The team of Child and Preston have been giving their readers well done novels for many years. The duo has the knack of formulating an interesting plot coupled with crisp writing making for a flow which captures the imagination of their readers. The current novel utilizes Corrie Swanson a relatively new agent of the FBI and Nora Kelly an archaeologist to tell the story of a plot originating centuries ago. The action takes place in an area near to and on the White Sands New Mexico military base. A mummified corpse is discovered buried in the cellar of an abandoned building in a New Mexico ghost town. Probably thinking that checking the body after so many years would be a relatively simple thing to do Corrie's supervisor assigns the investigation to her thinking that it would give her some more field experience with a relatively easy finish.
In her initial investigation Corrie finds evidence that would require the services of someone trained in archaeology and she contacts Nora who has worked with her on a previous case. Findings arise that indicate that the roots of what has been found date back about 400 years and initiating in the country of Mexico. A sheriff enters the investigation when findings indicate that the body may have been as a result of murder. He is a young man and a bit of mutual attraction begins between Corrie and him. Possibly something for the authors to continue in future books involving Corrie.
The book is an interesting one and does incorporate research done by the authors which peaks up the interest for the reader. No problem in continuing to look for and read novels by the team. They also have written books individually giving rise to the question of do they sleep?

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I see Preston & Child coming out with a new book, I make a dash to get my hands on it because I generally love whatever this duo produces, and The Scorpion’s Tail is no exception. This is the second installment focusing on Nora Kelly, archaeologist, and Corrie Swanson, newly minted FBI agent, and honestly, it’s even better than the first. The two seemed to really hit a stride in this novel as they’re drawn into the mystery of a man 70 years dead and the priceless artifact with him. The corpse may be long dead, but the case is anything but cold as Swanson and Kelly try to untangle the many threads connecting a corpse from the 1940s to a petty criminal in a desolate, remote ghost town in the American West to a 16th century priceless relic. Mystery, danger, suspense and two great female lead characters. Pick it up and clear your schedule.

I love the authors.

I love the characters.

I was…unfortunately kind of bored with the book.

This one was a bit of a miss for me. I just didn’t find our crime or our mystery all that interesting. I also (can’t believe I’m saying this) think they need to leave the Pendergast plays Hercule Poirot cameo out of the book. It adds almost nothing for me when he comes and basically ties up loose ends after 30 seconds of page time.

These two characters have so much potential, but need a little more edge, a bit more darkness, and just something more interesting to do.

I still enjoyed much of the book, but it left me wanting so much more.

*ARC Provided via Net Galley

Scorpion’s Tail, another thrilling ride from the dynamic authors Preston & Child, brings together archaeologist Nora Kelly and FBI agent Corrie Swanson once again. It also introduces Sheriff Homer Watts, a character I hope will be in future novels too. Set in the southwest, the ghost town of High Lonesome is so isolated few can find it. Which is why when Sheriff Watts finds someone digging there he’s very surprised, even more so when a body is uncovered. FBI Swanson is called in to investigate and quickly asks Dr. Kelly for help. This is only the beginning of the many surprises and discoveries the novel lays out, as well as fascinating historical history of the area, and its people. I learned so much I didn’t know about the area, its truths and legends. Combine that with two strong female leads, an interesting sheriff, and an amazing plot and it doesn’t get any better than this.