The Scorpion's Tail (Nora Kelly & Corrie Swanson Series #2)

by Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child

Overview

From #1 bestselling authors Preston & Child comes a thrilling novel following archaeologist Nora Kelly and FBI Agent Corrie Swanson as they work together to solve a twisted crime that reaches far beyond any of their worst fears.

Following the acclaimed debut of Old Bones, this second "happily anticipated" new thriller in Preston & Child's series features Nora Kelly, archaeologist at the Santa Fe Archeological Institute, and rookie FBI Agent Corrie Swanson, as they team up to solve a mystery that quickly escalates into nightmare (Booklist).

A mummified corpse, over half a century old, is found in the cellar of an abandoned building in a remote New Mexico ghost town. Corrie is assigned what seems to her a throwaway case: to ID the body and determine cause of death. She brings archaeologist Nora Kelly to excavate the body and lend her expertise to the investigation, and together they uncover something unexpected and shocking: the deceased apparently died in agony, in a fetal position, skin coming off in sheets, with a rictus of horror frozen on his face.

Hidden on the corpse lies a 16th century Spanish gold cross of immense value.

When they at last identify the body — and the bizarre cause of death — Corrie and Nora open a door into a terrifying, secret world of ancient treasure and modern obsession: a world centered on arguably the most defining, frightening, and transformative moment in American history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538747285
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	09/07/2021
Series:	Nora Kelly & Corrie Swanson Series , #2
Pages:	464
Sales rank:	64,218
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.80(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

The thrillers of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child "stand head and shoulders above their rivals" (Publishers Weekly). Preston and Child's Relic and The Cabinet of Curiosities were chosen by readers in a National Public Radio poll as being among the one hundred greatest thrillers ever written, and Relic was made into a number-one box office hit movie. They are coauthors of the famed Pendergast series and their recent novels include Crooked River, Old Bones, Verses for the Dead, and City of Endless Night.


In addition to his novels, Douglas Preston writes about archaeology for The New Yorker and National Geographic magazines. Lincoln Child is a Florida resident and former book editor who has published seven novels of his own, including bestsellers such as Full Wolf Moon and Deep Storm.
Readers can sign up for The Pendergast File, a monthly "strangely entertaining note" from the authors, at their website, www.PrestonChild.com. The authors welcome visitors to their alarmingly active Facebook page, where they post regularly.

Place of Birth:

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Education:

B.A., Pomona College, 1978

Website:

http://www.prestonchild.com

Editorial Reviews

PRAISE FOR THE SCORPION’S TAIL

"Expect nice twists, hairy danger, and good old-fashioned gunplay. This one’s an attention grabber. Get a copy."

—Kirkus

“[An] enjoyable sequel [. . .] The authors do their usual solid job of maintaining suspense throughout. Their two capable female leads are well-suited to sustain a long series.”

—Publishers Weekly

“…a devilishly entertaining romp that harks back to the seminal works of Alistair MacLean, as well as the H. Rider Haggard 19th-century classics King Solomon's Mines and She…This is historical adventure writing of the highest order, a mystery wrapped in a puzzle wrapped in a high-stakes thriller… what’s old is new again, and the result is a rocking, rollicking tale that reminds us of how much fun reading can be.”

—Providence Sunday Journal

“Preston and Child have designed an intricate thriller that takes several twists and turns, but never totally diverts from the crux of the story. This is a series that demands attention.”

—New York Journal of Books

“The authors bring the same rigorous plotting and deft characterizations to this novel as they do with their Special Agent Pendergast books (happily, Pendergast makes an appearance here), and the Kelly and Swanson pairing is certainly engaging. It seems the duo might be settling in for a good, long run.”

—Booklist

“What Preston & Child have so deftly succeeded at doing, yet again, is to combine real history with archaeological finds and forensic science to create a fascinating novel filled with the thrills of an Indiana Jones film… Buckle up because The Scorpion’s Tail is another winner for this writing duo.”

—Book Reporter

“The future looks promising for Nora and Corrie.”

—The Big Thrill

“[Preston and Child] never disappoint and their novels are thrill rides from the very beginning with great characters and action. Book two of the Nora Kelly series is a great follow-up.”

—Red Carpet Crash

PRAISE FOR OLD BONES

"Long-time readers of Preston and Child will love to see the beloved characters of Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson take center stage in what is a terrific start to a new series. Their writing talent shines as this mix of history, exploration of nature and crime will without a doubt land on the top of the best-seller lists. Though some of the historical facts have been tweaked a bit for the story to work, a note to the reader from the authors at the end reveals what is true and what they made up, and is sure to lead to a surge in attention for non-fiction accounts of what really happened that horrible winter."

—Associated Press

"The two strong female protagonists [Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson] share a dynamic reminiscent of that between Pendergast and his friend on the NYPD, Vincent D'Agosta. An intriguing series launch."

—Publishers Weekly

"Old Bones exceeds expectations at every juncture, a thriller extraordinaire that turns history upside down in forming the basis of a riveting and relentless tale."

—Providence Sunday Journal

"A smart, satisfying read."

—Kirkus

"This outing belongs to two dedicated women, whose future adventures will be happily anticipated."

—Booklist

"Preston & Child is one of those "names" on a book that make you want to set everything else aside in order to read what amazing words they've written [. . .] From the best writing team out there, you do not want to miss this book."

—Suspense Magazine

"From the thriller world's dynamic duo comes a new work of archeology, murder, and the Donner Party. This one should please longtime fans of Preston and Child, as well as new devotees drawn in by that ever-appealing set up of a past crime coming back to haunt the present."

—CrimeReads

"Preston and Child have created a fine mix of fiction and historical fact. The story is peopled by complex and engaging characters with sometimes murky ambitions. . . The ending, which seems far-fetched, is definitely, disturbingly possible."

—Booktrib

"Old Bones has it all: chills, thrills and a blend of history, along with archaeological expertise you can only get from a Preston & Child novel. I loved spending time with Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson, and look forward to seeing them in future adventures. Longtime readers will be rewarded not only by this pairing but by some other surprises leading up to the conclusion of this exciting read."

—Bookreporter

"Though the story of the Donner Party and its gruesome cannibalism has been told and retold, this masterful examination of the perplexing events offers a fresh take that carries meaning for contemporary readers. The launch of the Nora Kelly series is to be applauded.”

—Washington Independent Review of Books

"Preston and Child's cast of characters spin off in their latest, starring Nora Kelly and ex-distinguished youth-turned-FBI agent Corrie Swanson. Kelly leads an expedition to excavate the Donner Party camp, while Swanson investigates a series of grave robberies. The longtime writing team yet again seamlessly merges science and suspense.”

—Newsweek

"Preston & Child can write like no others. They have well-written and defined characters and easy to read stories. You are never disappointed by one of their books."

—Red Carpet Crash

EXTRAORDINARY ACCLAIM FOR PRESTON & CHILD

"There's nothing else like them.”

—Washington Post

"Mystery thriller writing of the highest order.”

—Providence Sunday Journal

"Consistently exciting and never predictable.”

—Associated Press

From the Publisher

Preston and Child have designed an intricate thriller that takes several twists and turns, but never totally diverts from the crux of the story. This is a series that demands attention.”

New York Journal of Books

Mystery thriller writing of the highest order.”

Sunday Journal (Providence)

08/01/2020

On their second outing (after Old Bones), Nora Kelly, an archaeologist at the Santa Fe Archaeological Institute, and rookie FBI Agent Corrie Swanson are tasked with investigating when a half-century-old mummy is found in a New Mexico ghost town. The victim's golden cross and clearly horrific death—as indicated by his terrible grimace and layers of skin that have peeled off the body—leads them to a crucial moment in New World history. With a 250,000-copy first printing.

Library Journal