The Anomaly by Michael Rutger

The Anomaly Released: Jun 19, 2018
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
FallRisk Rated It:
View Title On: Goodreads
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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?

Nolan Moore, a rogue archeologist, and conspiracy theorist hosts the web series “Then Anomaly Files”. He gets the chance to get the make the discovery of a lifetime when a donor funds his trip to the Grand Canyon to find a rumored cave that no one had set foot in over 100 years. But the tale of discovery turns into one of survival as Nolan’s team has to escape a place of perpetual darkness. Sounds like a plot that was right down my alley.

When I was presented with this book, I was excited. It was touted as an X-Files meets Indiana Jones. Sadly, it was touted as such because the author used those specific references repeatedly. “Okay,” I thought, “I can forgive that so long as it holds up.” And for the first half of the book, it did. The tone was dark and foreboding, and things felt like they were building for some phenomenal action.

Then the letdown.

This book got weird. Really weird. I’m okay with monsters chasing you in the darkness, but there was no rhyme or reason to the creatures that started appearing from some ancient technology that was never really explained. Then there was the secret organization trying to bring about the end of the world.

When the team finally escapes the cave (spoiler alert), it feels like the author just gave up. There was no real resolution to the ancient technology. The secret organization behind it all was never explained. It felt like there could have been a lead-up to a sequel, but I don’t see how. I was left feeling unfulfilled and if there were a sequel, I don’t know that I’d care.

  Michael Rutger

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