The Scorpion's Tail (Nora Kelly #2)

The Scorpion's Tail by Douglas Preston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Action packed perhaps a bit to action packed and reminiscent of Indiana Jones, but a great escape book if you are willing to divorce yourself from reality.

The book begins with Sheriff Homer Watts arresting a treasurer hunter (Rivers) on federal land which brings Corrie into the picture and the discovery of a corpse and a "priceless" 16th century gold cross with no province has her asking Nora for assistance. The corpse is soon determined to be Gower a man whose home was taken from him by the government for the Trinity Project When Nora finds the campsite of the corpse she realizes the odd position of the body was the Apache burial ritual and that he wasn't alone at High Lonesome. Nora sets off to find the Apache that accompanied Gower and he tells her the story of how Gower came back to their camp at High Lonesome after being caught in the blast from the Trinity Project with the skin pulling off him and how he shot the mule to prevent it's suffering and buried Gower before fleeing with his half of the treasure map and Gower's gold watch. Gower had the gold cross and Nantan's medicine bag on him.

Meanwhile investigating a different avenue leads Corrie to the other half of the treasure map. But they aren't the only ones looking for treasure and their opponents are willing to kill as evidenced by the murder of River's in the hospital and the attacks on Corrie and Nora. And the torture and murder of Gower's grandson. One group is looking for Geronimo's rifle in High Lonesome the other group is looking for the Spanish Treasure.

Watts shoots his way out when he and Morwood (Corrie's boss) are surrounded in High Lonesome (think the OK Corral ) and Corrie, Nora and Skip seek refuge on the Navy base when they are taken hostage and forced to lead McGurk to the treasure.

Pendergast pops in at the end to explain things in case we aren't bright enough to figure them out for ourselves.


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Miss Benson's Beetle (Paperback) by Rachel Joyce

Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The book begins in September 1950 Miss Margery Benson is tired of being the butt of jokes and living her boring life, so she decides to go in search of a beetle, that is suppose to be in New Caledonia. She advertises for an assistant and winds up with Enid Pretty who isn't exactly what she seems. And unbeknownst to them both Mundic (a former POW) is following them. The voyage to Australia consist of Margery being seasick and Enid miscarrying her baby.

Nancy Collett's deceased husband is discovered in their bungalow and Nancy is the subject of a police inquiry.

As they search for the beetle Enid and Margery become closer. Enid realizes she is still pg and shares the news with Margery as well as the disturbing fact that he is Nancy Collet. Margery determines to protect Enid and the baby and they make plans to leave New Caledonia before the authorities can find them. Unfortunately a deranged Mundic stops them from leaving and only Margery and Gloria (the baby) survive the confrontation.

I didn't like the ending I wanted Enid, Margery and Gloria to all survive and have wonderful adventures together and don't understand the purpose of killing Enid off. I also think help should have been provided for Mundic.

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The Other Emily by Dean Koontz (Goodreads Author)

The Other Emily by Dean Koontz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brilliantly eerie, 10 years ago author David Thorne's girlfriend disappears without a trace. Now Maddison has appeared in his life a woman who looks just like Emily right down to her birthmark. Who or what is she? and could the real Emily be alive somewhere? These are just two of the questions David Thorne wants answers too.

With danger around every corner will David preserve and be reunited with his lost love or like Orpheus will he look back at the crucial moment.

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