My favorite authors did it again! Preston & Child’s latest Nora Kelly mystery, Dead Mountain did not disappoint. It is the fourth novel in the series, but it is possible to read as a standalone. However, I do think that more enjoyment could be had if the characters were followed from the beginning (Pendergast series.) Because I’ve followed both Nora and Corrie since the start, I’ve watched them grow into the characters that they’ve become. Although Corrie is still a little “wet” behind the ears, she has certainly come around from being a delinquent to a special FBI agent.

The main characters of Nora and Corrie are the staples in the novel. They have worked together on a number of cases and have developed that rapport that comes from knowing how each one “ticks.” Their steadfastness and stubborness are evident when conducting investigations. The other characters in the novel added depth to the storyline. And like most of the authors’ other works, the characters are adeptly developed to get a sense of their stature, appearance, as well as personality. You’ll get the picture when you come across that nasty town sheriff in the novel.

Although Dead Mountain is a Nora Kelly mystery, this particular novel highlighted Corrie Swanson and her involvement in the investigation of a 15-year old cold case. That still didn’t thwart the suspense and drama that the authors are known for.

The story follows a whodunit theme. But there’s also a sidebar story involving Nora’s brother Skip’s run in with the law that really added a lot of drama to the narrative. I really liked how it got incorporated and how well it played into the finale.

Overall, Dead Mountain is yet another hit deserving of five stars.

I received a finished copy of the book from Grand Central Publishing. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.