Another fun installment in the Nora Kelly series. Nora and Corrie investigate a string of strange suicides that point towards a possible cult. The character development was a bit lacking in this one, but I always enjoy the science, history, and sleuthing. I look forward to the next in the series! Thank you to NetGalley for a chance to read and review this book.

Badlands, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Childs is a riveting historically-based story with plenty of mystery and action. It features Nora Kelly, known from previous books, and extends the interaction of Corrie Swanson, FBI agent. The book begins with the location of a skeleton from years earlier, and this strange suicide and unusual death is replicated later in the book, leading to speculation about a cult which eventually is proven to be realistic and frankly, unnerving.

Incorporated into the plot are an examination of the Gallina peoples who were active for about 250 years starting in around 1050 and an investigation of their possibly genocidal culture. The Chacoans are also part of the setting and plot, and the authors' look at the connections between and among the cultures are fascinating.

Two other characters of interest are Nora's brother Skip, a feckless adventurer of sorts, and his friend Edison. This leads to what is a sanguinary feature of the book which seemed a bit strong but provides context for the horror of the cult and subsequent witchcraft.

This book is compelling, educational, and fast moving, leaving the reader with plenty of questions. The authors' writing and examination of historical happenings is first rate, and the inclusion of the various "actors" is well-drawn.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

I want to thank Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. We have FBI Corrie Swanson catching a case of finding bones in the beautiful New Mexico area known as the Badlands. Because of things she finds at the crime scene, she brings in archaeologist Nora Kelly, and the investigation begins. Throw in Nora's brother, Skip, and his friend, Edison, going on an irresponsible adventure. Plus, there are Sherrif Watts helping again in this book. Add in the incredible way only Preston and Child can describe the scenery, history and ingenious people, plus some supernatural rituals and well folks, you have a really great book that you're going to want to read. Don't forget to look for a shout-out to our friend in New York as well.

Any book that Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child put out immediately goes to the top of my list. The Nora Kelly is always a series i look forward to reading the next book. It has everything you would want: adventure, archeology, death and fun. I always love that I end up learning something out of these fun and adventurous books. Overall well written and fun read!

I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Shooting coyotes on the run (2) while on horseback with a pistol is a site I would like to see. Forget that you're shooting over a horse's head right by their ears. This is quickly covered down by the authors as the horses simply being "shot familiar" from hunting outings. Ok. Another minor fail is when on the mesa, Corrie knows that the bad guy is handling Nash's Taurus Judge revolver, based on the assumption of Nash and Skips interaction with the fracking crew. Only, the roughnecks said that "the short guy pulled a gun on us" and were not specific. So, Corrie assumes the cultists have Nash's gun. One, that is a huge assumption and 2, why is this relevant?

The whole idea that adult, educated and successful people are involved in a cult of catatonic worship is really pushing the believability envelope. They are so controlled and programmed that they walk into the desert to die with rocks in their hands. The shjt gets more surreal with floating demons and magic flute playing that the story line is rendered farcical. Still, the writing is hypnotizing enough to place you in a rapturous state of worship, never questioning the failed logic. Oh, crap, I am a cultist!

So, get ready to suspend your disbelief.

I received this ARC for an honest review.

368 pages

5 stars

This book is an exciting entry into the archeologist Nora Kelly and FBI Agent Corrie Swanson series. This series is set in the rough country of New Mexico termed the Badlands.

A skeleton is found in the desert. Agent Corrie catches the case. The woman is unclothed, clutching two rare stones called lightning stones by the ancient Chaco people.

Corrie calls in archeologist Nora and the adventure begins.

I love this series. The picturesque New Mexico desert plays a key part in this book. The odd stone formations and rough terrain are vividly described. The heated atmosphere and relentless sun also play a part.

Corrie and Nora are likable characters. They have unique talents that compliment one another. I am frustrated with the Skip character, however. His lack of responsibility frustrates me.

The book delves into Chaco history, myth and spirituality. I found this especially interesting and educational. I also enjoyed reading the ending addendum about the foundation for the creation of this book.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure, crime and mythology - or just a great story.

I want to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for forwarding to me a copy of this absolutely great book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me this ebook ARC. I was so excited to see this fifth installment in the Nora Kelly series by Preston & Child! This is such a Great, Fun and Informative action series! And this, book five, is another great addition. I’ve read a couple books in their Pendergast series and am not a fan of that character. But then they decided to start this series starring two minor characters that occasionally pop up in that series, archeologist Nora Kelly and young FBI agent Corrie Swanson.
These books take place, and generally involve ancient indigenous American history and folklore, in the American Southwest. More accurately, New Mexico. It’s great that they end each book with an afterward, explaining what is based on true events in the story and what they added for dramatic effect.
My favorite character is the very smart, plucky and somewhat troubled, Corrie Swanson. I love reading how she goes up against and often outsmarts the bad guys and the power structure. She’s tough!
Badlands concerns the ancient history of the Pueblo Indians. Specifically, the Chacoan and Gallina tribes around 1275 and a possible cult that has arisen today, based on their beliefs. Young professional women seem to be committing suicide by walking out into the desert, shedding their clothing and laying down to die to die horrifically of heatstroke and thirst. Clutching ancient lightning stones in their hands. Corrie Swanson is tasked with figuring out what is going on. And soon calls in Nora Kelly to help with her archeological expertise. A Great addition to this series! Expected to be released June 3 2025.

Wow! Badlands is a truly thrilling thriller! It's not just the best entry in the splendid Nora Kelly series, it's one of the best books Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child have ever written! Yes, my friends, it really is that good. The opening chapter filled me with the same feelings I experienced when I first discovered the Doc Savage adventures thanks to Bantam Books. Badlands captures the very best things about those great pulp novels for a modern audience. This is one of those grand adventures you must read in one night. It's Nora Kelly's series but the growth of "Corrie" Swanson as a character is one of the best things in these books. She's come a long way from Still Life with Crows. Series fans and lovers of the genre will love the literary references the writers deftly sneak into the book. I know I did. Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love the Nora Kelly/Corrie Swanson series and Badlands is an excellent addition to it! I devoured this book in two days because I couldn't put it down. The mystery was very interesting, the pace was fast, and there was plenty of action. Some of the chapters towards the end were quite exciting, yet stressful, and had my heart pounding with anxiety! As always with this series, Preston and Child do an excellent job informing you about ancient cultures and history and making the setting come to life. It's always fun to learn while you are entertained. I hope the authors continue this series because I already can't wait to find out what trouble these characters get into next! Highly recommended!

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!

I have always thought that the mystery to be solved in this series plays second fiddle to the book’s setting. This new entry is no exception. The authors place the characters in New Mexico settings, and describe them so realistically that I felt I was there….the dryness of the desert….the heat of a blazing sun….the remarkable stark beauty of the land. Plus, the history of the indigenous peoples that made this place theirs aids in the construction of this narrative.

This book is scheduled to be published in June, 2025. I recommend it.

As a fan of the Preston/Childs novels, I always look forward to reading their latest books. Bad Lands has a very promising beginning with mysterious nude bodies found in the New Mexico desert. The FBI becomes involved and there is considerable time devoted to native memorabilia and people. This reader found the book very interesting and educational until it ventured into witchcraft, the supernatural and cults. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

Badlands by Douglas Preston; Lincoln Child. Fascinating, entertaining thriller. Action packed, fast paced, at times unsettling but exciting. Interesting history of the Badlands and the ancient tribes are incorporated into the narrative.

Thank you to the authors, Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

I’ve read most of the books by Lincoln and/or Child’s. I am not a fan of the famous Pendergras series as the character is too strange. That said I really enjoy this series. Both main and secondary characters are relatable and likable. The plots
do veer toward weirdness but that what makes these fun to read. I do hope they continue to write these.

This is Nora Kelly #5, albeit it should really sort of be Nora Kelly/Corrie Swanson #5 since the archeologist/FBI agent duo have been together for all five books (both of them have been in other books tangentially connected to the Pendergast series — only one mention of the NYC rogue agent as a mutual friend occurs). It’s a fascinating series with two very strong female leads who investigate independently and then usually combine their knowledge to solve the central mystery.

In this case, there’s the discovery of a body — a young woman connected to archeological academia who apparently just walked out into the blazing desert totally unprepared (although she should have known better) and stripping off all her clothes along the way. Her body is found with a pair of extremely rare green lightning stones, sacred Indigenous artifacts. There’s a mysterious billionaire who owns the only other known green colored lightning stones, and then there’s a second body that seems to have died under the same circumstances.

Preston & Child are masters of creating an atmospherically disparate, bleak, and remote landscape of hoodoo labyrinths surrounding the bodies, which adds to the challenges faced by both Corrie and Nora as they investigate. The authors also celebrate the new and elaborate technology available to forensics, which makes the reader feel like they have insider knowledge. There’s also a lot of historical significance regarding the Indigenous people of New Mexico that mixes in with the central mystery/crime.

This is still an action filled thriller that has your pulse pounding through the last nearly unbelievable chapters. Nora and Corrie complement each other and having Nora’s brother Skip and Corrie’s very close friend, Sheriff Watts, in the story, reminded me that I want this series to continue for a long time.

It’s not necessary to read the previous books in the series, but if you love this one (as I do), you’ll be delighted by the others. 5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES A mysterious dehydrated woman has green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Preston & Child accurately describe the New Mexico desert.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

BADLANDS [A Nora Kelly Mystery Book Five] is tremendously exciting and engrossing, an experience I've learned to expect from co-authors Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. These authors have an especial affinity for detailing the geology, geography, cultures, and aura of the American Southwest and of rural Mexico, balanced through viewpoints of multiple characters ("good guys" and "bad guys" both), and pulling in historical references to enlighten and vivify the contemporary timeline and plots. I found this exceptionally a "page-turner" and could not put it aside.

I’m always excited when there’s a new edition to the Corrie and Nora series. Two strong independent women, Corrie, an FBI agent and Nora an archeologist, have helped each other solve mysterious cases together. Their personalities and abilities complement each other as each case seems crazier than the last. When a woman’s nude body is discovered in the desert, her clothes strewn behind her, and two very rare artifacts in her hands, Nora and Corrie team up together to see why she committed suicide. When a second body is discovered, and ties link up to the Gallina tribe, who were all slaughtered centuries ago, the deaths become multi layered.. Could this be part of a cult, or what would possess these two highly educated women to knowingly sacrifice themselves in the desert? Mystical, otherworldly, supernatural all of these definitions apply. The history in this novel was fascinating. A page turner I could not put down. Thank you to the Publisher for granting me an ARC, and NetGalley.