Dangerous Convicts. Deadly Dinosaurs. The secret encoded in her DNA lies between them ... Dedicated reptile expert Oakley Laveau loves the thrill of wrestling a 'gator. But her dream job at the swamp tour slips away when she's charged with a crime she doesn't remember: her best friend's murder. Sentenced to life on a secluded isle, she'll have to battle violent criminals and genetically modified dinosaurs to uncover the truth. As soon as she steps on the island, she's swept up by the charming leader of a gang of convicts and his dubious offer of protection. But it's hard to heed his warnings when somewhere in the dino-infested rainforest hides a witness who knows the shocking facts behind Oakley's amnesia. Hunted by humans and beasts, can Oakley expose the truth before she meets a bloody end? Extinction Island is the first book in the suspenseful Jurassic Judgment sci-fi series. If you like fearless heroines, action-packed adventures, and a touch of romance, then you'll love Janice Boekhoff's thrilling novel. **Utah RWA Great Beginnings Contest Winner (2019) "Janice Boekhoff kicks off her savage and exotic Jurassic Judgment series with Extinction Island, an adrenaline-fueled adventure thriller. Boosted by a wild premise that blends 'Survivor,' 'Jurassic Park,' and a dash of 'The Hunger Games,' this first installment is gripping from the start and doesn't let go. Driven by an unlikely heroine, the prose is snappy and the descriptions are lush, while the secondary characters shine with mystery and malice. While some of the plot points feel slightly forced or overly convenient, the pace is addictive and the story is a wickedly fun puzzle to unravel." --Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★½ "This is a highly creative work, a unique blend of monster thriller and supernatural struggle. While readers will find many familiar genre elements here, the novel itself is unique and original. The characters are interesting and provided with compelling motivations. As the book progresses, Oakley develops into a well-rounded and increasingly complex protagonist who readers will root for." -- The BookLife Prize Extinction Island is Book 1 in the Jurassic Judgment series. The story opens with reptile expert Oakley Laveau's awakening from a blackout with no memory of her last moments with her best friend. Events lead to her incarceration on a remote prison island for a murder she doesn't recall committing. Set in a near future where dinosaurs have returned, thanks to genetic manipulation, and now are limited to an isolated island, the prologue explains that death row inmates are given the choice of immediate execution or banishment to this dinosaur-laden island. As she becomes involved with fellow inmate Kaleo, who surprisingly has her back in more ways than one, Oakley is faced with both potential, unexpected romance and death, simultaneously. She needs to not only survive and field her feelings, but face the truth about her blackout and what really happened that night, and why she's been committed to Extinction Island. Fans of Jurassic Park will obviously be the audience for Extinction Island , with its satisfying intrigue, twists and turns, and threats that lie beyond living on an island of dangerous dinos. Janice Boekhoff does a fine job of crafting a protagonist who is both a heroine and vulnerable, at the same time. Oakley must confront many failings in her life, memory, and drive to survive; not the least of which is her tendency to keep secrets and make the wrong choices. Boekhoff also injects humor into her descriptions in a subtle, surprising manner: "A sharp pain in her scalp almost made her yell. She bit her lip to stifle the cry. If she had her way, she'd smack Chubs. How dare he rip hair from her dead body?" As adversity and threat grows not just from loose dinosaurs but the convicts around her, Oakley faces perhaps the greatest challenge of all--getting a grip on her own psyche and its inherent carnage and threats. Getting off the island becomes secondary to survival in a gripping story that offers powerful psychological examinations and insights throughout. Consider the result as a suspense thriller with the backdrop and power of Jurassic Island, the psychological examination of a sociopath's progression in this environment, and the social and scientific challenges of manipulating not just dino genetics, but human beings. Boekhoff's intriguing, fast-paced story of confrontation and survival will keep readers thoroughly engaged right up to a conclusion that promises further adventures and adversity. Extinction Island is highly recommended reading for fans of dystopian fiction, Jurassic Park, and scientific and technological thrillers. --D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review