When the son and daughter in law of a prominent billionaire go missing in one of the most exotic locations in the United States, Colorado Bureau of Investigations Agent in Charge Frankie Cash is called in. Taking advantage of her newly minted title that the paint hasn’t even dried on, Cash is up and on the run to start the investigation. What she finds at the prehistoric and unimaginable Erebus Resort is nothing short of astonishing. Erebus CEO, Maitland Barrow, is a one of a kind dreamer who had visions of creating something never done before, or in this case, something that hasn’t been done in millions of years.

Erebus Resort is home to some of the world’s most beautiful creatures, including the Mammuthus Columbi (Woolly Mammoth), Woolly Indricothere (large Rhino), Megatherium Americanum (Giant Ground Sloth). Erebus has been able to seemingly bring Jurassic Park to life and create an environment mimicking the natural habitats that seems like a time from centuries past. While the investigation begins, Cash and Eagle County Sheriff James Colcord begin to believe there is more than meets the eye of this tropical oasis. What they don’t see are the secrets that Chief of Security Andrew Maximillian and his team are keeping from them and what the real mission of the resort is.

There is something mysterious running around the Erebus property that is killing people and terrorizing the law enforcement and the visitors that remain. Who is in charge of the madness and what happens to the to everyone left at the resort when all hell breaks loose?

Preston brings to life historic creatures that clash in modern day America! Life and death are two things that are certain in our world, but when scientists and men start playing God and giving those creatures a second chance, bad things are certain to happen!

Preston creates an imaginary universe that doesn’t seem that far off. An energetic storyline that is bloody and dangerous from the start with fleeting images of Jeff Goldblum whispering to you, “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." There is a mysterious feeling that surrounds the Erebus property and danger looks around every corner and you’ll be greeted by imperfect characters in the perfect roles. Preston doesn’t make everything fall into line, bringing determined and valiant characters that make mistakes and highlight an authentic environment aside from the once creatures. Mad men with money doing crazy things sounds familiar, but this one adds a twist you can’t even fathom. Enjoy this ride!

With Lincoln Child, Douglas Preston is half of the popular thriller writing team responsible for the Pendergast and Nora Kelly books. He has also written some very good solo thrillers, including the excellent Tyrannosaur Canyon from a few years back.

His latest, Extinction (Forge, 26 April 2024), is another very enjoyable read that combines Michael Crichton style thrills with a heavy of dose of clever science. In many ways it is Jurassic Park revisited, but with more science and mammoths!

Erebus Resort, occupying a magnificent, hundred-thousand acre valley deep in the Colorado Rockies, offers guests the experience of viewing woolly mammoths, Irish Elk, and giant ground sloths in their native habitat. Brought back from extinction through the magic of genetic manipulation, the animals offer a safe way to view an earlier way of life. When a billionaire’s son and his new wife are 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 Cash and county sheriff James Colcord are sent in to track down the perpetrators, without disturbing the guests.

As the 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.

Preston has an easy flowing writing style that smoothly integrates simple to understand science into a fast moving plot. The story gets off to a good start and there is enough action, mystery and uncertainty to keep it moving along at a good pace. The characters are simple, but effective, and the central pairing of Cash and Colcord are very engaging, and more nuanced than the rest of the cast.

The early action scenes generate some good excitement, and while it is relatively easy to guess where the plot is going, Preston introduces several twists to keep it interesting.

Some suspension of disbelief is required, especially around aspects of the central conceit, but it is very easy to settle back and enjoy. A thoroughly enjoyable science thriller.

It's been awhile since I have read a Douglas Preston book, but my husband and I are both big fans. This latest read was entertaining and fast paced. While a bit predictable, it was a solid good time. The characters were unremarkable, however I enjoyed the book overall.

Well, it's hard to get more timely than genetic manipulation - and when it's rooted in fact and jazzed up with murder and mayhem, it makes for a hard-to-put-down story (even if parts are a little implausible). Chalk up another one I stayed up past my bedtime to finish.

The story begins at the Erebus Resort, an exclusive and uber-expensive safari-like place at which guests can see animals that became extinct eons ago (think: woolly mammoths). That came about as a result of the aforementioned genetic manipulation, done at an onsite laboratory, coupled with backing from the billionaire owner. But all things that must pass aren't good; the son of another billionaire and his bride who are honeymooning at the lodge suddenly disappear with no trace except an overabundance of blood left outside their tent.

Enter Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent Frankie Cash, who is called in amid what experts called a kidnapping until hard evidence - meaning bones - proves the honeymooners were murdered. Cash pretty much runs the investigative show from that point on, together with personable and very capable Colorado Sheriff James Colcord. Their job is far from easy, though; not only are there other lodge guests to consider, but there's a motion picture being shot on other parts of the Erebus-owned land (if I'm honest, that part of the story seemed a little more like filler-upper than relevant, but it did make for some tense moments).

Amid the investigation come sightings of unidentified beings that seem to appear from nowhere and disappear to the same place - but whoever or whatever they are, it's clear they're not there to make friends. Finally, it's determined that they may hang out in one of the abandoned gold mines located in the hills of the property. But who are they, and maybe more to the immediate point, who are they really out to destroy and why? Readers learn the grisly details, sometimes in grisly fashion, as the investigation plays out - and they may be more sinister with more far-reaching implications that anyone possibly could have imagined.

After you read the book - and if you enjoy a good thriller, I recommend that you do - be sure to read the author's notes at the end for some interesting and factual background. In some ways, it's even scarier than the book. And in the end, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for giving me the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. Well done!

When murders erupted at the Erebus Resort, Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent Frances Cash and her team descended upon the scene of bloodstained grass with "de-extincted" mammoths in the background. Things got even stranger when a drone used in the search was stolen and then used to send a very strange message. Plus there were the objects found at the site. Motive seemed to be the key, but, who's motive. The setup of the resort reminds one of Jurassic Park, but with mammoths, ground sloths, giant beavers and the like rather than dinosaurs. And someone seemed to have overstepped boundaries of ethical science leading to the disaster brewing at Erebus. The question becomes who will survive the firestorm coming and who will embrace the storm? An interesting and entertaining look at the dark side of science.

Thanks Netgalley and Tor for the opportunity to read this title.

A couple go missing in a wilderness area where a private scientist group has been de-extincting prehistoric creatures. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is brought in to investigate. ARC from NetGalley. .

I read this book because, well, I've read nearly all of Preston (and Child's) books since JENNIE, but I was specifically interested in this novel because he wrote in his newsletter that, in reading the book REGENESIS, he found a great idea for it. So I read that book to see if I could figure it out. I was very wrong--in a good way.

This is a wildly exciting novel about a newlywed and newly pregnant couple, one of them daughter of a tech billionaire who go to a vast and remote park in Colorado where a team of scientists, funded by another billionaire, has used DNA to de-extinct wooly mammoths and other American megafauna. Let's say that their trip doesn't end well, which brings in an FBI agent working on her first case as agent in charge and a local sheriff to figure out what happened. Meanwhile a movie crew is shooting a film in a ghost town on the property. Let's also say they should've wrapped early. The investigation bumps along a bit as our heroes try to figure out what's going on, but pretty soon--and the author knows the reader is expecting this--everything in the park goes south very quickly and ends way more weirdly than I was expecting--and I loved the bonkers ending of CRIMSON SHORE.

Agent Cash isn't as well-developed as P&C's Corrie Swanson, but Swanson's had several books to develop. It'll be interesting to see what Preston does with her, a very different character too. The book's also wonderfully self-aware, making the obvious pop culture references (plus a fun one for fans). And I enjoyed the epilogue that talked about all the research behind the book, including Preston's case that what happens in the book, including the secret of what's really going on, really could come to pass in some fashion.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early look.

A fun summer blockbuster of a book! “Extinction” is another thrill ride from Douglas Preston. Can’t help but feel the “Crichtonish” vibes from this story of ancient mammals brought back to life, but it’s that wonderful Preston flair to it. He’s always so wonderful with female characters and giving us whole well rounded people and great dialogue. This book is perfectly paced and doesn’t overstay its welcome. It’s perfect for a summer beach read or when you just want to escape with something awesome! Read it! Thanks to Netgalley for the arc!

Erebus Resort, located deep in the Colorado Rockies, plays creator by building a sanctuary for their designer dinosaurs is just a cover for a more nefarious goal which only comes to light after a billionaire's son and his new wife go missing in the park. Extinction is a riveting, page-turning thriller that explores the possible and unintended dangers of the very real efforts to resurrect the woolly mammoth and other long-extinct animals. Similar to Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park, this book both fascinated and terrified me.

Cross Jurassic Park with the wildest crime story you've ever read and you get this gripping, unpredictable thriller from best-selling novelist Douglas Preston. A newlywed couple are honeymooning at Erebus, a luxury resort where scientists have de-extincted wooly mammoths and other docile prehistoric creatures, when they're brutally murdered. Francine Cash of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation is put in charge of the case, and it isn't long before she gets senses the heads of Erebus aren't giving her the whole story – especially when evidence suggests a cannibalistic cult has made its home in their reserve. Frankie Cash is a tough, no nonsense heroine who leads us through a taut, mind-boggling thrill ride that blends science with toxic greed and ambition to create a deadly army that cannot be controlled. It's another fierce blast of entertainment from Preston, but don't be surprised if you're wary about glamping after reading it.

The Erebus Resort in the Colorado Mountains caters to the very wealthy, providing them with a once in a lifetime experience seeing wooly mammoths, and other de-extincted creatures, in their natural habitat. The resort is owned and funded by an ethically-challenged billionaire who has hired ethically-challenged executives to run his enterprise. When another billionaire’s son and his new wife are kidnapped and killed in what may be a targeted attack by ecoterrorists, Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent in Charge Frankie Cash and Sheriff Jim Colcord are called in to catch the culprits before the media descends and turns the horrific event into a circus. Cash and Colcord quickly realize that the situation is much more dangerous than they originally thought and race to catch the killer before it’s too late…for everyone at the resort.

Douglas Preston’s “Extinction” is filled with ethically-challenged and self-serving characters, violence, and intense action. There is a sense that the reader is not seeing the entire picture (and neither are our heroes) which lends a general creepiness to the atmosphere of the story. Throughout the story, one is reminded that Ian Malcolm of “Jurassic Park” told us (to paraphrase) “just because we can, doesn’t mean we should” when dreaming of reviving long-extinct species.

This book is great for those who like fast-paced thrillers.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Douglas Preston has written the best science fiction thriller I have read in some time. Extinction pays homage to its forebears while doing new things, and the story takes some fascinating and braving turns as it goes. Highly recommended reading for readers who miss the likes of Michael Crichton.

What if Jurassic Park was real? But instead of dinosaurs, extremely large extinct animals like woolly mammoths, are recreated. Would you visit? Would you agree with the morality of man becoming godlike? All that is part of Extinction, the latest book by one of the authors of the Lincoln Pendergast series.

This is one of those books with an outlandish plot that you just can’t stop reading. The whole idea of a real Jurassic Park or Island of Doctor Moreau is mind-blowing! But according to both the author’s afterword and current news items, a de-extincted mammoth is pretty close to reality.

Even though the underlying theme of Extinction is a pretty heavy idea, the book moves briskly and includes many action scenes. You can see the future movie adaptation play out in your head as you read the scenes. It does remind me of a 1960s James Bond movie in the way it is so entertaining while also being just plain stupid. Despite that feeling, I loved the book and blew through it in two days. It is a thoroughly entertaining ride. 5 stars!

Thanks to Forge Books and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

Ok, let me start by saying that I have never not liked a Douglas Preston book. I've read his fiction and non-fiction. This is one of the best books I have read in a very long time! Blending current science, a bit of future casting, and great story telling, this one was almost impossible to put down! If you are looking for a great book to escape with, then pick this one up!

Much thanks to NetGalley and Forge Books/Tor Publishing Group for the ARC of "Extinction" in exchange for an honest review.
Though I was simultaneously reading this book and three others, I found myself devoting way more time to racing through "Extinction" than the others competing for my full attention.
I just couldn't wait to find out what in the horrific world was going on and what terrifying thing was going to happen next......so I felt I was in the middle of a guaranteed 5 star read.
And author Douglas Preston didn't disappoint in this variation of "Jurassic Park" with far more fear, horror, gore and science gone terribly awry.
Up in the breathtaking Colorado Rockies, the Erebus resort offers its guests the astounding spectacular sights of Wooly Mammoths and other giant prehistoric creatures whose names I wouldn't dare try to type without spellcheck.
Created by a mega-billionaire, the resort's scientists have 'de-extincted' the massive animals by mixing up assorted cocktails of DNA. (Although the Erebus science crew openly mocks and derides the fiction of "Jurassic Park", it does sound like pretty much the same thing......and what could possibly go wrong with mixing and matching DNA.....heh, heh, heh.....)
But amid the jaw-dropping creatures and picture postcard scenery, something's going very, very wrong.......starting with the abduction and probable evisceration of newlywed campers, one of whom was the son of yet another powerful biillionaire..
Colorado Bureau Of Investigation agent Frances Cash and county sheriff James Colcord join forces to hunt the killers. And it starts to look like they're up against either a deranged religious cult or determined eco-terrorists who prefer committing blood drenched atrocities rather than tree hugging.
But they can't possibly know how much worse and fantastic their assumptions are. Way, way worse. This all leads to a catastrophic finish that combines all the tropes of every disaster movie you've ever seen with every gut-shredding horror movie you've ever cringed through.
And that explains why I slowed down reading my other three books so I could keep diving into this one.
As you can tell, I had a great time with this book and for thriller fans (especially of the science-based page turners), mark this one down as a number one beach read......or, for that matter, as soon as you get your hands on the book.

What an utterly fascinating read....I have loved Preston's books since I first read Relic in high school and this one did not disappoint. I had no idea where the story was going, the science is fantastic as always, and the thrills just keep coming.

Jurassic Park meets the Island of Dr Moreau meets the X-Files

I am thankful to the folks at Netgalley for sending an ARC for review – this review reflects my thoughts on this engaging read

A trope-filled procedural SF thriller that pays loving respect to Jurassic Park, while a searing commentary on human greed, capitalism, and genetic engineering. A book that hits the expected notes, packs in a twist, and provides page-turning entertainment to make this a good pacey read

When a billionaire's son and his wife go missing in the magnificent Erebus resort, a resort that has brought back to life extinct creatures like the mammoth, and elk through genetic manipulation, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation is pulled in. Special Agent-in-charge Frances Cash partners with local sheriff James Colcord to get to the bottom of this disappearance only to encounter hidden agenda, politics, and skullduggery at every level with the looming presence of an extinction agent at work.

De-extinction through science has proven to be quite a staple diet for SF thrillers and Jurassic Park is the gold standard for books in such settings. The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly is Jurassic Park on steroids featuring Dragons. Recently, The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler features an almost similar concept - scientists playing God, resurrected mammoths, and a remote valley housing these creatures that becomes the setting for bloodshed and base human mentalities to emerge.

In light of all these existing works, Extinction doesn't exactly feel fresh. Early in the book, the scientists at Erebus take a dig at Jurassic Park and the science behind it. But then it completely embraces the tropes and templates of this genre to make that dig red herring almost. The scientists who don't disclose everything, power-hungry political bureaucrat, inventions having a mind of their own, and rebelling against their own creators are checklist items that are covered, and as Jeff Goldblum would have say "Life ummmm.. finds a way"

The element that differentiates the books from the others is how it is structured as a procedural. Agent Cash and Sheriff Colcord are our eyes to this story and we see events unfold through their eyes and actions

It also helps that both leads have significant agency. While they are at the mercy of their superiors and the political compulsions that come with the territory, they are tenacious, cunning, and rebellious enough to seek to solve the mystery on their own. As they uncover the secrets behind Erebus, they encounter various situations . some of which are claustrophobic. This and a few other elements also give the book a creepy undertone. There are a few quote-worthy statements as well on the nature of humans harnessing science and how we twist it which ties in with the theme of greed and eugenics as well.

The central mystery element has a juicy twist to it. To be honest, though the twist was completely workoutable but the motivation element does make for an intriguing read. It also helps that the book is pretty pacy as it goes through the paces.

On the whole, Extinction treads a well-trodden path in its own quick, pacy, and entertaining way with a nice twist to keep it engaging

Rating – 3.5 Extinction Events on 5

[Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advance e-copy in exchange for an honest review.]


This well-crafted, science-forward thriller offers a full helping of everything Douglas Preston's readers (also Preston/Child readers) have come to expect. Set in the high finance altitudes of Colorado, at the kind of resort mostly found in thrillers and Bond movies, it quickly escalates from a Jurassic Park riff with "de-extincted" mammoths to a grisly double homicide.

And then it gets weirder.

When Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent Frances Cash is made agent-in-charge of the investigation, she's not sure whether she's been given a promotion or a big chance to fail. Fortunately, she and local county sheriff James Colcord manage to leave the corporate breadcrumb trail laid for them and actually find information. Lost mine maps, disregarded scientists, and a ticked-off movie producer all contribute to a series of discoveries neither of them want to make, but can't avoid.

It's hard to get more specific than that without dropping spoilers, but suffice it to say that this is a highly effective cautionary tale. Combined with Preston's short, POV-switching chapters, this allows the plot to barrel along without getting bogged down in what is actually a lot of speculative science. For curious readers, Preston also provides a chilling Afterword about that science.

Characterization isn't really the point of thrillers, but I was impressed by Frankie Cash (an actual grownup female, possibly over 40!) and the not-quite-a-good-ol'-boy Sheriff Colcord. The big-money, morals-optional villains were more stereotypical, though sadly quite believable. The depth of entertaining scientific detail was impressive. If this is the first of a new series -- which is hinted at the end -- I'll be preordering the next.

Extinction by Douglas Preston is part police procedural and part science fiction thriller. Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s Francis Cash is called to Erebus, an upscale resort featuring de-extincted animals, including several wooly mammoths, rhinoceroses, Irish Elk, giant ground sloths and more to investigate the disappearances of a young man and his new wife. Immediately she meets James Colcord, local sheriff, and although they don’t necessarily hit it off they agree to search together. The resort security couldn’t be more helpful. It is a frightening crime scene. The amount of blood could only be from decapitations, although since they have northing else to go on, they keep quiet on that. Soon the young man’s father appears. He is a tech billionaire and used to getting his own way. He tries to manipulate the investigation but much to his horror, he is thwarted. It is an interesting case, Frankie’s first as the lead investigator. Before long, things go from bad to worse and they try to retrieve a downed drone, and find people in the forest. Then the drone’s camera is turned on and shows a very odd ceremony of some sort. It gets weirder.

Frankie Cash is an excellent character, full of her own secrets, but clever, and a good investigator. Colcort is independent and not as back-woods as Frankie first assumed. They made a good pair, both working together, and separately. It is an enticing read with investigators learning more than they ever thought possible. There were complications: Frankie’s supervisor came in to take things over which turned out to be a mistake. There was a press conference and the press refused to leave, opening them up to danger. It is a view of the future that is not enticing, I’m afraid. Scientists always have to take the next step, for science’s sake. Sometimes it’s a step too far. If there is another Frankie Cash novel, this one will be tough to beat. Thanks, Mr. Preston!

The story was narrated by David Aaron Baker and he was excellent. It was mostly a straight read with only a few “voices” where appropriate. His efforts made it an even more exciting listen than Preston’s excellent manuscript. It was a good read but better in audio.

I was invited to read Extinction by Tor Publishing Group and listen through MacMillan Audio. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley TorPublishingGroup #MacMillanAudio #DouglasPreston #DavidAaronBaker #Extinction

Great pacing, lots of hooks that force the reader to continue reading, likable characters. I've been reading Preston's books for years and they never disappoint when I'm in need of easy entertainment.