The Extinction Trials

By: A.G. Riddle

Narrated by: John Skelley

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

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.

Slow burn. Fizzled out for me

This was available in a plus catalog, so I didn’t. “waste” a credit on it. This just wasn’t for me.

Nothing new

Did not finish. This book was far from Riddle’s usual level of storytelling. Narration was good though.

very interesting

Definitely an unexpected twist at the end. Well written and read, although not A.G. Riddle's best.

Good Listen

Compelling. Easy to listen to and digest. My only complaint is that I wish they did a bit more world building.