Old Bones

After reading "Thunderhead" (Nora Kelly #0), I liked the character and the writing enough to revisit her in this book. I wasn't disappointed and, in fact, this book was better than the first one I read. Kelly is both likable and at times obstinate, stubborn, and condescending - all of which makes her a very complete and complex character. In addition, Preston and Child introduce FBI agent Corrie Swanson, a rookie who is seeking to prove herself and to establish her own authority. Kelly and Swanson clash over what Swanson considers the fulfillment of her duties and what Kelly considers overreach by the rookie FBi agent. Their personalities clash as well and when Swanson closes down the excavation site of the "Lost Camp" of the Donner show more Party - what has been a highly successful dig and a real feather in Kelly's cap - the tensions become palpable. Grave robbers, dig site looters, missing treasure, and murder make for a page turner and the real plot twist comes when Swanson and Kelly have to join forces and protect each other from a group of murderers who will stop at nothing. A great read!! show less

Preston and Child's novel Old Bones sends the reader delving into the past in search of the infamous Donner Expedition's Lost Camp. When historian Clive Benton comes in possession of a rare journal he approaches Nora Kelly. He has the perfect pitch for Nora, and the Santa Fe Institute of Archaeology. The journal can help pinpoint the location of the Lost Camp of the Donner Party. If the Institute will field the expedition, shouldering the cost, there's a good chance they'll find the fortune that was also lost. Things are never simple though. Once the site is found, and excavation begins, things start getting squirrelly. Tales of ghosts, weird coincidences, crazy Christian grave-robbers, and a connection to modern murders begin to plague show more the group.

Preston & Child write true gems of thriller novels. Always well-written and well-researched, their novels dance the opposite side of the line from The X-Files. There may be spooky goings-on, but the reason is able to be explained scientifically. No ghosts, ghouls, or cryptids. Still all of the fun.

…'letting the history rise from the earth.' (Old Bones, Preston/ Child)
This quote resonated with me. I've been on excavations, and been to historic and prehistoric sites. You can feel the weight of the stories those places have to tell. As an archaeologist by training, I love books featuring excavations as a main part, and I'm fascinated by the Donner Party. I've been to Donner Pass before, and am planning another trip there soon as this pandemic calms.

The story thread with Agt. Corrie Swanson confused me at first. I kept trying to figure out the connections between Corrie's crimes and Nora's site. The truth was something so unexpected, yet so classically Preston and Child. Something stretching from past to present, promising the potential of a lethal weapon.

I enjoyed Nora's character. She's a force to be reckoned with, especially in protection of her sites. Corrie grew on me. She felt brash and short-tempered. Part is because she's a new agent, young, female, and in a male dominated career field. If she isn't getting flak for her age, she gets it for being female. She feels she has a lot to prove. I loved her tenacity! She was convinced there was some connection between her case, and the expedition. She stuck to that, and lo' and behold there was.

Highly recommended for fans of Preston & Child, of course. Also for those interested in the Donner Party, or novels featuring archaeology.

***Many thanks to the Netgalley & Grand Central Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. show less

I've always been an easy mark for a mystery steeped in history, and Old Bones is an excellent example. I grew up close to where the Donner Party started out in 1847, and that tale of being trapped by brutal winter weather in an unforgiving land and being forced to resort to cannibalism to stay alive has always held a strange fascination for me. Preston and Child flesh out (pun guiltily intended) their story with the history of the Donner Party, a bit of genetics, a marvelous wilderness setting, some archaeology, and-- why not?-- a bit of treasure.

The story is fast-paced, and I really enjoyed getting to know both archaeologist Nora Kelly and rookie FBI agent Corrie Swanson. Prendergast fans will be happy to know that he does make an show more appearance in this book, but it's really all Nora and Corrie-- and I am definitely looking forward to more. show less

Old Bones is the latest collaboration of authors Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. It's also the first book in the Nora Kelly series.

Fans of Preston and Child will recognize Nora Kelly from Cemetery Dance - the ninth Pendergast novel. I was happy to see her again - and that she will be getting her own series. Joining her is rookie FBI Agent Corrie Swanson - who also appeared in two Pendergast novels.

Preston and Child often draw on history and actual events in their books. In Old Bones, it is the ill fated 1847 Donner Party. Nora is approached by a historian who has found proof that there is a 'lost camp' in addition to the camps already documented. Further more, there may be a fortune waiting to be found at that lost camp. I am show more fascinated by archaeology and the idea that the past is just waiting to be uncovered. I wondered what Preston and Child had imagined for this latest.

The dig begins.....but so does trouble. Within a few days, one of the team is murdered. And Swanson joins the dig.

Settling in with Old Bones felt like rejoining old friends for their latest adventure. Preston and Child never disappoint. The plotting captured my interest, the action kept me turning pages and I liked the lead characters. And best of all, Pendergast made an appearance! But that's not to say that I didn't enjoy Kelly and Swanson. They play well off each other and make a good team - although they don't see themselves as such.

Another great easy read from Preston and Child - I always look forward to their books and will be eagerly awaiting the next in the Nora Kelly series show less

3.75 stars

Special Agent Corrie Swanson is a rookie FBI agent. After a few months of looking into cold cases, she finally gets a chance to investigate a current case. Someone dug up a grave, then was shot and left on top of that uncovered grave; the grave, itself, was robbed, but only the top half of the remains was taken.

Archaeologist Nora Kelly is given the chance to head out on a search for a “lost camp”. In the mid-1800s, a group called the Donner Party went missing in the mountains in California and most of them died after having cannibalized many of the others. The person who brought a diary to Nora (and her institution) with a good description of how they might find this camp is a historian and a descendant of one of the show more Donner Party.

Initially, these “stories” don’t seem connected, but of course, they are. Corrie has an inkling (though her superior thinks it’s a stretch) as to how they might be connected (but nothing concrete). Anyway, I liked both storylines. Both women are tough, though not always likable. I thought it was a good story, and I will continue the series. Nora Kelly has been in at least one of the Agent Pendergast books, as well, and he made an appearance in this book. I didn’t know the Donner Party was a real group, though the author’s note at the end tells us that some of the main “characters” that are part of the Donner Party in this book are fictional. I like these mysteries involving archaeology; I think it’s a nice mix. show less

For me, 3 stars is too high and 2 stars is too low. The story is well-written as far as detail and plots. Nora Kelly and Corrine Swanson are strong female characters. However, the end just left me confused and dissatisfied. Somehow, I felt that the reason the crimes were committed was not enough, and adding an unknown character to the epilogue was unnecessary. I will not be reading any more books on this series.

Book on CD narrated by Cynthia Farrell.

First book of the Nora Kelly series. (Note: She has made previous appearances in the Pendergast series.)

Nora is a curator at the Santa Fe Archeological Institute and is approached by historian Clive Benton with an opportunity to lead an expedition to find the Donner Party “Lost Camp.” The hook is the rumor of millions of dollars in gold coins buried at the camp site.

Meanwhile, novice FBI agent Corinne Swanson has been assigned the odd case of a grave robbery cum murder. Researching further she finds several other grave robberies, as well as a missing (and presumed murdered) young woman which all have the same connection: the victims were all descendants of one of the Donner Party members.

The show more body count goes up as a major spring storm is about to completely cut them off. Is the killer one of the archeological team? Someone from the wilderness outfitter’s team? Has someone been following them? And what about the ghost(s)?

Preston and Childs are great thriller writers. They keep the reader turning pages with short sentences and chapters. They increase the tension and suspense by moving back and forth between the two story lines, until they inevitably intersect.

I really liked Nora as a central character, and hope that she continues to work with Special Agent Swanson, too. And now I really need to start reading the Pendergast series! show less