The Scorpion's Tail

By: Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child

Narrated by: Cynthia Farrell

Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

From number-one best-selling 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" (Booklist) 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. 

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.

©2021 Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child (P)2021 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

“[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)

Swanson and Kelly really need Pendergast!

This is a really good mystery by Lincoln /Child. I always look forward to their Pendergast novels but this series is a great spinoff featuring Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson. Swanson is now an FBI agent. When a body is found mummified and Swanson finds herself on the case she calls Kelly who is busy with another excavation. When Corrie explains the urgency of her case Nora agrees to help her out. The case takes some strange twist leading in directions I could never have predicted. It involves some nuclear testing and some family heirlooms but I can’t say more with out giving spoilers. Luckily Pendergast makes an appearance towards the end and finishes solving the case.
Cynthia Farrell does an excellent job narrating.
This book has my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION.
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Get a new narrator! Interesting story.

I have read and or listened to all of Preston and Child’s books. I went blind about six years ago and now depend solely on the audible editions. I thought the pairing of Corrie and Nora would be a pleasant departure from the Pendergast books, But was not particularly fond of the Corrie and Nora rollout. Although the story was a bit slow, I did find it rather intriguing .
However, the narrator is a disaster Her attempts at foreign accents are unconvincing and as Preston/Child fans know, Pendergast comes from New Orleans not England! For those readers who do not listen to the Pendergast series, it might not make a difference but I assume for those who do, it was a real disappointment!

I wish the authors could find a female version of Rene Auberjonois.

Please fix Pendergast for future books!

Story was interesting, and I liked the combination of old and new characters. Narration wasn't a great fit, and this is now the second book where Pendergast has a British accent. It's agony! Please, please fix the accent for future books. Please.

Where is pendergast???

I kept waiting for Pendergast to appear. Finally he popped up in the last chapter with a British accent rather than the Louisiana drawl that we have come to know and love. I was sorely disappointed.

Why would she do that?

The story was solid but the narrator absolutely ruined the ending. It was so bad, I am not sure if I am disappointed, disgusted, or just plain heartbroke.

Narration is everything

I have absorbed every Pendergast novel and loved every one, except this one. This is based solely on the narration. To say I was terribly disappointed is an understatement.

I hung in through the audible book but when our intrepid Agent Pendergast came on scene I almost quit listening. Pendergast does not have a (so-called) British accent but a soft, pleasant drawl of the American south.

As said before - while the storyline was good the narration almost killed it.

REALLY MISS....

...Rene Auberjonois as narrator. (May he rest in peace.) Whoever does Pendergast's dialogue must sound extremely snotty. Will listen to Preston/Child books even though they've lost the supernatural "mystique."

Did not prefer this perfornance

Pendergast as a Brit does not work. Not up to standard of their other audiobooks

Great Story

Loved the story, but was not thrilled with the narrator and very disappointed in Pendergasts voice, that was not Pendergast.

Just not good

Boring. The same story of Super FBI woman / Profiler saving everyone. Save your money and time.