The Scorpion's Tail (Nora Kelly, 2)

Product 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.
Review
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 accou