REVIEW: Extinction

 Extinction
Author: Douglas Preston

I'm going to be open and honest from the start. Douglas Preston is one of my favorite authors. I've read his collaborations, fiction, non-fiction...and loved it all. If he wrote a trilogy on the joys of stereo ownership and installation, I would buy it and love it. Preston is one of the few authors that I eagerly await new books from and jump at the chance to read them early or I binge read on publication day. I can't help it. 

When I first read the blurb for this new book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on an ebook copy and the audio book. I'm fascinated by stories that involve the re-creation or discovery of species we thought were extinct. This time it's not dinosaurs or megalodon...but the woolly mammoth. I knew from the moment I read about the basic plot of this book that I had to read it. Mostly because scientists are actually working right now to re-create the woolly mammoth using DNA extracted from dead specimens found preserved in permafrost and modern day elephants. 

This story also mentions many other long-gone creatures -- giant beaver, the ground sloth, a woolly ancient ancestor of the rhinoceros, giant armadillos, and Irish Elk to name a few. Can you imagine? And I know without a doubt if this park existed I would go there, buy a season pass, and the t-shirt. Probably a travel mug and a stuffed mammoth at the gift shop as well. Yep....I'd be all in. So, of course, I had to read this book. :) It's as close to the real thing as I'm going to get!

The story is set in the Colorado Rockies at a resort. The Erebus Resort has 144 square miles of land surrounded by high mountains in the most beautiful and rugged area in Colorado. Huge extinct animals need a lot of space after all. I live in Denver Metro....so it was like reading about Woolly Mammoths coming to life and grazing in my backyard! But, I kept hearing that line from Jurassic Park in my head "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." 

The truth of it is (like a lot of tourist and travel destination places in the real Colorado) Erebus is a vacation for the wealthy. "Normal" people don't travel to Erebus. Only the privileged can afford it. And, it's worth the cost to have the chance to travel up into the mountains and see a wide range of animals who have been "de-extincted." 

A honeymooning couple books a guided hike up into the mountains to see the mammoths in their "natural" habitat instead of sticking around the more touristy parts of the resort, but they both disappear in the middle of the night. The only signs left of them is their torn tent and two bloodstained patches on the ground. This tale doesn't become some Missing 411 lore.....the case blows up immediately because the man who disappeared is the son of a tech industry billionaire. 

This is the first case Detective Frankie Cash works as a senior detective with the CBI Major Crimes Division. Not only did this happen at a major tourist destination like Erebus Resort, but one of the victims is a billionaire's son. Very high profile case. Cash is a wonderful main character. She is a skilled detective and a strong, independent woman. She isn't intimidated by a high profile case or a park filled with huge formerly extinct animals. And this case takes all of her skills. What a wild ride! Loved it!!!! 

This story would be so visual and awesome as a limited film series or movie. I would so binge watch this on Netflix or another streaming service!!! 

I read a review copy of the ebook (Tor Publishing) and also listened to a review copy of the audio book (Macmillan Audio). The audio is just over 12 hours long and narrated by David Aaron Baker. This is the first time I've listened to a novel narrated by Baker. Great performance! He reads at a nice steady pace. His voice is pleasant and easily understandable. I thoroughly enjoyed the audio. I read the ebook while listening....there's just something about having a thrilling story read out loud. Loved it when I was a kid and love it now! There were a few edits between the review ebook and audio versions, but just a word or phrase here or there. There were no big differences. 

Great story!!

NOTE: I only have one complaint about this book. Douglas refers to a mountain in Colorado by the wrong name. Mount Evans was renamed Mount Blue Sky in 2023 due to its being named after former territorial governor John Evans, who in 1864 signed a proclamation allowing Coloradans to shoot and kill "hostile Indians." This led to the infamous Sand Creek Massacre where 230 Native Americans from the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Tribes, mostly women, children and elderly, were murdered.After the killings, the regiments responsible for the murders also desecrated the dead bodies. It was horrific and barbaric. The mountain should only be referred to by its new name, and I hope this is corrected in later editions of the book as the events in the story are not openly dated before the name change. 

Another great book!! I was totally mesmerized by this story, and the investigation kept me guessing. Lots of twists and turns. Just a totally cool premise and a very intense case! Preston Douglas did it again! :) 

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book and listened to a review copy of the audio book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: The Boy Who Cried Bear

 The Boy Who Cried Bear
Author: Kelley Armstrong

This spin-off series from the Rockton books by Kelley Armstrong keeps getting better and better! I loved the Rockton series. The concept of a town hidden in remote Canada where people can go to disappear for awhile just really intrigued me. I read every single book, and every plot kept my attention from start to finish. 

Some residents of Rockton were criminals, some people were running from danger, and others just wanted to disappear for reasons of their own. Nobody knew their stories except for Sheriff Eric Dalton and his deputy, Casey Duncan. Rockton fell apart as more and more dangerous people came into town, and ulterior motives for the existence of the town were revealed. So, Eric and Casey plus several residents of Rockton, set out to form a new town, Haven's Rock. 

But it seems trouble has followed them. 

I'm loving this new series just as much as I enjoyed the Rockton books! Eric and Casey are now in charge, but they are finding that the basic premise of a very remote town for people who need to disappear is just a dangerous situation.The location is dangerous -- residents of Haven's Rock are told firmly that nobody is to wander into the forest alone. The forest isn't safe. And, people are dangerous. Those who need to disappear and live totally off the grid often have dark secrets, dark pasts or even darker intentions.

In this second book in the series, a young boy reports a seeing a strange man-bear thing while on a group hike in the woods. Then soon after, a dead body is discovered and the boy goes missing. 

This story can be read as a stand-alone book, but I really recommend reading the Rockton series before delving into the Haven's Rock books to fully understand the characters and background. 

As usual I got totally sucked into this story from the start and it kept my attention to the very last word. There is a lot going on! The suspense is awesome! 

I actually read an ebook copy of this story while listening to the audio book. I love to do that especially with horror or suspense novels. I don't miss a word....and there's just something about having a suspenseful story read out loud! The audio book is a bit over 10 hours long and is narrated by Therese Plummer. Plummer did a great job of voice acting as usual! She reads at a steady pace, does a great job of voicing each character, and brings out the suspense of the story in her performance. 

Another great book in this series! I can't wait for the next one! Kelley Armstrong states on her website that she is editing Book 3 while writing Book 4 in this series. Yay!!  I can't wait to find out what happens in Haven's Rock next!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martin's Press and listened to the audio book from Macmillan Audio. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Claws for Alarm

 Claws for Alarm
Author: T.C. LoTempio

I love the old Thin Man movies starring William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles. And I'm loving this cozy mystery series featuring Nora Charles and her kitty sidekick, Nick. 

Claws for Alarm is the second book in this series. When Nora's sister Lacey is arrested for supposedly murdering an art professor, Nora finds herself doing some amateur sleuthing again. With the help of Nick, of course. Turns out there is a lot more going on than a bad grade in an art class. Once again, Nora finds herself in real danger. Luckily, she can rely on her trusty furry sidekick to help out!

This series is so much fun to read! Nora is an intelligent, capable main character. And there's a lot more to Nick than fuzzy cuteness. I like the background theme of a sandwich shop with menu items named after celebrities. The side characters are interesting and entertaining. There are plenty of suspects and the mystery progresses at a nice pace. Plenty of surprises. I had the murderer figured out, but didn't have all the pieces to the puzzle until the very end. 

Loved it! Can't wait to read the next book in this series! The cover art is always awesome, and the plots are entertaining. 

REVIEW: Steeped - The Chemistry of Tea

 Steeped: The Chemistry of Tea
Author: Michelle Francl

I love tea. I sip every day. I have more than 100 different varieties and flavors of loose leaf teas in my tea stash. Anything from herbal to pu'erh to rooibos...I've got it and brew it. I mix my own tea blends. I work from home and tea breaks are my moments of zen during the day. Taking time out for some tea brings me peace, clears my mind, and refocuses me. I've spent years learning about tea and perfecting my brewing skills. I make a great cup of tea. 

So, of course I had to read a book about the chemistry behind tea!

I heard about this book due to a controversy stemming from the author recommending a pinch of salt to offset the bitter taste of overbrewed black tea. (She's totally right....just a very tiny amount of salt added can save a bitter cup of tea. I've tried it.) I spent years perfecting my tea brewing skills and my tea blending skills. I've gone from a cup of microwaved water and a cheapo grocery store tea bag to sampling rare varieties of loose leaf teas with all manner of brewing requirements. There really is a learning curve to the perfect cup of tea. 

My tea journey and everything I have learned about how to make a proper cup of tea made me want to read this book. The Chemistry of Tea -- yep, I wanted to know the science behind the lovely aroma, taste and differences between my favorite types of teas. 

And Michelle Francl delivered just what I wanted!! 

This book covers the molecular makeup of tea, what chemicals are present in the leaves, the differences in processing that creates different types of teas, how to brew, when to add milk, sugar, honey, and much more. 

I made it into part of my tea ritual for an entire week.Steeped has 7 chapters, so this worked perfectly. Each chapter starts out with a tea pairing recommendation. When I got up each morning, I brewed the tea of the day and read one chapter in this book. So much information! Very interesting and just fun to read. 

I am not a chemist. I did remember some of the facts she shared about basic chemistry from my public education, but a lot of the science facts were new to me. I loved the information about what makes tea smell and taste the way it does, and how the processing of the leaves makes a huge difference in the taste profile of the tea. That's how leaves from basically the same plant can become black, green, oolong, white, or pu'erh tea. 

And brewing matters.  You can't just microwave the crap out of a mug of water and plunk in whatever tea bag, leave it for a bit and have a great cup of tea. And, cheap tea makes cheap tasting tea. I grew up with Lipton tea bags tossed in microwaved water until the result looked dark enough....bit of sweetener thrown in...that was tea. Is it drinkable? Yep, for the most part. Is it good? Nope. And, Francl's book gave me the science to back up the fact that quality of tea and how tea is brewed really matters. 

The science she shares totally backed up the tea skills I have learned over the years. I start each day with an excellent cup of tea because I'm doing all the right things. And after reading this book, I know why those brewing skills create a great cup of tea. 

Those who aren't into science might find this book a bit off-putting or overwhelming at first. But, it's only 7 chapters. Even if the discussion of chemistry, diagrams of molecules and explanations of what chemicals are present in tea leaves isn't riveting, there is a lot of information on tea itself, brewing, why changing up certain things can change the taste and aroma of the tea in your cup.....   

I recommend this book to every tea lover! I learned some new brewing concepts that I've put into practice (like warming my cup up first before I pour any tea into it -- it makes a difference!) and learned to really appreciate all the wonderful science that goes into the aroma and taste of my tea.

The moment of zen I feel when I bring a mug of fresh tea up close to have that first sip of the day....the steam, the lovely aroma....the flavor....is all backed up by science! 

Thanks Michelle!

 

REVIEW: The Three-Body Problem

 The Three-Body Problem
Author: Cixin Liu

This trilogy has been on my TBR list for a long time. Finding out about the Netflix series pushed it up to the top of my list. I have a personal policy that if a show is based on a book, I have to read the book (or in this case, books) first. 

I knew the basic concept before I started reading. But purposely avoided any reviews or commentaries on the books or author before I started reading. I didn't want any spoilers or outside opinions to hold any sway over my own opinion or enjoyment of the trilogy. 

I followed my usual reading method for classics or books that involve a lot of foreign language words -- I listened to an audio book version while also reading the text. I bought a paperback edition and the audio book from Audible narrated by Luke Daniels. The audio is about 13.5 hours long. 

The audio performance was good. Daniels read at an even pace, and as far as I could tell did a good job pronouncing Chinese names correctly. I'm glad I chose to listen and read at the same time! I would have butchered every Chinese word or fumbled over them in my mind the entire time.

The story -- wow! There's a lot to take in. While there are hard sci-fi elements involved, I was pulled in more by the different feel of the story. It's told from the Chinese perspective, and that changed the feel of the book. It's the first time I've read a story where Chinese history, culture and science are represented without outside interpretation, if that makes sense. It wasn't an America story with a anti-communist filter thrown in.There is some real discussion of the Cultural Revolution and the controlling nature of Chinese politics, but those points further the depictions of the characters and don't act as plot points themselves. The science and the main story created around that science are the main catalysts in play. Loved it! 

I saw a few articles in passing regarding outcry about this book being translated into English or made into a Netflix series.I didn't read any of these articles in depth because I'm trying not to read any outside opinions until I've read all 3 books. But I did read an opening paragraph or two before leaving these articles behind. I'm fully against book banning. Other cultures, ideologies, and governments do exist on this planet. Attempting to ban translating fiction from different cultures into English based on fear of other ideologies is small-minded.  The argument against translating Chinese literature into English feels very racist and closed minded to me. Nobody is attempting to groom readers into being Communist through science fiction novels. There is just no room in modern society for ridiculous reactionary opinions like that. It's not the 1950's red scare era. Read the book or don't....but don't try to limit other people's access to foreign fiction based on fear of another culture. Book banning is wrong.  Don't like it - don't read it. Don't want your kids reading it -- don't allow them to read it. But don't ever assume anyone has the right to limit other people's access to books. Plus, as I stated above, Chinese government and politics plays a small role in the plot to detail the experiences, motivation and surroundings of the characters...and nothing more.

I'm not going to share a lot of plot details to avoid spoilers. The basic premise: In the 1960s, a scientist broadcasts a message into space....and receives a response. Confirmed alien presence in the universe causes a struggle between different factions with differing ideas of how humanity should respond. I'm not giving away any more information than what a reader could learn from the basic book blurb. 

I enjoyed this book! I already have a paperback copy of the second book, The Dark Forest, and an audio book copy ready to go! I can't wait to find out how the story continues!

REVIEW: Homicide at the Haunted House

 Homicide at the Haunted House
Author: Beth Dolgner

Homicide at the Haunted House is the first book in the Nightmare, Arizona series. 

The basics: Olivia's life is basically imploding. Freshly divorced, unemployed and on a cross-country trip to San Diego to move in with family to start over, she's about had all she can handle. Wouldn't you know that's the time when her car breaks down? So, now she is divorced, unemployed and stranded in a town called Nightmare with no money to pay for car repairs. The answer? Get a job at the local year-around haunted house attraction to make some money to pay to fix her car. As is that wasn't enough, during her first night at work she finds a dead body. What a nightmare!!

This is such an entertaining and enjoyable story to read! The plot moves along at a good pace and there were several surprises along the way. I like the background theme and the characters. Olivia is a great MC! She rolls with the punches and figures things out. And, she did some great amateur sleuthing!

All in all, a great paranormal cozy mystery! I'm definitely reading the rest of this series! 

REVIEW: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

 The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson

I read this novella as part of an ongoing personal reading challenge to re-visit classic literature. I'm endeavoring to find out if I enjoy these stories more when reading by choice rather than necessity. Most classics I read during high school and college were books I would not have picked had I a choice at the time. And I don't remember really enjoying most of them. So, I'm going back and picking out classic stories that interest me.....and reading them again. 

Dracula was fantastic. Frankenstein, although it got a bit too melodramatic in places, was very enjoyable and thought provoking. So next up -- The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This is another famous classic that has been done to death in movies, television, adaptations. Thankfully this story has not been butchered quite as badly as Frankenstein where the moves bear little resemblance to the actual story. And, it hasn't 'been sexualized like Dracula. 

I'm going to be honest from the start with this one. I know I must have read this book before at some point. As a literature major, I read a lot of books and I don't see how this one would not have been part of the required reading. But, I have no memory of the actual book. I know the story line from film or television. Most likely in college I read this one quickly, did the assignments or discussion that was required of me, and moved on. Perfect book to re-visit! 

Background: Robert Louis Stevenson wrote this novella in 1886. The story is told from the point of view of Jekyll's friend and lawyer, Mr John Gabriel Utterson,who investigates his friend's strange association with an evil and dangerous character, Mr. Edward Hyde. The tale has been adapted for the stage, film, radio, television, books, graphic novels/comics, video games.....   It's been done to death. If you add in re-tellings, adaptations, sequels, spoofs/parodies, music, or inclusion of the character in other stories, this book has been mangled in every way possible just like Dracula, Frankenstein and many other classic horror and sci-fi stories. I'm not surprised, as the basic premise of the story almost begs to be made into a horror production. Mild mannered doctor.....evil, uncontrollable madman. The basic plot is ingrained in popular culture. For good reason - it's true to life. How many times have we heard tales of serial killers whose neighbors say "He was a quiet person. Very nice. Likeable. I'm shocked....." A seemingly normal, friendly person by day......who was burying dead bodies in his crawlspace at night.  

I like to listen to an audio book while reading a print copy or ebook when it comes to classics. I find I enjoy the story more. I also only read these stories when I have time to fully pay attention. I don't listen while doing household chores, driving, etc like I do with other books. I sit down, and just concentrate on the book. And, I did the same with The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

This book is readily available online for free through Project Gutenburg and other resources. I found an ebook version from 1986 online, and the Audible exclusive audio version narrated by Richard Armitage was already in my library. The audio is just a bit over 3 hours long.

I enjoyed this story. Even though I knew the basic plot, it was very engaging. Doctor Jekyll's friend was very concerned for his well being, and it was interesting to see the truth come out little by little. The last two chapters of the book had me riveted. One is a testimony of another colleague  of Jekyll's giving an account of what he witnessed of Jekyll and Hyde. And the last is a long narrative by Jekyll explaining his own downfall. It's a very interesting story about good and evil, human nature, and how moral people can be tempted into doing bad things. 

All in all, a very thought provoking book and an enjoyable story. I'm glad I read it! The story is so much more than some of the films or television adaptations show. It's not just about a man devolving into a monster. It's about human nature, temptation, addiction and how basically good people can become a slave to their own vices. It's difficult to escape from the wrong path once a person has given in to vice or their more base nature - drugs, criminal behavior, violence, sexual outlets, etc. Once Jekyll let Hyde out....he had a rough time being able to put him back. Scary concept, but so true. While the physical changes are fanciful, the mental changes portrayed in this book are so realistic. Bad choices can morph a person into someone that friends, family and associates don't even recognize anymore.

So far I'm 3 for 3. I have liked all 3 of the classics I have revisited so far. But, I must admit, I like horror and monster tales so it's no surprise I enjoyed Dracula, Frankenstein and Jekyll/Hyde. 

I will step away from classic horror for my next read. I'm going to read The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu. Sci-fi! Woot! Not a typical classic, and not a book I read before. But I'm giving "classic" a wide definition to include books I read as part of required academic reading or stories that appear on lists of the "best" classic novels, and also award winning books put forth as great examples of particular genres. Winning the Hugo Award works for me. Plus, I have a rule that I have to read the book(s) before I can watch an adaptation based on the story. I can't watch the new Netflix series before I read the book....so reading! I plan to read more award winning and classic hard sci-fi novels during my journey through literature. Starting with Cixin Liu!