Diablo Mesa | Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Diablo Mesa follows archaeologist Dr. Nora Kelly of the Santa Fe Archaeological Institute and rookie FBI Special Agent Corrie Swanson. Billionaire Lucas Tappan, founder of aerospace company Icarus Space Systems, funds a modern, rigorous archaeological dig at the controversial 1947 Roswell UFO crash site in New Mexico. Nora reluctantly agrees to lead the excavation, only to uncover two murder victims buried at the site with their faces and hands destroyed by acid. Corrie is assigned to investigate the double homicide, plunging them into a conspiracy involving military secrets, corporate espionage, and deadly cover-ups.

The authors blend real-world archaeological methods—such as ground-penetrating radar, soil stratigraphy, and careful grid excavation—with advanced forensic pathology and aerospace engineering. The novel examines the historical Roswell incident through a skeptical, scientific lens while unraveling a modern technological conspiracy.

Published in 2022, Diablo Mesa is the third installment in the Nora Kelly spin-off series, following Old Bones and The Scorpion's Tail. The series spins off from the authors' famous Aloysius Pendergast universe, bringing together archaeologist Nora Kelly (introduced in Thunderhead) and FBI Agent Corrie Swanson (introduced in Still Life with Crows).

The novel received strong praise for its fast pacing, balance of science and suspense, and dynamic partnership between Nora and Corrie. Critics highlight the authors' ability to take a pop-culture topic like Roswell and ground it in authentic archaeological procedure and compelling forensic investigation.

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child are the #1 New York Times bestselling co-author duo behind over thirty acclaimed thrillers. Preston, a former editor for the American Museum of Natural History, brings deep archaeological and geographical realism, while Child, a former publishing editor, contributes expertise in computer technology and narrative structure. Together, they created iconic characters such as Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast, Gideon Crew, and Nora Kelly.

All books, box sets, and multi-volume collections offered by Bust-Down Books are sold in pre-owned, used, and second-hand condition, unless explicitly designated as new in the individual product listing.

Condition Details & Grading:

• Previous Ownership: These items have been previously owned, handled, and read. As such, copies may exhibit typical signs of shelf wear, including but not limited to minor creasing, scuffing, edge wear, bent page corners, remainder marks, or spine softening. Hardcover editions may show minor dust jacket wear, edge chipping, or board rubbing.
• Markings & Personalization: Items may occasionally contain inscriptions, library stamps, owner names, marginalia, or highlighting. Individual item descriptions reflect significant deviations from standard acceptable condition.
• Supplemental Materials: Secondary and digital components—such as publisher access codes, CD-ROMs, bonus inserts, registration keys, or workbook activity pages—are not guaranteed to be included, active, or unredeemed unless specifically stated in the product description.

First Sale Doctrine & Non-Affiliation Statement:

All items sold on this platform are original, lawfully acquired copies being resold under the protection of the First Sale Doctrine (codified under U.S. copyright law, 17 U.S.C. § 109, and applicable international equivalents permitting the secondary resale of lawfully manufactured goods).

Bust-Down Books, LTD. is an independent, secondary-market bookseller. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, authorized by, or sponsored by the original authors, copyright holders, publishers, or trademark owners of the titles offered for sale. All registered trademarks, author names, book titles, and publisher imprints remain the sole property of their respective owners and are used strictly for nominative identification and descriptive purposes.