Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Grand Central Publishing (2021), Edition: First Edition, 416 pages
Description
A sequel to "Old Bones" finds FBI agent Corrie Swanson and Santa Fe archaeologist Nora Kelly investigating the mummified corpse of a long-dead victim who died in agony while holding a mysterious sixteenth-century gold cross.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Carol420
I can never find very much wrong with anything that Douglas Preston and/or Lincoln Childs produces. I thought the first book in this series got off to a rather slow start but when I became better acquainted with Nora Kelly I found that the series was not only entertaining but actually was high
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quality with great characters and fascinating subject matter. The discovery of the mummified body is on federal land, so the FBI gets involved. This brings on Special Agent Corrie Swanson who we met in the first book. Looks like these two characters may become a team…and that would be great. Corrie would have liked a juicier and more exciting assignment rather than checking out some old bones in the high desert, but she has a degree in forensic anthropology…plus she’s a rookie…so off she goes. She persuades a reluctant Dr. Nora Kelly, senior curator at the Santa Fe Archaeological Institute, to help puzzle out what happened to the man, as it’s unclear whether a crime has even been committed. These two authors are experts when it comes to plotting and telling the story. It all comes together with some nice twists and nail biting danger to give us another great offering form Preston and Childs. Show Less
LibraryThing member tottman
Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson ride again in The Scorpion’s Tail by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. As a low-ranking FBI special agent in the New Mexico field office, Swanson gets called out to investigate the discovery of a mummified corpse in an abandoned desert town on federal land. She
Preston and Child know how to build and sustain suspense. Kelly and Swanson are great characters and play well off each other. Each are dealing with workplace politics. Swanson is trying to make her bones in the FBI and struggling to make the right kind of impression, especially after her participation in an arrest that nearly ended tragically. Kelly is dealing with academic politics and is in line for a promotion at the Institute. Swanson’s instincts tell her that they are on the trail of something big but her inexperience makes it harder for her to convince anyone. Kelly is being pulled away from her own projects at work, but the mystery before her proves too tantalizing to resist.
Preston and Child surround these two with solid characters, including quick-draw Sheriff Watts. The New Mexico desert is a character in itself. The remoteness, isolation and danger play a major role. Preston and Child are the best at blending history, archeology and adventure. This second book in a new series bodes well for many more sequels. Highly recommended.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.
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coerces Nora Kelly, senior curator at the Santa Fe Archaeological Institute to assist her in excavating the body. The body is curled up in a fetal position and when fully unearthed, discovered to be holding a cross of gold that dates to Spanish colonial rule. Soon the two are tied up in a conspiracy involving relic hunters, radiation, and rumors of a long-hidden cache of Spanish treasure.Preston and Child know how to build and sustain suspense. Kelly and Swanson are great characters and play well off each other. Each are dealing with workplace politics. Swanson is trying to make her bones in the FBI and struggling to make the right kind of impression, especially after her participation in an arrest that nearly ended tragically. Kelly is dealing with academic politics and is in line for a promotion at the Institute. Swanson’s instincts tell her that they are on the trail of something big but her inexperience makes it harder for her to convince anyone. Kelly is being pulled away from her own projects at work, but the mystery before her proves too tantalizing to resist.
Preston and Child surround these two with solid characters, including quick-draw Sheriff Watts. The New Mexico desert is a character in itself. The remoteness, isolation and danger play a major role. Preston and Child are the best at blending history, archeology and adventure. This second book in a new series bodes well for many more sequels. Highly recommended.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.
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LibraryThing member annbury
This thriller has three good points a) the sleuths are female, b) the magnificent landscape is well presented, and c) the plot keeps those pages turning. But the writing is pedestrian, and the characters are not well-developed. Also, while I don't expect thrillers to be 100% realistic, this one was
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improbable enough at points to make me pause. A good quick read, but not good enough to make me want to read the first book in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member labdaddy4
Another hit for the authors - fast paced action with a lot of twists and turns. The story weaves in history in the references to the Pueblo revolt, Spanish conquest, and even the ancient Aztecs - all the way up to the Trinity nuclear test. Excellent characters are getting more developed and
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interesting with this book Show Less
LibraryThing member Twink
The Scorpion's Tail is the latest collaboration of authors Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. It's also the second book in the Nora Kelly series.
I enjoyed the first book, so was happy to listen to this latest.
Two characters who originally appeared in various Pendergast novels are at the heart of
Preston and Child often draw on history and actual events in their books. I'm always fascinated by this and often stop reading to go online to learn more. This time it's The Pueblo Revolt, The Trinity Test, White Sands Missile Range - and yes - rumors of treasure - all in New Mexico.
We're along for the ride as the pieces are pieced together. Lots of action propels the tale forward.
You always know what you're going to get when you pick up a book by Preston and Child. A solid read that reads quickly and entertains easily. For me their books are comfort reading/listening fare.
I did find the last bit after the final ta-da to be a bit awkward and unneeded to bring the book to a close. But overall, another great book from this duo.
I chose to listen to The Scorpion's Tail. I was quite happy that Cynthia Farrell was brought back as the reader. She read Old Bones and it's nice to have the continuity. She has a very expressive voice and captures both action and emotion easily. Her diction is clear and easy to understand and pleasant to listen to.
I enjoyed the first book, so was happy to listen to this latest.
Two characters who originally appeared in various Pendergast novels are at the heart of
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this new series. Nora Kelly is an archaeologist and Corrie Swanson is a rookie FBI agent. (On a side note, Pendergast fans will enjoy his cameo appearance in The Scorpion's Tale!) I quite like both of these characters. They're feisty, especially Nora. Corrie is still trying to find her place in the Bureau. Her treatment by some co-workers is shameful. (And probably not far from the truth) They're both dogged and driven to find answers. They play well off each and their skills complement each well.Preston and Child often draw on history and actual events in their books. I'm always fascinated by this and often stop reading to go online to learn more. This time it's The Pueblo Revolt, The Trinity Test, White Sands Missile Range - and yes - rumors of treasure - all in New Mexico.
We're along for the ride as the pieces are pieced together. Lots of action propels the tale forward.
You always know what you're going to get when you pick up a book by Preston and Child. A solid read that reads quickly and entertains easily. For me their books are comfort reading/listening fare.
I did find the last bit after the final ta-da to be a bit awkward and unneeded to bring the book to a close. But overall, another great book from this duo.
I chose to listen to The Scorpion's Tail. I was quite happy that Cynthia Farrell was brought back as the reader. She read Old Bones and it's nice to have the continuity. She has a very expressive voice and captures both action and emotion easily. Her diction is clear and easy to understand and pleasant to listen to.
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LibraryThing member Hardboiled
I really enjoy the world of Preston/Child. Rarely do they disappoint. I can always look forward to a well crafted plot that takes you on a roller coaster ride. I can say that Scorpian's Tale did not disappoint for 90-95% of the novel. However, I was extremely disappointed in how it ended. It was
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like we'd been taken on a ride and then all of a sudden we ran out of gas. Within just a few pages a new (or not so new if you follow previous tales) face appears who solves one of the mysteries in the blink of an eye. If I was Corrie or Nora I would definitely have felt cheated which is exactly the way I felt. If he was needed to help solve part of what's going on then he should have been brought in earlier and made a part of the fabric of the investigation ... if not then leave him out and develop the ending with the sleuthing skills evident to that point in the novel, i.e., through Corrie and Nora. Show Less
LibraryThing member andsoitgoes
A good, fast moving story set out west with FBI agents and modern day cowboys. Had me guessing until the end who the "insider" was and I would have given it 4 stars except that I felt there was no need to bring Prendergast in at the end where Corrie and Nora should have been allowed to bring that
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part of the story to a conclusion and I listened to the audio version and the narrator, Cynthia Farrell, did an annoying job trying to sound like a man. Show Less
LibraryThing member cathyskye
If you're in the mood for a book that's flat-out fun to read, by all means, get your hands on a copy of The Scorpion's Tail. Preston and Child's story of treasure and obsession had my eyes glued to the page, and when life intruded and I had to put the book down, my mind kept wandering back to it,
These two authors pushed so many of my WOW buttons that I don't think I can list them all. I learned several interesting tidbits of New Mexico history such as the Pueblo Revolt. I was taken to the White Sands Missile Range. The trip to a remote ghost town reminded me of so many similar trips my husband and I made here in Arizona. Ones where the trails were so bad I thought my kidneys and spine would never be the same-- but so much fun! Then there was the fabulous lost Spanish treasure, the white-knuckle night escape from the bad guys, a little Army-Navy joke, and of course, the archaeology.
There's so much "wonderfulness" in The Scorpion's Tail that I think the brief appearance made by Preston and Child's Agent Pendergast was completely unnecessary. This book's adventure, its marvelous setting, its mystery are all taken to the next level by the authors' characters. Corrie Swanson's backstory is slowly being revealed, and it's an interesting one. She's going to make an excellent agent, but she can be impulsive and does need Agent Morwood's mentoring. Nora Kelly is my kind of archaeologist who's learning about the politics of promotion at the Santa Fe Archaeological Institute, and her brother Skip is the perfect person to bring along on a dig. There's the smart, handsome sheriff of Socorro who wears two six-shooters strapped to his hips, but don't let the theatricality fool you. When you've got a cast like this, it makes the mystery and the adventure shine even brighter.
If you can't tell that I loved this book, I have to say that I'm worried about you. I'll also worry about you if you like this sort of book and decide not to read it. The Scorpion's Tail is a fantastic, fun read. What are you waiting for?
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wondering what was going to happen next.These two authors pushed so many of my WOW buttons that I don't think I can list them all. I learned several interesting tidbits of New Mexico history such as the Pueblo Revolt. I was taken to the White Sands Missile Range. The trip to a remote ghost town reminded me of so many similar trips my husband and I made here in Arizona. Ones where the trails were so bad I thought my kidneys and spine would never be the same-- but so much fun! Then there was the fabulous lost Spanish treasure, the white-knuckle night escape from the bad guys, a little Army-Navy joke, and of course, the archaeology.
There's so much "wonderfulness" in The Scorpion's Tail that I think the brief appearance made by Preston and Child's Agent Pendergast was completely unnecessary. This book's adventure, its marvelous setting, its mystery are all taken to the next level by the authors' characters. Corrie Swanson's backstory is slowly being revealed, and it's an interesting one. She's going to make an excellent agent, but she can be impulsive and does need Agent Morwood's mentoring. Nora Kelly is my kind of archaeologist who's learning about the politics of promotion at the Santa Fe Archaeological Institute, and her brother Skip is the perfect person to bring along on a dig. There's the smart, handsome sheriff of Socorro who wears two six-shooters strapped to his hips, but don't let the theatricality fool you. When you've got a cast like this, it makes the mystery and the adventure shine even brighter.
If you can't tell that I loved this book, I have to say that I'm worried about you. I'll also worry about you if you like this sort of book and decide not to read it. The Scorpion's Tail is a fantastic, fun read. What are you waiting for?
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LibraryThing member JJbooklvr
This is the second book in the spin off from the Pendergast series. If you wanted to you could start here without major spoilers from the first book. Nora and Corrie are interesting characters and it is fun getting to know them better in this entry. An interesting plot and setting helped move
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things along as well. I am hooked and will be looking for the next book! Show Less
LibraryThing member lbswiener
Preston & Child did it again. The Scorpion's Tail is a great adventure that takes place in the hostile desert environment of New Mexico. The settings were described so that the reader could imagine them. The characters are all described well. The situations that the characters find themselves in
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are all believable but their fantastic escapes are questionable. Nevertheless The Scorpion's Tail is an excellent story and most deserving of the five stars awarded in this review. Show Less
LibraryThing member DarthDeverell
Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child’s The Scorpion’s Tail is the second of their Nora Kelly novels. Dr. Kelly, an archaeologist, previously appeared in several of Preston & Child’s Pendergast novels as well as the standalone novel, Thunderhead. Joining her is Corrie Swanson, who first assisted
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Pendergast on a case while she was in high school in Still Life with Crows. She later graduated from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and joined the FBI, becoming Pendergast’s protégé after a fashion. The story begins with Corrie investigating a shootout between a county sheriff and a looter at a ghost town on federal land. She consults with Nora when they find a corpse on the site with a valuable artifact among its belongings. What starts out as a simple consultation draws them into a web of intrigue tracing back to the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 with rumors of a vast gold treasure, different groups looking for historical plunder, the atomic bomb, and the internal politics of academe and the FBI. A great story that fans of Preston & Child will enjoy while the authors’ love for the American Southwest comes through on every page. Show Less
LibraryThing member coachtim30
More enjoyable than book 1 in the series, I found "The Scorpion's Tail" engrossing, believable, and even somewhat educational. The plot was well conceived and ripe with numerous twists and turns. Both Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson were tough, determined, and dogged in their pursuit of a mystery
I wasn't sure that I would continue the series after the book 1 Donner Party story, but after this solid novel, I'm looking forward to book 3.
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that could lead them to untold riches. I wasn't sure that I would continue the series after the book 1 Donner Party story, but after this solid novel, I'm looking forward to book 3.
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LibraryThing member niaomiya
This was a fun second book in the Nora Kelly series. It's a mystery adventure and less a thriller but still very entertaining, nonetheless.
This time newly minted FBI agent Corrie Swanson is assigned what appears to be an uninteresting case meant to keep her busy: identify a 50-year-old corpse found
I enjoyed the interwoven history of the Spanish colonization of New Mexico and the Pueblo Revolt. This lent a richness to the story that made it more satisfying. The new characters introduced in this book were also likeable and entertaining - Sheriff Wyatt and Corrie's supervisor Morwood. Corrie is slowly growing into her FBI role and becoming a little more confident, but because she is so new to the bureau, she still has to defer quite a bit to her superiors. I'm looking forward to her being more independent in future. And I'm quite curious to see if Nora will be playing a much larger role with the FBI, based on how this book ended.
This time newly minted FBI agent Corrie Swanson is assigned what appears to be an uninteresting case meant to keep her busy: identify a 50-year-old corpse found
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in an old ghost town and determine the cause of death. Corrie brings in Nora Kelly to make sure the body is properly excavated. Removing the body leads to more puzzles to solve and an ever-widening scope that eventually encompasses the sordid history of New Mexico.I enjoyed the interwoven history of the Spanish colonization of New Mexico and the Pueblo Revolt. This lent a richness to the story that made it more satisfying. The new characters introduced in this book were also likeable and entertaining - Sheriff Wyatt and Corrie's supervisor Morwood. Corrie is slowly growing into her FBI role and becoming a little more confident, but because she is so new to the bureau, she still has to defer quite a bit to her superiors. I'm looking forward to her being more independent in future. And I'm quite curious to see if Nora will be playing a much larger role with the FBI, based on how this book ended.
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LibraryThing member terran
This is the second entry in the Nora Kelly series and I liked this one better than the first. I like the details of Nora's forensic research and her no-nonsense feminist approach to field work, camping, and basically doing whatever the job requires. Her "partner" FBI rookie, Corrie Swanson, is
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still a work in progress, but has potential. There is also a lot of interesting detail about the White Sands Missile Range and the original atomic testing. The final solution is totally unbelievable and put together at the last minute by Agent Prendergast, who should just stay out of the series as far as I'm concerned. Show Less
LibraryThing member nx74defiant
A pretty good thriller. I learned about Trinity - the first nuclear bomb test, and the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. There is a six shooter cowboy sheriff. An plot to steal the gold. Pendergast descending deus ex machina seemed unnecessary.
LibraryThing member CasSprout
A huge disappointment from my favorite authors. The female characters were treated poorly and while the plot was quite interesting, the execution was plodding. The ending was really unnecessary.
LibraryThing member DrApple
A corpse in a ghost town lead Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson to a deadly battle with the military.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2021-01-12
2021
Physical description
401 p.; 9.3 inches
ISBN
1538747278 / 9781538747278