If you’ve read any other books by these authors, you know that you are going to learn some engrossing facts about some relatively obscure historical event. In The Scorpion’s Tale, the event is the routing of the Spaniards from New Mexico by the Apache during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680.
A man’s body is found partially buried in a remote New Mexico ghost town. Is he a murder victim? And why was the man carrying an antique gem-encrusted gold cross? Probationary FBI Agent Corrine Swanson and archaeologist Nora Kelly search for answers to a 75-year-old crime.
This book has everything but the kitchen sink within its plot: uprisings, treasure hunts, and atomic bomb tests. The settings are described in detail making the reader feel surrounded by desert and rugged terrain. To me, the history and setting make up for the book’s deficiencies. The villain and mystery carry no surprises from early on. The characters feel a bit flat to me. The Scorpion’s Tail will appeal to historical fiction readers more than to fans of the authors’ Pendergast series of complex mysteries. Personally, I think this book is an enjoyable read. 4 stars!
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.