Extinction by Douglas Preston is thrilling sci-fi novel with a female protagonist. When Colorado Bureau of Investigation agent Frankie Cash is assigned to find the perpetrator of an especially heinous murder, she falls into a nightmare of genetic manipulation. Readers follow her into the Erebus Resort in the Colorado Rockies, where woolly mammoths and other prehistoric creatures have been brought back from extinction. Frankie and the county sheriff band together to evacuate the area and stop the killings by a band of suspected eco-terrorists. Will they be time? Will they even survive! Read on and hang on through the suspense to find out!

EXTINCTION – by Douglas Preston

‘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.’

Oh, the magic of genetic manipulation—what could possibly go wrong—right?!

EXTINCTION is a definite nod to Crichton’s novel, JURASSIC PARK (Yes, I love the book and the movie! : ), and is mentioned in the book a few times.

I have to admit, I was a little leery as to how the storyline would play out upon the first reveal, but I have to say, I enjoyed the ending. Except for Tom Thumb—My Heart!

Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group (Forge Books), for providing me with an eBook of EXTINCTION at the request of an honest review.

Extinction by Douglas Preston is a great thriller, but it is more than that. It is science fiction at it’s best. And it has a female protagonist!
Frankie Cash is the agent in charge of a particularly crazy killing. A young couple is camping out in the mountain wilderness of the Erebus resort in Colorado; they have disappeared under suspicious circumstances and are presumed dead. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation takes on the case, but the challenge to figure out what happened to the young couple is overwhelming to say the least.

I really had no idea where this book was going when I started reading it, but I just kept turning page after page, completely overwhelmed. Author Lee Child said, “it’s meaty and thought-provoking and tells us a lot about our distant past—and our immediate future. Spectacular!”
I learned a great deal about neanderthals—and I knew absolutely nothing before beginning the book. Also about gene editing. Oops, am I giving too much away.

This is a great read. Highly recommended with star reviews from the major book reviewers.

I love Jurassic Park and came into Extinction with some big “hold on to your butts!” energy. Unfortunately, the execution just didn’t work for me. The initial setup was intriguing - a resort where they have brought back the woolly mammoth and other long extinct animals. Two visitors to the park go missing. The CBI is brought in to investigate. I am here for all of that!! Unfortunately from there it all fell a little flat for me. At moments that should have felt tense, instead I just felt sort of bored. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook to review, I also purchased the audiobook.

Erebus Resort is one of the premier places in Colorado, a hundred-thousand-acre valley deep in the Colorado Rookies and where guests can watch the newly de-extinct creatures such as woolly mammoths, Irish Elk and others. But when a millionaire’s son and his new wife are murdered while out in the Erebus back country, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation sends Agent Frances ‘Frankie’ Cash to see what is going on and to capture the killers. But what Frankie, alongside Sheriff James Colcord find is more than an open and shut case but one filled with secrets that threaten not just the lives of everyone at the Erebus Resort but also the world.

Douglas Preston’s newest single title, EXTINCTION, is a wonder and a horror all at once within its pages. Filled with twists and turns the reader doesn’t anticipate and characters that you can cheer on, EXTINCTION is a story filled with Jurassic Park-like creatures from long ago that you only see in museums and captures the reader’s attention from the very first page to the last. This is truly a marvel that will delight readers who love this author’s work like I do with its real-world issues converging on long ago issues that create the perfect storm. This is truly a fun read though I have to admit I am really hoping this never happens in real life because the chaos it will create is even more than I can imagine.

EXTINCTION by Douglas Preston is filled with intriguing and at times some really awful characters that had me glued to the pages as each secret was revealed as I couldn’t put this down. His lush description of the Colorado Rocky setting had me wishing to go visit (and hope I come out alive). With each page I flipped I was drawn more and more into the story he crafted and by the end of EXTINCTION, I was horrified as well as intrigued by the science that it was based on as well as the question ‘What if…?’. EXTINCTION is one of those thrillers that will haunt you afterwards and I know I am not the only one who found the horror of what happened within its pages as one that in many (and many more) years to come that might come true as science advances at an alarming pace. The characters are extremely well written and complex, giving me different personality traits at times that had me grinning and eager to see what happens to them next within the book.

EXTINCTION delivers a thrill ride from the beginning and if there is one book of his, notwithstanding his Pendergast series with Lincoln Child, to read I really recommend this one to give you a glimpse into his writing and mind. Now I am off to see if I can see what other works by this author has done so that I can devour it next.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement.

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. 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 partners with county sheriff James Colcord to track down the perpetrators. As 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. I loved this book! I could not put it down and I can see this as a movie. I highly recommend this thriller!

This is a great thriller where science vs nature has a big role. Lots of action and a nice pacing of the plot unfolding.. great ending.

"Extinction" by Douglas Preston is a thrilling page-turner that masterfully combines cutting-edge science with relentless suspense. Preston's meticulous research and vivid storytelling create a gripping narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Fans of techno-thrillers will find this book both intellectually stimulating and thoroughly entertaining.

Douglas Preston's Extinction takes a page from Michael Crichton in exploring the possible and unintended dangers of the very real efforts to resurrect the woolly mammoth and other long-extinct animals. 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.

Not to steal anyone's thunder, but don't call it Jurassic Park. There are no dinosaurs, but there is something much, much more dangerous involved. When a billionaire's son and his new wife (Olivia and Mark Gunnerson) disappear without a trace, Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent Frances Cash partners with county sheriff James Colcord to track down the perpetrators. Could it be eco-terrorists, or environmental protesters, or could it be animal liberation protesters, or maybe a foreign government who wants what Erebus offers.

As evidence is collected and analyzed, Cash and Colcord conclude that a good deal of lying and deception is occurring by major players at Erebus. When Cash & Colcord search the woods they sense silent shapes flitting through the trees and hear hideous yowling. Cash and Colcord realize cryptic creatures are scurrying around the resort, which is made even more evident by additional frightening occurrences. The investigators probe into events more deeply, and shocking secrets are revealed.

Meanwhile, a film crew is making a movie on the resort property, directed by Slavomir Doyle. Doyle tells Cash and Colcord the film is about a herd of mammoths that get caught in a time warp and appear in the 1880s. Cowboys then tame the mammoths and ride them into town to save the residents from a robber baron. Doyle and his crew soon find out that Erebus isn't what they imagined or paid for when dynamite they are using for a stunt goes missing, and later are attacked by strange looking humans.

*Preston is not a new to me author. I have read several of his series, as well as standalone novels. Extinction weaves together elements of thriller, mystery, suspense, police procedural, science fiction, and adventure. Readers were left with unanswered questions as to Cash's past in Maine, and how she ended up in Colorado. The only thing that maybe can be equated to Jurassic Park is that scientists need to learn to not mess with things that will eventually come back and eat them. After reading the ending, there is little doubt that the author plans to continue the Cash & Colcord partnership.

For Michael Crichton lovers desperately seeking to fill that void, get this book now. While it mixes police procedural in, which Crichton didn’t do, I really enjoyed this element. Call this Jurassic noir.

Title: Extinction
Author: Douglas Preston
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5

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. 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 partners with county sheriff James Colcord to track down the perpetrators.

As 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.

I remember reading Relic years ago and being absolutely terrified. I’ve read a couple of other Preston books since then, so I knew this would be a solid read. I did not end up terrified, thankfully. I did find this creepy in parts, and I didn’t really care much for any of the characters. Interesting concept. I loved the prehistoric mammals. That would be so cool to see! I think this is a fun, fast read, if you’re looking for something to binge on the weekend.

Douglas Preston is a bestselling author. Extinction is his newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Tor/Forge Books in exchange for an honest review.)

What a page turner,! Frances Cash is with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) when she's assigned to investigate the disappearance of 2 tourists in the luxury Erebus resort. Erebus has de-extincted several long gone animals (mammoths, etc) so you can hike and see them up close. Their lab is in one of the old abandoned mines in the area. Things go wrong right from the start. science fiction or realistic fiction?

4.5/5
If Erebus Resort were real, it would have immediately gone on my bucket list. I love Colorado and pretty much all wildlife anyway. But throw in woolly mammoths, giant sloths, and some Irish elk, and you can have my money!

I was initially envious of the backcountry treks amongst Pleistocene megafauna, but then things totally went left. The kidnappings of the wealthy Mark and Olivia Gunnerson sparked an investigation led by Frankie Cash and James Colcord. Now we have Jurassic Park mixed with a police procedural.

It has been so long since I read a crime novel or anything remotely similar to Jurassic Park/Michael Crichton, but I loved Extinction by Douglas Preston! I was googling all the animals so I could have a clear visual of the appearance and scale of these prehistoric creatures. I appreciated how approachable the scientific explanations were, and I especially enjoyed the endnotes. The information was fascinating!

I don't want to give anything away, but Preston does an excellent job of examining problems that may arise with de-extinction. This is way out of what I normally read, but I'm so glad I picked it up. If you're looking for a fast-paced, engaging read, grab Extinction!

Read this if you like:
• Jurassic Park vibes
• Thriller/suspense reads
• Police procedurals
• Books about biotech companies

Rating of 4.5.

Entertaining author Douglas Preston presents Extinction, a wild science fiction thriller that will drag you in with is amazing and exciting story.

Deep in the Colorado Rockies lies the exclusive and world-famous Erebus Resort. Based in a massive 100,000-acre valley, the Erebus Resort contains many wonders of genetic science as clones of woolly mammoths, Irish Elk, giant ground sloths and other extinct species roam the valley, brought back to life, and turned into gentle tourist attractions. The Erebus Resort seems like the most perfect place in the world, but nothing is what it seems.

When a billionaire’s son and his new wife are kidnapped on their honeymoon in the wild countryside surrounding the resort, Agent Frances Cash of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation is sent out to investigate. Working with local county sheriff James Colcord, the two lead a force of police and Erebus security to try and locate the missing pair. However, when the two hikers are found brutally murdered and mutilated, apparently by a group of ecological terrorists, the case takes a dark turn.

Determined to find the killers hiding out in the wilds, Cash and Colcord coordinate an exhaustive search while also trying to uncover the dark secrets hidden within the Erebus labs. But with the body count mounting and the Erebus staff attempting to cover up the truth, Cash and Colcord find themselves pushed to the limit, especially as there is something unusual about their potential suspects. The further they dig, the more they discover that the killers are there to pay back an old grudge and will do anything to get their revenge.

Extinction was an awesome book from Preston, and it was honestly as fun and addictive as I was hoping it would be. Combining a great thriller storyline with some entertaining science fiction elements, Extinction was a pretty epic read which I powered through extremely quickly due to the very exciting and thrilling story.

To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2024/05/12/extinction-by-douglas-preston/

For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/

What could be better than an engrossing read that encompasses greed, control power and science? Extinction has it all. Sympathetic characters, hateful villains and some truly surprising plot turns make this a most enjoyable read. This is one that could keep you up all night. Of course, it does not hurt that the reader is in the hands of an experienced writer. ,

Preston is one of my go-to authors whenever I need a quick thriller and this one was definitely a quick and entertaining read! With the actual scientific progress in the world to resurrect a wooly mammoth, I’ve been loving the resurgence of literature around the topic.

Fans of Douglas Preston will not be disappointed by this intriguing, and at times, disturbing new thriller. A young couple on their honeymoon decide to visit a wilderness park that caters to the super rich and offers visitors a chance to view prehistoric animals. When the couple disappears, leaving only two pools of blood behind, the park authorities call in the local sheriff and the FBI. The reader will immediately be reminded of the Jurassic Park books and films, but Preston’s novel features some plot twists and turns that will take the reader by surprise. What is most striking about the narrative is its believability, given modern experimentation with DNA and cloning. Preston’s novels always feature historical and scientific details which are fascinating and help to move the plot forward. At times, the novel reads like a who done it, police procedural. The characters are two-dimensional, and not very memorable at all. The narrative moves along quickly and will keep the reader interested throughout. This was an entertaining read.

*Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

*Trigger Warning: Animal death

I’m a big fan of Douglas Preston’s non-fiction writing and his co-written fiction with Lincoln Child. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve read any of Preston’s solo fiction. I was really looking forward to reading this one!! 😀

Extinction has a plot that I’m a total sucker for. Prehistoric animals coming back to life through the magic of science. DUH! Of course I will be reading this one!! 😀 It is a tiny bit of a bummer that the “de-extinct” animals don’t play a bigger role in the story. :/ They are hardly in it at all!

I hate to say it, but the lack of “de-extinct” animals is not the only bummer to be found in this book. D: The overall writing is just….. odd. There is this pretentious vibe throughout the whole novel that gives off “white old rich guy” feels, if you know what I mean? Just… out of touch. A disconnect from the 2020s.

The main character, Agent Cash, was another bummer. Well, not her per se, but how she is written. :/ It feels like Preston has never talked to or met a woman before. He sure didn’t know how to write one in this book! Cash says so many outdated things, stereotypical woman things, like constantly talking about this diet she is on or how fat she is. My favorite is the she sleeps in the nude to be more “efficient” when getting ready for work in the morning. 😐 Ok. I’m not saying women never talk about their weight, diet or never sleep in the nude…. It’s how it is written that is the problem. Like I said, it never feels like something a woman- who by the way is the agent in charge of a huge crime at the moment so she def. has bigger things on her plate then her diet- would actually say. It felt instead like something an older man would think a woman would say / do / think about. D: Oh boy. Is that sexist or just bad writing? Or both?

There are other bummer red flags within the weird writing. Once or twice Preston has characters reading one of his RL books. Ok, some authors can pull this off as a cheeky wink wink nudge nudge sort of thing. Preston is not one of those authors. Instead it comes off as self absorbed and cringe. D: Not a good look, my dude.

Other strange choices are the big “twist” reveal. It was beyond obvious from the very beginning. D: That’s not always a bad thing if the main characters aren’t so…. for lack of better word, dumb about it. For most of the investigation, it feels like nothing really goes on. They just kind of get lucky and stumble on to the answers. :/ What was the point of so much of the investigation if you aren’t going to properly use that info? For example, so much time is spent on collecting CSI forensic stuff but it never really is utilized in the story. Why spend that much time on it? Why have a whole character fleshed out and dedicated to the forensic stuff if he isn’t really using his CSI skills? Is the author getting paid by the word? Very frustrating!

And so is the ending! Are you kidding me with that end?? Choices are definitely made. Anticlimactic. Not to mention it really makes the main characters look like total chumps!! I just don’t get why the ending is so weak? :/ C’mon man, you are a better writer than that….

Now…. Extinction is not the best Douglas Preston book I’ve ever read. I also didn’t totally hate it. Some of it was pretty entertaining and I enjoyed the over all plot premise. It’s too bad the writing was so frustrating.

I don’t regret reading this book. I’d still read other books from this author. Overall, Extinction wasn’t horrible. Just a little disappointing because Preston is a talented and creative writer who seems to have flown on autopilot for this book. :/ Again, that’s a big bummer.

Extinction is the rule. Survival is the exception – Carl Sagan

I remember watching Carl Sagan’s TV program, and I am not even a science nerd. His sultry voice made the information he shared entertaining, yet educational. So, let’s dive into some science…fiction.

What do you think? How much genetic engineering is going on? And how much is too much? Do you believe…just because we can do it we should? I sure don’t. And when I read Extinction by Douglas Preston, we can see a fictional version of why sometimes, playing God, is going to backfire.

Olivia and Mark were on the honeymoon of a lifetime, visiting Erebus Resort, where woolly mammoths and other megafauna from the Pleistocene Age have been de-extincted. BUT, they will get much more than they bargained for and it will be a bummer for them. Someone has to be sacrificed and I love an author that has no problem killing off a character or two.

Douglas Preston has created a multilayered mystery that was not easily solved. There were many moving parts and it was hard to decide who was the villain, or villains. Entering into caves, with thousands of tons of rocks overhead doesn’t appeal to me and added an extra layer of fear and creepiness, leaving shivers running up and down my spine. There is more in those caves than rocks.

Cannibalism:

Survival cannibalism
Ritual cannibalism
Sacrificial cannabalism
A tool of terror

Have I totally creeped you out yet? Are dinosaurs not scary enough?

The characters are many and run the gamut. Heroes, villains, cowards, sacrificial lambs, animal and human, weak and strong, those who take credit for the work of others, those who play God, movie stars, egotists, and the innocent.

Could this be a cautionary tale for us and our future? I mean think about it. Dinosaurs had their moment and are extinct for a reason. Evolution is a fact of nature. Is the clock ticking on humanity?

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Extinction by Douglas Preston.

See more at http://www.fundinmental.com

Good read as usual by this author, Douglas Preston, one of my favorite authors. Great plot, a little different. Good characters, description of the animals and locale. Recommended reading.