Preservation by Charles Lemoine
I didn't visit the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits in L.A. until I was a grownup with kids in tow, but I found it fascinating. So reading Preservation, a mystery/thriller with a brilliant female scientist who years to unlock the mystery of a prehistoric woman whose remains were found in the Tar Pits, was right up my alley. The scientist, Mariska Stevenson, is ambitious and driven, and you can't help but root for her as she uncovers puzzle piece after puzzle piece. I liked the interplay of the modern technology and the archaeology. The theme of identity is also well-done here: where you came from can either define you, ruin you, or inspire you, and that thread connects all the way through the narrative and has repercussions for many of the characters—especially Mariska.
