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9leopardi's review against another edition
challenging
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
lacyk_reads's review against another edition
1.0
Parts were ok ... but most parts I did not like.
The plot was not well developed, the main character was cookie cutter, there weren't ANY strong supporting characters, the quick little comeback quips reminded me of James Bond movie dialogue, it had almost nothing to pull me in and keep me.
But I powered through it anyway.
The plot was not well developed, the main character was cookie cutter, there weren't ANY strong supporting characters, the quick little comeback quips reminded me of James Bond movie dialogue, it had almost nothing to pull me in and keep me.
But I powered through it anyway.
pallavi_sharma87's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 star
A computational biologist turned into detective is a new thing for me in my reading journey. But I loved Prof Theo Cray. I listened to an audiobook and the narrator, the story, the mystery did not disappoint.
Theo Cray is questioned by local police with respect to the death of his former student Juniper. But as the death gets classified as a "Bear attack", Theo falls out of the police suspect list. Yet, as Theo gets to know of Juniper's background, the circumstances how she died etc., he gets suspicious. Theo can't let go. And his scientist mind knows the facts do not tally.
A wonderful page turner. Looking forward to read the next in series!!
Happy Reading!!
A computational biologist turned into detective is a new thing for me in my reading journey. But I loved Prof Theo Cray. I listened to an audiobook and the narrator, the story, the mystery did not disappoint.
Theo Cray is questioned by local police with respect to the death of his former student Juniper. But as the death gets classified as a "Bear attack", Theo falls out of the police suspect list. Yet, as Theo gets to know of Juniper's background, the circumstances how she died etc., he gets suspicious. Theo can't let go. And his scientist mind knows the facts do not tally.
A wonderful page turner. Looking forward to read the next in series!!
Happy Reading!!
booksofgemini's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
kbn4's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
olivecatlady's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
cathyatratedreads's review against another edition
4.0
This book really got me hooked, where I couldn’t put it down. The pacing was just right and the mystery of who the killer is and how he could have been on the loose without anyone even noticing for years was page-turning. I also really enjoyed that it was intelligent; like good science-based novels such as Michael Crichton’s works, it provided mini lectures on various topics that fit into the story. My only frustration with the book was how many f-words it contained (35-40). Argh.
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com: https://ratedreads.com/the-naturalist-fiction-book-review/
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com: https://ratedreads.com/the-naturalist-fiction-book-review/
vorpalblad's review against another edition
4.0
Great New Voice in the Suspense Genre
If you like Special Agent AXL Prendergast, you may have a new series to get sucked into. Dr. Theo Cray, with his completely theoretical background couldn't be more different than Prendergast, but Mayne's writing is that same high-paced, page-turning burn. We get to see Theo change from an academic punching bag to someone who can see themselves continuing down this road as a hunter without a bunch of expository input. Instead we see it in how Theo thinks less and less about his teaching position, as he starts to consider new ways to organize data, and as he enthusiastically starts down a road that will lead him to a serial killer. I loved that Theo would geek out occasionally, going off on tangents. Two things that dropped a star for me: awkward writing on the romance and the fact that Jillian, the local who begins to help him and is ex-military writes off her gut instincts about being followed, while Theo, whose experience to this point has been mainly theoretical, has an internal dialogue about her dismissing her instincts. It was like Mayne wanted to write this strong female counterpart but just as Theo forgets her backstory, it sometimes feels like the author does as well. Don't let that hold you back. I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of her in future novels and her voice will become more clear if Mayne continues to build her as well as he has Theo.
If you like Special Agent AXL Prendergast, you may have a new series to get sucked into. Dr. Theo Cray, with his completely theoretical background couldn't be more different than Prendergast, but Mayne's writing is that same high-paced, page-turning burn. We get to see Theo change from an academic punching bag to someone who can see themselves continuing down this road as a hunter without a bunch of expository input. Instead we see it in how Theo thinks less and less about his teaching position, as he starts to consider new ways to organize data, and as he enthusiastically starts down a road that will lead him to a serial killer. I loved that Theo would geek out occasionally, going off on tangents. Two things that dropped a star for me: awkward writing on the romance and the fact that Jillian, the local who begins to help him and is ex-military writes off her gut instincts about being followed, while Theo, whose experience to this point has been mainly theoretical, has an internal dialogue about her dismissing her instincts. It was like Mayne wanted to write this strong female counterpart but just as Theo forgets her backstory, it sometimes feels like the author does as well. Don't let that hold you back. I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of her in future novels and her voice will become more clear if Mayne continues to build her as well as he has Theo.
motormommy's review against another edition
4.0
Couldn't put it down. Suspenseful and addicting. I think I'll need to continue on in the series.