First Sentence: Dr. Marcelle Weingrau, president of the Santa Fe Archaeological Institute, slowly unfolded her hands on the glossy expanse of desk in front of her.

Opinion: When it comes to the writing team of Preston Child, I need to read with a dictionary in one hand and easy access to Google in the other. This team constantly teaches me something new and tends to send me down fascinating rabbit holes.

Archaeologist Nora Kelly, FBI Agent Corrie Swanson, which I must admit mixing up a time or two, and tech billionaire Lucas Tappan—an amalgamation of two well-known space cowboys—take their audience on a thought-provoking history lesson and the innerworkings of government agencies and dollars.

Once I picked up this book, I had a hard time putting it down unless I was searching Google. The flow and energy stay consistent, and the writing team keeps their readers on their toes. Will the subject matter make some readers roll their eyes? Possibly, but isn’t that what fiction, conspiracy theories, and wandering outside of our comfort zones are all about?

For those that are sensitive – the dog does not die.

Archaeologist Nora Kelly is approached by a billionaire to lead a dig in the desert near Roswell, looking for what really crashed there in 1947. At first she angrily rejects it, fearing that it will make her a laughingstock. Then she abruptly accepts. Advanced imaging techniques have shown some anomalies that need to be explored. A few mysterious and exciting discoveries later, things get strange. Then they get stranger. Then all hell breaks loose.

The characterizations are rather flat, but the story is exciting. Not a must-read, but not bad.

Nora Kelly is back again. She is roped into an archeological dig at the Roswell UFO crash site to mayhem and conspiracy.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

4.25 Hearts Another great book from these incredible authors. I love these authors separately but I truly enjoy them when they write together.

In the third book about Nora Kelly we are on the hunt for UFO’s. Yeah, you heard that right. Nora is set to look for a downed UFO from the 40’s but finds dead bodies. Enter Special Agent Swanson and everything Nora uncovers leads to more and more questions.

You can not go wrong with Preston/Child books. There is something special they bring out in each other’s writing when they are together. I highly recommend this series. You will never be disappointed in these two incredible authors.!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The writing team of Preston and Child is one of my favorites! And this was no exception.

Aliens, conspiracies, secret government agencies. What more could you want in a book and what does an archeologist have to do with any of those things?

You’ll have to read to find out.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Love Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, but not really big on the whole alien thing in any novels, so this ended up being just so-so for me.

Diablo Mesa is the Third installment in author(s) Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child's Nora Kelly series. The third installment in the Nora Kelly series reimagines the Manhattan Project as a clandestine arms race with even more intrigue than previously thought, concealing a tantalizing mystery. Nora faces a crisis of conscience when her nemesis, Dr. Marcelle Weingru, President of the Santa Fe Archaeological Institute, suggest that Nora take part in a UFO dig financed by billionaire Lucas Tappan of Icarus Space System.

You could legitimately call Lucas Tappan Elon Musk/Richard Branson because of everything that he's involved in. After being passed over for a much deserved promotion for her work over the past two novels, and putting her life on the line in uncovering dangerous secrets, Nora, in a moment of clarity, dares Weingru to fire her. She's had enough of being disrespected. She has zero desire of ruining her career on a wild goose chase. After being offered a first hand look at the Roswell site where an alleged UFO crashed in 1947 by Tappan, she's not really sure if it is something she wants on her resume.

After learning that her brother Skip has taken the job working with Artifact Curator Noam Bitem, Nora, as the primary archaeologist, accepts the assignment and is put in charge of the dig. The dig site is at a remote spot called Diablo Mesa, the spot where an alien spaceship is believed by some to have crashed - an event the government has tried to cover up ever since. When a pair of not so well-buried bodies turns up early on and it seems great pains have been taken to hide their identities, Nora gets suspicious. To maintain integrity of the site itself, Nora calls in her friend and FBI Special Agent Corrie Swanson, who is also a forensic anthropologist.

With a little push of encouragement from her supervisor, Special Agent Hale Morwood, Corrie's investigation uncovers a different facet of the areas intriguing history. Through a nasty turn of events, her mentor who was looking at giving Corrie more cases of her own, ends up murdered in a brutal way. Soon thereafter, she ends up assigned a new FBI mentor who may be more of a threat, than a supporter. Upon closer investigation, the reader will learn that there's a covert group that has been secretly kept intact since the first Roswell incident and it reaches deep into the NSA, FBI, CIA, and DIA.

When the dig resumes, it's fraught with mystery and danger. Nora unearths more clues that lead to more questions than answers and that puts her on a deadly path to previously said secret group. Neither Nora nor Corrie are about to quit or back down, at least until things start to happen that could force the issue and possibly even bring their careers to a permanent end. Nora and Corrie will face a Government cover-up, a secret rogue agency, spies, as well as history as they've never knew it before.

Over the course of the first two installments, Nora and Corrie's friend/mentor Pendergast showed up at the end of the story to prove his superiority. This time, it is all on Corrie and Nora to get themselves out of trouble with a little help from a Sheriff who Corrie may be romantically interested in. This story is reality based conjecture and speculation as to what really happened in 1947. Even though some secrets have finally been released due to FOA requests, and declassification of documents, it is or was either a secretive weather balloon that was testing for Soviet nuclear weapons, or it was an alien spaceship that crashed and skipped to another location.

Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child create a thrilling narrative around Archaeologist Nora Kelly leading a professional excavation of the Roswell site to uncover the truth behind the alleged alien visit. Please see my complete review at www.reviewingtheevidence.com.

Diablo Mesa by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child is the third book in a series featuring FBI Agent Corrie Swanson and archaeologist Dr. Nora Kelly. Having read the first two, I was eager to try the third.

I was not disappointed. But I did like the first two in the series a bit better. Here are the reviews:

Old Bones
The Scorpion’s Tail


Each is a well-known author but their collaborations are simply amazing. I’ve reviewed several books by this duo ( and have almost always completely enjoyed them.

I recommend Diablo Mesa and thank Netgalley for the chance to read it before publication. The book is expected to be published on February 15.

Nora Kelly, a top archaeologist in her field has just been fired at her job for not agreeing to work a dig on the old "Roswell" site but then is persuaded by billionaire Lucas Tappan to head a renown group of scientists to work on the project along with her brother Skip who had also worked at the Institute where she was terminated. Nora only believes in science and cannot even remotely wrap her head around the possibility of "little green men" or any type of extraterrestrial activity. It defies her logic as a competent scientist although she feels there could be ancient Indian artifacts buried within the area and with Tanners passion for his project she reluctantly agreed since she was out of a job anyway. Shortly after they begin their excavation they find the remains of two bodies that seem to be clothed in the fashion of the 1940's around the time of the "1947 Roswell Crash".

Nora contacts her friend in the FBI Corinne Swanson to come out and take them through the next steps involved of discovering an old crime scene so they may continue their work. Unbeknownst to the team they are being watched but by whom? They had the government's approval to conduct their dig at Roswell although Tanner feels there may be a mole within their camp. Before long one of their top scientists goes missing when he feels they are digging in the incorrect area and then they discover something unbelievable that is buried underground and just when they are ready to unmask their find a couple of military helicopters and several jeeps immediately flood their campsite armed with many guns and these soldiers are not friendly and have plans for the campsite and Nora's team that they could never have imagined and maybe some won't live to find out what is behind the discovery and why they are being invaded by their own military.

This was a very exciting and fast read (I couldn't put the book down). I didn't realize this was a third book in a series because it was terrific as a stand-alone but now I am interested in reading the previous books to get more backstory on some of the characters even though it's not necessary to understand and enjoy this action packed thriller. I highly recommend this story for any reader who has always been interested in the famous "Roswell Crash Incident" since it was extremely entertaining, fast-paced and interesting. Preston & Child seem to put out many great thrillers and I hoe to read many more in the future.

I want to thank the publisher " Grand Central Publishing" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a truly marvelous thriller and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I have given this book a rating of 4 1/2 EXCITING AND CAPTIVATING 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 STARS!!

*4+ stars for a great thriller read with a little science fiction thrown in. Nora Kelly is persuaded to lead an archeological dig at the infamous Roswell site in New Mexico by billionaire Lucas Tappan who has a fantastic team of experts and scientists assembled. Before they get started though, Nora insists that two bodies that have appeared on screens of the area be exhumed first in case this proves to be sacred burial ground. What they find will bring in FBI Special Agent Corinne Swanson from the Albuquerque Field Office and her mentor, Special Agent Morwood. Meanwhile someone is working behind the scenes to make sure closely-guarded secrets remain buried. Lots of thrills and chills make this latest Nora Kelly thriller a fast-paced read.

I received an arc of this new thriller from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.

Another winner in this thriller series featuring archeologist Nora Kelly.

This is the third installment and I feel it best to read them all, in order, to understand the background of the characters and the previous cases. This particular one takes the reader on a wild ride as Nora accepts a job to excavate an area that may hold a secret linked to the Roswell Incident, more specifically alien technology in the form of a UFO. An object crashed on property that is out in the desert and a tech billionaire hires her and her brother, Skip, to join a team of scientists there in hopes of finally putting all the conspiracy theories and coverup rumors to rest with a huge discovery.

What a crazy tale firmly in the “we are not alone in the universe” camp, but quite interesting even if very bloody. The narrative includes multiple points of view from a variety of characters and often hits the incredulity scale but definitely entertaining and fast-paced. I always enjoy books by this author duo and they always surprise me. I like both Nora Kelly and FBI colleague, Special Agent Corrie Swanson. The setting of New Mexico is well described and I always like all the details. I definitely learn something new in each book and look forward to their next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

I absolutely love this series. I get to participate in archaeological digs. I get to learn fascinating bits of history. I get to tag along with two intelligent, brave women, and-- last but not least-- I get to vicariously savor thrilling chases, narrow escapes, and plenty of quick thinking and derring-do. There are times that this is exactly what the doctor orders, and I can rely on Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child to serve up the correct dosage prescribed.

I have to admit that, although I loved Diablo Mesa, I'm not as passionate about it as I was about The Scorpion's Tail, and I think that's due entirely to the central Quest. My taste buds fire up more when served a tasty Native American and Spanish treasure than it does with a course of UFOs, but that's just me. (Although a certain one-word message did send a chill down my spine.)

Preston and Child can be relied upon to build fantastic plots as they have done here, but it's the cast of characters that brings everything to life. Nora Kelly and her brother Skip. The continuing maturation of Special Agent Corrie Swanson. Sheriff Watts of Socorro County with his pearl-handled six-shooters and Resistol hat. This ensemble cast sparkles, and can even have me laughing in the middle of a dire chase scene.

Once again, I've finished a Nora Kelly book with a smile on my face and resigned to the interminable wait for the next adventure. Bring it on!

Nora Kelly is back with another archeological mystery, this time at the behest of billionaire eccentric Lucas Tappan. However, there’s a twist: this isn’t an ancient burial site or the Donner party, this is Roswell! While Nora is initially totally against this expedition, she ultimately finds herself intrigued both by the dig and Tappan.

With rapid fire adventure, twists and turns around every corner, and an amazing array of characters - those already known and some new ones, Preston and Child have delivered another hit in the Nora Kelly spinoff. The only complaint I have truly stems from me: the knowledge both Preston and Child impart in this book went a bit over my head, which led to some difficulty following the storyline all the time. That being said, I am anxiously awaiting the next Nora Kelly book and am so happy the authors made this spinoff from the Pendergast novels with such a strong and intriguing character.

**Thank you to Grand Central Publishing, the authors, and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will release February 15, 2022.**

Can I tell you a secret?

I’m a huge fan of the Pendergast series. I love its blend of science, tech, outlandish theories, and often anthropology and archaeology.

But sometimes, it really hits me that the Preston & Child books that have stuck with me the most, that invite the most speculation, horror, and chills of dawning realization, are not their otherworldly books, but some of their solo titles, namely the Wyman Ford and Jeremy Logan books *Impact* and *Deep Storm*.

DIABLO MESA does a spectacular job of blending the detailed description of archaeological fieldwork that readers are accustomed to from these authors with a high-stakes plot that throws in plenty of sharp turns... with a dash of the extraterrestrial for good measure.

This latest installment in the Nora Kelly series starts off a little quicker than usual; often times I feel there’s far more buildup to the main event. I was also really intrigued by the choice of antagonist, or rather, his portrayal, as he feels more human than past assassins/agents in Preston & Child novels. While I didn’t feel as emotionally engaged as I have in past installments, I’m going to chalk that up to screen fatigue, as the reveals toward the end absolutely still landed. I can’t wait to see what Nora gets up to next and it’s my most fervent hope that Preston & Child will follow up on one on this devastatingly chilling ending and continue the plot thread in the next installment, even obliquely.

I haven't read the first two books in this series and I don't think that is a necessary requirement for reading this latest entry. Diablo Mesa starts out strong but quickly becomes formulaic. Little more than cut-out characters acting in predictable ways as a handsome multi-millionaire entrepreneur funds - and participates in - an archeological expedition to corroborate the landing of an alien space craft in Roswell, NM all those decades ago. Despite its predictability, the novel moved right along and I was beginning to enjoy it, that is until I reached 78% of the way through, when it became unnecessarily violent and unbelievable. It is unfortunate that this wrong turn obscures the most basic of the questions the book raises: are we alone among the millions of planets in our galaxy and the billions beyond it and, if not, are those alien civilizations friends or foes? It also raises questions about the value of preserving our humanity and our planet. I found the answers the authors provide to be a letdown as is this book, despite its strong start.

I received an ARC copy of #DiabloMesa from #NetGalley.

Fantastic read! There was so much going on in this one it's hard to review it without spoilers. It was nice to see Nora finally move on past Bill, and it looks like she's going to be much happier in future books. Corrie is also coming onto her own as an FBI agent, and was really put through a lot in this book. She pushed past it, however a feel that the loss she experienced will haunt her for a while.

I was a little disappointed there was no appearance by Pendergast, but given what happed in his most tecent novel (Bloodless) I expect he was more than a little preoccupied. I'm curious to see if any of the alien revelations in this book will play into the main series at all down the road. Only time will tell.

3.0 - 3.5 / 5 ✪

https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2022/02/13/diablo-mesa-by-preston-child-review/

Yeah, there’s a reason I couldn’t land on an exact rating for this one. Read on to find out why.

What makes a good series? After starring as a mainstay in Preston & Child’s Pendergast series for several of the first ten books, Nora Kelly was granted her own spinoff, and given her own co-star, Corrie Swanson, who played second fiddle to Pendergast in several more. The premier, Old Bones, was pretty good, but far from captivating, falling especially flat in its last third. A few leaps in logic really ruined what could have been a great debut.

Three-quarters of the followup, Scorpion’s Tail, wowed me. But again, the final hundred or so pages were quite a letdown. It makes some rather large leaps of faith with little or no evidence or justification beyond gut-feeling behind them. It was still an interesting read—just not a great one.

Which brings us to Diablo Mesa.

This one started out interesting. An excavation of the Roswell crash site? A possible government conspiracy? A bit of danger, adventure, and romance thrown in? Yeah, sounds like a pretty great read!

Which it very much was—for the first 75%.

Then it crashed and burned. Much like the alien spacecraft—I mean, “weather balloon”. And also like the rest of the series before it; all failing at the same point in each book.

So what can I really say about it? As it turns out, not a whole lot. Until that three-quarters mark, I was pretty much captivated. It was a great read; despite the obvious government conspiracy, despite the alien buildup, despite the kinda ridiculous romance(s), despite all the technical terms and archaeological process (take it from a former archaeologist: it ain’t interesting. Archaeology is a bit like war—99% of it is incredibly boring).

And so when it failed—at the 75% mark, like I KNEW it would—it was a disappointment. And so much of one that that’s most of what I remember about it, nearly two weeks later. Not the plot, not the thrill, not the conclusion (that really tried to turn that failure around)—but the failure itself. This one collapsed for the same reasons as those before it: gut-instincts and ridiculous leaps of faith. The resulting chaos was a mixture of bad plans and terrible logic, and the resulting fallout almost unbelievable chance working up to a happy ending. Happy, so long as your favorite character wasn’t any of the bit parts. In other reviews I might clock these as spoilers, but they’ve been done time and again in this series (and the Pendergast before it, at that), so I’ve pretty much come to expect them. So when I say that Diablo Mesa is a solid 3 to 3.5 star book, believe me that no one is more disappointed by this than I am.

TL;DR

75% of Diablo Mesa was gripping, thrilling, and a middle-finger to those two books before it. Or to most of the last half-dozen of Preston & Child thrillers. It was going to succeed where they could not. Not make the same mistakes, not falter in the final stretch, turn the entire series around and finish out an amazing story. But then. A leap of faith. Impossible logic. Another ridiculous, underdog story and a plan that would never work on paper but somehow ends up doing just that.

I mean… it’s really frustrating. This one fails in the exact same spot as the two before it. And even though the ending is actually, legitimately good—it’s not chilling in the way it should have been. Upon finishing Diablo Mesa I had the same reaction that I have writing this review nearly two weeks later: disappointment. Because it could have been great. But it was ruined for the same reasons, at the same time as those before it.

Diablo Mesa by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child is a very highly recommended excellent thriller and the third book in the Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson series. The gripping plot is engaging from start to finish and engrossing throughout. You can always count on Preston and Child to deliver an entertaining and satisfying story.

Lucas Tappan, a wealthy billionaire and entrepreneur, recruits archaeologist Nora Kelly and her brother Skip to assist a team in a scientific excavation of the Roswell Incident site. Specifically, they will be looking for artifacts at the site where a UFO purportedly crashed in 1947. When examining an aerial survey of the area, Nora detects an area that has indications of being a burial site, so this is the first section she digs up, uncovering two murder victims who were shot in the head and had acid destroy their faces and hands. Nora calls FBI Agent Corrie Swanson, who is assigned the investigation. Corrie has the added benefit of also being a forensic anthropologist. Nora continues on with her excavation of the Roswell crash site while Corrie's homicide investigation uncovers a different facet of the areas intriguing history.

The pages will fly by while reading Diablo Mesa, confirming why Preston and Child are among my favorite authors. This novel has it all. The quality of the writing is excellent. The action keeps moving and the tension and suspense remain high throughout the novel as the two different mysteries evolve simultaneously. Both mysteries and investigations are equally compelling and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Readers will know that there is more going on, which only serves to increase the tension as the mysteries take a turn to the covert, classified and otherworldly.

Nora and Corrie are both wonderful female protagonists. They are intelligent, strong, resourceful, fearless, and appealing. The two have worked together previously in Old Bones and The Scorpion's Tail, but Diablo Mesa can be read as a standalone novel, although you will likely want to read the previous two novels in their series after you read this one.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Grand Central Publishing.







The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Amazon.

Preston and Child grab you from page one and won't shake you loose until the very end!!! As always, if they're basing a book on fact, their research in in-depth and they apply the "real" and the "fiction" flawlessly!!