Summary: 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 web 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?
An utterly gripping action adventure in the grand tradition of Michael Crichton that will leave you breathless.
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 web 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?
Rutger's first novel follows Nolan Moore, an internet personality and rogue archaeologist who hosts The Anomaly Files, a web series on the paranormal. After receiving funding from a mysterious foundation to take the series to network format, Nolan and his crew, along with a journalist and a representative of the foundation, travel to the Grand Canyon to investigate a mysterious lost cavern supposedly found by G. E. Kincaid around the end of the nineteenth century. As they journey deeper into the cavern and uncover more and more mysterious and bizarre artifacts, Nolan and his team are drawn into a dark and sinister plot that reaches back into the depths of human history and threatens to be the end of not only The Anomaly Files but, possibly, their lives. Mixing a brisk and engaging narrative with strongly developed characters, Rutger deftly depicts the claustrophobic depths explored by the endangered expedition. The Anomaly should appeal to fans of The X-Files or Fringe as well as anyone looking for an enjoyable supernatural tale.--Keep, Alan Copyright 2018 Booklist
Kirkus Book Review
An online reality show goes looking for a long-rumored cave in the Grand Canyon, with horrific consequences.Nolan Moore is the host of a show in which he and his crew investigate phenomena and tall tales respectable archaeologists have long since dismissed. For their latest outing, the group is joined by a flaky representative of the foundation underwriting their work (the character's name is actually Feather) and an investigative journalist determined to expose Nolan as a charlatan. Their source is a newspaper account from more than 100 years ago claiming discovery of a cave high up in the walls of the Grand Canyon containing artifacts that suggest a lost civilization. The team has no trouble finding the caveand anyone who's been to a horror movie in, say, the past 40 years will know that that's only the beginning of their troubles. What follows is a mishmash of Indiana Jones, hoo-hah about the unearthing of long-buried secrets, and the type of horror movies (The Descent and Bone Tomahawk are recent examples) in which a small band of characters are picked off one by one by at-first-unseen adversaries. There are betrayals, feats of sacrificial courage, and survivors who emerge with Secret Knowledge Which Cannot Be Spoken Of. It's mildly engrossing, appropriately icky, very familiar, and wholly ludicrous.Readers will see so much of the action coming that they'll wonder why the characters can't. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.