Good day, dear readers,
If you enjoy history, crime, and some archaeology, then I have the perfect book series for you! The Nora Kelly book series by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, bring together a beautiful combination of the three main points. With the thriller aspects that are presented, the history, and of course, archaeology, the books draw you in, refusing to let you just put them down and walk away.
There is a new book expected in January 2027, which I am eagerly awaiting with very little patience. The books that are currently available will give you plenty of thrills, and maybe a re-read or two.
Check out my thoughts, and grab the books for yourself.
Thunderhead:
My Rating: 4/5 stars
Nora Kelly is trying to maintain her position with the university, and wondering if she is on the losing end. But a letter from her long-missing father puts her on a path that is going to lead to an adventure she could never have anticipated.
As they search for the lost city, the expedition seems beset by problems, and they are going going to get worse. But when the city is found, it exceeds all their expectations.
As they excavate, they are blown away by what they are finding, and beset by questions about why the site was abandoned, and the bones are leading to even more questions, ones which raise serious doubts over what they thought they knew about the native tribe.
What a read! I absolutely LOVED this book. I read it in one sitting, and could not wait to see what was going to happen next. If the next book is this good, I am going to have a new series to add my to my favorite shelf.
For those looking for a great thriller, with a bit of history and crime, then you have found the perfect series.
Old Bones:
My Rating: 4/5 stars
Another great installment in the Nora Kelly series! In this adventure, the team is following the steps of the ill-fated Donner party, with some new information. The idea that there might be a treasure involved brings a new line to the excavation as well.
Nora Kelly is ready for this adventure, although there seems to be something underlying in the camp that brings a level of danger, and that fear is soon realized.
I truly loved this book, and the case that was presented. While some liberties are taken with names in history, I appreciate the authors bringing the Donner party history into a new arena, and while giving a new life to the story.
The Scorpion’s Tail:
My Rating: 4/5
Another adventure, and another treasure waiting to be found!
When a body is discovered, accidentally during the arrest of a relic hunter, the FBI becomes involved in the case. Corrie Swanson knows immediately that she is going to need help, and calls Nora Kelly, knowing that her expertise is sorely needed.
Once the case gets started, the area that was being hunted by the relic hunter only seems to be the beginning, with a much larger treasure lurking in the background. With some surprising revelations about their dead body, and the trail leading in new directions, the team sets forth to try and uncover what is going on, the players involved, and maybe even a fabled treasure.
Truly another great case. I am really enjoying the series, and reading more about the New Mexico landscape. It is almost like going back home in a sense, and evokes some great memories about wandering areas looking for pottery. These books bring a great mix of thrills and history, along with the crime aspect really lends to a great book. I am enjoying the story lines and the pushing forward of the characters involved.
Diablo Mesa:
My Rating: 4/5
When she is presented with a different type of case, Nora initially refuses to get involved. With the changes that have been occurring at the institute, she is promptly fired. Ambushed in the parking lot by the billionaire himself, Nora is eventually convinced to visit the site, and then take the job. As they begin the excavations, two bodies are found, temporarily shutting down the site and they are removed and taken to the FBI for review.
Nothing though, is as it seems. Skip, Nora’s brother is taken into confidence by one member of the team, and then he promptly disappears, leaving Skip trying to explain what happened. But there is another complication about to pop up, and this one could endanger all their lives.
This was great, and I loved it! Everyone enjoys a bit of an alien read, and this one does not disappoint. I really loved the way the authors pulled it all together, and lay out a drama that can only lead to more revelations, hidden agendas, and come down to an explosive ending.
Dead Mountain:
My Rating: 4/5
A group of students disappear on the night of October 31, and years later, the case is still open, and many of the bodies have yet to be found. When a pair of lost hikers stumble across some remains, the case blows back up.
As they investigate, the FBI seems to be hitting brick walls, and are no closer to finding answers. Corrie Swanson is determined to solve the case at all costs, and brings in Nora Kelly to help excavate the remains. With trouble brewing with the local sheriff, and Skip in jail on trumped up charges, Nora is at the end of her wits.
This read was really good. I was reminded of the lost hikers of the Dyatlov Pass, and the mystery that remains around that. While many lose details on the case presented in this book mirror much of what happened there, the fictional version brought about a conclusion in this case. While one hopes that Dyatlov Pass might eventually get to a closed and final conclusion, it does not seem that will be the case. There are just too many questions remaining, and time is not always one ones side.
The Nora Kelly series continues to bring thrillers to the front, and leaving readers wanting more. I had to devour this in one sitting, as I could not put it down. I highly recommend this book.
Badlands:
My Rating: 4/5 stars
A skeleton, a body, and an attempted suicide all seem to point to one thing, a cult. As Corrie and Nora dive into the evidence and particulars surrounding the case, they are drawn into the world of a leader who has brought members into a cult, and now, they are in a rush to save not only the lives of the remaining members, but Nora’s brother, Skip.
Oh my, I really do love this series! I am enjoying the books so much. Going back into the New Mexico desert, and the different legends and native cultures that made the desert their homes. I have missed it, for years without realizing it, but the books bring back the fun memories that I had of roaming the desert looking for the different arrowheads and small pieces of pottery that were laying around.
But these cases, the history, archaeology, and crime natures that are all combined are a powerful force of bringing the reader into a world that captives and holds. It is hard to put these books down, and I hope that there are many more planned for the series. Some of the best that I have ever read!
