This my first dabble with this author duo. And usually I'm a fan of archeology/relics/modern treasure hunt trope, where something old becomes sinister and death follows in search of it. This however just didn't cut it for me.

The story is about The Donner party, and their trip through US, and a sizable amount of gold they carried. There's a mystery of what happened to the gold, but also what actually happened to the party, how they all died off. A very successful curator is approached by a historian, who knows where the gold might be, and is enticed to go on this expedition.

Meanwhile a very young FBI agent, finds a connection between several deaths of one family descendants from this Donner party. And it leads her to the gold expedition. When the two ladies start working together, a lot bigger and more sinister plot reveals itself.

The story for some reason was dry to me. Yes it had cannibalism, and a dark plot, but eh. I wasn't thrilled through this ride. And the end was predictable and felt like it has been done before.

It was ok. Will probably not read the next in the story, as I just couldn't sympathize with either of the leading ladies.

Thank you to the publisher for my review copy.

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 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.

The story centers around Nora Kelly, a young curator at the Santa Fe Institute of Archaeology, who receives a once-in-a-lifetime proposal to lead a team in search of the so-called "Lost Camp" of the tragic Donner Party.

At the same time, rookie FBI agent Corrie Swanson is following the clues of a murdered grave robber.

Fans of Preston & Child will recognize both characters from previous novels involving Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast, who also makes a brief appearance in Old Bones.

But it's the two women who carry the story and Old Bones is a thrilling read. I loved the way the authors took two seemingly separate stories and blended them so perfectly.

I would give Old Bones a 4.5 out of 5, because it was a fun read but I'm not totally sold on the ending.

Full review at Zengrrl.com soon.

Dougls Preston and Lincoln Child have been writing good novels for a long time, both together and individually. When “Old Bones” came out last year as the first book in a new series, I knew I needed to read the novel and start on a new adventure with the due from its beginning.



Nora Kelly was always intrigued by the Donner party. The historical account of the group that got stranded in the mountains and had to resort to cannibalism to survive had a gruesome appeal to her. When she was approached by a historian with a proposition to excavate a Donner party site, Nora was quick to accept. She traveled to the Sierra Nevada Mountains and meets the group that she will be working with on the site. It becomes clear, though, the historical value of the site is only one small part of why she is there and the real reason my not just be the chance of a lifetime. It my end her life.



While the expedition may have some archeological value, Nora soon learns that the main driving force behind it is the legend of gold that was being carried by the Donner party. Research suggested that there could be a potential fortune somewhere near the camp. With fortune often comes greed and even murder so Nora finds that there are those who are willing to kill for the Donner party gold. She must race against time to solve the mystery of the party as well as uncover the gold before she becomes the killer’s next victim.



When I pick up a novel by Preston and Child, I expect a well-written and researched thriller. “Old Bones” does not disappoint on these levels. There is a lot of research that went into the forming of the novel to make in entertaining and informative. What makes the duo shine is their ability to give their tales a feeling of reality even it is far removed from reality and this novel does this well. It is based on history and made me feel as if I was learning something while being entertained (even though I cannot vouch for the accuracy of what is presented in the story). This gives the story a smart feel that is lacking in a lot of thrillers. Throw in realistic characters and all of the elements for a great thriller are present.



“Old Bones” was much as I expected as a smart and entertaining thriller. It is not my favorite novel from the writing duo, maybe in part since the Donner party has never been a favorite of mine, so other readers my enjoy it more than I did. I thought the story was a little slow at times but was overall satisfying in the end. the action is little slower to develop than I would have liked but the book did entertain overall and I look forward to seeing where this character will go in the future. This book is recommended for fans of Preston and Child, historical fiction, and the Donner Party.



I would like to thank Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for this review copy. “Old Bones” is available now.

I am a huge fan of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child and have literally read all of their books. While this one was a bit different from their Pendergast novels, I enjoyed it. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this.

RATING: 3 STARS
2019; Grand Central Publishing

Please note: While this is the first book in the Nora Kelly series, it is a spin-off from the Pendergast series (Relic - Book 1). I have not read the Pendergast series so I am not sure how connected they are, but there is hints that Nora Kelly has appeared in past books. Also, while this is listed as "Nora Kelly" series, it looks like it should be called Kelly and Swanson series.

I read and enjoyed Preston's The Codex so I have been wanting to read more of his books for years. I did try reading The Relic a few times, but the book just did not work for me, and I have not moved forward in that series. It is one I would like to try again with book two at least. When I saw there was a new series coming out, I was so excited to read it. In Old Bones, we have a rookie FBI agent, Corrie Swanson, who specialized in forensics and is chomping at the it to sink her teeth in an active case. She has been sifting through cold cases and wishes to prove herself with a new challenge. Her boss gives her a case hoping to get her off his back and keep her busy. Corrie looks into a death of man found in grave of someone long dead. She links him to cases with similar surnames and circumstances. This lead her to an expedition led by a young curator at the Santa Fe Institute of Archaeology, Nora Kelly Nora was approached by Historian Clive Benton, to help him find the "Lost Camp" of the Donner Party.

"This was a group of pioneers who earned a terrible place in American history when they became snow-bound in the California mountains in 1847, their fate unknown until the first skeletonized survivors stumbled out of the wilderness, raving about starvation, murder-and cannibalism."
What was supposed to be a rountine expedition in locating and excavating the lost camp and seeing what new secrets they can uncover, turns out to be a dangerous and deadly trek.

I enjoyed the two main characters, strong female leads in impressive careers, that are also trying to navigate in a more male dominated environment. I also liked the mix of historical facts with the fictionalized history as it helped the story along. I rated it three stars as it was an enjoyable read, but I found it dragging in some parts and at times overly drawn out in explanations. I also didn't like that I didn't know this was a spin-off, as I felt a bit left out when Pendergast made his appearance. I was not sure who he really was and his impact in the story. As a new reader he felt unnecessary to the story. Although, I am sure fans of the Pendergast series would love his presence in the book. I will not be continuing the series until I read the Pendergast series, just in case he appears again.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

There are people who will take shortcuts, and if you decide to take a shortcut, it usually backfires... - Kenny Smith

This is the first book in a new series about archaeologist Nora Kelly. I have enjoyed almost all of the books written by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, both as a writing team and their solo works. I especially like the Pendergast long-lived series.

This book starts out as historian Clive Benton approaches Nora Kelly with an unusual proposition. He is a descendant of one of the members of the infamous Donner party and he has recently found documentation outlining the location of a Lost Camp in the High Sierras where supposedly some of the Donner party ended up.

Nora is interested enough to take Clive to meet the director of the Santa Fe Archaeological Institute, who she works for. Clive throws another surprise on the table - there might be fortune at this camp.

This was a fun, exciting adventure story. It moved quickly and definitely had some twists I wasn't expecting.

If you've liked other books by these authors, I highly recommend this one.

I received this book from Grand Central Publishing through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

Old Bones is the first book in their Nora Kelly mystery series. Nora, who longtime fans will recognize from Preston and Child’s Special Agent Pendergast novels, has returned to the American Southwest to continue her work as an archaeologist. When she is approached to lead an expedition to uncover the lost camp of the Donner Party, she doesn’t expect to find herself in the middle of a string of murders and grave robbings. Partnered with longtime fan favorite Corrie Swanson, now a rookie FBI agent, they must solve the case and figure out just what the killer wants with all of those skulls…

I really enjoyed this book and will be looking for future titles in the series. The conclusion was maybe a bit obvious but I really liked watching Nora and Corrie work together and hope to see their partnership continue in future books.

Old Bones
by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Reading this novel I felt betrayed. I was expecting (and hoping for) a Pendergast novel. Failing that, a Gideon Crew thriller. But, to my surprise, Pendergast doesn't make an appearance in Old Bones until the very end of the book, I read Old Bones by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child courtesy of NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing. I admit I am at fault for not paying more attention to the cover blurbs.

A young curator at the Santa Fe Institute of Archaeology, Nora Kelly, is offered the opportunity to search for the lost camp of the tragic Donner Party. The pioneers disappeared in 1847 after becoming snow-bound in the California mountains. Nora is given the long-sought diary of one of the victims which has an somewhat vague description of their last camp. Her task is to find and then excavate the camp, collecting bones and whatever else in hopes of discovering the truth about what happened . But, of course, everything is not as it seems and before we know it, Nora and her team expose the real truth of what happened, - a truth that is far more shocking and bizarre than mere cannibalism. And when those ancient horrors lead to present-day violence on a grand scale everyone is at risk of death.

Okay, what everyone is wondering... is it as good as their other novels? No, I do not think it is, but its not horrible either. I may be biased as I am a huge Pendergast fan. Old Bones is an interesting read, but it drags in spots and lacks the wonderful tension and suspense of their other series. I never felt compelled to keep reading as so much of the book felt contrived.

Preston & Child are always strong authors that produce heart pounding suspenseful novels. They deliver smart characters with enough mystery that keep you going until the last page. I was happy to read a Nora Kelly story. However, I felt this had some slow parts in the middle of the story. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and authors for this ARC.

I have loved every one of Preston & Child's combined books, and was so excited to see they have started a new series about Nora Kelly. And I was so excited to see that Corrie is in this book too! (And a cameo by Special Agent Pendergast makes it divine!) This is a fantastic, "can't - put- it- down - to- go- to- sleep" book. So I recommend only starting it on a weekend where you don't have to get much done.

Old Bones is the first in a new spin-off series featuring archaeologist Nora Kelly. Nora Kelly first appears in Thunderhead, which is a stand alone, and also appears in Cabinet of Curiosities, Book 3 in the Pendergast series. It's been a while since I read either of those books, but I remember I really enjoyed them. In this first book, Nora is convinced to lead an expedition of find the lost camp of the Donner Party. Rumor has it that there is buried treasure. Once they get out into the wilderness, things quickly begin to go wrong.

I have always been fascinated by the Donner Party tragedy. I thought this was a good take on the story. The mystery was engaging and kept me guessing. I was expecting more of a supernatural element, but it really isn't there. I think if you go into this knowing that, you will enjoy it more. I liked Nora as a main character. She is definitely someone that I would want to read about again in the future. I do hope that she teams up with FBI agent Corrie Swanson again. I liked how they played off of each other.

Reading this book reminded me of how much I love this writing duo. I really want to go back and read all of the Pendergast books. There are a lot, so it will take some time to catch up. For now, I do recommend this mystery. I know fans of these authors will love this book.

In Old Bones, bestselling authors Preston & Child tackle the myth and legend surrounding the Donner Party, a group of pioneers who set out from Missouri in 1846. They followed the Oregon Trail, bound for California. But the brutal Sierra Nevada winter arrived early that year, trapping them on the high pass (Donner Pass) near Truckee Lake, which would later become known as Donner Lake. They ran out of food, and some members of the party set out on foot to seek help. The first rescuers were unable to reach those who remained behind until February 1847. Many of the party succumbed to starvation and sickness, and some of those who survived did so only by resorting to cannibalism, making their ordeal one of the most notorious and tragic in the history of the settlement of the west.

The story opens with a series of grave robberies. And a seemingly unrelated theft from the Donner House before it is demolished. That house belonged to the daughter of Jacob Donner, a member of the Donner Party. Preservationists lost the battle the save the home, and bulldozers are about to raze it to make way for condominiums and a golf course along the Bear River when a stranger sneaks in and retrieves an old journal.

When Clive Benton claims that the journal is that of Tamzene Donner, the wife of the leader of the Donner Party, Nora Kelly is intrigued. Benton contends that the diary identifies all of the persons who were stranded at the Lost Camp and includes a description of the camp's location. The Lost Camp has never been discovered and the chance to find valuable archaeological evidence of exactly what transpired there more than a century ago excites Nora once she hears Benton's underlying thesis. Benton maintains that members of the Donner Party were transporting treasure that has never been found and may well be in the vicinity of the Lost Camp. Nora's boss, director of the Institute, is persuaded that the Institute should fund the expedition.

Meanwhile, Corinne Swanson, a neophyte FBI agent, is finally assigned to investigate her first homicide case. But when she finally lands that assignment, she has no idea that she will find herself on horseback in the remote Sierra Nevada mountains, wrapped up in a mystery that is more than a century old. Corinne was a Goth teen with purple hair and attitude, so she is able to relate to a troubled teenage boy that she encounters in the course of investigating his sister's disappearance. Corinne found her way to the FBI via Pendergast, and is able to relate to the youngster with whom her interactions are authentic and touching.

Preston and Child use real members of the Donner Party and actual aspects of their story to craft a fast-moving thriller. Nora is still grieving her husband, devoted to her work, and determined that the expedition comply with strict protocols. She is compelled by her professionalism and awareness that if the expedition is a success, she will have contributed to extremely important discoveries. She is accompanied by not just Benton, whose credentials and motives seem legitimate, but the former lawyer who resides in the areas and puts together the team that leads them through the treacherous terrain to the campsite where the excavation will take place. They are an eclectic, mysterious group and it is soon clear that each is a suspect when things start to go horribly wrong.

The subject matter is handled with sensitivity by Preston & Child, who point out, through several characters, that the expedition has found its way to hallowed ground -- grave sites -- and the remains they discover must be handled with respect. One character takes that approach to an unfortunate extreme. Before long, bodies are literally piling up -- some from the 1800's, but the recent deaths are alarming as Nora realizes that she is in grave danger and Corinne finds her way to the camp where Preston & Child expertly meld the seemingly disparate mysteries into one cohesive, frightening, and shocking conclusion.

Preston & Child never disappoint, and Old Bones is a promising start to a new series featuring Nora and Corinne who are both featured in prior novels but meet for the first time in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Old Bones
Nora Kelly #1
Preston & Child
Grand Central Publishing, August 2019
ISBN 978-1538747223
Hardcover

We’ve met Nora Kelly before in some of the Pendergast novels and I’ve always liked her so I’m delighted she has her own series now. Along with Nora, we meet another character from the past, Corrie Swanson, who used to be a Goth teen with purple hair and attitude. Her connection to Pendergast when he hired her to drive him around during a case led her to become an FBI agent and she’s still trying to corral her mouthy rebellious streak.

When historian Clive Benton convinces archaeologist Nora Kelly and her employer, the Santa Fe Archaeological Institute, to undertake a search for and excavation of the Lost Camp, an offshoot of the Donner Party’s known snowbound locations, no one expects the FBI to intervene in the dig on site. Agent Corrie Swanson has been investigating the possible ties among a string of grave robberies and a missing person and has, perhaps precipitously, connected them to the dig. Her arrival at the site leads to a shutdown and murders and she and Nora are forced to work together to find the killer(s).

Although the identity of the killer(s) was a bit too predictable, I thoroughly enjoyed Old Bones and relish the promise of more collaborations between Nora and Corrie with a little Pendergast thrown in 😉

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, October 2019.

I’m sorry but I could not finish this book. It started too slow and did not grab my interest. I have read Preston and child. But this one just didn’t do it for me. I will not post this online. This could be someone else’s favorite book.

I was really excited to start this new series as I love the Pendergast series. But unfortunately it was a bit disappointing. I found this story boring and it didn't hold my attention at all. Almost didn't finish it. I don't know if I will attempt the next one but I won't be recommending them, sorry to say. I'll stick to Agent Pendergast.

A great adventure story in typical Preston/Child excellence! I have read and loved the Pendergast and Gideon Crew series, and this new one with Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson did not disappoint. Looking forward to more adventures from these two tough gals! (Enjoyed having Aloysius pop in at the end.)

I thoroughly enjoyed this spin-off of the Pendergast series. Strong characterization drew me in and the historical references were fascinating. I hope to enjoy many more novels in this series!

Having recently finished “Old Bones” by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, I am happy to have had the chance for the preview; thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing!

This was my first Preston & Child novel (ever) and WOW did I get sucked into this fast moving adventure/quest. Being a history buff I really enjoyed the archeology and Donner Party details. When the mystery aspect entered the story line I was curious to see how all the dots would connect. When they did… I closed this book for the final time with a sigh of contentment and ready for the next story in this new series.

I always look forward to the Pendergast novels, but this story belongs to two women, who though they have worked with Pendergast before, have never actually met. Nora, is an archiologist, who is asked to undertake a very unusual dig. Corrie, is a newly minted FBI agent, undertaking her first case. A case that will bring her to Nora's dig, seeking answers.

Okay, so this book has the lost camp of the Donner party, cannibalism, a secret stash of gold, grave robbers, and some important people who turn out to be, well very corrupt. Fast paced, intriguing, but then again I always find anything to do with the Donner party fascinating. Love that the women are in charge, both are great characters. Plus, I loved the surprise at the end. Hope these two team up again in future endeavors.

ARC from Netgalley.