THE FLOCK

In this first novel, dinosaurs stalk Florida's longleaf savanna—and they know about us.

When the Disney-like Berg Brothers build a gated community on the last of the Florida savanna, they run into more than even their hokey creative team could have imagined. Billionaire Vance Holcomb has already set up shop in the tall grass, and hired beautiful, amazonian Kate Kwitney, among others, ostensibly to research the surviving rare fauna, which includes the endangered Florida panther. Ultraconservative retired U.S. Marine Colonel Winston Grisham sees the open space as the last bit of free country (and great cattle land, too). And Ron Riggs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife warden and part Seminole, has been assigned the job of keeping the peace—or at least finding out what local predator is eating the new development's pets. Little do they know that an intelligent herd of giant ground-dwelling "terror birds," essentially the last surviving dinosaur-bird missing links, have made the area their home, too. The Flock, as these fast, fierce meat eaters call themselves, has been aware of Man, as they know humans, for years. The Flock has learned to evade these smaller predators, following the guidance of Egg Father, Egg Mother and the wise old Walks Backwards. But the Berg development and the wild actions of the rogue Flock member Scarlet force a confrontation that will result in death, destruction and a bounty hunt for a creature supposed to be extinct for the last million years. While the action is fast and violent, the stock characters—including a cowardly tabloid newspaper reporter—are as predictable as Scarlet's bloodthirsty attacks. And while the changing perspectives usually keep the pace bouncing along, Walks Backwards’ stilted chapters recall the worst excesses of Hollywood's fake Native Americans—all reverence with no contractions.

Utterly disposable thriller unredeemed by its ecological message. One part Michael Crichton's science and a smidgen of Carl Hiaasen's humor add up to less than either.