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The Dinosaur Hunter
The cowboys who work on the ranchlands of Montana expect more than their fair share of trouble. One of them is Mike Wire, a former homicide detective. Mike is about to learn murder and mayhem can happen under Motnana's big skies, too. Beneath the earth lie enough dinosaur fossils to fill several museum collections---and make a fortune for whoever claims them first. Soon he will have to combine everything he learned as a cop with everything he knows as a cowboy to protect the people and the land he could never live without.
311 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2010
46 people are currently reading
534 people want to read
About the author
Homer Hickam
28 books670 followersHomer Hickam (also known as Homer H. Hickam, Jr.) is the author of many best-sellers including his latest, Don't Blow Yourself Up. An eclectic writer, he wrote the "Coalwood Series," which includes the # 1 New York Times best-selling memoir Rocket Boys, (made into the ever-popular movie October Sky) the World War II-era "Josh Thurlow" series, the juvenile sci-fi "Crater" series, the adult thriller The Dinosaur Hunter, the romantic Red Helmet, and many others. Among his many writing awards are the University of Alabama's Clarence Cason Award and the Appalachian Heritage Writer's Award plus an honorary Doctorate of Literature from Marshall University. For more information on Mr. Hickam and his books and cats and everything else, please go to http://www.homerhickam.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
January 12, 2015
I found this book an excellent combination of mystery, paleontology, Montana and human relationships. Maybe because I come from a rural background, I really liked the depiction of the ranchers. To say they are rugged individualists would not be overstating it. It may (or may not, I haven't spent much time in Montana) be a reasonable characterization, but I know people who are very similar. That laconic style, where little is said, but much is figured out despite that. I found the paleontology to be well written (except for the flakey paleontologist in charge of the dig). In fact that's probably my biggest complaint--Dr. Pickford is a pretty dodgy dude and pretty lazy too. I have never known someone in charge of a dig to spent so little time working on it. And I don't think that any crew would actually follow someone like that either.
Was it entirely realistic? I'm not sure that the Russian mafia would actually end up in the ranch country of Montana, but it worked for me in this story. However, dig sites are not so easily found--three spectacular sites in one season? Not likely. However,when I briefly set down the book to get a cup of coffee this morning, I noticed that there was a fire truck in front of my condo complex--I never noticed it pull up. And when I returned to the book, I completely missed their departure too. Totally engrossed, I couldn't even bother to be a bit snoopy. And that's a rural habit too--keeping an eye on what your neighbours are doing!
Was it entirely realistic? I'm not sure that the Russian mafia would actually end up in the ranch country of Montana, but it worked for me in this story. However, dig sites are not so easily found--three spectacular sites in one season? Not likely. However,when I briefly set down the book to get a cup of coffee this morning, I noticed that there was a fire truck in front of my condo complex--I never noticed it pull up. And when I returned to the book, I completely missed their departure too. Totally engrossed, I couldn't even bother to be a bit snoopy. And that's a rural habit too--keeping an eye on what your neighbours are doing!
January 17, 2011
Here's how it went down:
nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing VIOLENCE nothing nothing nothing
VIOLENCE VIOLENCE nothing.
I'm pretty sure the writer forgot the main character used to be a cop for about half the book.
The one thing I thought was kind of cute was the way the narrator would tell you something great happened, then say, "Actually, that didn't happen." And then he'd tell you what crappy thing happened.
nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing VIOLENCE nothing nothing nothing
VIOLENCE VIOLENCE nothing.
I'm pretty sure the writer forgot the main character used to be a cop for about half the book.
The one thing I thought was kind of cute was the way the narrator would tell you something great happened, then say, "Actually, that didn't happen." And then he'd tell you what crappy thing happened.
January 1, 2019
Sometimes, all you really need for a great read is a good main character. This book has that and a great story wrapped around him. I was very pleasantly surprised by the way all this unfolded.
Mike is a former LAPD homicide detective, career cut short by a bad guy's bullet years ago. Eventually he ended up on the Square C Ranch in Montana, a vegetarian cowboy hopelessly in love with his boss, Jeanette, and sort of stand-in father to her son, Ray. It's a good life, if demanding, and things are, if not perfect, good for Mike.
Until (because you knew that was coming)...
Ray wrote a school paper about some fossils his late father found on their land. Enter "Pick" Pickford, a really odd man who specializes in dinosaurs, his two lovely assistants Laura and Tanya, and a lot of complication. It seems like something extremely rare might be on Jeanette's land, and the find of a lifetime brings all manner of complications. Ripples flow outward, and when the inevitable murder happens, the writer manages to make you see it coming but still be utterly surprised. The Bureau of Land Management (words to strike fear and rage into the hearts of most Westerners), the Russian Bratva, survivalist neighbors, and a former movie maker with a shady past are among the cast of characters making Mike's life difficult.
I didn't see most of what happens coming, and it was done well, in a believable way. The only reason it didn't get to a 5 star from me is that some of the characters were a bit hard to like at times, even Mike himself seems confused by his devotion to Jeanette (as was I), and the main character being the lust object of most of the female cast seemed a bit unlikely.
Overall great story in a wonderful small-town western setting with strong characters, male and female, and a lot of oddity that actually works perfectly well.
Mike is a former LAPD homicide detective, career cut short by a bad guy's bullet years ago. Eventually he ended up on the Square C Ranch in Montana, a vegetarian cowboy hopelessly in love with his boss, Jeanette, and sort of stand-in father to her son, Ray. It's a good life, if demanding, and things are, if not perfect, good for Mike.
Until (because you knew that was coming)...
Ray wrote a school paper about some fossils his late father found on their land. Enter "Pick" Pickford, a really odd man who specializes in dinosaurs, his two lovely assistants Laura and Tanya, and a lot of complication. It seems like something extremely rare might be on Jeanette's land, and the find of a lifetime brings all manner of complications. Ripples flow outward, and when the inevitable murder happens, the writer manages to make you see it coming but still be utterly surprised. The Bureau of Land Management (words to strike fear and rage into the hearts of most Westerners), the Russian Bratva, survivalist neighbors, and a former movie maker with a shady past are among the cast of characters making Mike's life difficult.
I didn't see most of what happens coming, and it was done well, in a believable way. The only reason it didn't get to a 5 star from me is that some of the characters were a bit hard to like at times, even Mike himself seems confused by his devotion to Jeanette (as was I), and the main character being the lust object of most of the female cast seemed a bit unlikely.
Overall great story in a wonderful small-town western setting with strong characters, male and female, and a lot of oddity that actually works perfectly well.
February 22, 2013
Ignoring the almost universally applicable adage of 'don't judge a book by its cover', I picked this up out of the library basically hoping for a novelisation of Turok.
In that respect I was disappointed, as in many others.
The story follows Mike Wire, an ex-LAPD cop moonlighting as a farmhand and sub-moonlighting as a huge idiot. Mike stumbles his way through a tepid plot, on every page demonstrating that the reader can be forgiven for forgetting that the protagonist was ever a detective; unfortunately this element to the character is reinforced every five-to-ten pages through Mike's personal and entirely irrelevant reflections.
The primary antagonists are: A gay man, a gay Russian man, Russians in general (except a Russian prostitute, Mike's love interest!), and the omnipresent, shadowy Mexicans. Relying primarily on what seem to be Hickam's own interpretation of the stereotypes of those groups and characters, the portrayal of the villains in the books is largely hysterical and superficial - the Russians do what Hickam thinks Russians do (fly attack helicopters everywhere, shoot innocent people, have sex in bushes), gay men do what he thinks gay men do (have sex in bushes, present intimidating and repulsive fronts to hide their gender), and Mexicans do what he thinks Mexicans do (be a constant threat to the American Way of Life).
Furthermore, the romantic interest sub-plots are, even in hindsight, utterly incomprehensible. The two 'dino girls' who draw straws on who gets to take Our Hero home are, plot-wise, little more than vaginas on legs. Yet of course Mike falls instantly in love. Jean Coulter, Mike's unrequited crush and irascible station boss, is probably the best and deepest character in the book but is pretty much benched for the latter 3/4s of the book, occasionally piping up to make Our Hero feel inadequate, which he is, or irrationally angry, which he also is.
While those elements certainly put a damper on the reading experience for me, the saving grace of the book is certainly the portrayal of rural life in Montana, though as yet I am unsure as to whether there is any other kind of life in Montana. Hickam's few lyrical waxes are on the scenery and lifestyle, and by and large they are bold and almost endearing. Additionally, the insights into hunting for fossils make for an interesting few pages' worth, though the eccentric male palaeontologist (part medium, part absent-minded professor) is an absolute drag of a character.
In that respect I was disappointed, as in many others.
The story follows Mike Wire, an ex-LAPD cop moonlighting as a farmhand and sub-moonlighting as a huge idiot. Mike stumbles his way through a tepid plot, on every page demonstrating that the reader can be forgiven for forgetting that the protagonist was ever a detective; unfortunately this element to the character is reinforced every five-to-ten pages through Mike's personal and entirely irrelevant reflections.
The primary antagonists are: A gay man, a gay Russian man, Russians in general (except a Russian prostitute, Mike's love interest!), and the omnipresent, shadowy Mexicans. Relying primarily on what seem to be Hickam's own interpretation of the stereotypes of those groups and characters, the portrayal of the villains in the books is largely hysterical and superficial - the Russians do what Hickam thinks Russians do (fly attack helicopters everywhere, shoot innocent people, have sex in bushes), gay men do what he thinks gay men do (have sex in bushes, present intimidating and repulsive fronts to hide their gender), and Mexicans do what he thinks Mexicans do (be a constant threat to the American Way of Life).
Furthermore, the romantic interest sub-plots are, even in hindsight, utterly incomprehensible. The two 'dino girls' who draw straws on who gets to take Our Hero home are, plot-wise, little more than vaginas on legs. Yet of course Mike falls instantly in love. Jean Coulter, Mike's unrequited crush and irascible station boss, is probably the best and deepest character in the book but is pretty much benched for the latter 3/4s of the book, occasionally piping up to make Our Hero feel inadequate, which he is, or irrationally angry, which he also is.
While those elements certainly put a damper on the reading experience for me, the saving grace of the book is certainly the portrayal of rural life in Montana, though as yet I am unsure as to whether there is any other kind of life in Montana. Hickam's few lyrical waxes are on the scenery and lifestyle, and by and large they are bold and almost endearing. Additionally, the insights into hunting for fossils make for an interesting few pages' worth, though the eccentric male palaeontologist (part medium, part absent-minded professor) is an absolute drag of a character.
June 30, 2015
I listened to the audiobook version which had the added bonus of very Montana-like narration. I love Montana and paleontology, so this book was right up my alley. Approx 8-10 years ago, I spent a few days in this area of Montana, near Fort Peck Lake, on BLM land. I was part of an amateur paleontology group who paid to help excavate part of an actual triceratops. I also got to spend a lot of time driving around the lake area and mingling with local residents, so I was very engaged in the setting for this book! Luckily, my trip didn't unfold like the events in this story.
Several reviews seem to criticize The Dinosaur Hunter as having a weak plot, or not having enough action. These people have obviously not been to eastern Montana or participated in a paleontology dig. Both life in Montana, and a paleontology dig, unfold at their own pace, much like this story. I think the author did a fantastic job of creating the feel of eastern Montana with the pace of the book. As far as the plot, I thought it was very good, as murder mysteries go, although that is not my preferred genre. If you are looking for the type of action found in a fast-paced, city-based crime novel, this book is not for you - duh - read the book summary!
Setting and plot aside, both of which I found enjoyable, this book was laugh-out-loud funny in places, something I wasn't expecting.
Several reviews seem to criticize The Dinosaur Hunter as having a weak plot, or not having enough action. These people have obviously not been to eastern Montana or participated in a paleontology dig. Both life in Montana, and a paleontology dig, unfold at their own pace, much like this story. I think the author did a fantastic job of creating the feel of eastern Montana with the pace of the book. As far as the plot, I thought it was very good, as murder mysteries go, although that is not my preferred genre. If you are looking for the type of action found in a fast-paced, city-based crime novel, this book is not for you - duh - read the book summary!
Setting and plot aside, both of which I found enjoyable, this book was laugh-out-loud funny in places, something I wasn't expecting.
November 19, 2017
A fairly good mystery based in the hinterlands of Montana.
A former cop is playing cowboy in Montana working for a female rancher. They find valuable fossils on the ranch land, and murders start. A little more violent than most cozies.
Not bad, even if the detective guy talks too much.
A former cop is playing cowboy in Montana working for a female rancher. They find valuable fossils on the ranch land, and murders start. A little more violent than most cozies.
Not bad, even if the detective guy talks too much.
January 11, 2025
It's fine, it's like an off-brand Longmire book. Fun, informative, interesting mystery, good characters. The negative reviews are butthurt.
May 14, 2014
The Dinosaur Hunter
By Homer Hickam
I always think of Homer Hickam as a writer for men. I enjoyed The Ambassador’s Son, an adventure tale set on a Pacific island in World War II. The main characters were nearly all men in that book. The Dinosaur Hunter is set in Montana, and the narrator is a former California homicide detective turned cowboy. His unrequited love is also his employer, a laconic ranch owner named Jeanne, who surprises Mike (the cowboy) by allowing a dinosaur hunter and his crew on her property to look for fossils.
Western property rights are practically a character in this book. Ranchers are very touchy about anyone setting foot on their property without prior permission, including land leased for grazing from the federal Bureau of Land Management.
The jacket describes this book as a thriller. I wouldn’t go that far. Suspenseful, perhaps. And well-constructed. Slaughtered cattle begin to turn up - as a warning - and to whom? The dinosaur hunters persist in the face of opposition, and the reader learns a lot about fossil hunting, discovery, and uncovering as the paleontologists uncover a significant new find and Mike the cowboy tries to figure out who is trying to double-cross whom.
The weakest part of the book is the author’s depiction of the women in Mike’s life. He is in love with Jeanne, or so he insists, but this doesn’t stop him from sleeping with the mayor, nor from falling for the sexy female Russian fossil hunter who is working for the head dinosaur hunter. I was not convinced, myself.
But the book was otherwise enjoyable, and quite instructive about fossil hunting, which the author himself does as a hobby in the summers.
By Homer Hickam
I always think of Homer Hickam as a writer for men. I enjoyed The Ambassador’s Son, an adventure tale set on a Pacific island in World War II. The main characters were nearly all men in that book. The Dinosaur Hunter is set in Montana, and the narrator is a former California homicide detective turned cowboy. His unrequited love is also his employer, a laconic ranch owner named Jeanne, who surprises Mike (the cowboy) by allowing a dinosaur hunter and his crew on her property to look for fossils.
Western property rights are practically a character in this book. Ranchers are very touchy about anyone setting foot on their property without prior permission, including land leased for grazing from the federal Bureau of Land Management.
The jacket describes this book as a thriller. I wouldn’t go that far. Suspenseful, perhaps. And well-constructed. Slaughtered cattle begin to turn up - as a warning - and to whom? The dinosaur hunters persist in the face of opposition, and the reader learns a lot about fossil hunting, discovery, and uncovering as the paleontologists uncover a significant new find and Mike the cowboy tries to figure out who is trying to double-cross whom.
The weakest part of the book is the author’s depiction of the women in Mike’s life. He is in love with Jeanne, or so he insists, but this doesn’t stop him from sleeping with the mayor, nor from falling for the sexy female Russian fossil hunter who is working for the head dinosaur hunter. I was not convinced, myself.
But the book was otherwise enjoyable, and quite instructive about fossil hunting, which the author himself does as a hobby in the summers.
March 2, 2019
Part western, part mystery with a little paleontology thrown in. Three stars might be a little generous as the pacing felt off with most of the action happening toward the end as well as not-too-terribly fleshed out characters, but a distracting escape was just what I wanted.
January 21, 2018
Couldn't get into it, unfortunately. I really wanted to enjoy it, but the author's style isn't for me.
June 21, 2025
This was pretty bad, but I gave it an extra star because of the curmudgeon main character and also a certain weapon of choice used in the last part of the book. Weak stereotypes all around.
August 22, 2014
Ok, I decided to post a book that definitely fits the extra hot summer this year since I posted a book that made me think of fall earlier this week. The Dinosaur Hunter documents a paleontological excavation on a Montana ranch in the middle of summer. I initially grabbed The Dinosaur Hunter for a number of reasons: paleontology, Montana ranches, and a cop turned cowboy. See, I grew up on a small ranch so I usually enjoy any story that spends a good amount of time describing wide open spaces. Spaces that I miss terribly now that I am located in a neighborhood. I also started my adult life with dreams of being an archaeologist, so the paleontology aspect of the book was interesting because I have always enjoyed digging in the dirt. As for the cop turned cowboy...well that's just personal preference!
The Dinosaur Hunter is the only Hickam novel I have read, but I was already a little biased by the time I started reading thanks to the October Sky movie. This novel is slow. And by slow I mean Hickam utilizes his two main male characters to 'wax poetic' about something every chapter. "Oh, get on with it," was uttered numerous times while driving around town with the audiobook. I did not expect the book to be so long winded but that's what happens when you see a movie first. It definitely makes a good audiobook if you have a long stretch of road to travel.
Hickam presents characters that are definitely flawed. The only character that I did not like was Dr. Pickford; there was nothing redeeming about this character. He was boring, lazy, just painful to listen to, a liar, and participated in the most infuriating 'hook up' of the entire novel. (I'm still a little peeved about him if you can't tell) I really liked Mike, but I spent most of the novel wishing he would be more assertive. I expected him to have a stronger personality as a result of his law enforcement experience. Nope, but I still connected with him and enjoyed his story.
The Dinosaur Hunter was good. Pick it up if you are interested in learning about excavations or the complexity of BLM land rights. It also provides a great escape if you are longing for cattle pastures and mountains. Has anyone else read The Dinosaur Hunter?
Lindsay
March 9, 2013
I read over some of the other reviews, and was somewhat surprised by the diversity of ratings and reviews. I have liked listening to Homer Hickam's memories of an earlier time in Rocket Boys and Sky of Stone, but this novel was definitely not up to his previous works. I believe he wrote the novel based on his own interest and knowledge in the field of dinosaur fossil hunting, but that was certainly not enough to carry what turned out to be a weak story.
If you like violent stories, this novel qualifies. If you like gratuitous sex, there was a little of that. If you like your hero / anti-hero to summarize what you just heard/read, from the perspective of "a year later," you'll find that, too. I thought the characters were not believable. While the main characters were mostly ranchers from and in Montana, there were enough vapid Californians to make me ask -- huh? The Russian mob? An extremely rich, Illegal buyer of antiquities from Mexico? Ex-LA cop, turned cowboy, turned dinosaur hunter, amateur paleontologist?
I was disappointed.
If you like violent stories, this novel qualifies. If you like gratuitous sex, there was a little of that. If you like your hero / anti-hero to summarize what you just heard/read, from the perspective of "a year later," you'll find that, too. I thought the characters were not believable. While the main characters were mostly ranchers from and in Montana, there were enough vapid Californians to make me ask -- huh? The Russian mob? An extremely rich, Illegal buyer of antiquities from Mexico? Ex-LA cop, turned cowboy, turned dinosaur hunter, amateur paleontologist?
I was disappointed.
October 2, 2014
Taking place in Montana on BLM land and Square C Ranch this mystery has lots of twists and turns. Mike (ex LAPD and current ranch hand of the Square C) gets involved in bone hunting with "Pick" who is a Paleontologist looking for the bones of a baby T-Rex.
Everyone is not whom they appear to be or involved in the dig for the reasons they give. There are other factions at work that want the bones for their own reasons.
The book never slows and the reader wants to keep turning pages to find out what happens next!
Everyone is not whom they appear to be or involved in the dig for the reasons they give. There are other factions at work that want the bones for their own reasons.
The book never slows and the reader wants to keep turning pages to find out what happens next!
March 15, 2013
I stumbled on this book while picking up Hickam's Rocket Boys for myself for our book club. I thought it sounded interesting. Not only was it interesting, it was as well-written for a non-scientific audience as the Rocket Boys, entertaining and had a couple of twists that I didn't anticipate. I did genuinely care about several of the characters and dislike those that I suspect I was supposed to dislike (or not trust). The bookclub may get a taste of the fiction side of Hickam next year.
July 12, 2015
This is a mystery novel pure and simple and not usually my cup of tea, however, Homer Hickman is a man of eclectic taste and this is shown in his writing. The man who gave us "Rocket Boys" and "The Coalwood Way" based on his life experiences now gives us a novel based on his interest in the various social theories of the dinosaur that show up from time to time. Read the novel and look up the theories on Google. You might find something of interest.
January 31, 2015
Absolutely loved this book. It takes you to the vast expenses and otherworldly landscape of Montana, to the world of paleontology and dinosaur bone hunting. Thrown in is intrigue concerning the Russian mafia, paranoid bureaucrats and some very peculiar people. The ending is somewhat predictable, but that's okay.
June 30, 2015
Mike is an ornery cowboy (former) cop who left L.A. for a ranch in Montana. He's a laid back womanizing drinker with a bent sense of humor, but H.H. had me at "cowboy cop".
The Dinosaur Hunter is a fun, easy breezy read about two generations of star-crossed lovers, crime on the range, history, science, and the evolution of society and social politics in the macro and the micro.
The Dinosaur Hunter is a fun, easy breezy read about two generations of star-crossed lovers, crime on the range, history, science, and the evolution of society and social politics in the macro and the micro.
February 11, 2013
The Science was enough to keep me interested. The setting sounded amazing. I have never been to Montana but I could imagine it, especially the muddy gumbo.
January 24, 2014
Fast pace, entertaining, easy to read, I've always liked the light spirited of some character of Hickam, in this case, Mike brings the fun in.
March 10, 2018
Shootout at the Circle C ranch. With dinosaurs.
March 16, 2013
Hickam writes well. I like the characters, a little too much dinosaur info for me.
August 25, 2013
I Loved this--one of the best listens of the year, IMO
Read
September 29, 2014I'm going to look into more of his books. Kept my attention every paragraph.
October 10, 2020
Forced into retirement by a bullet, former Los Angeles homicide detective Mike Wire has settled into life in Montana where he runs the Square C for Jeanette Coulter, the widow who owns the ranch.
The discovery of a few dinosaur bones brings a paleontologist to the ranch, seeking permission to dig for more bones. Soon Mike, Jeanette, her son, Ray, and Ray's girlfriend, Amelia, are all part of the dig. But when things turn deadly, will Mike be able to save the fossil-hunters and the bones they’ve uncovered?
Anchored by a strong sense of place, this story unfolds from Mike’s point of view. Well-developed characters fill the pages of this story: strong, take-charge Jeanette; teen sweethearts Amelia and Ray; smarmy nouveau-riche pseudo-rancher Cade; eco-environmentalists Philip and Brian; quirky dinosaur-hunter Norman Pickford; Hawaiian-shirt-wearing Russian mobsters. They’re not all likable, but they are strong, dogged, determined, and believable.
The unfolding story combines adventure, mystery, and murder with fossil-hunting and dinosaur bones. The compelling and imaginative narrative keeps the pages turning as unexpected revelations heighten the suspense. Meticulously researched, atmospheric, engrossing . . . readers will find much to appreciate in this inventive foray into dinosaur-hunting.
Highly recommended.
The discovery of a few dinosaur bones brings a paleontologist to the ranch, seeking permission to dig for more bones. Soon Mike, Jeanette, her son, Ray, and Ray's girlfriend, Amelia, are all part of the dig. But when things turn deadly, will Mike be able to save the fossil-hunters and the bones they’ve uncovered?
Anchored by a strong sense of place, this story unfolds from Mike’s point of view. Well-developed characters fill the pages of this story: strong, take-charge Jeanette; teen sweethearts Amelia and Ray; smarmy nouveau-riche pseudo-rancher Cade; eco-environmentalists Philip and Brian; quirky dinosaur-hunter Norman Pickford; Hawaiian-shirt-wearing Russian mobsters. They’re not all likable, but they are strong, dogged, determined, and believable.
The unfolding story combines adventure, mystery, and murder with fossil-hunting and dinosaur bones. The compelling and imaginative narrative keeps the pages turning as unexpected revelations heighten the suspense. Meticulously researched, atmospheric, engrossing . . . readers will find much to appreciate in this inventive foray into dinosaur-hunting.
Highly recommended.
September 30, 2021
I can see that there were a lot of mixed opinions on this book but I really liked it. Although not fast paced, nor a particularly compelling mystery, I enjoyed the writing style of the author and the first person narration. I really felt that the Montana setting was an essential part of the novel, almost a character in itself. The same with the bones of the T-Rex specimens. It was obvious the author was familiar with both the setting and field paleontology. If you want constant action and adventure, this book would not be for you. There are scenes after scenes of digging in the dirt and preserving dinosaur specimens but I did not find them boring and thought they added a lot to the work and the fascination one must feel in uncovering mysteries from millions of years ago. If you enjoy character driven novels, this is a wonderful, and often funny, book. The narrator does shy away from holding himself accountable at times for his own behavior, resulting in some really funny scenes. There was one flaw in the book regarding the ending that prevented me from giving this book 5 stars but otherwise did not really detract from my enjoyment of the book. I would definitely recommend if this type of book appeals to you.
June 15, 2025
Mike, a former cop, works as a cowboy on a Montana ranch. Murdere cows start to show up, with their heads bashed in and throats cut. When a Russian tough guy with the same injuries is found floating in the Lake, Mike starts to investigate.
At the same time, a government paleontologist with questionable credentials shows up with two beautiful assistants to search the ranch snd bordering land under the Bureau of Land Management for the bones if baby Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaurs.
Lots of double crossing and intrigue, in the bedroom and in the mountains leads to a convoluted international smuggling operation. No one is wholly who they claim to be.
Amidst the intrigue and romance there is a world-changing paleontology discovery. Tyrannosauruses sacrificing their lives protecting their nests snd chicks. In one of Chricton’s meticulously researched Jurassic novels, this would bear some weight. Here it reads as anthropomorphic wishfulness and takes away from the veracity of the story.
Still an entertaining story. The romance manages not to be cloying or to carry the stink of soft porn. Characters are likable or framed as obvious bad guys. Audible reader was clear and well able to balance the sincerity and snarky comedy.
At the same time, a government paleontologist with questionable credentials shows up with two beautiful assistants to search the ranch snd bordering land under the Bureau of Land Management for the bones if baby Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaurs.
Lots of double crossing and intrigue, in the bedroom and in the mountains leads to a convoluted international smuggling operation. No one is wholly who they claim to be.
Amidst the intrigue and romance there is a world-changing paleontology discovery. Tyrannosauruses sacrificing their lives protecting their nests snd chicks. In one of Chricton’s meticulously researched Jurassic novels, this would bear some weight. Here it reads as anthropomorphic wishfulness and takes away from the veracity of the story.
Still an entertaining story. The romance manages not to be cloying or to carry the stink of soft porn. Characters are likable or framed as obvious bad guys. Audible reader was clear and well able to balance the sincerity and snarky comedy.
September 1, 2025
This book was interesting. Overall, I enjoyed it. It shines in some places, but falls flat in other. First the pros: I love the verbage the author works in for the narrator. Very flowery, never dull. The representation of paleontology and paleontologists is awesome to see, and, on the whole, not entirely inaccurate (if a little hyperbolic at times). Same goes for the ranching life of Montana. Now, the cons: The dialogue is a little stiff at times, the worst parts being monologues from the paleontologists. In my experience, scientists don't converse like that in casual conversation. The plot is also a little sparse. While neat, it felt as if the events kinda happen with no clear direction right up until the end, with the main character occasionally asking a question or two and then going back to business as usual. He doesn't even end the conflict in the end; another party shows up and bails everyone out. Still, I didn't hate it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2020
Mike is a great POV character--strong voice and internal monologue that sets the tone for the novel. I loved the depiction of ranch and rural life. I recently read three books by noted paleontologist Jack Horner and it was eerie how closely Hickam's novel echoed the details of Horner's digs and descriptions of Montana life. Hickam's acknowlegements revealed that as part of his research, he tagged along on some of Horner's field expeditions and participated in the excavation of two T. rex skeletons! The research really shows. As for the mystery/detective aspect of the novel, it moves a bit slow. I didn't really mind because the atmosphere and writing are so rich, but the ending felt a bit contrived and last-minute. Still, the trip there made it very much worthwhile.
November 2, 2018
One star seems almost excessively harsh because I did not hate reading this book. However, I can't give the author any more credit because it is just lazily written. The "good guys" are so idealized as to be wooden and flat. The plot itself doesn't really build coherently. Nothing really happens except dropping hints for the first 85% of the book. Then in the blink of an eye the plot becomes pure action before suddenly deflating with a silly deus ex machina. On top of that, the ending is almost completely unsatisfying. This book seems like the author had an interesting premise for a book and sold it to his editor but couldn't really find a way to flesh out that premise.
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