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While it's a fun and fast read (chapters are short), the narrator has confusing character development and is extremely tropey. While the author has clearly done some research here, his depiction of "a scientist" is tiresome and leaning on tropes of the overly-logical-savant.
The mystery is fun and fine but nothing you haven't seen in any given episode of Hannibal or Criminal Minds.
If you're into plots about problem solving and figuring things out from a scientific standpoint, try The Martian.
If you're into the murder mystery of the plot with some dabbled in romance that is unjustified, try any of the listed shows or turn on CSI.
The mystery is fun and fine but nothing you haven't seen in any given episode of Hannibal or Criminal Minds.
If you're into plots about problem solving and figuring things out from a scientific standpoint, try The Martian.
If you're into the murder mystery of the plot with some dabbled in romance that is unjustified, try any of the listed shows or turn on CSI.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was literally twist after twist after twist. Quickly paced and riveting, it mirrors the true chaotic unpredictability of animal (and human) nature that serves as the foundation of the plot. This book will definitely make you wary of watchful eyes in the deep dark of the wilderness.
This was riDICulous. Tons of fun, and completely unbelievable.
An entertaining murder mystery with a horror movie villain as the antagonist.
The plot was nothing special, but the writing was good and I enjoyed the characters and the self-awareness in all the cliche decisions the author made.
While the completely random person doing the sleuthing thing has been done to death, I did enjoy the fact that the main character was a super intelligent fool, basically. He wasn't overly confident or charismatic and he didn't always make the smartest choices.
Professor Theo Cray is a socially inept nerd who gets the girl only because the girl decides she wants a fling with the out of towner and pursues him. The love interest is thrown into the role of damsel in distress who motivates the main character, but she isn't weak and she doesn't really need saving.
Also, the main character isn't physically imposing or always in control. While he does have a pretty improbable success rate at thinking on his feet, he's also often afraid, insecure, and gets the shit beat out of him.
The ending was a little bit ridiculous and over the top, but in a fun way.
Solid entertainment.
The plot was nothing special, but the writing was good and I enjoyed the characters and the self-awareness in all the cliche decisions the author made.
While the completely random person doing the sleuthing thing has been done to death, I did enjoy the fact that the main character was a super intelligent fool, basically. He wasn't overly confident or charismatic and he didn't always make the smartest choices.
Professor Theo Cray is a socially inept nerd who gets the girl only because the girl decides she wants a fling with the out of towner and pursues him. The love interest is thrown into the role of damsel in distress who motivates the main character, but she isn't weak and she doesn't really need saving.
Also, the main character isn't physically imposing or always in control. While he does have a pretty improbable success rate at thinking on his feet, he's also often afraid, insecure, and gets the shit beat out of him.
The ending was a little bit ridiculous and over the top, but in a fun way.
Solid entertainment.
3 stars because I actually finished it. but ugh while I did like the pace of this book and some of the story the one man beat my chest I'm so smart and can do it all. even this relatively geeky guy grows massive balls when he needs to and single handedly and close to death himself of course to take down a seasoned killer.
Just no
Just no
I’ve said it before: Mystery crime/thrillers are not my thing.
When I was a young, and naïve, reader just getting into my love for books, I thought that I could read anything and everything no matter the genre after watching things like PBS and Matilda.
I soon found myself putting down over half of the books I’d buy at the library book sale after getting only 5 pages in (most of them mystery crime/thrillers). Other than the occasional Ted Dekker (which I eventually phased out of) that particular genre was not my cup of tea. Since then, I haven’t found a mystery crime/thriller that has interested me enough to actually want to read the dang thing (I read Karin Slaughter’s The Pretty Girls right before this with high hopes and was—of course—disappointed https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1810345399?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1 ).
I can’t believe I’ve finally found a book in the genre that I love.
This book stands out from all the other Gone Girl, Girl on a Train, The Final Girls, The Good Girl, The Girl in the Ice, Pretty Girls kind of mysteries. Yes, it involves a killer who murders young girls shrouded in mystery with a protagonist who has to go against all odds—including the law—in order to stop an unstoppable force with power. But there is so much to this that makes it different.
The main character’s occupation and interests was fascinating enough for me to get immediately attached. In every chapter, Theo Cray will spout a streamline of facts based on his knowledge while trying to trace and prove that the girls were murdered as opposed to being attacked by a bear. Theo himself is also interesting as his use of intelligence reminded me very much of the character Patrick Jane from CBS’ The Mentalist. He can be socially awkward and his intelligence can distance him from seeing the obvious at times, but his desire for justice and stopping baddies once and for all gives him a sensitive and determined heart that I found attractive.

I won’t give away too much about the villain except that when he’s revealed—IT’S REAL! This character seems like the usual killer type in all those previous-mentioned books at first, and then the climax flips it all on its head. Everything you think you’ve expected following Theo through his investigation isn’t what you’ll expect at all—and that’s fantastic! A near super villain reminiscent to Jason Vorhees and an incredible face off in the climax makes this book worth it just because.
There is a reason I dropped a star, however.
I bought this book because I was surprised at how many people gave it 5 stars. Setting aside the majority that were probably paid to give it a high rating, the concept combined with the many ratings convinced me to check it out while it was on ebook sale. But I was so peeved to see the constant cliché label “page turner” in several of the reviews. This book was a “page turner,” but for me it wasn’t because of the aspect that it’s an “adrenaline-inducing” mystery crime/thriller.
The book has its moments of rush and excitement (particularly at the start and at the climax) but, like pretty much all thrillers/mysteries, it’s extremely paced and mellow throughout the entire book until I reached the climax. The term “page turner” is so overused when describing thrillers and mysteries that it has no solidity for me and I trust no one who uses it unless they give me a direct example of said book.
The Naturalist is not fast-paced, exciting, or action-packed. But it is a page turner just for the reason that the character voice is specific and uniquely level with the character’s extremely interesting occupation (and don’t forget the surprise ending). It’s what makes this series stand out from the hundreds of other crime-thrillers on TV and in book form and I can’t believe I am saying what I usually say about non-crime thrillers: I can’t wait to grab the next one.
When I was a young, and naïve, reader just getting into my love for books, I thought that I could read anything and everything no matter the genre after watching things like PBS and Matilda.

I soon found myself putting down over half of the books I’d buy at the library book sale after getting only 5 pages in (most of them mystery crime/thrillers). Other than the occasional Ted Dekker (which I eventually phased out of) that particular genre was not my cup of tea. Since then, I haven’t found a mystery crime/thriller that has interested me enough to actually want to read the dang thing (I read Karin Slaughter’s The Pretty Girls right before this with high hopes and was—of course—disappointed https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1810345399?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1 ).
I can’t believe I’ve finally found a book in the genre that I love.
This book stands out from all the other Gone Girl, Girl on a Train, The Final Girls, The Good Girl, The Girl in the Ice, Pretty Girls kind of mysteries. Yes, it involves a killer who murders young girls shrouded in mystery with a protagonist who has to go against all odds—including the law—in order to stop an unstoppable force with power. But there is so much to this that makes it different.
The main character’s occupation and interests was fascinating enough for me to get immediately attached. In every chapter, Theo Cray will spout a streamline of facts based on his knowledge while trying to trace and prove that the girls were murdered as opposed to being attacked by a bear. Theo himself is also interesting as his use of intelligence reminded me very much of the character Patrick Jane from CBS’ The Mentalist. He can be socially awkward and his intelligence can distance him from seeing the obvious at times, but his desire for justice and stopping baddies once and for all gives him a sensitive and determined heart that I found attractive.

I won’t give away too much about the villain except that when he’s revealed—IT’S REAL! This character seems like the usual killer type in all those previous-mentioned books at first, and then the climax flips it all on its head. Everything you think you’ve expected following Theo through his investigation isn’t what you’ll expect at all—and that’s fantastic! A near super villain reminiscent to Jason Vorhees and an incredible face off in the climax makes this book worth it just because.
There is a reason I dropped a star, however.
I bought this book because I was surprised at how many people gave it 5 stars. Setting aside the majority that were probably paid to give it a high rating, the concept combined with the many ratings convinced me to check it out while it was on ebook sale. But I was so peeved to see the constant cliché label “page turner” in several of the reviews. This book was a “page turner,” but for me it wasn’t because of the aspect that it’s an “adrenaline-inducing” mystery crime/thriller.
The book has its moments of rush and excitement (particularly at the start and at the climax) but, like pretty much all thrillers/mysteries, it’s extremely paced and mellow throughout the entire book until I reached the climax. The term “page turner” is so overused when describing thrillers and mysteries that it has no solidity for me and I trust no one who uses it unless they give me a direct example of said book.
The Naturalist is not fast-paced, exciting, or action-packed. But it is a page turner just for the reason that the character voice is specific and uniquely level with the character’s extremely interesting occupation (and don’t forget the surprise ending). It’s what makes this series stand out from the hundreds of other crime-thrillers on TV and in book form and I can’t believe I am saying what I usually say about non-crime thrillers: I can’t wait to grab the next one.
Maybe I just lack the gene to appreciate this book, but I found Theo so boring and hard to follow. I did like Jillian... we needed more of her.
I just couldn't deal with the stupid decisions the main character kept making. Also, fake cliffhangers where the protagonist learns something but the reader doesn't know what it is seem REALLY weird and forced when it's written in the first person. I enjoyed some of Andrew Mayne's other books. This one just annoyed me.
Though the character can do interesting things, I found the main character to unfortunately be stale and uninteresting. The main story kind of dragged for the first 75% of the book, then the last 25% really kicked it into gear. I do think the reveal to the mystery was extremely obvious, having guessed it in the first quarter of the book.
The last quarter really picks up and becomes more of a thriller, which worked to its advantage. The author’s writing style is pretty good and is easy to keep up with.
Even though I had problems with its character and pacing, I would be up for reading the sequel. I think the author has something here, I just don’t think this book hit its full potential.
I think what is needed to elevate both the character and story is for him to have his own Moriarty. I know its been done a thousand times in stories, but something in this story felt missing.
-Would I read a sequel? Yes
The last quarter really picks up and becomes more of a thriller, which worked to its advantage. The author’s writing style is pretty good and is easy to keep up with.
Even though I had problems with its character and pacing, I would be up for reading the sequel. I think the author has something here, I just don’t think this book hit its full potential.
I think what is needed to elevate both the character and story is for him to have his own Moriarty. I know its been done a thousand times in stories, but something in this story felt missing.
-Would I read a sequel? Yes
As a lifelong biology writer and amateur naturalist, the protagonist in this novel rings extremely hollow. The author claims to love science -- and I've no doubt he does -- but he should have spent more time in the research and editing phase making sure his protagonist sounded like an actual scientist and not just a weird Big Bang Theory-esque parody of one.The core conceit isn't a bad one, but it comes across as hackneyed in execution.