Darwin's Pause

by J. Gregory Smith

Young, rich and beyond the law. What’s the catch? Former war photographer Fin Campbell means to find out. He never believed his old college friend’s elaborate stories to explain a pair of pristine civilizations living side by side on the isolated Polynesian island of Hoku. The entire island is designated a World Heritage Site and kept off limits by the French Navy. When Fin receives a once in a lifetime opportunity to join his Hokutian friend to witness a private ceremony never seen by outsiders, he jumps at the chance. Soon he becomes more than a mere observer and finds himself in a fight for his life and the survival of all Hoku.

361 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 25, 2015

About the author

Prior to writing fiction full time, Greg Smith worked in public relations in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware. He has an MBA from the College of William & Mary and a BA in English from Skidmore College.

His first novel, Final Price, was selected as a Quarterfinalist in the 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. Just released as a self-published work, it is now available on Amazon.com, Kindle and select bookstores.

He lives in Wilmington, DE with his wife and son."

Reviews

[J.M. Reinbold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Darwin's Pause to be an enjoyable reading experience. Besides being fast-paced, it also contained a number of alternative perspectives on wealth, greed, death, justice, and our culture's all-consuming search for the "fountain of youth." And it all takes place in a tropical paradise. Realistic details of mercenary lifestyle and warfare seamlessly combined with elements of fantastic speculative fiction make for a winning combination. Throughout, you find yourself pondering whether you would make similar choices as the main character, Finn. Twists, turns, secrets, and deadly conflict will keep you turning the pages!

[S.A. Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought-provoking and filled with action. And it also gives a powerful hint of how much greed can destroy a person and his world. Excellent read.

[Jason]

Adventure in the South Pacific

A great read ! A lot of violence with the French the bad guys, messing with the natives. Some love and fantasy thrown in.

[William Bentrim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darwin's Pause by J. Gregory Smith

As much as I have enjoyed Greg Smith's books, Darwin's Pause transcends those experiences. The author has moved to a new level! This book was outstanding. It was captivating, action packed, thought provoking and more. A photographer accepts a vacation trip with a college friend that turns out to be far more than he expected. Think Indiana Jones meets Clive Cussler.

This book had a very complex plot that was similar to one of those nesting doll sets. Just when you thought you had reached the last little complexity you discover that Smith just threw in another twist and turn. Fin, the photographer, is the primary protagonist in this book. There are other important characters but Fin is the one that holds the plot together.

Smith clearly shows how greed is an insatiable beast that can be self devouring. There are preposterous scenarios that upon rumination become less preposterous and more implausible. It is exciting to think that there are still many natural wonders that lay either undiscovered or under reported.

This was a compelling book that provided a serious amount of sleep deprivation until I finished it. I received a complimentary copy of this book under the condition I would write an honest review. All my reviews are subjective and honest, I see them as recommendations rather than reviews. I didn't teach English nor have any of my own books been nominated for a Pulitzer so my expertise is only based on a life long passion for reading. I read several books each week and this is one of the best books I have read in years and I highly recommend it.

Web site: Amazon Author Page