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The Anomaly Files #1
The Anomaly
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Horror (2018)Not all secrets are meant to be found.
If Indiana Jones lived in the X-Files era, he might bear at least a passing resemblance to Nolan Moore -- a rogue archaeologist hosting a documentary series derisively dismissed by the "real" experts, but beloved of conspiracy theorists.
Nolan sets out to retrace the steps of an explorer from 1909 who claimed to have discovered a mysterious cavern high up in the ancient rock of the Grand Canyon. And, for once, he may have actually found what he seeks. Then the trip takes a nasty turn, and the cave begins turning against them in mysterious ways.
Nolan's story becomes one of survival against seemingly impossible odds. The only way out is to answer a series of intriguing questions: What is this strange cave? How has it remained hidden for so long? And what secret does it conceal that made its last visitors attempt to seal it forever?
If Indiana Jones lived in the X-Files era, he might bear at least a passing resemblance to Nolan Moore -- a rogue archaeologist hosting a documentary series derisively dismissed by the "real" experts, but beloved of conspiracy theorists.
Nolan sets out to retrace the steps of an explorer from 1909 who claimed to have discovered a mysterious cavern high up in the ancient rock of the Grand Canyon. And, for once, he may have actually found what he seeks. Then the trip takes a nasty turn, and the cave begins turning against them in mysterious ways.
Nolan's story becomes one of survival against seemingly impossible odds. The only way out is to answer a series of intriguing questions: What is this strange cave? How has it remained hidden for so long? And what secret does it conceal that made its last visitors attempt to seal it forever?
352 pages, Hardcover
First published June 19, 2018
647 people are currently reading
21040 people want to read
About the author
Michael Rutger
4 books407 followersMichael Rutger is a screenwriter whose work has been optioned by major Hollywood studios. He lives in California with his wife and son.
Michael Rutger is a pen name for internationally bestselling author Michael Marshall.
Michael Rutger is a pen name for internationally bestselling author Michael Marshall.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,847 reviews
April 17, 2018
Michael here's the thing. You're about to become absurdly famous. People are going to be badgering you to be on their talk shows. Saturday Night Live will do a spoof on you. David Letterman will come out of retirement just to do a top ten list with you on it. There will be fan fiction. So much fan fiction.
Everyone is going to know who you are. You're going to have some clout. Power to get things done. Or to stop things from happening as the case may be. So with that in mind...
Please, for the love of god do not let Nicholas Cage star in the film adaptation of this book.
I am begging you. Use whatever power you have at your disposal, call in whatever favors you can but do this for me, for the thousands, nay the MILLIONS of other people who are about to fall in love with Nolan Moore and his intrepid team of wannabe Youtubers. For everyone who is about to descend into the depths of the Grand Canyon on an epic, amazing, spine tingling, quest as entertaining as "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and as thought provoking as...I don't know...something really thought provoking. For everyone who ever wanted to find a lost city or uncover a forgotten mystery that was never meant to be solved. For everyone who ever fell in love and then fell out and then fell back in and made a mess of it all over again and only figured it all out when it was too damn late. For every fan of the lovable rogue who likes to think he's a cynical old bastard but is secretly a hero to everyone around him.
For all of those millions of people who are about to fall in love with you.
Just see if Colin Farrell is interested! He'd be great! Or Gary Oldman! He's soooo hot right now and I know he's older but c'mon he'd be perfect! I would seriously even take Cumberbatch even though he's so overexposed at this point and I'm sure he's busy with all that Dr. Strange stuff. Or Sean Bean! He'd be terrific!
But for the sake of us all.
Say no to Nicholas Cage.
Everyone is going to know who you are. You're going to have some clout. Power to get things done. Or to stop things from happening as the case may be. So with that in mind...
Please, for the love of god do not let Nicholas Cage star in the film adaptation of this book.
I am begging you. Use whatever power you have at your disposal, call in whatever favors you can but do this for me, for the thousands, nay the MILLIONS of other people who are about to fall in love with Nolan Moore and his intrepid team of wannabe Youtubers. For everyone who is about to descend into the depths of the Grand Canyon on an epic, amazing, spine tingling, quest as entertaining as "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and as thought provoking as...I don't know...something really thought provoking. For everyone who ever wanted to find a lost city or uncover a forgotten mystery that was never meant to be solved. For everyone who ever fell in love and then fell out and then fell back in and made a mess of it all over again and only figured it all out when it was too damn late. For every fan of the lovable rogue who likes to think he's a cynical old bastard but is secretly a hero to everyone around him.
For all of those millions of people who are about to fall in love with you.
Just see if Colin Farrell is interested! He'd be great! Or Gary Oldman! He's soooo hot right now and I know he's older but c'mon he'd be perfect! I would seriously even take Cumberbatch even though he's so overexposed at this point and I'm sure he's busy with all that Dr. Strange stuff. Or Sean Bean! He'd be terrific!
But for the sake of us all.
Say no to Nicholas Cage.
April 5, 2019
I don't normally read a lot of horror stories, but gee I'm glad I read this one. We follow a team of documentary makers, their show "The Anomaly Files" is a bit of a hit on YouTube, even though they don't usually find anything. The episode they are about to film takes place in a cave hidden in the Grand Canyon, but nobody is really sure where. This time the team actually gets lucky and finds the cave, but when they start to explore it they become trapped, and then the nightmare unleashes...
I found The Anomaly to be a spellbinding thriller, I wasn't really sure what I was in for, yet found I couldn't put it down. Yes, the premise is unbelievable, but so what, I was entertained. I recommend this book to all lovers of horror fiction, or even those, like myself, that just like to dabble in it every now and then.
I found The Anomaly to be a spellbinding thriller, I wasn't really sure what I was in for, yet found I couldn't put it down. Yes, the premise is unbelievable, but so what, I was entertained. I recommend this book to all lovers of horror fiction, or even those, like myself, that just like to dabble in it every now and then.
March 1, 2019
A non-stop thrill ride that reminded me of one of my all-time favorites, The Ruins.
I was hesitant to start The Anomaly, since some reviews indicated it began strong and went downhill fast. I did not have that experience. In my opinion it starts strong and gets better and better and better. The premise is actually somewhat original, the twists are numerous, and the scares are a'plenty. Not a single dull moment. Can't wait for the movie and to read the next book in the series!
I was hesitant to start The Anomaly, since some reviews indicated it began strong and went downhill fast. I did not have that experience. In my opinion it starts strong and gets better and better and better. The premise is actually somewhat original, the twists are numerous, and the scares are a'plenty. Not a single dull moment. Can't wait for the movie and to read the next book in the series!
May 29, 2025
The Anomaly is claustrophobic and horrifying.
I was so excited when read the synopsis. With comparisons to The X-Files and Indiana Jones, how could you not be?
This story follows rogue archaeologist, Nolan Moore, whose main profession is hosting an obscure web docuseries called, The Anomaly Files.
Mostly watched by conspiracy theorists, Nolan holds fast to his belief that the truth is out there.
When we meet Nolan and his rag-tag crew, they are following in the steps of an intrepid explorer, who in 1909, discovered a cave deep in the heart of the Grand Canyon.
The descriptions he left lead Nolan to believe that the cave holds great mysteries and he is dying to get to the bottom of them.
Before too long, Nolan and his crew find what they seek and that is when the real fun begins.
Due to super unfortunate, Indiana Jones-esque circumstances, the crew find themselves trapped. The cave seems to come to life around them and become a character in its own right.
Is it out to get them?
I'll tell you, I had a hell of a good time finding out.
This book is quietly creepy in the best way, playing on inherent fears such as claustrophobia and nyctophobia. It certainly got under my skin.
The second half gets deeper into some interesting sci-fi elements that were fairly well done. The pace did really speed up towards the end as well and I was satisfied with the ending.
I would definitely read more from this author. There are a lot of creative ideas woven throughout this story and I enjoyed the characters quite a bit, even the unsavory ones.
I would recommend this to people who like a mix of Scifi Horror, as well as to anyone who is into archaeology and unexplained history.
The fact that this involved a crew for a web show was also unique and pretty fun. Well done!
I was so excited when read the synopsis. With comparisons to The X-Files and Indiana Jones, how could you not be?
This story follows rogue archaeologist, Nolan Moore, whose main profession is hosting an obscure web docuseries called, The Anomaly Files.
Mostly watched by conspiracy theorists, Nolan holds fast to his belief that the truth is out there.
When we meet Nolan and his rag-tag crew, they are following in the steps of an intrepid explorer, who in 1909, discovered a cave deep in the heart of the Grand Canyon.
The descriptions he left lead Nolan to believe that the cave holds great mysteries and he is dying to get to the bottom of them.
Before too long, Nolan and his crew find what they seek and that is when the real fun begins.
Due to super unfortunate, Indiana Jones-esque circumstances, the crew find themselves trapped. The cave seems to come to life around them and become a character in its own right.
Is it out to get them?
I'll tell you, I had a hell of a good time finding out.
This book is quietly creepy in the best way, playing on inherent fears such as claustrophobia and nyctophobia. It certainly got under my skin.
The second half gets deeper into some interesting sci-fi elements that were fairly well done. The pace did really speed up towards the end as well and I was satisfied with the ending.
I would definitely read more from this author. There are a lot of creative ideas woven throughout this story and I enjoyed the characters quite a bit, even the unsavory ones.
I would recommend this to people who like a mix of Scifi Horror, as well as to anyone who is into archaeology and unexplained history.
The fact that this involved a crew for a web show was also unique and pretty fun. Well done!
January 15, 2018
Good Lord this was brilliant. Creepy as all heck, a brilliant main protagonist, a hugely engaging wider cast and a horrifically addictive plot. I finished it late last night, bleary eyed, hugely satisfied with the entire read including the heart stopping finale. Also loved that the explanation made a fantastic kind of sense and wasn't pulled out of the ass end of nowhere in an attempt to be clever as so often happens with this type of adventure book.
Indiana Jones on acid with added HORROR. Also quietly terrifying.
Full review will surely follow.
Indiana Jones on acid with added HORROR. Also quietly terrifying.
Full review will surely follow.
July 17, 2018
I have to agree that I was completely hooked on the promise of fight and adventure! I still believe that this story could have been delivered so much better, and not just in terms of how it was told, but the story and its details itself. Tell anyone this premise and they'll tell you "this should be a movie, NOW". That's no coincidence – the author happens to be a screenwriter, and I actually wondered if he was before I read the acknowledgements, where it's confirmed that he was. Unfortunately for
The Anomaly,
the fact that the author is a screenwriter didn't make the book more cinematic – it somehow made it miss certain very integral parts of story telling on paper. I can't point out exactly what it was – but I know that
certain things would have worked perfectly on screen, but didn't work so well on the page. I still maintain that the idea for the story is amazing. I just wish it was delivered better.
Continuing this theme, I must admit that the themes were great. Ancient civilizations, stone computers, mysterious creatures, crafted from relevant elements. Big organizations, trying to achieve dubious goals. And even your typical urban fantasy male lead who is struggling with a broken marriage and a cracked image of self, when he really isn't that bad. All these things were great. And this is exactly why I think The Anomaly will still appeal to most occasional readers – which is actually something I'm already seeing, judging by all those great reviews on Goodreads. If you're less picky, if you don't read a lot, if you prefer movies to books – chances are you will find this very engaging, although maybe a little slow to develop.
So What Disappointed Me So Much?
Well, first of all, there was promise of fright. There are several blurbs for this book, and all of them talk about 'a nightmare', 'a scare', and the reviews rave on about how people were afraid to turn of the lights. Me while reading this book?
I truly and honestly did not get WHAT the promised scary part was. There was NOTHING scary about this book, legitimately. There was arguably only one scene that had the potential of being scary, but honestly – we've seen it all (we've seen it in 1980...) That's not what scary is. Sure, they were trapped in a mysterious cave with dangerous artifacts and no way out, but... that's just sad, that's not scary. There was no dark presence. There was nothing evil at work. I have read kids books that are scarier than The Anomaly.
Continuing this theme, I must admit that the themes were great. Ancient civilizations, stone computers, mysterious creatures, crafted from relevant elements. Big organizations, trying to achieve dubious goals. And even your typical urban fantasy male lead who is struggling with a broken marriage and a cracked image of self, when he really isn't that bad. All these things were great. And this is exactly why I think The Anomaly will still appeal to most occasional readers – which is actually something I'm already seeing, judging by all those great reviews on Goodreads. If you're less picky, if you don't read a lot, if you prefer movies to books – chances are you will find this very engaging, although maybe a little slow to develop.
So What Disappointed Me So Much?
Well, first of all, there was promise of fright. There are several blurbs for this book, and all of them talk about 'a nightmare', 'a scare', and the reviews rave on about how people were afraid to turn of the lights. Me while reading this book?
I truly and honestly did not get WHAT the promised scary part was. There was NOTHING scary about this book, legitimately. There was arguably only one scene that had the potential of being scary, but honestly – we've seen it all (we've seen it in 1980...) That's not what scary is. Sure, they were trapped in a mysterious cave with dangerous artifacts and no way out, but... that's just sad, that's not scary. There was no dark presence. There was nothing evil at work. I have read kids books that are scarier than The Anomaly.
Another thing was the pace. Like I mentioned before, three quarters of the book in, and still nothing much was moving! I can see a lot of less patient readers just dropping it altogether. When things happened, they stopped happening several pages after they started, and never picked up. The book is largerly about people wandering dark cave corridors. And that's it.
That would also be okay if there was a big secret and mythologies involved. But there barely is. Another thing that upset me about the story was the lack of smart, viable explanation. Things just happen and are a little too easy to explain, and very conveniently. Explanations are simplified: "for some reason it's doing that." At first an inexplicable catastrophe starts, and then it reverses itself just as inexplicably. I am gullible, but not this much. I understand that the characters don't know squat about what's going on, but please, have you watched Stargate or Doctor Who, or even the said Indiana Jones? For people to buy sciencey or magical mumbo jumbo, you need a lot of detail, and if the characters don't know anything about it – they must at least try guessing and surmising. There have to be clues found. They can't just go "well this happened. For some reason." That does not make a compelling story. The Anomaly fell very short in this regard, as there were barely any explanations or theories on the whole 'big thing' that is happening.
And yet, despite all these shortcomings, the book was interesting to read and I didn't want to drop it. That's why I'm giving it three stars. It's an interesting evening read, as long as you're not looking for it to be 'gripping and terrifying', despite it claiming to be so.
I thank Bonnier Zaffre for giving me a free copy of the book in exchange to my honest opinion. Receiving the book for free does not affect my opinion.
More reviews like this and a longer version of this review can be found on the blog.
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June 5, 2019
Book Reviewed by Steve on www.whisperingstories.com
The Anomaly tells the story of a television crew’s adventure into the Grand Canyon, on a quest to find ancient treasures hidden in a cave, whose existence dates back to articles written over a hundred years ago about explorer G E Kincaid. Nolan Moore is the leader of the expedition. He is a wannabe television/movie star, previously presenting online content about conspiracy theories, archaeology, mysteries etc; think low-budget X-Files and you won’t be far off. The team is made up of a reasonable cast alongside Nolan: the producer, assistant, camera man, financier representative and a journalist.
The journey begins with the group setting off to the Grand Canyon, climbing down one of its paths into a restricted part area of the canyon, and travelling along the river. Having failed to find the entrance to “Kincaid’s Cave”, just as they are about to call time for the day, luck would have it that they catch glimpse of the entrance.
When exploring the caves, a trap-trigger is set off, resulting in most of the team being trapped inside. That is when their troubles begin, as not only was the cave entrance sealed off, but an amazing sequence of events was triggered, leaving the team trying desperately to find an escape, before it is too late.
It is suggested that this book would be a good match for fans of Dan Brown, which is what drew me to the title. The similarities are there to see. Rutger’s writing style is much like that of Dan Brown. The subject matter, being one of ancient mysteries offers a connection too. This book also contains decent, well-thought out subplots and twists, so I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
I did feel at times that the story was a little too sci-fi at times, but I can’t say that this detracted much in my enjoyment of the book. I did find that after saying to myself, “just one more chapter”, I was still reading half a dozen chapters later!
The book is an easy and enjoyable read, even if the end felt rushed a little, or perhaps things fell into place just a little too conveniently, but having said that, I enjoyed this book and can easily see Nolan Moore returning for another adventure.
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The Anomaly tells the story of a television crew’s adventure into the Grand Canyon, on a quest to find ancient treasures hidden in a cave, whose existence dates back to articles written over a hundred years ago about explorer G E Kincaid. Nolan Moore is the leader of the expedition. He is a wannabe television/movie star, previously presenting online content about conspiracy theories, archaeology, mysteries etc; think low-budget X-Files and you won’t be far off. The team is made up of a reasonable cast alongside Nolan: the producer, assistant, camera man, financier representative and a journalist.
The journey begins with the group setting off to the Grand Canyon, climbing down one of its paths into a restricted part area of the canyon, and travelling along the river. Having failed to find the entrance to “Kincaid’s Cave”, just as they are about to call time for the day, luck would have it that they catch glimpse of the entrance.
When exploring the caves, a trap-trigger is set off, resulting in most of the team being trapped inside. That is when their troubles begin, as not only was the cave entrance sealed off, but an amazing sequence of events was triggered, leaving the team trying desperately to find an escape, before it is too late.
It is suggested that this book would be a good match for fans of Dan Brown, which is what drew me to the title. The similarities are there to see. Rutger’s writing style is much like that of Dan Brown. The subject matter, being one of ancient mysteries offers a connection too. This book also contains decent, well-thought out subplots and twists, so I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
I did feel at times that the story was a little too sci-fi at times, but I can’t say that this detracted much in my enjoyment of the book. I did find that after saying to myself, “just one more chapter”, I was still reading half a dozen chapters later!
The book is an easy and enjoyable read, even if the end felt rushed a little, or perhaps things fell into place just a little too conveniently, but having said that, I enjoyed this book and can easily see Nolan Moore returning for another adventure.
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did-not-finish
November 7, 2018DNF @ 20% because the main character was insufferably pretentious. BLEH.
December 11, 2020
The online and vaguely successful archaeological docuseries, The Anomaly Files, has been given its chance at network fame. Face of the operation, Nolan Moore, is thrilled at the potential career reboot this could entail. Director, Ken, is only concerned at how long the earnings from the show will keep him in chilled vodka. Manager Mom, Molly, is the individual who keeps this disparate group running in a smooth and timely manner. And cameraman, Pierre, is just along for the journey.
Their latest expedition will lead them to the heart of the grand canyon and this quartet will grow by three members as they venture there. Feather is the free-loving individual sent from the charity funding the project, Gemma is the journalist blogger to pen her insights online, and Dylan is the individual who will get them all there, hopefully incident free.
What they each hope to find there pales in comparison with what they actually do, leading the exploration into nightmare-territory, along shadowed passageways and into secret historical recesses. Will they all make it out alive? And, if so, will they ever free themselves from the haunted occurrences that dogged their footsteps there?
I never go into a book with the intention of actively disliking it, but neither did I go into this one believing I would find a fully immersive, unputdownable five-star read! Think of the movies Indiana Jones meets As Above, So Below in literary format and you've got the general vibe of this read down.
I adored the early scenes that summoned the tentative joy at the onset of adventure and the hopeful, rose-tinted filter added to all proceedings. The glory of the grand canyon setting was also painted in evocative and transportive prose. I soon wishes this wasn't the case, as the setting switched to the canyon's interior and I felt my surroundings become as airless and confined as it did for those ensconced there. Every ounce of the adrenaline coursing through the characters transferred itself to me, whilst I sat snugly at home reading with a puppy curled up at my feet.
Without ever actually becoming a truly horrifying read, all half-realised unstructured shapes, all half-glimpsed at images from the corner of the eye, and all feather-light touches in the darkness actually ensured this remained an eerie and sinister one, throughout. The tension was unparalleled and the escalation of events ensured it was only ever built upon. Panic and fear too grew in equal measure and Rutger proved himself, at every stage, adept at painting these emotions in both an empathetic and provoking light.
The conclusion to this strange and unsettling story proved just as, well, strange and unsettling. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way though, and the half-formed closure ensured one eager reader already clutching book two and ready to dive straight into it!
Their latest expedition will lead them to the heart of the grand canyon and this quartet will grow by three members as they venture there. Feather is the free-loving individual sent from the charity funding the project, Gemma is the journalist blogger to pen her insights online, and Dylan is the individual who will get them all there, hopefully incident free.
What they each hope to find there pales in comparison with what they actually do, leading the exploration into nightmare-territory, along shadowed passageways and into secret historical recesses. Will they all make it out alive? And, if so, will they ever free themselves from the haunted occurrences that dogged their footsteps there?
I never go into a book with the intention of actively disliking it, but neither did I go into this one believing I would find a fully immersive, unputdownable five-star read! Think of the movies Indiana Jones meets As Above, So Below in literary format and you've got the general vibe of this read down.
I adored the early scenes that summoned the tentative joy at the onset of adventure and the hopeful, rose-tinted filter added to all proceedings. The glory of the grand canyon setting was also painted in evocative and transportive prose. I soon wishes this wasn't the case, as the setting switched to the canyon's interior and I felt my surroundings become as airless and confined as it did for those ensconced there. Every ounce of the adrenaline coursing through the characters transferred itself to me, whilst I sat snugly at home reading with a puppy curled up at my feet.
Without ever actually becoming a truly horrifying read, all half-realised unstructured shapes, all half-glimpsed at images from the corner of the eye, and all feather-light touches in the darkness actually ensured this remained an eerie and sinister one, throughout. The tension was unparalleled and the escalation of events ensured it was only ever built upon. Panic and fear too grew in equal measure and Rutger proved himself, at every stage, adept at painting these emotions in both an empathetic and provoking light.
The conclusion to this strange and unsettling story proved just as, well, strange and unsettling. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way though, and the half-formed closure ensured one eager reader already clutching book two and ready to dive straight into it!
October 25, 2018
Things that certainly go bump in the night......
Michael Rutger begins this wired one in an unknown cave in the Grand Canyon in 1909. Sam and George have come upon something unearthly in this dark inner sanctum. Something that seems to be following them as they scramble toward the light. But peace and safety will never reside within these two men ever again.
Time switches on rapid spin to the present day and we meet Nolan Moore. Nolan is an archaeologist composite of Indiana Jones and the X-Files all rolled up and served with a side order of Stephen King......shaken, not stirred. He's the darling of YouTube videos and the host of documentaries seen on late night cable. But Nolan is seeking a new challenge to add to his repertoire. And the 1909 excursion is tossed his way.
Nolan puts together quite the team, small but efficient. We'll meet Molly, Feather, Pierre, Ken, and Dylan. Camera angles shoot Nolan in pensive modes and climbing up rocky slopes all for effect. But no one's really sure where the entrance to the mysterious cavern actually lies. A treacherous trip down the Colorado River with Feather falling overboard brings the crew up short. This is certainly no vay-cay.
By sheer luck Nolan and Molly have wandered from the group and have come upon an area high above the cavern with quite an irregular slab of rock. The others follow along. Have mercy! This is the yawning mouth of the cave. Yep! I yelled for them not to go in. But no entry, no documentary, no electrically charged storyline. As for myself, I sat by the cave's entrance refusing to go in until my curiosity got the best of me. Boogey Man or not......I was inside with all of them.
Michael Rutger has a way with setting up a story. He keeps it lively with snarky dialogue and humor mixed in with the great unknown. He weaves Native American folklore and culture with modern tech and human emotions. There's plenty of the creep element to cause you to peek out the window to assure yourself of the sunny day. (Perhaps best not read at night.....)
And the best way to see who makes it out of the cave (besides me) is to pick this one up. Booga! Booga!
Michael Rutger begins this wired one in an unknown cave in the Grand Canyon in 1909. Sam and George have come upon something unearthly in this dark inner sanctum. Something that seems to be following them as they scramble toward the light. But peace and safety will never reside within these two men ever again.
Time switches on rapid spin to the present day and we meet Nolan Moore. Nolan is an archaeologist composite of Indiana Jones and the X-Files all rolled up and served with a side order of Stephen King......shaken, not stirred. He's the darling of YouTube videos and the host of documentaries seen on late night cable. But Nolan is seeking a new challenge to add to his repertoire. And the 1909 excursion is tossed his way.
Nolan puts together quite the team, small but efficient. We'll meet Molly, Feather, Pierre, Ken, and Dylan. Camera angles shoot Nolan in pensive modes and climbing up rocky slopes all for effect. But no one's really sure where the entrance to the mysterious cavern actually lies. A treacherous trip down the Colorado River with Feather falling overboard brings the crew up short. This is certainly no vay-cay.
By sheer luck Nolan and Molly have wandered from the group and have come upon an area high above the cavern with quite an irregular slab of rock. The others follow along. Have mercy! This is the yawning mouth of the cave. Yep! I yelled for them not to go in. But no entry, no documentary, no electrically charged storyline. As for myself, I sat by the cave's entrance refusing to go in until my curiosity got the best of me. Boogey Man or not......I was inside with all of them.
Michael Rutger has a way with setting up a story. He keeps it lively with snarky dialogue and humor mixed in with the great unknown. He weaves Native American folklore and culture with modern tech and human emotions. There's plenty of the creep element to cause you to peek out the window to assure yourself of the sunny day. (Perhaps best not read at night.....)
And the best way to see who makes it out of the cave (besides me) is to pick this one up. Booga! Booga!
August 17, 2019
I reviewed this book, and its successor, The Possession, together on instagram. My thoughts: I found each book creepy, gripping, fast-paced, a touch campy, and completely original. There’s adventure and tons of interest. Nolan Moore, one of the main characters, is an archaeologist with a docuseries, which always fascinates me. There’s tons of atmosphere, and overall, both books are compelling and so vividly real I thought it all was truly happening all around me. Reading these two books was an experience!
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
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June 1, 2018Why I Love It
by Siobhan Jones
One reason I love thrillers is because the diversity of the genre continuously delights me. You’ve got your British domestic suspense à la The Child, your blue-collar detective novels like Two Girls Down, psychological mindwreckery like Behind Her Eyes … I could go on and on. Is it a stretch to posit that if you grouped and mapped thrillers as Darwin once mapped earth’s species on a “tree of life,” you’d find an array of fiction as copious as the animal kingdom itself? I think not :)
This month, BOTM is proud to feature a book unlike anything we’ve ever offered: a paranormal thriller that takes place in the pitch-black depths of the Grand Canyon. When a ragtag group of YouTube-famous archaeologists goes searching for a hidden cavern they assume is mere myth, they don’t expect to stumble upon the greatest revelation to ever surface about mankind. But not all of the team is working together to connect an eon’s worth of biological dots. Truths emerge, fingers are pointed, and ancient secrets are discovered … secrets, it seems, that not everyone wants found out.
In my humble opinion, we’ve offered a few good thrillers this year, but this one—which is rich in both evolutionary freakiness and eerie conspiracy theories—takes the cake. If you’re looking for smoking guns, a handful of F-bombs, and Jurassic Park-esque chase scenes, look no further than this fast-paced adventure with serious Lara Croft vibes.
Read more at: https://www.bookofthemonth.com/the-an...
by Siobhan Jones
One reason I love thrillers is because the diversity of the genre continuously delights me. You’ve got your British domestic suspense à la The Child, your blue-collar detective novels like Two Girls Down, psychological mindwreckery like Behind Her Eyes … I could go on and on. Is it a stretch to posit that if you grouped and mapped thrillers as Darwin once mapped earth’s species on a “tree of life,” you’d find an array of fiction as copious as the animal kingdom itself? I think not :)
This month, BOTM is proud to feature a book unlike anything we’ve ever offered: a paranormal thriller that takes place in the pitch-black depths of the Grand Canyon. When a ragtag group of YouTube-famous archaeologists goes searching for a hidden cavern they assume is mere myth, they don’t expect to stumble upon the greatest revelation to ever surface about mankind. But not all of the team is working together to connect an eon’s worth of biological dots. Truths emerge, fingers are pointed, and ancient secrets are discovered … secrets, it seems, that not everyone wants found out.
In my humble opinion, we’ve offered a few good thrillers this year, but this one—which is rich in both evolutionary freakiness and eerie conspiracy theories—takes the cake. If you’re looking for smoking guns, a handful of F-bombs, and Jurassic Park-esque chase scenes, look no further than this fast-paced adventure with serious Lara Croft vibes.
Read more at: https://www.bookofthemonth.com/the-an...
January 11, 2019
Think Indiana Jones meets Da Vinci Code meets Hunger Games...then be prepared to freak out! Highly recommend not reading this one before bed.
The Anomaly by screenwriter Michael Rutger (pseudonym) is unique, fast-paced, thought-provoking with a brilliant plot, and unbelievable location descriptions.
Characters- can absolutely see this as a movie and all I could picture was Hugh Jackman as Nolan (would be interesting to hear what others think). The Anomaly team is quirky, endearing, authentic and the strangest bunch of cobbled together characters making YouTube docos but they work brilliantly. Can’t wait to read book #2.
The Anomaly by screenwriter Michael Rutger (pseudonym) is unique, fast-paced, thought-provoking with a brilliant plot, and unbelievable location descriptions.
Characters- can absolutely see this as a movie and all I could picture was Hugh Jackman as Nolan (would be interesting to hear what others think). The Anomaly team is quirky, endearing, authentic and the strangest bunch of cobbled together characters making YouTube docos but they work brilliantly. Can’t wait to read book #2.
June 5, 2018
This is one of the best science fiction thrillers i’ve read in AGES. If you like Mathew Reilly or James Rollins, this is very much for you.
Opening with a horror movie/Indiana Jones moment that sets the scene with terrifying screams in the dark, it then switches to a more chatty, diary style narrative related directly to the reader by amateur archaeologist, Nolan Moore. He walks the fine line of being both cocky and amusing, managing to be genuinely appealing by acknowledging his foibles and worldweary attitude with the kind of humour that makes you lough out loud. He starts as a bit of a cliche, just how you’d imagine his character to be if it adhered to every stereotypical book/film/tv version that came before, but early glimpses of something more genuine stops you from writing him off completely. He’s far from perfect, but he’s relatable, understandable, and most of all, funny. In fact, the whole group has the kind of arseholey camaraderie that feels entirely familiar. The draw is immediate- this could actually be you and your mates on an adventure. Who would think twice about exploring the Grand Canyon? Looking in that cave? Filming it for internet likes? It’s blindingly plausible. The fact that these people are running a blog to investigate conspiracies/myths just makes it all the more authentic.
Rutger gets the tone exactly right. And I mean, exactly. From the character dialogue to their changing emotions as shit starts to get difficult, it feels right. And because it feels right, it feels real. That’s important because the readers know something the characters don’t… there’s something relentlessly savage in that cave. It means there’s a delicious clash between the tension we get as readers and their growing uncertainty. Rutger doesn’t rush to this point, there’s a gradual, balanced build up of tension as they work their way towards the successful discovery of the cave and then as they examine it. And all the time, they act like normal people. There’s no gung-ho bullshit, no ignoring of the obvious dangers. They reference the films we’ve all seen, the monsters in the dark, they joke about horrible outcomes. They do what we all would to laugh it off, there’s caution and reluctance, they fear the dark. As things go wrong, they increasingly sense a wrongness beyond the normal bad luck of an expedition gone bad, but unlike us, right up to the last minute, they don’t KNOW. We’re just gleefully waiting for it to happen. At the same time, the veracity of the character action and conversation means readers too have that slight hesitation, that nervousness, because we know that what they’re doing is just what we’d be doing too…and we remember that we don’t know exactly what’s coming for us, I mean, them….
Like so many offerings in this genre, the reveal dulled the shine somewhat. It felt a bit rushed in parts, especially because I was hoping for more death. Those that occurred were suitably horrifying, being bloodily detailed and stomach-clenchingly violent, but all the drama was over all too soon, and didn’t quite match the promise of the slow build. The sci fi parts were a little crazy, but perhaps left some freedom for future exploration in more books? Until the end, conversations about ancient communities, artefacts, and archaeology had the ring of truth because so much was based on genuine historical reasoning. Rutger clearly did his research and much of the information is based on extant historical evidence, with a few conspiracy theories thrown in for added thrills. This provided a solid foundation and worked well to give Nolan authenticity, but wasn’t quite enough to justify the underlying supernatural ‘science’ of the finale. It might seem strange thing to say in this kind of novel, but the manufactured bits needed to be a bit more substantial. Despite the few flaws, it’s still the kind of book that makes you want to check the dark corners of your house. I hope it’s the start of a series, I could read a boat load more of these.
ARC via Netgalley
Opening with a horror movie/Indiana Jones moment that sets the scene with terrifying screams in the dark, it then switches to a more chatty, diary style narrative related directly to the reader by amateur archaeologist, Nolan Moore. He walks the fine line of being both cocky and amusing, managing to be genuinely appealing by acknowledging his foibles and worldweary attitude with the kind of humour that makes you lough out loud. He starts as a bit of a cliche, just how you’d imagine his character to be if it adhered to every stereotypical book/film/tv version that came before, but early glimpses of something more genuine stops you from writing him off completely. He’s far from perfect, but he’s relatable, understandable, and most of all, funny. In fact, the whole group has the kind of arseholey camaraderie that feels entirely familiar. The draw is immediate- this could actually be you and your mates on an adventure. Who would think twice about exploring the Grand Canyon? Looking in that cave? Filming it for internet likes? It’s blindingly plausible. The fact that these people are running a blog to investigate conspiracies/myths just makes it all the more authentic.
Rutger gets the tone exactly right. And I mean, exactly. From the character dialogue to their changing emotions as shit starts to get difficult, it feels right. And because it feels right, it feels real. That’s important because the readers know something the characters don’t… there’s something relentlessly savage in that cave. It means there’s a delicious clash between the tension we get as readers and their growing uncertainty. Rutger doesn’t rush to this point, there’s a gradual, balanced build up of tension as they work their way towards the successful discovery of the cave and then as they examine it. And all the time, they act like normal people. There’s no gung-ho bullshit, no ignoring of the obvious dangers. They reference the films we’ve all seen, the monsters in the dark, they joke about horrible outcomes. They do what we all would to laugh it off, there’s caution and reluctance, they fear the dark. As things go wrong, they increasingly sense a wrongness beyond the normal bad luck of an expedition gone bad, but unlike us, right up to the last minute, they don’t KNOW. We’re just gleefully waiting for it to happen. At the same time, the veracity of the character action and conversation means readers too have that slight hesitation, that nervousness, because we know that what they’re doing is just what we’d be doing too…and we remember that we don’t know exactly what’s coming for us, I mean, them….
Like so many offerings in this genre, the reveal dulled the shine somewhat. It felt a bit rushed in parts, especially because I was hoping for more death. Those that occurred were suitably horrifying, being bloodily detailed and stomach-clenchingly violent, but all the drama was over all too soon, and didn’t quite match the promise of the slow build. The sci fi parts were a little crazy, but perhaps left some freedom for future exploration in more books? Until the end, conversations about ancient communities, artefacts, and archaeology had the ring of truth because so much was based on genuine historical reasoning. Rutger clearly did his research and much of the information is based on extant historical evidence, with a few conspiracy theories thrown in for added thrills. This provided a solid foundation and worked well to give Nolan authenticity, but wasn’t quite enough to justify the underlying supernatural ‘science’ of the finale. It might seem strange thing to say in this kind of novel, but the manufactured bits needed to be a bit more substantial. Despite the few flaws, it’s still the kind of book that makes you want to check the dark corners of your house. I hope it’s the start of a series, I could read a boat load more of these.
ARC via Netgalley
June 2, 2020
5 stars
CAVES. A close-knit group of people. A documentary in progress. Supernatural spooks. Lots of humor, laughs, and horror. I loved this so much.
Concept: ★★★
Cave factor: ★★★★★
Pacing: ★★★★
Overall enjoyment: ★★★★★
Don't let the meh reviews fool you. If you're a fan of caves, you'll love this. If you're a fan of documentary-based horror films, you'll love this. If you're a fan of closed-in groups of people experiencing some tough stuff, yeah you'll love this too.
The Anomaly follows a down-on-their-luck YouTube web series about a middle-aged man named Nolan Moore who explores the conspiracy theories and weird places of the world. For YouTube fans who understand the Buzzfeed Unsolved reference, this part of the story feels a lot like what would happen if that show got weirder, older, and less entertaining. The documentary group is scraping by, waiting for their one big break. And then, they find it.
Hidden within the Grand Canyon lies a cave. An explorer named Kincaid found it during his initial surveys of America's West, and he said amazing archaeological treasures existed inside. But then he never told people where to find it, and the cave disappeared over time.
Nolan is interested in finding the cave, but like all of his other documentaries, he's not really expecting to find it.
The group enters the Grand Canyon and—to everyone's surprise— they find the cave. That's the easy part.
Unbeknownst to them, the cave has some secrets to share. There was a reason Kincaid never wanted people to find this cave. And Nolan's crew is about to find out why.
Ahhhhhhhh. This was so fun to read, folks. First off, I'm highly biased as I love any and all horror stories involving caves. I'm a huge fan of the movie The Descent, featuring caves and spooky things, and one of my favorite reads of last year was The Luminous Dead, again about caves and spooky things. So it's with no surprise that I offer this up to fellow cave fans as another entry into that sub-genre of thriller/horror.
Another selling point for this book was the surprising amount of humor - like actual, laughing out loud in the room humor. Ken, the series' producer, is my favorite character because of that.
Without getting into spoilers, I do agree with some of the reviewers who didn't enjoy the ending. I did enjoy it, but that's because I don't need thrillers to be grounded in reality—especially when they're explicitly clear that they have spooky elements. So I guess, a word of caution to those who do care about that kind of thing. If you're entering this spooky, horror-movie vibe book and expecting a logical boogieman, maybe this one isn't for you.
Blog | Instagram
CAVES. A close-knit group of people. A documentary in progress. Supernatural spooks. Lots of humor, laughs, and horror. I loved this so much.
Concept: ★★★
Cave factor: ★★★★★
Pacing: ★★★★
Overall enjoyment: ★★★★★
Don't let the meh reviews fool you. If you're a fan of caves, you'll love this. If you're a fan of documentary-based horror films, you'll love this. If you're a fan of closed-in groups of people experiencing some tough stuff, yeah you'll love this too.
The Anomaly follows a down-on-their-luck YouTube web series about a middle-aged man named Nolan Moore who explores the conspiracy theories and weird places of the world. For YouTube fans who understand the Buzzfeed Unsolved reference, this part of the story feels a lot like what would happen if that show got weirder, older, and less entertaining. The documentary group is scraping by, waiting for their one big break. And then, they find it.
Hidden within the Grand Canyon lies a cave. An explorer named Kincaid found it during his initial surveys of America's West, and he said amazing archaeological treasures existed inside. But then he never told people where to find it, and the cave disappeared over time.
Nolan is interested in finding the cave, but like all of his other documentaries, he's not really expecting to find it.
The group enters the Grand Canyon and—to everyone's surprise— they find the cave. That's the easy part.
Unbeknownst to them, the cave has some secrets to share. There was a reason Kincaid never wanted people to find this cave. And Nolan's crew is about to find out why.
Ahhhhhhhh. This was so fun to read, folks. First off, I'm highly biased as I love any and all horror stories involving caves. I'm a huge fan of the movie The Descent, featuring caves and spooky things, and one of my favorite reads of last year was The Luminous Dead, again about caves and spooky things. So it's with no surprise that I offer this up to fellow cave fans as another entry into that sub-genre of thriller/horror.
Another selling point for this book was the surprising amount of humor - like actual, laughing out loud in the room humor. Ken, the series' producer, is my favorite character because of that.
Without getting into spoilers, I do agree with some of the reviewers who didn't enjoy the ending. I did enjoy it, but that's because I don't need thrillers to be grounded in reality—especially when they're explicitly clear that they have spooky elements. So I guess, a word of caution to those who do care about that kind of thing. If you're entering this spooky, horror-movie vibe book and expecting a logical boogieman, maybe this one isn't for you.
Blog | Instagram
April 7, 2020
Y’all hear that? That’s the sound of this book slapping.
April 23, 2021
After reading the reviews and finding this book compared to The Ruins and Indiana Jones, I thought, "Well crap, why has this book been sitting untouched in my Audible library for over a year?" I promptly moved it to the top of the list, and am so glad I did, because it gave me all the action, adventure, horror and comic relief I was craving, with tasty tidbits of science thrown in for dessert.
The Anomaly reads more like a movie script than a novel, and in this case that's not a bad thing. Sure, most of the "insight" from the characters is pithy rather than life altering, but it makes for fast-paced banter and (I can't think of a better way to describe this) a clean read. Not "clean" like a cozy mystery, free of cursing and gore; rather "clean" meaning concise, no nonsense and focused. The story never loses its momentum, and the ancient evil horror is delivered expertly.
There's a circuitous route to finding the "real" Michael Rutger in Goodreads, but it appears the actual author has written quite a few books under a few different pseudonyms. I might not be able to find everything written by (actual author) Michael Marshall Smith, but I do believe it's worth a little investigating to see what other gems are hidden under his various names. I didn't realize this one would be so interesting, so chances are more good reads await!
The Anomaly reads more like a movie script than a novel, and in this case that's not a bad thing. Sure, most of the "insight" from the characters is pithy rather than life altering, but it makes for fast-paced banter and (I can't think of a better way to describe this) a clean read. Not "clean" like a cozy mystery, free of cursing and gore; rather "clean" meaning concise, no nonsense and focused. The story never loses its momentum, and the ancient evil horror is delivered expertly.
There's a circuitous route to finding the "real" Michael Rutger in Goodreads, but it appears the actual author has written quite a few books under a few different pseudonyms. I might not be able to find everything written by (actual author) Michael Marshall Smith, but I do believe it's worth a little investigating to see what other gems are hidden under his various names. I didn't realize this one would be so interesting, so chances are more good reads await!
June 10, 2018
Oh. Dear. Lord. I could NOT wait for this one to end. Many, many, many times I thought about calling it quits but I read so many reviews saying how “horrifying” and “scary” it was so I kept pushing through waiting...hoping for something scary—even remotely good to happen. It wasn’t until after page 200 that it got somewhat (and I use the term lightly) interesting. But I can assure you, at that point I went from pure boredom to “what the hell is this?!” SPOILER- unicorns, giant beasts with horns, pterodactyls...really?! Definitely wasn’t for me.
Read
August 31, 2018No Rating. DNF. Will not be included in my 2018 reading challenge.
Spelunking? Lost in a cave system? Hidden dangers lurking? Sign me up! Caves terrify me, I'm claustrophobic, so the very idea of spelunking is enough to set me on edge.
BUT.....
At 10% in and I can already tell that, sadly, this isn't a book for me. I decided to read a "spoiler" review and I'm thankful that I did because if I continued to read only to find "this" out I would of wanted all of my time back. Better for me to just move on to the next in Mt. TBR!
I hope others enjoy this though! :)
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Spelunking? Lost in a cave system? Hidden dangers lurking? Sign me up! Caves terrify me, I'm claustrophobic, so the very idea of spelunking is enough to set me on edge.
BUT.....
At 10% in and I can already tell that, sadly, this isn't a book for me. I decided to read a "spoiler" review and I'm thankful that I did because if I continued to read only to find "this" out I would of wanted all of my time back. Better for me to just move on to the next in Mt. TBR!
I hope others enjoy this though! :)
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 11, 2018
4.5 stars, but rounded up to 5.
To begin with, the title is so good. It's intriguing, and it makes sense after you finish the novel. I love it when the title of a book creeps into the dialogue or inner monologue.
The book is written in first-person, from the point of view of Nolan. Nolan is a "rogue archaeologist" who explores myths and history that most people dismiss as nonsense. He's moving on up from a web series creator to a potential television TV series, and him and his small crew go check out an alleged cavern in the Grand Canyon, which only a few other people have ever claimed to find. I gotta be honest, I didn't really like Nolan at first. I actually didn't really like most of the characters at first, but by the end, I cared about them. I have a little bit of work experience in the television industry, but on the post-production side, and I think the author captured the spirit and camaraderie that comes with working tightly alongside a crew.
I'm actually quite impressed by The Anomaly. The fun thing about reading this one is that I thought I would be able to predict what was going on, and when I thought I had something figured out, I didn't. Well, there was one thing I had predicted correctly, but I won't say what it was, and that was about it. As a horror novel, with a good bit of science-fiction blended in, it succeeds. I felt fear for the characters and what might happen to them. There were many scenes that were anxiety-inducing to me, but also which made me want to turn the page. Just reading about the characters having to squeeze through fissures in the rocks, for example, freaked me the heck out. Also, the author has a real knack for ending chapters at a OMG moment!
I really don't want to give away what parts of the book were my favorite, because for one thing it would spoil the fun for you, and for another, explaining it out of context would just sound nuts. Some real bonkers stuff happens in this book!
I'm giving this 4.5 because overall I found it to be a unique, creepy plot. I wasn't totally sold on the conclusion but again, don't want to spoil anything. Definitely check this one out if you've a horror fan who likes things like Fortean Times, offbeat news, Ancient Aliens, conspiracies - that sort of thing. I think this is just what you're looking for!
To begin with, the title is so good. It's intriguing, and it makes sense after you finish the novel. I love it when the title of a book creeps into the dialogue or inner monologue.
The book is written in first-person, from the point of view of Nolan. Nolan is a "rogue archaeologist" who explores myths and history that most people dismiss as nonsense. He's moving on up from a web series creator to a potential television TV series, and him and his small crew go check out an alleged cavern in the Grand Canyon, which only a few other people have ever claimed to find. I gotta be honest, I didn't really like Nolan at first. I actually didn't really like most of the characters at first, but by the end, I cared about them. I have a little bit of work experience in the television industry, but on the post-production side, and I think the author captured the spirit and camaraderie that comes with working tightly alongside a crew.
I'm actually quite impressed by The Anomaly. The fun thing about reading this one is that I thought I would be able to predict what was going on, and when I thought I had something figured out, I didn't. Well, there was one thing I had predicted correctly, but I won't say what it was, and that was about it. As a horror novel, with a good bit of science-fiction blended in, it succeeds. I felt fear for the characters and what might happen to them. There were many scenes that were anxiety-inducing to me, but also which made me want to turn the page. Just reading about the characters having to squeeze through fissures in the rocks, for example, freaked me the heck out. Also, the author has a real knack for ending chapters at a OMG moment!
I really don't want to give away what parts of the book were my favorite, because for one thing it would spoil the fun for you, and for another, explaining it out of context would just sound nuts. Some real bonkers stuff happens in this book!
I'm giving this 4.5 because overall I found it to be a unique, creepy plot. I wasn't totally sold on the conclusion but again, don't want to spoil anything. Definitely check this one out if you've a horror fan who likes things like Fortean Times, offbeat news, Ancient Aliens, conspiracies - that sort of thing. I think this is just what you're looking for!
September 23, 2019
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/09/22/...
Finding that I needed a change of pace after reading a string of heavier sci-fi and fantasy books, I decided to check out The Anomaly Files by Michael Rutger, the pen name of screenwriter and suspense/horror/sci-fi novelist Michael Marshall. The second volume The Possession recently came out this summer which was what originally drew me to the series, but of course, being a stickler for reading in order, I wanted to start with The Anomaly.
The story begins with an introduction to protagonist Nolan Moore, an amateur archaeologist and the host of an esoteric documentary web series about the strange, the paranormal, and the odd. If it’s something that can’t be explained or sounds like it could be a good basis for a conspiracy theory, you can bet The Anomaly Files will be there on the ground covering it. And thus explains how Nolan and his crew find themselves at the Grand Canyon, hoping to retrace the steps of a turn-of-the-century explorer who claims to have discovered the mouth of a deep cavern system hidden in the side of the rocky walls. Thanks to a generous donation by a mysterious foundation, for once the team is actually well-funded and equipped to go searching for this fabled cavern rumored to contain all sorts of ancient rock paintings and artifacts which would dramatically alter our understanding of human history. And now, Nolan hopes to make a name for himself by finding it and documenting its all on his show.
Also along for this ride are Ken, Nolan’s good friend and producer; Molly, who manages the team’s operations and generally solves problems and makes things happen; Pierre, their inexperienced but capable cameraman; Feather, the show’s flighty and the gung-ho assistant; Dylan, the transport and logistics guy; and finally, the skeptical and no-nonsense Gemma, an outside reporter smelling a good interest story in Nolan’s expedition. While no one really wanted to acknowledge it, they all knew from the get-go that the project was a long shot, and yet against all odds, the team finds what looks to be a cave opening high up in the canyon rocks, right in the area it’s supposed to be. Ecstatic, our characters waste no time in exploring their incredible discovery, but as they say, be careful what you wish for. Nolan ends up finding the prehistoric treasures and paintings he came to seek, but also a whole lot more. Soon, trapped in the labyrinthine caverns with a threat older than time, and horrors they can never hope to comprehend, the crew find themselves in a desperate fight for survival.
While not perfect, there’s still no denying it: The Anomaly was exactly what I’d hoped for—a bone-chilling suspense/thriller with an archeological bent to get my blood pumping. It’s what I had wanted out of Christopher Golden’s Ben Walker series but did not get—a story with an intriguing mystery at its center that also reads like an adventure with plenty of paranormal elements and even a strong dose of body horror mixed in. That the author is also a screenwriter is all too evident in the novel’s structure, which unfolds like a movie, i.e. our cast of characters head off into an unknowingly terrifying situation, whereupon they are picked off one by one and the audience gets to guess who will come out alive and who will not. It’s not the most original, but it sure is effective.
I would also avoid this book if you’re claustrophobic. One of the things I loved most about it was the oppressive atmosphere and the sense it gave of the inescapable blackness closing in all around me. And then there’s what the characters experience in all that darkness. A rank smell coming from one of the rooms of the cavern. Mysterious lights and objects in underground pools that are crystal clear one moment and then slimy with algal gunk the next. The hair-raising feeling of being watched by alien eyes, of being hunted by a stronger and much faster predator. Fleeting glimpses of movement in the shadows and slithery light brushes against your skin. All this is guaranteed to send shivers up your spine.
To be honest, I’m not looking to be too picky here, since I came to this novel in search of pure escapism and fun, which was delivered to me in spades. But if I had to level a few criticisms at it, I felt the intro’s pacing could have afforded to lose some of the setup in order to bring us faster into the meat of the plot, and the ending could have also used a little tweaking to give the action of the climax more impact and not have it feel so drawn out. I wasn’t too sold on how neatly everything wrapped up either, but then I suppose we needed a have a clean slate from which to launch the sequel—which I most certainly will be reading.
All told, what you see is what you’ll get when it comes to The Anomaly, and I mean that as the highest compliment. After having been disappointed time and again by misplaced expectations and deceptive book descriptions, it’s was refreshing and satisfying to find a novel so well-written, intensely atmospheric, and just plain horrific, gruesome and fun.
Finding that I needed a change of pace after reading a string of heavier sci-fi and fantasy books, I decided to check out The Anomaly Files by Michael Rutger, the pen name of screenwriter and suspense/horror/sci-fi novelist Michael Marshall. The second volume The Possession recently came out this summer which was what originally drew me to the series, but of course, being a stickler for reading in order, I wanted to start with The Anomaly.
The story begins with an introduction to protagonist Nolan Moore, an amateur archaeologist and the host of an esoteric documentary web series about the strange, the paranormal, and the odd. If it’s something that can’t be explained or sounds like it could be a good basis for a conspiracy theory, you can bet The Anomaly Files will be there on the ground covering it. And thus explains how Nolan and his crew find themselves at the Grand Canyon, hoping to retrace the steps of a turn-of-the-century explorer who claims to have discovered the mouth of a deep cavern system hidden in the side of the rocky walls. Thanks to a generous donation by a mysterious foundation, for once the team is actually well-funded and equipped to go searching for this fabled cavern rumored to contain all sorts of ancient rock paintings and artifacts which would dramatically alter our understanding of human history. And now, Nolan hopes to make a name for himself by finding it and documenting its all on his show.
Also along for this ride are Ken, Nolan’s good friend and producer; Molly, who manages the team’s operations and generally solves problems and makes things happen; Pierre, their inexperienced but capable cameraman; Feather, the show’s flighty and the gung-ho assistant; Dylan, the transport and logistics guy; and finally, the skeptical and no-nonsense Gemma, an outside reporter smelling a good interest story in Nolan’s expedition. While no one really wanted to acknowledge it, they all knew from the get-go that the project was a long shot, and yet against all odds, the team finds what looks to be a cave opening high up in the canyon rocks, right in the area it’s supposed to be. Ecstatic, our characters waste no time in exploring their incredible discovery, but as they say, be careful what you wish for. Nolan ends up finding the prehistoric treasures and paintings he came to seek, but also a whole lot more. Soon, trapped in the labyrinthine caverns with a threat older than time, and horrors they can never hope to comprehend, the crew find themselves in a desperate fight for survival.
While not perfect, there’s still no denying it: The Anomaly was exactly what I’d hoped for—a bone-chilling suspense/thriller with an archeological bent to get my blood pumping. It’s what I had wanted out of Christopher Golden’s Ben Walker series but did not get—a story with an intriguing mystery at its center that also reads like an adventure with plenty of paranormal elements and even a strong dose of body horror mixed in. That the author is also a screenwriter is all too evident in the novel’s structure, which unfolds like a movie, i.e. our cast of characters head off into an unknowingly terrifying situation, whereupon they are picked off one by one and the audience gets to guess who will come out alive and who will not. It’s not the most original, but it sure is effective.
I would also avoid this book if you’re claustrophobic. One of the things I loved most about it was the oppressive atmosphere and the sense it gave of the inescapable blackness closing in all around me. And then there’s what the characters experience in all that darkness. A rank smell coming from one of the rooms of the cavern. Mysterious lights and objects in underground pools that are crystal clear one moment and then slimy with algal gunk the next. The hair-raising feeling of being watched by alien eyes, of being hunted by a stronger and much faster predator. Fleeting glimpses of movement in the shadows and slithery light brushes against your skin. All this is guaranteed to send shivers up your spine.
To be honest, I’m not looking to be too picky here, since I came to this novel in search of pure escapism and fun, which was delivered to me in spades. But if I had to level a few criticisms at it, I felt the intro’s pacing could have afforded to lose some of the setup in order to bring us faster into the meat of the plot, and the ending could have also used a little tweaking to give the action of the climax more impact and not have it feel so drawn out. I wasn’t too sold on how neatly everything wrapped up either, but then I suppose we needed a have a clean slate from which to launch the sequel—which I most certainly will be reading.
All told, what you see is what you’ll get when it comes to The Anomaly, and I mean that as the highest compliment. After having been disappointed time and again by misplaced expectations and deceptive book descriptions, it’s was refreshing and satisfying to find a novel so well-written, intensely atmospheric, and just plain horrific, gruesome and fun.
May 31, 2018
Sometimes my son watches a TV programme where a group of, very strange, men, wander the backwoods of America looking for, and yet, never finding, strange creatures. This novel is cleverly based around a similar show – The Anomaly Files – a low budget, online show, with a similar theme of exploring conspiracy theories and, false history stories. The narrator of this novel, Nolan Moore, is the presenter, and he and the producer/director, Ken, have a new sponsor and the chance of a jump to cable TV. As such, it is essential that they make their new episode a success and take their one shot at cable and away from webcasts.
The story that this episode is planned around, focuses on the story of an 1909 expedition, prospecting for minerals in the Grand Canyon. What did the hunter and explorer, G.E. Kincaid find in a cave, which was said to house great wonders, but also something very dangerous? Hopi legends suggest the cave was home to Maasaw, the ‘keeper of death,’ and Nolan, Ken, and the crew, plan to film a show about their attempts to locate the cavern. Actually, though, they never really anticipate that they will find anything, which makes it even more unbelievable, when it appears that they might actually have discovered more than they bargained for…
What made this book work for me was the characters. I loved the way that Nolan, recently separated and a little vulnerable, is always on the defensive about his job, but clearly has a real interest in the show he is making. The other characters help flesh out the plot and there are a good number of interesting female, and male, characters. Where the novel falls apart a little for me was near the end, as the plot is a little bizarre, to say the least. However, great fun and very well written. I would certainly read more by this author, who is very talented, and this certainly has a fabulous first half, even if it didn’t quite live up to its promise.
The story that this episode is planned around, focuses on the story of an 1909 expedition, prospecting for minerals in the Grand Canyon. What did the hunter and explorer, G.E. Kincaid find in a cave, which was said to house great wonders, but also something very dangerous? Hopi legends suggest the cave was home to Maasaw, the ‘keeper of death,’ and Nolan, Ken, and the crew, plan to film a show about their attempts to locate the cavern. Actually, though, they never really anticipate that they will find anything, which makes it even more unbelievable, when it appears that they might actually have discovered more than they bargained for…
What made this book work for me was the characters. I loved the way that Nolan, recently separated and a little vulnerable, is always on the defensive about his job, but clearly has a real interest in the show he is making. The other characters help flesh out the plot and there are a good number of interesting female, and male, characters. Where the novel falls apart a little for me was near the end, as the plot is a little bizarre, to say the least. However, great fun and very well written. I would certainly read more by this author, who is very talented, and this certainly has a fabulous first half, even if it didn’t quite live up to its promise.
December 30, 2018
nolan Moore and his team are YouTube sensations with dreams of becoming mainstream television hosts of their show the anomaly files. nolan believes a cavern in the Grand Canyon is the key to that.
everything goes to shit...
I loved the first person narration as the reader got to know nolan and his team. although the 1st person spoiled fact there was 99% chance nolan at least came out of this adventure alive that was balanced by Michael creating tension and suspense through other means, and he made the secondary characters likable enough (mostly)that I cared about their fates.
everything goes to shit...
I loved the first person narration as the reader got to know nolan and his team. although the 1st person spoiled fact there was 99% chance nolan at least came out of this adventure alive that was balanced by Michael creating tension and suspense through other means, and he made the secondary characters likable enough (mostly)that I cared about their fates.
March 16, 2018
Nolan Moore leads a team of four TV web series production crew members in an effort to retrace the path of an explorer from 1909 who made an important but mysterious discovery of a cave high up in the rock strata of the Grand Canyon. Nolan’s crew hopes to ramp up their reputation of chasing after strange conspiracy theory anomalies and turn this potential find into ratings gold and hopefully an actual TV network program. Thus, they allow a journalist and a rep for their corporate sponsor along for the journey making for a complete party of six.
When, against all odds, they actually find the rumored cave and manage to climb to its entrance (filming their documentary along the way) it remains only to discover what, exactly, lies deep within. Could there be ancient bones from human tribes that heretofore were not known to exist in North America? Could there be some sort of long lost knowledge or treasure? Could there even be evidence of alien technology? Rumors have run the gamut for years, but this production crew was about to find out…and capture it on film.
I won’t spoil anything but most of this thriller novel is devoted to what they find and how they deal with it. In essence it becomes a story of survival. The author, Michael Rutger is actually the pen name for Michael Marshall Smith (Michael Marshall), novelist, short story writer and screen writer. I didn’t know this while reading the book but about half way through I remember thinking that reading this book was like watching an action-packed blockbuster movie. He certainly subscribes to the ol’ author’s tactic of putting their characters in jeopardy time and again, and just when they’ve had all they can take…make things really go bad.
It was awesome!
Now, I’ve read a few thousand books before this one, and many in this sort of genre, and so I feel like I’ve been through just about everything conceivable as far as what could possibly be waiting for this group of characters in that damn cave. But this was unique. And that was just one of several twists and surprises that awaited me. The whole plot is very well thought out and the writing is superb. Since the story is told via Nolan’s first person POV, it all unfolds on a deeply personal level. Above all, I thought the pacing was spot on. For a novel like this, pacing is crucial. That’s not something that is easily done, and even veteran authors sometimes fumble in this regard. There is a lot of humor throughout the book as characters interact with one another, much of it as a way to deal with what transpires. There are also some really scary scenes and one in particular that will be nesting in the back of my mind for many days to come.
Even though this novel won't be published until June 2018, rumor has it that a major production company has already preemptively acquired the film rights, with at least one major director potentially attached. That happens sometimes and often nothing comes of it. But this one seems to me like the real deal. Of course, they haven't asked my opinion yet.
This novel really surprised me and I’m very glad I took a chance on it. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Goodreads and to the publisher for letting me have a chance to read and review the book through the Goodreads Giveaway program.
When, against all odds, they actually find the rumored cave and manage to climb to its entrance (filming their documentary along the way) it remains only to discover what, exactly, lies deep within. Could there be ancient bones from human tribes that heretofore were not known to exist in North America? Could there be some sort of long lost knowledge or treasure? Could there even be evidence of alien technology? Rumors have run the gamut for years, but this production crew was about to find out…and capture it on film.
I won’t spoil anything but most of this thriller novel is devoted to what they find and how they deal with it. In essence it becomes a story of survival. The author, Michael Rutger is actually the pen name for Michael Marshall Smith (Michael Marshall), novelist, short story writer and screen writer. I didn’t know this while reading the book but about half way through I remember thinking that reading this book was like watching an action-packed blockbuster movie. He certainly subscribes to the ol’ author’s tactic of putting their characters in jeopardy time and again, and just when they’ve had all they can take…make things really go bad.
It was awesome!
Now, I’ve read a few thousand books before this one, and many in this sort of genre, and so I feel like I’ve been through just about everything conceivable as far as what could possibly be waiting for this group of characters in that damn cave. But this was unique. And that was just one of several twists and surprises that awaited me. The whole plot is very well thought out and the writing is superb. Since the story is told via Nolan’s first person POV, it all unfolds on a deeply personal level. Above all, I thought the pacing was spot on. For a novel like this, pacing is crucial. That’s not something that is easily done, and even veteran authors sometimes fumble in this regard. There is a lot of humor throughout the book as characters interact with one another, much of it as a way to deal with what transpires. There are also some really scary scenes and one in particular that will be nesting in the back of my mind for many days to come.
Even though this novel won't be published until June 2018, rumor has it that a major production company has already preemptively acquired the film rights, with at least one major director potentially attached. That happens sometimes and often nothing comes of it. But this one seems to me like the real deal. Of course, they haven't asked my opinion yet.
This novel really surprised me and I’m very glad I took a chance on it. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Goodreads and to the publisher for letting me have a chance to read and review the book through the Goodreads Giveaway program.
June 13, 2018
"...And step one of that is getting out of this crevice. Because it sucks in here. This is the place and point and time from which the rest of our lives start. There is a path from here. And so we need to move along it. We have to go on, and keep going. Okay?"
"Okay," she said, very quietly. Then, a little more strongly, "Okay. Sorry."
"Don't be sorry.....I'm not enjoying this process either, and that's because it's shit. So let's go."
I started to shuffle forward. After a moment, I felt her follow, still holding on to my shirt.
We kept moving. Slow yard after slow yard.
And then somebody screamed.
What if Indiana Jones was our 21st century contemporary instead of the scourge of Nazi antiquity thieves. And he had a YouTube show. And he didn't actually have an archaeology degree. Or a whip. And he had a wooden leg.
Ok, I'm just shitting you on that last part. You'd more or less have Nolan Moore, the lovable underachiever protagonist of this summer thrill ride. Nolan is a divorced failed screenwriter in LA who has fallen into hosting a popular YouTube show that investigates archaeological mysteries with a mix of genuine history and conspiracy theory malarkey. It's a living. But he and his crew (British producer Ken, cameraman Pierre--who is not French, which annoys Nolan to no end--and associate producer and sound tech Molly) are maybe poised to make the jump to TV, where a modest fortune awaits. Along with a journalist from a Buzzfeed-type website and an observer from a mysterious foundation who want to fund Nolan's work, they set out to look into the legend of a mysterious cave in the Grand Canyon.
None of them were expecting to actually find it.
What follows is adventure! Horror! Mystery! But it's more fun if you don't know any of the details, so
I think writers of good yarns aren't always given enough credit. It takes talent to write something that is funny without being cringy, with characters you care about that can be sketched and set into motion with quick efficiency, to keep the story humming, and to wrap things up in a way that is satisfying and makes sense. I was convinced about halfway through that the team's various odd discoveries were never going to gel and I was going to be annoyed when everything was explained. I was wrong.
On the negative side, the story took too long to really get going, particularly when Nolan and company first get into the cave and spend too much time exploring the rooms, which ALL LOOK THE SAME. My first "Ohhhhh shitttttt!" moment didn't come until exactly page 198. That's more than halfway in.
None of which is to say this book isn't worth reading. It's fun. It's thoughtful for a roller coaster style thriller. It's got a bit of Crichton DNA, although with more humor than that guy ever had. The new-to-me author is Michael Rutger--which is a pen name for Michael Marshall Smith, whom I've also never heard of--who has written a few books and stories that have been adapted. There's a strong possibility that this will end up becoming a movie or, ideally, a TV series. I hope it does.
"Okay," she said, very quietly. Then, a little more strongly, "Okay. Sorry."
"Don't be sorry.....I'm not enjoying this process either, and that's because it's shit. So let's go."
I started to shuffle forward. After a moment, I felt her follow, still holding on to my shirt.
We kept moving. Slow yard after slow yard.
And then somebody screamed.
What if Indiana Jones was our 21st century contemporary instead of the scourge of Nazi antiquity thieves. And he had a YouTube show. And he didn't actually have an archaeology degree. Or a whip. And he had a wooden leg.
Ok, I'm just shitting you on that last part. You'd more or less have Nolan Moore, the lovable underachiever protagonist of this summer thrill ride. Nolan is a divorced failed screenwriter in LA who has fallen into hosting a popular YouTube show that investigates archaeological mysteries with a mix of genuine history and conspiracy theory malarkey. It's a living. But he and his crew (British producer Ken, cameraman Pierre--who is not French, which annoys Nolan to no end--and associate producer and sound tech Molly) are maybe poised to make the jump to TV, where a modest fortune awaits. Along with a journalist from a Buzzfeed-type website and an observer from a mysterious foundation who want to fund Nolan's work, they set out to look into the legend of a mysterious cave in the Grand Canyon.
None of them were expecting to actually find it.
What follows is adventure! Horror! Mystery! But it's more fun if you don't know any of the details, so
I think writers of good yarns aren't always given enough credit. It takes talent to write something that is funny without being cringy, with characters you care about that can be sketched and set into motion with quick efficiency, to keep the story humming, and to wrap things up in a way that is satisfying and makes sense. I was convinced about halfway through that the team's various odd discoveries were never going to gel and I was going to be annoyed when everything was explained. I was wrong.
On the negative side, the story took too long to really get going, particularly when Nolan and company first get into the cave and spend too much time exploring the rooms, which ALL LOOK THE SAME. My first "Ohhhhh shitttttt!" moment didn't come until exactly page 198. That's more than halfway in.
None of which is to say this book isn't worth reading. It's fun. It's thoughtful for a roller coaster style thriller. It's got a bit of Crichton DNA, although with more humor than that guy ever had. The new-to-me author is Michael Rutger--which is a pen name for Michael Marshall Smith, whom I've also never heard of--who has written a few books and stories that have been adapted. There's a strong possibility that this will end up becoming a movie or, ideally, a TV series. I hope it does.
August 6, 2018
I knew I needed to read this book when the blurb stated that the main characters would be like a modern version of Indiana Jones in an X-Files era. I LOVE Indiana Jones!
Nolan Moore is a YoutTube celebrity, hosting his own web show where he's trying to find if the truth is out there ... Nolan loves mysteries, although he's not a true archaeologist. He used to be in the movies, well he was a screenwriter. But, he's very passionate when it comes to his show.
This time he's retracing the step of an explorer from 1909 who claimed that he had found a mysterious cave in the Grand Canyon. It would be marvelous if Nolan and his team found the cave ... or would it? It turns out this little expedition may be more dangerous than Nolan had anticipated...
One thing I really loved about THE ANOMALY was how it took a long time for the true horror to happen. You just know it would, and you sit there turning page after page waiting for the BAM moment. And, when it happened, WOW! This is definitely a book for thriller/sci-fi fans. A group of people put together, getting more and more paranoid, or do they have a reason to fear the unknown? Also, I had no idea what would happen. Everything was just as mysterious as for the characters in the book. Fabulous book, recommend it warmly!
I want to thank Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
Nolan Moore is a YoutTube celebrity, hosting his own web show where he's trying to find if the truth is out there ... Nolan loves mysteries, although he's not a true archaeologist. He used to be in the movies, well he was a screenwriter. But, he's very passionate when it comes to his show.
This time he's retracing the step of an explorer from 1909 who claimed that he had found a mysterious cave in the Grand Canyon. It would be marvelous if Nolan and his team found the cave ... or would it? It turns out this little expedition may be more dangerous than Nolan had anticipated...
One thing I really loved about THE ANOMALY was how it took a long time for the true horror to happen. You just know it would, and you sit there turning page after page waiting for the BAM moment. And, when it happened, WOW! This is definitely a book for thriller/sci-fi fans. A group of people put together, getting more and more paranoid, or do they have a reason to fear the unknown? Also, I had no idea what would happen. Everything was just as mysterious as for the characters in the book. Fabulous book, recommend it warmly!
I want to thank Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
October 13, 2024
3.5 Stars
This is an enjoyable horror adventure story in the vein of Indiana Jones. I enjoyed the possibility of the conspiracies and alternative theories even though I completely related to the skeptic.
It was a fun read but ultimately very predictable and tropey. It's a good read for a slump mood.
This is an enjoyable horror adventure story in the vein of Indiana Jones. I enjoyed the possibility of the conspiracies and alternative theories even though I completely related to the skeptic.
It was a fun read but ultimately very predictable and tropey. It's a good read for a slump mood.
September 4, 2018
T/W- Death, Swearing, Violence
Readers, this is honestly a thriller novel that you need to add to your TBR lists, like right this second. I don't think I've ever felt so spooked about an adventurous thriller in all of my life! I would highly recommend The Anomaly to fans of Indiana Jones, Dan Brown's novels and even Stephen King's novels. A creepy read that will stick with me for a very long time!
The main character Nolan is a host on a famous conspiracy theory show and one theory about a cave has remained for a century. According to written legends, there is famous treasure lurking behind its walls but those who seek for it, end up meeting a deadly end. Nolan and a team of friends decide to travel out and solve this mystery. Only for their experience to get creepy from the get-go. The book did start off very slowly until Nolan arrived at the cave. This moment was when the action really picked up for me. My heart was racing, edge of your seat feeling wondering what would be waiting for them. Don't read this book at bedtime! There was a great mix of history, mystery, paranormal and a bunch of other twists that combined into a novel that blew my mind. Be aware, there is a lot of swearing from the team which at times, I found to be quite distracting. Something I would read at Halloween!
Readers, this is honestly a thriller novel that you need to add to your TBR lists, like right this second. I don't think I've ever felt so spooked about an adventurous thriller in all of my life! I would highly recommend The Anomaly to fans of Indiana Jones, Dan Brown's novels and even Stephen King's novels. A creepy read that will stick with me for a very long time!
The main character Nolan is a host on a famous conspiracy theory show and one theory about a cave has remained for a century. According to written legends, there is famous treasure lurking behind its walls but those who seek for it, end up meeting a deadly end. Nolan and a team of friends decide to travel out and solve this mystery. Only for their experience to get creepy from the get-go. The book did start off very slowly until Nolan arrived at the cave. This moment was when the action really picked up for me. My heart was racing, edge of your seat feeling wondering what would be waiting for them. Don't read this book at bedtime! There was a great mix of history, mystery, paranormal and a bunch of other twists that combined into a novel that blew my mind. Be aware, there is a lot of swearing from the team which at times, I found to be quite distracting. Something I would read at Halloween!
May 1, 2019
4/5 stars
Horror-thrillers are usually something a little out of my comfort zone, but if you’re going to pitch a book as “Indiana Jones meets the X-files” you can bet your bottoms I’m going to be all over that! Sprinkle in a dash of Buzzfeed Unsolved (a personal guilty pleasure of mine) and the result, indeed, is about as close as you can get to The Anomaly.
We follow a filmcrew of 7 on their journey to find a long hidden cave that is rumored to exist in the Grand Canyon for their web-show “The Anomaly Files”. Crew leader and webhost Nolan hopes that finding proof of its existence will be the breakthrough the show needs to help elevate it out of the realm of fringe conspiracy, into real television. The crew gets more than they bargained for when they not only find the cave, but become trapped in its integrate network of tunnels and chambers, with possibly more than just the darkness to fear…
I was honestly worried that we were going to go into campfire-story territory of “supernatural (preferably smiling) monster in cave hunts people and nothing gets explained”, and I’m happy to say that that was not what happened. The Anomaly was far more developed than that.
This is the type of thriller in the vein of Blake Crouch, that will have you burning midnight oil in order to finish it, because you just can’t wait to find out what happens on the next page. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and genuinely rooted for and cared for the characters to survive. I was on the train reading it, and actually considered just getting off on a later stop, so I could finish my chapter, which for me, is the sure fire sign of a good thriller.
Michael Rutger (pseudonym for Michael Marshall) is originally a screenwriter, and it shows, as the book plays out like a movie in your head whilst reading. It’s fast paced, and every scene matters to the story. Not to mention that if this ever gets made into a movie, I’ll be first in line at the cinema.
My only point of critique would be the ending. Getting your characters into too deep of trouble risks you having to scramble for a rushed solution, and unfortunately, that happened a little here. It wasn’t bothersome enough to affect my enjoyment of the rest of the book, but a bit of a thorn in the paw of an otherwise lion of a book.
What more can I say…? Fast-paced story, snarky characters, plottwists and suspense: great thriller! If you are a fan of Blake Crouch, this is for you. Also, if “Indiana Jones meets X-files” doesn’t sell you, I honestly don’t know what will…
Horror-thrillers are usually something a little out of my comfort zone, but if you’re going to pitch a book as “Indiana Jones meets the X-files” you can bet your bottoms I’m going to be all over that! Sprinkle in a dash of Buzzfeed Unsolved (a personal guilty pleasure of mine) and the result, indeed, is about as close as you can get to The Anomaly.
We follow a filmcrew of 7 on their journey to find a long hidden cave that is rumored to exist in the Grand Canyon for their web-show “The Anomaly Files”. Crew leader and webhost Nolan hopes that finding proof of its existence will be the breakthrough the show needs to help elevate it out of the realm of fringe conspiracy, into real television. The crew gets more than they bargained for when they not only find the cave, but become trapped in its integrate network of tunnels and chambers, with possibly more than just the darkness to fear…
I was honestly worried that we were going to go into campfire-story territory of “supernatural (preferably smiling) monster in cave hunts people and nothing gets explained”, and I’m happy to say that that was not what happened. The Anomaly was far more developed than that.
This is the type of thriller in the vein of Blake Crouch, that will have you burning midnight oil in order to finish it, because you just can’t wait to find out what happens on the next page. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and genuinely rooted for and cared for the characters to survive. I was on the train reading it, and actually considered just getting off on a later stop, so I could finish my chapter, which for me, is the sure fire sign of a good thriller.
Michael Rutger (pseudonym for Michael Marshall) is originally a screenwriter, and it shows, as the book plays out like a movie in your head whilst reading. It’s fast paced, and every scene matters to the story. Not to mention that if this ever gets made into a movie, I’ll be first in line at the cinema.
My only point of critique would be the ending. Getting your characters into too deep of trouble risks you having to scramble for a rushed solution, and unfortunately, that happened a little here. It wasn’t bothersome enough to affect my enjoyment of the rest of the book, but a bit of a thorn in the paw of an otherwise lion of a book.
What more can I say…? Fast-paced story, snarky characters, plottwists and suspense: great thriller! If you are a fan of Blake Crouch, this is for you. Also, if “Indiana Jones meets X-files” doesn’t sell you, I honestly don’t know what will…
September 26, 2018
This has to be one of my favourite reads of the year... It hooked me in right from the start and did not let go until the end...
I loved the MC and his journey as a character.. My favourite interactions were between him (Nolan) and another character Ken... Just two very likable characters..
The Anomaly would not of been something I would normally pick up, but I am so happy I took a chance on this.. Was a brilliant adventure story, a great light read for me between harder hitting plot lines I've read of recent times..
Highly recommend to anyone who loves a good adventure story, after a light read between the hard stuff, a story where you don't have to over think it much but rather just enjoy the story as it comes, give this one a crack...
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for my free uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review..
I loved the MC and his journey as a character.. My favourite interactions were between him (Nolan) and another character Ken... Just two very likable characters..
The Anomaly would not of been something I would normally pick up, but I am so happy I took a chance on this.. Was a brilliant adventure story, a great light read for me between harder hitting plot lines I've read of recent times..
Highly recommend to anyone who loves a good adventure story, after a light read between the hard stuff, a story where you don't have to over think it much but rather just enjoy the story as it comes, give this one a crack...
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for my free uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review..
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