The Lost Valley

A group searching for a hidden place believed to have gold hire two guides and find a place lost to time where prehistoric animals still roam...

Unfortunately, this one isn't very original. I mean even from the author himself. He already did most of this plot in Operation: Siberia (S-Squad Book 3). Featuring almost the same giant creatures to battle, and in almost the same environment. Only this time instead of being brought back by foolish scientists there's no explanation for why this area is there.

It really did feel like another S-Squad installment, only with the people needing rescuing doing it themselves and those characters just being one-offs and not very interesting.

The beginning with introducing all the characters and the trek through the snowy mountains were the best parts to me, once it gets into the Lost Valley it becomes just another giant creature feature with characters you don't care about getting picked off because they are given personalities that force them to do stupid things to keep the plot moving.

It also has that found journal thing, where the information is slowly revealed to match what is going on in the current plot like anyone wouldn't just read the whole thing at once. I hate that. He tries to get around it by having the characters already read the whole thing before the journey but just not believing it, but it's still the same in effect as it's still revealed bit by bit to the reader to match what is going on in the current plot anyways.

Of course, he knows how to do action and make just about anything fun, and he does so here. He's also a great writer so that still shines through. I just would have liked something new from him.

It's certainly not terrible by any means, just another quick action romp with giant beasties from the author. The journey to get to the place was well done and there's loads of gore to enjoy at least.