nora and Corrie at odds even though we know from past novels that they’re both good people. All of that said, the story was not particularly suspenseful, probably because the villain(s) were pretty easy to spot. Still, Old Bones is a solid, if not spectacular, start to a new series. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
November 13, 2020
Clive, a historian, finds the journal of Tamzene Donner, wife of the legendary leader of the Donner party. It's about cannibalism, a lost camp and a deedbox full of gold. Can he persuade Nora Kelly to go on an excavation trip with him? Is he really in for the gold or are there different reasons? When FBI Agent Corrie Swanson starts to investigate some mysterious murder cases with missing heads things get complicated. Can Nora and Corrie solve this cases unharmed and do we even meet Special Agent Pendergast here? What about Nora's boss? A well researched and highly entertaining and intriguing novel. If you'll want to find out more about the Donner Party and like modern treasure hunts this is the right stuff for you. Highly recommended!
September 1, 2019
Fantastic!! 5 STARS!
Old Bones is a new series by Preston & Child which follows Nora Kelly on an epic expedition in the Sierra Nevada mountains of the doomed Donner Party.
Old Bones starts off with Dr. Clive Benton finding a long lost dairy of Tamsen Donner. Tamsen tells of the last days of the Donner Party and the groups that split from their group, including the Lost Camp.
Benton goes to Nora and the Santa Fe Archaeological Institute to propose an expedition to find the Lost Camp along with lost gold. There be gold in them thar hills!
Benton, Nora and two other archaeologists head to find the Lost Camp and so much more!
At the same time, newly graduated FBI Agent, Corrie Swanson is investigating graves that have been robbed, desecrated and the mystery on why they're all connected.
If you don't know who Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson are, they are recurring characters from the Pendergast series of the same authors. They also happen to be favorite characters of mine from that series. I love that they are getting their own series!
I loved how both plots end up coming together to figure out what really happened in the Lost Camp besides starvation, despair and cannibalism!!
Gah, the whole historical story of the Donner party made this a must read for me. I did play The Oregon Trail game as a kid folks. That dysentery will get you everytime!
And putting this epic and disastrous wagon train in the hands of Preston & Child was fantastic and a no brainer for me to read!
They made it adventurous, scientific and suspenseful. It was worth the 2-3 day book binge!
I am so looking forward to more books in this series with both Nora and Corrie bringing the fun, adventure and science nerd information together in well written books.
Bravo Preston & Child for doing it once again!
Old Bones is a new series by Preston & Child which follows Nora Kelly on an epic expedition in the Sierra Nevada mountains of the doomed Donner Party.
Old Bones starts off with Dr. Clive Benton finding a long lost dairy of Tamsen Donner. Tamsen tells of the last days of the Donner Party and the groups that split from their group, including the Lost Camp.
Benton goes to Nora and the Santa Fe Archaeological Institute to propose an expedition to find the Lost Camp along with lost gold. There be gold in them thar hills!
Benton, Nora and two other archaeologists head to find the Lost Camp and so much more!
At the same time, newly graduated FBI Agent, Corrie Swanson is investigating graves that have been robbed, desecrated and the mystery on why they're all connected.
If you don't know who Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson are, they are recurring characters from the Pendergast series of the same authors. They also happen to be favorite characters of mine from that series. I love that they are getting their own series!
I loved how both plots end up coming together to figure out what really happened in the Lost Camp besides starvation, despair and cannibalism!!
Gah, the whole historical story of the Donner party made this a must read for me. I did play The Oregon Trail game as a kid folks. That dysentery will get you everytime!
And putting this epic and disastrous wagon train in the hands of Preston & Child was fantastic and a no brainer for me to read!
They made it adventurous, scientific and suspenseful. It was worth the 2-3 day book binge!
I am so looking forward to more books in this series with both Nora and Corrie bringing the fun, adventure and science nerd information together in well written books.
Bravo Preston & Child for doing it once again!
January 31, 2024
Unfortunately a DNF for me I just couldn’t get into this story it sounded good but it’s more a history lesson than a story, written well & well researched by Preston & Childs but it’s just not my thing I know I am an outlier with this I will move on.
October 17, 2019
First, I have to tell you, one of my majors in undergrad was anthropology, and I am fascinated by archaeology. I think mysteries and archaeology go hand in hand, and this one has psychological thriller elements sprinkled in as well. Old Bones is Nora Kelly’s exciting new series, and she’s a curator. Clive Benton, a historian, invites her on an expedition in search of the Donner Party camp. Remember that story? Captivating, right? Nora and Clive have no idea just how dangerous their search will prove to be...
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher.
Many of my reviews can also be found on instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher.
Many of my reviews can also be found on instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
July 8, 2019
My review of OLD BONES can be found at High Fever Books.
When word landed that Nora Kelly, a character that made her solo debut in 1999’s Thunderhead and has since been a recurring character in several of the authors’ Pendergast novels, was to finally get a series centering her front and proper I was pretty damn enthused. Given the propensity for the authors to pack in plenty of scientific rigor, twisty mysteries, and loads of adventure, I figured this was going to be some tasty brain candy. Unfortunately, my high expectations just weren’t met and the title Old Bones just feels way too apt for this sluggish non-thriller.
Nora finds herself recruited by historian Clive Benton, a descendant of the infamous and doomed Donner Party, to search for The Lost Camp where many emigrants to California met their end to cannibalism and madness. While she and her team of archaeologists work with Benton to uncover these old remains, FBI rookie Agent Corrie Swanson is investigating a series of murders and desecrated graves that all point toward a common ancestor — one of the doomed pioneers from that ill-fated expedition west.
Fans of Preston & Child will recognize characters like Nora and Corrie, both of whom have played supporting roles to the popular Agent Pendergast over the course of several of his novels. Seeing them striking out on their own, however, isn’t as rewarding as it should be. Old Bones lacks the thrills and tension of prior Preston & Child books, and it creeps along at a slow but determined pace. Instead of thrills and high adventure, much of the book’s narrative relies too heavily on repetitious details.
The authors start out with a bang, setting up what should have been an interesting mystery about stolen skulls and the race to find a murderer. There’s a promising idea at the core of Old Bones, but it feels like neither Preston nor Child knew what to do with it. They spent a lot of time narratively spinning their wheels and treading water, going nowhere fast. The bulk of Nora’s side of the story involves uncovering a dig site, going back to camp for dinner and a ghost story, and recapping the details of the Donner Party, who killed who, and who survived. Corrie’s side of the story involves investigating a murder or a disappearance, making wild speculations, and being told by her supervisor to reign it in and that’s she making the same mistakes every other rookie has made. Rinse and repeat for damn near every chapter. Eventually, the two stories intertwine, but by the time some additional murders and a dash of conspiracy and paranoia get tossed into the mixed, it’s far too late to be of any real interest. The reveal of the book’s antagonist comes as no surprise at all, and the unwrapping of why such extremes were undertaken is too neatly resolved and with too little exploration, at that.
While I was delighted at the chance to see Nora taking the lead on a book of her own, for the first time since 1999, I felt supremely disappointed that both her and Corrie’s agency were severely undercut in the book’s denouement. Considering that much of Corrie’s story element involves dealing with local yokels and good old boys who think they know better than this little girl with a badge, it’s self-defeating that both her and Nora need a man to solve one of this book’s puzzles on their behalf. I won’t get into the details of it, but I will say it’s ultimately a disappointing and ham-fisted bit of fan service.
In fact, disappointing, ham-fisted fan service pretty well sums up Old Bones as a whole. Preston & Child have shown countless times that they know how to write complex and engaging thrillers. Sadly, Old Bones isn’t one of them. This one’s slow and creaky, content to tell you the same little factoids gleaned from Google over and over and over. While I do look forward to another expedition with Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson, Old Bones should have been left buried.
When word landed that Nora Kelly, a character that made her solo debut in 1999’s Thunderhead and has since been a recurring character in several of the authors’ Pendergast novels, was to finally get a series centering her front and proper I was pretty damn enthused. Given the propensity for the authors to pack in plenty of scientific rigor, twisty mysteries, and loads of adventure, I figured this was going to be some tasty brain candy. Unfortunately, my high expectations just weren’t met and the title Old Bones just feels way too apt for this sluggish non-thriller.
Nora finds herself recruited by historian Clive Benton, a descendant of the infamous and doomed Donner Party, to search for The Lost Camp where many emigrants to California met their end to cannibalism and madness. While she and her team of archaeologists work with Benton to uncover these old remains, FBI rookie Agent Corrie Swanson is investigating a series of murders and desecrated graves that all point toward a common ancestor — one of the doomed pioneers from that ill-fated expedition west.
Fans of Preston & Child will recognize characters like Nora and Corrie, both of whom have played supporting roles to the popular Agent Pendergast over the course of several of his novels. Seeing them striking out on their own, however, isn’t as rewarding as it should be. Old Bones lacks the thrills and tension of prior Preston & Child books, and it creeps along at a slow but determined pace. Instead of thrills and high adventure, much of the book’s narrative relies too heavily on repetitious details.
The authors start out with a bang, setting up what should have been an interesting mystery about stolen skulls and the race to find a murderer. There’s a promising idea at the core of Old Bones, but it feels like neither Preston nor Child knew what to do with it. They spent a lot of time narratively spinning their wheels and treading water, going nowhere fast. The bulk of Nora’s side of the story involves uncovering a dig site, going back to camp for dinner and a ghost story, and recapping the details of the Donner Party, who killed who, and who survived. Corrie’s side of the story involves investigating a murder or a disappearance, making wild speculations, and being told by her supervisor to reign it in and that’s she making the same mistakes every other rookie has made. Rinse and repeat for damn near every chapter. Eventually, the two stories intertwine, but by the time some additional murders and a dash of conspiracy and paranoia get tossed into the mixed, it’s far too late to be of any real interest. The reveal of the book’s antagonist comes as no surprise at all, and the unwrapping of why such extremes were undertaken is too neatly resolved and with too little exploration, at that.
While I was delighted at the chance to see Nora taking the lead on a book of her own, for the first time since 1999, I felt supremely disappointed that both her and Corrie’s agency were severely undercut in the book’s denouement. Considering that much of Corrie’s story element involves dealing with local yokels and good old boys who think they know better than this little girl with a badge, it’s self-defeating that both her and Nora need a man to solve one of this book’s puzzles on their behalf. I won’t get into the details of it, but I will say it’s ultimately a disappointing and ham-fisted bit of fan service.
In fact, disappointing, ham-fisted fan service pretty well sums up Old Bones as a whole. Preston & Child have shown countless times that they know how to write complex and engaging thrillers. Sadly, Old Bones isn’t one of them. This one’s slow and creaky, content to tell you the same little factoids gleaned from Google over and over and over. While I do look forward to another expedition with Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson, Old Bones should have been left buried.
September 9, 2019
I loved this book. I flew right through it without even meaning to. It was great and had part of the plot going on at the archeological dig with Nora Kelly and another part going on with Corrie Swanson who is now a newly minted FBI agent. It’s crazy because neither knows the other is a friend or has been a colleague of Pendergast ! That was driving me crazy the whole time.
While Nora excavates a site that relates to the Donner party .. the so called Lost Camp site.. Corrie is dealing with a sicko whom is robbing graves and taking the top part of the remains. Well and kidnapping individuals all related to those dead..
how does this relate to Nora’s dig and how is she going to get through this with Corrie aka the FBI in her way?
Also is the rumor of a treasure chest of gold true ?
This book offers you all this : Among a host of other weird and crazy trouble one doesn’t normally have at an organized dig.
Well that was the fun here.
To be honest though. I just want Pendergast back. I really do.
( looks like I got my wish ) new Pendergast book announced a few days after we finished. Good timing Doug & Linc! Love you guys!
Footnotes added : spoiler tags added for those whom have not read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
While Nora excavates a site that relates to the Donner party .. the so called Lost Camp site.. Corrie is dealing with a sicko whom is robbing graves and taking the top part of the remains. Well and kidnapping individuals all related to those dead..
how does this relate to Nora’s dig and how is she going to get through this with Corrie aka the FBI in her way?
Also is the rumor of a treasure chest of gold true ?
This book offers you all this : Among a host of other weird and crazy trouble one doesn’t normally have at an organized dig.
Well that was the fun here.
To be honest though. I just want Pendergast back. I really do.
( looks like I got my wish ) new Pendergast book announced a few days after we finished. Good timing Doug & Linc! Love you guys!
Footnotes added : spoiler tags added for those whom have not read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2019
Excellent mystery adventure. Great story and pace that would keep you flipping the pages. A must read!
August 24, 2019
3.5 stars
It's pure serendipity that I picked this up right after reading White Fire, since both follow Pendergast's young protege Corrie Swanson. Now, she's a fully fledged FBI agent, if still in her first two probationary years, and her hesitant attempts to run her first investigation are at times helped or hindered by her take no shit attitude. She's changed enough that she's become a much more appealing character to follow, but her anger still gets her in trouble. Especially when up against another of Pendergast's former associates: archeologist Nora Kelly. Both women have very particular ideas about what's important, causing them to clash repeatedly throughout the book. It was an amusing contrast, neither of them knowing their shared Pendergast connection, and it seems like their winning combination might form the basis of a separate series.
These two characters and their barbed interactions were the highlight of the novel, with the plot somewhat drawn out and rushed at the end. Still, it was atmospheric and fun, as all these thrillers are. Best of all, the authors have used yet another fascinating slice of history as the foundation for their narrative- the story of the Donner Party pioneers who resorted to cannibalism to survive, which has left me desperate to know more and will no doubt take me on my own journey of internet research.
It was hard not to miss Pendergast, but there was enough in this to ensure I pick up the next in the series.
ARC via Netgalley
It's pure serendipity that I picked this up right after reading White Fire, since both follow Pendergast's young protege Corrie Swanson. Now, she's a fully fledged FBI agent, if still in her first two probationary years, and her hesitant attempts to run her first investigation are at times helped or hindered by her take no shit attitude. She's changed enough that she's become a much more appealing character to follow, but her anger still gets her in trouble. Especially when up against another of Pendergast's former associates: archeologist Nora Kelly. Both women have very particular ideas about what's important, causing them to clash repeatedly throughout the book. It was an amusing contrast, neither of them knowing their shared Pendergast connection, and it seems like their winning combination might form the basis of a separate series.
These two characters and their barbed interactions were the highlight of the novel, with the plot somewhat drawn out and rushed at the end. Still, it was atmospheric and fun, as all these thrillers are. Best of all, the authors have used yet another fascinating slice of history as the foundation for their narrative- the story of the Donner Party pioneers who resorted to cannibalism to survive, which has left me desperate to know more and will no doubt take me on my own journey of internet research.
It was hard not to miss Pendergast, but there was enough in this to ensure I pick up the next in the series.
ARC via Netgalley
February 19, 2022
'Old Bones' has excellent character development and the plot is fascinating. The dig held me captive for much of the book, and I now have a much greater appreciation for the people who do this as a career. Amazing. That being said. . . if there was a bit more action mixed with all of the digging and hypothesizing it would have made it more exciting.
September 18, 2019
I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Cynthia Farrell.
Let me start by saying that I'm a fan of the Pendergast series written by this duo, so when I saw they were starting a new series with a woman lead, I was intrigued. But ...
Okay, so there's a really fun setup that involves the Donner Party, and if you have yet to read any nonfiction about that, ignore this book and start there. Other than the basic facts, everything here about the Donner Party is fiction - which I was on board with, because who doesn't want to spend time digging around in, and exploring a camp where people practiced cannibalism? But ...
This is my opinion, and not a reflection on you and your potential love of this book, but these guys do not know how to write women characters. At all. To be fair, it's not just the women who were poorly fleshed out, everyone here was rather like cardboard cutouts moving across the high Sierras. The writing is pedestrian, the dialogue simply ridiculous, and the the only reason I finished it was because I'm a glutton for punishment. To be honest, it was really because I read a reviewer say that Pendergast makes a showing - but it was rather late, and more of a cameo, and while I was delighted to see him, how quickly he solved for X annoyed me. Don't worry your pretty heads Ladies, a MAN has arrived!
The pacing throughout is uneven, and the authors seem to spend a lot of time treading water while deciding what to do next. Walking to and from lunch does not a compelling yarn make! Also, we hear the same story several times. Every time a new character needs to be be brought up to speed, we get a full blow by blow recap, over and over again. It felt that the authors were padding things out so they'd meet some minimum page count. If you edited out all the repetitive stuff and moving back and forth, you'd be left with a short story.
But back to these annoying women, both of whom have made appearances in other books by this duo. How are such smart, well educated, and accomplished women so dumb? Oh, and they seem to think that acting as if they were part of a mean girl gang in Middle School is what adults do. OK, so Rachel, the FBI agent is a rookie, but it never occured to her that her boss was assessing her skills? What did she think went on at work? And it goes downhill from there. As for Nora - I don't even have the energy to write about all my issues with her. The premise and backdrop was interesting, but the plot was formulaic and rather predictable, and I was annoyed throughout. I will not be continuing with this series.
Let me start by saying that I'm a fan of the Pendergast series written by this duo, so when I saw they were starting a new series with a woman lead, I was intrigued. But ...
Okay, so there's a really fun setup that involves the Donner Party, and if you have yet to read any nonfiction about that, ignore this book and start there. Other than the basic facts, everything here about the Donner Party is fiction - which I was on board with, because who doesn't want to spend time digging around in, and exploring a camp where people practiced cannibalism? But ...
This is my opinion, and not a reflection on you and your potential love of this book, but these guys do not know how to write women characters. At all. To be fair, it's not just the women who were poorly fleshed out, everyone here was rather like cardboard cutouts moving across the high Sierras. The writing is pedestrian, the dialogue simply ridiculous, and the the only reason I finished it was because I'm a glutton for punishment. To be honest, it was really because I read a reviewer say that Pendergast makes a showing - but it was rather late, and more of a cameo, and while I was delighted to see him, how quickly he solved for X annoyed me. Don't worry your pretty heads Ladies, a MAN has arrived!
The pacing throughout is uneven, and the authors seem to spend a lot of time treading water while deciding what to do next. Walking to and from lunch does not a compelling yarn make! Also, we hear the same story several times. Every time a new character needs to be be brought up to speed, we get a full blow by blow recap, over and over again. It felt that the authors were padding things out so they'd meet some minimum page count. If you edited out all the repetitive stuff and moving back and forth, you'd be left with a short story.
But back to these annoying women, both of whom have made appearances in other books by this duo. How are such smart, well educated, and accomplished women so dumb? Oh, and they seem to think that acting as if they were part of a mean girl gang in Middle School is what adults do. OK, so Rachel, the FBI agent is a rookie, but it never occured to her that her boss was assessing her skills? What did she think went on at work? And it goes downhill from there. As for Nora - I don't even have the energy to write about all my issues with her. The premise and backdrop was interesting, but the plot was formulaic and rather predictable, and I was annoyed throughout. I will not be continuing with this series.
September 3, 2019
Every bit as good as I’d expected it would be, and I hope this is just the beginning of another long series of books from these authors.
March 13, 2021
Old Bones
(Nora Kelly #1)
by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Book one introduces the reader to the archeologist Nora Kelly and to the green FBI agent Corrie Swanson. Nora is on a dig to find historical evidence of the lost camp of the Donner party. Famous for getting lost and snowbound and becoming cannibals to survive. But maybe this wasn't the whole story. They have a descendent from a Donner party member that thinks there was a lot of gold buried up there.
The book has so many twists , turns, suspense, murder, great characters, wonderful plot and mystery, which made this book hard to but down!
Lots of real history thrown in along with the fictional part made this a terrific book! Really enjoyed it.
(Nora Kelly #1)
by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Book one introduces the reader to the archeologist Nora Kelly and to the green FBI agent Corrie Swanson. Nora is on a dig to find historical evidence of the lost camp of the Donner party. Famous for getting lost and snowbound and becoming cannibals to survive. But maybe this wasn't the whole story. They have a descendent from a Donner party member that thinks there was a lot of gold buried up there.
The book has so many twists , turns, suspense, murder, great characters, wonderful plot and mystery, which made this book hard to but down!
Lots of real history thrown in along with the fictional part made this a terrific book! Really enjoyed it.
May 12, 2022
I'm a big fan of the Agent Pendergast novels by Lincoln & Child. The stories are always suspenseful and creepy-cool. That's why I jumped right on this first novel in a new spin-off series featuring Nora Kelly. Kelly appears in two prior Pendergast novels and as the main character in a prior stand alone novel, Thunderhead.
The Basics: Kelly is an archaeologist and museum curator. She is approached by historian Dr. Clive Benton about a lost camp site of the Donner Party. Promising the chance to excavate previously undisturbed remains of the ill-fated party who descended into madness and cannibalism while trapped by heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Benton also pulls Kelly in with the possibility of a stash of gold coins hidden at the site. Meanwhile, new FBI agent Corrie Swanson (another character from previous Pendergast novels -- Still Life With Crows & White Fire) is investigating grave robberies, one disappearance and a murder that seem related to a member of the Donner Party. When members of the group excavating the lost camp start dying, Kelly and Swanson work together to solve the case.
I loved this story! I liked Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson when they appeared in the Pendergast series. Nice to see them getting a series of their own! Both are strong, intelligent women and they worked well together in this story. Pendergast does make an appearance at the end, but the investigation and action in this new novel is all Kelly & Swanson!
It isn't necessary to have read the Pendergast novels before Old Bones. The story really doesn't refer much to prior cases or characters from the Pendergast books.The story would still be enjoyable even with no knowledge of Pendergast or the prior cases Kelly and Swanson helped investigate. This book can stand on its own just fine.
Enjoyable read! I will definitely be reading more of this series! Happy to see two favorite characters from the Pendergast series get to branch out a bit on their own!
**Because the 3rd book in this series recently released, I decided to go back and re-read the series from the start! So adding to this review I initially posted in 2019**
I grabbed the audio book version of this first novel in the Nora Kelly series from Audible. I really enjoy suspense/thriller/mystery stories on audio. It gives me the same feeling that I get from sitting around a campfire sharing creepy stories. It really brings out the suspense for me!
The audio, narrated by Cynthia Farrell, is just shy of 11 hours long. Farrell has a pleasant voice and reads at a perfect pace. She is a skilled narrator, blending into the background and letting me just get sucked in by the story. I wasn't distracted by mispronounced words, bad pacing or other issues -- I just got to enjoy the story! Loved it!
I love stories that incorporate real historical events like the Donner Party, Dyatlov Pass, etc. Preston & Child are so skilled at pulling me in with their creepy-cool plots! I've been a fan of the Pendergast series for years, so of course I love this spin-off series as well!
Now on to book 2, The Scorpion's Tail!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
The Basics: Kelly is an archaeologist and museum curator. She is approached by historian Dr. Clive Benton about a lost camp site of the Donner Party. Promising the chance to excavate previously undisturbed remains of the ill-fated party who descended into madness and cannibalism while trapped by heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Benton also pulls Kelly in with the possibility of a stash of gold coins hidden at the site. Meanwhile, new FBI agent Corrie Swanson (another character from previous Pendergast novels -- Still Life With Crows & White Fire) is investigating grave robberies, one disappearance and a murder that seem related to a member of the Donner Party. When members of the group excavating the lost camp start dying, Kelly and Swanson work together to solve the case.
I loved this story! I liked Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson when they appeared in the Pendergast series. Nice to see them getting a series of their own! Both are strong, intelligent women and they worked well together in this story. Pendergast does make an appearance at the end, but the investigation and action in this new novel is all Kelly & Swanson!
It isn't necessary to have read the Pendergast novels before Old Bones. The story really doesn't refer much to prior cases or characters from the Pendergast books.The story would still be enjoyable even with no knowledge of Pendergast or the prior cases Kelly and Swanson helped investigate. This book can stand on its own just fine.
Enjoyable read! I will definitely be reading more of this series! Happy to see two favorite characters from the Pendergast series get to branch out a bit on their own!
**Because the 3rd book in this series recently released, I decided to go back and re-read the series from the start! So adding to this review I initially posted in 2019**
I grabbed the audio book version of this first novel in the Nora Kelly series from Audible. I really enjoy suspense/thriller/mystery stories on audio. It gives me the same feeling that I get from sitting around a campfire sharing creepy stories. It really brings out the suspense for me!
The audio, narrated by Cynthia Farrell, is just shy of 11 hours long. Farrell has a pleasant voice and reads at a perfect pace. She is a skilled narrator, blending into the background and letting me just get sucked in by the story. I wasn't distracted by mispronounced words, bad pacing or other issues -- I just got to enjoy the story! Loved it!
I love stories that incorporate real historical events like the Donner Party, Dyatlov Pass, etc. Preston & Child are so skilled at pulling me in with their creepy-cool plots! I've been a fan of the Pendergast series for years, so of course I love this spin-off series as well!
Now on to book 2, The Scorpion's Tail!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
December 31, 2023
Dies war mein erstes Buch des Vielschreiber-Duos Preston & Child. Für die Masse an Thriller, die sie produzieren, war es erstaunlich vielfältig recherchiert. Die Figuren erklären anderen Figuren im Roman immer wieder mal wie eine Ausgrabung funktioniert, wie die FBI-Ausbildung funktioniert, welche philosophisch-ethische Konflikte die Entweihung einer Grabstätte (mit passenden Zitaten von Voltaire) beinhaltet, welcher geschichtliche Hintergrund bei der Donner Party zugrunde liegt, einem Siedler-Treck, der im 19. Jahrhundert tatsächlich in der Sierra Nevada strandete und deren Siedler sich aufgrund der Notlage gegenseitig verspeisten. Doch da beginnt es mich schon zu nerven, denn dieser Kannibalismus wird wie in Boulevard-Zeitungs-Niveau immer wieder als völlig undenkbar dargestellt. Die künstlich erzeugte Echauffierung wirkt aufgesetzt, denn im Grunde suhlt sich die Geschichte geradezu darin, dass hier wohl Hirne gekocht und Knochen ausgelutscht wurden.
Aber das eigentliche Schlimme für mich, sind diese schablonenhaften Figuren, die sich die Autoren ausgedacht haben. Ob FBI-Agentin oder Archäologin, alle haben sie einen dunklen Fleck in der Vergangenheit, müssen um Akzeptanz kämpfen und als sich das Ermittler-Duo zur Mitte des Romans endlich an der Ausgrabungsstelle trifft, zicken sie herum wie in einer Nachmittags-Soapopera. Die Dialoge sind billig und die Inhalte wiederholen sich oft. Erkenntnisse, die man als Leser schon erzählt bekam, werden von den Ermittlerinnen wiedergekäut, sobald eine neue Person auftritt, die erstmal gebrieft werden muss. Und als dann die Archäologin eine Blumenwiese findet, die sie für ungewöhnlich hält dort in den Bergen, schaufelt sie einfach mal in der Wildnis einen halben Quadratmeter um paar Zentimeter auf und findet doch tatsächlich sofort einen Backenzahn. Wer als Zahnfee so viel Fachkenntnisse hat, braucht keine Wünschelroute mehr. Tote lügen nicht? Ich kann auf weitere reißerische Wahrheiten durch die Skelette verzichten und brach nach 60 % ab.
Aber das eigentliche Schlimme für mich, sind diese schablonenhaften Figuren, die sich die Autoren ausgedacht haben. Ob FBI-Agentin oder Archäologin, alle haben sie einen dunklen Fleck in der Vergangenheit, müssen um Akzeptanz kämpfen und als sich das Ermittler-Duo zur Mitte des Romans endlich an der Ausgrabungsstelle trifft, zicken sie herum wie in einer Nachmittags-Soapopera. Die Dialoge sind billig und die Inhalte wiederholen sich oft. Erkenntnisse, die man als Leser schon erzählt bekam, werden von den Ermittlerinnen wiedergekäut, sobald eine neue Person auftritt, die erstmal gebrieft werden muss. Und als dann die Archäologin eine Blumenwiese findet, die sie für ungewöhnlich hält dort in den Bergen, schaufelt sie einfach mal in der Wildnis einen halben Quadratmeter um paar Zentimeter auf und findet doch tatsächlich sofort einen Backenzahn. Wer als Zahnfee so viel Fachkenntnisse hat, braucht keine Wünschelroute mehr. Tote lügen nicht? Ich kann auf weitere reißerische Wahrheiten durch die Skelette verzichten und brach nach 60 % ab.
April 26, 2021
3 Stars for Old Bones: Nora Kelly Series, Book 1 (audiobook) by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child read by Cynthia Farewell.
I like the premise of this story but some of the dialogue seemed a little off. And then the ending just didn’t work for me. I won’t be reading the next book in the series.
I like the premise of this story but some of the dialogue seemed a little off. And then the ending just didn’t work for me. I won’t be reading the next book in the series.
March 29, 2023
I’ve been struggling lately to find “the right book”. Fiction or non-fiction, no particular genre. I’ve started a few that I will probably some day enjoy, but now just wasn’t the right time.
Then I stumbled on this in the Audible library I share with my wife. It turned out to be the right book for this week. It has no great “social or political import” (to steal a phrase from Ms Joplin as she sang about the wonders of a Mercedes Benz so many years ago). But sometimes that’s just what I need.
The writing is pretty unexceptional, but the plot, involving a fictional Third Camp of the Donner Party, is first rate. Two strong female characters, one an archeologist and one a newly minted FBI agent, butt heads at first as they try to solve a couple of unrelated mysteries that are both tied to events at this apocryphal site. Eventually it becomes clear that it is in both their best interests to work together as the story barrels along toward its conclusion.
It was fun to read about cutting edge archeology software and also the setting in the Sierra Nevada. And although I had sussed out some key elements of the plot well before the end, I enjoyed seeing how all the pieces fit ultimately together.
And this is where I struggle with ratings. It was very enjoyable for what it was. It easily holds its own when compared with other books of its type. But when I look back at other books I will have read in 2023, I’m sure there will be plenty of 4 stars that have more of an impact on me.
So, 3.5 stars … rounded up, because it really was an enjoyable distraction. Something I seem to need a lot these days.
Then I stumbled on this in the Audible library I share with my wife. It turned out to be the right book for this week. It has no great “social or political import” (to steal a phrase from Ms Joplin as she sang about the wonders of a Mercedes Benz so many years ago). But sometimes that’s just what I need.
The writing is pretty unexceptional, but the plot, involving a fictional Third Camp of the Donner Party, is first rate. Two strong female characters, one an archeologist and one a newly minted FBI agent, butt heads at first as they try to solve a couple of unrelated mysteries that are both tied to events at this apocryphal site. Eventually it becomes clear that it is in both their best interests to work together as the story barrels along toward its conclusion.
It was fun to read about cutting edge archeology software and also the setting in the Sierra Nevada. And although I had sussed out some key elements of the plot well before the end, I enjoyed seeing how all the pieces fit ultimately together.
And this is where I struggle with ratings. It was very enjoyable for what it was. It easily holds its own when compared with other books of its type. But when I look back at other books I will have read in 2023, I’m sure there will be plenty of 4 stars that have more of an impact on me.
So, 3.5 stars … rounded up, because it really was an enjoyable distraction. Something I seem to need a lot these days.
September 27, 2019
Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson get their own book after appearing in various books of Agent Pendergast. This is not a team-up book. The characters don't even meet until halfway through. And you needn't have had read all of the other Pendergast novels first to read this series. This is completely stand alone. Although you may want to have read up to White Fire if it's important to you to have read all of their previous appearances in order.
Nora Kelly is an archaeologist in the Southwest. She's approached by a historian and descendant of one of the Donner Party members with a long lost journal that gives the location of a third camp. They eventually head up an expedition to find the camp along with some long lost gold. Meanwhile Corrie Swanson has just graduated the FBI academy and investigating multiple thefts of stolen remains from the same bloodline. Eventually, the two separate investigations come together.
This was OK. There's a large chunk of, maybe, a third of the book, where not a lot happens. It's really only interesting if you enjoy learning about archaeology. Outside of that, it's nice to see both characters again. They are both strong women who, of course, butt heads. Most of the crimes happen off screen which eliminates some of the more thrilling elements often found in a Preston and Child book. Even if this if their strongest work, I'll welcome new material from these two anytime.
Nora Kelly is an archaeologist in the Southwest. She's approached by a historian and descendant of one of the Donner Party members with a long lost journal that gives the location of a third camp. They eventually head up an expedition to find the camp along with some long lost gold. Meanwhile Corrie Swanson has just graduated the FBI academy and investigating multiple thefts of stolen remains from the same bloodline. Eventually, the two separate investigations come together.
This was OK. There's a large chunk of, maybe, a third of the book, where not a lot happens. It's really only interesting if you enjoy learning about archaeology. Outside of that, it's nice to see both characters again. They are both strong women who, of course, butt heads. Most of the crimes happen off screen which eliminates some of the more thrilling elements often found in a Preston and Child book. Even if this if their strongest work, I'll welcome new material from these two anytime.
October 4, 2022
A very successful spin-off of the series about Agent Pendergast with characters that we know well from this series.
The main characters are Nora Kelly, who we know well from the first books about Agent Pendergast, and Corrie Sweenton, who we also met in the series. Interestingly, this is the first meeting of these ladies. Both are interesting characters with a strong personalities, so they are perfect for the main characters of this book.
This book suited my current mood perfectly. It wasn't too complicated, the action was quick and interesting. As always, the authors had a good idea for the plot, and a few twists and turns added some thrill to the whole story. Although the book touches upon the chilling topic of cannibalism, it is not particularly dark. It was perfect for a beach read.
This is the start of a new series, and I'm curious to see what else will happen in Nora Kelly's life. I have always liked her and it will be nice to come back to her.
The main characters are Nora Kelly, who we know well from the first books about Agent Pendergast, and Corrie Sweenton, who we also met in the series. Interestingly, this is the first meeting of these ladies. Both are interesting characters with a strong personalities, so they are perfect for the main characters of this book.
This book suited my current mood perfectly. It wasn't too complicated, the action was quick and interesting. As always, the authors had a good idea for the plot, and a few twists and turns added some thrill to the whole story. Although the book touches upon the chilling topic of cannibalism, it is not particularly dark. It was perfect for a beach read.
This is the start of a new series, and I'm curious to see what else will happen in Nora Kelly's life. I have always liked her and it will be nice to come back to her.
May 2, 2024
The Donner Party has always held a bit of a tragic mystery, especially when much has been said about what one would do as a human to maintain one’s survival.
But, why would it be so important for historian, Clive Benton, to approach archaeologist Nora Kelly now about finding one of the hidden camps?
Is there some hidden gold – or old bones that can tell a story that needs to be heard? If it is gold, how much would it be worth now?
For an archaeologist, what story could the bones tell? And, why would the FBI be interested?
Well, when bodies start to drop, perhaps something isn’t quite right here?
We also soon learn that something isn’t quite as it seems.
Who will survive this expedition? Will gold be found?
And what will this page-turning, twisty mystery tell us by the end?
Well, you don't think I'm going to tell you, do you?
There is something to be said about surprise "almost" endings...that is all I will say.
I'm just not sure this book has convinced me that I would want to continue the series.
But, why would it be so important for historian, Clive Benton, to approach archaeologist Nora Kelly now about finding one of the hidden camps?
Is there some hidden gold – or old bones that can tell a story that needs to be heard? If it is gold, how much would it be worth now?
For an archaeologist, what story could the bones tell? And, why would the FBI be interested?
Well, when bodies start to drop, perhaps something isn’t quite right here?
We also soon learn that something isn’t quite as it seems.
Who will survive this expedition? Will gold be found?
And what will this page-turning, twisty mystery tell us by the end?
Well, you don't think I'm going to tell you, do you?
There is something to be said about surprise "almost" endings...that is all I will say.
I'm just not sure this book has convinced me that I would want to continue the series.
August 20, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Preston & Child have done it again! I've been super excited about this spinoff to the Pendergast series since I read the news a few months ago. For those who don't know, I've been following Pendergast on his adventures for a good 15 years, and absolutely love the world and cast that Preston & Child have created. Of course, I was elated to find out that two of my favorite secondary cast members were not only making an appearance again, but were STARRING in a new spinoff that will be a SERIES of its own!
This one takes place out near the west coast in the infamous Donner Pass. Well, mostly. There are some scenes elsewhere, of course, but most of the action takes place in the creepy setting of a locale where some crazy events went down. You know, group of travelers headed west for a new life, get lost in the mountains, snowstorm cuts them off, starvation leads to cannibalism, the usual story, am I right? *shudders* Anywho, Nora Kelly, archaeologist extraordinaire, works for the Institute that gets sent to do a dig and help find out what happened at what is dubbed the "Lost Camp" - a separated group of the Donner party that the whole camp was lost to history. Shenanigans ensue, obviously. Meanwhile, Corrie Swanson - all grown up and employed by the FBI - finds herself working a case with some strange connections to the Donner Party, leading her in Nora's direction. The story comes to an explosive ending with some fun moments and some setup for future adventures.
Wherever the authors take these two, I'm there. I've got skin in the game!
Please note that you CAN read this without reading the Pendergast series, but not only will you have missed out on seriously character development for the two main characters, but you'll also spoil quite a few big details from the main series. I highly recommend you binge read the Pendergast series first - and don't forget to read Thunderhead in between Reliquary and Cabinet of Curiosities. You don't want to miss out on Nora's introductory novel!
Preston & Child have done it again! I've been super excited about this spinoff to the Pendergast series since I read the news a few months ago. For those who don't know, I've been following Pendergast on his adventures for a good 15 years, and absolutely love the world and cast that Preston & Child have created. Of course, I was elated to find out that two of my favorite secondary cast members were not only making an appearance again, but were STARRING in a new spinoff that will be a SERIES of its own!
This one takes place out near the west coast in the infamous Donner Pass. Well, mostly. There are some scenes elsewhere, of course, but most of the action takes place in the creepy setting of a locale where some crazy events went down. You know, group of travelers headed west for a new life, get lost in the mountains, snowstorm cuts them off, starvation leads to cannibalism, the usual story, am I right? *shudders* Anywho, Nora Kelly, archaeologist extraordinaire, works for the Institute that gets sent to do a dig and help find out what happened at what is dubbed the "Lost Camp" - a separated group of the Donner party that the whole camp was lost to history. Shenanigans ensue, obviously. Meanwhile, Corrie Swanson - all grown up and employed by the FBI - finds herself working a case with some strange connections to the Donner Party, leading her in Nora's direction. The story comes to an explosive ending with some fun moments and some setup for future adventures.
Wherever the authors take these two, I'm there. I've got skin in the game!
Please note that you CAN read this without reading the Pendergast series, but not only will you have missed out on seriously character development for the two main characters, but you'll also spoil quite a few big details from the main series. I highly recommend you binge read the Pendergast series first - and don't forget to read Thunderhead in between Reliquary and Cabinet of Curiosities. You don't want to miss out on Nora's introductory novel!
October 1, 2019
Loved it! Everything I've come to expect from the writing team of Preston and Child!
(Major fan here, read their entire Pendergast series.)
Nora Kelly, a young archaeologist, is asked to head an expedition in search of one of the 'lost camps' of the Donner Party Expedition, that infamous group which got lost on the way to California, got trapped in a series of snowstorms, and in order to survive, resorted to cannibalism. It's become an almost mythic tale in American history, full of pathos and tragedy. It's on top of this heart-breaking episode that Preston and Child have crafted an immensely fascinating story.
The details - the horseback ride up through canyons, over streams, searching for the possible site of this 'lost camp' were intricate and wholly realistic. (The authors know the Southwest like the back of their two writing hands.) The characters are diverse - did I say diverse? Two of the majors, who end up fighting like cats and dogs - Nora and Corrie, an FBI agent - are both female! OMGOSH! What are the writers thinking?
(They are thinking that a whole lot of women read a whole lot of books, and besides, why not? And these two do NOT need a man to rescue them.)
Anyhow, the story, in brief: Nora and team are on a search for the lost camp. Is everyone on Nora's team really on her team? What's that about a chest of gold? And why is someone stealing bodies out of graveyards from New Mexico to Paris? WHAT has that got to do with a nice, safe archaeological expedition? Oh, and by the way, here comes an FBI agent up the trail on horseback with questions of her own.
(I'm gonna admit, I couldn't put any of these pieces together until the end. I was totally flummoxed this time!)
At any rate, to say much more would be to spoil this for any Preston and Child fan, or anyone else new to these two writers. AND, if you are a new reader, start with the first book in the Pendergast series, 'Relic.' You will not be disappointed.
Five stars.
(Major fan here, read their entire Pendergast series.)
Nora Kelly, a young archaeologist, is asked to head an expedition in search of one of the 'lost camps' of the Donner Party Expedition, that infamous group which got lost on the way to California, got trapped in a series of snowstorms, and in order to survive, resorted to cannibalism. It's become an almost mythic tale in American history, full of pathos and tragedy. It's on top of this heart-breaking episode that Preston and Child have crafted an immensely fascinating story.
The details - the horseback ride up through canyons, over streams, searching for the possible site of this 'lost camp' were intricate and wholly realistic. (The authors know the Southwest like the back of their two writing hands.) The characters are diverse - did I say diverse? Two of the majors, who end up fighting like cats and dogs - Nora and Corrie, an FBI agent - are both female! OMGOSH! What are the writers thinking?
(They are thinking that a whole lot of women read a whole lot of books, and besides, why not? And these two do NOT need a man to rescue them.)
Anyhow, the story, in brief: Nora and team are on a search for the lost camp. Is everyone on Nora's team really on her team? What's that about a chest of gold? And why is someone stealing bodies out of graveyards from New Mexico to Paris? WHAT has that got to do with a nice, safe archaeological expedition? Oh, and by the way, here comes an FBI agent up the trail on horseback with questions of her own.
(I'm gonna admit, I couldn't put any of these pieces together until the end. I was totally flummoxed this time!)
At any rate, to say much more would be to spoil this for any Preston and Child fan, or anyone else new to these two writers. AND, if you are a new reader, start with the first book in the Pendergast series, 'Relic.' You will not be disappointed.
Five stars.
August 30, 2020
I found this to be a good story and I liked the way it wrapped up. There were some bits about the archaeological dig that weren't all that interesting to me and some personality quirks I wasn't a huge fan of, but overall I enjoyed it enough to check out the next book in the series. I liked Nora Kelly and I'm hoping that Corrie Swanson will have more self-confidence after gaining some experience. I think I'll go back to the Pendergast series first to read the books Nora & Corrie were introduced in before returning to this series. 3.5★
May 2, 2024
No ha estado mal, la verdad es que pensaba que habría algo de paranormal, como suele ser con estos autores y la verdad, es que muy poquito, por esa parte, decepcionado.
El libro es de cocción lenta y le cuesta entrar en materia, a pesar de que empezó muy bien pero luego se centra en la expedición y ahí ya bajó de revoluciones.
La parte arqueológica esta bastante interesante en cuanto a explicaciones de los distintos pasos que se iban tomando.
La protagonista o co-protagonista, Nora Kelly, me ha caído mal, me parece muy prepotente con la pobre chica del FBI, Corrie Swanson, que ha ido a hacer su trabajo, siendo esta, mucho mas maja como personaje.
Valoración: 6.5/10
Sinopsis: La joven arqueóloga Nora Kelly recibe una extraordinaria propuesta: liderar un equipo en busca del llamado «Campamento perdido» de la expedición Donner. Su misterio se remonta a 1847, cuando un grupo de pioneros quedó atrapado en las montañas de California y se perdió su pista hasta que algunos famélicos supervivientes pudieron salir del desierto, delirando sobre hambre, asesinatos... y canibalismo.
Ahora, el sorprendente hallazgo del diario de una de las víctimas que contiene una enigmática descripción del campamento promete ser la pista definitiva para localizarlo. Nora acepta dirigir una expedición para revelar sus secretos tanto tiempo enterrados pero, una vez en las montañas, se da cuenta de que este es solo el primer paso en una espeluznante aventura.
Porque a medida que descubren antiguos huesos y monedas de oro, la verdad que sale a la luz es mucho más impactante y extraña que el mero canibalismo. Y cuando esos horrores del pasado conducen a nueva violencia en el presente, la novata agente del FBI Corrie Swanson es asignada al caso... solo para descubrir que su primera investigación bien podría ser la última.
El libro es de cocción lenta y le cuesta entrar en materia, a pesar de que empezó muy bien pero luego se centra en la expedición y ahí ya bajó de revoluciones.
La parte arqueológica esta bastante interesante en cuanto a explicaciones de los distintos pasos que se iban tomando.
La protagonista o co-protagonista, Nora Kelly, me ha caído mal, me parece muy prepotente con la pobre chica del FBI, Corrie Swanson, que ha ido a hacer su trabajo, siendo esta, mucho mas maja como personaje.
Valoración: 6.5/10
Sinopsis: La joven arqueóloga Nora Kelly recibe una extraordinaria propuesta: liderar un equipo en busca del llamado «Campamento perdido» de la expedición Donner. Su misterio se remonta a 1847, cuando un grupo de pioneros quedó atrapado en las montañas de California y se perdió su pista hasta que algunos famélicos supervivientes pudieron salir del desierto, delirando sobre hambre, asesinatos... y canibalismo.
Ahora, el sorprendente hallazgo del diario de una de las víctimas que contiene una enigmática descripción del campamento promete ser la pista definitiva para localizarlo. Nora acepta dirigir una expedición para revelar sus secretos tanto tiempo enterrados pero, una vez en las montañas, se da cuenta de que este es solo el primer paso en una espeluznante aventura.
Porque a medida que descubren antiguos huesos y monedas de oro, la verdad que sale a la luz es mucho más impactante y extraña que el mero canibalismo. Y cuando esos horrores del pasado conducen a nueva violencia en el presente, la novata agente del FBI Corrie Swanson es asignada al caso... solo para descubrir que su primera investigación bien podría ser la última.
September 4, 2019
For a second or two, I considered giving this book - the start of a new series by the authors of one of my other favorite series - four stars with the expectation that the next one will be better. But then I remembered when, as a student, how much I hated teachers who refused to give papers an A because that "doesn't leave room for improvement" (fortunately, those nitwits were few and far between). So here's my take: No matter what comes next, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and give it top marks.
Featured here is Nora Kelly, an archeologist curator who works for a nonprofit institute and is working amid the remains of a former Pueblo Indian site. She's approached by Dr. Clive Benton (interestingly, in the official book description, the visit is by historian Guy Porter, so now I'm curious about the reason for the name change in the finished product). At any rate, he shares a story relating to the 1847 Donner Party, almost all of whom were lost to bad weather, murder and even cannibalism (and of which he claims to be a descendant). To entice the institute to fund an expedition, he dangles the real possibility of finding gold coins valued at about $20 million in today's market - a third of which would go to the institute.
The lure of much-needed funding sways Nora's boss in Benton's favor, and off they go to the Sierra Nevadas - aided by a journal Benton found that supposedly was documented by another relative. Led to the wilderness by a team of local guides, it doesn't take long to unearth two of the Donner camps, but it is in the third - not yet found - that the gold is likely to be.
As all this is taking place, newly minted FBI agent Corrine Swanson is earning her bones, so to speak, mostly with boring desk work. Corrie, some readers may recall, is a protoge of Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast - the main character in that favorite series of mine mentioned above. Then, she gets a case in which a very old grave is robbed of half its contents, after which the robber is unceremoniously murdered execution style. Because that happened on federal land, the feds are in charge - and the investigation puts Corrie in the general vicinity of Nora's excavations.
Needless to say, the two professionals end up meeting - and bumping heads - as the two storylines begin to merge and Corrie begins to suspect a connection between her case and Nora's work. Also needless to say, danger follows close behind; more suspicious deaths (and near deaths) happen before the book ends with a flurry of excitement and an appearance by a very special person.
All in all, very well done - and certainly an enticement to read about Nora's next adventure. I shall be eagerly waiting!
Featured here is Nora Kelly, an archeologist curator who works for a nonprofit institute and is working amid the remains of a former Pueblo Indian site. She's approached by Dr. Clive Benton (interestingly, in the official book description, the visit is by historian Guy Porter, so now I'm curious about the reason for the name change in the finished product). At any rate, he shares a story relating to the 1847 Donner Party, almost all of whom were lost to bad weather, murder and even cannibalism (and of which he claims to be a descendant). To entice the institute to fund an expedition, he dangles the real possibility of finding gold coins valued at about $20 million in today's market - a third of which would go to the institute.
The lure of much-needed funding sways Nora's boss in Benton's favor, and off they go to the Sierra Nevadas - aided by a journal Benton found that supposedly was documented by another relative. Led to the wilderness by a team of local guides, it doesn't take long to unearth two of the Donner camps, but it is in the third - not yet found - that the gold is likely to be.
As all this is taking place, newly minted FBI agent Corrine Swanson is earning her bones, so to speak, mostly with boring desk work. Corrie, some readers may recall, is a protoge of Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast - the main character in that favorite series of mine mentioned above. Then, she gets a case in which a very old grave is robbed of half its contents, after which the robber is unceremoniously murdered execution style. Because that happened on federal land, the feds are in charge - and the investigation puts Corrie in the general vicinity of Nora's excavations.
Needless to say, the two professionals end up meeting - and bumping heads - as the two storylines begin to merge and Corrie begins to suspect a connection between her case and Nora's work. Also needless to say, danger follows close behind; more suspicious deaths (and near deaths) happen before the book ends with a flurry of excitement and an appearance by a very special person.
All in all, very well done - and certainly an enticement to read about Nora's next adventure. I shall be eagerly waiting!
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