Well done thriller/mystery with an interesting protagonist. This is the first in a series and it's well worth a read. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.

Wow! This book was intriguing and intense. Theo Cray is a professor, who becomes involved with the police after a former student is killed. The question becomes, how did a wild animal cause her death, when she is trained to be on the lookout for such animals? This question leads Cray to want to find out more, and he certainly does!

It is clear the author is highly intelligent, which shows in Cray's character. However, the scientific element is discussed in a way that readers can enjoy, without detracting from the story itself.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it!

Wow! I need to smoke an imaginary cigarette and let this one marinate!
This was a one day read and I am sponge brained. Buckle up buttercup! Fast paced, interesting, educational, entertaning, enjoyable, and you can't stop till it is over! I just realized there is another one in this series, just bought and pre-ordered the third one! SCORE!
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read for a fair review!

While on a field trip in Montana, Professor Theo Cray hears a horrific story. A woman has been killed. He is shocked when he finds out that it was a former student of his, in the area doing field work. Cray sees the body and although the first impression is that she has been killed by a bear, he doesn't believe it. He takes pictures and samples and goes to the police with his thoughts only to find that they are determined to put this down to a rampaging animal or alternatively, to charge him as he seems so obsessed with the crime.

He reluctantly leaves the town but he isn't through. As a computational biologist, he is a scientist and the police's theory just doesn't add up. He is trained to see patterns where others do not. In fact, he is just focused enough that he sees things others do not and socially awkward enough that he insists on his theories even when those around him don't believe him.

Theo goes to a neighboring town and tries to work out what happened. Once he throws out the theory that the death was the result of a bear, he is left with the theory that it is a human killer who is disguising as a bear for the ability to kill without consequences. Cray works out a theory that shows him the areas that such a killer would tend to target and then searches for missing people. When he manages to find another body, killed a year before, the police can't ignore him although once again they reach for the comfortable animal killing idea. Although the police don't believe him, the killer does and can't believe someone has managed to break his decades long streak of killings. The killer is determined to put an end to Theo's theory and how better to do it than to put an end to Theo?

This is the first in a series of mysteries by Andrew Mayne, who is best known for his work as a magician. He has both a TV series and a podcast about illusion which makes the sleight of hand necessary in a mystery secondhand to him. In Theo Cray, he has created a fascinating character whose quirks seem believable and whose name, Cray, is a sly illusion to the Cray supercomputer which he is similar to. This book is recommended for mystery readers.

I loved the Jessica Blackwood series. I gave all of them 5 stars. But this new series was a huge snoozefest. I have my degree in biology, so I understood the science. However it wasn't interesting. I gave up at about 50%. I just couldn't push through any more. The main character was dull and forgettable. I hope he goes back to writing about Jessica again.

Whoa! I loved this one. I love science-y, smart books like this. There may be a few things that didn't quite work, in my opinion, and the beginning chapter didn't reel me in as much as it should have for some reason, but I'm glad I kept reading. Re: the first chapter... It doesn't really give you a good picture of what the book is going to be like. It's totally different than I thought it would be, and for that, I'm glad. This one's right up my alley!

Review: THE NATURALIST by Andrew Mayne
(THE NATURALIST Book 1)

Professor Theo Cray is champion! I loved this book, and I can't wait for the next. Professor of bioinformatics at the University of Texas-Austin (Ph.D. MIT), Theo is a genius in systems and in computer programming, and the usual feckless absent-minded scientist, lacking consummate social skills. In Montana studying ecosystems, he is distraught to learn a former student has been killed in a forest, seemingly in a bear attack. Then Theo is accused; soon he's using the computer program he designed to map missing person cases in the area. He's on the track of a stone killer who will stop at nothing; and nobody in law enforcement will believe Theo, until it's too late.

The Naturalist

4 Stars

By Andrew Mayne

Theo is a techo biologist who studies patterns in living things.

This unlikely hero is firstly a suspect in the murder of one of his students. Once his name is cleared he starts his own investigation where he finds dozens of bodies. All while the police and authorities are in denial. When mutilated bodies found deep in the Montana woods leave the cops searching blindly for clues, Theo sees something they missed. Something unnatural. Something only he can stop.

As more details, and bodies, come to light, the local cops determine that the killer is either a grizzly gone rogue…or Theo himself. Racing to stay one step ahead of the police, Theo must use his scientific acumen to uncover the killer. Will he be able to become as cunning as the predator he hunts—before he becomes its prey

Although an unlikely storyline, the writing is strong and Mayne has constructed a well written plot, and a believable character in Dr Theo.

www.books-reviewed.weebly.com

This story is set in Montana where mutilated bodies are discovered buried in the woods. Law enforcement attributes the deaths to bear attacks due to the savage mauling of the bodies.
Dr Theo Cray is an ex paramedic who now collects and analyses complex biological data. Juniper aka June once one of Theo’s students, is murdered while conducting research outdoors. He has a strong urge to investigate her death feeling partly to blame for encouraging her research. Theo uses his skills as a biologist and computer programmer to reveal the pattern of a prolific serial killer with a particular trademark. In doing so, he risks his own life and the woman he has a growing attraction to.
Theo was my favourite character in this book. I really enjoyed his scientific and logical some times humorous way of working through things. This book consumed my interest in a way that took me by surprise. This is a definite recommend to anyone searching for a gripping thriller a little different to the usual offering.
Thank you to the publisher for providing a digital copy of the uncorrected proof via Netgalley. Thanks also for the opportunity to provide my review.

Thanks to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read The Naturalist in exchange for an honest review.
I just loved this book. So, it's not the most believable story in the world but that really didn't matter to me as the twists and turns kept me hooked until the very end. I loved the scientific and forensic details and I really liked the quirky narrative that reflected the Prof's thought processes. Working in University, I know it's pretty close to the mark!
I didn't realise the author was an illusionist until the end of the book and I think that revelation made me appreciate it even more. I'm already looking up his other published titles!

THE NATURALIST by Andrew Mayne tells the story of Dr. Theo Cray, who happens upon a murder in Montana that turns out to be a former student of his. The uniqueness of the murder, and Dr Cray's singular and unique view on patterns and tendencies in biology and society, inspires Dr. Cray to conduct his own investigation and in the process, becomes a suspect and a target himself.
Dr. Cray reminds ey of House from the TV show HOUSE in that he is an unconventional thinker and does what he thinks he needs to do to show the truth despite the legal and emotional problems it creates in the wake of his crusade for accuracy. For that determination and honesty, the reader can't help but pull for Dr. Cray. It's captivating how when he is focused on discovering facts he is missing basic social cues around him. The book slowly turns it's focus from animal instincts to brutal human depravity, but in such a way that the reader enjoys the ride. The biggest twists are towards the end (as they should be) and many of them relate to the harsh reality of the truth behind the murder at the beginning of the book and other murders discovered by Dr. Cray along the way. I admit that that there are some unresolved details that seemed be convenient points to help the plot, but as the story keeps flowing forward, most were acceptable while reading such an exciting book. Another thing Mayne does well is maintaining a balance between ridiculously gory and avoiding violence and bloody descriptions at all. So often when I read a book in this genre, either there is a lengthy description of each swing of a weapon, with all of the fleshy realities that go with it, or the reader gets "the villain overtakes him/her" and that's it. Mayne gives enough without making the reader nauseous.
THE NATURALIST is a page turner at its best. Charming hero, creepy interconnecting murders, and an exciting finish.

https://lynns-books.com/2017/12/04/the-naturalist-the-naturalist-1-by-andrew-mayne/
Although I do like to read some murder/mystery stories they’re not my usual ‘go to’ books and I admit I would have completely overlooked The Naturalist if not for such a glowing review over at The Bibliosanctum. I’m so glad that I read this. It’s a fast paced, thrilling story with a very unusual and prolific serial killer and a lot of forensic amateur detecting. I just loved it. It held me rapt from the prologue to the straight-out-of-the-stalls action that commenced from Chapter 1 and didn’t let up until the finale. What a great read. Okay, maybe you could pick holes in it if you really wanted, there are certainly some very over the top scenes, but for me it was fascinating, it was thrilling, I loved the concept and in fact the whole notion of the serial killer here is seriously a little (okay a lot) scary.

The story begins with the death of a young woman. Professor Theo Cray is paid a visit by the police to ‘help with their enquiries’. The fact that he knew the victim (she was a former student) and was randomly in the same part of the country at the same time doesn’t sit to well with them and things are going badly for the Professor until the cause of death is confirmed as an animal attack. Feeling terrible guilt at not having prepared his former student better for such forays into the wild the professor begins to examine the details a bit more thoroughly, initially to assuage his own misplaced feelings, but then to dig deeper when he starts to find things that just don’t add up.

I won’t go further into the plot because I think that if you’re anything like me you should go into this with as few clues as possible as this will allow the story to take you down the route of red herrings and jumped-to-conclusions. I think at the end of the day, when you’re reading a mystery story you’re always trying to second guess the outcome, it’s just natural isn’t it? You want to be able to pat yourself on the back and gloat (even if just to yourself) at how clever you are for guessing correctly. Well, there was no back patting for me here. I was constantly kept on my toes, I had the wrong end of the stick more than once and I’m pleased to say that this story jumped about in directions that I would never have anticipated.

So, if I’m not going to tell you about the plot what am I going to tell you about, you might well ask? All about Professor Theo Cray who is a very entertaining protagonist indeed. Cray is a computational biologist. Yeah, I had no idea what that was to be frank. Basically let’s just say he’s a clever cookie. I’m sure he spends a lot of his time looking at microbes and other things that would be meaningless to me but that really play a big part in this story. The real thing with Cray is that he’s not a people person. He doesn’t really relate well to others and is missing that particular ‘gene’ that gives him the ability to socialise, mingle or make small talk. He’s this incredibly straight forward, no nonsense, look at the facts and follow the clues type of guy and more than that he’s like a dog with a bone once he’s onto something. Tenacious and almost Holmes like in his ability to come up with the most random things to analyse. He’s not always his own best friend. He walks right into dangerous situations and sometimes seems to be talking his way into a prison cell and a life sentence and to be honest, his sometimes cold and analytical way of looking at things definitely makes you look at him askew, it certainly seemed to make him into a prime suspect in the eyes of the police.

Cray is a great character to read about. Even if some of his deductions are a little bit of a stretch of the imagination he makes for entertaining reading as he takes you on an obsessive chase across America looking for bodies. The scientific theories that he comes up with seem so plausible that you can’t help wondering why some of them aren’t seriously adopted, particularly the way that he analyses data to make predictions. And he takes us to some interesting places indeed. Small backwater towns that have suffered decline and the rise of crime as a result. Places where you feel that the professor is in danger just because he’s so naive about people and lets be honest, he’s turning stones over here and when you turn over stones, you sometimes find things that creep about.

I can’t really tell you much more. I don’t suppose this is the most eloquent of reviews because I seem to become tongue tied when I really want to praise something. Why does it feel so much easier to be critical. Anyway, I don’t have any criticisms for the Naturalist. It was, simply, a book that I couldn’t put down.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

The Naturalist was just so much fun to read. Of course it was completely unbelievable that this biology professor could create an almost self-aware algorithm that helps him to start digging up random bodies in the woods and leads to the uncovering of a serial killer - and the ending! Just so ridiculously over the top, and yet so much fun. I enjoyed all the fun scientific facts thrown into the story, and it really did make me think about biology in a new and exciting way, which I think was the point. I did feel like the unrealistic elements of the novel were there on purpose, and that the author doesn't take himself too seriously - this novel is meant to be entertaining, and it succeeds in that goal.

This novel was provided to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book screamed the show Bones to me, which was brilliant. I appreciated the intelligence in the writing for this addicting and fast-paced story. The character Theo maybe a tad nerdy, but I embraced it and the book definitely kept me engaged and it turned out to be a creepy and thought provoking story. It was enjoyed, thank you Thomas & Mercer for the ecopy.

One of my favorite books of the year. Love the protagonist's voice. The choice of making him a biologist led to some fascinating facts sprinkled throughout the book. Very exciting, the plot moved swiftly, twisting and turning to a satisfying conclusion. On my shortlist for the Edgar.

Andrew Mayne, a real-life master illusionist, has written a book of magical proportions and innovative storytelling. “The Naturalist” is as good a book as I’ve read this year, and its marriage of science and crime is lucid, believable, as well as action packed.

Professor Theo Crane is an unlikely hero and doesn’t pretend that he is. He’s an improbable mixture of academia, nosiness, sentimentality, and stubbornness that keeps him probing into a serial murder mystery that no one else can figure out. Everyone contends the killer is an animal, probably a bear, ignoring his findings based on his scientific analysis and old-fashioned hard work. Bodies pile up and Crane’s innovative search techniques lead him directly to the burial sites making him a suspect simply because other searchers could ever find the bodies.

I find nothing in my searches through Mayne’s background that indicates a scientific background. Yet his reasoning and scientific problem solving is sound and understandable. I wish all science education in novels was as easy to decipher. Regardless of his correctness it all fits together. I also like the author’s depiction of Crane’s ineptitude and self-doubt and the courage it takes to overcome them. Additionally, every characterization in the novel, as well as the dialogue, is well portrayed, a big plus for Mayne.

I say to go for this novel. It’s clever, well written, and full of innovation.

“The Naturalist” might be billed as a stand-alone, but I am hopeful that we will see more of Professor Theo Cray. Cray is such a fascinating character, and this book is infused with computational biology, making it a perfect series starter. The book begins with a killing in the forest for which Cray becomes a suspect. When the investigators decide it was, in fact, a mauling by a bear and not a murder, Cray disagrees and uses his highly developed computer skills along with his biology background to try to figure out what actually happened to the young woman. Without ever stating it directly, author Mayne makes it clear that Cray is along the spectrum, possibly with Asperger’s. This makes him uniquely suited for his field, helps the reader understand why he is so focused on figuring out what happened to the young woman he hardly knew, and provides some explanation for awkward and dangerous interpersonal interactions that fuel the story line. In addition to giving us strong characterization, Mayne places the reader in the frightening forest, and an ominous sense of foreboding accompanies the plot. The book is constructed of short chapters that draw the reader into the fast-paced action. This is one you’ll pick up and not want to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

2.5/5 stars, since I can't actually give half stars on Goodreads.

Let's start with the good. The premise of the book is strong and extremely interesting, and when Mayne manages to find his flow, he propels the story forward almost effortlessly, keeping the reader intrigued. There's something almost fiendishly cunning about the idea of a killer who disguises his victims as the relatively more mundane casualties of an animal attack.

When first presented, the protagonist, Dr. Theo Cray, is another interesting element to the equation. Though not explicitly stated, Mayne writes Cray's mind and habits as being not dissimilar to someone on the spectrum, focused wholly on dissecting the science of the mystery rather than the human elements.

The death of Juniper, a former student of Theo's, adds an enjoyable element to the story-she seemed to be almost obsessed with him, while he can barely remember her. What was she doing in the woods? Why did she tell so many people about him when he only had her for a single class and felt like he made no real impact on her life? Unfortunately, don't search for answers to those questions, because you won't get them- and this is where the book begins to fall apart swiftly.

The first 75 pages or so are a dedicated plod. Theo has access to nigh miraculous science that doesn't exist, but can apparently DNA sequence hair within a period of a few hours- fine. I'm willing to suspend the belief as much as any other reader, and the comforting blanket of scientific terminology makes it an easy pill to swallow. Once you make it through that slog, things start to escalate to an almost ludicrous extreme- there's not one corpse but two. No, not two corpses- three. No, not three, but literally dozens, all apparently awaiting for a single computational biologist to uncover them.

Throughout the number of bodies piling up, all bearing the same claw marks, the local Montana police force are almost comically inept, though given how Theo is insistent to the point where it's sometimes physically uncomfortable to read his reactions, perhaps that's understandable. Still, not once do they seem to think "Hmm, this giant, mounting pile of corpses all have the same four claws and there are far more of them in a far wider area than a wild animal would ever prowl. Seems suspicious."

And thus Theo, our formerly likable, if socially inept to the point where it's almost crippling, somehow becomes an action hero. Sort of. You see, he alternates between passing out more times than would ever be healthy for a human being to learning to shoot a gun within a matter of hours. Oh, and he gets the girl, of course, a beautiful small town waitress who is inexplicably drawn to him despite the fact that he seems to have no redeeming characteristics in the romance department. It is, of course, instant love, or something close to it. If you're rolling your eyes just reading about this juvenile male fantasy, imagine actually having the text in hand.

Things escalate towards an inevitable conclusion and show-down with a killer who is almost invincible, though still human- don't ask. We're left with the idea that this will be the first of Theo's adventures but I, for one, won't be reading another.

This book is addictive and fast-paced and a little bit creepy, with its success certainly lying in its intriguing and compelling mystery. Theo Cray, a university lecturer, goes to a litany of crazy lengths to solve the mystery at the book’s centre and find out what (or who) killed his former-student. Along the way, he discovers more and more victims to the thing lurking in the forrest and no matter how loudly he tries to tell the police, he seems to be the only one who cares about finding out who killed all of these young women. Theo’s determination is addictive and it is very quickly reflected onto the reader as they are too compelled to not stop until all of these victims find justice.
Clearly, Theo Cray is an unexpected protagonist in this particular genre - less alcohol detective with a dark past and more socially-inept genius with an eye for anomalies. In particular, he reminds me a lot of Spencer Reid from the crime-drama television series, Criminal Minds, who just happens to be my favourite character... ever.
The focus of the narrative being on a character such as this, allows for vast amounts of knowledge - on an array of subjects like missing persons statistics per US state, the behavioural habits of prolific American serial killers and the growing patterns of certain flowers - to be included in his investigation. All of these topics filter into the story seamlessly to add another layer to the narrative, whilst also showing all of the tiny clues - most of which you don’t even realise until he points out their significance - that Theo Cray manages to piece together to find the murderer. And more importantly, though the author relays a lot of information through Theo’s complicated thought-processes, it is described in a way that allows the reader to understand everything and not be overwhelmed.
Honestly, the only negative I have is in regards to the love interest (which is the only reason I’m not giving this five stars), although I can understand that the plot was created so that the whole investigation didn’t have to exist solely in Theo’s thoughts. It just felt a little unnecessary and towards the end of the novel, when the threat became more real, he seemed to care more about her safety than he did his own parents’. Which, with him only knowing her for a month at the most, I found to be incredibly unrealistic.
Overall, this was a compelling tale that I sped through in the space of a day and one that I can’t recommend enough for other people to check out, particularly if they’re looking for a subversion to the usual crime-thriller. Whilst I will be waiting eagerly and counting down the days until the sequel (Theo Cray, I love you).

The Naturalist started off exceptionally well. Dr. Theo Cray is returning to his hotel room only to discover a swat team a swat storming the hotel. He takes cover, but when told to return to his room, he remains watching the scene.

Because he can't return to his room--it is his room being stormed.

It turns out that a former student of his has been doing research in the area and has been found dead. Theo is taken in for questioning, but is released when it is determined that the young woman died from a bear attack.

His curiosity and a sense of guilt cause Theo to do a little more investigation and what he discovers makes him believe that a man has disguised not only this murder, but many more murders; some were listed as animal attacks, but many were never reported at all. As Theo uses his computer to investigate missing persons in the area, he begins to locate bodies.

I really enjoyed the first portion, but the novel became a combination of too far-fetched and too clever and lost its initial focus. Talk about character transformation--Theo Cray started off as an intriguingly nerdy character, but ended up as a standard action hero.

NetGalley/Thomas & Mercer

Crime/Suspense. Oct. 1, 2017. Print length: 382 pages.