Neanderthal by John Darnton

Deep in the mountains of Central Asia, an extraordinary discovery threatens to rewrite everything scientists believe about human evolution.

Two researchers disappear while investigating evidence suggesting that Neanderthals may not have vanished thousands of years ago. Anthropologists Matt Mattison and Susan Arnot are drawn into the search and soon find themselves traveling into an isolated and dangerous region where something astonishing has survived beyond the reach of modern civilization.

What begins as a scientific expedition becomes a struggle for survival as the researchers encounter a hidden world, competing human ambitions, and a discovery with enormous implications for the origins and future of humanity. John Darnton blends anthropology, adventure, evolutionary science, and suspense into a fast-moving scientific thriller.

EugeneBookStore Summary

Fans of Michael Crichton-style science thrillers should find plenty to enjoy in Neanderthal. John Darnton takes a fascinating question—what if another branch of humanity survived into modern times?—and turns it into an adventurous expedition thriller.

The combination of archaeology, anthropology, remote mountains, scientific rivalry, and an ancient human mystery gives the novel the feel of a 1990s scientific adventure movie. A strong choice for readers who enjoy Jurassic Park, Congo, and other thrillers built around discoveries that challenge accepted science.

Collector Notes

Neanderthal was John Darnton’s debut novel and became a major bestseller, establishing him as a writer of science-oriented thrillers. Darnton was already an accomplished journalist before turning to fiction, and his background contributes to the novel’s detailed treatment of scientific discovery and competing interests. This St. Martin’s mass market edition is primarily desirable as an affordable reading copy rather than a high-value collectible. The distinctive skull cover is representative of the book’s popular 1990s paperback editions.