Helpful Score: 1
This is the fourth book in the Nora Kelly/Corrie Swanson series by Preston & Child. I had read the first three in the series and found them very compelling and enjoyable so I was definitely looking forward to this one. I was not disappointed. This one had Nora, the archaeologist, agreeing to help Corrie, the FBI agent, in exhuming some Indian remains found in a cave in the mountains of New Mexico. But as the cave is further explored, a couple of more recent bodies are found. These were identified as two bodies that were part of a backpacking trip back in 2008 where for some reason the mountaineers fled from their tent resulting in the deaths of six of the group with three others never found. Well two of the three were found in the cave. So what happened to the backpackers in 2008? Searchers found that the tent they were in had been slashed open on the side because something bizarre scared them and was apparently blocking the front entrance to the tent. The group fled in various stages of dress, some with minimal clothing and no shoes. They fled into a blizzard which was certain death for them. But why? Well, with the discovery of the two bodies, the case is reopened with Corrie as the lead FBI investigator. In the mean time, Nora and her brother Skip returned to the cave to excavate the two Native American bodies to return them to the Isleta Pueblo for burial. But the local sheriff does not agree they are within their rights so tries to stop them. This results in Skip being arrested for assault on the Sheriff. But was he really at fault?
I found this overall to be another engaging thriller in the series. What really happened to the backpackers from 2008 was really a bizarre story and the authors were able to really put some interesting twists to the story. Along with this is the side story of Skip's arrest and his trial with a very hard-nosed Native American as his attorney. The story kept me turning the pages although I did have some other personal matters come up while I was reading this so it took me longer to read than normal. I will be looking forward to the next in the series.
I found this overall to be another engaging thriller in the series. What really happened to the backpackers from 2008 was really a bizarre story and the authors were able to really put some interesting twists to the story. Along with this is the side story of Skip's arrest and his trial with a very hard-nosed Native American as his attorney. The story kept me turning the pages although I did have some other personal matters come up while I was reading this so it took me longer to read than normal. I will be looking forward to the next in the series.
If you liked the previous Nora Kelly entries, I recommend this one as well.
It's a good read - entertaining and plausible - but with a lot of stock characters: the laconic, by-the-book FBI agent supervisor, the crooked sheriff who has a whole town in his pocket, a prosecutor who can't tell truth from lies, and a villain bent on a coverup at all costs.
I must say, though, that I didn't guess at who was behind the crime and why.
It's a good read - entertaining and plausible - but with a lot of stock characters: the laconic, by-the-book FBI agent supervisor, the crooked sheriff who has a whole town in his pocket, a prosecutor who can't tell truth from lies, and a villain bent on a coverup at all costs.
I must say, though, that I didn't guess at who was behind the crime and why.
Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child's Nora Kelly series has turned into a must-read for me whenever I want some high-octane fun-- although I do wonder if Nora will ever turn Corrie down when she asks for help because, every time she says yes, she finds herself in a big mess.
I fell in love with New Mexico on a visit a few years ago, and I always look forward to what bits of that state's history these two men will use to fuel their story. Although Nora does help Corrie with the Dead Mountain 9 investigation, she finds herself pulled away by her impulsive brother Skip who runs afoul of a corrupt sheriff when the two help people from the Isleta Pueblo repatriate ancient remains found in the cave. Learning more about NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act) laws was very interesting, and I enjoyed how Skip was extricated from his dire situation.
The major storyline involving the Dead Mountain 9 uses Kirtland Air Force Base as a possible focus for Corrie's investigation. Watching Corrie and her new mentor, Agent Sharp, unravel all the knots surrounding the coverups of what happened during that blizzard fifteen years ago was a blast. I love how Preston and Child's minds work!
No matter how good the story, it wouldn't really work if the characters weren't up to the same high standards, and they are. Archaeologist Nora Kelly is the more seasoned of the two and keeps Corrie's worst impulsiveness in check. She also has valuable knowledge to bring to the table. Neither woman is someone you want to mess with when you're in the wrong. Nora's brother Skip is the class clown, the comic relief. Will he ever learn when to keep his mouth shut? You can count on me to keep reading to find out. And of course, there's Sheriff Homer Watts, the handsome six-gun-toting lawman who takes special care of his cowboy hat. He can be counted on to ride in and help save the day. Seeing these recurring characters develop is one of the best parts of reading the series.
This cast of characters is one that is determined to confront injustice, and watching how Agents Swanson and Sharp and all the rest bring justice to the Dead Mountain 9 is the icing on the cake of an extremely enjoyable read. I can't wait for the next book in the series!
I fell in love with New Mexico on a visit a few years ago, and I always look forward to what bits of that state's history these two men will use to fuel their story. Although Nora does help Corrie with the Dead Mountain 9 investigation, she finds herself pulled away by her impulsive brother Skip who runs afoul of a corrupt sheriff when the two help people from the Isleta Pueblo repatriate ancient remains found in the cave. Learning more about NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act) laws was very interesting, and I enjoyed how Skip was extricated from his dire situation.
The major storyline involving the Dead Mountain 9 uses Kirtland Air Force Base as a possible focus for Corrie's investigation. Watching Corrie and her new mentor, Agent Sharp, unravel all the knots surrounding the coverups of what happened during that blizzard fifteen years ago was a blast. I love how Preston and Child's minds work!
No matter how good the story, it wouldn't really work if the characters weren't up to the same high standards, and they are. Archaeologist Nora Kelly is the more seasoned of the two and keeps Corrie's worst impulsiveness in check. She also has valuable knowledge to bring to the table. Neither woman is someone you want to mess with when you're in the wrong. Nora's brother Skip is the class clown, the comic relief. Will he ever learn when to keep his mouth shut? You can count on me to keep reading to find out. And of course, there's Sheriff Homer Watts, the handsome six-gun-toting lawman who takes special care of his cowboy hat. He can be counted on to ride in and help save the day. Seeing these recurring characters develop is one of the best parts of reading the series.
This cast of characters is one that is determined to confront injustice, and watching how Agents Swanson and Sharp and all the rest bring justice to the Dead Mountain 9 is the icing on the cake of an extremely enjoyable read. I can't wait for the next book in the series!
