Flight of the Serpent

Nicolette Scott Mystery #2

by Val Davis

Nick Scott is back in the desert, this time leading a university-funded dig of her own in a ghost town near Boot Hill in Arizona. Walking into a canyon in search of cave-dwelling ruins left by ancient Anasazi, Nick hears the unmistakable sound of helicopters right before stumbling across the downed wreckage of what was once the plane of reporter Matt Gault. Joining forces with John Gault, Matt's grandfather, Nick quickly finds herself taken from the world of academic archeology into a world of government subterfuge and murder. Swept up in the mystery, and determined to uncover the truth, Nick and Gault call together the crew of a WW II B-24 Liberator for one last mission under the blazing skies of the Arizona sun.

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1998

About the author

A pen name used by Robert Irvine with his wife Angie.

Val Davis studied anthropology and archaeology at the University of California at Berkeley and now lives in Northern California.

Reviews

[Alton Motobu · Rating 3 out of 5]

During dig in NM desert archaeologist Nicky Scott witnesses a small plane crash. She is then pursued by Federal agents who want to know what she saw; she sneaks around and sees buildings where they are not supposed to be. The grandfather of the dead pilot mounts a bombing raid with a restored WW2 bomber, and the villains, who are an anti-government group, are killed. Crazy!

[Nancy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! This book was ridiculous. Have we become such a violent race that we have no regard for life. We just kill people that harm us. It’s all about me and my family. I’ll have to decide whether to read another book!

Yes, I know it’s fiction but fiction can be carried into our reality! Look around you!

[Emily Kestrel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Flight of the Serpent was in the mystery section of the used book store, but it was much more of an action/adventure tale. If you enjoy Hollywood action flicks, you will probably like it. I don't like those movies, and I found the whole thing silly--improbable plot; a female protagonist who's about as believable as Lara Croft; cartoonishly evil bad guys; a May/December romance between a woman in her prime and a geriatric (who still kicks ass and takes names); old men reminiscing about wartime as the ultimate male bonding experience. It just did not work for me. But since I don't like action/adventure stuff, and was expecting to read a mystery instead, I'm probably not the best judge of the material.

[Little Fish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sonoran Desert Archaeologist Nicolette Scott witnesses a STRANGE plane Crash into a canyon. She saw a Helicopter following the plane and wondered what it had to do with the Crash. Gr Father of the Pilot asked her many questions and they both decided to investigate. Used a B-24 in their investigations.