Relic, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Enigmatic Pendergast who makes his debut appearance in this tale filled with up-close and behind the scenes looks at the Museum of Natural History, plausible (if whacky) science and a race to the end adventure. The characters are cool, the monster is cooler, but Pendergast is the most icily cool and original character I've read in decades.

Purchase from:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Powell's