It’s been 34 years since the novel Jurassic Park was published. Many movies and sequel novels later, Douglas Preston writes a great blockbuster summer-beach-kind-of novel that is a similar-yet-different take.

The plot of Extinction may initially be pretty much what you expect – FBI investigator investigates mystery deaths at a very expensive exclusive holiday park. Not just any old park, but Erebus Resort, where scientists have managed to resurrect (or what they call ‘de-extinction’), woolly mammoths, Irish Elk, and giant ground sloths in their native habitat, brought back from extinction through the magic of genetic manipulation. (What is it about woolly mammoths at the moment? This is the second book I’ve read recently that have them as a major part of the plot!)

Anyway,  when a billionaire's son and his new wife are seemingly kidnapped and murdered in the Erebus back country by what is assumed to be a gang of eco-terrorists, Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent Frances (Frankie) Cash partners with county sheriff James Colcord to track down the perpetrators.

As killings mount and the valley is evacuated, Cash and Colcord must confront an ancient, intelligent, and malevolent presence at Erebus, bent not on resurrection... but extinction.




Let’s deal with the elephant in the room. At a basic level, Jurassic Park and Extinction have similarities. The setting is different, but it could be said that the basic themes are still the same - they’re about profit, the monetisation of scientifically endeavours and big corporate business going wrong.

To be fair, though, Preston clearly knows this and gets the Jurassic Park comparisons out of the way early on – on page 24, when Cash says, “Sort of like Jurassic Park?” a scientist rounds on her, saying, “Nothing like Jurassic Park.  Jurassic Park was bad fiction and bad science. Do not talk to me about Jurassic Park!” (Take that, Michael Crichton!) It must also be said that whilst woolly mammoths may not be quite as terrifying as Tyrannosaurus Rexes, they are undeniably cuter, cuddlier and – erm, windier.

The major difference is that Preston deals with this one like a police procedural story. It’s less about the de-extinctioning of species and more about how detectives would deal with mysterious murders. Really, although they are a part of the story, Extinction is not mainly about Woolly Mammoths, despite one horrific incident, and despite what the cover may suggest -  a clever alternative to the original Jurassic Park cover. There are other factors involved.

To emphasise that, this is one of those blockbusters where everyone is referred to by their surname, there's lots of detail about weaponry and places that seem straight out of guidebooks and manuals, and the use of initialled jargon throughout makes it all seem as real as a murder investigation could be.

Even when the author protest the differences perhaps a little too much, I can see why legions of Michael Crichton readers will be engaged and enthused by this one. The short chapters turn quickly and easily, building up the plot relentlessly until the climax at the end. Preston has quite a few very successful novels already under his belt, both on his own and with Lincoln Child (who this book is dedicated to, incidentally) and his skill as an experienced and best-selling author are clear here.

It is perhaps a sign of the writer’s skill that I actually found myself dreaming about being in the caves of Erebus Resort whilst reading the book, something which I rarely, if ever, do. He knows how to write a page-turner, and shows it here.

The afterword is a chilling reminder that although the book is fiction, much of the science isn't. Indeed, as Preston points out here in a wonderfully chilling, if perhaps slightly paranoid paragraph, who's not to say that some consortium, perhaps from Russia or China, may be continuing such genetic experiments, even now? The book may not be as far-fetched as some may think.

In short, Extinction may not be the plot that you think it is going to be, but it is a barnstormer of a beach read. I can definitely see this one being read on the beaches this summer. It's engaging, exciting, entertaining, and with enough of a contemporary edge to keep casual readers engaged.

Money can buy everything but it does with a price. A couple has gone missing at the exclusive Erebus Resort & Frankie Cash is just been given the case. This is her first lead case since being made senior detective at the CBI major crime division. And her boss has been very plain about that he wants results no matter what. She will working with Sheriff Jim Colcord of Eagle County to find the missing couple but how will they work together? Everything about the resort is bigger than real life no expense spared but who took the couple? Could it be an inside job or an ex employee as it is definitely a group of people. But Cash knows that the rich have many secrets but her & Colcord weren’t ready for what they are about to find and it will change everything.
What happens when man tries to play God? Some things are left alone but money makes people lose all common sense.
I believe that we have the chance now to stop certain species from extinction but we can’t take our foot of the gas. As we will lose the fight & they will be gone forever.
A thrilling read. Never a dull moment on this insane ride. Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for the ARC copy. This is my voluntary review.

Another thrill ride from Douglas Preston. A few dinosaurs but mainly a murder mystery. Plenty of action, good characters. Could not put it down. Would love to see this as a movie. Thanks to Aria & Aries Head of Zeus and Netgalley for letting me read this book.

Hmmm this was so not my style of book. The theme was interesting and the execution did not fit my idea of interesting reading. The characters felt very under-developed and not believable. The easy read page turning style did not have enough depth to keep interest. Thank you to # NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

A crime thriller set in, essentially, Jurassic Park? Say no more, sign me up!

Agent in Charge Frances Cash and Sheriff Colcord team up to investigate the case of two hikers who have disappeared in Erebus Resort, situated in a large valley in the Colorado Rockies. The facility is famous for bringing woolly mammoths and other animals back from extinction by genetic manipulation. Are eco-terrorists responsible? A billionaire with an axe to grind? Or something more sinister?

I haven’t read one of Douglas Preston’s books before, but I was hooked from the start. The writing is engaging, the setting is intriguing and there’s a diverse cast of characters. Agent Cash is no nonsense and I’d love to read more books with her as the main character. The book is fast paced, and I found it genuinely very hard to put it down in places. It’s heavily into the crime and police procedural side of things, rather than the sci-fi element (the animals aren’t given as much focus as I would have liked), but the setting makes it so unique. I had guessed the twist early on, but it didn’t dampen my enjoyment of the book.

One criticism I would have is there is some odd, and often repetitive phrases used at times which jarred me out of the narrative. The obsession with turning torches down to ‘5 lumens’ was strange, and there’s a lot of derogative language towards weight which seemed unnecessary. I really enjoyed the Afterword which spoke of the science behind some of the aspects of the book. This really grounded the story in reality and made me want to research the topic further.

Overall, Extinction is a gripping crime thriller with an unusual premise. Thank you to NetGalley & Head of Zeus – Aries for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an okay read for me, I think the comparison to Jurassic Park was an unjust one and probably set my expectations too high. I don't think this was very similar, it missed the scientific detail and overall thrill. I was expecting a lot more excitement and suspense from this story, since it sounded good in theory, but it turned out to be just kind of boring. The characters also weren't very interesting and it also felt a good 100 pages too long. The plot could have been wrapped up much sooner.

I love Douglas Preston novels - they never disappoint. With a taste of Jurassic Park to it, and we all know how that went, you were kept on a roller coaster of a ride until the very end. Would recommend this to anyone looking for a fast paced, page turning read - they would not be disappointed.

Brilliant book, new to this author but just couldn’t put the book down.
Sci-fi type thriller, but an amazing story, so well written., a bit Jurassic Park with plenty of twists

An interesting take on a de-extinction storyline that follows several key characters in a thrilling, action pact who done it tale. There are lots of interesting twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very end. Who will survive? Who is killing people? What is really going on in the park? A varied cast with their own issues and points of view that create a well-rounded story.

A crime thriller/science fiction mystery set in a tourist resort in the Rockies where giant ancient extinct animals have been brought back to life. Federal investigator Cash and local Sherrif Colcord join forces when a honeymoon couple disappear possibly murdered. I liked the pace, characters and the filmic aspect.to the novel and the historic and scientific context at the end was insightful. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Extinction is the latest thriller by Douglas Preston. I’m a long-time fan of Douglas Preston and was eager to read this new offering. In typical Preston fashion we’re treated to an adventure that is part-mystery, part-sci-fi. I read a few reviews that likened this to Jurassic Park but there are little similarities other than a resort type park full of extinct animals. Don’t go in looking for dinosaurs. That’s not to say what is offered here is anything less and you won’t be disappointed with this fun and easy to read treat. It’s not heavy on the science and while it could have focused a lot on the morality of what was occurring, instead this is a fun, easy to read mystery with a fun twist and lots of action. Great for a relaxing afternoon. I could see this one easily being adapted to a movie on the big screen.

I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley.

I had expected this book to be more sci-fi, but in fact, it was a highly intense thriller. Extinction is set in valley in Colorado where a company has de-extincted a number of massive animals such as woolly mammoth. Tourists can visit to see these creatures roaming the valley. However a couple on their honeymoon are abducted. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Sheriff are brought in to investigate and they start to uncover strange and ritualistic behaviour. The more they investigate the darker and more sinister things become and they worry for their safety and that of the film crew shooting an epic Western in the valley.

This was an interesting thriller and raised some thought-provoking points. It leans quite heavily into terror and it does get dark at times. The investigators come up against a case they’ve never seen the likes of before and face challenges from people being deceitful, meddling superiors, the press and billionaires mixing in to protect their own interests and push their own agendas.

A gripping thriller with a crime narrative unlike anything I’ve read before.

'Extinction' is a variation on the theme of Michael Crichton's classic novel 'Jurassic Park', but it's not just a rip off. This is a quality thriller in its own right. The story is set in an isolated mountain valley where a number of 'de-extincted' megafauna have been reintroduced. Very wealthy patrons can stay at the lodge and see the animals on safaris or hiking trips. The animals are all herbivores and have had genes for aggression removed, so there shouldn't be any Jurassic Park style T Rex rampages to worry about. The novel opens with what appears to be a coordinated, pre-planned attack on two hikers. An FBI agent and a local sheriff are brought in to lead the subsequent investigation, and sinister goings-on soon escalate. Whoever is responsible is clearly not going to rest until everyone associated with the project is wiped out.

As with Jurassic Park and many other thrillers, events are compounded and worsened by the greed and vanity of some of the powerful people involved. Vested interests get in the way of sensible decision making - closing down the park and evacuating the tourists for example is vetoed because of the negative publicity and economic impact., despite it being obvious to the reader that failing to do so is going to add to the body count. It's true that if everyone acted completely sensibly and selflessly, the disaster would be mitigated - but then there wouldn't be much of a story, and it wouldn't be very realistic either.

It's a fast paced and easy read, with likeable central characters and dislikeable supporting ones (generally necessary in a genre where its inevitable that most of the more minor cast are going to be dead in some horrible way before the end). I certainly found it hard to put down, and the science behind it is all too plausible. Pretty soon this sort of genetic reconstruction is going to be real life and not just confined to thrillers (if it isn't already without being publicised).

Anyone who enjoys fast paced thrillers with decent writing will probably enjoy this novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for this ARC for an honest review.

2.5* rounded down.

This was OK as an easy, pulpy, paint-by-numbers story. Really, there is not much here to love, but also not much to hate.

I was expecting more from Preston: more horror, more thrills and more mystery. I liked Relic way back when, but this wasn’t even close. Which was a pity.

The story itself was fine, a sort of poor persons Jurassic Park imitation without the scientific detail and important themes that made that work so brilliant. Essentially, the fluffier prehistoric animals have been de-extinct(ed?). So, mammoths, woolly rhinos, etc. Why the cute and cuddly ones and not the ones with big claws? Don’t know. They play such little real relevance to the story anyway.

A billionaires son and pregnant wife are murdered and it’s up the Agent in charge Cash, in her first case in charge to solve it.

The characters are bland 2 dimensional cardboard cutouts that tick every cliche you can think of: overly hard-nosed female agent, check; slightly patronising, but charming male counterpart, check; boss who takes the credit, interfering billionaire, elusive eccentric owner, mad scientist, check check check check.

The science is woefully thin during the telling of the story, but strangely, after the end, Preston goes into great detail to document the science and history behind *spoiler* and for the absolute life of me I cannot think why he didn’t bake this into the story. He either couldn’t be bothered, or genuinely thought the “twist” was not telegraphed 200 pages earlier.

Once you know the “twist” and understand exactly what’s going on, the original murder of the pregnant wife makes no sense whatsoever.

There is some clandestine genetic jiggery-pokery going on, that if got out would be hugely damaging. So the best thing to do, apparently, is to build a theme park with prehistoric animals and a huge lodge for the public to stay at. That’ll keep it secret.

He also wrote a scene where 2 random characters were reading one of his and Child’s novels. It completely wrenched me out the story.

On finishing it I can’t but help thinking that this could have been great, akin to Jurassic Park’s themes, but nope…just fluff.

Erebus Resort is a place I'd like to visit: wild natural environment, breathtaking views, a lot of comfort, and a group of de-extincted megafauna animals.
There's just one small issue: you could be killed.
I started it choosing at random in my TBR and couldn't stop till the last page as there's a mix of thriller and speculative fiction.
It's not Jurassic Park but it's also a book about the risk of playing god, power plays.
The two detectives are not diplomatic or ready to submit to the power of money or politics.
Douglas Preston is an excellent storyteller and keep the attention alive till the last page and final twist is very very surprising.
Loved it, had a lot of fun
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine