Old Bones

Douglas Preston · Lincoln Child

Aug 2019 · Nora Kelly Book 1 · Hachette Audio · Narrated by Cynthia Farrell

About this audiobook

The #1 NYT bestselling authors Preston & Child bring the true story of the ill-fated Donner Party to new life in this thrilling novel of archaeology, history, murder, and suspense.
Nora Kelly, a young curator at the Santa Fe Institute of Archaeology, is approached by historian Clive Benton with a once-in-a-lifetime proposal: to lead a team in search of the so-called "Lost Camp" of the tragic 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.

Benton tells Kelly he has stumbled upon an amazing find: the long-sought diary of one of the victims, which has an enigmatic description of the Lost Camp. Nora agrees to lead an expedition to locate and excavate it-to reveal its long-buried secrets.

Once in the mountains, however, they learn that discovering the camp is only the first step in a mounting journey of fear. For as they uncover old bones, they expose the real truth of what happened, one that is far more shocking and bizarre than mere cannibalism. And when those ancient horrors lead to present-day violence on a grand scale, rookie FBI agent Corrie Swanson is assigned the case...only to find that her first investigation might very well be her last.

Ratings and reviews

A harsh spotlight on the dark underpinnings of the human heart, distorted scientific intent, the taming of the west and the adventures that lie hidden in every story, whether it be a blended footnote of truth and fiction or otherwise. The (very) brief presence of Pendergast with his odd eccentricities and astute observations lends to the story's finality in a manner fitting to a Douglas and Preston novel. Well done, all.

Yet another great book by these two! My only complaint is the woman they got to read it. She's not good and all her "guy" voices sound exactly the same making it a little confusing when two male characters are talking but other than that I loved it.

I enjoyed yet another great book by Preston and Child. They tie this series into the Pendergast Universe with ease just like other stand alone books. I'm eager to see what other characters will appear in this series. Thank you authors!

About the author

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 Verses for the Dead, City of Endless Night, The Obsidian Chamber, and Blue Labyrinth. In addition to his novels and nonfiction works (such as The Lost City of the Monkey God), 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 such bestsellers as Full Wolf Moon and Deep Storm.
Readers can sign up for The Pendergast File, a monthly "strangely entertaining" newsletter from the authors, at their website, www.PrestonChild.com. The authors welcome visitors to their Facebook page, where they post regularly.