Badlands

De: Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child

Narrado por: Cynthia Farrell

The #1 New York Times bestselling authors Preston & Child return with a thrilling tale in which archaeologist Nora Kelly and FBI Agent Corrie Swanson, while investigating bizarre deaths in the desert, awaken an ancient evil more terrifying than anything they’ve faced before.

In the New Mexico badlands, the skeleton of a woman is found—and the case is assigned to FBI Agent Corrie Swanson. The victim walked into the desert, shedding clothes as she went, and died in agony of heatstroke and thirst. Two rare artifacts are found clutched in her bony hands—lightning stones used by the ancient Chaco people to summon the gods.

Is it suicide or… sacrifice?

Agent Swanson brings in archaeologist Nora Kelly to investigate. When a second body is found—exactly like the other—the two realize the case runs deeper than they imagined. As Corrie and Nora pursue their investigation into remote canyons, haunted ruins, and long-lost rituals, they find themselves confronting a dark power that, disturbed from its long slumber, threatens to exact an unspeakable price.

©2025 Douglas Preston (P)2025 Grand Central Publishing

Too gruesome

Not as believable as other stories. I love the characters but didn’t like this story much

Classic Preston and Child

When I say classic, I mean that in a good way and in a bad way. This is so similar to some of their other books I had to check to see if I had read it before. It was like deja vu. A little too formulaic. However, as always it is a well-researched, thrilling read with lots of twists and turns. I always learn something from their books. The performance was decent, but I don't feel the narrator's voice portrays Agent Swanson accurately. Doesn't sound like an agent.

Great story. Exciting and informative

Loved the book and look forward to the next adventure
The reader needs more experience.

Excellent!

I enjoyed this very much, all aspects and can't wait for the next book in this series.

Interesting

Good character selection, the right amount of mystery and sci-fi that you can expect from this pair

Amazing story

The authors continue to build their universe and the characters within it. The pace of the story is phenomenal and it sets up the next installment.

Love Tony Hillerman

A great story with lots of adventure and excitement. Love this story very much and recommend it.

This frickin narrator again

I don’t know why I tried this again. Please please PLEASE stop using this annoying narrator!!! The male voices she tries are so annoyingly bad, and it’s hard to stay with the story because her terrible voice is so distracting. Had to stop and buy the print version.

Great novel about New Mexico and Native Americans

This was by far the best Nora and Cory novel to date. I was never a fan of them working together but have changed my mind.
With Douglas Preston living in New Mexico and doing a lot of traveling around the state, it has helped this novel come to life.
I know that Lincoln Child also has a vast knowledge of the area so putting their heads together has made this an extremely enjoyable read.
I really felt like I was listening to a book of historical fiction.
So Thanks Gents, you did an amazing job.

Good storyline, poor performance

Not what I expect for a Preston & Child work as far as performance. The narrator did a great job with narration and female voices, but the intonation, accents and overall demeanor of the male voices really distracted from the intelligence of the novel and storyline. It sounded like every male character was a bumbling idiot with a horrible accent. Either just narrate everyone n the same voice, or pay to have several voice actors. Glad to have Nora and Corrie’s characters continue and their stories develop. Look forward to more of them in the future.