Extinction

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

'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.

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.