A must read

Today is the official release date for my friend John Olson's book, Fossil Hunter. Here's the back cover blurb:
In the desolate Iraqi desert, a lone shepherd stumbles across a whale fossil. Initial analysis indicates that it could be a new species, a discovery that could shed light on the evolution debate.
Paleontologist Dr. Katie James is asked to lead an expedition to recover the rest of the fossil before her archrival, Nick Murad, can find it first.
But while she's there, Katie also uncovers the unexpected--a human fossil so controversial she's forced to collaborate with Nick to analyze the find before it can be destroyed by a fundamentalist faction of the Iraqi government. Their initial results fly in the face of current scientific theory, and it seems the whole world turns against them, including those they thought they could trust most.
Then the fossil disappears, sending Nick and Katie on a chase that could cost them their reputations, their careers, even their lives.

I read this book while it was still in the manuscript stage, and it is FABULOUS! (Of course, having a hero named Katie is always a good thing, too).

Note: John’s book is being co-promoted alongside Expelled, http://www.expelledthemovie.com/, a fascinating examination of how intelligent design has been swept under the rug and stomped on in academic circles. It stars Ben Stein and is at the theatres right now. Since John incorporates intelligent design as part of his book, Expelled is helping promote FOSSIL HUNTER and vice versa.

**If John’s book and Expelled do well, they’ll make FOSSIL HUNTER into a movie. Whoo hoo!