The Extinction Trials

By: A.G. Riddle

Narrated by: John Skelley

Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

The end…is only the beginning.

After a mysterious global event known only as “The Change”, six strangers wake up in an underground research facility where they learn that they’re part of the Extinction Trials - a scientific experiment to restart the human race.

But the Extinction Trials harbors a very big secret.

And so does the world outside.

From A.G. Riddle, the Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal best-selling author with over four million copies sold worldwide in 20 languages, comes an epic stand-alone adventure with a surprise ending unlike anything you’ve ever heard before.

©2021 A.G. Riddle (P)2021 Recorded Books

Addictive and enthralling

I am always pulled in to books by this author. I absolutely love the way the story is described and detailed. This book, like all the others, is suspenseful and adventurous and has you to wanting more.

good speculative fiction

large sections of the book are fun to read, other parts seem to drag on as if the author was simply trying to fill up space. there are some really fun ideas and plot twists but most of them occur in the first 10% and last 15% of the book. the characters are good but not very deep. the book is kind-hearted and warm which is perhaps its greatest strength.

Fun Summer Apocalyptic Science Fiction

Obviously, with any science fiction story you must be able to suspend disbelief. But this was a fun summer read with lots of twists and turns.

Excellent! (Spoiler free Review)

I will admit that at first I wasn't sure if I was going to like this story. But the as the story went on, it grew on me. What really sealed the deal was the TWIST at the end. Wasn't sure what I was listening to, and thought that I missed something along the way. Turns out it was just a clever piece of writing. 5-5⭐s for me. If you really enjoy other A. G. Riddles stories you will probably like this one too. Good characters, decent plot and with mystery all wrapped in to one excellent tale.

Enjoyed the listen

Story arc was good. I think that there was a lot of information that was not included because of the fact the book was a stand alone novel. If there were another book, perhaps not a trilogy but a sequel that could’ve broken the story into pieces so the author could elaborate more on ideas and the plot it would have made more sense. I found myself having a hard time following a couple times because I felt like I missed something in the story, but I know I hadn’t. Overall it was an interesting story and dynamic, but wish there would have been more elaboration and like I said… maybe two books rather than just one.

He did it again!

A.G. Riddle did it again! The Extension Trials proves Gerry is one of the greatest sci-fi writers of this generation. The book has fantastic characters and a rhythm that will keep you engaged and not wanting to hit the pause button. The narrator was fabulous as well. Well done!

Great Adventure with a cool twist!

I really enjoyed the adventure Riddle took us on. The narrator was perfect! Loved the twist at the end too! Brings a whole new perspective to an age long question!

Average SciFi

Overall not as imaginative as prior works - The Lost Colony series. A bit trite when describing the “treasure hunt” section. Didn’t leave me with a inspiring “message” about human condition.
Finally I’m not clear if interplanetary transport was required for the final destination and why it wasn’t used earlier.

The End of everything

Struggled to find an interest, want my credit back.
Preposterous new world exactly the same

An okay story by a great writer

I fell in love with AG Riddle when I read the Extinction Files (Books 1&2). I found the Long Winter to be a great trilogy as well (though I'll admit a bias for books 1 & 2 there).

I'll echo what a few other reviewers have said: This feels like an earlier work that was published after a successful career. The concept of the story is great. However, the Extinction Trials feels like it could have been the first draft of the Extinction Files. Either that, or that Riddle tried to create a new story based on the Extinction Files template. I loved the way in which Riddle used the theme of memory to such great effect in the Extinction Files. It feels like it was lazily borrowed in this book. I thought the twist at the end of Genome was brilliant. Sadly, it made the ending of the Extinction Trials feel somewhat recycled.

Now don't get me wrong. I still LIKED the book. I just didn't love it the way I've loved Riddle's other stuff. I consider Riddle to be an A level author, and this was more of a B-. Still good, and certainly above average, but not on par with what I've come to expect from him.

As far as the narration went, I think John Skelley did a wonderful job. His performance is reminiscent of Edoardo Ballerini, who I've come to associate with Riddle's books. I appreciate that I didn't need to experience the cognitive dissonance that so often occurs when an author's "normal" narrator isn't reading a book.

Summing up: Good. If you like Riddle's work, its worth a listen. Just don't expect something that feels entirely fresh or new.