The Paleontologist by Luke Dumas

A supernatural mystery with dinosaurs? Yes, please. A thousand times yes!

Plus, I read Dumas’s previous book and was rather impressed. And yet this one was something of a disappointment. Perhaps, because I was so excited going in. perhaps the stakes were set too high. Or perhaps it just isn’t that great of a book. It is good. Yes. But don’t you want more?
The plot revolves around a pint-size protagonist named Simon whose entire life has been scarred by the tragic disappearance of his baby sister when he was ten. Now in his early thirties, Simon takes a job at the same museum where the disappearance occurred with eh ideas of poking around. As a child, he was fascinated with dinosaurs. As an adult, he’s … well, professionally fascinated with dinosaurs. And then he starts seeing them skulking around the museum at night.

So, if the Night in the Museum was a murder mystery …

And it all sounds good and fun, but:

A. I didn’t care for Simon. He’s not particularly likeable, weak and whiny and emotionally incontinent, and takes much too long to learn some valuable lessons about workplace diversity, i.e. he’s too quick to hate a woman working herself to the bone (no pun intended) to keep the museum open for crappy pay but easily dismisses his assistant’s vulgar, nasty sexual innuendo jokes in that boys-will-be-boys way.

B. The supernatural aspect of the novel was so disappointing. It was almost like the author just couldn’t commit to it one way or another. Is Simon hallucinating, and if so, what explains his injuries?

C. The central mystery’s resolution was kind of underwhelming. And Simon seemed surprisingly forgiving of certain perpetrators because why? because they shared a sexuality? seriously?

Having that been said, it was still a very entertaining read. The writing is solidly commercial as opposed to literary, but rather effective. And if you’re dinosaurs, it’s really tons of fun. So, something of a mixed bag, but a perfectly decent all-around read. Thanks Netgalley.