A Story That Will Quickly Catch Your Attention
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
#1 New York Times bestselling authors Preston & Child return in the latest installment of the bestselling series featuring renowned archaeologist Nora Kelly and FBI Agent Corrie Swanson, who investigate a mystery so enigmatic it may have no solution.
In 2008, nine mountaineers failed to return from a winter backpacking trip in the New Mexico mountains. At their final campsite, searchers found a bizarre scene: something had appeared at the door of their tent so terrifying that it impelled them to slash their way out and flee barefoot to certain death in a blizzard. Despite a diligent search, only six bodies were found, two violently crushed and inexplicably missing their eyes. The case, given the code name “Dead Mountain” by the FBI, was never solved.
Now, two more bodies from the lost expedition are unexpectedly discovered in a cave, one a grisly suicide. Young FBI Agent Corrie Swanson teams up with archaeologist Nora Kelly to investigate what really happened on that fateful trip fifteen years ago—and to find the ninth victim. But their search awakens a long-slumbering evil, which pursues Corrie and Nora with a vengeance, determined to prevent the final missing corpse from ever coming to light.
- Publisher : Grand Central Publishing
- Publication Date : August 22, 2023
- Hardcover : 400 pages
My Thoughts
This story started with a situation that caught my attention and wouldn’t let up. I was guessing and trying to help them solve the mystery throughout. At one point I was sure I had it figured out, and I was even a bit disappointed that it was so simple but, oh silly me, these great authors had much more in store.
Fifteen years ago a group camping in the mountains experienced something that caused them to run helter-skelter from their tent. Though it was snowing some departed so quickly that they didn’t have shoes or warm clothing on. Later some of the bodies were located, and others were unaccounted for. Eventually, this became an unsolved mystery.
Though I’ve read one other book in the series, I’m sure I would have enjoyed this even more if I’d been more familiar with some of the characters, though I had no trouble treating this as a standalone.
The case ends up being reopened when Native American artifacts and remains, plus the remains of two of the campers are discovered in a cave. But that still doesn’t account for all of the campers.
There was information interwoven regarding Native American traditions, which was interesting. And Nora’s brother Skip comes in to play. Both were worked in and didn’t really distract from the campers and the reopening of the case.
For the most part, I was turning pages and fully engaged with the story.
My Concerns
The end felt somewhat abrupt, and though it was suspenseful and exciting, the timing was pretty far-fetched.
Final Thoughts
–Fast Start
–Engaging Characters
–Interesting Plot (Centers around an unsolved case based on the real-life events of the Dyatlov Pass Incident, in which nine hikers died under mysterious circumstances in 1959.)
–Good Writing
If you are looking for a series that will keep you hooked and on the edge of your seat, look no further.
My thanks to Grand Central Publishing for a #gifted copy.
4 1/2 stars rounded up to:
About the Author
Douglas Preston is the author of thirty-six books, both fiction and nonfiction, twenty-nine of which have been New York Times bestsellers, with several reaching the number 1 position. He has worked as an editor at the American Museum of Natural History in New York and taught nonfiction writing at Princeton University. His first novel, RELIC, co-authored with Lincoln Child, was made into a movie by Paramount Pictures, which launched the famed Pendergast series of novels. His recent nonfiction book, THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE, is also in production as a film. His latest book, THE LOST CITY OF THE MONKEY GOD, tells the true story of the discovery of a prehistoric city in an unexplored valley deep in the Honduran jungle. In addition to books, Preston writes about archaeology and paleontology for the New Yorker, National Geographic, and Smithsonian. He is the recipient of numerous writing awards in the US and Europe, including an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Pomona College. He currently serves as president of the Authors Guild, the nation’s oldest and largest association of authors and journalists.
The thrillers of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child “stand head and shoulders above their rivals” (Publishers Weekly). Preston and Child’s Relic and The Cabinet of Curiosities were chosen by readers in a National Public Radio poll as being among the one hundred greatest thrillers ever written, and Relic was made into a number-one box office hit movie. They are coauthors of the famed Pendergast series and their recent novels include Crooked River, Old Bones, Verses for the Dead, and City of Endless Night.
In addition to his novels, Douglas Preston writes about archaeology for The New Yorker and National Geographic magazines. Lincoln Child is a Florida resident and former book editor who has published seven novels of his own, including bestsellers such as Full Wolf Moon and Deep Storm.
Readers can sign up for The Pendergast File, a monthly “strangely entertaining note” from the authors, at their website, http://www.PrestonChild.com. The authors welcome visitors to their alarmingly active Facebook page, where they post regularly.
