The Scorpion's Tail

By: Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child

Narrated by: Cynthia Farrell

From #1 bestselling authors Preston & Child comes a thrilling novel following archaeologist Nora Kelly and FBI Agent Corrie Swanson as they work together to solve a twisted crime that reaches far beyond any of their worst fears.
Following the acclaimed debut of Old Bones, this second "happily anticipated" new thriller in Preston & Child's series features Nora Kelly, archaeologist at the Santa Fe Archeological Institute, and rookie FBI Agent Corrie Swanson, as they team up to solve a mystery that quickly escalates into nightmare (Booklist).

A mummified corpse, over half a century old, is found in the cellar of an abandoned building in a remote New Mexico ghost town. Corrie is assigned what seems to her a throwaway case: to ID the body and determine cause of death. She brings archaeologist Nora Kelly to excavate the body and lend her expertise to the investigation, and together they uncover something unexpected and shocking: the deceased apparently died in agony, in a fetal position, skin coming off in sheets, with a rictus of horror frozen on his face.

Hidden on the corpse lies a 16th century Spanish gold cross of immense value.

When they at last identify the body -- and the bizarre cause of death -- Corrie and Nora open a door into a terrifying, secret world of ancient treasure and modern obsession: a world centered on arguably the most defining, frightening, and transformative moment in American history.

Critic reviews

PRAISE FOR THE SCORPION’S TAIL

“Expect nice twists, hairy danger, and good old-fashioned gunplay. This one’s an attention grabber. Get a copy.”

—Kirkus

“[An] enjoyable sequel [. . .] The authors do their usual solid job of maintaining suspense throughout. Their two capable female leads are well-suited to sustain a long series.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Preston and Child have designed an intricate thriller that takes several twists and turns, but never totally diverts from the crux of the story. This is a series that demands attention.”

—New York Journal of Books

“The authors bring the same rigorous plotting and deft characterizations to this novel as they do with their Special Agent Pendergast books (happily, Pendergast makes an appearance here), and the Kelly and Swanson pairing is certainly engaging. It seems the duo might be settling in for a good, long run.”

—Booklist

“The future looks promising for Nora and Corrie.”

—The Big Thrill

PRAISE FOR OLD BONES

"Long-time readers of Preston and Child will love to see the beloved characters of Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson take center stage in what is a terrific start to a new series. Their writing talent shines as this mix of history, exploration of nature and crime will without a doubt land on the top of the best-seller lists. Though some of the historical facts have been tweaked a bit for the story to work, a note to the reader from the authors at the end reveals what is true and what they made up, and is sure to lead to a surge in attention for non-fiction accounts of what really happened that horrible winter."

—Associated Press

"The two strong female protagonists [Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson] share a dynamic reminiscent of that between Pendergast and his friend on the NYPD, Vincent D'Agosta. An intriguing series launch."

—Publishers Weekly

"Old Bones exceeds expectations at every juncture, a thriller extraordinaire that turns history upside down in forming the basis of a riveting and relentless tale."

—Providence Sunday Journal

"A smart, satisfying read."

—Kirkus

"This outing belongs to two dedicated women, whose future adventures will be happily anticipated."

—Booklist

"Preston & Child is one of those "names" on a book that make you want to set everything else aside in order to read what amazing words they've written [. . .] From the best writing team out there, you do not want to miss this book."

—Suspense Magazine

The Scorpion’s Tail

I have EVERY audiobook by Preston & Child. This story is wonderful as usual, but the narrator is the worst I have ever listened to. If this narrator continues to be used I will never buy another book by these authors.

Pendergast is not a Brit!

Enjoyed the book despite the atrocious narration. Delivery was choppy, harsh. Voices were too similar and invariably sounded irritated. The worst by far was Pendergast. I could’ve tolerated a southern accent in lieu of New Orleans, but a Brit?! Producers need to be ashamed. Pay Rene Auberjonois what he’s asking. Take pity on your listeners, please!

Well done

Well I miss their dectective Pendergast and I really hope he returns !! I enjoyed this book as well and the heroine their in I recommend this book .

Excellent!

What a twisted tale! I would listen to it again and again! Loved how the characters were developed throughout and the twits and turns of the story. just loved it!

The narrator sucks

Completely ludicrous accent used with Special Agent Pendergast. Does this narrator even listen to other characters?? Totally ruined the ending of the book.