I have read these authors for many years and have been immediately pulled in but not in the one. Maybe it was the subject matter, but the authors’ voices weren’t quite as clear and strong as usual. I did enjoy the nod to Pendergast. Nice touch
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc

Since this was a Preston and Child book, it of course had, as always, an intriguing plot, interesting locations, exciting characters and excellent writing. However, despite a strong and compelling beginning, I was disappointed that so much of the narrative focused on UFOs. I would have liked the book much better if the plot was more about solving the mysteries of the bodies at the dig site and shadowy government agencies. While it had a lot going for it, especially the ending, it just wasn’t in the same league as the first two books of the series and I didn’t enjoy it quite as much. I still recommend it, though, and look forward to the authors’ next book.

My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

This new series with two female lead characters has all of the action-packed adventure, suspense, and history to make it a great read. The setting is used in such a realistic, meaningful way. It makes me want to travel out to see the sights myself.
Two things stood out for me that I didn't care for. I don't want to give anything away so suffice it to say, women don't need a man to save them and the authors seem uncomfortable with writing romantic scenes for women.
Other than that, this was an amazing book and I love the characters.

If there are two things I love, it's a new book by Preston and Child and alien conspiracies. I've really been enjoying the Nora Kelly series, and this one did not disappoint. Nora was still annoying but somehow that works for her. I liked that Skip was in this one more. It's fast-paced, action packed, and (as always) very well researched.

Another great book by two of my favorite authors! This time, the book was a bit more sci-fi than techno thriller, with Nora Kelly and the gang conducting an archeological dig at the Roswell site. As always, the plot was fast-paced, consistently entertaining, and had a decent ending. The only area that I wasn't 100% happy with was the final few chapters. The climax was okay, very action-packed, nothing wrong with that, but I just felt a few things weren't quite explained well enough and the denouement was too long and boring without answering all my questions. (If you read my reviews a lot, you'll know I have very specific qualifications when it comes to a good denouement.) I still prefer Corrie and Skip to Nora, who always seems a little too snooty and standoffish to really make me root for her. I used to really love Nora 10-15 years ago when I first read Thunderhead, but she is a lot less fun without her old counterpart, Bill Smithback. I'm still really excited for the next book in this series, but I don't think this book or the previous one, Scorpion's Tail, were as good as Thunderhead or Old Bones. Actual rating more like 3.75.

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This was a very enjoyable read. It can work as a standalone, but as an avid Preston and Child fan, I do have to say it's probably best enjoyed after reading all of the other Nora Kelly books.

This book is a fast-paced, action-filled read. It skirted the realm of realism at times, but that's nothing new for these two authors. The characters really shined in this book. Nora, Corrie, and Skip are amazingly deep characters who you can't help but root for.

The only downside to this book is that I felt like the ending was a bit rushed. However, I wouldn't be surprised to see another Nora Kelly book in the works or a Pendergast crossover that could help smooth some of the rushed ending over. I also wasn't a huge fan of the UFO premise, but that's personal preference.

Diablo Mesa by Preston & Child is another great addition to the Nora Kelly series. Action packed
from the start we find Nora leaving her job at the Institute and starting an archeological dig at Roswell,
financed by billionaire Lucas Tappan. Fast paced thriller that you won’t want to put down!

Another excellent book. I love these characters. Story is far fetched but what good reading. Highly recommend

Cold War espionage, a brilliant beautiful scientist, a sexy nerdy billionaire, aliens, the FBI, a super secret black ops group and a rescue pup, combine to bring you the latest engrossing read from Preston and Child. You think you know the truth about what happened in Roswell. Think again...Once you start you won't put it down. A great combination of science fiction, thriller and mystery.

To be absolutely upfront, I am going to reveal myself as a total fangirl for Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child: I’ve read every Pendergast book in the past 20 years, most of the Gideon Crew series, plus stand-alones from each other, including the non-fiction books — I think I lost count at 40+ books.I will even admit to subscribing to their newsletter which often has tantalizing previews and exclusive stories. I was thrilled when the dedicated Dr. Nora Kelly series began in 2019 with “Old Bones” after she debuted in 1999’s “Thunderhead” and then made supporting character appearances in 4 or so other books. So, of course, I’m here for the third in the series. I do know that Preston & Child series books can be read (and enjoyed) out of order. That’s the strength of their stories — having an in-depth background knowledge of the characters isn’t totally necessary because the plots are so amazingly well executed.

Also, if you’ve read any of their books, you’ll know that the supernatural is always on the edge of your sight line, so bring on the UFOs in “Diablo Mesa”…

An Elon Musk/Richard Branson eccentric space-exploring billionaire type has tried to employ Nora’s non-profit (and, therefore, needy) Santa Fe Archaeological Institute to excavate the infamous Roswell crash site in New Mexico. She’s skeptical and even furious when it’s obvious her acquiescence or rejection of the project are tied to her continued employment, her brother’s status at the Institute, and future research opportunities (yes, a tad blackmail-ish). Nora, however, still quits, only to be personally recruited by Lucas Tappan (the Musk type who does indeed drive a Tesla). Tappan offers her a non-needy archaeological non-profit to call her own. As soon as Nora starts investigating, it’s not little green men she digs up, but something entirely different, worthy of contacting the FBI. That adds Agent Corrie Swanson, also a forensic anthropologist, to the story. Corrie previously worked with Nora in the other two series books and appeared in about five other Pendergast books, but we don’t need the details for this narrative.

As the dig progresses, there’s much talk of discovering alien technology (this does drag on at times), but a bigger mystery opens up that engulfs both Corrie and Nora. This is an action-packed thrill ride of a story and Preston & Child deliver their best. You can roll your eyes at the UFO parts, but you’ll absolutely enjoy this book whether you’re a author fan-girl like me or a first time reader. 5 stars! Waiting enthusiastically for the next in the series.

I am so thrilled that Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley allowed me to read an advanced reader copy of “Diablo Mesa” in exchange for an honest review. I have a decades long track record of giving 4 and 5 stars to these authors and this time was no different.

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Little green men and green-energy, but no green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Preston & Child have written often about the southwest desert and know the proper landscaping.

Another very entertaining book with Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson as the main characters. Another take on Roswell, aliens, Russian spies, and how much the government knew or didn’t know about an alien spacecraft landing. Good story up until the end where the escape of the key characters was somewhat questionable and put together hurriedly.

Overall a good read and a strong 4-5 rating. Preston and Child do it again.

Archaeologist Nora Kelly is given a choice, either work on the new project investigating the famous "Area 51" for a multi-millionaire or get fired. She chooses "fired." She won't risk ruining her reputation as a serious expert just so that the institute can get funding. Investigating an alien crash site would ruin her professionally and make her a laughingstock among her peers. But Nora doesn't count on the strong will of billionaire Tappan and how far he'll go to get what he wants.

A healthy belief in alien landings, government secrets and access to restricted areas that only a billionaire can buy will make Diablo Mesa popular with readers. A group of characters who seem to come straight from central casting and unbelievable military tactics make this a less successful offering from Preston and Child.

Nora Kelly has been fired from the archeological institute she works for. She was passed over for a promotion and now they want to send her off on a dig at a site of a possible UFO. She is not interested fearing it will damage her reputation. In the end she ends up being talked into the research by wealthy investor a Lucas Tappan. This book has lots of twists and turns, conspiracy theories, suspense and a romance. It kept me turning the pages to see where it was going. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Diablo Mesa by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Nora Kelly is an archologist with strong opinions and a lack of tact. She successfully alienates her employer and an incompetent co-worker and then a potential employer. An Elan Musk clone gets her reluctantly involved in a controversial dig.
Tappan, the billionaire clone with an open mind and a good heart is a bit more difficult to accept than the Rosewell crash. Statistics can’t be ignored; it is inconceivable we are the only “intelligent” beings. On the other hand, a wildly successful billionaire being a “down to earth” good guy stretches the limits of credibility.
The two gun sheriff and the naïve FBI agency are crucial to the exposure of an expected government coverup.
I enjoyed the book and recommend it.

"Death is a mystery and burial is a secret." (Stephen King)

Well now........we have plenty of both in this latest offering by the dynamic writing duo of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Fasten your seat belts and gaze toward the heavens for strange flashing lights that zip along and disappear.

Nora Kelly, archaeologist extraordinaire, works at the Sante Fe Archaelogical Institute in New Mexico. There's been a shift in the pecking order that has left Nora feeling disallusioned and resentful. To add to her dismay, her boss has already set her up to be part of Lucas Tappan's team of researchers investigating at Roswell where the story of a UFO in 1947 is still being tossed around. Nora wants no part of this and quits. But Tappan, billionaire dabbling in his Icarus Space Systems, finally talks her into coming onboard. Nora's brother, Skip, walked out as well and joined the team.

What we have here is a fast-paced, action packed round of events like stepping into a sandy Black Hole in the deserts of New Mexico. Preston and Child know their stuff and they present this excursion into uncovering corridors that raise eyebrows into the UFO theories of the past. Digging in a certain area near Los Alamos reveals two bodies long dead. But there's something about this desert crypt that will give them mega clues. A call to Sheriff Watts, wearer of antique six shooters, and to Special Agent Corrie Swanson of the FBI will open this up wider than wide.

Even if you're not a UFO believer, the storyline is set up surrounded by a mystery of who knows what and when and who is burying dark secrets from prying eyes. Diablo Mesa is another fine notch on the Nora Kelly Series. belt.

I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Grand Central Publishing and to Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child for the opportunity.

I did not see that coming! Oh it’s a murder investigation, no it’s a sci-fi story, no no not really it’s really a tale of terror. Preston Child at it’s best.

Nora and Corrie are so good at being the archeologist and special agent. Both no nonsense women who maneuver over, under and sometimes around the best of their peers and colleagues. Read it. Enjoy it. With all the details that will you have you wondering what is this book really about.

Thank you NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of Diablo Mesa by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child and Grand Central Publishing. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. All of the opinions given are my own and have been given nothing for my review.

This series took a serious turn for the bizarre in this new installment, and I’m honestly not sure how I feel about it. I have always really enjoyed the anthropology perspective in this series, and the incorporation of random alien stuff felt very off brand. I enjoyed it well enough that I finished, but I’m hoping the next installment is not quite so strange.

Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This one started with a bang and then kicked it up a few notches. Wasn't really expecting an alien/UFO storyline, especially with Nora Kelly, who is very scientific and quite the skeptic. I also wasn't sure if I'd like it... but I did.

Lots of twists and turns. Lots of buildup. Lots of tension and knowing things are coming but not being able to do anything but observe (aka read).

I'd have totally given this one 5 stars, but there was a serious "plot armor" situation going on that made me reduce to 4.5 stars, and I couldn't round up. It takes some of the tension out of the end, really, and took me out of the story a bit.

Overall, another fantastic entry into the Pendergast-verse, this time in the Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson series. Pick it up, but if you're not going to read the entire Pendergast series, at the very least, read the first two in this spinoff before jumping in here.

Thanks to Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child, the publisher, and NetGalley for a digital ARC. Pr Santa Fe Preston and Child have done it again with another great Nora Kelly/Corrie Swanson mystery (# 3). I am a long-time fan, having met Nora in Thunderhead and Corrie in Still Life with Crows years ago.

Nora receives an intriguing assignment at the Santa Fe Archaeological Institute... to oversee a dig in Roswell, New Mexico. The dig is being funded by young billionaire Lucas Tappan, who wants to solve the mystery of the Roswell crash once and for all. Nora's reaction to the assignment starts a chain of events that leads to her uncovering two bodies in the desert... then FBI Special Agent Corinne Swanson gets called in. What will Nora and Lucas uncover in the desert, and will Corrie solve the mysteries that she discovers with the bodies?

This can be read as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend going back and starting with the first in the series Old Bones... while you're at it go back and read Nora Kelly's stand-alone adventure Thunderhead.