Comprehensive reviews of the Cenozoic fossil mammal fauna are unfortunately few and far between. This new volume is the second and final instalment in a truly masterful compilation of North America's non-Pleistocene Cenozoic mammals. Like its predecessor, it will prove an indispensable overview of the relevant groups, and the new taxonomic appraisals, written by leading experts on the groups concerned, make it an essential research tool for students of the respective groups.

Volume I covered terrestrial carnivores and ungulates, as well as all groups ecologically similar to these animals. A lot of ground was left to cover: the rodents, insectivores and other small mammals – jokingly referred to as the ‘vermin’ in the introduction – as well as the xenarthrans and other ‘edentates’, and finally the marine mammals. Given the size, scope and vast amount of data included in both volumes, it seems remarkable that the entire project was originally conceived of as a single volume. Ten years after the publication of Volume I and about 20 years after the first contributions were received (!), the efforts of 35 contributors have brought completion to the project.

Introductory chapters review the morphology, biology, phylogeny and biogeography of all the major groups. While these reviews focus on the North American fauna, they have broad appeal given that accessible syntheses of mammal phylogeny and diversity are uncommon (and few of us own and know all of the primary literature). The characteristic cranial and postcranial characters are discussed and genera are reviewed individually: information is provided on their characteristic features and, where appropriate, taxonomic content is reviewed. An addendum chapter includes numerous updates for Volume I.

The book is well illustrated throughout with cladograms, diagrams of bones and teeth, and life restorations. The life restorations represent a great improvement on the choice of illustrations used in Volume I, many of which were (in my opinion) poor and cartoon-like. However, there are obviously fewer of them in the present book. This is partly because the artist for many of Volume I's illustrations was no longer available, but – so explain the editors – it's also because life restorations do not exist for many of the groups included. That might have been the case for, say, eomyids or fossil squirrels, but it most certainly does not apply to such groups as aplodontoids, palaeanodonts or xenarthrans.

Finally, one problem does afflict this volume, and this is the same problem that troubled so many with the appearance of Volume I. Namely, the price. While some individuals might be prepared to fork out the tremendous amount required for this volume (£150), most researchers will have to consult the copy owned by the university library. . .or rely on reprints.