Book Review: The Anomaly
By: Michael Rutger
Published By: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: June 19, 2018
Page Count: 352
Page Count: 352
Source: ARC kindly provided by publisher
Adult — Suspense — Thriller
I have a fondness for conspiracy theories. Not because I necessarily believe them, but because I am fascinated by the different ways that people can look at the same information. Nolan Moore, the narrating character of The Anomaly, has one of those different points of view. In the early 1900s, an explorer named Kincaid claimed to have found an unknown cavern in the Grand Canyon filled with ancient art and statuary. Though he claimed to be working for the Smithsonian, the Smithsonian denies knowledge of Kincaid or his alleged find. When Nolan Moore leads an expedition to expose the cover up by locating Kincaid's Cave and the treasures it holds, he finds much more than he bargained for. Will he or any of his expedition survive their discovery? The Anomaly is a vastly entertaining story about an actual legend. (If you want more information about the Kincaid's Cave conspiracy theory, check out this article from I09.)
Between an interesting premise and superbly realized characters, I devoured The Anomaly in less than 48 hours. I loved the idea of a somewhat jaded professional conspiracy theory web-caster going in search of truth and finding much more than he bargained for. The way Rutger wove in real life information about the theory, instead of just making up one of his own, lent "authenticity" and immediacy to the story. When I came to the reproduction of the Arizona Gazette article in the book, I was compelled to google it to see if that article was real. Guess what? It is. Even knowing that the article was likely made up to boost the paper's circulation, as I continued to read, there was this little voice in the back of my head saying, "What if...? What if...?" That niggling feeling kept me reading as the tension built slowly through the first half of the novel.
Though the book has a slow start, the characters drew me in and made me keep reading "just one more chapter." Nolan Moore and his producer, Ken, are just the kind of sarcastic, quippy characters that I love to read. And Nolan's self-deprecating internal dialogue is hilarious. He has a good grasp of the human condition as well as a deep and good-humored knowledge of his own shortcomings. More than that, though, despite the way Nolan and Ken are constantly deriding each other, they have a genuine friendship and a way of relating to the others in the expedition that brought a smile to my face, even in the dire circumstances in which they find themselves.
The downside of The Anomaly is that the ending felt forced. I appreciated the logic of the ending, a la Arthur C. Clarke's Childhood's End, but Rutger both left too much unexplained and rushed through what should arguably have been the best part of the book. There is definitely resolution for the characters, but not so much for the reader who is left wanting to know who or what is responsible for what the expedition found.
Overall, a fun, creepy, escapist read for long summer evenings when the sun is still up!
Note for parents/teachers: There is a fair amount of vulgar language in this book. I would not give it to anyone under the age of 16.
Summary:
Not all secrets are meant to be found.
If Indiana Jones lived in the X-Files era, he might bear at least a passing resemblance to Nolan Moore -- a rogue archaeologist hosting a documentary series derisively dismissed by the "real" experts, but beloved of conspiracy theorists.
Nolan sets out to retrace the steps of an explorer from 1909 who claimed to have discovered a mysterious cavern high up in the ancient rock of the Grand Canyon. And, for once, he may have actually found what he seeks. Then the trip takes a nasty turn, and the cave begins turning against them in mysterious ways.
Nolan's story becomes one of survival against seemingly impossible odds. The only way out is to answer a series of intriguing questions: What is this strange cave? How has it remained hidden for so long? And what secret does it conceal that made its last visitors attempt to seal it forever?
Between an interesting premise and superbly realized characters, I devoured The Anomaly in less than 48 hours. I loved the idea of a somewhat jaded professional conspiracy theory web-caster going in search of truth and finding much more than he bargained for. The way Rutger wove in real life information about the theory, instead of just making up one of his own, lent "authenticity" and immediacy to the story. When I came to the reproduction of the Arizona Gazette article in the book, I was compelled to google it to see if that article was real. Guess what? It is. Even knowing that the article was likely made up to boost the paper's circulation, as I continued to read, there was this little voice in the back of my head saying, "What if...? What if...?" That niggling feeling kept me reading as the tension built slowly through the first half of the novel.
Though the book has a slow start, the characters drew me in and made me keep reading "just one more chapter." Nolan Moore and his producer, Ken, are just the kind of sarcastic, quippy characters that I love to read. And Nolan's self-deprecating internal dialogue is hilarious. He has a good grasp of the human condition as well as a deep and good-humored knowledge of his own shortcomings. More than that, though, despite the way Nolan and Ken are constantly deriding each other, they have a genuine friendship and a way of relating to the others in the expedition that brought a smile to my face, even in the dire circumstances in which they find themselves.
The downside of The Anomaly is that the ending felt forced. I appreciated the logic of the ending, a la Arthur C. Clarke's Childhood's End, but Rutger both left too much unexplained and rushed through what should arguably have been the best part of the book. There is definitely resolution for the characters, but not so much for the reader who is left wanting to know who or what is responsible for what the expedition found.
Overall, a fun, creepy, escapist read for long summer evenings when the sun is still up!
Note for parents/teachers: There is a fair amount of vulgar language in this book. I would not give it to anyone under the age of 16.
Not all secrets are meant to be found.
If Indiana Jones lived in the X-Files era, he might bear at least a passing resemblance to Nolan Moore -- a rogue archaeologist hosting a documentary series derisively dismissed by the "real" experts, but beloved of conspiracy theorists.
Nolan sets out to retrace the steps of an explorer from 1909 who claimed to have discovered a mysterious cavern high up in the ancient rock of the Grand Canyon. And, for once, he may have actually found what he seeks. Then the trip takes a nasty turn, and the cave begins turning against them in mysterious ways.
Nolan's story becomes one of survival against seemingly impossible odds. The only way out is to answer a series of intriguing questions: What is this strange cave? How has it remained hidden for so long? And what secret does it conceal that made its last visitors attempt to seal it forever?
Tһe age of thе terrific rigid airships came and went.
ReplyDelete