The first in the groundbreaking Nora Kelly series from #1 bestselling authors Preston & Child blends the legend of the Donner party with a riveting suspense tale, taking the dynamic duo's work to new heights.
Nora Kelly, a young but successful curator with a series of important excavations already under her belt, is approached by the handsome Historian, Clive Benton, to lead an expedition unlike any other. Clive tells his story--one involving the ill-fated Donner Party, who became permanently lodged in the American consciousness in the winter of 1847, when the first skeletonized survivors of the party stumbled out of the California mountains, replete with tales of courage, resourcefulness, bad luck, murder, barbarism--and, finally, starvation and cannibalism.
Captivated by the Donner Party, Nora agrees and they venture into the Sierra Nevada in search of the camp. Quickly, they learn that the discovery of the missing starvation camp is just the tip of the iceberg--and that the real truth behind those long-dead pioneers is not only far more complex and surprising than they could have imagined...but it is one that puts them both in mortal danger from a very real, present-day threat in which the search for the lost party, and its fabled fortune in gold, are merely means to a horrifying end.
The series
In the world of archaeology, few discoveries are as perilous as those tied to the past's darkest secrets. This is the world of Nora Kelly, a brilliant archaeologist whose expeditions often take her far beyond academic curiosity into the realm of gripping mystery and untold danger. Her journey begins with the search for the legendary remains of the Donner Party in Old Bones, a mission that plunges her deep into a world of historical intrigue, betrayal, and hidden truths.
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As Nora navigates ancient ruins and untangles the threads of forgotten histories, she finds herself drawn into deadly situations where the line between scientific exploration and life-threatening peril blurs. With each new mystery, she uncovers more than just lost artifacts; she unearths dangerous secrets that others would rather keep buried. The series moves seamlessly from one gripping adventure to the next, from the chilling discoveries in The Scorpion's Tail to the high-stakes action in Diablo Mesa.
Set against stunning backdrops—whether it's the rugged desert of New Mexico or the eerie remnants of ancient civilizations—Nora Kelly immerses readers in a world where the past and present collide. With its sharp focus on historical suspense, dynamic characters, and nail-biting thrills, the series weaves a complex web of danger and discovery. Each book unravels a unique puzzle, leading Nora into deeper, darker territories.
If you're drawn to tales where archaeology meets the unknown, where every dig brings new dangers, and where strong-willed protagonists navigate both physical and intellectual challenges, Nora Kelly will take you on a journey you won’t soon forget.
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