Extinction

by Michael J. McLaughlin

Woolly mammoth researchers in the Arctic are dying rapidly from a mysterious bone-disintegrating disease. Dr. Drew Chambers travels to the Siberian research station to find a cure, only to become stranded with communication and supplies cut off. The clock is ticking as he and the remaining researchers fight for their lives. But can they survive the disease, the Arctic, and the armed militia determined to eliminate evidence of an experiment gone awry?

Audible Audio

First published October 19, 2013

About the author

Michael J. McLaughlin, MD, is the award-winning author of thriller novels, including NO HARM INTENDED, EXTINCTION, FUGUE, and WOODS. Following earlier careers as a surgeon and the owner of a medical writing business, he now writes full-time in New Jersey, where he lives with his family. Learn more at mclaughlinbooks.com. Follow on social media @mclaughlinbooks.

FROM THE AUTHOR:

Dear Readers,

I'm sincerely grateful to you for reading my books.

I’ve always loved to read and write. Maurice Sendak’s WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE is still one of my all-time favorite books. I read all the Hardy Boys stories before graduating to Agatha Christie’s mysteries. AND THEN THERE WERE NONE and her other classics are among my most cherished books. At age ten, I wrote/illustrated a Hardy Boy-esque short story collection, THE MYSTERY LIVES OF KEN, BOB, AND COMPANY.

Though a biology major and pre-med in college, my favorite two courses were small workshops on poetry and short story writing. It didn’t take long to figure out that my poetry sucked. Really bad. Seamus Heaney even told me the poem that got me rejected (twice) from the poet laureate’s course was “disgusting.” That ended what could have been an unsuccessful career in poetry and perhaps turned my attention to thrillers, where I’m encouraged to disgust readers.

Medicine was my first career. My interest in anatomy and an affinity for blood (other people’s) left me with three possible career paths – becoming a surgeon, writing about killers, or becoming a killer. I started with surgery, nudging to the side creative writing and murder most foul. I continued to write short stories, usually at odd hours in bizarre places, while earning a living through other means. Ideas for novels piled up while I awaited my chance to write them.

When I decided to change careers, medical writing was the obvious choice – an option that combined my two life-long passions. I worked for two medical communications companies before starting my own with a partner. At Peloton Advantage, I became proficient in writing, meeting deadlines, and withstanding critics.

My first novel, EXTINCTION, was part medical thriller. Once a doctor, always a doctor, I suppose. I’ve incorporated some aspect of my medical career into my novels, often including an ailment as an obstacle or a doctor trying to save the day. My favorite example of this is in WOODS, where Tempest battles severe headaches, a medical problem my family knows all too well. I can’t wait for you to meet the doctor in my upcoming thriller, NO HARM INTENDED.

My wife and I have three wonderful daughters. They inspire my characters, who talk in my head until I share their voices with readers. The strength of my female protagonists comes from the four of them. I hope that, in return, my novels inspire my kids to rise above adversity and persevere. I also hope my stories scare the crap out of their boyfriends (and now a fiancé, and eventually husbands). Why such a sadistic desire? Someday remind me to tell you the story about my father-in-law showing me how well he shot a gun.

Robin Cook, Michael Crichton, Tess Gerritsen, Michael Palmer, Neil Shulman, and others taught me physicians could become successful writers. I enjoy reading Stephen King, John Grisham, James Patterson, Billy Shakespeare, Dean Koontz, Gillian Flynn, Lucy Foley, and many other thriller writers. Through the International Thriller Writers, American Mystery Writers, Liberty States Fiction Writers, and other writing organizations, conferences, and events, I’ve met many authors and publishing professionals who are now friends and inspire me. I’m grateful to be part of this community. Please continue to support these authors’ work by reading their books and leaving reviews.

Thanks again to you and everyone else who supports my writing career. I hope you enjoy my books.

- Michael J. McLaughlin

Reviews

[Nick Caputo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great thriller. It's part survival, part techno, part medical, and part action. I was hooked right from the start as researchers in the most isolated place imaginable start dying from a new illness. The situation gets worse quickly, and the tension and action rise as the story goes on. The information about the disease and its cause comes in a series of discoveries, then its a race to save everyone in time. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

[Lou Ciccone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has the set-up for a medical thriller at the start, with researchers in the Arctic dying mysteriously and a doctor being sent in to save them. But then the cause of the disease starts to come out, and all hell breaks loose. There's way more action than most medical thrillers I've read, as the characters fight to survive. There are also a lot of surprising twists as the story goes on. I loved it.

[Mort P · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great survival thriller with a bunch of medicine thrown in as the lead character travels all the way to the Arctic to save a bunch of researchers from a new deadly disease. The stakes are high and the action keeps rolling as the situation goes from bad to worse. An interesting and fun read.

[Nat Stran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is the first book from this author, and one of his best. He has a talent for placing interesting characters in unescapable locations and situations. This research station in the Arctic is a great one. The mix of suspense and action is great. They should make a movie from this one. For now, enjoy the book. I highly recommend it.

[HP Krouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I was left guessing at every turn. Just when I thought I had it figured out, I found out I had it all wrong. The thought of being trapped in the Arctic was scary enough at the start, but the situation gets worse every few chapters. This was a great thriller, through and through. What a great read!

[B Sabbarab · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a huge fan of medical and techno thrillers, but this one delivers the information at just the right pace without getting in the way of a great story. The more I reflect on this novel, the scarier it gets. So much danger and action all mixed together. I read more of the author's books after this one, and they've all been great.

[Vicky Mattison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great book! After living through Covid, I could only imagine being trapped in an isolated location, facing a far deadlier disease, with Doordash nowhere in sight. As if the disease isn't bad enough, the characters in this story face a series of deadly dangers. This is everything a thriller's supposed to be.

[Lynette M. Augeri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t like this book at all. It was really hard to get through. Very choppy. No good flow. No decent transitions. No depth of character. I’m really not that hard to please and do often read ‘lighter’ and ‘fluff’ books that don’t need all my brain cells-and I enjoy them. This one-not at all.

[JC Flock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is several types of thrillers wrapped up into one. The setting is intimidating, the disease is terrifying, and the characters are great. The story flies by as the stakes keep rising. One of my favorites.

[K Kriss · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I finished this book, I felt like I'd learning something without even trying. The science is so interesting but doesn't weigh the story down at all. What's happening is terrifying, and the reader finds out the truth a little at a time. So many great scenes and characters. An exciting thriller.

[G. Gael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because it shows us that we have possibilities in many aspects, but we must know how to take advantage of them

[Liv Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This feels like a lot of different types of thriller all rolled into one. The characters are trapped in a crazy difficult situation far away from civilization when an epidemic of sorts breaks out. They're trying to survive the elements and battling the deadly disease all at the same time. Answers come at a good pace. What's going on behind the scenes is terrifying to even consider. I literally couldn't put the book down.

[Kristin McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extinction brings together dangers from an extremely harsh environment , a deadly microbe, and armed men who come out of nowhere when the protagonist is hoping for help. There is not a safe spot anywhere! I read it in one sitting because I couldn't sleep until I knew the outcome. Great book!