Preston and Child’s novel Old Bones sends the reader delving into the past in search of the infamous Donner Expedition’s Lost Camp. When historian Clive Benton comes in possession of a rare journal he approaches Nora Kelly. He has the perfect pitch for Nora, and the Santa Fe Institute of Archaeology. The journal can help pinpoint the location of the Lost Camp of the Donner Party. If the Institute will field the expedition, shouldering the cost, there’s a good chance they’ll find the fortune that was also lost. Things are never simple though. Once the site is found, and excavation begins, things start getting squirrelly. Tales of ghosts, weird coincidences, crazy Christian grave-robbers, and a connection to modern murders begin to plague the group. 

Preston & Child write true gems of thriller novels. Always well-written and well-researched, their novels dance the opposite side of the line from The X-Files. There may be spooky goings-on, but the reason is able to be explained scientifically. No ghosts, ghouls, or cryptids. Still all of the fun. 

…’letting the history rise from the earth.’  (Old Bones, Preston/ Child)

This quote resonated with me. I’ve been on excavations, and been to historic and prehistoric sites. You can feel the weight of the stories those places have to tell. As an archaeologist by training, I love books featuring excavations as a main part, and I’m fascinated by the Donner Party. I’ve been to Donner Pass before, and am planning another trip there soon as this pandemic calms. 

The story thread with Agt. Corrie Swanson confused me at first. I kept trying to figure out the connections between Corrie’s crimes and Nora’s site. The truth was something so unexpected, yet so classically Preston and Child. Something stretching from past to present, promising the potential of a lethal weapon. 

I enjoyed Nora’s character. She’s a force to be reckoned with, especially in protection of her sites. Corrie grew on me. She felt brash and short-tempered. Part is because she’s a new agent, young, female, and in a male dominated career field. If she isn’t getting flak for her age, she gets it for being female. She feels she has a lot to prove. I loved her tenacity! She was convinced there was some connection between her case, and the expedition. She stuck to that, and lo’ and behold there was. 

Highly recommended for fans of Preston & Child, of course. Also for those interested in the Donner Party, or novels featuring archaeology. 

***Many thanks to the Netgalley & Grand Central Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.