Old Bones (Nora Kelly Book 1)

Nora Kelly, a young curator at the Santa Fe Institute of Archaeology, is approached by historian Clive Benton with a proposal to lead an expedition in search of the Lost Camp of the Donner Party. This group of pioneers became snow-bound in the California mountains in 1847, and their fate remained unknown until survivors emerged from the wilderness with accounts of starvation, murder, and cannibalism. Benton claims to have discovered a diary belonging to one of the victims, containing clues to the Lost Camp's location. Kelly agrees to lead a team to excavate the site and uncover its secrets. Once in the mountains, however, the expedition discovers that locating the camp is only the beginning. As they unearth old bones, they reveal truths about what occurred that prove far more shocking than the historical record suggests. These ancient discoveries trigger present-day violence, drawing the attention of rookie FBI agent Corrie Swanson, who is assigned to investigate the case.