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.

Extinction is a fun science fiction mystery/thriller. It's somewhat of a mashup between Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton and Relic, one of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child's earlier novels. Fun read, I will recommend it to the patrons at my library.

I am a library associate and received an advance copy from #NetGalley.

This is a fun book that is fast and full of action/adventure. It reminded me of Jurassic Park (even though in the book we’re reminded several times this sanctuary of animals is no Jurassic Park.