Nora Kelly is an archeologist whose specializes in the Anazazi Indian people. In a previous Preston-Child book, Nora discovered a sight that her father believed was the mythical city of gold known as Quivira. Since this discovery, Nora has had to deal with the fallout from various law enforcement agencies and some professional fall out. Nora has quit her job in Santa Fe, New Mexico, taking a job at the Museum of Natural History in order to be close to her boyfriend and to further her research into Quivira. However, Nora's tenure at this museum is fragile and she is struggling with multiple budget cuts.