Review: A fun retelling of a classic
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 20, 2014
I read this book as a lark (it’s a well worn fictionalization) having read the original Arthur Conan Doyle version and seen the 1960 film as a kid.  This attempt is fairly well written (much better than the original in today’s vernacular), the pages flying by with each chapter leaving you wanting to continue reading. The locale this time is the African Congo basin.  I’d be the first to admit there are areas of it unexplored or under explored making this version somewhat possible.  The characters aren’t too deeply developed or evolved and there’s even a Roxton in this one too.  The “Dinos” are species I’ve never before heard about so kudos to the author for this new twist.  For some of the action scenes and the characters' recovery, you really do have to suspend belief.  It's certainly not a "deep" book or one with multiple subplots.  However, when I read a book, my primary goal is to be entertained and this book does do that.  If you’re a fan of the original story by Doyle and various motion picture renderings of that story, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this new retelling too.