Signs is the second in Carol Potenza’s new De-Exinct Zoo Mystery Series and continues the story of veterinarian Milly Smith, who trained in Siberia and now works in Pleistocene BioPark, a zoo dedicated by resurrected extinct megafauna (giant short-faced bears, dire wolves, smilodons, mammoths, woolly rhinos) brought back by de-extinction geneticists. The current mystery deals with Gigantopithecus blacki, giant ape-like creatures intelligent enough to learn American Sign Language for the deaf. I particularly enjoyed this aspect of the novel because I was at the University of Oklahoma when the famous chimpanzee, Lucy, was learning ASL from primatologist Roger Fouts. I also liked that the diet for these animals must become de-extinct as well before bringing the animals back to life.
Potenza is a biochemist, and her knowledge shines through in the mystery. Signs and its predecessor Unmasked are akin to Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park series in their blend of science and fiction. Potenza incorporates enough technical details to provide verisimilitude while not overpowering the reader with obscure details. It is a quick read, full of twists and turns and a moving forward of Milly’s unrequited love for Luther.
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Signs: A De-Extinct Zoo Mystery (Tiny Mammoth Press (June 27, 2023) is available through:
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You can find my reviews of Potenza’s other works below and my interview with her here:
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