A Book A Week

Before succumbing to cancer in 2008, author Michael Crichton built a career on blending cutting-edge science with page-turning thrillers. It's a recipe that produced hit after hit. Many of his bestsellers, including Jurassic Park and its sequel The Lost World, went on to become blockbuster films. Crichton often grappled with the moral tension between scientific advancement and its potential cost to humanity, so it’s fitting that his work continues to spark conversation even after his death. The latest posthumous release comes in collaboration with James Patterson, the world’s bestselling author, who completed Crichton’s unfinished manuscript for Eruption. The result is a novel that feels true to both authors’ sensibilities.

It’s no secret that Hawaii’s islands are the remnants of volcanic eruptions. As director of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, John “Mac” MacGregor has dedicated his life to studying and learning from volcanoes. So when he hears a deep rumbling and feels the beach tremble, he knows exactly what it means. The long-dormant volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island has roared back to life. And this time, its impact will be felt far beyond the shoreline.

Mac springs into action as rivers of fire race toward towns, threatening to wipe entire communities off the map. The eruption is unlike anything scientists have ever recorded. It's violent, unpredictable, and catastrophic, but that’s only the beginning. Beneath the island lies a deadly secret, buried for decades under the guise of national security. The molten earth threatens to expose it for all to see. Mac and his team find themselves caught in a desperate race against nature, politics, and human folly. The fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

Eruption is exactly what I’ve come to expect from a Michael Crichton and James Patterson novel. Their styles blend seamlessly—Crichton’s compelling scientific setup and speculative edge merging with Patterson’s breakneck pacing and punchy short chapters—to create a story that hooks from the very first page. Is it the best novel I’ve ever read? No. It plays out like an old-school action movie, and many of the beats feel familiar. But the formula works for a reason, and it works here. Eruption delivers classic action-thriller excitement, grounded just enough in science to make even its wildest moments believable. It’s fast, fun, and exactly the kind of escapist page-turner I look for in a summer read.

For more information, visit Crichton's website, Patterson's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.

(2025, 66)