This was a thrilling read. I definitely recommend it to those that are Preston fans or fans of realistic sci-fi and thrillers. As Preston writes in his afterward, this book is influenced by the real life effort to resurrect the woolly mammoth. So as sci-fi as the premise seems, it might not be too far off. This is shown through the novel as real scientific methods are discussed, which I really liked about it. Although Jurassic Park is mentioned in the book and the premise sounds very similar, I guarantee that this book is different.
In Preston’s typical fashion, he does an amazing job at building up the tension and the sense of impending disaster in the book. I love this about Preston’s books. He does such a great job at building a complex setting and storyline and characters and then sows into the plot seeds of discord and subtle hints. These slowly build as the book goes along until the climax of the story. Pieces of the story that seemed unimportant or possibly out of place suddenly click into place. I had a really hard time putting the book down because I just had to know what happened next.
My only gripe with this book was that it went in a totally different direction from what I was expecting. It took me a bit to suspend my disbelief and go forward once the twist was revealed. But ultimately it did work for the plot of the book and it made for a fun twist. It just wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for in the book.
I really liked the characters in this book. For a one off book, Preston spent a lot of time into developing different personalities for each character. Cash was by far my favorite character and I really liked Romanski and Colcord, too. They all felt very three dimensional. For the characters that did survive (no spoilers), I would love to have another book set with some of the characters from this one!
4/5 stars

I’m rating this as 4/5 stars as I did really enjoy it. While it’s not my usual read, I thoroughly enjoyed the murder mystery aspect of this story, the science behind it all and the thriller aspect of it as well. It kept me on my toes throughout the whole story, guessing and second guessing myself on what would happen next and I often found myself reading quickly and breezing through the chapters to find out what would happen next even though I told myself I was stopping for the night six chapters earlier. Part of why I wanted to read this story so much was that it had similarities in some aspects to Jurassic Park and as a fan of the original movies, I was very much drawn to the summary of Extinction. I will say that I’m a little disappointed that there wasn’t more focus on the “de-extinction” of the animals, but, and without giving away any spoilers, I very much enjoyed that “de-extinction” was the main plot of this whole story. Preston did a really great job of incorporating science into this story without bogging it down too much with science terms and the like, and it was really interesting to read the Afterword and see the science behind Extinction and the writing process behind the story. It’s a great read and a cautionary tale on just what can happen when humans try to play God with science and whether we want to admit it or not, the events of Extinction and Jurassic Park are probably a lot closer to happening than we realize, like Preston includes in his Afterword as well.

The characters that Preston includes in Extinction are really entertaining to read with a great mix of everything from enjoyable side characters, protagonists that are multi-dimensional and can be both loved and annoyed by, side characters and antagonists that you can’t help but to hate, just the perfect mix of well-written and fleshed out characters that go through a satisfying journey of growth as the story progresses. The language that Preston uses while writing his female characters leaves much to be desired for me in Extinction as a female reader however. The amount of unnecessary comments about Cash’s size in her own POV chapters as well as in Colcord’s POV chapters (and even McFaul’s POV chapters) were quite disheartening to continue to read; the constant reminders that Cash was “amazingly fit, despite her rather heavy size,” got harder and more frustrating to read as the story progressed because they really, truly had no place, no affect on the story progression or plot, and only proved to be description fillers rather than anything of relevance or importance. There’s always an added emphasis too on Cash’s bad relationship with food, from having her rarely eating throughout the main events of the story, only drinking expresso and eating the little snacks in her hotel room to even in the end Preston writes her as avoiding a sticky bun to eat and then when she caves and eats half there’s the mandatory comment that “it shot her diet to hell, but she’d make it up by skipping dinner.” It’s completely unnecessary and extremely unhealthy to any female readers or any readers in general who struggle with their relationship with food and/or their weight to constantly stress and emphasize these negative comments that always follow Cash around, no matter what’s going on in the story. The way Preston also paints Cash’s surprise at the Lieutenant Commander of the Denver Swat Team being a woman too, despite Cash herself obviously being an agent in a similar field of work with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), felt wholly unnecessary and mildly sexist, especially when we find out that the second-in-command of the CBI is a woman too. And the oddly sexual introduction chapters of the book between the first victims (while clearly a married couple with a baby on the way) just didn’t feel right, there wasn’t any need for that to be included as it didn’t impact their story or drive their plot progression either. Overall, just the tone and language used towards Preston’s female characters in this story left me feeling uncomfortable and expecting better. This is largely why I can’t find it in myself to give this book a better rating despite how much I enjoyed reading it.

Aside from my above comment, this story is an enjoyable read and anyone who’s a fan of thriller, murder mysteries (and possibly Jurassic Park as well) is going to thoroughly enjoy Extinction. The way Preston ends this story too is very well done and very satisfying, it’s very clearly (hopefully) book one of at least two and I very much look forward to the second one if it happens and seeing what comes next for this story and (hopefully) Cash and Colcord and the others too; there’s a lot more story to tell with how the events play out in the last ten chapters or so!

I have to admit I am a huge Preston and Child fan when they're together. I also like them both individually. That being said, Doug has completely outdone himself with this one! It is so good. I loved the little Easter Eggs that he dropped. I also loved the science facts at the end. To think that in five years or less science could seriously de-extinct a wooly mammoth!

A de-extinction fortress in the Colorado Rockies becomes a crime scene wehen a young couple mysteriously vanishes. Something evil has been cloned with deadly consequences. A real page turner!

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

A bizarre murder at a campsite inside a luxurious valley lodge compound raises questions about the work that scientists at the compound are doing in 'de-extincting' animals. Only one detective has the courage to probe beyond what lodge security officers are telling law enforcement personnel. Will it end in the extinction of the lodge's work, or in her own?

I enjoyed the fast-paced suspense of this book and the 'almost' scientific aspects of it. It definitely raises questions of ethics in scientific research, and what happens when experimentation produces unintended, and sometimes deadly, consequences.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

EXTINCTION is enlightening, inspiring, thrilling, and ultimately, terrifying. Think of "Mad Science" with no morality, or skewed morality and shortsightedness, coupled with literally billions of dollars with which to play. Now I am not speaking against genetically engineering lost species; I think that possibility is exciting [though I wonder about the logic and the morality of introducing "new" lost species to a climate for which they are grossly unprepared]. But the extent to which the scientists of Erebus Corporation go? "Whatever Science can go, it will go" is aptly demonstrated here, with horrifying results. I classify EXTINCTION as a Contemporary Science/SF Thriller. Definitely I'm glad that I read it, and I recommend checking out the thought-provoking Author's Note 📝 as well.

Douglas Preston is one of my favorite authors. His books reach beyond the normal into the ever-so creative. His books are mind-tingling and thought-provoking. Give me more with both him and Lincoln Child. This book is a page turner.

I was really excited to see this title described as "a Jurassic Park" like story. I miss Michael Crichton so finding a novel in his style was very intriguing.
Overall this book delivered on the promise. A new technology has allowed us to "un-extinct" animals like Wooly Mammoths. (Fun fact in the end chapter author Preston explains this technology exists and is being studied now). This book gives you the combination of exciting technology with amazing possibility mixed with greed and bad luck. I don't want to spoil the story but as you imagine bringing back a extinct species brings complications with it.
I honestly did not want to put this down and found some of the characters worth rooting for. I think this book will be a hit, it definitely checks all the boxes for a exciting bestseller.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

TW/CW: Death, murder, brutality, violence, language

REVIEW: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Extinction is a mystery novel that takes place after the murder of two hikers in a Jurassic Park-like refuge that has brought wooly mammoths and other large mammals back to life.

This is a fast-moving and entertaining novel, and I enjoyed reading it. It’s a unique story, and although I figured it out well before the end, it was still interesting to read.

My biggest problem with this book is the almost complete lack of character development. While the story was interesting, I sadly did not find the characters to be so at all. They simply were not 3D characters, and the lack of development made the characters difficult to tell apart.

This book would probably appeal more to people who enjoy mysteries more than I do. While having its faults, this is still an enjoyable book.

Many thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.

This book was an addicting read; that hasn't happened to me in a while.

Basic premise: a wealthy young newlywed couple is murdered while camping in the Colorado mountains on a private reserve. The reserve is a park dedicated to "six de-extincted species of Pleistocene megafauna;" with all modern predators removed.

Involved in the solving are the owners & scientists running the park, the incoming state investigators and local sheriff. All fairly predictable characters; flawed, or power hungry, or local do gooders. A fun side plot is a nearby movie crew, providing an entertaining diversion.

While there's no cliffhanger, there is room for a series to develop with the main character, should the author choose.

Any more details would spoil the plot. There is no supernatural aspect to this book, just science gone awry. A Michael Crichton comparison is reasonable, though it's stated at least twice that this is "not Jurassic Park!"

Preston is always good for fast moving, scientific adventures, and this one does not fail. While I had an inkling of who the "baddies" were fairly early on, he fleshed it out to be more than I anticipated.

Thoroughly enjoyable, 4 stars!

A fantastic read with amazing possibilities for what well could be our near future with plausible creatures brought back from extinction. Preston once again develops a techno-thriller with edge of the seat page turning plot lines reminiscent of Michael Crichton from years past. Think Jurassic Park with murders, terrorists, and a surprising antagonist of ancient roots. Anyone looking for a great read will want to check out the recent addition to Preston's great library of techno-scientific thrillers.

As per all of Douglas Preston‘s book, I found this one to be hard to put down. The premise that an exclusive resort has de-extincted (a clumsy term) prehistoric fauna, for the entertainment of the elite is compelling and fraught with potential disaster. Preston is able to write about blood and gore with talent. There was a wealth of people in this book, which got to be a bit confusing as more and more hierarchical characters were introduced.
As in previous books, Preston (and Childs) has yet to find the voice of today’s woman; and seems to be stuck in the previous century writing about a pregnant woman’s horniness level (I almost stopped reading at this point) and a police director’s dieting concerns (should she eat half of a cinnamon bun?).
Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The latest book by Douglas Preston is an exciting read. With touches of Jurassic Park but with a murder investigation as part of the package, I enjoyed it tremendously. Just when you think you have all the answers to the murder, the investigation there is another twist. With a cast of characters that includes incompetent bureaucrats and secretive executives those working the investigation have challenges to surmount. The ending leaves us with the possibility of a sequel, we will see.

Initially I was "meh, Douglas Preston is rehashing Jurassic Park. How unimaginative." I should have known better.

Preston is too good of a writer to just take an old plot and rehash it. While the general concept is the similar (bringing back extinct species) the plot and delivery is pure Preston. There's action, there's adventure, there's wit, and there's just plain good, terrifying fun!

Make this your holiday gift to your friends & family who enjoy action & adventure.

Fans of Preston will not be surprised by this thrillers writing style. In the theme of Jurassic Park, Wooly Mammoth’s and other animals have been de-extinct for the ultra rich to faun over at a resort. When newlyweds vanish, the professionals are brought in. Main character Agent Frances Cash is steadfast in her leadership and fair in her relationship with the local sheriff. Other than the obvious outlandishness of the plot ending, I had a real issue with the descriptions and remarks on Cash’s physique. Very readable, just not my favorite addition to their usual fare.

This is the kind of book that makes you want to call in sick so that you can finish the book. Our bookstore has always done well with books by Douglas Preston and this one has not disappointed. The characters are real , the premise is interesting and it is a true whodunit.

We will definitely be carrying this title

Fans of Jurassic Park and Douglas Preston will be thrilled with this new look at bringing back the past. The plot is quick-moving and entertaining. I enjoyed the characters and the descriptions of the mountain scenery.

I must start by thanking NetGalley as well as the publisher Tor, for my eARC in exchange for my honest review. Fast paced thriller that could become reality? Another wonderful novel by Douglas Preston who digs up fantastical what-ifs and weaves them into amazing mysteries.

<b>Thank you to Forge Books, the author, and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will release April 24, 2024.</b>

This is the most scared I’ve been reading a Preston and/or Child book since, I think, <i>Cemetery Dance.</i> Which I find fascinating because when taking into account what actually transpires, it is far from terrifying, especially compared to some of my favorites by this author. Like, <i>Extinction</i> has nothing on <i>Still Life with Crows</i>, for instance.

And yet.

There is just <i>something</i> about the killers in this book, from the way they their voices are described, to the disguises they don and the symbolic tokens they leave behind, that is absolutely freakin’ <i>bone-chilling</i>. That’s probably not going to be everyone’s experience, but for me, it definitely evoked a primal “THAT’S BAD” response. At the same time, this is a part I wish I could have seen more of—how did they come to develop this? What does it <i>mean</i> to them? It would be so cool to get insight into that aspect of the story.

Of course, the other bit of this book that is truly frightening is the ethics, or lack thereof, displayed by the scientists at Erebus. I mean, the book itself points out its similarities to <i>Jurassic Park</i>, and it doesn’t stop with de-extinction—it carries right on through to the iconic exhortation “you didn’t stop to think if you should.” And these scientists REALLY should have thought this through better by a factor of like, a thousand.

I will admit that this book started off rather slow for me, and it took a little while to engage my interest—because there was quite a gap between the inciting murders and the first appearance of the killers that mainly focused on introducing the main players—but once the investigation begins in earnest and the incidents start increasing, it’s gripping. Maybe a little too much so, if me looking over my shoulder at three o’clock in the afternoon is any indication.