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The Scorpion's Tail cover art

The Scorpion's Tail

Written by: Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child
Narrated by: Cynthia Farrell
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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

What the critics say

“[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)

What listeners say about The Scorpion's Tail

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • JG
  • 2022-11-28

Great book, bad reader

Another great book by Preston and Child, but the performance really, really takes away from the story. Don’t publishers and authors realize a bad narrator can ruin a book? I hope there are more books in the series, but please change the performer.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The story is so interesting but the narrater was for me terrible.

This story had me from the start. I love the blend of history, archeology , and action as the story evolves. The only problem is the narrator. She was really annoying as she spit out words, was so choppy and totally stopping the flow, to distinguish characters. She added an off attitude to the story

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Story ruined by reader!

Interesting story but the reader didn’t understand what she read, mispronounced words and had terrible inflection.
Her interpretation of pendergast’s accent was closer to British than Louisianan!
Please arrange a warning if this reader narrates other books do they can be avoided!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful detailed story

Another wonderful detailed and elaborate storyline beautifully read by Cynthia Farrell and Written by Preston & Child. I can not wait for the next installment.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The Intorduction of new characters

Really enjoy the introduction of new characters and the development of existing ones, I am hooked

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

New Favorite Preston & Child Characters

I have been an avid fan of the Pendergast series. With the second instalment in the Nora Kelly/ Cori series, I find that I may be a bigger fan of the ladies compared to Pendergast. The story was enthralling and kept me listening all day long. The characters are complex and interesting and the story is a typical Preston and Child plot twisting tale. My only issue was the voicing of one character which could be because they do not sound how I believe they should sound. Overall a great book!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book, but performance lacking

The story of “The Scorpion’s Tail” is as engaging as any from the two authors. However, the performer did not have a good grasp of the material or the history of the characters. Most disappointing was her decision to depict Agent Pendergast, famously from New Orleans, with a poor English accent which very nearly ruined the book. This is a major oversight on the part of the whole production team that should be corrected in order to stay true to the authors’ books.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great story ... terrible reader

Pendergast has a cultured southern accent. i found the British/cockney accent very annoying! i will just read them on my kindle

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good story but KEY mistake made

Story was great as usual from these two authors but the narrator completely messed up a key voice in the last half hour that Absolutely ruined the end for me.
I don’t know how it was allowed through.
Terrible

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good story but not a great narration

I enjoyed the story line but the narrator was not great. Her voice for Pendergast is terrible. He is Southern US not British and it grates to hear him voiced that way. As this is her second reading of the books she should have done better

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