I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own. The Paleontologist by Luke Dumas Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars Genre: Mystery, Horror Series:...
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Paleontologist by Luke Dumas
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Mystery, Horror
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (October 31, 2023)
Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins
Author: Website
Narrator: Graham Halstead
At first, I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Paleontologist by Luke Dumas, especially given some of the mixed reviews I’ve seen. Ultimately, however, I found that my interest in the book’s subject matters made it a compelling read for me.
An atmospheric mystery that combines elements of horror and the paranormal, The Paleontologist follows Simon Nealy, the recently hired curator of Hawthorne Museum of Natural History’s dinosaur exhibit. How he ended up there though, is no coincidence. Twenty years ago, his little sister Morgan disappeared in the very same place, while she was under his care, and was never seen again. Returning to his hometown and applying for a job at the museum was a way for Simon to find closure, or so he hopes. After all these years, perhaps there may still be clues as to what happened to Morgan.
But soon, Simon discovers that the museum is no longer as he remembers, a shift that comes with both positive and negative aspects. Visitors and funding have decreased over the years, leaving the building and its displays in poor condition, and as this story takes place in the middle of the pandemic, COVID has not helped matters. While the bad memories are harder to get to him here, there are also rumors of strange happenings like eerie sounds and sightings of ghostly apparitions wandering through the halls of fossils. In the middle of preparing for a new Ceratosaurus exhibit that the museum’s board of directors are hoping will transform the Hawthorne and put it back on the map, Simon comes across the research journals left behind by his predecessor, who had been working on a mysterious project. Could his fevered writings possibly reveal anything related to Morgan? And why is he facing so much resistance, every time he believes he is getting closer to uncovering the truth?
Immediately, I found myself immersed in The Paleontologist, allowing it to sweep me away. The ease with which I fell into the story can be attributed to the protagonist, who is a complex character and highly sympathetic. Learning about his guilt and grief over losing his sister was a gut punch that never really goes away, especially as his mother never lets him forget it. I also related strongly to his love of science as well as his fascination with the study of paleontology, which is why I think I enjoyed reading this book so much, as it tapped into that geeky side of me. Moreover, I have a soft spot for unreliable narrators in horror and thriller fiction. Simon’s character, with his traumatic past riddled with bad memories, mental health struggles, and experience with substance abuse, makes it difficult at times to discern if what he perceives is the reality. It’s a vagueness that works, and which I appreciate.
Then, there’s the setting. As a fan of haunted house stories, I thought the concept of a haunted museum was a great twist. I spent a bulk of my college years studying, volunteering, and working in museums, both in the public areas and behind the scenes where specimens are stored and kept. There’s a certain enchantment to a museum once all the visitors are gone and the lights go off. The silence, heavy with the weight of history, can be both humbling and awe-inspiring, but also has the capacity to become downright creepy. I felt that Dumas captured this quality and atmosphere well, especially in late-night scenes where Simon stays behind alone to investigate or do his work.
Are the nighttime hauntings and visions real or just a figment of our protagonist’s overactive imagination brought on by stress and obsession? There are certainly things that happen which can’t be explained, leaving a lingering uncertainty. If you like definitive answers, you won’t find them easily in this book, though the ending did manage to resolve the central mystery (but some might argue a bit too tidily, considering we didn’t direct experience the final showdown). It’s also not the happiest of endings, presenting revelations that were both chilling and disturbing. The answers, unveiled in all their horrifying glory, were at times so shocking that I almost couldn’t believe what I was reading. Still, the closure Simon sought was achieved, and in that respect, I found a level of satisfaction.
All in all, I enjoyed The Paleontologist. Suspenseful and well-paced, it would appeal to fans of stories that have a cold-case murder mystery at its core but tinged with a bit of supernatural horror. If you’re in search of an unconventional, haunting ghost story, it would also qualify. This novel pleasantly surprised me and stands out as of my year’s hidden gems.
