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.

This book was so surprisingly good. Not that I didn't think it would be good, but I didn't realize the level of research that had gone into it, until I read the afterword. The book is a great thriller in the vein of Jurassic Park with fun twists, interesting turns, and just an all around great cast of fun characters. However, the story itself was also interesting because it touches on the age old idea of we have the power, but should we do these things. The story follows a park where animals have been de-extincted, but then calamity occurs. I would recommend this as a super fun read that you will rip through fast, and for a fun summer beach book.

This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Some sci-fi and a whole lot of police work, this book does not disappoint. The main characters worked well together. It is a fast-paced, thrill ride. I loved the back drop of the Colorado wilderness and the wooly mammoths.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Tor Publishing / Forge Books for the ARC.

Extinction is set in the Erebus Resort which offers the guests the experience of viewing woolly mammoths, Irish elk, and giant ground sloths in their native habitat. They have been brought back from extinction through genetic manipulation. For their honeymoon a billionaire's son and his new wife are kidnapped in murdered near the resort. The police become involved to help solve the murders. More killings happen and they need to figure out what happens before more people end up dead.

I thought this book was just okay. I am not the biggest fan of detective / crime books. I did like how this book had me hooked the whole time. But I did feel like this book was pretty predictable. The author mentioned Jurassic Park several times in this book and was pretty much making fun of it. That annoyed me because this book is very inspired by that and guess what Jurassic Park was better than this book. I still found this story interesting but needed to be executed better. This book was a bit out of my comfort zone and I am happy I read this. But I do not think I will be reading anymore books by this author.

I was expecting something Jurassic Park-like, but I wasn’t expecting EXTINCTION to be so eerie and just plain good! This is an edge-of-your-seat thriller and it really gave me the creeps in all the best ways. It’s also really smart and I couldn’t stop reading it.

The book begins at an exclusive resort deep in the Rocky Mountains, where billionaires have managed to “de-extinct” mammoths and other prehistoric creatures. A husband and wife go missing under mysterious circumstances, and Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent Frances Cash is assigned to crack the case. She is assisted by county sheriff James Colcord, and what the two of them uncover gets weirder and weirder as the book progresses. I don’t want to give away any of the twists, so I’ll leave it there.

I’ve read my share of detective novels, and this one was really good and satisfying. It’s fast paced and kept me enthralled the whole time I was reading it. My only gripe: the part near the end where Cash finally acquiesces to eat half of a pecan bun, after which she pledges to skip dinner to make up for it. Barf. Let the woman eat.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group (Forge Books) for the advanced digital copy of EXTINCTION to review and recommend.

"I must confess that I lost faith in the sanity of the world." (H.G. Wells, The Island of Dr. Moreau)

Picture a sprawling resort hidden in the Rockies in Colorado that caters to a specified group of clientele. Erebus Lodge boasts of cathedral-like beams that tower against the blue skies and garner gasps from its new arrivals. Nature at its best with all the amenities of a NYC fine hotel. But don't be fooled........Mother Nature doesn't take kindly to it.

Newlyweds Olivia and Mark Gunnerson are exhausted after hiking all day on the outskirts of Erebus Lodge. They've been accompanied by their guide, Stefan, who has retired to his own tent in the distance. Late into the night, Mark is awakened by an unusual sound. Olivia hears it, too. Mark unzips the tent and ventures out into the darkness. Stefan later tells a rescue team that all he heard was a loud scream in the night. And all that's left is Mark's light helmet and the ground covered in blood.

Agent Frankie Cash, a senior detective of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, is called in. She's accompanied by Det. Bart Romanski, head of CSI, Sheriff James Colcord of Eagle County, and Andrew Maximilian, head of security at Erebus Lodge. This is big. Mark is the son of billionaire, Rolf Gunnerson. And the man has plenty of push behind his big bucks.

What starts out as a missing person call will escalate as high as those peaks in the Rockies. Erebus Lodge is the home of scretive scientific experimentation in de-extinction. Grazing near open ponds on the expansive property are Wooly Mammoths from the Ice Age and even Glyptodons as big as Volkswagens. Both prove no threat as they are herbivores and they have been genetically altered to remove their aggressive nature. They proved amusement for those willing to pay the exorbitant prices at Erebus Lodge.

But this is no Jurassic Park, folks. More like the Island of Dr. Moreau. You don't mess with Mother Nature. She has a tendency to snap back......in a big, big way.

Extinction is a must for fans of Douglas Preston. If you've not had the pleasure of a Preston novel before, you'll find yourself an immediate fan. Preston lines his novels with high interest science that fascinates and draws you in. There's also thriller to the bone here with fast-paced action and fine-tuned characters. In addition, there's also a wide panoramic view of Homo Sapiens treading heavily and leaving footprints in areas where consequences lean hard with suffocating pressure. Stay tuned. Wild as the endless hair on those Wooly Mammoths. Whoa!

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Tor Publishing and to the talented Douglas Preston for the opportunity.

Suspenseful and thrilling mystery adventure!

High up in the Colorado Rockies, deep in a beautiful valley, lies the immense Erebus Resort. It draws the most exclusive guests and gives them the unique opportunity to explore and view formerly extinct animals. When a honeymooning couple is kidnapped, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation sends Agent Frances (Frankie) Cash to liaise with county sheriff James Colcord and the Erebus security team to find out what happened to the wealthy newlyweds.

The usual characters are all there with it immediately obvious to see the malevolence and conceit of the bad guys and the righteous clarity of those pursing answers. There is lots of action and I found this impossible to tear away from. I was lucky enough to have both e-book and audio review copies and I found it all great fun in the vein of other wildly popular books written in a similar fashion. If you liked "Jurassic Park" or "The Great Zoo of China", you would also love this one. I wish, however, that just once, these resorts would be successful and provide us all with some sort of validation for continuing to pursue these scientific advances with DNA. It would be such a cool vacation.

This novel explores the science of de-extinction and the ethical and legal consequences of gene manipulation. As always, the author's extensive research and understanding of the topic lends credibility to the story. In addition, the social implications of messing with thousands of years of evolution. Preston is an excellent writer and I always enjoy his books.

Lastly, any movie producer should be vying for the rights to bring this to the big screen. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with advance copies to review and recommend.

This was my first book by this author. What I liked about it: Interesting setting: people are able to watch extinct animals from their resort. A double murder has taken place and its up to the law enforcers to solve this crime. The main characters were funny and well-developed. Its not too fast paced, but also doesn't drag out. There is some suspense, action and investigation. I am not a big fan of investigation type of books (why did someone do xyz or why did something happen) but luckily for me this book is more on the mystery side than the solving side. Its still scienc-y enough to not be impossible. So this sense of something like this being possible and scary is certainly there in this book. I will definitaly read more of this author!

The Pendergast series is so good I was thrilled to get a chance to read another title in the same vein by one of the authors. I love the detail and how much I learn from a work of fiction - and of course the fun of the thriller!

I’m a huge fan of Jurassic Park, so this book seemed right up my alley. Scientists bringing back woolly mammoths, and other extinct animals, and putting them in an adventure park? Nothing good can come from that. When a billionaire’s son and daughter in law are murdered in the park, Agent Cash is brought in to investigate what is actually going on. There were a ton of characters, and lot of side plots that didn’t seem to belong in this book. Also didn’t appreciate how Agent Cash was described. Apparently very important for us to know she’s not skinny, and everyone can see it. The plot was intriguing and made me finish, but I still think it’s a cheap Jurassic Park knock off. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Great science fiction. I didn’t expect the de extinction of the Neanderthal species, the woolly mammoth and a sloth yes, but the Neanderthal and the genetic diversity to humans. The cash it took to keep a facility like this under the radar and working had to have been massive, and I hope fictional.

Science fiction isn’t really my primary pick but I love Preston’s writing and style and I know I’ll never regret picking up one of his books.

Thank you NetGalley and Forge Books for this Advanced Reader copy.

I really love the Pendergast character in other Preston novels, but it was very refreshing to read about new characters, and a completely different aspect of murder and mystery. The storytelling is vivid and draws you in the moment you turn the first page. It is a very relevant story and it was a great read.