The Scorpion's Tail
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3.6 • 305 Ratings
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- $22.99
Publisher Description
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.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
When we started listening to this gripping thriller, we had no idea what the FBI, the first atomic-bomb tests, and a lost Spanish treasure all had to do with each other—but we couldn’t wait to find out. Forensic anthropologist Corrie Swanson and archeologist Dr. Nora Kelly are brought in to investigate the case of a body dug up on federal land in the New Mexico mountains. The long-dormant mystery immediately takes a dangerous left turn—straight into the territory of military secrets and priceless ancient artifacts. Book two in Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child’s riveting Nora Kelly series evokes the unique atmosphere of the American Southwest and Cynthia Farrell’s narration helps capture the region’s prehistoric and postatomic vibes and the high desert sun. A fun change of pace from the writing duo’s Agent Pendergast thrillers, The Scorpion’s Tail is an exciting modern mystery that can only be solved by traveling far into the past.
Customer Reviews
Good Storyline, BAD Narrative Delivery!
I continue to purchase these audiobooks based on the author’s previous writings. DEI has unfortunately worked its invasive tentacles into literary presentations!! You can’t make a woman sound like a man. It’s an anatomical construct that cannot be modified by having the woman try to sound like Linda Blair!!
Makes the dialogue and characters tough to follow!!
I’ve listened to some later audiobooks that got it right with a male Narrator.
Tanman 1369 5/25/24
Great story - unfortunate narration
As always, P&C deliver action and history. Once again, though, narration is just painful and distracting. Narrator makes the women sound plaintive and lame and actually turns Pendergast into a Brit at the end. Please just use Rene - even if it is a Nora or Corrie story.
Scorpions Tail
Intricate and intriguing! A great read.