Although the Nora Kelly books do not need to be read in order, readers get the fullest experience by following the chronological sequence, which coincides with their publication order:[1]
| Order | Cover | Title | First published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Old Bones | 2019[7] | Establishes Nora and Corrie’s working relationship. |
| 2 |
|
The Scorpion’s Tail | 2021[8] | Continues their partnership in a new historical case. |
| 3 |
|
Diablo Mesa | 2022[9] | Builds on the recurring investigative team and Nora’s career. |
| 4 |
|
Dead Mountain | 2023[10-11] | Follows later developments in Corrie’s FBI work and circle. |
| 5 |
|
Badlands | 2025[12-13] | Extends the ongoing continuity while telling a separate case. |
1. Old Bones
Old Bones (2019)[7] introduces the central pattern of the series: an archaeological mystery whose historical evidence intersects with a modern criminal investigation. Nora Kelly becomes involved in the search for a lost Donner Party site, while Corrie Swanson investigates related grave robberies.[2]
This novel establishes their professional connection and gives the series its blend of field archaeology, forensic inquiry, and historical danger.[2]
2. The Scorpion’s Tail
The Scorpion’s Tail (2021)[8] brings Corrie and Nora together again through a case involving a mummified body, a radioactive discovery, and a buried Spanish colonial treasure. This book is a separate investigation, but it benefits from the established Nora-Corrie partnership.[3]
It also continues Corrie’s development as an FBI agent and places Nora’s archaeological work within another high-stakes historical puzzle.[3]
3. Diablo Mesa
Diablo Mesa (2022)[9] shifts the series toward Roswell, a controversial excavation, and evidence tied to a 1947-era mystery. Nora’s professional position becomes part of the setup, while Corrie’s investigation intersects with a secret involving the site.[4]
This novel is readable on its own, but it gains context from the recurring characters, Nora’s family connections, and Corrie’s FBI role.[4]
4. Dead Mountain
Dead Mountain (2023)[10-11] centers on a cold case in the Manzano Mountains after modern remains are found in a cave containing older archaeological material. Corrie works with a new FBI mentor, while Nora’s expertise helps connect the physical evidence to the site.[5]
This book continues the series’ pattern of present-day investigation rooted in hidden history and adds further continuity for Corrie, Nora, Skip, and Sheriff Watts.[5]
5. Badlands
Badlands (2025)[12-13] follows a new investigation into deaths in the New Mexico badlands connected to rare ceremonial stones, academic history, and remote archaeological sites. Nora and Corrie again combine archaeological knowledge and federal investigation, with Skip and Sheriff Watts also drawn into the case..[6]
It reads as a standalone mystery while rewarding readers familiar with the recurring relationships and prior developments.[6]
References
- Nora Kelly. Hachette Book Group.
- Old Bones. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN: 9781538747223.
- The Scorpion’s Tail. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN: 9781538747285.
- Diablo Mesa. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN: 9781538736746.
- Dead Mountain. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN: 9781538767207.
- Badlands. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN: 9781538765821.
- Old Bones: A Nora Kelly Novel. The Official Website of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.
- The Scorpion’s Tail. The Official Website of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.
- Diablo Mesa by Douglas Preston. Hachette Book Group.
- Dead Mountain by Douglas Preston. Hachette Book Group.
- Dead Mountain. Bloomsbury Publishing.
- Badlands by Douglas Preston. Hachette Book Group.
- Badlands. Bloomsbury Publishing.