Fossil Hunter - John B. Olson

Author:  John B. Olson
Publisher:  Tyndale House Publishers
Website:  http://www.litany.com

I initially balked at the opportunity to review Fossil Hunter because on the back of the book there’s an advertisement proclaiming the book is part of the “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed campaign.” Oh no…the dreaded threat of agenda-driven fiction! Thankfully, my concern has proven utterly unfounded. Fossil Hunter is a thoroughly absorbing thrill ride that takes readers from the halls of academia to the deserts of Iraq. Katie James is a renowned paleontologist who suffers from demophobia – a debilitating fear of crowds. She’s also a Christian, and because of her beliefs her academic credentials come under fire. Believing her work and her faith can go hand-in-hand, Katie is desperate to prove herself and secure the funding her university needs in order to continue her research. She’s sent into Iraq in a race against time opposite her arch-rival Dr. Nick Murad, tasked with making the fossil find of the century. However, Nick and Katie didn’t count on being forced to collaborate in order to survive warring factions in the Iraqi government and agenda-driven academics only interested in fossil finds that support current scientific theories.

The action is briskly-paced and the characterizations are wonderfully rich. Olson puts his scientific background to good use (he has a background in biochemistry), but he never drowns the novel in incomprehensible lingo – all of the science is presented in such a way as to be fascinating and comprehendible by the uninitiated reader. The inclusion of the present geo-political realities Katie and Nick face add tension and credibility to the storyline. Fossil Hunter packed with enough action and humor (and just a dash of romance!) to be worthy of a chapter in the adventures of Indiana Jones. What sets this novel apart is its intelligent, thoughtful, engaging discussion of the intersection of faith and science. Fossil Hunter is a action-packed thrill ride that begs for a sequel – I’d love to see the further adventures of Kate & Nick. Highly recommended.

Purchase Fossil Hunter.

Add Comments

Name:
Email:
Location:
URL:
Comment:
	Remember my personal information
	Notify me of follow-up comments?
Please enter the word you see in the image below: