BOOK REVIEW: Mammoth by Brian McBride
fun, pacey, and heartfelt; a solid adventure story
It’s been ages since I finished a book. We’re talking, like, over a year—which is sad, I know, but hear me out: I have an 8-month-old son currently on mission to conquer the world. (Pray for me.) Time to read (as well as write my own fiction) has been…scarce. But I finally got my hands on Mammoth by Brian McBride this summer, and I must say, I really enjoyed it.
Summary
Hardy Boys meets Indiana Jones in this thrilling new adventure novel.
After the death of his father, misfit and aspiring paleontologist Tommy Rhodes seeks refuge in the ramshackle lighthouse that stands guard over the city of Mammoth, Washington. Left in disarray by years of bad weather, it’s the perfect place for Tommy to hide from everything that’s gone wrong with his life—and to party with his band of friends, the Jailbirds—the only family he has left.
After a storm uncovers a secret hidden in the walls of the old lighthouse, Tommy unravels a mystery beyond his wildest dreams and the deadly conspiracy that surrounds it—and Tommy’s entire life seems tangled at the heart of it all.
Tommy and the Jailbirds—Jude, Maya, Mars, and newcomer Lydia—are thrust into the middle of a deadly hunt for the truth that will change their bond, uncover the secrets that lurk beneath the surface of Mammoth, and test just how far they’ll go to set things right.
General Thoughts
Mammoth was a fun, lighthearted summer read with great adventure vibes, very reminiscent of classics like Indiana Jones, but hosting a more modern ensemble cast of rich, lively characters. Despite its length, it was fast-paced, like a sprint through the jungle (booby-trapped, of course). If you’re looking for an entertaining adventure with the bonus of a quaint PNW aesthetic, Mammoth is a story for you.
Characters
With larger ensemble casts, it’s easy to find an imbalance in character development, but McBride does a great job of keeping his cast distinct and balanced, with personalities that clash, compliment, and crackle with tension. It was especially interesting to see how different characters viewed the same circumstances (or people) with such opposing perspectives; this added a lot of depth and conlict to the story—which is something I always look for, particularly when it comes to ensemble casts.
While the characters were well-developed, I did sometimes feel that their presence on the page fell a little short. When I was hoping for a rich character moment (and those did happen), the scene would sometimes end too soon, not always quite hitting the internal climax I was anticipating, and instead hurdling forward into the next exciting bit of action. I realize this was likely a pacing decision on the part of the author, so I can’t fault it too much from a craft perspective.
As for my favorite characters, I’d have to say (1) Tommy, (2) Jude, (3) Lydia, (4) Mars—I can pick that many, right? Oh, and am I allowed to like Reid? Because I liked Reid, too.
Plot and Pacing
I can’t say that the plot was particularly shocking, but it was well-executed, which is infinitely more important. McBride kept things humming along through peaks, valleys, (and caves!) with pleasantly short chapters that kept me saying, Just one more. Okay, this time for real, one more.
This story also featured the expose-corruption-to-vindicate-relative/ancestor/father-figure trope, which is one of my personal favorites. Plus, we got a nice little dissonant romance, not exactly enemies to lovers, but something like it—another box checked off my bingo card of enjoyable tropes.
The episodic pacing (rather than standardized “three act structure”) of the book felt very smooth, and I think it served well: a good stylistic choice, putting a TV-esque spin on it to separate this book from other stories in its vein.
Themes and Messaging
Mammoth was delightful in that it handled its themes with grace—no political grandstanding, no preaching, no soapboxes. Tackling issues from addiction, to class struggles, to family conflict, this story approached its themes with nuance and subtlety, an increasingly rare talent in the marketplace of modern fiction for which McBride deserves major props.
Conclusion
All things considered, I’d give Mammoth 4/5 stars. It was fun, pacey, heartfelt, and solid.
In addition, Brian McBride is an indie author, and I love seeing quality indie work in the wild. If you are interested in supporting him—and fueling the alternative industry—please pick up your own copy of Mammoth from Amazon, or Brian’s site and enjoy!