Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsInteresting, but still so many questions
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2020
The concept of Ararat is interesting — an ark-like ship found in Mount Ararat. Three stars seemed about right for this book compared to the many other horror/suspense novels I've read. I found it enjoyable while reading, but I was left with too many questions, ones that even the supposed scientists didn't have enough curiosity to ask. For instance, how do they know the structure is a boat? They never discuss it. If it was actually Noah's ark, why are there dead bodies aboard — wouldn't they have walked off once it landed? If they died before the boat landed, why were they not tended to with traditional funeral rites? Is there any evidence of previous habitation by animals? Dung, for instance? Could it have been uplifted or encased by Ararat's volcanic activity? Were there any water lines on the wood anywhere, to show it was ever in a flood?
If not knowing — or even having characters consider — these questions doesn't bother you, you might enjoy this novel for its basic scary premise, though that also leaves us with a zillion unanswered questions.