This sounded like my dream book but it lacked in the thrills, unfortunately. I would have loved a little bit less repetition and more action.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC. All opinons are my own.

Jurassic Park is popular. The thirst for bringing back extinct dinosaurs and then pitching man against nature seems insatiable. Which in theory is a good thing for The Rewildling as it is, at its heart, a Scottish take on Jurassic Park. Perhaps what it tests is how vital dinosaurs are to the concept, as in The Rewilding it isn't fearsome lizards being kept in a compound in the Highlands, but creatures only a epochal twinkle extinct, cave bears and lions. Much of the rest of the Jurassic formula is here: an emotionless scientist, a man with more money than sense, and our heroine a field biologist thrust into the mess of an experiment gone wrong.

Steph Patel is a biologist turned sensationalist environmental journalist. She will do you a bigfoot article, and she specialises in mysterious animal attacks, which bring her to Scotland where a young runaway has been mauled to death by a creature which should not exist in the Highlands. Quite near a double electric fenced huge estate which is owned by a tech billionaire and Steph soon discovers is part of a radical rewilding project that, for reasons the book can never quite justify, it also involves introducing apex predators who are recently extinct. The book does not soft soap the weirdness of the project or its lack of equilibrium, something Steph is co-opted to study, but then things go wrong with animal attacks, a lack of protocol and rival hunters.

The Rewilding runs the playbook well and is a exciting bit of adventure fiction, but it never adequately explains why any of this is happening beyond the vanity of its billionaire. As we know that is a decent excuse for no end of eccentricity, but here it always hints and something deeper that it never delivers. Come for the Lion attacks, stay for the real monster being man.

The Rewilding by Robert Evans will keep you intrigued to the very end! Written with great care to detail and characterization. Kept me entertained through the whole story. It was so interesting I couldn't put it down. I read the book in one day.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book!
UGH! I kinda heted this book, well more like the main character. She's a field biologiest and she only mention it like 20000 times!! We get it jeesh. She's so main character, and it's insufrable to be honest, also the american based thing got mention way too many times too.
Honestly the book starts very promising with that first chapter, but that's it.
I feel like the stoy was unfocused and dispersed and it made it all just a mess.
The premise is a group of people that are part of an experimental park were the have cloned ancient mammals that just cohabit with humans. Obviously it goes wrong, and so does the book.
There really is no thriller, no suspens or terror whatsoever in the story.

Thanks to Netgallery for this ARC.

This was such a great and at times nerve wracking read, honestly gave massive Jurassic Park vibes with the use of genetic engineering to bring back prehistoric animals, Steph was such a great character her mission initially is to find out what happened to the young boy and write a book then she gets suck into a rich tech bro rewilding efforts but she questions his motivation in using prehistoric animals that would not really fit into the Scottish landscape. The twist about one of the characters I did not expect and honestly this was just so thrilling and scary. This was so excellent.

The Rewilding by Robert Evans is a taut, eco-thriller with teeth—sometimes quite literally. Set in the misty wilds of the Scottish Highlands, this novel is as much a cautionary tale about scientific hubris as it is a propulsive survival story. Blending environmental science, corporate conspiracy, and primal terror, Evans crafts a gripping read that’s equal parts Jurassic Park and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo—but make it feral.

The story kicks off with a mystery: a young boy found dead near a remote rewilding site where cutting-edge geneticists are quietly toying with the boundaries of extinction. The cause? Unknown. The implications? Potentially monstrous. Enter Steph Patel, a sharp, somewhat jaded field biologist with an opportunistic streak and a knack for sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong. Initially lured by the promise of professional acclaim (and a paycheck), Steph finds herself spiraling into a nightmare where the line between predator and prey is anything but theoretical.

Evans writes with urgency and clarity. The pacing is swift but never sloppy, the tension mounting steadily as Steph’s investigation peels back layers of secrecy, greed, and scientific ambition gone rogue. The Scottish setting is not just background—it’s a character in its own right, with its isolated moors, shadowy forests, and eerie silence forming a perfect atmosphere for creeping dread.

One of the novel’s biggest strengths lies in its moral ambiguity. The rewilding project isn’t evil—at least not on paper. Evans raises thought-provoking questions about conservation, progress, and the arrogance of playing god, without resorting to black-and-white villainy. The real monsters, it turns out, might not be the ones born in labs.

Steph herself is a standout protagonist: flawed, determined, and believably out of her depth. She’s not a superhero; she’s a scientist with a backpack, a sharp mind, and just enough cynicism to keep her alive. The supporting characters are solid, if not as deeply fleshed out, and the threats—both human and otherwise—feel terrifyingly plausible.

Minor drawbacks? The plot leans on some familiar thriller beats (sinister corporation, whistleblowers, secret research gone wrong), and those craving more speculative science may wish Evans had gone deeper into the genetic mechanics of the rewilding itself. Still, these are small gripes in a book that largely succeeds at being smart, fast, and deeply unsettling.

Perfect for fans of:
• Eco-thrillers with a scientific edge
• Atmospheric survival stories
• Michael Crichton-style cautionary tales
• Nature red in tooth and claw

Final thoughts:
The Rewilding is a slick, thought-provoking thriller that will make you think twice about conservation projects—and triple-check the woods before you go wandering. Robert Evans has delivered a chilling modern parable about nature’s power, mankind’s overreach, and the terrifying cost of bringing the past back to life.

When curiosity doesn’t kill the cat… the cat might just kill you. In the quiet of the Scottish countryside, a young boy has been killed. Nobody is sure how... or by what. This inexplicable death piques the interest of field biologist Steph Patel who, motivated by the chance of a money maker, pursues the boy’s story. Discovered near the secret location of a rewilding project, where geneticists are working to bring back once extinct predators, the boy’s death is suspicious to say the least. But when Steph probes further, things rapidly go south, and she soon finds herself fighting for her life against enemies far more dangerous than anything resurrected from the past.

What drew me to this book was the plot, everything about it seemed right up my alley. I love a good mix between horror and sci-fi.

Here we have a billionaire with an interest in rewilding and genetics which leads to bringing back prehistoric creatures. Even the non extinct creatures seem to be enhanced causing all sorts of danger.

I really enjoyed the twists and turns through the book but I do wish the climax was a bit more drawn out. I would’ve loved to see the detail that Robert Evan’s put into his descriptions in the beginning of the book, at the end as well.

I’ll be honest, I’m a sucker for Jurassic Park-style stories so I was probably predisposed to like Robert Evans’s The Rewilding. But if there is one thing that all the books and movies have in common it’s that man just never learns that he should not mess with nature. And yet they always do and innocent people always get hurt. The story starts with a young boy out in the woods who is stalked and then suddenly attacked, his body found torn apart. Steph is a field biologist who investigates odd occurrences and writes about them. She decides this mysterious death in Scotland is worth investigating, but little could she have guessed what she would find. The story is fast moving and at times intense and action packed. While not without issues, the ending being one of them, as I mentioned I’m a fan of these kind of stories so I’m more than willing overlook some faults. I viewed this book the same way I view ‘popcorn’ flicks. I don’t think too hard about the logical reality of the story and merely enjoy the ride, which for the most part I did. 3.5 stars. Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and ARC of The Rewilding.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-rewilding-robert-evans/1147461350?ean=9781803782904&bvnotificationId=59a77713-513c-11f0-b074-1255cc2a90df&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/350350392

Good lord! We get it, the main character is a FIELD BIOLOGIST. How many times do I have to read those two words in this story?!

The tale itself is a bit of a Jurassic retelling, in that rich folks and scientists play God and cause chaos within the confines of a fenced piece of land. As expected things get out of hand and our narrator who has only known these people for a few days ends up putting her life on the line countless times.

Really, I didn’t understand a lot of the motivations or characters in this story: the concept of the Rewilding itself with extinct and modern predators. Kelvin’s explanation made no sense (the declining birth rate will bring people back to nature? What??) because why would people choose his land to stay on of all places in the world? The people staying in the cabins- how can they even exist there if Steph can’t even go for a walk on her own. It’s literally senior citizens living amongst wild animals with no basic protection (not even bear spray?!). There’s a lot of other concepts, ideas, events that bothered me, but I won’t get into them.

Honestly, I love a good themed thriller, but this one was hard to get through.

Thank you to the author, Goodreads, and Cranthorpe Millner Publishers for a copy.

Overall, a good concept, mixing the thriller and field biology together. The book is quiet slow till the half of the story or about 30 to 40% of the book is finished. I did likeed the tension and countryside atmosphere, best for setting up such stories.
It was not exactly very brilliant but just fine. Yeah, I would say a sort of unique concept.

This was an interesting concept but definitely a copy of Jurassic Park but cave lions and bears instead of dinosaurs. I didn't find the characters dynamic or engaging but I also felt like they were secondary to the plot. I did enjoy the tension with the lions and I wish we had stayed there rather than introducing complicated layers of human drama later in the book. I'll still order this book for my store but I do feel it would have been better with more finessing.

NetGalley review- 3.5 🌟🌟🌟.💫

I've got mixed feelings about this book. I want to start by saying I have enjoyed reading it. I liked the mystery of what caused the boys death and the team trying to 'fix'
the problems within the rewilding projects.

The beginning started well with it kicking straight off with an animal attack. As the characters were introduced, I found it hard to connect with them and feel like I truly cared about what happened to them. The read was interesting and I was intrigued and curious to find out what was going to happen. The middle for me didn't keep the interest going BUT the last 30 percent did pick up and was more like what I was expecting to read from the way this book is being marketed. I didn't see the twist coming so enjoyed the last part.

The end felt quite abrupt. It just ended on a random sentence for me. You'll understand what I mean if you read it 😅.

Overall I enjoyed the read! The idea was quite good and nothing I'd read before. I think I just wanted some more gore. So if you're looking at this for gore, its not for you but if you want an easy read with some grizzly animal related drama, it's spot on.

This is a fast-paced eco-thriller set in the Scottish wilderness, where a young biologist named Steph Patel investigates a strange death linked to a secretive rewilding project. The idea of bringing back extinct predators is both cool and a bit terrifying, and the story plays with that tension really well.

The atmosphere is great — cold, isolated, and kind of eerie — and Steph is a solid main character: smart, driven, but also in over her head at times. Some of the science stuff gets a bit heavy, and the “bad guys” could’ve been more complex, but overall it’s a fun, thoughtful read.

If you like nature, thrillers, and a bit of science fiction, this one’s worth checking out.

Robert Evans' debut novel, The Rewilding, plunges readers into a tense and intriguing mystery set against the backdrop of the Scottish countryside. This is not just a typical whodunit; it cleverly blends a murder investigation with a thrilling dive into the ethical and potentially terrifying implications of genetic engineering and rewilding gone awry.

The story kicks off with a chilling discovery: a young boy found dead in the quiet Scottish wilderness, with no clear explanation for his demise. This inexplicable death piques the interest of Steph Patel, a field biologist motivated by the potential for a lucrative opportunity. However, her investigation quickly leads her to a clandestine rewilding project, a secret facility where geneticists are reportedly working to resurrect extinct predators. The suspicion is immediate: could this ambitious, scientific endeavor be linked to the boy's death?

As Steph delves deeper, the lines between scientific ambition and dangerous consequences blur. She soon finds herself embroiled in a fight for survival, facing threats far more dangerous than any creature brought back from the past. The novel seems to draw parallels to the classic "Jurassic Park" trope, exploring what happens when humanity's desire to control nature, especially through genetic modification, spirals out of control and I can totally agree with the similarity!

I thought this was a captivating and exciting read, keeping me on the edge of my seat with its blend of intrigue, suspense, and heart-thumping twists.

If you're looking for a novel that combines a compelling murder mystery with high-stakes science fiction and thought-provoking ethical dilemmas, The Rewilding looks set to be a strong contender for your reading list.

I enjoyed the reclusive town atmosphere of this book, the eeriness and the mystery in the beginning. But I found that the plot took a turn that did not interest me, and unfortunately, all of the aspects that I was loving the book for, were left behind. I hope that this finds its perfect audience, because I can see this being a five-star read for a lot of people, and I would still recommend it to people.

The Rewilding drew me in with its eerie description of the unexplained death of a boy, the secret site of a prehistoric experiment, and an investigation by a field biologist with a questionable motive. As someone who enjoys horror and sci-fi, I was intrigued by the possibilities.

That said, this novel didn’t quite land for me. The concept seemed like an appeal to lovers of Jurassic Park, but it struggled to present a fresh angle to set it apart from the classic. This, coupled with the writing style, was a challenge. Clunky, run-on sentences and dialogue often felt unnatural, and the plot lacked the pacing and tension this type of story needed. I also found the characters unlikable and their interactions underwhelming, which made it difficult to connect with the story. I only made it through about a quarter of the book before skimming to the end.

While this one wasn’t a fit for me, I appreciate the ambition behind it. The concept of man against nature is always compelling, and the vision of a “rewild” world is an interesting idea. I’d like to see the author could continue to explore this type of bold, high-concept storytelling with more polish.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rewilding is the story of a field biologist who travels over to Scotland to investigate the mysterious death of a young boy. Her goal, as someone who writes what felt like (to me) tabloid articles about cryptids, was to gather interest for her next book. When she arrives she stumbles across an estate owned by a mysterious tech billionaire who is Jurassic Park-ing it by bringing back long extinct creatures to live in the Scottish highlands.

As interesting as the premise is, the book itself isn't at all. I found the characters to all be really one-dimensional and it felt like the scientific parts of this story were pretty glossed over. The main character was pretty vapid and the interactions between characters were really juvenile. The book was really a slog and I kept waiting for something to happen only to mostly be disappointed.

This would have been a one star for me, but I do think this book has an audience, I'm just not that audience. 2 stars.

i think i only just coped with the thought(and then obviously reassurance of myself) regarding Jurassic park. it freaks me out to think some group somewhere are actively trying to do this. and with all the tech we have today and gizmos to do things? no thankyou! they are already creating meats without needing animals. what if...
but yeh, this is definitely a up up up take of a Jurassic Park type project. and when someone dies from one of the creatures? then someone is sent to investigate? oh no nothing but dark trouble can this every bring.
and it does.
oh it very much does...
im not one to be made to be scared by horror as such. but when it scares me because of all the what ifs or reality of this coming to life. then i get a bit eeeeeekish. so this fell into a scary category for me for sure

2.5/5, rounded up to 3. Interesting premise but ultimately struck me as a poorly developed alternative to Jurassic park. Lacks compelling character development and key details to support even remote plausibility,