Badlands Audiobook By Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child cover art

Badlands

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Badlands

By: Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child
Narrated by: Cynthia Farrell
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About this listen

The #1 New York Times bestselling authors Preston & Child return with a thrilling tale in which archaeologist Nora Kelly and FBI Agent Corrie Swanson, while investigating bizarre deaths in the desert, awaken an ancient evil more terrifying than anything they’ve faced before.

In the New Mexico badlands, the skeleton of a woman is found—and the case is assigned to FBI Agent Corrie Swanson. The victim walked into the desert, shedding clothes as she went, and died in agony of heatstroke and thirst. Two rare artifacts are found clutched in her bony hands—lightning stones used by the ancient Chaco people to summon the gods.

Is it suicide or… sacrifice?

Agent Swanson brings in archaeologist Nora Kelly to investigate. When a second body is found—exactly like the other—the two realize the case runs deeper than they imagined. As Corrie and Nora pursue their investigation into remote canyons, haunted ruins, and long-lost rituals, they find themselves confronting a dark power that, disturbed from its long slumber, threatens to exact an unspeakable price.

©2025 Douglas Preston (P)2025 Grand Central Publishing
Horror Mystery Police Procedurals Suspense Thriller & Suspense Exciting Scary
Engaging Storyline • Cultural Authenticity • Strong Female Characters • Intriguing Mystery • Educational Content
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I’m sure this lady is nice. But all her characters sound the same. When she uses a man’s voice it hurts my throat to listen to it. Please please either get a new narrator or get someone else to do the male voices.
The story, as always was great. If I didn’t have health issues with my eyes, I would not listen to this narrator again. But I love their books.

Bad narrator

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Enjoyed novel thoroughly Love series and it’s
expansion of characters and the story line. Development exciting to see and continue reading

Story original and creative

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I don’t know if I’m ever going to dislike this writing duo, but it’s definitely not starting with this book. Is it going to be seen by some in the cookie cutter style, for sure.

These guys have written a ton of books together and, though the Pendergast series will always be the best IMO, I like that they have broken Norah and Corrie out and created a mostly separate timeline for them.

Keep it up.

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Brush up on your New Mexico maps and take a few minutes to read up on the native history. You’ll enjoy the cadence of this story and the little Easter eggs will make you smile.

Another great addition to this series

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if we get only one Nora Kelly book a year, it needs to be longer. This one was too short and too easily figured out.

good, but....

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I had a hard time sticking with the story.
The narrator’s attempts to voice the characters is painful.
They all have a Thurston Howell undertone.

Poor narration

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these authors always put a twist into their storing and this did not disappoint. I enjoy the native American history and lore.

great story. these are my favorite authors but this was probably my favorite Nora Kelly book

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I found the book very geologically accurate and the story was very good i really enjoyed the book

very descriptive

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I am always ready for the next installment of this series. Preston and Child are two of my favorite authors. Their style of combining suspense with a touch of the supernatural draws me in and never disappoints. I was not as fond of the narration this time but it was little things such as pronunciation and the change between the "voices" of the characters that was not always consistent to my ears. The narrator still did a good job, just not my favorite.

As always, pleased.

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I am a big fan of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child and their books! This is absolutely one of their best works! It kept my interest from beginning to end and I could not put it down! Highly highly recommended it!!!

ONE OF THEIR BEST BOOKS!!!

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